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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Research News & Studies => Topic started by: John2038 on April 22, 2008, 03:02:00 pm

Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 22, 2008, 03:02:00 pm
While there are 27 experimental medications in clinical trials, none are in Phase III human trials—the final stage of research before FDA approval is sought—and 7 are in full Phase II efficacy studies.

Most of these drugs in development offer significant benefits over existing medications by attacking the virus in new ways, being more potent than similar drugs, producing fewer side effects, or being taken less frequently.


DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT

Entry Inhibitors:
15D, Preclinical, National Cancer Institute
15K, Preclinical, National Cancer Institute
Alpha defensins, Preclinical, CDC’s AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research
AMD887 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Anormed
AMD3451 (CCR5-CXCR4 blocker), Preclinical, Anormed
Aprepitant (NK-1R blocker), Preclinical, University of Pennsylvania
Betulinic acid derivatives, Preclinical, University of North Carolina, Duke University, Vanderbilt University
Bifunctional CCR5 and CD4 inhibitors, Preclinical, University of Regensburg
CCR5mAb004 (CCR5 blocker), Phase I, Human Genome Sciences
D5 (monoclonal antibody), Preclinical, Merck
DP-178 (fusion inhibitor), Preclinical, Weizmann Institute
GBV-C (chemokines, including CCR5 blockers), Preclinical, University of Iowa
Genistein, Preclinical, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
gp41 inhibitor, Preclinical, New York Blood Center
gp41 inhibitor, Preclinical, Locus Pharmaceuticals
gp120-gp41 disulfide bond, Preclinical, Amsterdam Mathematical Center, Cornell University, University of Illinois at Chicago
HGS004 (CCR5 blocker, Phase I/II, Human Genome Sciences
HGS101 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Human Genome Sciences
IC9564, Preclinical, Duke University
INCB9471 (CCR5 blocker), Phase I/II, Incyte
INCB15050, Preclinical, Incyte
Indolicidin, Preclinical, National Institutes of Health
KD-247 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Kumamoto University
KRH-3140 (CXCR4 blocker), Preclinical, Kureha
KRH-3955 (CXCR4 blocker), Preclinical, Kureha
MDX-010, Preclinical, Medarex
Monoclonal FAbs (gp41 blocker), Preclinical, National Institutes of Health
NB-2 (gp41 blocker), Preclinical, Shibo and Kumar
NB-64 (gp41 blocker), Preclinical, Shibo and Kumar
NSC 13778 (gp120 blocker), Preclinical, National Cancer Institute
Peptidic CCR5 blocker, Preclinical, Selexis
PF232798 (CCR5 blocker), Phase I, Pfizer
PRO-140 (monoclonal antibody), Phase I/II, Progenics
Pyrrolidine (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Merck
RC-112, Preclinical, CDC’s AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research
Retrocyclin-1, Preclinical, CDC’s AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research
ROAb 12 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Roche
ROAb 13 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Roche
ROAb 14 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Roche
ROAb 18 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Roche
SCH-5327-6 (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Schering-Plough
Sifuvirtide, Preclinical, Fusogen
SP10A (entry inhibitor), Preclinical, Samaritan
Suc-HSA (gp120 blocker), Phase I, Sanquin
TAK-220 (CCR5 blocker), Phase 1, Tobira (licensed from Takeda)
TAK-652 (CCR5 blocker), Phase I, Tobira (licensed from Takeda)
TD0232, Preclinical, Avexa
TNX-355 (monoclonal antibody), Phase II, Tanox and Biogen
TR-999, Preclinical, Trimeris and Roche
TR-1144, Preclinical, Trimeris and Roche
UMIST, Preclinical, Genetic Innovation Network
Vicriviroc (CCR5 blocker), Phase II, Schering-Plough
ZFN (CCR5 blocker), Preclinical, Sangamo Biosciences
Zing finger protein nucleases (CCR5 blockers), Preclinical, Sangamo Biosciences

Integrase Inhibitors:
AVX-I, Preclinical, Avexa
Beta-diketo acids, Preclinical, University of Parma and University of Sassari
Carbazole derivative, Preclinical, Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Elvitegravir (GS-9137), Phase II, Gilead Sciences
GS-9224, Preclinical, Gilead Sciences
GSK-810871, Preclinical, GlaxoSmithKline
GSK364735, Phase I, GlaxoSmithKline/Shionogi
ITI-367, Preclinical, George Washington University
L-second generation, Preclinical, Merck
Monophores, Preclinical, Sunesis
Mycelium integrasone fungal polyketide, Preclinical, Merck
PL-2500, Preclinical, Procyon Biopharma
Styrylquinoline derivatives, Preclinical, BioAlliance Pharma
Theophylline, Preclinical, Thomas Jefferson University
V-165, Preclinical, Rega Institute

Maturation Inhibitors:
Betulinic acid derivatives, Preclinical, University of North Carolina, Duke University, Vanderbilt University
Bevirimat (PA-457) (gag processing inhibitor), Phase II, Panacos
Capsid inhibitors, Preclinical, Achillion
enJS56A1, (endogenous antiretroviral, Preclinical, University of Georgia
PA1050040, (gag processing inhibitor), Phase 1, Panacos
RPI-MN, (nAchR receptor inhibitor), Preclinical, ReceptoPharm

Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors:
70h (GW678248), Phase I, GlaxoSmithKline
AR806, Preclinical, Ardea Biosciences
BILR 355/r BS, Phase I/II, Boehringer Ingelheim
C-8 quinolinyloxyethyl substitutent, Preclinical, Boehringer Ingelheim
HBY097 (Pyridinone derivatives), Preclinical, Rutgers University
Methyl derivatives, Preclinical, University of South Denmark
MV026048, Preclinical, Medivir
Oligodeoxinucleotides, Preclinical, University of Zurich
PBO-15c (pyrrolobenzoxazepinone), Preclinical, University of Siena
Phenylthiazoylamines, Preclinical, Yale University
Rilpivirine (TMC-278), Phase II, Tibotec
S-DABO derivatives, Preclinical, Fudan University
SMP-610, Preclinical, Advanced Life Sciences
SMP-717, Preclinical, Advanced Life Sciences
Thiazol derivatives, Preclinical, Japan’s Institute for Virus Research
UK-435061, Phase I/II, Pfizer

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors:
4-Ed4T, Preclinical, Kagoshima University
Apricitabine (ATC), Phase I/II, Avexa
ARC, Preclinical, Howard University
BPH-218, Preclinical, University of Pittsburgh
Branched 3 primers, Preclinical, University of Illinois
Compound X, Preclinical, Tibotec
D-FDOC, Preclinical, Emory University
Didox ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, Preclinical, University of Texas
Dinucleoside polyphosphates, Preclinical, University of Miami
DOT (dioxolane thymidine), Phase I, University of Georgia
dTTP, Preclinical, University of Rochester
E2-FdA, Preclinical, Kumamoto University
Elvucitabine (ACH-126), Phase I/II, Achillion
Fosalvudine (alovudine prodrug), Phase I/II, Heidelberg Pharmaceuticals
GS-9131, Preclinical, Gilead Sciences
Herpesvirus saimiri, Preclinical, Temple University
IDX12899, Preclinical, Idenix Pharmaceuticals
IDX12989, Preclinical, Idenix Pharmaceuticals
KMMP05, Preclinical, National Cancer Institute
Quinolones, Preclinical, Rega Institute
R12-2, Preclinical, University of Texas
Racivir, Phase I/II, Pharmasset
Stampidine, Preclinical, Parker Hughes Institute
Thiostavudine, Preclinical, Showa University
Thiovir, Preclinical, Adventrx
Triol, Preclinical, Cruz Foundation
TSAO-T derivatives, Preclinical, University of Pittsburgh

Protease Inhibitors
A-681799, Preclinical, Abbott Laboratories
Beta-lactam, Preclinical, University of Debrecen
GRL-02031, Preclinical, Kumamoto University
PPL-100, Phase I, Merck
SPI-256, Preclinical, Sequoia
SPI-452, Phase 1, Sequoia Pharmaceuticals
UIC02031, Preclinical, Kumamoto University

Other Classes:
1H4 (tat inhibitor), Preclinical, Taras Shevchenko University
Alpha-V integrins, Preclinical, Merck
BI-201 (tat inhibitor), Phase I, BioInvent
BIT225 (Vpu ion blockers), Phase 1, Biotron Limited
CNI-1493 (rev inhibitor), Preclinical, Optokine Pharmasciences
Curcumin/diferuloylmethane (tat inhibitor), Preclinical, Jawaharlal Nehru Center
Glycodendrimers (lipid raft carbohydrates), Preclinical, Penn State University
Histone deacetylase inhibitors, Preclinical, University of California, San Francisco
HRG214 (caprine IgG), Preclinical, Vironyx
IM (CDK9 inhibitor), Preclinical, Institute of Human Virology
KP-1461 (viral decay accelerator), Phase I/II, Koronis
KU-55933 (ATM kinase inhibitor), Preclinical, Kudos Pharma
LEDGF (integrase competers), Preclinical, Catholic University of Leuven
MDI-P (electrolyzed free radical), Preclinical, Medical Discoveries
Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides, Preclinical, AVI BioPharma
Oxadiazols (nuclear localization viral matrix blockers), Preclinical, International Therapeutics
Poly acrylic acid, Preclinical, Chinese Academy of Science
Resveretol (Egr1 gene activator), Preclinical, National Cancer Institute
Rev inhibitors, Preclinical, National Institutes of Health
RPI (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blocker), Preclinical, NutraPharma
RSC-1838, Preclinical, GlaxoSmithKline and Shionogi
RWJ67567 (p38 inhibitor), Preclinical, University of Pennsylvania
SCY-635 (cyclophilin inhibitor), Preclinical, Scynexis
siRNA constructs (rev/tat inhibitors), Preclinical, Beckman Institute
siRNA, Preclinical, CombiMatrix
TRIM5-alpha (capsid inhibitor), Preclinical, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases


Source: http://www.hivplusmag.com/column.asp?id=1368&categoryid=1
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: risred1 on April 22, 2008, 07:55:09 pm
Great to see a list like this from time to time.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: bimazek on April 23, 2008, 06:01:05 pm
this list and the current approved meds are why many dr.s say
that those starting treatment now, recently exposed will have normal life span and normal life functioning
basically - super new treatments now available and on the way
this is why i think science has basically solved this for those newly infected and many of these will have lower side effects as they know how to dev. pro drugs etc

very good info
thanks for posting

Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: Miss Philicia on April 23, 2008, 07:35:29 pm
I'll assume a grand total of 1% of this list will make it through FDA final approval.
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: datdude on April 23, 2008, 11:24:19 pm
I have my hopes on KP-1461, the only antiretroviral in human use or testing that can eradicate HIV from laboratory cell cultures. I think that's a pretty big deal there's a drug right now that can eradicate HIV in cell cultures, no one else has done this, and its being tested on people as I speak, it said you might have to take it for 2 months, 4 months or 10 months. Personally I think you might have to take it for a year or 2 years I don't care if I have to take it for 5 years as long as I no longer have an HIV infection when I'm done. I'm no Scientist but some of the best HIV people came together to make this drug and I'm hopeful that this devil of a virus will stop ruining the life's of all us Beautiful people.  May God Bless You All
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: bobino on April 24, 2008, 12:54:04 am

Datdude, I'm with you on KP-1461.  I have no idea whether it will eventually pan out, but it's by far the most exciting possibility I've seen.

Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: John2038 on April 24, 2008, 02:14:35 am
My hopes are in the VRX496, the KP1461 and the stem cells.
Especially the stem cells.
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: hahaha on April 24, 2008, 02:58:30 am
I have a weird feeling that the Vpu inhibitor + Nano Haart + Preventive vaccine (if possible) may clean up the virus.  somehow as long as we may clean up HIV in the reservoir (macrophage + guts + intestine) and stimulate our immune system CD8 to recognize the infected CD4.  It would be possible for the eradication; or at least, put HIV in an undectecable status life long.

Speaking of which, I did not see any thing related to the nano sustiva and nano TMC-XXX in this chart, did I miss something?   
Title: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: John2038 on May 02, 2008, 03:14:16 pm
Some computer keyboards harbour more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat, research has suggested.

Some computer keyboards harbour more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat, research has suggested.
Consumer group Which? said tests at its London offices found equipment carrying bugs that could cause food poisoning.

Out of 33 keyboards swabbed, four were regarded as a potential health hazard and one harboured five times more germs than one of the office's toilet seats.

Microbiologist Dr Peter Wilson said a keyboard was often "a reflection of what is in your nose and in your gut".

During the Which? tests in January this year, a microbiologist deemed one of the office's keyboards to be so dirty he ordered it to be removed, quarantined and cleaned.

It had 150 times the recommended limit for bacteria - five times as filthy as a lavatory seat tested at the same time, the research found.

The equipment was swabbed for bugs, such as those that can cause food poisoning like E.coli and staphylococcus aureus.
Dr Wilson, a consultant microbiologist at University College London Hospital, told BBC Radio 5 Live sharing a keyboard could be passing on illnesses among office workers.

"If you look at what grows on computer keyboards, and hospitals are worse, believe it or not, it's more or less a reflection of what's in your nose and in your gut," he said.

"Should somebody have a cold in your office, or even have gastroenteritis, you're very likely to pick it up from a keyboard."
Which? said one of the causes of dirty keyboards was users eating lunch at their desk, with crumbs encouraging the growth of bacteria.
Poor personal hygiene, such as not washing hands after going to the toilet, could also be to blame, it said.

Cleaning techniques

Which? computing editor Sarah Kidner advised users to give their computer "a spring clean".

"It's quite simple to do and could prevent your computer from becoming a health hazard," she said.
She said dust and food crumbs should be shaken out of keyboards and they should be wiped with a soft, lightly dampened, lint-free cloth.
They should also be disinfected with alcohol wipes.

Research by the University of Arizona last year found the average office desktop harboured 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat.
They also found that, compared to men, on average women have three to four times the amount of germs in, on and around their work area.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7377002.stm
Title: Re: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: bimazek on May 03, 2008, 02:13:38 am
door knobs
gym equipment
but rimming
um bus railings
public transport hand holds
money itself
credit card swipes
anywhere inside a sex venue
bar bathrooms which are so filthy
etc etc
Title: Re: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: John2038 on May 03, 2008, 04:37:32 am
mobile phone
door handles
etc..

but it's good to bear in mind to clean the keyboard :)

Note
To see the bacterias, just turn off the light and turn on an UV light.
The bacterias will appears in white, as well as sugar traces.
Then take a look to ur keyboard, cell phone, etc..
Title: Re: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: Dachshund on May 03, 2008, 08:11:34 am
For your own safety and the safety of others, I suggest you and Bimazek never, ever, touch a keyboard again.

Of course you could wash your hands.
Title: Re: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: John2038 on May 03, 2008, 08:16:32 am
or gloves and for partner as well  :-* :D
Title: Nearly all patients with NNRTI resistance could benefit from etravirine
Post by: John2038 on May 14, 2008, 05:36:48 pm
Aidsmap
May 09, 2008

The majority of patients with resistance to existing NNRTIs will benefit from treatment with etravirine (Intelence), a new, powerful NNRTI with a high barrier to resistance, according to a UK study published in the May 11th edition of AIDS. The investigators believe that the “next generation of NNRTIs, including etravirine, will play an important future role in sequencing HIV-infected patients who have acquired NNRTI resistant virus.”

Investigators calculated that 89% who had NNRTI resistance after treatment with nevirapine would be susceptible to treatment with etravirine. Of the efavirenz treated patients with NNRTI resistance, it was calculated that 91% would benefit from treatment with etravirine.

“We predict the majority of our patients will have etravirine sensitivity after acquisition of NNRTI resistance following treatment with efavirenz or nevirapine”, conclude the investigators.

Full article (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/7CDD9DFC-54FD-49C6-9BB6-AD3313B0C9DB.asp)

Note
Bevirimat sounds also promising for treatment experienced patients with resistances
Title: HGS101/HGS004
Post by: John2038 on May 15, 2008, 02:27:16 pm
HGS004 is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to and inhibits the activity of the CCR5 receptor on the cell surface. HIV uses both the CCR5 and the CD4 receptors to gain entry to the cell but CCR5 is the primary receptor enabling HIV transmission and replication from the early stages of infection through to progression to AIDS.
Small-molecule CCR5 inhibitors like maraviroc and vicriviroc have already been shown to be effective HIV treatments, leading to maraviroc gaining a license last year.

But monoclonal antibody drugs have advantages compared to traditional small-molecule drugs. They can be dosed less frequently - biweekly or even monthly- and usually do not interfere with other drugs allowing a greater freedom of combination. They also should theoretically work against resistant strains. However, they have to be injected, rather than taken orally.

new study has looked at its effects in 63 patients infected with CCR5-tropic HIV as a “proof of concept” study - a trial to demonstrate clinical efficacy with a small number of strictly selected patients.

All patients were randomised to receive a single intravenous dose of HGS004 at one of five doses – 0.4, 2, 8, 20 or 40 mg per kg body weight- or placebo. After 14 days 54% of patients in the 8, 20 and 40mg/kg group had a greater than log10 drop in HIV RNA levels. In the 40mg/kg cohort four out of 10 patients had a greater than log10 reduction in HIV at day 28.

The antibody was well tolerated at all doses, with no increase in toxicities seen at higher doses.

The US authors say this study suggests HGS004 is safe and shows meaningful anti-HIV activity. But they suggest further studies should be carried out with HGS101 – a derivative of HGS004 which is five to ten times more potent but retains other characteristics of the original.


Full article (broken link removed)
Title: Re: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: antibody on May 16, 2008, 04:18:58 pm
yeah, it's a dirty world  :P
Title: Re: Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
Post by: Miss Philicia on May 16, 2008, 05:37:07 pm
I think a bath house is far dirtier than a computer keyboard, and I know you girls aren't virgins.
Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on May 18, 2008, 06:40:44 am
broken link removed
Title: Re: Open Clinical Trials List In/Outside U.S.
Post by: emeraldize on May 18, 2008, 09:31:14 am
Thanks for publishing this. I found a study at NIH recruiting for HIV+, treatment naive subjects to test a cholesterol-lowering drug they hope to find effective in treated HIV+ individuals who experience med-related high cholesterol. I wrote to the enrollment RN since I'll be at the NIH this summer.

The list of 729 open, HIV-related studies is well worth looking at -- there are studies in there for Acyclovir use in dual-infected Herpes/HIV, new and existing meds trials and it is also incredibly educational to see how many studies are recruiting, closed or completed.

I think the list I checked was nearly 3,000 total? Some studies are in Canada, London, Africa, Denver, California, Maryland and a few other locations.
Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: John2038 on May 18, 2008, 02:51:06 pm
Indeed, not all drugs are inventoried here :)

Note for people having (or not) resistances:

Yet another (*) NNRTI to watch (Rilpivirine) and the others NNRTIs in the pipeline.
(*) Intelence -Etravirine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2008

NNRTIs in Development
AgentCompanyTrial Phase
Rilviprine (TMC278)TibotecIIb
BILR 355 BSBoehringer IngelheimII
Calanolide ASarawak MedichemII
MIV-150Medivir/ChironII
UK 453,061PfizerII
RDEA806ArdeaI

Leading the Next Generation: Etravirine and Rilpivirine

Rilpivirine and the recently approved etravirine, made by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, were designed specifically to meet the drug-resistance challenges posed by a rapidly evolving viral target.

NNRTIs work by binding to amino acids within a "pocket" contained on the reverse transcriptase enzyme, interfering with the enzyme's function and forestalling the first phase of HIV replication within the host cell. Resistance to NNRTIs occurs when mutations inside the pocket prevent the drugs from binding there, or when a single mutation (known as K103N) alters the opening of the pocket sufficiently to block NNRTIs from entering.

New NNRTIs were designed to get around these resistance mechanisms through "conformational flexibility": both etravirine and rilpivirine are able to alter their shape and position (through processes scientifically termed "wiggling" and "jiggling") in order to enter and bind to the pocket on reverse transcriptase in HIV that carries first generation NNRTI resistance mutations. The benefits of this flexibility, as well as the new drugs' improved side effect profiles, are evident in promising results from advanced clinical trials.


Etravirine: The DUET Studies

DUET-1 and DUET-2, a pair of randomized, double-blind, Phase III trials, compared 200 mg etravirine twice daily with placebo in treatment-experienced participants, who also received optimized background therapy (OBT) that included the relatively new protease inhibitor (PI) darunavir (Prezista) plus a boosting dose of ritonavir (Norvir), as well as investigator-selected nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Eligibility requirements included documented NNRTI resistance and three or more PI resistance mutations. The mean baseline CD4 cell count in both studies was approximately 100 cells/mm3, and more than 30% of participants had a viral load greater than 100,000 copies/mL at study entry. The majority of participants in DUET-1 and DUET-2 were male (86% and 93%, respectively) and white (61% and 63%, respectively).

After 24 weeks of therapy, a significantly greater proportion of volunteers in the etravirine arm than in the placebo group achieved a viral load of less than 400 copies/mL (74% vs 51% in DUET-1, 75% vs 54% in DUET- 2). Significantly more participants taking etravirine also saw their viral load fall below 50 copies/mL (56% vs 39% in DUET-1, 62% vs 44% in DUET-2). Etravirine appeared to be most efficacious in the absence of other active agents: in participants with no active drugs in their OBT, the difference in virological response was 47% vs 9% in DUET-1 and 44% vs 7% in DUET-2. Participants in the etravirine arm also saw greater CD4 cell increases.

Both trials found etravirine to be well tolerated, with reported side effects similar to placebo. Rash was more common in the etravirine arm compared with the placebo group (20% vs 10% in DUET-1, 14% vs 9% in DUET-2), although most reported rashes were mild and short-lived. No differences were noted between the etravirine and placebo arms regarding other side effects, including CNS and psychiatric problems (such as sleep changes, anxiety, and depression), liver toxicities, and lipid elevations.

The DUET trials also better defined the etravirine resistance profile, identifiying 13 NNRTI resistance mutations associated with diminished response to the study drug; however, at least three of these mutations were needed simultaneously for virological response to be significantly reduced. Importantly, K103N -- the mutation most commonly associated with efavirenz or nevirapine resistance -- does not appear to number among the etravirine resistance mutations so far identified, possibly accounting (at least in part) for the drug's potency against virus that is not susceptible to first-generation NNRTIs.


Rilpivirine

In vitro studies of rilpivirine indicate that the drug candidate is active against NNRTI-resistant strains of HIV -- including many with double or triple mutations. Like etravirine, rilpivirine appears to have a higher genetic barrier to resistance compared with older NNRTIs.

The in vivo anti-HIV activity of rilpivirine was initially established by two short-term Phase IIa trials, TMC278- C201 and TMC278-C202. Both randomized, double-blind studies administered 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, or 150 mg rilpivirine once daily for seven days. Study TMC278-C201 compared rilpivirine or placebo monotherapy, while TMC278-C202 assessed the effects of replacing a PI or first generation NNRTI with rilpivirine for participants on failing regimens.

By day eight, participants receiving rilpivirine in both trials saw greater decreases in viral load than did those in the placebo arms, and no new NNRTI resistance mutations were observed in either study. The study drug was also found to be well tolerated, the most common adverse events (AEs) being primarily grade-1 or -2 headache, drowsiness, nausea, and fatigue.

A Phase IIb dose-ranging trial, TMC278-C204, assessed the safety and efficacy of 25 mg, 75 mg, or 150 mg rilpivirine once daily compared with efavirenz in treatment-naive individuals. Participants were screened for NRTI- and NNRTI-susceptible virus and had to enter the study with a viral load greater than 5,000 copies/mL. Onethird of the study population was female, less than half was white, and the median age was 35 years.

After 48 weeks of treatment, no statistically significant differences in efficacy were seen between the three rilpivirine doses: between 77% and 81% of participants in the rilpivirine groups achieved a viral load of less than 50 copies/mL. (In the efavirenz arm, a comparable 81% of participants achieved this viral load.)

As in the Phase IIa studies, rilpivirine was found to be generally well tolerated at all doses, and the drug was associated with fewer reported cases of CNS complications (including headache, dizziness, and drowsiness), abnormal dreams or nightmares, vertigo, and rash. Changes in lipid parameters were also generally smaller in the rilpivirine arms: total cholesterol increased by 5 mg/dL, compared with 31 mg/dL in the efavirenz group, while triglyceride levels dropped by 10 mg/dL in rilpivirine-treated individuals and rose by 18 mg/dL in those taking efavirenz. The ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol declined study-wide, with no statistically significant difference between the rilpivirine and efavirenz arms.


Source: http://www.thebody.com/content/art46396.html?mtrk=7957645

Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: ronaldinho on May 19, 2008, 09:16:57 am
I have my hopes on KP-1461, the only antiretroviral in human use or testing that can eradicate HIV from laboratory cell cultures. I think that's a pretty big deal there's a drug right now that can eradicate HIV in cell cultures, no one else has done this, and its being tested on people as I speak, it said you might have to take it for 2 months, 4 months or 10 months. Personally I think you might have to take it for a year or 2 years I don't care if I have to take it for 5 years as long as I no longer have an HIV infection when I'm done. I'm no Scientist but some of the best HIV people came together to make this drug and I'm hopeful that this devil of a virus will stop ruining the life's of all us Beautiful people.  May God Bless You All

I really cannot see how KP 1461 could solve the problem of HIV eradication. This new drug is a nucleoside analogue, like AZT, and it fights HIV by messing with the process of reproduction of the virus, which means it could block viral reproduction and lower viral load, but still, the viruses that are not reproducing, inert, would still be there, in memory cells, like these FDC cells that were recently found to harbour HIV. KP 1461 could still be a wonderful drug , if it it has less toxicity and a better resistance profile than the other nucleoside analogues, but since it is a drug that fight the virus while it is reproducing, I doubt it will be able to eradicate hiv.

Title: Re: Drugs in development
Post by: MitchMiller on May 20, 2008, 01:29:58 am
If you go to the Koronis web site, they are not saying that the drug will eradicate HIV.  They say that the success of the drug will reposition treatment strategies toward eradication and away from life-long treatment.

The drug doesn't block replication.  It causes HIV to make more mistakes during replication, resulting in a less virulent virus.  I really don't understand why the virus would be less virulent, but they imply by increasing the error rate during replication, by basic math, you can see that the resulting viral population would approach a limit of zero.  (that assumes the majority of the virus becomes less and less infective each time it manages to infect and replicate... until it is rendered unable to infect or evade the immune system)... think of it as if you had a bank account accruing interest that is unable to keep up with the rate of inflation... given enough time, your money would approach a value of zero.... sort of how many of us feel when we look at our meager savings accounts!

The little blurb at the end of the video implies they expect that latent reservoirs would still exist, but they don't come out and specifically say that.  Maybe this drug could be "pulsed" because it would be resistance-proof... taking it for a cycle then being monitored until the virus reaches a threshold, then doing another cycle, etc... perhaps reducing the duration of the cycle depending on the VL detectable in the blood.. so a cycle could be one week four times/year or something like that.  If that's the case, it would basically render all existing HIV drugs obsolete.   
Title: Re: Open Clinical Trials List In/Outside U.S.
Post by: emeraldize on May 23, 2008, 02:29:38 am
FYI: Using the list linked above, I found a study for which I'm eligible. Called the NIH recruiter and learned the study was already closed. When I noted the list said "recruiting" he told me it's frustrating for them, too, because for some reason it takes months for the lists to be updated.

Letting you know in case you find a study you're interested in joining.
Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on May 27, 2008, 03:55:35 pm
Objectives: To derive and validate a clinically applicable prognostic score for predicting short-term disease progression in HIV-infected patients taking combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Design and methods: Poisson regression was used to identify prognostic markers for new AIDS/death in patients taking cART. A score was derived for 4169 patients from EuroSIDA and validated on 5150 patients from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

Results: In EuroSIDA, 658 events occurred during 22 321 person-years of follow-up: an incidence rate of 3.0/100 person-years of follow-up [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.7-3.3]. Current levels of viral load, CD4 cell count, CD4 cell slope, anaemia, and body mass index all independently predicted new AIDS/death, as did age, exposure group, a prior AIDS diagnosis, prior antiretroviral treatment and stopping all antiretroviral drugs. The EuroSIDA risk-score was divided into four strata; a patient in the lowest strata would have predicted chance of new AIDS/death of 1 in 801, 1 in 401 and 1 in 201 within the next 3, 6 or 12 months, respectively. The corresponding figures for the highest strata were 1 in 17, 1 in 9 and 1 in 5, respectively. A single-unit increase in the risk-score was associated with a 2.70 times higher incidence of clinical progression (95% CI, 2.56-2.84) in EuroSIDA and 2.88 (95% CI, 2.75-3.02) in SHCS.

Conclusions: A clinically relevant prognostic score was derived in EuroSIDA and validated within the SHCS, with good agreement. The EuroSIDA risk-score will be made available publicly via an interface that will perform all calculations for the individual.


EuroSIDA Risk Score: Risk calculator (http://www.cphiv.dk/TOOLS/EuroSIDARiskScore/tabid/281/Default.aspx)

Others tools
Cardiovascular disease: Framingham risk equation calculator (http://www.cphiv.dk/TOOLS/Framingham/tabid/302/Default.aspx)
Renal function: GFR calculator (http://www.cphiv.dk/TOOLS/GFR/tabid/301/Default.aspx)
Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on May 30, 2008, 10:05:16 am
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080530005377&newslang=En

VIRXSYS Presents New VRX496 Phase II Gene Therapy Trial Data
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: John2038 on May 30, 2008, 11:29:16 am
To be noted also


1 - Scientific Symposium 403
Saturday May 31, 20088:00 am - 10:00 am
Room 112

Infectious Disease: Novel Gene Therapy Strategies against Infection

Co-Chairs
William F. Goins, PhD
Stefan Worgall, MD, PhD


Speakers

John A. Zaia, MD
Gene Therapy Approaches for Treatment of HIV/AIDS: Current Status
The question of how best to target HIV/AIDS using genetic strategies has recently been given some impetus with the application of lentivirus vectors in clinical trials. At present in the U.S., more that 50 persons with HIV/AIDS have been treated with lentivirus vectors. Early data from VirXsys-supported T cell-based clinical trials indicate that genetically modified T cells appear to affect HIV-1 infection, including HIV plasma load, HIV quasispecies number, and even the fitness of the virus to replicate. At City of Hope, a hematopoietic stem cell-based trial has begun using a lentivirus encoding shRNA and other anti-HIV RNAs. These studies will be described. Evidence will be presented showing the in vitro effects of gene transfer on protection from antiviral drug resistance induction and in vivo results suggesting that gene-modified T cells appear to force mutational changes that effect the virus biology. If this can be confirmed, then treatment with gene therapy early after HIV infection could be justified, and, if such treatment delayed the need for antiviral chemotherapy, gene transfer would likely become an important strategy for treatment of HIV infection.

Carl H. June, MD
Anti-sense HIV Lentiviral Vector Confers Antiviral Effects In Vivo
The current status of an ongoing trial testing repeated infusions of T cells modified to express anti-sense envelope sequences will be reviewed. Interim analysis indicates that multiple infusions of lentiviral engineered autologous T cells are well tolerated, and traffic to rectal lymphoid mucosal tissues. The pre-clinical studies supporting a second proof of concept trial using lentiviral modified T cells that are redirected to target gag will be presented. In this study, high affinity MHC class I restricted T cell receptors will be tested for safety and antiviral effects.

http://www.asgt.org/am08/program/saturday.php

2- And the following discussion

Vladimir Slepushkin, MD, PhD
VIRxSYS: GMP lentiviral vector production
There is a bottleneck to clinical application of lentiviral vector due to production issues. Virxsys currently produces lentiviral vector at the largest scale of 100L. Recent production adjustments are reduction in serum from 10% to 5%, increasing cell factories from 16-32, increasing collections to 3 from 2, and using 5L instead of 1L size exclusion columns. Current scale up for Phase III is ongoing and will utilize anion exchange chromatography.
http://www.asgt.org/am06/bioprocessing_summary.php


More info
American Society Of Gene Therapy (ASGT)
here (http://www.asgt.org/search/index.php?cx=015381214919528163032%3A4uf5p5ps3fy&cof=FORID%3A11&q=virxsys&sa=Search#939)
Title: RTA 402 - new drug active to treat cancer
Post by: John2038 on June 01, 2008, 03:31:58 pm
RTA 402 provided a clinical benefit of tumor regression or stable disease to almost half of the evaluable patients in the study. Two patients, one with mantle cell lymphoma and one with thyroid cancer, experienced “Objective Responses” in which their tumors disappeared or shrank significantly following treatment. Additionally, several patients with refractory, rapidly-growing melanoma or renal cell carcinoma saw their tumors stop growing for more than six months. The activity seen with RTA 402 in this study compares favorably with Phase 1 studies of recently approved, targeted anti-cancer agents. Additional data from the study suggest that RTA 402 treatment may promote an anti-tumor immune response. Current research by Reata and its collaborators is focused on characterizing these effects in detail.

RTA 402 was exceptionally well tolerated, with a significantly better side effect profile than recently approved agents. Some patients experienced tolerable nausea and fatigue, which is consistent with agents that stimulate an anti-tumor immune response. More than 90% of the patients in this study had no drug-related side effects greater than grade 2. With this safety profile, the drug is an excellent candidate for use in combination therapy with other types of cancer therapies, particularly first-line regimens.

RTA 402 is currently being tested in a Phase 1/2 clinical study, in combination with standard therapy, in patients with pancreatic cancer. Multiple Objective Responses have been seen in initial dose cohorts, which is extremely promising in this very aggressive type of cancer. Reata expects to report further pancreatic cancer results in early 2009. Combination therapy trials in other forms of cancer are planned.


http://markets.chron.com/chron?GUID=5619719&Page=MediaViewer&ChannelID=3191
Title: Re: RTA 402 - new drug active to treat cancer
Post by: Ann on June 01, 2008, 03:51:06 pm
John, have you forgotten that you're posting on an hiv website? What's the relevance?
Title: Re: RTA 402 - new drug active to treat cancer
Post by: bimazek on June 01, 2008, 09:11:44 pm
In summary it seems to be a very powerful immune modulator

I didnt know what this was until today but it seems to be important in many diseases where immune system is involved.  Not just cancer.  There seems to be thousands of papers
It may be too early to say it is a breakthru.  I have just read up on all this since his post so only have 30 min of studying it but it seems potent.

RTA 402 controls the expression of many genes involved in inflammation and immune response.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/24916624/

My understanding is that alot of the damage to the body by hiv is because hiv causes/increases tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and other inflammatory agents --- "RTA 402 (also known as CDDO-Me) potently inhibits the activity tumor necrosis factor (TNF)."

I think that in many diseases where body wasting happens tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is involved in many ways, and that finding a med that inhibits it could be good to rebuild immune systems.  But i have only spent 20 min looking into this, john must have had some reason to post.

These seems to be very powerful in rebuilding and increasing the immune system...
RTA 402 is good at the Inhibition of IKK correlated with suppression of NF-kB dependent genes that prevent apoptosis (IAP2, cFLIP, TRAF1, survivin, and bcl- 2), promote proliferation (cyclin D1, COX-2, and c-myc), and promote angiogenesis (VEGF and MMP-9).

http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Law-and-Health-Weekly/2006-05-06/0505200633318LH.html
RTA 402 (also known as CDDO-Me) potently inhibits the activity of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) activated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and other inflammatory agents in a variety of cancer cells. RTA 402 was shown to suppress NF-kB activity by inhibiting the activation of IkB alpha kinase (IKK).

here are 805 papers on hiv and RTA 402 (also known as CDDO-Me)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=CDDO-Me++hiv&btnG=Google+Search

http://mend.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/14/10/1550   RTA 402 (also known as CDDO-Me)
A novel synthetic triterpenoid, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO), previously reported to have potent differentiating, antiproliferative, and antiinflammatory activities,  Triterpenoids are a large family of structures synthesized in plants through the cyclization of squalene and have been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries (1). Naturally occurring triterpenoids like oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) are known to have relatively weak antiinflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities (2, 3). To increase their usefulness, we have synthesized a series of novel derivatives of OA and UA and have shown that some derivatives of OA are much more potent than the parent compound in suppressing the induction of the enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (4, 5, 6). The most active of these synthetic derivatives, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) (Fig. 1Go), is not only antiinflammatory, but also has potent antiproliferative and differentiating activities


2008 May 26;
Anticancer activities of cranberry phytochemicals: An update.
Studies employing mainly in vitro tumor models show that extracts and compounds isolated from cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon) inhibit the growth and proliferation of several types of tumor including breast, colon, prostate, and lung. Proanthocyanidin oligomers, flavonol and anthocyanin glycosides and triterpenoids are all likely contributors to the observed anticancer properties and may act in a complementary fashion to limit carcinogenesis. Possible chemopreventive mechanisms of action by cranberry phytochemicals include induction of apoptosis in tumor cells, reduced ornithine decarboxylase activity, decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinases associated with prostate tumor metastasis, and anti-inflammatory activities including inhibition of cyclooxygenases. A review of recent studies suggests a potential role for cranberry as a dietary chemopreventive and provides direction for future research.   http://lib.bioinfo.pl/find?field=PubMed&query=triterpenoids


RTA 402 is the clinical lead from Reata's Antioxidant Inflammation Modulators (AIMs), a new and highly promising category of drugs for the treatment of cancer and inflammation.

RTA 402 Autoimmune Program
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and lupus represent significant medical problems caused by dysregulation of the body’s immune system. While protein therapeutics have proven effective against these diseases, many patients do not respond or are unable to take these drugs due to their toxicity. Additionally, their route of administration (intravenous/injection) represents a burden to patients. Thus, there is a significant opportunity for orally available small molecule therapies that are effective against autoimmune diseases. Few such agents are currently in development.

http://www.reatapharma.com/pip_rta402.asp

RTA 402 and other AIMs have been shown to affect the biological pathways involved in autoimmune diseases and to be effective in animal models of multiple diseases. Data from the ongoing Phase 1 data indicates that in humans RTA 402 potently modulates important inflammatory signaling molecules (called cytokines) implicated in autoimmune diseases. These include Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which is the target of major biological therapies used to treat these diseases.
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: bimazek on June 03, 2008, 12:48:19 am
This quote is on many websites news today... more to come tomarrow...

 In the current Phase I/II trial 12 patients have been dosed and in the Phase II trial 54 patients have been dosed.
VRX496 has been administered to patients using one, two, four or eight doses. Unlike anti-retroviral drugs, which bind to HIV protein to keep the virus from replicating, VRX496 appears to bind to the RNA of the HIV, which changes the genetics and the biology of HIV, including the molecular diversity of HIV and the fitness of HIV to replicate.    'We are very honored to have Dr. June present interim results from our Phase I/II and Phase II clinical trials,' said Riku Rautsola, PhD, President and CEO of VIRxSYS. 'VRX496 continues to demonstrate promising results in our ongoing clinical trials. We are optimistic about the future potential of VRX496 as a realistic treatment for HIV infection.'
Title: Differences between KP1461 and VRX496 ?
Post by: John2038 on June 26, 2008, 02:04:29 pm
KP was supposed to cause lethal mutations, while VRX496 is repeating somehow the same "error" to various existing mutations, by adding its lentiviral vector (RNA) to the DNA ?

1) I know both approach are not really similar, but are they really different ?

My interest in raising this question is to estimate how much hopes can be put in the VRX496, as if the mechanism are not exactly the same, they are not very different.

It seems in the case of the VRX496, all is in the RNA. If this trial fails, then the idea might still be correct, but another vector will need to be find.

2) So the question, why not diversifying this research using various vector, or combining them ?
Title: Re: Differences between KP1461 and VRX496 ?
Post by: leit on June 26, 2008, 05:21:24 pm
KP was supposed to cause lethal mutations

Yes. Incidentally, KP-1461 is a (failed) NRTI, although not a "chain terminator" like the current ones.

Quote
while VRX496 is repeating somehow the same "error" to various existing mutations, by adding its lentiviral vector (RNA) to the DNA ?

No, VRX496 is a gene therapy based on the "antisense" concept, so it is supposed to "neutralize" HIV genome when it tries to replicate.

Quote
My interest in raising this question is to estimate how much hopes can be put in the VRX496, as if the mechanism are not exactly the same, they are not very different.

They are COMPLETELY different, as explained!

Bye!

Title: Re: Differences between KP1461 and VRX496 ?
Post by: bimazek on June 27, 2008, 03:07:56 pm
everything in worlds of genes proteins and gene therapy seems to be just being discovered... i posted about the interact-genome in bimazek, yesterday,  i read this, about immune system today, it must have hiv implications even though it is cancer related ...

a separate immune system

hiv disease is partly a disease of the lymph system of the intestinal area because the intestines have an enormous amount of lymph system.  i just read this and never heard it before...  "Mucosal cells line the intestines, which are compartmentalized and possess a separate immune system from the body's general immune system"   i never read that immune system is compartmentalized.  I knew the brain had a barrier.

http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=37857070&source=genwire

Mucosal cells line the intestines, which are compartmentalized and possess a separate immune system from the body's general immune system. Colon cancer arises from mucosal cells, and mucosal cell proteins continue to be expressed even after the cancer sets in. The research team thus hypothesized that these proteins would be seen as foreign invaders by the body’s immune system and could be useful for anticancer vaccines.  Scientists at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Medical College have found a way to immunize mice against the development of metastatic disease. Their approach is based on the fact that the intestines have a separate immune system from the rest of the body. The researchers were able to show that mice immunized with an intestinal protein developed fewer lung and liver metastases after injection with colon cancer cells than did control animals.
Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on June 29, 2008, 08:28:59 am
FRIDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) — Stress and depression may make a great difference in the health of people infected with HIV, according to three new reviews of the data on the subject.

Scientists haven't yet proved that personal attitude and mental health directly affect the progress of HIV infection and AIDS. But the research strongly points to a link, said Dr. Gail Ironson, lead author of the one of the reviews.

"We've got enough studies with people followed over time (to show) that it's not a fluke. You can see how consistent the evidence is," said Ironson, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Miami.

Researchers have long tried to understand the link between people's emotional lives and the progression of HIV. Many HIV patients have histories of depression, stress and trauma that could potentially affect their physical health.

The reviews examining these issues were published in the June edition of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

In her review, Ironson and a co-author looked at a number of studies examining the effect of factors such as social support, personality and spirituality.

"Psychological states do predict whether you're going to stay healthy longer or whether your disease is going to progress faster," Ironson concluded.

According to one measure of the strength of the immune system, depressed people become susceptible to disease at twice the rate of other patients, she said.

Jane Leserman, professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, found similar results in her review of studies between 1990 and July 2007.

Psychological problems can contribute to worsening health in a variety of ways, such as making it less likely that patients will take their medications as directed, Leserman explained. On the other hand, research suggests that "enhancing stress management can have protective effects in terms of the immune system," she said.

It may sound obvious that stress and depression make people sicker. But "people want the proof, and we're providing the evidence," Leserman said. "Without that evidence, I don't think HIV researchers would really take it that seriously."

Another study in the journal suggests that interventions that improve mental health might also boost the immune health of HIV-infected people. Adam Carrico of the University of California, San Francisco, and Michael Antoni, of the University of Miami, reviewed 14 studies on the subject conducted between 1987 and 2007. They write that, "psychological interventions represent a viable adjuvant treatment that can assist patients with improving psychological adjustment and potentially enhancing immune status."

According to Leserman, researchers could definitively link mental issues to physical health by launching what's known as the "gold standard" of research; a randomized, double-blind study. Hypothetically, researchers could track two randomly chosen groups of HIV patients, some whom are depressed and stressed and others who aren't.

But such a study would require researchers to not let the depressed patients be treated for mental problems, which is ethically and practically not possible. Both Leserman and Ironson believe that it is crucial to boost the health of HIV patients by helping them deal with the mental challenges they face outside of their disease.

"We should not give up on these people," Leserman said. "We should work with them to try to improve their lives."

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=90475


The Ironson conclusion summarize these studies very well:
"I would encourage patients to view the glass as half full instead of half empty. There's scientific evidence that that [good mental health] is related to slower disease progression."

Unfortunately, no proof (but evidences). In doubt, it won't hurt to lower the stress.

About depression:
http://www.medicinenet.com/depression/article.htm
Title: Micronutrient Supplemented Probiotic Yogurt for HIV/AIDS
Post by: John2038 on July 03, 2008, 04:23:10 pm

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00517803?recr=open&intr=dietary+supplements&rank=26

Estimated Enrollment: 30
Study Start Date: September 2007
Estimated Study Completion Date: May 2008

Purpose

We hypothesize that micronutrient fortified probiotic yogurt can improve nutritional status and enhance immunity parameters in subjects HIV/AIDS and other immunodeficiencies.

We have developed a micronutrient-fortified probiotic yogurt that has safe and beneficial levels of micronutrients for human consumption. This has been undertaken with the guidance of Edward Farnworth, a senior research scientist at Agri-Food Canada-Food Research and Development Centre, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec

We will now measure nutritional parameters (height, weight, serum albumin, serum nutrient levels, blood urea, liver function tests (AST, ALT)) to determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the various levels of fortified probiotic yogurt and the placebo on the nutritional parameters of the subjects consuming the yogurt.

We will measure immunological parameters (CD4 lymphocyte count, CBC, levels of TNFα, IL-12, IL-10, and G-CSF [Kim, et.al. 2006]) in order to determine if there is a statistically significant difference using fortified probiotic yogurt compared to a placebo.

In addition, we will determine if the micronutrient-fortified probiotic yogurt has a significant impact on the overall quality of life for the subjects using the "linear analogue self assessment" tool


Arms (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/help/arm_group_desc)Assigned Interventions  (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/help/interventions_desc)
1: ExperimentalDietary Supplement: Probiotic   Yogurt B: with various micronutrients
175g probiotic yogurt / day 25% RDA for each nutrient
Dietary Supplement: Probiotic   Yogurt A: Kaiser micronutrients
175g probiotic yogurt/ day 25% RDA for each nutrient
Dietary Supplement: Probiotic yogurt   C: with basic micronutrients
175g yogurt/ day 25% RDA for each nutrient
2: Placebo ComparatorDietary Supplement: Probiotic   Yogurt D: Placebo -- no added micronutrients
175g/day probiotic yogurt

 :D Why not ..
Title: Re: A Healthy Mind Can Help Fight HIV
Post by: bimazek on July 09, 2008, 12:02:47 am
did you see the study that proved that   celexa increased  T cell counts
I wonder if it would do that even if the person was not depressed the article seems to imply that
it had something to do with natural killer cells increasing
dont have time to find the link right now
about a month ago or two
Title: Re: A Healthy Mind Can Help Fight HIV
Post by: Matty the Damned on July 09, 2008, 07:51:36 pm
A healthy mind eh? The future seems grim for some.

MtD
Title: Re: A Healthy Mind Can Help Fight HIV
Post by: Jeff G on July 09, 2008, 08:19:03 pm
I'm doomed ...Doomed I tell ya
Title: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 10, 2008, 12:54:15 pm
Cleaning Infected Blood
Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0602-cleaning_infected_blood.htm

June 1, 2008 — Infectious disease experts designed a machine called the hemopurifier. It works much like a dialysis machine, using thin fibers to capture and remove viruses from the blood it filters. The machine requires the drawing of blood through an artery, which is sent through a tube into the machine, then back into the body. It can treat a number of illnesses.

Every day, 14,000 people are infected with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDs. There's no cure, but now a breakthrough -- a machine that could clean blood, keeping more and more people alive longer.

"I remember lying in bed thinking, 'I am going to die. I'm going to die. I feel so sick.' And I remember thinking laying in that bed, 'And I know exactly what it is,'" HIV patient John Paul Womble, told Ivanhoe. HIV could kill Womble. He watched his father die from the virus and now he is living the rest of his life with it. "I've got to live as healthy as I can, but this virus is not going to control me," he says. Now, a machine could help clean Womble's infected blood and keep him healthier, longer.

"It's designed to mimic the natural immune response of clearing viruses and toxins before cells and organs can be infected," Jim Joyce chairman and CEO of Aethlon Medical in San Diego, told Ivanhoe. Developed by infectious disease and biodefense experts, the hemopurifier works like a dialysis machine. Antibodies on these spaghetti-like fibers capture and remove viruses as blood filters through it.

"Your entire circulation flows through the cartridge about once every eight minutes," Joyce explains. The entire process takes less than a few hours. It could help patients infected with HIV, hepatitis C, as well as people with the measles, mumps and the flu. "The cartridge is able to selectively capture viruses."

A larger version of the machine would be used in a hospital, but a smaller one could be taken to emergencies. It could be a life-safer against the avian flu or bio-weapons like Ebola and small pox, giving people a chance to survive a deadly attack, whether it's from a terrorist or a virus.

"I don't have to be afraid," Womble says. "I have a virus. I've got to do something about that virus. I've got to treat that virus. I've got to live as healthy as I can." The hemopurifier is also a leading treatment candidate to protect United States civilian and military populations from bioterror threats and emerging pandemic threats like the bird flu and dengue fever that are untreatable with drugs and vaccines.

REMOVING VIRUSES FROM BLOOD: The hemopurifier uses antibodies to remove viruses as blood filters through it. It is designed to filter out viruses and toxins before they attack organs. The method is very similar to dialysis, and can be used to help patients with HIV, Hepatitis C, the measles, mumps, the flu, and more. It can also begin working before doctors identify the cause of the illness.

WHAT IS DIALYSIS? Hemodialysis is often used as a treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, in which blood is removed from the body, filtered through an artificial kidney and then the cleaned blood is returned to the body. In the US, hemodialysis is the most common treatment for people who have kidney failure. However, dialysis is also a painful, expensive procedure, and while it cleans the blood well enough to maintain existence, it does little to improve a patient's overall quality of life. Also, data shows that if patients get a transplant before they get to the point of dialysis, they do better in the longer term.


Video available on this site as well.
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 10, 2008, 01:05:33 pm
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=95588&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1168824&highlight=

Aethlon Medical Announces ''First-In-Man'' HIV/AIDS Treatment Study

SAN DIEGO, Jun 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to initiate the first-in-man clinical study of a medical device to treat the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The Aethlon Hemopurifier(R) is a medical device created to provide real-time therapeutic filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins. The Hemopurifier(R) holds promise to extend the lives of AIDS patients by removing HIV strains that cause drug failure and reducing the presence of viral proteins that kill-off immune cells. The clinical study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee at the Jattinder Gambhir Hospital (J.G. Hospital) in Punjab, India and is anticipated to begin in September.

The Hemopurifier(R) provides a unique strategy to prolong the lives of AIDS patients who are increasingly becoming resistant to their drug regimens, stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, James A. Joyce. In the absence of a curative vaccine, the largest void in HIV care remains a method to slow the proliferation of drug resistant strains produced by the constantly mutating AIDS virus. Clinical validation that the Hemopurifier(R) can fill this void would also establish the opportunity to enhance and extend the benefit of both established and candidate drug therapies, concluded Joyce.

The J.G. Hospital study will evaluate the treatment effectiveness of the Hemopurifier(R) during single-use treatments lasting up to 4 hours as well as sustained benefit resulting from intermittent treatments administered thrice weekly during extended treatment periods. The successful demonstration of treatment benefit would provide Aethlon with an early commercialization opportunity within India's practitioner driven medical device marketplace. With an estimated 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS, India has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the world according to UNAIDS. Among 15-49 year olds, an estimated 5.2 million are living with the disease, according to India's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).

Aethlon further disclosed that two candidates remain to be enrolled and treated to complete human safety studies currently being conducted at the Fortis Hospital in Delhi, India. Completion of the study is anticipated, but not required to occur, in advance of the HIV treatment studies to be conducted at the J.G. Hospital. Aethlon previously demonstrated treatment safety of the Hemopurifier(R) in a 24-treatment study conducted at the Apollo Hospital, also located in Delhi.

About Aethlon Medical

Aethlon Medical is the developer of the Hemopurifier(R), a first-in-class medical device designed to treat infectious disease. The Hemopurifier(R) provides real-time therapeutic filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive particles, and is positioned to address the treatment of drug and vaccine resistant viruses. Additionally, the device holds promise in cancer care, as research studies have verified the Hemopurifier(R) is able to capture immunosuppressive particles secreted by tumors. The Hemopurifier(R) is designed to act both as a stand-alone therapeutic, and as an adjunct treatment to enhance clinical benefit of established therapies. Pre-clinical studies conducted by researchers representing leading government and non-government health organizations both in the United States and abroad have documented the effectiveness of the Hemopurifier(R) in capturing from circulation the viruses that constitute pandemic threats, including H5N1 Avian Influenza (bird flu), and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) from circulation. The company is conducting studies to support the use of the Hemopurifier(R) as a broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against bioterror threats, including Smallpox, and Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa hemorrhagic fever. Regulatory and commercialization initiatives in the United States are presently focused on bioterror threats, while international initiatives are directed toward naturally evolving pandemic threats, and chronic infectious disease conditions including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis-C (HCV). Aethlon demonstrated the safety of the Hemopurifier(R) in a 24-treatment human study at the Apollo Hospital in Delhi, India, and is currently conducting further human studies at the Fortis Hospital, also located in Delhi. The company has submitted an investigational device exemption (IDE) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advance the Hemopurifier(R) as a broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against category A bioterror threats. Additional information regarding Aethlon Medical and its Hemopurifier(R) technology is available online at www.aethlonmedical.com.

Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the Company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE: Aethlon Medical, Inc.

Aethlon Medical, Inc.
Cynthia Bond
Director of Investor Relations
858-735-0069, cbond@aethlonmedical.com or
James A. Joyce
Chairman, CEO
619-368-2000, jj@aethlonmedical.com

Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: bimazek on July 10, 2008, 09:34:28 pm
Aethlon Medical many articles on the website about hiv and the device
http://www.aethlonmedical.com/technology/publications.htm


this one in particular is very clear about how hiv does it dirty work via proteins etc
worth a read, many will get info from this
http://www.aethlonmedical.com/pdfs/TCellDepletion.pdf
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 11, 2008, 02:15:24 am
I agree with you bimazek, many of there articles are interesting.

Among those, I like these one
http://www.aethlonmedical.com/pdfs/RemovalHIV1InfectedBlood.pdf
http://www.aethlonmedical.com/pdfs/MathematicalModel.pdf

I like the idea. Maybe doing such dialysis will be one day a solution for those on salvage therapy or those willing to it earlier, in order to be able to wait for a new drug (or willing to postpone the start of the HARRT).

These technology may also be improved and the time to filter reduced drastically (45% VL reduction after 3h, 87%  after 19 h).

I don't know how fast the VL growth after these dialysis, but I will follow the human tests (representative sample) with interest, as well as the conclusions of such study.
For the liver, dialysis is effective. Why not with HIV ? In more, such approach can reduce the amount of others virus, giving some space to the body o fight HIV (if these others virus are replicating at a lower rate for eg).
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: risred1 on July 11, 2008, 11:50:12 am
I really don't get what this is about.

Prior attempts to filter blood have failed because the virus isn't just in the blood, its in your lymphatic system and in your tissues. Its not just floating around.

HIV hides from anti bodies and control cells that "command" antibodies, that why our immune system can't remove it.

If it lowers VL in the blood, I guess that's a good thing, however, what is really the impact on your T-Cells? HIV destroys the immune system. How would this actually help the body and your immune system recover? Especially if you can't clear it from the lymph nodes where much of this activity is occurring?

How reputable is Science Daily, with its adverts form the George Foreman Grill prominently displayed?

I need more.... Lots More...

Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: MYSTERY on July 11, 2008, 12:16:13 pm
I really don't get what this is about.

Prior attempts to filter blood have failed because the virus isn't just in the blood, its in your lymphatic system and in your tissues. Its not just floating around.

HIV hides from anti bodies and control cells that "command" antibodies, that why our immune system can't remove it.

If it lowers VL in the blood, I guess that's a good thing, however, what is really the impact on your T-Cells? HIV destroys the immune system. How would this actually help the body and your immune system recover? Especially if you can't clear it from the lymph nodes where much of this activity is occurring?

How reputable is Science Daily, with its adverts form the George Foreman Grill prominently displayed?

I need more.... Lots More...

I agree with you. Doesn't this sound like on of those gagets you can buy on the home shopping network for 19.95 and if you hurry to order they would include another hemopurifier in for free.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: bimazek on July 13, 2008, 01:55:52 am
why is this not salvage therapy NOW for the 15 or is it 45 people in usa who die every day of aids
is it money
is it the fact that now that a huge majority of us have a 20 year plus horizon that we dont want to march and protest to save those few
who can help get the people who need it on this salvage therapy??
where can we get the money to treat all in usa

why are people dying every day in usa from hiv when we have this device ??

 is this compassionate use yet??

why are we sending 50 billion over seas for aids when tens of thousands die each year in USA

why are we not acting up any more

i marched and protested in SF in 80s

where is the strong voices today?

Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: leit on July 13, 2008, 04:02:18 am

Hi, bimazek!

why is this not salvage therapy NOW for the 15 or is it 45 people in usa who die every day of aids

Because it is NOT a therapy at all (but very old, recycled bullshit), as "risred1" has already explained you above.

Quote
is it the fact that now that a huge majority of us have a 20 year plus horizon that we dont want to march and protest

Incidentally, physicians and researchers always forget to say how dark is the colour of that "horizon"...

Quote
why are we sending 50 billion over seas for aids when tens of thousands die each year in USA

Good question, indeed, since HAART-charity will resolve nothing over there!

Quote
why are we not acting up any more

Maybe because people believe that HAART is a real therapy, while it's only a stopgap?
Maybe because people have forgotten, or have never known, what "life" means, and so they think that life if compatible with HIV+HAART?

Quote
where is the strong voices today?

Dead, or too sick and tired, or too young and hopeful to realize.

I hope to know other opinions about the big questions you put.
Bye for now!
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 13, 2008, 11:40:08 am
..but very old, recycled bullshit..

Could you explain? You are providing no arguments nor links.
Title: Positive thinking is prescription for the heart
Post by: John2038 on July 15, 2008, 02:45:52 pm
Positive thinking is prescription for the heart

Optimism is good for heart health, at least among men, a new study shows.

University of Rochester Medical Center researcher Robert Gramling, M.D., D.Sc., found that men who believed they were at lower-than-average risk for cardiovascular disease actually experienced a three times lower incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes.

The data did not support the same conclusion among women. One possible explanation for the gender difference, researchers said, is that the study began in 1990, a time when heart disease was believed to be primarily a threat to men. Therefore, women's judgments about how often heart attacks occur among average women might have been disproportionately low.

The study is published in the July-August issue of Annals of Family Medicine.

The 15-year surveillance study involved 2,816 adults in New England between the ages of 35 and 75 who had no history of heart disease. Researchers collected baseline data from 1990-1992; outcomes were obtained from the National Death Index records through December 2005.

Researchers were interested in measuring whether optimistic perceptions of risk might protect people from the fear-related coping behaviors (overeating comfort foods, too much alcohol, or avoiding the doctor) or the stress that can be associated with heart disease.

They asked people at the outset, "Compared with persons of your own age and sex, how would you rate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years?"

Men's views were more discordant. Almost half of the men who self-rated their risk to be "low" would have been classified by objective medical tests as having "high" or "very high" risk. Most women who rated their risk to be "low" were far more accurate than the men.

"Clearly, holding optimistic perceptions of risk has its advantages for men," said Gramling, an assistant professor of Family Medicine and Community and Preventive Medicine.

If doctors are to accurately explain risks to patients, it's important for them to first understand how people perceive health risks. The study also pointed out that as genetic testing and advanced imaging continues to offer individuals more information about their future health, good communication is essential.

"It is not clear whether we should seek to disabuse people of optimistic 'misperceptions' in pursuit of changing behavior." Gramling said. "Perhaps we should work on changing behaviors by instilling more confidence in the capacity to prevent having a heart attack, rather than raising fears about having one."


http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/uorm-pti071408.php

I have improve a lot my positive thinking  (since 6 weeks now) just doing simple things.
And the result: feeling much much better physically and emotionally. Really.

Very difficult to start, but once started, things improve by themselves.
BTW, improve diet, reduced smoking, increasing sport, working better, etc..

So such study is not surprising me: Thinking positively (a consequence of improving my lifestyle) make me really feel much better in my mind and my body
So I can't imagine it can be anything else than good for my health as well.
Title: Any news from this enzyme able to remove the virus from infected cells ?
Post by: John2038 on July 15, 2008, 03:50:06 pm
CHICAGO (Thomson Financial) - In a breakthrough that could potentially lead to a cure for HIV infection, scientists have discovered a way to remove the virus from infected cells, a study released today said.

The scientists engineered an enzyme which attacks the DNA of the HIV virus and cuts it out of the infected cell, according to the study published in Science magazine.

The enzyme is still far from being ready to use as a treatment, the authors warned, but it offers a glimmer of hope for the more than 40 mln people infected worldwide.

'A customized enzyme that effectively excises integrated HIV-1 from infected cells in vitro might one day help to eradicate (the) virus from AIDS patients,' Alan Engelman, of Harvard University's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, wrote in an article accompanying the study.

Current treatments focus on suppressing the HIV virus in order to delay the onset of AIDS and dramatically extend the life of infected patients.

What makes HIV so deadly, however, is its ability to insert itself into the body's cells and force those cells to produce new infection.

'Consequently the virus becomes inextricably linked to the host, making it virtually impossible to 'cure' AIDS patients of their HIV-1 infection,' Engelman explained.

That could change if the enzyme developed by a group of German scientists can be made safe to use on people.

That enzyme was able to eliminate the HIV virus from infected human cells in about three months in the laboratory.

The researchers engineered an enzyme called Tre which removes the virus from the genome of infected cells by recognizing and then recombining the structure of the virus's DNA.

This ability to recognize HIV's DNA might one day help overcome one of the biggest obstacles to finding a cure: the ability of the HIV virus to avoid detection by reverting to a resting state within infected cells which then cease to produce the virus for months or even years.

'Numerous attempts have been made to activate these cells, with the hope that such strategies would sensitize the accompanying viruses to antiviral drugs, leading to virus eradication,' Engelman wrote.

'Advances with such approaches in patients have been slow to materialize.'

New experiments must be designed to see if the Tre enzyme can be used to recognize these dormant infected cells, he wrote.

'Although favorable results would represent perhaps only a baby step toward eventual use in patients, the discovery of the Tre recombinase proves that enzymatic removal of integrated HIV-1 from human chromosomes is a current-day reality,' he said.

The researchers who developed the enzyme were optimistic about their ability to design additional enzymes which would target other parts of the virus's DNA.

However they warned that there were significant barriers to overcome before the enzyme could be used to help cure patients.

'The most important, and likely most difficult, among these is that the enzyme would need efficient and safe means of delivery and would have to be able to function without adverse side effects,' wrote lead author Indrani Sarkar of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden.

'Nevertheless the results we present offer an early proof of principal for this type of approach, which we speculate might form a useful basis for the development of future HIV therapies,' Sarkar concluded.


http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/06/28/afx3868315.html
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: bimazek on July 15, 2008, 03:59:11 pm
this could be huge huge huge, and john2038 can you create a new thread on this topix and search out and see if there is any info on the corp website of this company       since i have be Muzzled by the owners of the site from creating new subjects and new threads on the research forum ... if i was in late stage salvage therapy i would get to NJ and get on this trial!!!! it is Utra violet light therapy!!!!!! something that i thought would work 25 years ago against hiv

this could be huge step forward!!! i hope it works out well

ALLENDALE, N.J., Jul 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Energex Systems, Inc. announced today that it has been granted approval from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

 Energex Systems' HemoModulation(TM) therapy is an extracorporeal treatment that involves exposing a small amount of an infected subject's blood (3-4%) to a precise amount of ultra-violet light (UV), for a precise amount of time. During the process, any pathogen in the blood that is directly exposed to the UV energy is inactivated. After exposure, the blood carrying the inactive pathogen is returned to the patient through the same portal it was drawn from. The hypothesis is that UV-inactivated virus will serve as an autologous vaccine and stimulate the patient's immune system against their own strain of virus. The treatment process takes 20-30 minutes. An animation of the procedure can be viewed at http://www.energexsystems.com/hemomod.htm.
"Our application to the FDA was supported by the results of two human HCV trials that included over 200 treatments, as well as the results of a trial that was conducted in rhesus macaque monkeys infected with the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), the most widely accepted animal model for in vivo studies of immune responses and therapy effectiveness against the progression of HIV/AIDS" said Thomas Petrie, the company's Director of Engineering, Research and Development. "The basis for the rhesus macaque model acceptance is that SIV infects the same types of cells as found in HIV infected humans and the clinical AIDS that develops in monkeys is the same as that seen in humans. The monkey model is a particularly stringent test for evaluating immunotherapies, even more so than HIV in humans. The viral loads of SIV infected monkeys are generally higher compared to HIV infected humans. Moreover, AIDS in monkeys develops in less than 5 years compared to a 7-12 year course in untreated humans", said Petrie.
"We believe our HemoModulator technology and the therapy it provides is extremely promising in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other RNA type viruses," said Thomas J. Fagan, CEO & President of Energex Systems. "We are excited about the potential that it has to manage these hard to treat diseases, to reduce the cost of care, and to provide a better quality of life for the millions that suffer from them" said Fagan.
Energex Systems is dedicated to developing medical technologies and therapies with an emphasis on the treatment of conditions unmet by present day therapies and reducing the cost of care.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/fda-approves-energex-systems-inc/story.aspx?guid={7E9D38FC-2D96-48BD-BA48-C1584995CAFC}&dist=hppr

ALLENDALE, N.J., Jul 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Energex Systems, Inc. announced today that it has been granted approval from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to utilize its experimental HemoModulation(TM) therapy in a clinical trial of HIV infected patients. The purpose of the study will be to demonstrate safety and monitor viral load changes in patients who are not yet eligible for antiviral drug therapy.
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: bimazek on July 15, 2008, 04:05:56 pm
OVERVIEW

wow wow wow this is cool and very different... like a vaccine!!! not an ultra violet cleaner but an ultra violet
blood modulator that kills and breaks apart the virus and then LIKE OPAL therapy infuses the broken apart pieces of the virus back into the body so the the body can stimulate immune system and attack the real virus
basically i think that the UV does the same thing that OPAL does Ex Vivo and then the bodies human immune system does the rest because there must be millions of pieces of the virus peptides and proteins partially or completely inactivated but they are shapes and give and teach the immune system to attack the virus!!!!

there is a video too
but i couldnt get it to work


"After exposure, the blood carrying the inactive pathogen is returned to the patient through the same portal it was drawn from. The result, we believe, is a stimulation of the immune system. The process takes 20-30 minutes.

The Hemo-Modulator technology was developed to utilize ultra-violet light in the C band (UVC) energy is the backbone of our Hemo-Modulator technology, developed for treatment of blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and other Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) viruses. Unlike conventional drug therapies that appear to be limited by a patient's ethnicity and viral genotype, Energex Systems is hopeful that clinical studies will establish that this unique therapy is safe and highly effective for all ethnic groups and viral genotypes. 

TREATMENT
http://www.energexsystems.com/hemomod.htm
The treatment process involves removing a small amount of infected blood (3-4%) from the patient, then exposing the blood to a very precise amount of UVC energy for a very precise amount of time. During treatment, any pathogen in the blood that is exposed to the UVC energy is inactivated. After exposure, the blood carrying the inactive pathogen is returned to the patient through the same portal it was drawn from. The result, we believe, is a stimulation of the immune system. The process takes 20-30 minutes.





  Hemo-Modulator technology:

Ultra-violet light in the C band (UVC) energy treatment of blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and other Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) viruses. Unlike conventional drug therapies that are limited by the patient's ethnicity and geno-types we are hopeful that our clinical studies will establish that this unique therapy is safe and highly effective in all ethnic groups and genotypes. 

Preliminary results of our Hepatitis C clinical trial performed at Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, NJ, have shown substainial reductions in viral load for most of the trial participants treated with the Hemo-Modulator technology. The trial is being conducted under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) that was granted by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  In the trial, the average viral load reduction of the first three participants was approximately 81% in just a 17-day period, and there have been no adverse events.
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 15, 2008, 04:30:29 pm
bimazek,

your video on youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cvtLpZ5b4wc&feature=related


Well, if any of these technics could help, then it's fine. They aren't a cure for sure. But they may help, as the dialysis help.

I just hopes physics will some day, offer a treatment. Maybe involving radio-active particles, or specific waves.
Nowadays, the best treatment against cancer is the chemio-therapy, and it is using waves.
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 15, 2008, 04:44:07 pm
This video (still from EnergexSystems) is much more interesting:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IQ6YLape9J0

Note:
Physics might help is many ways, not only waves. Will see.

Title: Fast-food & liver
Post by: John2038 on July 17, 2008, 12:21:57 pm
Before accusing the meds or HIV to be only reason your ALT rose, you maybe want to read this no-so-recent study (despite I guess it's nothing new for most of you).

(http://afp.google.com/media/ALeqM5iWTQFB2si7NpiVZKnKeo33mfLIHQ?size=s)


Fast-food binge harms liver, but boosts good cholesterol: study

Feb 13, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — A month-long diet of fast food and no exercise led to dangerously high levels of enzymes linked to liver damage, in an unusual experiment inspired by the docu-movie "Supersize Me."

But investigators, reporting their findings on Thursday, were also stunned to find that a relentless regimen of burgers, fries and soda also boosted so-called good cholesterol, seen as a key measure of cardiovascular health.

Researchers in Sweden asked 12 men and six women in their twenties, all slim and in good health, to eat two meals per day at McDonalds, Burger King or other fast-food restaurants over four weeks.

The volunteers were also told to refrain from exercising. The goal was to increase body weight by 10 to 15 percent to measure the impact of an abrupt surge in calorie intake.

Blood samples were taken before, during and after the experiment to monitor levels of an enzyme called alanine aminotransferase, or ALT, a potential marker for liver damage often seen among heavy drinkers and patients with hepatitis C.

Levels of ALT increased sharply after only one week, and quadrupled on average over the entire period, said lead researcher Frederik Nystrom, a doctor at the University Hospital of Linkoping.

"The results scared me," he told AFP. "One of the subjects had to be withdrawn from the study because he had 10 times the normal ALT levels."

For 11 of the 18 subjects, ALT rose to levels that would normally reflect liver damage, even among individuals who did not drink any alcohol, although no such damage occurred, he said.

Two of the individuals had liver steatosis, or fatty liver, in which fat cells build up dangerously in the liver, he said. Steatosis is associated with the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which has taken on epidemic proportions, especially in industrialised countries.

Published in the British Medical Association's journal Gut, the study "proves that high ALT levels can be caused by food alone," said Nystrom.

That signs of liver damage were linked to carbohydrates was another key finding, he said.

"It was not the fat in the hamburgers, it was rather the sugar in the coke," he said.

But the most startling result implies that an intensive fast food diet might have some health benefits too, apparently from fat.

"We found that healthy HDL cholesterol actually increased over the four-week period -- this was very counter-intuitive," Nystrom said.

HDL, sometimes called "good cholesterol," seems to clean the walls of blood vessels, removing excess "bad cholesterol" that can cause coronary artery disease and transporting it to the liver for processing.

Nystrom has yet to publish the cholesterol findings, but said they were consistent with the so-called "French Paradox."

For nearly two decades, scientists have wrestled to explain how the French can consume a diet rich in fats -- from abundant butter, cream, cheese and meat -- yet have generally low levels of heart disease and hypertension.

"The study showed that the increase in saturated fat correlated with the increase in healthy cholesterol," he said.

The young Swedish guinea pigs ate at least two fast-food meals a day, and terminated the study once they had gained a maximum of 15 percent in weight.

On average, they tipped the scales 6.5 kilos (14.3 pounds) more, but one ballooned by 12 kilos (26.4 pounds).

Nystrom got the idea for his study from the 2004 Oscar-nominated documentary "Supersize Me," in which filmmaker Morgan Spurlock asked doctors to monitor him over a 30-day period in which he ate at McDonalds morning, noon and night.

Doctors were so alarmed by changes in his blood chemistry -- including skyrocketing levels of ALT -- that they begged him to halt his experiment.

"I wasn't just inspired by the movie, I copied it to the best of my ability," said Nystrom.

The movie helped spur a change of tack by fast-food corporations to include healthier options on their menus.

On their websites, McDonald's and Burger King highlight salads and low-fat products -- alongside the classic burgers and colas -- and offer guidance on balanced diets and a healthy lifestyle.


http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWRfNVt_dQqnP0fGYvSRtovVY9Qg
Title: Re: Fast-food & liver
Post by: John2038 on July 17, 2008, 02:40:15 pm
Study available here: http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/rapidpdf/gut.2007.131797v1 [pdf]

Results


Conclusion:
Hyper-alimentation per se can induce profound ALT elevations in less than 4 weeks.
Our study clearly shows that in the evaluation of subjects with elevated ALT the medical history should include not only
questions about alcohol intake but also explore whether recent excessive food intake has occurred.
Title: Re: Fast-food & liver
Post by: bocker3 on July 17, 2008, 10:15:43 pm
This is interesting -- I remember being a little surprised when I saw "Supersize me".

However, I don't know that it is necessarily "fast-food" per se, that is the culprit, rather it is a sudden increase in calories and, thus body mass.  This quote is most telling:

"The volunteers were also told to refrain from exercising. The goal was to increase body weight by 10 to 15 percent to measure the impact of an abrupt surge in calorie intake."

I am guessing, that any diet that could increase your weight by 10-15% in 2 weeks would strain the liver.

Plus, I'm not sure that an ALT of 97 is a "profound" increase - hell when I was 3 weeks into a Hepatitis A infection, my ALT was over 1600 -- I'm sure that wasn't the highest it got, but it was the only reading taken.

Mike
Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on July 18, 2008, 06:30:54 pm
Agenda: http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/PAG.aspx

Many subject, a short selection of them below.
VRX496 & Abzyme ?

PHARMA SATELLITE
SUN AUG 3

SUSAT48
15:45   Clinical Applications of HAART Initiation
Judy Aberg
16:10   Current Treatment Guidelines and Practices for Therapy Initiation
Niel Malan
16:35   Impact of Early Initiation on Patient Outcomes
Juergen Rockstroh
17:00   Treatment Options: Recent Impact of New Data / the CASTLE study
Katheleen Squires

13:40   Safety of NRTI Backbones: what are the risks?
Juergen Rockstroh
14:00   Efficacy of NRTI Backbones: implications of recent findings
Joseph Eron
14:20   NRTIs: Past, Present and Future

MON AUG 5

Incorporating New Therapeutic Classes in HIV Management:

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of New Drug Classes
Anton Pozniak
Management Considerations: Resistance and Tropism
Daniel Kuritzkes
The Clinical Role of New Drug Classes in Optimizing Treatment Outcomes
Rafael Campo


VACCINES

WED AUG 6

13:00 - WEPDA201
Long lasting CD8 cellular immune responses can suppress viral replication and protect macaques from AIDS like symptoms
Presented by Jean Boyer - J. Boyer, J. Yin, A. Dai - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States

13:05 - WEPDA202
SIV Nef-mediated MHC class I down-regulation protects SIV-infected rhesus macaque CD4+ T-cell clones from SIV Gag-specific CD8+ T cell-mediated suppression of virus replication in vitro
Presented by Claes Ohlen - J.T. Minang, M.T. Trivett, E.V. Barsov, F. Yuan, M. Piatak, J.D. Lifson, D.E. Ott, C. Ohlen
SAIC-Frederick, AIDS Vaccine Program, Frederick, United States

THU AUG 07

14:30 - THAA0201
Distinct expression pattern of telomere maintenance and shelterin genes in HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells from HIV-1 'elite' controllers
Presented by Mathias Lichterfeld M. Lichterfeld, T. Cung, H. Chen, F. Pereyra, E. Rosenberg, B. Walker, X. Yu - Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medicine, Boston, United States, 2Partners AIDS Research Center, Boston, United States, 3Partners AIDS Research Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, United States

14:45 - THAA0202
Reduced in vitro replication capacity by chimeric NL4-3 viruses encoding gag-protease from HIV-1 elite controllers
Presented by Toshiyuki Miura - T. Miura1, M. Brockman1, C. Brumme1, Z. Brumme1, F. Pereyra1, A. Schneidewind1, A. Trocha1, D. Heckerman2, B. Walker1 - Massachusetts General Hospital, AIDS research center, Charlestown, United States, 2Microsoft Research, Seattle, United States

15:00 - THAA0203
Evolution of the functional profile of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells in a cohort of long term nonprogressors
Presented by Jose Miguel Benito - M. Lopez, N. Rallón, A. Peris, M. Salgado, B. Rodés, V. Soriano, J. González-Lahoz, J.M. Benito - Hospital Carlos III, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Madrid, Spain

15:15 - THAA0204
Characterization of host genetic expression patterns in HIV-infected individuals with divergent disease progression
Presented by Maria Salgado - M. Salgado1, P. Lopez-Romero2, S. Callejas2, M. Lopez1, P. Labarga1, A. Dopazo2, V. Soriano1, B. Rodes - Hospital Carlos III, Infectious Diseases Department, Madrid, Spain, 2CNIC, Genomic Unit, Madrid, Spain

15:30 - THAA0205
Interleukin-15 is highly expressed by monocytes of HIV infected long-term nonprogressors and is responsive to IFN-g stimulation
Presented by Maciej Tarkowski - M. Tarkowski1, L. Ferraris1, B. Zanone Poma1, E. Gianelli1, F. Strambio de Castillia1, E. Lattuada2, G. Paraninfo3, M. Galli1, A. Riva1, Elvis Study Group - University of Milan, Department of Clinical Sciences, Milan, Italy, 2Policlinico Borgo Roma, Dipartimento di Patologia Medica Unità Operativa di Malattie Infettive, Verona, Italy, 3A. O. Spedali Civili, Clinica di Malattia Infettive e Tropicali Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: Peter Staley on July 19, 2008, 11:16:20 am
Dear forums members:

This is a message I post from time to time as a general warning.  A few of our regulars in this Research Forum, notably John2038 and bimazek, have a tendency to view each potential new AIDS therapy as a possible cure.  Neither of them are on treatment, and neither is an "expert" in HIV research (in the opinion of our own experts at AIDSmeds.com).

They both over-hype every press release or early study they read about, and fail to keep things in proper perspective.  The history of AIDS research is littered with therapies that sound just as good at first, but don't pan out later in the larger clinical trials.

Please take their postings with a grain of salt.

Peter Staley
Founder
AIDSmeds.com

P.S.  The AIDSmeds team is actually very skeptical about this particular medical device and the claims made about.
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: MYSTERY on July 19, 2008, 03:18:17 pm
I would have to applaude them for there effort in finding information to help, but like I have said in the past until I have the pills in hand and washing them down with a glass of water I am not going to get to excited about any new treatment.
Title: Re: Mexico AIDS 2008 - Agenda
Post by: anniebc on July 19, 2008, 06:16:52 pm
John

Only 3 peeople as far as I know are going from the forums and I trust they have all the information they need.

A full report will be given via this site after the event.

Jan
Title: WSA World Summit of Antivirals - 20-26 July 2008 - Yunnan, China
Post by: John2038 on July 20, 2008, 02:32:31 pm
BIT's first annual

http://www.bitlifesciences.com/wsa2008/

WSA-2008 is a focused event for updating the current advances in worldwide R & D of Novel Antiviral Therapeutics. The anticipated attendees will represent top-level decision makers from leading biotech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare organizations.

Among the speakers:
   
Robert C. Gallo
Director, IHV, UMD, USA
1982 & 1986 Albert Lasker Award
   
Harald zur Hausen
Chairman, German Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Germany
   
Debrework Zewdie
World Bank's Director for the Global HIV/AIDS program, USA
   
Luc Montagnier
President, World Foundation Aids Research and Prevention,Paris, France

Pierre Tiollais
Professor, Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit, INSERM, Institut Pasteur, France
   
Flossie Wong-Staal
Professor, UCSD
Founder and CSO, ItherX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., USA
   
Kevin Hrusovsky
President & CEO, Caliper Life Sciences, USA
Title: VIRxSYS to Host a Web Conference to Announce Clinical Trial Update
Post by: John2038 on July 21, 2008, 02:38:30 pm
A Web Conference on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 11 a.m. EDT. Details below. Could someone attend and provide an update ?
https:// www.livemeeting.com/cc/vcc/join?id=w5395452&role=attend&pw=A539545 and toll-free conference line: (800) 768-6570, using the passcode 5395452.

Purpose: update on the VRX496 Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for the media and members of the advocacy community.


VIRxSYS to Host a Web Conference to Announce Clinical Trial Update

Summary of data from five 2008 conferences

Last update: 1:39 p.m. EDT July 21, 2008
GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 21, 2008


The speakers will be:
-- Gary McGarrity, PhD, Executive Vice President for Scientific Affairs, VIRxSYS
-- Carl June, MD, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

"Over the last six months we have presented clinical trial update for VRX496 and preclinical development update for VRX1023 at five conferences in three countries.
We wanted to take this opportunity to summarize what we have shown over the last six months as well as talk about what we have learned at the conferences regarding how VRX496 and VRX1023 might play in the treatment of HIV infection," said Riku Rautsola, PhD, President and CEO of VIRxSYS.

"These conferences have not just been an opportunity to present our data, but we have also learned more about what we do and gotten feedback from leaders in the field. For example, in Paris, Dr. Fauci's presentation focused on the discovery and identification of a new immune cell receptor that binds to HIV, a cell adhesion molecule known as integrin alpha 4 beta 7 that is found to direct CD4 T cell traffic to GALT and enhance cellular interaction through forming synapses between T cells. This was interesting and welcome news for VIRxSYS because VRX-496 transduced CD4 T cells have a high expression of the same receptors and there is large presence of such T cells in GALT."

VIRxSYS presented data at the following four conferences in the first half of 2008:

Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (Boston, MA, USA) February 2008
Results demonstrating the slowing and possible halting of HIV replication in humans were presented from the Phase II trial of VRX496, a gene therapy treatment for patients with AIDS. VRX496 is a lentiviral vector that is derived from HIV-1 itself but has the disease-causing elements removed. VIRxSYS used this vector to deliver RNA antisense targeting the HIV envelope and observed that VRX496 appeared to cause wild type (wt)-HIV particles to lose their envelopes. Additionally, the in vivo pressure delivered by a patient's own modified cells led to massive quasispecies reductions and the production of impaired and less replicative virions. Treatment with VRX496 appeared to have a measurable effect on the replicative fitness of HIV for up to three years following just one injection.

Keystone Symposia on Molecular Mechanisms of HIV Pathogenesis and HIV Vaccine (Banff, Alberta, Canada) March 2008
VIRxSYS presented initial mouse and primate data from the study of VRX1023, a new vaccine approach that uses a lentiviral vector expressing HIV antigens. In the study, VRX1023 delivered antigens that induced long-lasting cellular and humoral immune responses, better than those seen with other viral vectors, a powerful approach used to elicit anti-HIV immune responses. The goal of VRX1023 is to induce a powerful immune response, thereby reducing the impact of the first stages of infection by preventing the massive destruction of CD4 T cells that ensues. Activation of both cellular and humoral immunity can also halt the slow destruction of the immune system by the latently dormant virus. The results from these studies of VRX1023 have led to the initiation of further confirmatory studies in primates.

Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) May 2008
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the isolation of HIV, researchers gathered at the Institut Pasteur to present cutting edge viral and clinical research. Present at this conference were Dr. Robert Gallo and Dr. Luc Montagnier, the discoverers of HIV. At the Institut Pasteur, VIRxSYS presented data from the preclinical studies of VRX1023. This innovative anti-HIV vaccine, which uses an HIV-based lentivector as vector boost, aims to reduce the impact of hyper-viremia in the first few weeks of infection. VRX1023 offers new hope for the development of an HIV-vaccine.

American Society of Gene Therapy (Boston, MA, USA) May 2008
At the American Society of Gene Therapy conference, Dr. Carl June and Dr. John Zaia presented updates on the safety of VRX496 in Phase II clinical trials. VRX496 continues to demonstrate a strong safety profile, with no adverse events associated with the treatment, which is being administered to patients using one, two, four or eight doses. The Phase II results also allowed the researchers to have a better understanding of how VRX496 works. Unlike anti-retroviral drugs, VRX496 appears to bind to the RNA of HIV, changing the genetics and biology of the virus, including the molecular diversity of HIV and the replicative fitness. In addition to these results, VIRxSYS also presented three posters on their new gene therapy vaccine, VRX1023. VRX1023 is a preclinical investigational prophylactic HIV vaccine that aims to protect but not totally sterilize individuals, thereby minimizing the likelihood of new infections.

Conference on Lentiviral Vectors (Evry, France) July 2008
VIRxSYS was invited to present its patient monitoring data at this international conference funded by the European Community. As the sponsor of the world's first clinical trial using lentiviral vectors, VIRxSYS has the most extensive data base of patient safety monitoring, in addition to being the largest manufacturer of clinical grade lentiviral vectors.


About VRX496
VRX496 is an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Current therapies for HIV-infected patients require daily drug regimens and have well documented side effects. It is anticipated that VRX496 will only require a minimal number of infusions and, to date, has been infused in 60 patients, which represents an accumulative time period of 110 therapy years. VRX496 also is different from previous gene therapies because it uses a lentiviral vector derived from HIV-1 itself. Unlike other viral vectors, lentiviral vectors appear to sustain expression of the delivered genes of interest for a longer period of time and do not appear to elicit an inflammatory immune response.

About VRX1023
VRX1023 is a preclinical investigational prophylactic HIV vaccine currently showing encouraging results in trials using small animals. Non-human primate studies are currently in progress. The objective of VRX1023 is to provide long-term immune protection against HIV replication, preventing the massive destruction of CD4 T cells and also halting the subsequent slow destruction of the immune system by HIV.

About VIRxSYS
VIRxSYS is a private biotechnology company using proprietary lentiviral vector delivery and RNA payload platforms to develop therapies for serious human diseases. The Company's initial lentiviral delivery technology was exclusively licensed from The Johns Hopkins University and has been substantially advanced in the Company's laboratories. The RNA payload technology was acquired and has been integrated with the Company's lentiviral delivery technology. In addition to preclinical programs for cardiovascular and genetics the Company is currently developing gene and vaccine therapies for HIV, one of which, VRX496, has advanced to Phase II human clinical trials. More information regarding VIRxSYS can be found at www.virxsys.com. Details for the Phase II study can be found at the NIH clinical trials website at clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00131560.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, in particular statements related to the research and development of VRX496. Such statements reflect the current views of VIRxSYS and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and uncertainties related to drug development activities. There can be no assurance that such development efforts will succeed, that the products will receive required regulatory clearance or, even if such regulatory clearance is received, that the subsequent products will ultimately achieve commercial success. Further, any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof, and VIRxSYS expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise may be required by applicable law or regulation.
Contact: Russell LaMontagne
Phone: 212.255.5340


I am a bit pessimistic as during our last meeting, VIRxSYS have more focused on the technical difficulties (to produce for e.g. such therapy) than on the result.

KP-1461  II  ......
Title: Re: VIRxSYS to Host a Web Conference to Announce Clinical Trial Update
Post by: leit on July 21, 2008, 03:24:57 pm
I am a bit pessimistic as during our last meeting, VIRxSYS have more focused on the technical difficulties (to produce for e.g. such therapy) than on the result.

We could have had a great and trustworthy resource if only "AppleBoy" (a forum member) had been admitted to the VRX496 trial... :(
http://appleboyde.wordpress.com/category/vrx496-study/

Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: appleboy on July 22, 2008, 06:49:25 am
I know I tried!  I am going to attempt to listen in on press conference next week with Virxsys on the current study results I got an invite.  If I am able to listen in I am going to post some information on my blog about it.  I hope to hear good news on this!  I too hope this stuff works.  It is at least a good theory.
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: leit on July 22, 2008, 08:18:24 am
Welcome back, "appleboy"!

If I am able to listen in I am going to post some information on my blog about it.

Thank you!!!

Incidentally, during your visits for intake, didn't you meet any patient who was then admitted to the VRX496 trial and whom you are still in contact with?

Bye!

Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: bimazek on July 22, 2008, 12:43:31 pm
big publicly traded french company just signed to help manufacture the vaccine
a big prestigious company that is publicly traded on major stock exchange would not have signed with small atlanta company on OTC exchange unless the scientists thought the tech was very very strong right
they would have waited to do press release until later if they were not excited by some results they have seen
right
or made it condition to not publicly press release thier partnership until later
right

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/health-care/geovax-partners-vivalis-use-revolutionary-ebxr-technology-manufacture-mva/-1312818103

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GOVX), an Atlanta based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, together with Vivalis (NYSE Euronext: VLS), a French biopharmaceutical company that provides innovative cell-based solutions to the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of vaccines and proteins, announced today the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) for joint collaboration and commercial license on the use of Vivalis' EBx(R) technology, to manufacture the MVA component of the GeoVax HIV-1 vaccine.
Title: Re: WSA World Summit of Antivirals - 20-26 July 2008 - Yunnan, China
Post by: aliveinla on July 22, 2008, 06:43:28 pm
Glad to know China is playing a role in fighting HIV, but the host, BIT company, seems to be a 100% for profit privately owned company, not a research institute or government agency so it looks like to me this is a PR stunt by BIT. Host city Kunming is a very nice city to vacation though.
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: leit on July 22, 2008, 07:17:01 pm
big publicly traded french company just signed [...]

What has this "reasoning" got to do with the topic?

Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: appleboy on July 22, 2008, 11:38:42 pm
Hey Leit,
I actually met one person that I only got to talk to once on the phone and we never talked again.  I wish I could have stayed in touch with him as he was already in the study.  So much for that one but oh well.  Thanks for the welcome back!  I have been so busy with my job and a work trip with my church to New Orleans I have not had time to drop by and see what is going on.  But I am well and things are going good!
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: ronaldinho on July 23, 2008, 08:57:20 am
What has this "reasoning" got to do with the topic?

Whem smaller biotech companies are developing a compound that seems to have a potential to make it to the market, bigger pharma companies will show interest, and try to buy or partner the biotech. It happened with Roche and Trimeris and with J&J and Tibotec. So, i guess this a good sign.
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: John2038 on July 23, 2008, 09:22:51 am
virxsys is not GeoVaX
I guess just wrong thread
Title: Gilead Initiates Phase III Clinical Trial of Elvitegravir
Post by: John2038 on July 23, 2008, 11:47:04 am
I'm posting that because it is the kind of news needed by resistants patients, waiting for better alternatives.

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 22, 2008 - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) today announced that it has begun enrolling patients in a Phase III clinical trial of its investigational antiretroviral agent elvitegravir (GS 9137), a novel oral integrase inhibitor that is being evaluated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The study is designed to assess the non-inferiority of ritonavir-boosted elvitegravir, dosed once daily, compared to raltegravir (Isentress(R)), another integrase inhibitor that is dosed twice daily. The study will enroll 700 HIV-infected, treatment-experienced patients at approximately 125 sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. A second Phase III study with a similar design involving 700 HIV-infected, treatment-experienced patients will be initiated later this year in Europe, Canada and Australia.

"Advancing novel compounds for the treatment of HIV/AIDS remains a key area of focus for Gilead, and we are very pleased that our integrase inhibitor, elvitegravir, continues to make progress with the initiation of this Phase III clinical trial," said Norbert Bischofberger, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, Gilead Sciences. "As HIV patients remain on therapy for longer periods of time, the development of resistance to existing classes of drug is a significant concern. Based on the results observed in our Phase II study of elvitegravir, we believe the compound may have the potential to play an important role for patients in need of new treatment options."

Unlike other classes of antiretroviral agents, integrase inhibitors interfere with HIV replication by blocking the ability of the virus to integrate into the genetic material of human cells.

About the Elvitegravir Phase III Study


The elvitegravir Phase III study is a randomized, double-blind, 48-week clinical trial that will assess the non-inferiority of ritonavir-boosted elvitegravir (n=350) versus raltegravir (n=350), each administered with a background regimen in HIV-infected treatment-experienced adults with HIV RNA (viral load) of greater than or equal to 1,000 copies/mL. Patients will have documented viral resistance, as defined by International AIDS Society-USA guidelines, or at least six months of treatment experience with two or more different classes of antiretroviral agents prior to screening. Patients who have previously taken an integrase inhibitor will be excluded.

Trial participants will receive either once-daily elvitegravir 150 mg or twice-daily raltegravir 400 mg. Patients' background regimens will be based on the results of resistance testing and will include a fully-active ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI), and a second agent that may be a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), etravirine, maraviroc or enfuvirtide. Due to known pharmacokinetic interactions, elvitegravir patients whose background PI is either atazanavir or lopinavir will receive an 85 mg dose of elvitegravir.

The primary efficacy endpoint will be the proportion of subjects in both arms of the study who achieve and maintain confirmed viral load of less than 50 copies/mL through 48 weeks. Secondary endpoints will include various additional measures of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the two treatment regimens.

About Elvitegravir


Elvitegravir, also known as GS 9137 or JTK 303, was licensed by Gilead from Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) in March 2005. Under the terms of Gilead's agreement with JT, Gilead has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize elvitegravir in all countries of the world, excluding Japan, where JT retains rights.

Elvitegravir is an investigational therapy and has not yet been determined safe or efficacious in humans.

About GS 9350

Because elvitegravir requires a boosting agent to allow for once-daily dosing, Gilead is currently developing a proprietary pharmacokinetic-enhancing compound, GS 9350, that may potentially be used in conjunction with elvitegravir. Gilead's goal is to develop and bring to market a pharmacokinetic enhancer that does not have HIV activity, can be dosed once daily, is in solid form and is stable at room temperature, such that it can be co-formulated with elvitegravir and Truvada(R) (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) into a single tablet. A recently completed pilot formulation study has demonstrated that this can be achieved with GS 9350.

GS 9350 is currently being evaluated in a Phase I single and multiple dose-ranging clinical study. The study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of escalating single and multiple doses of GS 9350 in healthy volunteers.

GS 9350 is an investigational therapy and has not yet been determined safe or efficacious in humans.

About Gilead Sciences


Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company's mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead has operations in North America, Europe and Australia.

This press release includes forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risk that the clinical studies for elvitegravir and GS 9350 may not yield positive results, which may in turn impede the development of these compounds. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described in detail in Gilead's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2008, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

U.S. full prescribing information for Truvada is available at www.gilead.com.

Truvada is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.


http://www.pharmalive.com//News/index.cfm?articleid=558038&categoryid=21#

Note:
Gilead, a success story no ?
(http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8080/gildwt5.th.gif) (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gildwt5.gif)

Real-time quotation (http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=GILD#chart7:symbol=gild;range=1d;indicator=volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=on;source=undefined)
Title: Re: VRX496 Results Phase II - News
Post by: joko on July 24, 2008, 12:52:51 pm
Listened to the conference call earlier today.  Very encouraging report.  It sounds like if things stay on the same path they've been on for the past 5+ years with this approach, you're going to have quite a bit of building excitement for VRX496 (and potentially their vaccine VRX1023) going forward.  To my untrained ear, the results they've achieved thus far are perhaps even better than they anticipated back in '03.

If anyone else who has a more technical background than I listened to the presentation and has some thoughts I'd love to hear them.
Title: Re: Biologists Develop Machine To Remove Viruses From Blood
Post by: John2038 on July 24, 2008, 01:01:13 pm
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 24, 2008 - Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) disclosed today that a peer reviewed scientific paper coauthored by Aethlon researchers has been published in the Journal of Translational Medicine. The paper entitled, "Exosomes as a Tumor Immune Escape Mechanism: Possible Therapeutic Implications" discusses the mechanism by which exosomes released by cancerous tumors are able to kill off immune cells in cancer patients. The paper further discusses the novel therapeutic approach of the Aethlon Hemopurifier(R) to capture and inhibit the spread of such immunosuppressive exosomes in cancer patients.

"As we continue to progress the infectious disease applications of our Hemopurifier(R), the Journal of Translational Medicine publication recognizes and reinforces the additional potential of the Hemopurifier(R) within the $43 billion cancer therapy market," stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, James A. Joyce. "We thank the numerous researchers who participated in coauthoring the paper with our research team," concluded Joyce.

Aethlon previously disclosed that researchers discovered that the Hemopurifier(R) is effective in capturing exosomes that are released by solid tumors, lymphomas, and leukemia. Exosomes induce T-cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), and block T-cell signaling, proliferation, and cytokine production. High concentrations of circulating exosomes correlate with reduced T-cell production and tumor progression in cancer patients. In studies led by Dr. Douglas Taylor at the University of Louisville, 60% of circulating exosomes were removed from the blood of ovarian cancer patients during first pass (approximately 10-minutes) through a small scale Hemopurifier(R). The capture data was consistent over the course of five different in vitro blood studies. The ability to reduce circulating exosomes would likely reverse immune suppression and increase patient responsiveness to both immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Dr. Taylor is a recognized authority on the causative effects of immune suppression in cancer patients. He is credited with the initial characterization of exosomes and is the leading peer reviewed author on the subject.


http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-6-37.pdf
Title: Mindfulness Meditation Slows Progression Of HIV, Study Suggests
Post by: John2038 on July 25, 2008, 01:23:55 am
ScienceDaily (July 24, 2008) — CD4+ T lymphocytes, or simply CD4 T cells, are the "brains" of the immune system, coordinating its activity when the body comes under attack. They are also the cells that are attacked by HIV, the devastating virus that causes AIDS and has infected roughly 40 million people worldwide. The virus slowly eats away at CD4 T cells, weakening the immune system.

But the immune systems of HIV/AIDS patients face another enemy as well -- stress, which can accelerate CD4 T cell declines. Now, researchers at UCLA report that the practice of mindfulness meditation stopped the decline of CD4 T cells in HIV-positive patients suffering from stress, slowing the progression of the disease. The study was just released in the online edition of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

Mindfulness meditation is the practice of bringing an open and receptive awareness of the present moment to experiences, avoiding thinking of the past or worrying about the future. It is thought to reduce stress and improve health outcomes in a variety of patient populations.

"This study provides the first indication that mindfulness meditation stress-management training can have a direct impact on slowing HIV disease progression," said lead study author David Creswell, a research scientist at the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA. "The mindfulness program is a group-based and low-cost treatment, and if this initial finding is replicated in larger samples, it's possible that such training can be used as a powerful complementary treatment for HIV disease, alongside medications."

Creswell and his colleagues ran an eight-week mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) meditation program and compared it to a one-day MBSR control seminar, using a stressed and ethnically diverse sample of 48 HIV-positive adults in Los Angeles. Participants in the eight-week group showed no loss of CD4 T cells, indicating that mindfulness meditation training can buffer declines. In contrast, the control group showed significant declines in CD4 T cells from pre-study to post-study. Such declines are a characteristic hallmark of HIV progression.

Creswell also noted that researchers found a "dose-response" relationship between MBSR class attendance and CD4 T cells, meaning, said Creswell, "the more mindfulness meditation classes people attended, the higher the CD4 T cells at the study's conclusion."

The researchers were also encouraged because the overall CD4 T cell effects remained even after controlling for a number of factors that could have skewed the study results. Most notably, they found equivalent protective effects for participants whether or not they were on antiretroviral medications for HIV. Even participants taking HIV medications showed the CD4 T cell buffering effect after the mindfulness meditation class, Creswell said.

There is emerging evidence from other studies that shows that behavioral stress-management programs can buffer HIV declines in HIV-positive people, Creswell noted. And while there has been an exponential increase of interest in and practice of mindfulness meditation in the West over the past 10 years, this study, he said, is the first to show an HIV disease protective effect with mindfulness meditation training.

In order to understand the health benefits of mindfulness meditation, Creswell and his colleagues at UCLA are now examining the underlying pathways through which mindfulness meditation reduces stress, using brain imaging, genetics and immune system measurements.

"Given the stress-reduction benefits of mindfulness meditation training, these findings indicate there can be health protective effects not just in people with HIV but in folks who suffer from daily stress," Creswell said.

This study was supported by postdoctoral research fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, a seed grant from the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA, and the UCLA General Clinical Research Center. Other authors were Hector F. Myers, Steven W. Cole and Michael R. Irwin, all of whom declare no financial interests or conflicts of interest regarding this study


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080724215644.htm
Title: Re: Mexico AIDS 2008 - Agenda
Post by: bimazek on July 25, 2008, 01:28:37 am
some of these papers - discoveries are amazing
notice how europe is much more focused on research that actually treats people in these papers and usa is more basic research, notice
this italian paper

Interleukin-15 is highly expressed by monocytes of HIV infected long-term nonprogressors and is responsive to IFN-g stimulation, Clinica di Malattia Infettive e Tropicali Brescia, Brescia, Italy

notice all the very amazing details of how  long-term nonprogressors  deal with the virus in all the papers!!
the science is obviously trying to learn and mimic the   long-term nonprogressors body reaction to the virus

seems they have lots of great new info

regarding those who say -- many times in the past they were disappointed when a hopeful road in science did not work out well in hiv research i have this to say --

it has only been in the last 1, 3, 5 or 7 years MAX that science even has the tools to understand this virus and the whole human genome and there have been huge amazing steps strides for ward in the last   1, 3, 5 or 7 years -- so now is time to be hopeful if ever there was a time

in the past 10 or 20 years ago science was just looking at tiny pieces of the puzzle, now the entire puzzle is layed out and the research on a weekly and monthly basis is finding how all this fits together and how to attack the picture

Title: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on July 25, 2008, 01:42:27 am

Isentress (raltegravir), Merck's First in Class Integrase Inhibitor, Suppressed HIV-1 Viral Load and Increased CD4 Cell Counts through 48-Weeks in Treatment-Experienced Adult Patients When Taken with Other Anti-HIV Medicines

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 23, 2008 - ISENTRESS(R) (raltegravir), Merck's first-in-class HIV-1 integrase inhibitor, suppressed HIV-1 viral load and increased CD4 cell counts through 48 weeks of combination therapy with other anti-HIV medicines compared to placebo in combination with other anti-HIV medicines in HIV-infected patients with triple-class resistant virus failing current therapy. These results from two pivotal Phase III studies of 699 treatment-experienced patients who were failing other antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

ISENTRESS studied in nearly 700 patients with virus resistant to multiple anti-HIV medicines

The data published today in the New England Journal of Medicine are Week 48 results from two identical ongoing multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III studies (BENCHMRK-1 and BENCHMRK-2) that compare ISENTRESS in combination with optimized background therapy (OBT) to placebo plus OBT. The primary endpoint of this ongoing study is the percentage of patients that achieve HIV RNA virus levels less than 400 copies/mL at Week 16. Patients in the studies had HIV resistant to at least one drug in each of three classes (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs)) of oral ARTs.

Patients in BENCHMRK-1 were enrolled in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America (Peru). The baseline viral load (geometric mean) was approximately 41,000 copies/mL for patients treated with ISENTRESS and 32,000 copies/mL for patients treated with the placebo regimen. The median baseline CD4 cell counts were 140 cells/mm3 for patients treated with ISENTRESS and 105 cells/mm3 for patients treated with the placebo regimen.

Patients in BENCHMRK-2 were enrolled in North and South America. The baseline viral load (geometric mean) was approximately 48,000 copies/mL for patients in both groups. The median baseline CD4 cell counts were 102 cells/mm3 for patients treated with ISENTRESS and 132 cells/mm3 for patients treated with the placebo regimen.

Patients received ISENTRESS 400 mg or placebo, each dosed orally twice daily in combination with OBT. OBT was determined based on each patient's prior treatment history and results from HIV resistance testing; and represents the best available antiviral drug combination individualized for each patient. In order to allow for the best possible treatment regimen to be constructed for each patient, darunavir and tipranavir, which were investigational medicines in many countries at the time of this study, were permitted for use in OBT.

Consistent suppression of viral load and increase in CD4 cell counts observed through 48 weeks of treatment with ISENTRESS

Results at Week 48 were consistent across both BENCHMRK studies. The results reported in the New England Journal of Medicine include both individual study results and a combined analysis of both studies at 48 weeks. At 48 weeks, the percentage of patients who achieved HIV RNA levels below 400 copies/mL were nearly two times greater for patients receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT (72 percent of patients; 332 of 459) compared to patients receiving placebo plus OBT (37 percent of patients; 88 of 237); p<0.001. In addition, ISENTRESS plus OBT suppressed viral load to undetectable levels (below 50 copies/mL) in significantly more patients compared to placebo plus OBT; 62 percent of patients (285 of 459) versus 33 percent of patients (78 of 237), respectively; p<0.001.

After 48 weeks, mean CD4 cell counts were more than doubled in patients receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT compared to patients receiving placebo plus OBT. Specifically, patients receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT achieved mean increases in CD4 cell counts from baseline of 109 cells/mm3 compared to 45 cells/mm3 for patients receiving placebo plus OBT; p<0.001.

"The efficacy results shown after 48 weeks of treatment with ISENTRESS when used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines are consistent with observations at 24 weeks," said David Cooper M.D., D.Sc., professor of medicine and director of the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Safety results at 48 weeks

Also, the combined analysis showed that 4 of 462 patients (0.9 percent) receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT and 1 of 237 patients (0.4 percent) receiving placebo plus OBT discontinued therapy due to drug-related adverse experiences. Overall, 11 of 462 patients (2.4 percent) receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT and 7 of 237 patients (3.0 percent) receiving placebo plus OBT experienced serious drug-related adverse events. The most commonly reported (reported in at least two percent of patients) study drug-related side effects in patients receiving raltegravir plus OBT were diarrhea, nausea, injection site pain or reaction (due to enfuvirtide) and headache.

Study results also showed that at 48 weeks, 16 of 462 patients (3.5 percent) receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT and 4 of 237 (1.7 percent) patients receiving placebo plus OBT were diagnosed as having new, recurrent or progressive cancer. Statistical analysis indicated these rates, adjusted for how much time the patients were on treatment, were not different, with relative risk of 1.54 and 95 percent confidence interval including 1 (0.50 to 6.34).

Subgroup analyses of patients with predicted poor response to antiretroviral therapy

Results from subgroup exploratory analyses examining factors that would predict disease progression due to poor response to antiretroviral therapy were also published in the same issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The combined data from both studies showed that, after 48 weeks, ISENTRESS in combination with OBT showed greater response rates for lowering HIV viral load and increasing CD4 cell count over placebo plus OBT in patients with high levels of HIV-1 RNA (>100,000 copies/mL), very low CD4 cell counts (<50 cells/mm3) or low Phenotypic or Genotypic Sensitivity Scores ((PSS or GSS) for OBT <= 1) at study enrollment.

PSS and GSS scores help report the number of anti-HIV medicines in the OBT regimen to which a patient's HIV is susceptible, and represents the number of active agents in the OBT at the beginning of the study. A low PSS or GSS indicates that there are few or no active agents in the patients OBT regimen, and is a reflection that a patient's HIV had developed resistance to a greater number of anti-HIV medicines prior to the study.

Study results showed that in patients with the fewest active drugs in their OBT, those with a GSS of 0, the virus was suppressed to undetectable levels in more patients receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT compared to patients receiving placebo plus OBT, 45 percent versus 3 percent, respectively; and mean increases in CD4 cell counts from baseline in these patients were 81 and 11 cells/mm3, respectively. In patients who were more likely to respond to treatment, those with more active OBT (GSS of 2), 77 percent of patients receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT achieved undetectable viral loads versus 62 percent of patients receiving placebo plus OBT; and mean increases in CD4 cell counts were 145 and 87 cells/mm3, respectively.

By week 48, 23 percent of patients (105 of 462) receiving ISENTRESS plus OBT had virologic failure (HIV viral RNA greater than 400 copies/mL). Resistance testing done on viruses isolated from 94 of the 105 patients with virologic failure showed that 68 percent (64) had genotypic evidence of resistance to ISENTRESS. Seventy-five percent of the patients with evidence of genotypic resistance (48) had two or more ISENTRESS resistance-associated mutations.


http://www.medadnews.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=558421&categoryid=40
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on July 25, 2008, 04:53:29 pm
Hi there,

I just take the opportunity of this thread to say goodbye to all the nice people here.

Nothing else to say than thanks and wishes you all to get the cure !

Keep Well, Be Strong
John

NOTE: I might read sometime

---------------  THE END -----------
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 03, 2008, 05:43:46 pm
Hi,

Please find below an extract of what have been discussed during the conference call.
I have no plans to post any more news research on this site, but I might publish soon a link to the full report.


VRX 496 Clinical Trials: Summary

• Results to date indicate favorable safety profile
• Phase 1 results showed safety and durability
  – Sustained  increased CD4 counts: 60-80%
  – Decreased viral load in some patients
  – Results published in prestigious journal, PNAS
• Interim Phase 2 results demonstrate success
  – Identified optimal dose and administration
• No significant decrease in viral load; HOWEVER,
  – Extensive deletion of envelope
  – Reduced viral fitness for extended periods following VRX 496 administration
     o  Up to 2 years
     o  May be augmented by repeat administration 9-12 months post first infusion
  – Reduced heterogeneity/quasi-species analysis
• 10B bolus with re-infusion in 9-12 months
  – Sustained and increased CD4+ counts
• VRX 496 produces replication deficient HIV in patients


EDIT: Cut until published
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: joko on August 03, 2008, 05:58:56 pm
Thanks for that, John!  Would you mind please posting a link to the full report in the "VRX496 Conference Call" topic below?  Impressive that you came up with that.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: datdude on August 03, 2008, 06:13:41 pm
John, we definetly need people like you on this site, I appreciate anyone that takes they're personal time to post information for everyone. This site is very important to me and without people like you there would be nothing to read. I don't know about everyone else but I take information with a grain of salt, but I do love reading new information and everytime I come on this site the only thing I read is research news and studies so it is very important that people like you stay with us. I look forward to reading your posts for a long time ( actually I hope there's a cure soon so I only have to read your post's for a short time) but anyway I just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated by alot more people than ones that don't apreciate you, so don't let the haters stop you from doing what you want to do, and remember strangers bad opinions of you mean nothing.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: MYSTERY on August 03, 2008, 07:13:29 pm
John2038,

I would have to agree with datadude, I really enjoy reading your post along with Bimizik's posts. I look forward to reading new information on research that I am to lazy to look up or to stupid to find on my own. Keep up the good work John2038.  ;D
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: leit on August 03, 2008, 11:32:20 pm
Also in my opinion, a little (well-founded) hope is essential to get on.

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 06, 2008, 01:40:31 pm
Hi,

I would like to publish the VIRxSYS report, but it is confidential (approval to publish pending).
I do not believe this report contains any critical information (the summary above say almost everything, the rest is technical), but I have to respect my contact.

Just these few slides and perspectives (not confidential).
(http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9755/vrx496slide3wl7.gif)
(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2946/vrx496slide1hz3.gif)
(http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1452/vrx496slide2dm7.gif)

* Final definition for the phase IIb expected to be defined in ~3 months (in consultation with our Medical Advisory Board)
* Preparing for Phase 3:
  • All manufacturing and cell processing will be performed at VIRxSYS
  – Enlarging GMP facilities
  – R&D relocating to separate facilities
  • Full validation plan under development
  • VIRxSYS has own internal Manufacturing, Cell Processing, Regulatory, QC, QA and Facilities groups
  – Network of outside consultants assist for full CMC and clinical compliance
  • Collaboration with major bio-pharma demonstrated scalability of vector manufacturing

----------------------------------------------------

Otherwise, got 2 very naives questions.
Maybe someone around you can provide some answers or just a clue about how stupid they might be.

1) Is it possible to create steriles CD4s OR some kind of CD4s clones with just the envelope
(receptors CCR5 / CXCR4) so the virus could bind to them without being able to reproduce ?

2) Does the virus have an electrical charge (+ or -) ?
If so, could for e.g. a magnetic field force the virus to exit from the latent reservoirs and so be exposed to the drugs ?
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: georgep77 on August 06, 2008, 02:19:13 pm
We need you John.. you are a great help.....

 your research news gives us hope

Thanks    :)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 06, 2008, 03:39:46 pm
Adaptation of a text that was read by Sir Laurence Olivier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Olivier)
Posting it maybe against the pessimistic way of posting that some (typically veterans but not all) love to adopt.  :)

Be optimistic doesn't hurt and improve the quality of life. Your risk to die from optimism is certainly lower that the risk to die from pessimism.

So far, if we take a bird eye view on the research, we have always progress.
So optimism can't be a wrong attitude. You can't be happy without it.

Your life is an expression of your mind.

As a human being you are "free to will" whatever state of being you desire
through the use of your thoughts and words.

There is great Power there.

It can be a blessing or a curse.

It's entirely up to you, for the quality of your life is brought about by the quality of
your thinking. Think about that.

Look at what you are thinking.
See the pettiness and the envy and the greed and the fear and all the other attitudes
that cause you pain and discomfort.

Realize that the one thing you have absolute control over is your attitude.

See the effect that it has on those around you, for each life is linked to all Life
and your words carry with them chain reactions like a stone that has been thrown into a pond.
If your thinking is in order, your words will flow directly from the heart, creating ripples
of love.

If you truly want to change your world, my friends, you must change your thinking.
Reason is your greatest tool. It creates an atmosphere of understanding which leads
to caring which is Love.

Choose your words with care
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 06, 2008, 03:45:25 pm

Posting it maybe against the pessimistic way of posting that some (typically veterans but not all) love to adopt.  :)

Yeah, I know what you mean John (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=20441.msg282132#msg282132).  Loathsome people, all of them.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Ann on August 06, 2008, 03:48:39 pm
Yeah, I know what you mean John (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=20441.msg282132#msg282132).  Loathsome people, all of them.

Arrgghh... I'm going cross-eyed today. Add to that a daughter rushing me off the machine so she can check FaceFlaminBook... I do beg your pardon, those of you who saw my post before I realised.

Ann
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: bimazek on August 06, 2008, 06:55:17 pm
john this is beautiful info and i have tears in my eyes, what this means to me is that person who are experiencing treatment failure can have good results with this in some cases so it points to great hope
you are a good man and we all appreciate your work
thank you
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 06, 2008, 07:46:32 pm
Why does someone not even on meds yet worry about treatment failure a decade from now?  Sheesh.

As someone who existed for +15 years with an elevated viral load due to treatment failure, during what was the Medieval Ages of HIV treatment I fail to comprehend this, when in fact 10 years from now there will be even more meds available.

It's like you want to worry.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: J.R.E. on August 07, 2008, 03:42:26 pm

just today i was worry about what would happen to me personally ten years from now if treatment failure ever happened

Holy crap.  Are you serious. Your worried about this and your not on meds yet??  I wouldn't worry about aids killing you, it will probably be the bleeding ulcers from all that worry, that will do you in.

Ray
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 07:20:38 am
MEXICO AIDS 2008
Short summary on the drugs related presentations


http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=287&AID=16101
High rate of virologic success with raltegravir plus etravirine and darunavir/ritonavir
in treatment-experienced patients with multidrug-resistant virus:
results of the ANRS 139 TRIO trial
Conclusions: In patients with resistant viruses and few remaining treatment options,
the combination of raltegravir, etravirine and darunavir/r is safe and has a rate of
virological suppression similar to that reported for treatment-naive patients.

http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=287&AID=16247
Antiviral activity of RDEA806, a novel HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor,
in treatment of näive HIV patients
Conclusions:  RDEA806 was well tolerated and produced robust antiviral activity when dosed
as monotherapy. Once daily dosing with the new enteric-coated tablet produced equivalent
activity to BID dosing, and sufficient antiviral activity to proceed into a Phase 2b study.

http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=287&AID=15828
IDX899, a novel HIV-1 NNRTI with high barrier to resistance, provides suppression of HIV viral
load in treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected subjects
Conclusions: Once daily oral IDX899 was well tolerated and demonstrated potent HIV-1 antiviral
activity at all tested doses. The protocol was amended to add a 100 mg cohort which has been
initiated.

http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=256&AID=5998
TMC278 (rilpivirine), a next-generation NNRTI, demonstrates long-term efficacy and tolerability
in ARV-naïve patients: 96-week results of study C204
Conclusions:  TMC278 was generally well tolerated with less increase in serum lipids and lower
incidences of rash, nervous system and psychiatric events, compared with EFV.
TMC278 demonstrated a high response rate and sustained virologic response over 96 weeks.

http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=256&AID=4376
Safety profile of apricitabine, a novel NRTI, during 24-week dosing in experienced HIV-1
infected patients
Conclusions:  ATC is safe and very well tolerated over 24 weeks in combination with other ART.
There was no evidence of peripheral neuropathy, myelotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, hypersensitivity,
lipidaemia, hyperlipasaemia or renal toxicity. As a second-line drug for treatment-experienced
patients, ATC provides antiviral activity with an unparalleled safety and tolerability profile.


http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=291&AID=16002
ACTG 5202: shorter time to virologic failure (VF) with abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC)
than tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) as part of combination therapy in treatment-naïve
subjects with screening HIV RNA >=100,000 c/mL
Conclusions:  In subjects entering A5202 with screening HIV RNA >=100,000 c/mL, there was
a significantly shorter time to VF and grade 3/4 AEs in subjects randomized to ABC/3TC
than TDF/FTC. The comparisons of blinded NRTIs in the lower HIV RNA stratum and each regimen’s
third drug in both strata are ongoing.


http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=287&AID=16258
PEARLS (ACTG A5175): a multinational study of didanosine-EC, emtricitabine and atazanavir vs.
co-formulated zidovudine/lamivudine and efavirenz for initial treatment of HIV-1 infection
Conclusions: ddI+FTC+ATV had inferior outcome compared to ZDV/3TC+EFV; study participants
currently taking this regimen are switching to alternate ARVs.


Newly infected but already resistant, good news

http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?SID=247&AID=7832
First-line HAART guided by genotypic resistance testing - long-term follow-up data from
the RESINA-study
Conclusions:  The prevalence of primary HIV drug resistance was about 10%.
In the long-term follow-up of this large cohort, application of resistance testing resulted
in equal efficacy of HAART in cases showing resistant virus as compared to cases with
wild-type virus. Thus, genotypic resistance testing should be strongly taken into account for
tailoring the first-line HAART.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 09, 2008, 12:08:29 pm
http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/currentNews_1667.shtml
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 12:29:26 pm
http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/currentNews_1667.shtml

Unfortunately these news do not talk about any of the studies posted just above..
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Ann on August 09, 2008, 12:36:17 pm
Unfortunately these news do not talk about any of the studies posted just above..

Gee, maybe that's why he posted the link - additional information. ::)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 12:40:17 pm
Gee, maybe that's why he posted the link - additional information. ::)

Coughing.. Maybe ..
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Ann on August 09, 2008, 12:53:53 pm
Coughing.. Maybe ..

You ought to have that cough looked at John.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 01:40:16 pm
Green Tea

PS: You ought to have these cross-eyed looked at Ann.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Dachshund on August 09, 2008, 02:00:05 pm
Green Tea

PS: You ought to have these cross-eyed looked at Ann.

 ???
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 09, 2008, 02:14:02 pm
I can't wait for Q1 09.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 02:21:52 pm
I can't wait for Q1 09.

(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5296/imagessw6.jpg)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Ann on August 09, 2008, 02:25:31 pm
Green Tea

PS: You ought to have these cross-eyed looked at Ann.

Oh I have, John, I have. Doc said, "you've been reading the research forum at AIDSmeds again, haven't you."
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 09, 2008, 02:26:09 pm
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5296/imagessw6.jpg)


(http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/funny-pictures-cat-is-pleased-by-your-offering.jpg)
(http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/funny-pictures-your-cats-evil-plan-is-working.jpg)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 02:29:42 pm
Oh I have, John, I have. Doc said, "you've been reading the research forum at AIDSmeds again, haven't you."

Same symptom. But might be cured.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Ann on August 09, 2008, 02:31:07 pm
Same symptom. But might be cured.

Cured? Hallelujah!
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 02:32:50 pm
Cured? Hallelujah!

..with a grain of salt.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 09, 2008, 02:33:08 pm
PRAISE BE!  TESTIFY!
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 02:47:39 pm
PRAISE BE!  TESTIFY!

(http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7932/phillyzf2.jpg)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: thunter34 on August 09, 2008, 02:50:21 pm
(http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7932/phillyzf2.jpg)

i'm not even sure what that is supposed to mean, but isn't singling out other posters by name like that against forum rules?  just curious.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 02:52:41 pm
At least hijacking is
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 09, 2008, 02:53:31 pm
It doesn't even make any sense in the first place.  No surprise there though.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: thunter34 on August 09, 2008, 02:54:18 pm
At least hijacking is

and so is flamebaiting.  and yet you're still here.  even after swearing that you were bidding us farewell.


Hi there,

I just take the opportunity of this thread to say goodbye to all the nice people here.

Nothing else to say than thanks and wishes you all to get the cure !

Keep Well, Be Strong
John

NOTE: I might read sometime

---------------  THE END -----------
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 09, 2008, 02:55:37 pm
even after swearing that you were bidding us farewell.

That lasted long, didn't it?  I guess the new copypasta blog over at The Body didn't work out so swell.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: RapidRod on August 09, 2008, 02:59:09 pm
Quote
Disclaimer: I'm a physicist, not a physician nor an aids scientist.
Take my postings with a grain of salt.

I do. Learned never to listen to a physicist years ago.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 09, 2008, 03:02:12 pm
I will.
Now as I am having this nice thread, just playing with it and you guys.
Enjoy as I do and as you like to do  :D
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 10, 2008, 12:34:59 pm
Comment about my project

Use the email below if you are willing to contribute to an "open source" project aiming to transform studies in a way that they can be re-used to perform for e.g cross-studies.

This project is supported by a website allowing registered users to access the studies repository, and/or to contribute adding new studies following a well defined path and standard.

The aim of the association behind this website is to (short list):

- define the standards/process/tool to follow for these studies to be published so they can be reused.
- create tools to manipulate these data, such as performing cross-studies (and so establish new conclusions), highlighting contradicting/confirming results, etc.
- Next step: implement a procedure identify missing studies, inventory existing studies, etc. to work in a global effort

In exchange of their contributions (but optional), researchers and practitioners will be able to query the database for free of course.
And this could be useful for them, for e.g the ID docs:

Instead of having to read research all the time to remain cutting edge, they can access these research easily and get as such clues on directions to investigate (mainly to prescribe a combo for e.g).

This hopes is based on the conviction is that ID Doc use labs to diagnose you, and studies to choose combos.
So if a study is not done, or if the ID doc is missing a study, he just won't treat someone on the best possible way.
Accessing such database will contribute to highlight the info that could potentially be needed by a practitioner, and maybe by those of them designing new studies.
In more, contradicting, confirming studies can be highlighted, as well as hopefully new conclusions (e.g. for the Swiss study).

The description I am doing here of this project will very probably, if not certainly, evolve.

But the main goal is to synchronize as much as possible the global research. They haven't wait for such initiative to exists, but if this project could help 1 doc then it's already a god reason to work on it.

Now this goal is high. Impossible without the contribution of others. I am not enough skilled to do it all by my own. So what matter the most is who is contributing to this project.
The association will have to work closely with others associations, organizations, scientists, docs, etc and it is, as such, it is definitely a long term and very difficult effort.

But it seems necessary to me.

Regards,
John
pozlifeattitude@yahoo.com
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: bocker3 on August 10, 2008, 02:06:40 pm
Comment about my project

Use the email below if you are willing to contribute to an "open source" project aiming to transform studies in a way that they can be re-used to perform for e.g cross-studies.

This project is supported by a website allowing registered users to access the studies repository, and/or to contribute adding new studies following a well defined path and standard.

The aim of the association behind this website is to (short list):

- define the standards/process/tool to follow for these studies to be published so they can be reused.
- create tools to manipulate these data, such as performing cross-studies (and so establish new conclusions), highlighting contradicting/confirming results, etc.
- Next step: implement a procedure identify missing studies, inventory existing studies, etc. to work in a global effort

In exchange of their contributions (but optional), researchers and practitioners will be able to query the database for free of course.
And this could be useful for them, for e.g the ID docs:

Instead of having to read research all the time to remain cutting edge, they can access these research easily and get as such clues on directions to investigate (mainly to prescribe a combo for e.g).

This hopes is based on the conviction is that ID Doc use labs to diagnose you, and studies to choose combos.
So if a study is not done, or if the ID doc is missing a study, he just won't treat someone on the best possible way.
Accessing such database will contribute to highlight the info that could potentially be needed by a practitioner, and maybe by those of them designing new studies.
In more, contradicting, confirming studies can be highlighted, as well as hopefully new conclusions (e.g. for the Swiss study).

The description I am doing here of this project will very probably, if not certainly, evolve.

But the main goal is to synchronize as much as possible the global research. They haven't wait for such initiative to exists, but if this project could help 1 doc then it's already a god reason to work on it.

Now this goal is high. Impossible without the contribution of others. I am not enough skilled to do it all by my own. So what matter the most is who is contributing to this project.
The association will have to work closely with others associations, organizations, scientists, docs, etc and it is, as such, it is definitely a long term and very difficult effort.

But it seems necessary to me.

Regards,
John
pozlifeattitude@yahoo.com


What??  Is this YOUR study or are you just pointing people to some other person's study?  I think you are missing a bit of an explanation as to why you have posted this.  I, for one, would never simply send an email message to an address I have no knowledge about and a fairly incomplete accounting by you.
Also, you clearly have an incomplete view on how a combo is prescribed.  In addition to being up on the science, the doc should perform more testing (testing is NOT just for diagnosis of HIV) to look for any resistance, he/she should take the patient's desires into account, should look at other medications you are on, your lifestyle (i.e. sustiva might not work with your schedule or the need for food with Reyataz might not work), etc, etc.  In other words -- the scientific studies that seem to consume your every waking hour, are but one variable here - they are not the be all and end all.  You must remember (when your time for medication comes), that you still have your life to live, so what a study says is "best" may not, in fact, be the best at all for your circumstance.

Mike
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 10, 2008, 02:42:47 pm
What??

Hey Mike, what will be your complain today ?

Is this YOUR study or are you just pointing people to some other person's study? 
The answer is in the initial post.

I think you are missing a bit of an explanation as to why you have posted this. 
You can't succeed alone
As said:
Now this goal is high. Impossible without the contribution of others.
I am not enough skilled to do it all by my own.
So what matter the most is who is contributing to this project.


I, for one, would never simply send an email message to an address I have no knowledge about and a fairly incomplete accounting by you.
Your choice. You are Welcome.

Also, you clearly have an incomplete view on how a combo is prescribed. 
In addition to being up on the science, the doc should perform more testing (testing is NOT just for diagnosis of HIV)
to look for any resistance,

Firstly, as said: ID Doc use labs to diagnose you, and studies to choose combos.
Secondly, what you says have no sense in this context.

he/she should take the patient's desires into account,
Out of the scope of the project.
As said:
..get as such clues on directions to investigate..
..if this project could help 1 doc then it's already a god reason to work on it..

should look at other medications you are on,
Studies do that.
Maybe you mean your ID doc isn't taking into account studies to prescribe you the nex drug/combo ?
Oohh, but I have to take into account what you said after that. Here we go

your lifestyle (i.e. sustiva might not work with your schedule or the need for food with Reyataz might not work), etc, etc. 
Out of the scope of this project, etc, etc.

In other words -- the scientific studies that seem to consume your every waking hour, are but one variable here - they are not the be  all and end all.
You must remember (when your time for medication comes), that you still have your life to live,

Not an argument.
It's better to work for what we have an interest. Not your case ?

so what a study says is "best" may not, in fact, be the best at all for your circumstance.

First, you says "so" as if what follow is a conclusion of what precede.
But there are no relations. Just an accusation as all the whole reply.

Secondly, it's up to the ID doc who read a study to conclude what seems to be conclude.
If an ID doc is looking for a study, he know what he/she's looking for.

In conclusion, your reply is only aggressive/ego related.
If you want to have a constructive discussion, be constructive: avoid to be emotional.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: bocker3 on August 10, 2008, 04:21:28 pm
Actually, all I was pointing out was that you can NOT base the best regimen for an INDIVIDUAL on the outcomes of studies alone.  If a study says that Sustiva is the best medication to give (assuming no resistance), but a person's schedule and/or job precludes having a medication that might impair them (which Sustiva can do), then it is not the best choice for that PERSON.  All studies do is indicate what seems to work best in population subset.  What I have pointed out earlier is only "out of scope" if you aren't interested in treating the INDIVIDUAL in the best way. 
What it comes down to is what many posters have tried to convey to you, but you refuse to grasp:  Science is incredibly important and should not be overlooked, but neither should be approached as the be all and end all when making choices/decisions about INDIVIDUALS.

You stated:
(my quote) "so what a study says is "best" may not, in fact, be the best at all for your circumstance."

"(your quote) First, you says "so" as if what follow is a conclusion of what precede.
But there are no relations. Just an accusation as all the whole reply."

I did, in fact, state a conclusion -- one that is based on a combination of science and an Holistic view of the patient.

Once more I will state, Scientific studies make conclusions about population sub-sets, not individuals.  That is my point -- I am not trying to bash you, I am merely trying to give some needed context to your post.

Finally -- I still don't know what this study is (or who is doing it) -- you say it is in the "original post", but this is a pretty big post, so you might want to help people better understand what you are advocating by either being clear or linking something.

Mike


Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 10, 2008, 05:57:42 pm
Hi Mike

Better I publish a link to ppt presentation (soon).

John
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Peter Staley on August 11, 2008, 11:13:41 am
John -- please don't post about your "research project" or upcoming website again (and remove it from your signature line).

Our terms state the following:  "The forums are not to be used for research recruitment purposes, unless cleared through the forums administrator."

If you mention this project again, you will be banned.  If you have a problem with this warning, then send me a PM -- don't post your complaints in the forums.

Peter
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on August 12, 2008, 02:23:21 pm
I would be glad to be banned  :)

Take Care All, Be Strong

May God Bless You !

Cheers,

John
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: thunter34 on August 12, 2008, 02:42:13 pm
I would be glad to be banned  :)

Take Care All, Be Strong

May God Bless You !

Cheers,

John

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: J.R.E. on August 12, 2008, 04:44:36 pm


I am barely a high school graduate. And I am certainly not stupid. But I realised something in the past 23 years, of living with this Virus.  I don't need a PHD to live with HIV.  What I found, that helps to guide me through this, is a whole lot of common sense, and and even more self control. I don't know why i just posted this, but oh well...


Ray
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: leit on August 15, 2008, 08:24:15 am
1) Is it possible to create steriles CD4s OR some kind of CD4s clones with just the envelope
(receptors CCR5 / CXCR4) so the virus could bind to them without being able to reproduce ?

And how could these "empty CD4" live and proliferate?
Monoclonal antibodies against CCR5 and CXCR4, on the contrary, can do the job.

Quote
2) Does the virus have an electrical charge (+ or -) ?
If so, could for e.g. a magnetic field force the virus to exit from the latent reservoirs and so be exposed to the drugs ?

Too easy! :) Once integrated, the (pro)virus is a part of the genome of the infected cell, exactly like its other, "normal" genes.
To my knowledge, the only "thing" which is able to cut the HIV provirus away (in vitro) is "Tre recombinase":
http://www.natap.org/2007/HIV/070207_02.htm
http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=21656

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: georgep77 on August 18, 2008, 11:11:49 am
Where is John?

                We need your news !!!!

                                                        :)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: BT65 on August 18, 2008, 12:16:57 pm
Uh, George,

You say in your signature line:  "1984-1996:  HAART."  They didn't even have this in the 80's or early 90's.  Clarify?
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: sharkdiver on August 18, 2008, 12:49:02 pm
good question (about the timeline...not about where J is)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 01, 2008, 06:51:27 am

Immune drug fights cancer, German researchers claimBy Ernest Gill, dpa
September 29th 2008

Hamburg, Germany - A drug which encourages the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells has left some patients free of the disease in a new trial, according to a team of German scientists.

The study, published in the journal Science, showed low doses of the drug Blinatumomab were effective in treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The medication works by interacting with T cells, a white blood cell, which then destroy the cancerous cells.

Dr Ralf Bargou and colleagues from the University of Wuerzburg; the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and other medical and academic centres, as well as the biopharmaceutical company Micromet, the manufacturer of the drug used in the study, carried out this research.

In this study, 39 people with incurable, non-responsive (to conventional therapies), non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma (a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes in the body) with measurable disease (at least one tumour bigger than 1.5cm) were included.

They received blinatumomab through a portable continuous intravenous infusion device for four to eight weeks.

This drug is a synthetic antibody that recruits T-cells, which are helpful in the immune response, and carries them to tumour sites. These T-cells then bind to the surface of tumours and destroy them. Because of this property to engage T-cells, the antibody is known as a BiTE antibody (bispecific T-cell engager).

Overall, the researchers found no response in 12 patients who were taking lower doses of the drug. Of 19 patients receiving treatment at one of the middle two-dose categories, there was regression of the tumour to some degree in four of them - two of these were complete regression and two were partial regression.

Of the seven patients taking the highest dose of blinatumomab, all had some response - two with complete regression and five with partial regression.

These were patients who were given a prognosis of death within two years, according to Patrick Baeuerle, chief scientific officer for MicroMet. One has been in remission for more than a year took the drug for two months, nine months ago.

The study was funded by the Interdisciplinary Centre of Clinical Research at the University of Wuerzburg. Some of the researchers note that they are inventors of and hold patents for some of the techniques and drugs used in this study.


just a short hello, not really back :) :D
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 09, 2008, 02:26:25 pm
HIV Drug Maraviroc Effective for Drug-Resistant Patients

maraviroc, the first of a new class of HIV drugs called CCR5 receptor antagonists, has been shown to be effective over 48 weeks for drug-resistant patients with R5 HIV-1, a variation of the virus found in more than half of HIV-infected patients.

Results of the two Phase 3 multicenter MOTIVATE (Maraviroc Plus Optimized Therapy in Viremic Antiretroviral Treatment Experienced Patients) studies led by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Dr. Roy Gulick and published in the October 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) find that the drug, taken with an optimized standard HIV drug regimen, resulted in significantly greater suppression of the virus at 48 weeks, with concurrent increases in immune system T-cell counts, when compared with placebo. Rates of side effects were not different between the maraviroc and placebo groups.

Preliminary results of these studies led to FDA approval of maraviroc in August 2007.

Because it is from a new class of HIV medications known as HIV entry inhibitors, people living with HIV generally will not have resistance to maraviroc because they have not been exposed to any drugs from the class previously. Unlike earlier HIV drugs that target the virus, maraviroc acts on the human T-cell, binding to it in such a way that prevents HIV from binding and subsequently infecting the T-cell.

"It is now possible to expect that a majority of treatment-experienced patients who experience failure on their current HIV drugs will regain control of their HIV infection with maraviroc combined with other newer antiretroviral drugs. This is an important step forward," says study principal investigator Dr. Roy Gulick, who is professor of medicine and director of the Cornell HIV Clinical Trials Unit of the Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell Medical College, and a practicing physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. "Suppressing virus levels and increasing immune system T-cells with HIV treatment regimens helps HIV-infected people live longer, healthier lives."

The double-blind study followed 1,049 of patients with advanced HIV and resistance to three antiretroviral drug classes. Patients were randomized to receive maraviroc once-daily, twice-daily or placebo. Safety and efficacy were assessed at 48 weeks. The MOTIVATE studies comprised two identical arms: MOTIVATE1 was conducted in Canada and the U.S., while MOTIVATE2 was conducted in Australia, Europe and the U.S.

More patients receiving maraviroc once- or twice-daily versus placebo achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL (43-46% vs. 17%). CD4 counts increased more with maraviroc once- or twice-daily versus placebo (+116-124 vs. +61 cells/µL). Frequencies of side effects and toxicities were similar across groups.

A subgroup analyses of the MOTIVATE trials is also published in the October 2 edition of NEJM. "Findings from the subgroup analyses show that maraviroc plus standard antiretroviral regimen provides consistent clinical benefit over placebo plus optimized background therapy for all subgroups analyzed," said Dr. Gerd Fätkenheuer, lead-author of the subgroup analyses and professor of medicine, Universitätsklinik Köln, Köln, Germany. "Results highlight that maraviroc provides a valuable additional treatment option for a wide spectrum of treatment-experienced patients with R5 HIV-virus infection."

Currently there are 25 FDA-approved HIV medications in six classes, including HIV entry inhibitors like maraviroc, used in various combinations to treat HIV and AIDS. In cases of drug resistance, medicines lose their ability to fight HIV. Some drugs become less effective while others can become completely ineffective. As viruses reproduce, they make copy after copy of themselves, growing in number with each replication. Sometimes, small errors in one virus will be passed on to the next viral copy. Over time, viruses that contain these small errors become larger in number. These small changes in the virus's genetic make-up are called mutations. It's these mutations that cause resistance to HIV medications. Often, resistance to one medication means resistance to an entire class of medications.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/544862/?sc=rsmn
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 20, 2008, 06:15:52 pm
HEMOPURIFIER update

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) today announced the completion of a human safety study conducted at the Fortis Hospital in Delhi, India. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® in health compromised end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients that require kidney dialysis.

...

 On September 17, 2008, Aethlon reported robust viral load reductions in tested HCV patients that completed the three Hemopurifer® treatment protocol. The outcomes were derived from consolidated viral load values of all three patients. The values resulted in an average viral load reduction of 60% when measured three days after final Hemopurifier® treatment, and an 82% reduction when measured seven days post treatment. Since this report, follow-on data provides for HCV viral load values to be calculated on an individual, patient by patient basis.

Patient #1 had a 95% reduction three days post treatment and 89% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 1 was 5.3 x 10(5) viral units per ml of blood (IU/ml). Patient 1’s viral load seven days post treatment was 5.7 x 10(4) IU/ml.

Patient #2 had a 85% reduction three days post treatment and 50% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 2 was 9.2 x 10(6) IU/ml. Patient 2’s viral load seven days post treatment was 4.6 x 10(6) IU/ml.

Patient #3 had a 60% reduction three days post treatment and 83% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 3 was 3.0 x 10(8) IU/ml. Patient 3’s viral load seven days post treatment was 5.1 x 10(7) IU/ml. All viral load measurements were performed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Control samples were measured in duplicate while treatment samples were generally measured in triplicate.

“With the Fortis study complete, we will update our investigational device exemption on file with the FDA and request permission to initiate human studies in the United States,” stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, James A. Joyce. “Additionally, we are preparing to launch a four-week HCV treatment case study that could trigger early commercialization in India, and we have initiated discussions with potential partners to evaluate the clinical opportunity for our Hemopurifier® in the European Union,” concluded Joyce.

...

On September 29th, Aethlon Medical announced that it has further expanded clinical programs by initiating enrollment of HIV-infected patients to be treated with the Hemopurifier® in a multi-site clinical program in India.


Source (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/connect/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.988676c0028abbdc30526d95c0908a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=54a24d02732d4797fb0117db72e61ce9_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_54a24d02732d4797fb0117db72e61ce9_viewID=news_view&javax.portlet.prp_54a24d02732d4797fb0117db72e61ce9_newsLang=en&javax.portlet.prp_54a24d02732d4797fb0117db72e61ce9_ndmHsc=v2*A1223809200000*B1224295883000*DgroupByDate*G3*J2*N1000131&javax.portlet.prp_54a24d02732d4797fb0117db72e61ce9_newsId=20081014005676&beanID=1751478641&viewID=news_view&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 22, 2008, 10:54:10 am
UW researcher gets Gates grant to test HIV cure
Thanks to a new initiative to stimulate bold approaches to global health, Keith Jerome will have a year and $100,000 to see whether his idea for curing HIV has promise.


Keith Jerome has an idea for curing HIV that is both unorthodox and untested, which usually means it doesn't get funded.

But thanks to a new initiative to stimulate bold approaches to global health, the University of Washington researcher will have a year and $100,000 to see whether his idea has promise.

Jerome is one of 106 researchers around the world, including four from the UW, to receive the first Grand Challenges Explorations grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Gates Foundation has committed $100 million over five years for the program, aimed at lowering the barriers for testing innovative approaches to diseases affecting the world's poor.

Grants went to universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and private companies in 22 countries.

"This grant is just for ideas and things off the beaten path," Jerome said. "Institutions like NIH [National Institutes of Health] are often looking for things that are more conservative, more traditional, farther along. When you have an idea like this, it's hard to get it going."

Jerome is working on using a new class of proteins that he thinks may recognize and cut the DNA sequences unique to HIV, rendering them inactive. Instead of targeting the HIV virus in the blood, as drug treatments do, the protein would attack HIV at its source — in chromosomes — and disable the blueprints so it could not replicate, he said.


Others funded projects:

–      Jord Stam at Utrecht University in the Netherlands will attempt to create “two-sided” antibodies to fight HIV; one side would attach to HIV, and the other side would safely deposit the virus in cells in which it cannot replicate.
–      Elijah Songok at the Kenya Medical Research Institute will explore whether natural resistance to HIV may be linked to genetic markers for type 2 diabetes.
–      Mike McCune at the University of California, San Francisco, in the U.S. suggests that the best immune response to HIV may be no response at all, because the immune cells that are marshaled to fight the virus are the same cells that HIV infects.

Complete list (http://www.gcgh.org/explorations/Pages/GrantsAwarded.aspx)

Jerome, associate professor in laboratory medicine, is working with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

The Gates initiative is meant to encourage bolder and less conventional solutions and ideas that have never before been tested, said Tachi Yamada, president of global health at the Gates Foundation. The very first vaccines were developed more than 200 years ago based on revolutionary thinking and an entirely new approach to preventing disease.

The projects funded covered a range of offbeat concepts, including a "mosquito flashlight" to prevent malaria transmission by disrupting wavelengths; self-destructing tuberculosis cells; and anti-infective properties of the eye to help prevent HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.

For Jerome, the Gates grant is just a start. "We'd like to show that it's got promise and then go on to other places," he said. "The pathway from an idea to something we can take to a clinic to help patients ... that's years."

The other local grant winners are Dmitry Shayakhmetov, an assistant research professor of medical genetics; Pradipsinh K. Rathod, professor of chemistry; and Francois Baneyx, professor of chemical engineering, all from the UW; and James Kublin of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Applications for the second round of grants are being accepted through Nov. 2, and topics for the third round will be announced early next year.

More information: www.gcgh.org


Source (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2008295715_gates22.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 23, 2008, 01:41:32 pm
Case reports from the HIV Resistance Testing Consultation Panel

Very interesting for those having resistances.

Case reports (http://www.nccc.ucsf.edu/Clinical_Resources/R_Cases.html)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 26, 2008, 04:01:23 am
Sustiva (http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Sustiva_1615.shtml) (Stocrin, efavirenz, EFV)
Viramune (http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Viramune_1616.shtml) (nevirapine, NVP)

Efavirenz More Effective Than Nevirapine in AIDS Treatment


AIDS patients taking the antiretroviral drug efavirenz are less likely to experience virologic failure and more likely to adhere to treatment than those taking nevirapine, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Nevirapine is the most frequently prescribed drug for patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, where the study was conducted.  The study is published in the October 18, 2008 issue of the journal AIDS.

“Our findings add to existing limited evidence that efavirenz-based therapies produce a more favorable virological and clinical outcome than nevirapine,” said Jean Nachega, lead author of the study and associate scientist with the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health. “Patients started on nevirapine had an increased risk of virologic failure and death and were significantly less likely than those started on efavirenz to achieve high treatment adherence.”

“Given the rapid roll-out of antiretroviral programs in Africa and the frequent use of first-line nevirapine-based HAART in such programs the assumption that efavirenz and nevirapine are equally effective needs to be reassessed,” said Nachega, who is also professor and director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Hence, he stressed, “there is a critical need for a large randomized clinical trial to definitively compare the outcomes of efavirenz and nevirapine and for acceleration of efforts to develop lower cost formulations of efavirenz, including generic, fixed-dose combinations in Africa.”


Nachega, in collaboration with Gary Maartens, professor of Medicine at University of Cape Town, and several other colleagues from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, examined the records of 2,817 HIV- infected adults currently enrolled in Aid for AIDS, a private-sector employer-subsidized disease management program in Africa. Participants were HAART naïve adults who began nevirapine-based or efavirenz-based therapies between January 1998 and September 2004.


Researchers determined how often patients requested reimbursement for their purchases of nevirapine- or efavirenz-based HAART to estimate adherence to their treatment regimens. They also evaluated patients CD4 counts, viral load changes and mortality, which are measurements that indicate how well a treatment is working. Program participants were in nine countries in Africa with the majority in South Africa.

Current World Health Organization guidelines recommend the use of a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor such as nevirapine or efavirenz in resource limited settings. Nearly 67 percent of countries in sub-Saharan Africa recommend nevirapine-based regimens for first line therapy because it is available at a lower cost and in a variety of generic fixed-dose combination regimens. In contrast, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the International AIDS Society-USA both recommend the use of efavirenz because it has a more favorable toxicity profile and greater efficacy.


Related article (http://aidsmap.com/en/news/B3BEFB55-A35E-4038-8DA8-E308C169C8CE.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 26, 2008, 05:30:52 am
Yet another interesting grant.

University of Rochester Medical Center Receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Innovative Global Health

Study Details

Most antiviral drugs today are designed to be the right shape to fit precisely into and shut down proteins produced by viruses and needed by them to reproduce. Thus, the drugs start to lose their effectiveness as their viral protein targets mutate and change shape.

The core of novelty in Smith’s approach is that it envisions new drugs that encourage the action of a protein expressed in human cells, instead of a viral protein, that has the ability to destroy HIV, but that is often rendered inactive. To evolve around such a mechanism, a virus cannot make a small structural change, but must instead fundamentally alter its nature.

In recent years, Smith’s work extended the seminal finding of Ann Sheehy in Michael Malim’s laboratory ( formerly at the University of Pennsylvania ) by showing that patients with higher than normal levels of the protein called APOBEC-3G ( A3G ) in their white blood cells were better able to resist HIV.

It also became clear that A3G is used by human cells to “edit” the HIV genetic code every time the virus copies itself, corrupting the code until the virus can no longer reproduce.

Past structural studies carried out jointly by the Smith lab and structural biologist Joseph E. Wedekind, Ph.D., confirmed the finding by Warner Greene ( Gladstone Laboratories ) that A3G has two forms. One is active, and the other, an inactive form wrapped up in complexes with ribonucleic acids ( RNAs ). When RNA switches off the enzymatic activity of A3G, the primary defense of the human cell against HIV is shut down.

HIV is devastating because it infects the same cells that are charged with destroying it, namely the T lymphocytes, one kind of white blood cell. When infected by HIV, a great many T cells self-destruct in an attempt to take the virus with them, which leaves the body open to opportunistic infections ( AIDS ).A few T cells, however, survive to preserve the body’s memory of HIV, so that the system can respond more fiercely to a second infection. In the age-old battle between HIV and the ancestors of human cells, however, HIV has also evolved to take advantage of memory T cells, using them as long-term reservoirs in which the virus can hide from the immune system.

With this long-term haven in place, the virus is free to continue reproducing, which provides more opportunity for it to become resistant. Should infected, resting T cells get activated again by another exposure to any invader, and they most likely will, the T cells then proliferate into an army of clones specifically selected to attack the invader at hand. Ironically, this same process, T cell proliferation, has been shown to deactivate A3G, which enables HIV infection to spread.

For one T cell to proliferate into an army of T cells, each cell must bring down the barriers that surround their DNA so that it can be copied and transferred to their daughter cells during many rounds of cell division. Smith’s team is working with the theory that proliferating T cells, as they divide, mistakenly conclude that A3G has gained access to their genome, and could make unwanted changes to their briefly exposed DNA. Thus, T cells switch off A3G by wrapping it up in RNA complexes just when they most need it to protect themselves against HIV. Smith’s lab, however, discovered that A3G is anchored in the cytoplasm of the T cell and cannot access the genome. Given this new information, Smith proposed to the Gates foundation that A3G activators should represent a safe and novel way to treat HIV infection.

Efforts funded by the Gates grant will focus on liberating the parts of A3G that RNAs seek to attach to in proliferating T cells. Specifically, the grant will support the design of a rapid screening test to be used in the search for compounds that interfere with the ability of RNA to switch off the catalytic activity of A3G. Such compounds could briefly turn on the A3G already in place in T cells, giving them greater ability to fight back as the virus attempts to infect and replicate. In the first phase of work, the team will seek to demonstrate proof of principle for the screening assay, which is designed to emit fluorescent light when a compound is capable of keeping A3G and RNA apart.

Secondly, they hope to put the screening assay through its first paces in the next few months, screening through 10,000-25,000 compounds from libraries available at the University of Rochester to make a first list of drug candidates. Should the team win phase II funding ( up to $1 million ) from the foundation, they will move the best candidates into the next phase of validation and preclinical testing.


While Smith received the Medical Center’s first individual grant from the Gates Foundation, two researchers, Xia Jin, M.D., Ph.D., and Jacob Schlesinger, M.D., in 2004-2005 both received consortium funding through the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative ( PDVI ). The PDVI is an effort, funded by the Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Korean government, to design an effective vaccine for dengue, a virus spread by mosquito bite that caused joint pain in hundreds of thousands and 200 deaths in a recent outbreak in Latin America.


Full text (http://media-newswire.com/release_1076732.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 27, 2008, 12:44:15 pm
FDA Approved HIV AIDS Drugs

http://www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/virals.html

With
Brand Name     
Generic Name(s)     
Manufacturer Name     
Approval Date     
Time to Approval


And for each drugs, additional details such as:

Active Ingredients    
Strength    
Dosage Form/Route
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 27, 2008, 12:55:58 pm
Analysis of Long-Term Vicriviroc (http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/vicriviroc_1630.shtml) Data Provides Evidence of Sustained Viral Suppression, Increased CD4 Cell Counts and Tolerability in Treatment-Experienced HIV-Infected Patients

Data Analysis of Up to Four Years of Treatment Presented at ICAAC/IDSA 2008 Annual Meeting

Schering-Plough Corporation today reported a data analysis showing that vicriviroc, its investigational CCR5 receptor antagonist, demonstrated sustained viral suppression and increased CD4 cell counts and was well tolerated through up to four years of therapy in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients. Vicriviroc was administered once-daily as a single tablet in combination with an optimized antiretroviral regimen containing a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor. These results represent the longest treatment duration and clinical experience reported to date for a CCR5 receptor antagonist.

Vicriviroc, currently in Phase III development, is an extracellular inhibitor of HIV infection designed to prevent the virus from infecting the immune system's CD4 cells by blocking the CCR5 co-receptor. Approximately 50-60 percent of treatment-experienced patients have virus that uses the CCR5 co-receptor.

 The pooled data analysis involved 205 treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients from two vicriviroc Phase II studies who continued on vicriviroc at the completion of 48 weeks of treatment in an open-label extension for each study. Patients received vicriviroc for up to 216 weeks of total treatment duration as part of an optimized antiretroviral regimen.

This analysis showed that vicriviroc was well tolerated overall, with patients developing few complications of HIV disease. Adverse events observed were consistent with expectations for the treatment-experienced HIV-infected population. Importantly, the incidence of malignancy seen across the vicriviroc clinical program has not increased over time even as the cumulative exposure to vicriviroc has increased by numbers of patients and duration of treatment.


About the Data Analysis
..

Median change from baseline viral load (HIV RNA) was -2.1, -2.2, -2.3, -2.3 (log10) at weeks 48, 96, 144 and 168, respectively. Mean change from baseline CD4 (cells/microliter) count was +121, +144, +158 and +143 at the same time points.

..

Status of Vicriviroc Phase III Studies in Treatment-Experienced Patients
Schering-Plough has completed patient enrollment in two large Phase III clinical studies, known as VICTOR-E3 and VICTOR-E4 (Vicriviroc in Combination Treatment with an Optimized Antiretroviral Therapy Regimen in HIV-Infected Treatment-Experienced Subjects), evaluating vicriviroc 30 mg once daily in combination with an optimized background antiretroviral regimen containing a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor compared to a control group receiving new optimized background therapy alone. The optimized background therapy must include at least two drugs to which the patient's HIV is susceptible. Patients coinfected with hepatitis B or C may be included in these studies and there are few exclusions of commonly prescribed drugs or need for dose adjustments based on the known vicriviroc drug-drug interaction profile. The two studies involve a total of more than 850 patients and are currently ongoing at more than 160 sites in North America, Latin America, Europe and South Africa.


Status of Vicriviroc Phase II Study in Treatment-Naive Patients

Schering-Plough also has completed patient enrollment in the first part of an ongoing Phase II study of vicriviroc in a novel nucleoside-sparing regimen for first-line therapy of adult treatment-naive HIV-infected patients with R5-tropic virus only. Approximately 80-90 percent of treatment-naive patients have virus that uses the CCR5 co-receptor. The study evaluates vicriviroc 30 mg once-daily in combination with ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, compared to a control group receiving Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) plus ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, which is a currently recommended option for first-line therapy. This novel nucleoside-sparing vicriviroc regimen is designed to help avoid the risk of toxicities associated with the nucleoside class of HIV drugs, which can include neuropathy, myopathy, renal toxicity, hepatic steatosis, lactic acidosis, bone marrow suppression, fat atrophy and, with certain agents, increased risk of myocardial infarction.
This approach represents a potential opportunity to preserve nucleoside and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs, NNRTIs), integrase inhibitors, fusion inhibitors and most protease inhibitors for later lines of HIV treatment. The full study will involve approximately 200 patients and is ongoing at more than 20 sites in North America, Central America, Europe and South Africa.

For more information about the study, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov, search term: vicriviroc.


Full text (http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=9240409)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 28, 2008, 06:00:14 pm
Avanafil
   
Here's some good news for couples with a rocky bedroom life, scientists have created a new sex drug that works even faster than the commonly used Viagra.

Avanafil, dubbed as the "son of Viagra", starts working within 15 minutes instead of 30.

Unlike Viagra that takes minimum eight hours to wear off, the new drug takes just an hour and a half.

"It's less likely to cause classic Viagra headaches and similar disturbances," The Sun quoted Prof Francesco Sasso as saying.

Sasso said that Avanafil could be used by even by men on drugs for heart problems.

The pill is currently under trials at Rome's Sacred Heart University.

Drug interactions

PDE5 inhibitors are primarily metabolised by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4. The potential exists for adverse drug interactions with other drugs which inhibit or induce CYP3A4, including HIV protease inhibitors, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and other anti-hypertensive drugs such as Nitro-spray (due to its capacity to diminish blood pressure)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 30, 2008, 01:56:13 am
Antiretroviral drugs pipeline Phase II/III as of September 2008

Drug classPhase IIIPhase II
Entry inhibitor (CCR5)VicrivirocPRO 140
Entry inhibitor (CD4)TNX-355
Integrase inhibitorElvitegravir
Maturation inhibitorBevirimat
NNRTIRilpivirine
NRTIApricitabineRacivir, Elvucitabine

Might be others

Entry inhibitors

CCR5 antagonists

Vicriviroc is a similar drug undergoing Phase III trials in treatment-experienced patients (that is, those who have already used other antiretroviral medications), and Phase II trials in patients new to HIV therapy. The Phase III studies are due to end in mid-2009. An earlier trial of vicriviroc raised concern that it might increase the risk of cancer, but larger studies have helped to allay such anxiety. It is likely that vicriviroc tablets will be suitable for once-daily dosing.

PRO 140 is in Phase II trials and is therefore a long way from approval. PRO 140 contains genetically engineered antibodies, similar to the proteins the human immune system employs to fight infections. This means that PRO 140 must be injected, or else it would be destroyed in the stomach. Because it remains in the body for a long time, PRO 140 may have to be injected only once or twice per month. Compared to maraviroc and vicriviroc, PRO 140 seems to have less impact on the useful functions of the CCR5 protein, which may mean it has fewer side effects.

Anti-CD4 antibodies

TNX-355 – also known as ibalizumab – blocks HIV from entering cells by binding to the protein CD4 on the cell surface. Like PRO 140, TNX-355 contains antibodies and is injected once every two weeks (or possibly even less often). A concern is that interfering with the CD4 protein on immune cells may impair the body’s ability to fight disease, but so far no such effect has been seen in studies. As with other injected antiretrovirals, the market for TNX-355 is likely to be small; as of September 2008 it was uncertain whether the manufacturer would continue with Phase II trials.

Integrase inhibitors

Elvitegravir is being tested in treatment-experienced patients in Phase III trials, which are expected to run until the end of 2010. This integrase inhibitor (in common with most protease inhibitors) requires a small dose of the drug ritonavir to boost its effectiveness. Such a combination of tablets may be suitable for once-daily dosing.

Maturation inhibitors

Bevirimat is a maturation inhibitor – a drug designed to halt the development of immature HIV particles after they have emerged from human cells. After presenting the results of a Phase II trial in October 2008, the manufacturer of bevirimat said it plans to proceed to Phase III trials using a newly developed tablet formulation. The market for bevirimat may be limited because studies have found that around half of people infected with HIV carry strains that are partially resistant to this drug.

NNRTIs

Rilpivirine is undergoing Phase III trials expected to finish in August 2010. It is a once-daily pill that could emerge as a preferred option for people starting treatment for the first time. Rilpirivine appears to be as effective as the current favourite NNRTI, efavirenz, but with fewer side effects. Unlike efavirenz, it does not appear to cause central nervous system effects such as anxiety, sleep disturbance and depression.

NRTIs

Apricitabine, Elvucitabine and Racivir are more conventional NRTIs that are undergoing clinical trials. Apricitabine and racivir are similar in structure to 3TC (lamivudine) and FTC (emtricitabine), which are widely used in first-line treatment. Studies suggest that all three of these experimental drugs can control HIV that is resistant to some other NRTIs, so they may provide useful options for second-line treatment. Apricitabine is the only one of the three to have entered Phase III trials.

Source (http://www.avert.org/new-aids-drugs.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 30, 2008, 01:59:57 am
Trofile Assay by Internet

Just for info, especially for some, living outside the US, and for who, finding a lab doing such test can be difficult.

http://www.trofileassay.com

Work in collaboration with Pfizer.

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 30, 2008, 02:03:53 am
Some others drugs in development

(http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9673/drugsdevko3.gif)

Details (http://www.jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2008&month=October&volume=2&issue=5&page=1119-1125&id=341)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 30, 2008, 02:40:46 am
NATAP News
http://www.natap.org/

Low Vitamin D Tied to High Bone Marker Levels in Men Taking Tenofovir
10/30/08
Men taking tenofovir (TDF) had higher levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), a signal of abnormal calcium metabolism, than antiretroviral-treated men not taking TDF in a small cross-sectional study [1]. Parathyroid hormone concentrations were particularly high in TDF-treated men with low vitamin D, measured as 25(OH)D. Although these findings must be seen as preliminary, the researchers believe the results suggest that "adequate doses of vitamin D supplements along with TDF may prevent secondary hyperparathyroidism, a serious condition linked to bone loss and cardiovascular disease." But they cautioned that this tactic requires validation in a clinical trial.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_45.htm

Darunavir or Raltegravir in Rescue Regimen Raises Chance of Success 3 to 4 Times
10/30/08
A single-center study confirmed trial results showing a good chance of viral suppression with rescue regimens incorporating darunavir or raltegravir [1]. Among people starting either of these two drugs at the University of Alabama (UAB) clinic, two thirds reached a viral load below 50 copies after 24 weeks of treatment.
The findings are encouraging because they demonstrate that clinical trial results with these potent agents can be duplicated in the clinic. The results also buttress the validity of treatment guidelines that set a viral load below 50 copies as the goal of salvage therapy.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_42.htm

Did HIV Become More Virulent in First Decade of US Epidemic?
10/30/08
HIV-1 appeared to become nastier in the first 10 years of the US epidemic, according to results of a study tracking first CD4 count and other immune cell levels after diagnosis [1]. But since about 1996, virulence of the retrovirus appeared to be stable in this largely male US population.
Tri-Service AIDS Clinical Consortium investigators analyzed first CD4 counts after HIV diagnosis in 1944 people diagnosed in four periods: 1985-1990, 1991-1995, 1996-2001, and 2002-2004. This prospective cohort study includes US Department of Defense beneficiaries seen at 7 centers.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_40.htm

A Pharmacokinetic Study to Evaluate an Interaction between Maraviroc and Raltegravir in Healthy Adults
10/29/08
When MVC and RAL were coadministered in healthy adults, MVC Cmax, MVC AUCt, RAL C12 and RAL AUCt were reduced compared to monotherapy.
These changes are not likely to be clinically relevant as exposure to both drugs appeared to be above pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic targets.
Thus, no dose adjustment may be required when MVC and RAL are coadministered.
MVC and RAL when administered alone and concomitantly were generally safe and well tolerated.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_36.htm

Pharmacokinetic (PK) Evaluation of Darunavir/Ritonavir (DRV/r) and Raltegravir (RAL) in Healthy Subjects
10/29/08
Multiple oral doses of 400-mg RAL given in combination with 600-mg DRV plus 100-mg RTV in healthy subjects resulted in a common adverse experience of rash.
Based on limited PK data, coadministration of DRV/r and RAL resulted in a modest effect on RAL with no clinically important changes in DRV pharmacokinetics.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_35.htm

Three-year Efficacy of Lopinavir/ritonavir Monotherapy in the OK04 Trial
10/29/08
After three years of follow up the OK-04 study shows that lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy can maintain HIV viral suppression in a very large proportion of patients.
Of the 100 patients initially randomized to lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy, 71% remain on monotherapy with an HIV viral load of less than 50 HIV-RNA copies/mL at week 144.
This result support the durability of lopinavir-ritonavir monotherapy and is consistent with the long term follow-up of our pilot clinical trial in which 66.7% of patients randomized to lopinavir-ritonavir monotherapy remain on monotherapy and with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL after four years of follow-up
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_34.htm

Single Agent Therapy with Lopinavir/Ritonavir Suppresses HIV-1 Viral Replication in ARV Naïve Patients: IMANI II - 96 Week Final Results
10/29/08
Single agent therapy (SAT) with lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) has demonstrated successful control of viral replication as part of a variety of treatment strategies.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 However, there are limited data in LPV/r SAT in ARV naïve patients.9,10 Recent data demonstrated durable virologic control in ARV naïve patients at 96 weeks with this strategy.11,12
We present 96 week data of our IMANI II study of LPV/r SAT in ARV naïve subjects
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_33.htm

Lower CD4 Count With HIV Ups Risk of Anal Cancer in Case-Control Study
10/28/08
A CD4 count under 200 independently raised the risk of anal cancer more than 20 times in HIV-infected men at the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center [1]. No other variable correlated with anal cancer risk in this case-control study.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_30.htm

Antiretroviral Trial Strictures Make Outcomes Harder to Interpret in Clinic: HIV trials need patients with 'major illnesses or more advanced HIV disease'
10/28/08
Limiting clinical trials of antiretrovirals to people without major illnesses or more advanced HIV disease "may not provide practitioners with necessary information to translate clinical efficacy [in trials] into effectiveness [in practice] in persons with HIV infection."
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_28.htm

Phase 2 Trial Confirms Baseline Mutation Risk With Maturation Inhibitor
10/28/08
In a placebo-controlled trial bevirimat (PA-457), an HIV-1 maturation inhibitor, lowered viral loads more than 10-fold after 2 weeks of functional monotherapy--as long as bevirimat levels reached 20 mcg/mL and HIV did not harbor mutations that jeopardize response to bevirimat [1]. The findings suggest that bevirimat, if licensed, will be like maraviroc in requiring a pretreatment test to screen out people unlikely to respond to this drug.
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_31.htm


Antiretroviral Therapy Lowers MRSA Risk 84% in US Cohort Study
10/28/08
Limiting clinical trials of antiretrovirals to people without major illnesses or more advanced HIV disease "may not provide practitioners with necessary information to translate clinical efficacy [in trials] into effectiveness [in practice] in persons with HIV infection."
http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_29.htm
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 31, 2008, 05:11:32 pm
25 Years Later: Can HIV Be Cured?

Long but interesting reading.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=can-hiv-be-cured

Note
This article didn't mention for e.g. the stems cells (Dr Hutter), as a possible path to a cure.

What is important to bear in mind with such articles is that it summarize the past discoveries and the current hypothesis about HIV, and the ways to fight it based on this knowledge.

But a new discovery can totally change our current understanding and lead to a cure.
So let such article summarize why today the cure haven't been found yet.
Not if a cure can be find or not.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on October 31, 2008, 07:06:30 pm
'In Vivo' Protection Against HIV Infection by CCR5-ZFN Therapeutic
Preclinical Animal Data Demonstrates Selective Survival Advantage of ZFN-Treated Immune Cells after HIV Infection and Reduced Viral Loads

WASHINGTON and RICHMOND, Calif., Oct. 28 - Sangamo biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) announced today the presentation of data demonstrating that human CD4 T-cells can be made permanently resistant to HIV infection by treatment with zinc finger DNA-binding protein nucleases (ZFN(TM)) resulting in an increase in CD4 T-cell counts and a reduction in viral load in an animal model of HIV infection. The presentation, entitled, "Establishment of HIV Resistant CD4 T-cells Using Engineered Zinc Finger Protein Nucleases (ZFNs)" is taking place today at the joint meeting of the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in Washington, DC.

"We are very excited about these data and our collaboration with Sangamo to develop an HIV/AIDS therapeutic," said Carl June, M.D., Director of Translational Research at the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and a co-author of the study. "The ability to prevent immune cells from becoming infected by HIV has the potential to provide long term control of both the opportunistic infections characteristic of AIDS as well as the virus itself. We look forward to bringing this program into the clinic."

Sangamo's ZFNs are designed to permanently modify the DNA sequence encoding CCR5, a co-receptor that enables HIV to enter and infect cells of the immune system. Individuals carrying a naturally occurring mutation of their CCR5 gene, a variant known as CCR5-delta32, have been shown to be resistant to HIV infection.

..

Data Reported in the ICAAC/IDSA Presentation

The reported results demonstrate that a one-time exposure to CCR5-specific ZFNs resulted in the generation of an HIV-resistant population of primary human T-cells by the permanent genetic modification of the CCR5 gene. These ZFN-modified CD4 T-cells expanded stably in HIV-infected cultures for several weeks and appeared to behave identically to untreated T-cells except that they were resistant to infection by HIV. ZFN treated primary CD4 T-cells and transformed CD4 cell lines resisted infection with R5-tropic HIV (virus that uses the CCR5 co-receptor to enter cells), resulting in enrichment of ZFN-generated CCR5-disrupted cells in the population upon exposure to virus. Importantly, in the presence of HIV, ZFN-modified CD4 T-cells also preferentially expanded in a mouse model.

The modified cells were infused into mice that lack a normal immune system and thus do not reject human cells. After 33 days, the mice were sacrificed and analyzed for the presence of ZFN-modified cells. Researchers determined that ZFN-modified cells engrafted normally in the mouse and that the proportion of modified cells present at the end of the experiment was greater than two to three fold higher in mice in the presence of HIV infection (p=0.008). It was also determined that 50 days after infection, mice given the ZFN-modified cells had increased numbers of CD4 cells and a statistically significant seven-fold reduction in viral load in their peripheral blood (P<0.001) compared to mice given control cells. A high level of specificity of the CCR5-ZFNs for their target site was demonstrated by immunochemistry and direct genomic sequence analysis of ZFN-treated human CD4 T-cells. These data suggest that, in the presence of HIV, the ZFN-modified cells have a selective advantage allowing them to evade infection and destruction leaving them able fight opportunistic infections and HIV itself.

In addition, Sangamo and its collaborators have demonstrated successful ZFN-modification of clinical-scale quantities of human CD4 T-cells and that these modified cells exhibited the expected properties of normal T-cells. This demonstrates that ZFN-modified human CD4 T-cells could be produced in quantities required for the translation of this program into the clinic.


Source (http://investor.sangamo.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=343580)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: leit on November 01, 2008, 02:13:00 am
This article didn't mention for e.g. the stems cells (Dr Hutter), as a possible path to a cure.

I'd give anything to know how is Dr. Hütter's patient doing...

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 01, 2008, 02:56:11 am
Inflammation and collateral damages

Check your C-reactive protein (CRP) levels..

Notes
This article is in fact talking about aging and took it on its inflammation perspective.
Of course, do not try any drugs mentioned in this article without the consent of your ID doc.


..
 
In recent years, gerontologists have overturned much of the conventional wisdom about getting old. Aging is not the simple result of the passage of time. According to a provocative new view, it is actually something our own bodies create, a side effect of the essential inflammatory system that protects us against infectious disease. As we fight off invaders, we inflict massive collateral damage on ourselves, poisoning our own organs and breaking down our own tissues. We are our own worst enemy.
 
This paradox is transforming the way we understand aging. It is also changing our understanding of what diseases are and where they come from. Inflammation seems to underlie not just senescence but all the chronic illnesses that often come along with it: diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's, heart attack. "Inflammatory factors predict virtually all bad outcomes in humans," says Russell Tracy, a professor of pathology and biochemistry at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, whose pioneering research helped demonstrate the role of inflammation in heart disease. "It predicts having heart attacks, having heart failure, becoming diabetic; predicts becoming fragile in old age; predicts cognitive function decline, even cancer to a certain extent."
 
The idea that chronic diseases might be caused by persistent inflammation has been kicking around since the 19th century. Only in the past few years, though, have modern biochemistry and the emerging field of systems biology made it possible to grasp the convoluted chemical interactions involved in bodywide responses like inflammation. Over a lifetime, this essential set of defensive mechanisms runs out of bounds and gradually damages organs throughout the body.
 
When you start to think about aging as a consequence of inflammation, as Tracy and many prominent gerontologists now do, you start to see old age in a different, much more hopeful light. If decrepitude is driven by an overactive immune system, then it is treatable. And if many chronic diseases share this underlying cause, they might all be remedied in a similar way. The right anti-inflammatory drug could be a panacea, treating diabetes, dementia, heart disease, and even cancer. Such a wonder drug might allow us to live longer, but more to the point, it would almost surely allow us to live better, increasing the odds that we could all spend our old age feeling like Jim Hammond: healthy, vibrant, and vital. And unlike science fiction visions of an immortality pill, a successful anti-inflammatory treatment could actually happen within our lifetime.
 
For the last century and a half, the average life span in wealthy countries has increased steadily, climbing from about 45 to more than 80 years. There is no good reason to think this increase will suddenly stop. But longer life today often simply means taking longer to die-slowly, expensively, and with more disease and disability. "If you talk to many old people, what they are really desperate about is not the fact that they're going to die but that they are going to be sick, dependent, have to rely on others," says Luigi Ferrucci, chief of the longitudinal studies section at the National Institute on Aging and director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the nation's longest-running study of old age.
 
Biologists have known for a while that inflammation increases with age, but until recently, given everything else that slumps, spikes, or goes off the rails as we get old, it didn't seem especially important. Some researchers on aging still think that way.
 
But a big clue linking inflammation with aging came in the late 1990s, when Tracy and his colleagues showed that C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory protein, is an amazingly accurate predictor of a future heart attack-as good as or better than high blood pressure or high cholesterol. At least in heart disease, inflammation isn't just a bystander. What's more, we could do something to decrease it. Aspirin, which was already known to help people with heart disease, seems to work primarily by reducing inflammation.

..

Evolution has designed into us a cruel trade-off: What saves us in the short term kills us over the long haul. As we get older, acute episodes of inflammation tend to turn into chronic ones, perhaps because the regulation of the immune system becomes less efficient. Inflammatory factors in the blood can increase two- to fourfold. Chronic infections may be partly to blame. Although we usually don't know it, nearly all adults are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, and at least 60 percent of us with cytomegalovirus. These two pathogens can stay in our bodies in a latent state, hiding out in our cells. But Ronald Glaser, a viral immunologist at Ohio State University Medical Center and his research partner (and wife), psychologist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, think that these viruses are not fully dormant. They've found evidence (pdf) that with age, antibodies to these viruses increase, indicating a reawakened virus and an active immune response.

..

Analyzing historical birth and death records from 19th-century Europe, he and Eileen Crimmins, a gerontologist and sociologist at the University of Southern California, found that longevity is directly related to exposure to childhood disease. Children born during years of high neonatal mortality who survived to adulthood didn't live as long as those born in healthier years. The reason, he says, is inflammation: A high infectious burden in childhood results in a high inflammatory burden in adulthood, which results in a shorter, sicker life. Conversely, Finch believes that people in affluent countries now live so long because their childhoods are free from diseases like measles, typhoid, malaria, whooping cough, and worms. Without these diseases, people grow bigger and stronger-and live much longer.

..

Dietary restriction sharply inhibits the inflammatory response, and that may be part of why it promotes longevity at the same time that it reduces insulin resistance and slows dementia.

..

Some ways to reduce inflammation are elementary. It is impossible to know exactly what is going on in Jim Hammond's body, but all the aspects of his regimen-healthy food, exercise, and a good attitude-reduce systemic inflammation. Those of us without his tenacity can turn to drug companies, which are exploring new anti-inflammatory drugs like flavonoids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavonoid) (*). Researchers are also looking at new uses for old drugs-trying to prevent Alzheimer's using ibuprofen, for example.

..

The caveat with these experiments is that by modifying inflammation, we are playing with fire. After all, fighting off infection is an absolutely essential bodily function. "The danger of monkeying around in a system like that is that you may do more harm than good," Cohen says
. But humans appear willing to renegotiate the ancient evolutionary bargain that traded robust reproductive health for frail old age.



Full text (much longer) (http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/100608_04.htm)


Note
(*) Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits, berries, ginkgo biloba, onions[11][12], parsley[13], pulses[14], tea (especially white and green tea), red wine, seabuckthorn, and dark chocolate (with a cocoa content of seventy percent or greater).
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 07, 2008, 12:09:30 pm
HIV Replication Inhibited By Herpes Drug, But With A Price

The anti-herpes drug acyclovir can also directly slow down HIV infection by targeting the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme, researchers report in this week's JBC. This beneficial effect does pose a risk though, as HIV-infected cells treated with acyclovir promote the emergence of multi-drug resistant HIV variants.

HIV and herpes (HSV) are two of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide, and individuals frequently become co-infected with both. In such cases, the two viruses interact with each other; the presence of HIV often results in more frequent HSV lesion outbreaks, while HSV can speed up the progression of HIV to AIDS.

Considering their interaction, recent studies showing that acyclovir treatment could reduce HIV viral load in co-infected patients were not surprising, and attributed to an indirect effect of HSV suppression. However, Moira McMahon and colleagues at Johns Hopkins decided to look whether the effects on HIV might be direct.

They used a sensitive infection assay of white blood cells and found that acyclovir can directly inhibit HIV replication. The drug specifically targeted RT, the key HIV enzyme that converts the virus' RNA into DNA so it can be replicated. However, acyclovir treatment had some unexpected results; as early as five days after initial infection, a mutant version of HIV (V75I) appeared in the cells, and within 94 days spread to comprise over 90% of the viral population. The V75I strain is part of the resistance pathway to many drugs, including the commonly used RT inhibitors.

What this means, the authors note, is that acyclovir could be a great model for designing future HIV treatments, but also could be a risky drug if given to HSV patients co-infected with HIV by potentially promoting cross-resistance to current treatments.


Source (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/128600.php)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 08, 2008, 04:13:43 am
Info for those willing to conceive

Just few info for those interested by the subject

Few Sperm washing clinics
http://www.erasme.ulb.ac.be - EU,  Belgium - around 600 euros
http://www.creathe.org - EU, Switzerland
http://www.capefertilityclinic.co.za SA, Cape Town - Around 250 euros

Tenofovir prevents HIV transmission in couples trying to conceive

HIV-positive men can conceive children naturally, without infecting their partners, if their viral load is fully suppressed by antiretroviral therapy and their partner takes a dose of the anti-HIV drug tenofovir before intercourse, according to the results of a small study presented Monday.

Dr Pietro Vernazza and his colleagues from St. Gallen Hospital in Switzerland studied 21 couples in which the male partner was HIV-positive and the female partner was not. They described their results at the International Aids Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention.
All of the couples in the study wanted to have children; the men were already taking a combination of antiretroviral drugs that suppressed their blood levels of HIV below a detectable level.

To further reduce the risk of infection in the female partners, the researchers gave each of them two doses of tenofovir, one to be taken 36 hours before intercourse and another 12 hours before.

After each of the couples had made three attempts, 11 of the 21 couples had conceived, Vernazza said, and after 10 attempts, 15 were pregnant. These are substantially higher rates than might be expected with artificial reproduction, Vernazza said.

Women tested negative
All the women in the study tested negative for HIV, three months after the last exposure, the researchers report. "The risk of transmission in a couple with a fully treated male partner is low and can further be reduced by timed intercourse and a short pre-exposure prophylaxis with tenofovir," Vernazza said.

"This system actually worked pretty well," he told delegates at the conference. One of the main issues the researchers faced was convincing patients the approach was safe, he said.

Persuading the couples may be a problem sometimes. In this case, they can be offered in vitro fertilisation (with sperm washing) as an alternative, he said. "But in general, an hour to explain all the data is enough."

Large scale trials examining pre-exposure prophylaxis as a way to reduce the spread of HIV are currently underway in Botswana, Thailand, Peru and Ecuador, with the first results expected next year (2008), the president of the International Aids Society, Dr Pedro Cahn, told reporters ahead of the conference.


Source (http://www.hmetoday.com/reuters_article.asp?id=20070723clin016.html)
Video (http://www.beatit.co.za/flash/popup.php?videourl=http://www.youtube.com/v/w_axlpJvE-M)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 11, 2008, 12:38:57 am
Astragalus

For those who have read this AIDSMEDS news:
Astragalus Extract May Strengthen Immune Response to HIV (http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_astragalus_telomere_1667_15595.shtml)

Here are valuables informations about this plant:
 
http://www.enotalone.com/article/9199.html
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 15, 2008, 12:45:55 pm
HIV9 Glasgow Congress
9-13 November 2008
Website (http://www.hiv9.com/index.asp)

Failure Rate Twice Higher With Second-Line Versus First-Line HAART (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_18.htm)
People starting second-line antiretroviral therapy after failure of first-line therapy at a London HIV clinic had a twice higher failure rate with the second regimen. A higher CD4 count when the second regimen began lowered the risk of failure, and a higher viral load at that point raised the risk of second-line failure. Although this study from the Royal Free Hospital offers probably the most robust analysis of second-line failure to date, the second regimens analyzed date back to the early 2000s, so the results probably do not hold true for the diverse and potent rescue regimens available today.

Lower Failure and Resistance Rates With Darunavir Than Lopinavir at 96 Weeks of TITAN (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_17.htm)
After 96 weeks TITAN trial investigators counted almost half as many virologic failures with darunavir as with lopinavir in antiretroviral-experienced but lopinavir-naive study participants. Genotypic and phenotypic resistance proved much less common after darunavir failure than after lopinavir failure. These differences held true when the researchers limited the analysis to people with a 10-fold or less decrease in susceptibility to lopinavir or who had used no protease inhibitors (PIs) or one PI when TITAN began.
 
Slow CD4 Gain With HAART Raises AIDS Rate 5 Times in Virologic Responders (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_16.htm)
Slow gains in CD4 cells despite full viral suppression in previously untreated people raised the rate of a new AIDS diagnosis more than 5 times--but only in the first year of a discordant CD4-RNA response. After that, people who still had sluggish CD4 gains and people who gained CD4s briskly had equivalent AIDS risks in a multicenter German cohort.
 
Cardiovascular disease; HIV, ART, immunodeficiency, pro-inflammation and other factors (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_15.htm)
Traditional CV risk factors, untreated HIV and certain antiretroviral drugs may all contribute to CV risk in HIV

Efficacy and safety of TMC278 in treatment-naïve, HIV-infected patients: Week 96 data from TMC278-C204 (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_14.htm)
All doses of once-daily oral TMC278 demonstrated a high and sustained virological response rate over 96 weeks.

TMC278 was generally safe and well tolerated

Iincidences of any grade 2-4 AE possibly related to treatment, rash, neurological- and psychiatric-related AEs and increases in lipids were lower with TMC278 than with EFV.
 
Efficacy and safety of TMC278 were well maintained between 48 and 96 weeks.
 
No definitive TMC278 resistance profile could be determined from the limited number of virological failures.
 
TMC278 is being further evaluated in Phase III trials at a dose of 25mg qd.
 
Efficacy and Safety by Baseline HIV RNA and CD4 Count in Treatment-Naïve Patients Treated With Atazanavir/RTV and Lopinavir/RTV in the CASTLE Study (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_13.htm)
This subgroup analysis of CASTLE confirms that ATV/RTV is an effective and well-tolerated once-daily treatment that is appropriate for use in HIV-infected treatment-naïve patients, including individuals with high viral loads and low CD4 cell counts.
 
ATV/RTV demonstrated similar antiviral efficacy to LPV/RTV, irrespective of baseline HIV RNA strata.
Although response rates decreased with increasing baseline HIV RNA, this occurred to a similar extent in both treatment groups.
 
For ATV/RTV, virologic response rates remained consistent across baseline CD4 strata. In contrast, for LPV/RTV, lower baseline CD4 cell counts were associated with lower response rates in the ITT analysis.
 
In the lowest CD4 cell count stratum (CD4 < 50 cells/mm3), discontinuations from LPV/RTV were over twice the rate of discontinuations from ATV/RTV through Week 48.
 
Both regimens were associated with robust increases in CD4 cell count, regardless of baseline HIV RNA or CD4 count strata.
 
Treatment-related AEs, particularly nausea and diarrhea, were more commonly observed in LPV/RTV patients with lowest baseline CD4 counts (< 50 cells/mm3) compared with patients on ATV/RTV.

Efficacy and safety of switching from Lopinavir/r to Atazanavir/r in suppressed patients receiving a LPV/r containing HAART: ATAZIP 96 weeks results (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_12.htm)
ATV is a potent, well-tolerated, once-daily (QD) protease inhibitor (PI) extensively studied in treatment-naive and -experienced patients
 
The SWAN study (BMS 097)1demonstrated that switching from PI ± RTV-containing regimens to an unboostedATV-containing regimen maintained virologic suppression with improvement in plasma lipids through 48 weeksin patients without previous failures to PI contaningregimens
 
One year outcomes provided comparable efficacy and safety profiles between study arms with improved lipid parameters in patients switching to ATV/r2

OI and Death Rates With Low CD4s and High vs Low Viral Load - Undetectable Viral Load Matters (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_19.htm)
Keeping viral loads low in people with a CD4 count under 200 has a profound impact on rates of opportunistic infections (OIs) and death, according to a large EuroSIDA analysis [1]. The study also found lower OI and death rates in treated people with measurable viremia and a sub-200 CD4 count than in people with low CD4s who stopped treatment altogether.
 
The study focused on three groups, all with CD4 counts below 200:
 
· Group 1: 3164 people taking combination antiretrovirals with a viral load below 500
· Group 2: 3537 people taking combination antiretrovirals with a viral load above 500
· Group 3: 1601 people not taking antiretrovirals with a viral load above 500

----------------------

Science News

Vitamin C Lowers Levels Of Inflammation Biomarker Considered Predictor Of Heart Disease (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081113091630.htm)
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, adds to the evidence that vitamin C supplements can lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), a central biomarker of inflammation that has been shown to be a powerful predictor of heart disease and diabetes. The same study found no benefit from daily doses of vitamin E, another antioxidant.

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 16, 2008, 09:45:21 am
Thinking outside the box

(http://media.dailyuw.com//images/thumbnails/081028_ad_GatesHIV_02_WEB_230w.jpg)
Keith Jerome, who recently received one of the Grand Challenges Explorations grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, looks over his notes in the research lab he manages at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.


Keith Jerome has one year to spend $100,000.

But the UW associate professor of laboratory medicine isn’t going to buy a new car. He is going to use his grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to try to find a cure for HIV.

“I think this is an important problem and we have a chance to really make a difference,” Jerome said.

The grant is part of the Grand Challenges Explorations grant program that includes a $100 million fund distributed during five years for research of health issues affecting the global community.

“It is part of the Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative, which is supported by the Gates Foundation to achieve major breakthroughs in global health,” Gates Foundation member Becky Meisels said.

However, these grants are not given to just any researcher.

“The grants are given to researchers working on novel and potentially ground-breaking ideas that are off the beaten path,” Jerome said.

Jerome’s plan involves a new class of protein called homing endonucleases, proteins that are able to recognize and cut up specific sequences in DNA. He wants to change the specificity of these proteins so they can recognize the viral part of the DNA and then can introduce that into a person that has HIV. The idea came to him a little more than a year ago.

“The thing that makes HIV such a bad disease is that it actually put itself in your chromosomes,” Jerome said.

The current HIV treatments available cannot target the part of the virus that has integrated itself into the chromosome.

Jerome has worked with viruses for a long time, including work on the herpes virus, which is very similar to the HIV virus in that both viruses permanently inhabit the body.

“The idea really first came about generically when we were thinking about the latent viruses,” Jerome said.

The Gates Foundation helped jumpstart the idea into an actual plan.

“The one thing I would say is that for all of us who have gotten these Gates awards, I think there is a tremendous gratitude to the foundation for this,” Jerome said.

He added that during such a tough time in the economy, it is amazing to have this foundation as a source of funding.

The $100,000 grant Jerome received is for one year. At the end of the year, the foundation will look at the progress and re-evaluate the project. In the world of science, a year isn’t a very long time and it’s barely enough time to see if the ideas will work or not.

“At the end of the year, hopefully we will find funding to continue,” Jerome said.

The Gates Foundation has identified 12 areas as “grand challenges” that affect the world. Studies on an HIV cure is one of those areas.

“I applied for that one and basically our approach is a new way that offers the possibility of a cure for people with HIV,” Jerome said. “Not just a treatment, but a way to get the virus out of the body.”

Jerome and his research team are very optimistic about this project.

“This is all really working out,” he said.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 17, 2008, 10:50:17 am
Study Identifies Foothold Behind HIV Brain Assault

Scientists have uncovered a number of events that take place after brain cells are infected by HIV, a virus whose assault on the nervous system continues unabated despite antiviral medications.

Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center and other institutions say that they have been successful in reversing the effects of Tat, a protein that is central to HIV's attack on cells called neurons, in the laboratory.

The scientists attribute their success to the discovery of the receptor that Tat uses to attack neurons. They say that it was by blocking this receptor that they could reverse the effects of Tat.

Writing about their work in the journal PloS One, the team insist that their work opens up a new avenue for exploring ways to prevent or treat HIV's neurological effects, for which there is no currently approved treatment.

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the latest research project aims at finding out the first treatment for the neurological effects of HIV, known collectively as neuroAIDS or HIV dementia.

Dr. Harris Gelbard, a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, has revealed that Tat works through the ryanodine receptor to sicken neurons in two ways: by destroying the ability of mitochondria to protect themselves from changes in levels of calcium, and by affecting an organelle known as the endoplasmic reticulum, where proteins are actually assembled and folded.


The researcher says that it is Tat's effects on the ryanodine receptor that cause an "unfolded protein response" seen in the brains of HIV patients.


Gelbard says that the new findings are in line with past studies that showed that the central problem in HIV dementia is not that brain cells simply die, but rather they become sick and lose their ability to communicate with each other.

Since the cells are still alive, according to Gelbard, there is hope that the condition could be stopped or even reversed with proper treatment.

The researcher has revealed that the team were able to stop the harmful effects of Tat in neurons from mice by using the drug dantrolene, which blocks the ryanodine receptor.

Gelbard, however, cautions that dantrolene has side effects and thus may not be appropriate for use in people.

"A lot of people are under the impression that HIV has been 'solved,' that somehow, it's no longer a problem. But the disease never went away, and it's a huge problem," said Gelbard, who is professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Microbiology and Immunology.

"There are a fair number of similarities between this brain disease and other diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. We hope that what we are learning can be applied to other diseases as well," the researcher added.
 


Source (http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=2285)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 20, 2008, 11:40:02 am
Failure of bone marrow transplantation to eradicate HIV reservoir despite efficient HAART

Sorry for this bad news and this young guy.

This work is dedicated to the nice young patient who courageously participated in this therapeutic proposal.
 
One of the challenges in HIV infection is viral eradication, as underlined by recent studies [1]. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been suggested to be able to reconstitute patients' haematopoietic systems after the clearance of HIV-infected cells with intensive chemotherapy and radiation [2,3]. In 1999, Huzicka [3] reviewed 32 allogeneic bone marrow transplants in HIV-infected patients between 1982 and 1996; in two cases, HIV seemed to be eradicated as judged by negative HIV-DNA and HIV-RNA levels using classic polymerase chain reaction [4,5].
 
We report here the first case of BMT in an HIV-1-infected patient treated by HAART. To explore HIV reservoirs, we used a sensitive method to quantify HIV-DNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and biopsies.
 
A Romanian 17-year-old man had a transfusion-related HIV-1 infection diagnosed at 8 years of age. He was asymptomatic with a CD4 cell count greater than 350 cells/_l until he developed Burkitt's lymphoma in June 2003 and then received effective HAART. He developed monocytic acute myeloid leukemia in April 2005. After transiently effective chemotherapy (ELAM02), a relapse occurred in September and a second line of chemotherapy followed by a human leukocyte antigen phenoidentical BMT was proposed in October. Marrow cytoablation consisted of a conditioning regimen including idarubicine, fludarabine and aracytine. Horse antilymphocytic serum and cyclosporine were used. Haematological restoration was observed at day 19 posttransplant, and chimerism study showed a 100% donor phenotype at days 30 and 119 posttransplant. Cytogenetic remission was confirmed on bone marrow at day 124. The patient suffered early and prolonged cutaneous and digestive graft-versus-host disease (grade III) partly controlled with a combination of immunosuppressive therapy. He presented with several infectious complications and died in multivisceral failure at day 191 posttransplant. During all the procedures, HAART was maintained except for a short interruption for suspected toxicity between days 114 and 134 posttransplant.
 
HIV DNA was quantified in PBMC, bone marrow cells and biopsies, using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay amplifying the LTR region according to a previously described technique [6]. The lowest threshold possible was obtained and was adapted to each sample even in cases with few cells during the aplastic and immunosuppressive phases, because the maximum tests per sample were performed to explore all available cells. Before transplantation, HIV DNA was at 2.76 log10 copies/106 PBMC. The medullar sample was at 1.77 log10 copies/106 bone marrow cells before BMT; it contained 60% monoclonal blasts, suggesting that blasts were not infected otherwise the HIV-DNA load would have been dramatically higher. The plasma HIV-RNA load (Cobas Monitor; Roche, France) was undetectable for 18 months before BMT. After BMT, HIV RNA in the plasma remained at less than 1.7 log10 copies/ml. HIV-DNA levels in PBMC became undetectable during over 4 months (< 2 log10 copies/106 PBMC), although more than one million PBMC was explored (Fig. 1). Sixteen days after HAART cessation, however, rebounds of HIV RNA (4.61 log10 copies/ml) and HIV DNA (2.50 log10 copies/106 PBMC) were detected (Fig. 1). Resumption of HAART at day 134 returned viral loads to undetectable levels at day 152 (Fig. 1). HIV DNA was still detectable (< 1.5-2.5 log10 copies/106 PBMC; Fig. 1) but was undetectable in oesophageal, antral, duodenal and rectal biopsies performed 12 days after HAART resumption (< 2.3-3.3 log10 copies/106 cells).
 
We performed a phylogenetic analysis based on the gp120 C2-V3 sequences on four plasma viral strains (two in 2003 and two in 2006 after BMT). They clustered together but two separate lineages were identified (one for the strains of 2003 and one of 2006) with a high bootstrap value (> 95), suggesting that different quasispecies circulated before and after BMT. It confirmed that the viral reservoir previously constituted was not eradicated.
 
Negative results on HIV DNA after BMT gave hope of a significant reduction of the reservoir, indeed HIV remission. The organism was repopulated by donor-derived cells that could mount a successful antiviral response through cytotoxic T lymphocytes [3]. Moreover, graft-versus-host disease could have destroyed residual haematopoietic cells potentially harbouring virus [5], including infected macrophages [3]. We did not, however, observe HIV-1 eradication. Unfortunately, the HIV-1 replication recovery a few days after HAART interruption unambiguously showed the persistence of an infectious viral residual reservoir, may be in profound tissues. Despite the use of intensive pretransplant cytoablative conditioning with chemotherapy combined with 18 months of potent effective HAART before BMT (contrary to zidovudine alone used in cases described before 1996), the goal of HIV eradication was not achieved for this patient with a relatively high HIV-DNA level in PBMC [6]. We hypothesized that recipient antigen-presenting cells as well as totipotent haematopoietic progenitors can survive and play a critical role as a virus reservoir [7-9]. Finally, this case emphasizes that the establishment of an 'eradication concept' needs to be evaluated after HAART cessation.

References
 
1. Lehrman G, Hogue IB, Palmer S, Jennings C, Spina CA, Wiegand A, et al. Depletion of latent HIV-1 infection in vivo: a proof-of-concept study. Lancet 2005; 366:549-555
2. Yang QE. Human immunodeficiency virus reservoir might be actively eradicated as residual malignant cells by cytotoxic chemotherapy. Med Hypotheses 2004; 62:358-363.
3. Huzicka I. Could bone marrow transplantation cure AIDS?: review. Med Hypotheses 1999; 52:247-257.
4. Holland HK, Saral R, Rossi JJ, Donnenberg AD, Burns WH, Beschorner WE, et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, zidovudine, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Studies in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Ann Intern Med 1989; 111:973-981
5. Contu L, La Nasa G, Arras M, Pizzati A, Vacca A, Carcassi C, et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation combined with multiple anti-HIV-1 treatment in a case of AIDS. Bone Marrow Transplant 1993; 12:669-671
6. Viard JP, Burgard M, Hubert JB, Aaron L, Rabian C, Pertuiset N, et al. Impact of 5 years of maximally successful highly active antiretroviral therapy on CD4 cell count and HIV-1 DNA level. AIDS 2004; 18:45-49
7. Petit T, Raynal B, Socie G, Landman-Parker J, Bourhis JH, Gluckman E, et al. Highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction methods show the frequent survival of residual recipient multipotent progenitors after non-T-cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation. Blood 1994; 84:3575-3583.
8. Simonitsch I, Geusau A, Chott A, Jurecka W. Cutaneous dendritic cells are main targets in acute HIV-1-infection. Mod Pathol 2000; 13:1232-1237.
9. Collin MP, Hart DN, Jackson GH, Cook G, Cavet J, Mackinnon S, et al. The fate of human Langerhans cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. J Exp Med 2006; 203:27-33.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 20, 2008, 11:56:31 am
HIV9 Glasgow Congress
9-13 November 2008
Website (http://www.hiv9.com/index.asp)

Raltegravir Clinical Efficacy Against B Subtype and Non-B Subtype HIV-1 is Similar (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_26.htm)
Based upon data available from 3 randomized clinical trials, raltegravir exhibits
comparable antiviral clinical activity against B and Non-B HIV-1 infection in treatment naive patients up to 96 weeks and in treatment experienced patients up to 48 weeks.
Resistance mutations that arise at failure for Non-B viruses are similar to those observed previously, specifi cally at positions N155H and Y143R

Efficacy and Safety (malignancies) of Maraviroc in Treatment-Experienced (TE) Patients Infected with R5 HIV-1: 96-week Combined Analysis of the MOTIVATE 1 & 2 Studies (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_25.htm)
Maraviroc + OBT results in durable viral suppression through 96 weeks in treatment-experienced patients with R5 HIV-1
87% of patients in the BID arm who were fully suppressed at Week 48 remained suppressed at Week 96
 
Better CD4 Gains on Antiretrovirals Linked to Clearance of Cancer-Causing HPV (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_24.htm)
A significantly higher percentage of human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected women with higher CD4 counts during follow-up (usually on antiretroviral therapy) cleared their HPV infection, according to results of Belgian HPV screening study that involved a high proportion of women born in Africa. As in earlier studies, younger age and a lower CD4 count correlated with higher HPV prevalence. HPV can cause cervical cancer, an AIDS-defining cancer. Women with HIV run a higher risk of cervical cancer despite the advent of potent antiretroviral.

Risks and Benefits of 5 Days On/2 Days Off in the FOTO Study (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_23.htm)
People who took a weekend break from their regimen of efavirenz, tenofovir (TDF), and emtricitabine (FTC) made it through a 24-week study with the same viral control rate as people who took those antiretrovirals 7 days a week. This small, intriguing trial took a novel slant on the goals of planned treatment interruptions.

No Evidence of Virologic Benefit With Higher Lopinavir Dose for Children (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_22.htm)
A higher lopinavir/ritonavir dose, preferred by certain pediatricians because some evidence suggests a virologic benefit over a lower recommended dose, yielded no response advantage in an analysis of 160 children in the UK/Irish Collaborative HIV Paediatric Study (CHIPS) [1]. Guidelines call for a target total daily dose of 460 mg/m(2) of ritonavir-boosted lopinavir for children taking the protease inhibitors (PIs) without a nonnucleoside and 600 mg/m(2) for children taking the PIs with a nonnucleoside. But some pediatricians aim for the 600 mg/m(2) target even without a nonnucleoside because of a perceived antiviral advantage with the higher dose.

More Time With Sub-500 Load on First Regimen Cuts Risk of Second-Line Failure (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_21.htm)
Keeping HIV under control longer with a first antiretroviral combination trimmed the risk of second-line failure in people whose first regimen eventually did falter, according to results of a 1917-person EuroSIDA analysis [1]. Time to initial viral suppression, total time with a sub-500-copy load, number of rebounds, and rebound size did not predict second-line failure in this study. Research shows that numerous factors predict response to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), including resistance, adherence, toxicity, pretreatment viral load and CD4 count, and treatment with suboptimal regimens. But until this analysis, no one had systematically addressed the impact of first-line viral suppression patterns on future virologic failure.

Lipid effects in the ARTEMIS and TITAN trials: effects of demographics, HIV disease stage, treatment arm and lipid-lowering drugs (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_20.htm)
Rises in lipid parameters during the ARTEMIS and TITAN trials were influenced by several factors. In the ARTEMIS trial, older patients tended to have larger rises in Total cholesterol and triglycerides. Baseline CD4 cell counts and HIV RNA levels were not associated with changes in lipids during this trial.
In both trials, DRV/r led to significantly smaller rises in Total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides than LPV/r. The ratio of Total cholesterol/HDL remained stable over time in both treatment groups, for both trials.
In the TITAN trial, patients using EFV or NVP showed significantly greater rises in Total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides.
In each trial, including or excluding data on lipid-lowering drugs had no effect on estimates of mean change in lipids over time.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 21, 2008, 10:11:28 am
IMVAMUNE - Smallpox Vaccine

http://www.bavarian-nordic.com/imvamune

Bavarian Nordic reports successful safety data from Phase II study with IMVAMUNE

10 Nov 2008 - Bavarian Nordic has completed a clinical safety report from a large Phase II study with IMVAMUNE in HIV infected subjects that confirms the excellent safety profile of IMVAMUNE. Within the next few days the safety report of this study will be submitted to the FDA and this will trigger a USD 25 million milestone payment under the RFP-3 contract. The clinical safety report constitutes a major part of the data package that will be used to potentially support the use of IMVAMUNE in a declared emergency.
 
In support of using IMVAMUNE as a smallpox vaccine in individuals otherwise contraindicated to receive conventional vaccinia vaccines, Bavarian Nordic has performed a large Phase II study in HIV infected subjects with CD4 counts between 200 and 750 cells/µl to compare the safety to healthy subjects.
 
The safety report from this study, which represents an essential part of the EUA data package, includes safety data from over 300 HIV infected and 86 healthy subjects, all of whom had no history of prior smallpox vaccination. The low number of adverse events confirmed the favourable safety profile of IMVAMUNE in vaccinia-naïve HIV infected subjects with varying degrees of immune suppression. Indeed, there was no difference in adverse events between the healthy and HIV infected subjects, even in the most immune compromised patients (CD4 counts >= 200-350 cells/µl). IMVAMUNE has now been tested in more than 2,200 people in 11 completed or on-going clinical studies, which includes a large proportion (more than 750) of immune-compromised people i.e. HIV infected or diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis (AD) who are excluded from vaccination with traditional smallpox vaccines.
 
The complete data set from this trial is expected to be reported in the second half of 2009. The final report will include data on immunogenicity as well as long-term (6-month) safety information and will contain data from subjects enrolled in an additional study arm funded by the NIH under RFP-2 (HIV infected subjects with a history of previous exposure to a conventional smallpox vaccine).


Bavarian Nordic receives USD 25 million milestone payment after submission of IMVAMUNE data to the U.S. Health Authorities

21 Nov 2008 - Bavarian Nordic has invoiced the U.S. authorities for another milestone payment of USD 25 million as allowed under the RFP-3 contract to manufacture and deliver 20 million doses of the company's IMVAMUNE smallpox vaccine. This milestone payment was triggered by the recent submission of a clinical safety report from a large Phase II study with IMVAMUNE in HIV infected subjects, which is part of the regulatory package that will be used to potentially support the use of IMVAMUNE in a declared emergency. With this, Bavarian Nordic is an important step closer to fulfilling the conditions for initiating delivery of IMVAMUNE in 2009.

With this payment, Bavarian Nordic has so far invoiced a total of USD 125 million in advance- and milestone payments under the RFP-3 contract, of which USD 50 million has not yet been recognised in the income statement.
 
Anders Hedegaard, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said: "Since the award of the RFP-3 we have successfully met all agreed objectives in the contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and we find this very satisfactory. The submission of these clinical data concludes the data package that may support the use of IMVAMUNE in a declared emergency and marks an important event for the company this year. This submission is part of the company's plan to support the delivery of IMVAMUNE which is planned to start during 2009".




Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 23, 2008, 11:37:23 am
CD4 cell counts of 800 cells/mm3 or greater after 7 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy are feasible in most patients starting with 350 cells/mm3 or greater.


Objective: CD4 cell count changes in therapy-naive patients were investigated during 7 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in an observational cohort.
 
Methods: Three endpoints were studied: (1) time to ≥800 CD4 cells/mm3 in 5299 therapy-naive patients starting HAART, (2) CD4 cell count changes during 7 years of uninterrupted HAART in a subset of 544 patients, and (3) reaching a plateau in CD4 cell restoration after 5 years of HAART in 366 virologically suppressed patients.
 
Results: Among patients with
<50,
50 to 200,
200 to 350,
350 to 500,
and ≥500 CD4 cells/mm3 at baseline,

respectively, 20%, 26%, 46%, 73%, and 87% reached ≥800 CD4 cells/mm3 within 7 years of starting HAART.

Periods with HIV RNA levels >500 copies/mL and age ≥50 years were associated with lesser increases in CD4 cell counts between 6 months and 7 years. Having reached ≥800 CD4 cells/mm3 at 5 years, age ≥50 years, and ≥1 HIV RNA measurement >1000 copies/mL between 5 and 7 years were associated with a plateau in CD4 cell restoration.
 
Conclusions: Restoration to CD4 cell counts ≥800 cells/mm3 is feasible within 7 years of HAART in most HIV-infected patients starting with ≥350 cells/mm3 and achieving sufficient suppression of viral replication. Particularly in patients ≥50 years of age, it may be beneficial to start earlier than current guidelines recommend.

Notice baseline viral load predicts CD4 increase, viral load below 100,000 c/ml increases chance for achieving 800 CD4.


(http://www.natap.org/2008/images/112108/TableCd-1.gif)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17414934?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 24, 2008, 12:30:07 pm
Hopes it could be helpfull for HIV as well

New Type Of Vaccines Deliver Stronger And Faster Immune Response

A new vaccine principle is being developed by scientists at the University of Copenhagen which – if it works to its full expected potential – could help to save millions of lives and revolutionise current vaccine technology. The ‘InVacc’ platform, as it is known, represents an advance on the original DNA vaccines and generates new vaccines with greatly enhanced properties.

The platform consists of a chain of amino acids attached to a gene of the virus being vaccinated against. This genetic cocktail is then inserted into an incapacitated flu-like virus such as the adenovirus and injected into the body, where it triggers a broader and more aggressive immune response, enabling the immune system to quickly seek out and destroy the disease when it invades.

“We are excited to be working on the vaccine technology”, says Associate Professor Jan Pravsgaard, the lead scientist behind the project. “The platform has proved very effective in our recent tests and could have enormous potential. In principle, vaccines of this type could be used to inoculate against a range of deadly viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing agents and even be used to cure certain cancers once they take hold.”

Tests of the vaccine platform on mice so far look extremely promising with the scientists able to provide 100% protection against different, lethal strains of flu given to the test animals.

The scientists also believe that the new technology will be effective despite the ability of different viruses and bacteria to constantly mutate and develop resistance.

Key benefits of the new technology:

    * The new platform delivers a broad and very powerful immune response, enabling the immune system to defeat invading pathogens.
    * Unlike many vaccines, InVacc activates the CD4+ T cells of the immune system, which govern and coordinate the other immune system attack cells. For reasons not yet fully understood, activating the CD4+ cells enhances the response of the associated attack cells (producing large numbers of CD8+ cells) and is an important rea-son why the platform is able to deliver such a strong immune response.
    * InVacc provides rapid protection. In animal tests, complete pro-tection was achieved in less than 3 days after a single vaccination. This could have significant implications for the handling of epidemics, quickly halting infection rates and preventing major outbreaks.

The Scandinavian company Novo A/S and the Novo Nordisk Foundation have such faith in the new technology that they have already invested funds to create a strategic plan for development and use of the platform. “The grants awarded through our Novo Seeds programme are only for very select projects that show outstanding promise, both scientifically and commercially, explains Novo Seeds Investment Director, Stephen Christgau.” “The InVacc platform is definitely one of those. Our grants will help the team to develop and commercialise their groundbreaking research and validate the advantages of the vaccine platform against competing technologies”.


http://healthsciences.ku.dk/newslist/invacc/
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 24, 2008, 12:33:16 pm
Out of the HIV Scope, but interesting, especially when looking at research news coming from universities, or when you want to look at yours  :)

Top 500 World Universities

2008: http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/EN2008.htm
Other years: http://www.arwu.org/
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 25, 2008, 11:04:31 am
HIV infections hit record high
• Estimated 77,400 people had the virus last year, HPA says
• Call for wider testing as quarter remain unaware of infection


The Guardian (UK)

Record numbers of people in the UK are living with HIV, with more than half of newly diagnosed infections found in heterosexuals, figures revealed today.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that in 2007 an estimated 77,400 people had the virus, up from 73,000 in the previous year. More than a quarter of those infected remained unaware of their status.

During 2007, 7,734 new cases of HIV were found, including in 3,160 gay men and 4,260 heterosexual men and women.

The estimated number of people infected through heterosexual contact in the UK jumped from 540 in 2003 to 960 in 2007, figures show.

Almost a third of people who found out they were infected were diagnosed late, at a point after which treatment should have begun. They risked losing benefits associated with early diagnosis, including prolonged life expectancy.

Valerie Delpech, the head of HIV surveillance at the HPA's Centre for Infections, said: "Diagnosing HIV infections earlier will reduce transmission of this infection as those unaware of their positive status pose a greater risk to future sexual partners. Late diagnosis also has a major impact on disease and life expectancy and it is vital that people are diagnosed early.

"It is worrying that so many people remain unaware of their HIV status. Wider HIV testing in high prevalence areas of the UK is urgently needed to reduce the number of undiagnosed infections."

Lisa Power, head of policy at the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "There are now well over 20,000 people in the UK who have HIV and don't know it. Not only is this dangerous to their own health, but they are more likely to pass the virus on than someone who has been diagnosed."

New guidelines recommend wider HIV testing in areas of the country where the prevalence of the virus is greatest, such as London, Manchester and parts of the south coast.

Delpech said: "Access to testing must be made easier. We need to improve availability of HIV testing in a number of healthcare settings, including general practice, to improve diagnosis of this infection. Without this we will not see the reduction in transmission that we need to see, or a further fall in serious disease."


Source (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/25/hiv-figures)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 25, 2008, 11:09:27 am
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Awarded Broad New U.S. Patent for Anti-Viral Applications of Phospholipid-Targeting Antibodies


Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of serious viral infections and cancer, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number No. 7,455,833, which includes broad claims covering anti-viral applications of antibodies that directly bind to aminophospholipids.

The aminophospholipid family of phospholipids, including phosphatidylserine (PS), represents a novel target for anti-viral therapies. The new patent follows publication this week of a study in Nature Medicine that supports the broad anti-viral potential of the company's anti-phospholipid platform, showing that phospholipid-targeting drugs can cure lethal virus infections in animal disease models

..

PS is a lipid molecule usually found on the inside of cell membranes that "flips" and becomes exposed on the outside of the membranes of virally infected cells and enveloped viruses. Exposed PS is known to be immunosuppressive and could potentially enable viruses to evade immune recognition. By masking the exposed PS, Peregrine's antibodies may block these immunosuppressive signals and allow the body to develop a robust immune response to the viral pathogen. Anti-PS antibodies have been shown to help clear infectious virus from the bloodstream and to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, an important anti-viral immune response. Researchers have found that PS is exposed on the outer membrane of cells infected with HIV, influenza, hemorrhagic fever viruses, CMV, herpes simplex viruses and smallpox viruses.

In addition to its potent anti-viral activity in lethal viral disease models, Peregrine's anti-PS antibody bavituximab appeared safe and well tolerated with promising signs of anti-viral activity in Phase I trials in patients with chronic HCV infection. Based on these positive data, Peregrine has initiated a trial in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV, a population that in the U.S. includes about 30% of all HIV patients.


Full text (http://www.pharmalive.com/News/Index.cfm?articleid=588104)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: veritas on November 25, 2008, 03:35:53 pm
John,

The above patent is part of the anti-ps therapy that Peregrine Pharm is working on in conjunction with CHAVI. It's peregrine's mabs that Duke university is working with to produce both a cure and a vaccine.
Bavituximab, as stated, has already been in clinical trials with top line safety data in over 100 patients in phase 1 and phase 2 has already started for cancer indications. Results of the hepc/hiv trial will be released in the first half of 2009. I believe CHAVI will have something to report sooner. This therapy is very promising and potentially could be the HOLY GRAIL. Nowhere else have I heard the cure word expressed with an hiv therapy as was said by some of the most respected hiv researches in the world. I also don't think CHAVI would be involved  with anti-ps if they hsdn't noticed something wonderful (adaptive immunity). The wait is stomach turning and I for one would try this therapy tomorrow if it were available.

veritas
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 25, 2008, 07:09:23 pm
veritas
anti-ps sounds to be promising, indeed !

Computer Game's High Score Could Earn The Nobel Prize In Medicine

Design your own anti-HIV vaccine !

(http://fold.it/portal/files/theme/science/thumb-competition.png)


A new game, named Foldit, turns protein folding into a competitive sport. Introductory levels teach the rules, which are the same laws of physics by which protein strands curl and twist into three-dimensional shapes -- key for biological mysteries ranging from Alzheimer's to vaccines.

After about 20 minutes of training, people feel like they're playing a video game but are actually mouse-clicking in the name of medical science. The free program is at http://fold.it/.

The game was developed by doctoral student Seth Cooper and postdoctoral researcher Adrien Treuille, both in computer science and engineering, working with Zoran Popovic, a UW associate professor of computer science and engineering; David Baker, a UW professor of biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator; and David Salesin, a UW professor of computer science and engineering. Professional game designers provided advice during the game's creation.

"We're hopefully going to change the way science is done, and who it's done by," said Popovic, who presented the project today at the Games for Health meeting in Baltimore. "Our ultimate goal is to have ordinary people play the game and eventually be candidates for winning the Nobel Prize."

Proteins, of which there are more than 100,000 different kinds in the human body, form every cell, make up the immune system and set the speed of chemical reactions. We know many proteins' genetic sequence, but don't know how they fold up into complex shapes whose nooks and crannies play crucial biological roles.

Computer simulators calculate all possible protein shapes, but this is a mathematical problem so huge that all the computers in the world would take centuries to solve it. In 2005, Baker developed a project named Rosetta@home that taps into volunteers' computer time all around the world. But even 200,000 volunteers aren't enough.

"There are too many possibilities for the computer to go through every possible one," Baker said. "An approach like Rosetta@home does well on small proteins, but as the protein gets bigger and bigger it gets harder and harder, and the computers often fail.

"People, using their intuition, might be able to home in on the right answer much more quickly."

Rosetta@home and Foldit both use the Rosetta protein-folding software. Foldit is the first protein-folding project that asks volunteers for something other than unused processor cycles on their computers or Playstation machines. Foldit also differs from recent human-computer interactive games that use humans' ability to recognize images or interpret text. Instead, Foldit capitalizes on people's natural 3-D problem-solving skills.

The intuitive skills that make someone good at playing Foldit are not necessarily the ones that make a top biologist. Baker says his 13-year-old son is faster at folding proteins than he is. Others may be even faster.

"I imagine that there's a 12-year-old in Indonesia who can see all this in their head," Baker says.

Eventually, the researchers hope to advance science by discovering protein-folding prodigies who have natural abilities to see proteins in 3-D.

"Some people are just able to look at the game and in less than two minutes, get to the top score," said Popovic. "They can't even explain what they're doing, but somehow they're able to do it."

The game looks like a 21st-century version of Tetris, with multicolored geometric snakes filling the screen. A team that includes a half-dozen UW graduate and undergraduate students spent more than a year figuring out how to make the game both accurate and engaging. They faced some special challenges that commercial game developers don't encounter.

"We don't know what the best result is, so we can't help people or hint people toward that goal," Popovic explained. The team also couldn't arbitrarily decide to make one move worth 1,000 bonus points, since the score corresponds to the energy needed to hold the protein in that shape.

Almost 1,000 players have tested the system in recent weeks, playing informal challenges using proteins with known shapes. Starting this week, however, the developers will open the game to the public and offer proteins of unknown shapes. Also starting this week, Foldit gamers will face off against research groups around the world in a major protein-structure competition held every two years.

Beginning in the fall, Foldit problems will expand to involve creating new proteins that we might wish existed -- enzymes that could break up toxic waste, for example, or that would absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Computers alone cannot design a protein from scratch. The game lets the computer help out when it's a simple optimization problem -- the same way that computer solitaire sometimes moves the cards to clean up the table -- letting the player concentrate on interesting moves.

Eventually, the researchers hope to present a medical nemesis, such as HIV or malaria, and challenge players to devise a protein with just the right shape to lock into the virus and deactivate it. Winning protein designs will be synthesized in Baker's lab and tested in petri dishes. High-scoring players will be credited in scientific publications the way that top Rosetta@home contributors already are credited for their computer time.

"Long-term, I'm hoping that we can get a significant fraction of the world's population engaged in solving critical problems in world health, and doing it collaboratively and successfully through the game," Baker said. "We're trying to use the brain power of people all around the world to advance biomedical research."

Foldit includes elements of multiplayer games in which people can team up, chat with other players and create online profiles. Over time the researchers will analyze people's moves to see how the top players solve puzzles. This information will be fed back into the game's design so the game's tools and format can evolve.


Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508122520.htm)
Recent article (http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/1003-gamers_saving_lives.htm)
Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGYJyur4FUA&feature=related)

Download FoldIt (official website) (http://fold.it/portal/)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 26, 2008, 09:26:49 am
New Antibiotic Against Serious Infections

Beerse, Belgium (November 21, 2008) - The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval for the antibiotic, ZEVTERA(TM) (ceftobiprole medocaril) for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections. The CHMP's positive opinion is now referred for final action to the European Commission.

Ceftobiprole is the first, broad-spectrum, anti-MRSA cephalosporin antibiotic with activity against a range of difficult-to-treat Gram-positive and Gram-negative hospital- and community-acquired infections including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In clinical trials, ceftobiprole has demonstrated high cure rates in patients with complicated skin infections, including those with deep wound and diabetic foot infections, and in infections caused by the potentially deadly MRSA.

The use of ceftobiprole in adults for the treatment of complicated soft tissue infections is under regulatory review in the United States, and Australia, among other countries. Ceftobiprole was approved in Switzerland in November 2008. In Canada, it was approved and launched in August 2008, and is marketed under the trade name ZEFTERA.


Full article (http://www.medadnews.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=587594&categoryid=51)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 26, 2008, 09:35:02 am
NATAP news

Antiretroviral treatment use and HIV RNA suppression rates for 941 European patients in the etravirine early access programme (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_38.htm)

ETR has been used with a wide range of ARVs in the early access programme in Europe
 
In the overall cohort (N=941), the percent of patients with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL increased from 15% at baseline to 74% at Week 24 (observed data)
 
In a pre-planned substudy, the cohort of 176 patients who took ETR, DRV/r and raltegravir showed strong efficacy - 93% had HIV RNA levels below 400 copies/mL by Week 24, with 70% showing HIV RNA <50 copies/mL at this time
 
It is difficult to reliably evaluate efficacy by use of different ARVs in the early access cohort, since baseline drug resistance data is not available and there is minimal data collection in this very diverse patient population

Etravirine protects the activity of darunavir in the DUET trials (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_39.htm)

Among highly treatment-experienced patients in DUET, patients receiving placebo + BR experienced twice as much virological rebound as those receiving ETR + BR
 
Among patients with virological rebound, a significantly lower proportion of ETR-treated patients showed development of DRV RAMs compared with placebo-treated patients
 
Among patients with virological rebound and DRV FC 
In the DUET studies, adding ETR to a DRV/r containing regimen protects the activity of DRV/r in cases of virological rebound in HIV-1-infected, highly treatment-experienced patients with existing PI resistance at baseline

Switching from enfuvirtide to etravirine - efficacy results from the etravirine early access programme (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_40.htm)

Among highly treatment-experienced patients in DUET, patients receiving placebo + BR experienced twice as much virological rebound as those receiving ETR + BR
 
Among patients with virological rebound, a significantly lower proportion of ETR-treated patients showed development of DRV RAMs compared with placebo-treated patients
 
Among patients with virological rebound and DRV FC 
In the DUET studies, adding ETR to a DRV/r containing regimen protects the activity of DRV/r in cases of virological rebound in HIV-1-infected, highly treatment-experienced patients with existing PI resistance at baseline

Cancer Rates Doubled in HIV+ (http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/112408_01.htm)

Here are links to 3 studies/articles on non-AIDS cancers and serious diseases and their death rates: the D.A.D. Study and the French Study report 2 weeks at the Lipodystrophy Workshop in London. Studies are finding that HIV viral load and CD4 count are associated with developing cancers and other comorbidities, so keeping a high CD4 count and undetectable viral load are crucial to preventing these comorobidities and cancers:

http://www.natap.org/2008/DrugResistance/DrugRes_02.htm
http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/100808_02.htm
http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/111808_06.htm
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 26, 2008, 12:28:09 pm
Publication Bias Found Among Trials Submitted To FDA: New Study


A quarter of drug trials submitted in support of new drug applications to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remain unpublished five years after the fact, says new research published in the open access journal PLoS Medicine.

Among those trials published, unexplained discrepancies between the FDA submissions and their corresponding publications—the addition or deletion of outcomes, changes in the statistical significance of reported outcomes, and changes in overall trial conclusions—tended to lead to more favorable presentations of the drugs in the medical literature available to health care professionals.

Lisa Bero and colleagues from the University of California San Francisco reviewed the publication status of all 164 efficacy trials carried out in support of the 33 new drug applications (NDA) for new molecular entities approved by the FDA in 2001-2002, and compared information from the FDA reviews with published journal articles. Seventy-eight percent of the trials were published. Trials with favorable outcomes for the drugs were more likely to be published as those without favorable outcomes. Of a total of 179 primary outcomes included in the NDAs, 41 were omitted from the papers. The papers included 138 outcomes that were also in the NDAs (77%), plus 15 additional outcomes that favored the test drug, and two other neutral or unknown additional outcomes. Thus, the papers included more outcomes favoring the test drug than did the NDAs, report the authors.

The research also found additional discrepancies between the FDA reviews and the published papers. Of the 43 primary outcomes reported in the NDAs that showed no statistically significant benefit for the test drug, only half were included in the papers; for five of the reported primary outcomes, the statistical significance differed between the NDA and the paper and generally favored the test drug in the papers. Nine out of 99 conclusions differed between the NDAs and the papers; each time, the published conclusion favored the test drug. The authors did not investigate why the discrepancies existed, nor whether the changes were prompted by the drug sponsor, authors, or journals.

Because of their findings of publication bias and selective reporting, the authors conclude that "the information that is readily available in the scientific literature to health care professionals is incomplete and potentially biased."

In a commentary on the research, An-Wen Chan from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (uninvolved in the study) says this new research makes an important contribution to the growing body of evidence that the trial literature is skewed towards reporting favorable results. "Biased reporting of results from NDA trials is particularly concerning because these journal articles are the only peer reviewed source of information on recently approved drugs for health care providers, who will have had limited clinical experience with these new treatments," Dr Chan says. "There are also substantial cost implications if the efficacy is overestimated and the drugs overused."

Before a new drug is approved for the treatment of a specific disease in the United States and becomes available for doctors to prescribe, the drug's sponsors must submit a "New Drug Application" (NDA) to the FDA, which provides details of the drug's development from laboratory and animal studies through to clinical trials. FDA reviewers use this evidence to decide whether to approve a drug.


Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081124203712.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 26, 2008, 12:30:10 pm
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Awarded Broad New U.S. Patent for Anti-Viral Applications of Phospholipid-Targeting Antibodies

Full article (http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-25-2008/0004932196&EDATE=)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: messer on November 26, 2008, 12:59:48 pm
Happy and astounding developments to be sure.     How long, if this is as good as it appears to be, would it be before it can get to the masses?   It clears the virus?   That is what they're thinking?   Then how long, how much parsing of the results would they need?    Months?  Years?   
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 26, 2008, 01:41:58 pm
My opinion is probably not the best you might find on that subject.

But if you ask for , here it is.

First, what is anti-ps

 PS is a lipid molecule usually found on the inside of cell membranes that "flips" and becomes exposed on the outside of the membranes of virally infected cells and enveloped viruses. Exposed PS is known to be immunosuppressive and could potentially enable viruses to evade immune recognition. By masking the exposed PS, Peregrine's antibodies may block these immunosuppressive signals and allow the body to develop a robust immune response to the viral pathogen. Anti-PS antibodies have been shown to help clear infectious virus from the bloodstream and to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, an important anti-viral immune response. Researchers have found that PS is exposed on the outer membrane of cells infected with HIV, influenza, hemorrhagic fever viruses, CMV, herpes simplex viruses and smallpox viruses.

In addition to its potent anti-viral activity in lethal viral disease models, Peregrine's anti-PS antibody bavituximab appeared safe and well tolerated with promising signs of anti-viral activity in Phase I trials in patients with chronic HCV infection. Based on these positive data, Peregrine has initiated a trial in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV, a population that in the U.S. includes about 30% of all HIV patients.

As such, the anti-ps won't purge the latent reservoirs but work like the HAART.
As it seems to have much less side effect, and as so far, no resistances issues is expected nor have been observed (with only few data), the anti-ps is a good news.

Now what I don't necessarly like with anti-ps is that it let the cells to be infected.
So better would be to use it still with HAART. If so, what would be its added value ?
I guess it's added value will come with the use of others immune therapies, and not HAART.

Now if the trials shows that using anti-ps alone is enough to become undetectable without having our immune system to overwork constantly to get this result, then it's a fantastic news.

Just few thoughts, probably incorrect.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: veritas on November 26, 2008, 01:55:02 pm
John,

Anti-ps will purge the infected reservoir cells because that same phosphlipid flip occurs on cd4 cell infected with the virus and in those cells hiding in reservoirs. The trick is to get enough antibodies in you system to teach your immune system to do the job on its own. See Could this be the Holy Grail? and read the patents. Exciting!

veritas
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 26, 2008, 02:15:10 pm
Veritas

why sanctuary sites not penetrated by drug will be accessible by anti-ps ?
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: veritas on November 27, 2008, 04:24:34 am

john,

The therapy is an antibody that teaches your immune system to go after exposed ps (adaptive immunity). Your immune system goes everywhere.

veritas
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 28, 2008, 12:11:19 pm
The selenium, again
To be taken with Vitamin E

Selenium May Slow March Of AIDS

Increasing the production of naturally occurring proteins that contain selenium in human blood cells slows down multiplication of the AIDS virus, according to biochemists.

"We have found that increasing the expression of proteins that contain selenium negatively affects the replication of HIV," said K. Sandeep Prabhu, Penn State assistant professor of immunology and molecular toxicology. "Our results suggest a reduction in viral replication by at least 10-fold."

Selenium is a micronutrient that the body needs to maintain normal metabolism. Unlike other nutrients, which bind to certain proteins and modulate the protein's activity, selenium gets incorporated into proteins in the form of an amino acid called selenocysteine.

These proteins – selenoproteins – are especially important in reducing the stress caused by an infection, thereby slowing its spread.

Upon infecting a person, the virus quickly degrades selenoproteins so that it can replicate efficiently. It is unclear just how the virus is able to silence these proteins but Prabhu and his colleagues believe that stress inflicted on cells by the rapidly dividing virus, which produces a key protein known as Tat, is the likely culprit.

Tat is one of about 14 odd proteins produced by HIV during the first stage of infection. The job of these proteins is to trigger the expression of all the other genes that the virus needs to sustain itself. In addition, Tat also plays a key role in helping the virus replicate.

One of the proteins that targets Tat is a selenoprotein known as TR1.

"Since HIV targets the selenoproteins, we thought that the logical way to deal with the virus is to increase the expression of such proteins in the body," explained Prabhu, whose team's findings are outlined this week (Nov. 28) in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Researchers first isolated blood cells from healthy human volunteers who did not have HIV, and infected those cells with the virus. Next, they added tiny amounts of a selenium compound – sodium selenite – into the cell culture to see the effect on viral replication.

Results from the tests indicate that the addition of selenium inhibits the replication of HIV at least 10-fold, compared to cell cultures in which no selenium is added. When the researchers selectively reduced production of the selenium containing TR1 protein, they observed a 3.5-fold increase in viral replication.

"This confirms that while increasing the expression of TR1 has a negative impact on the replication of HIV, reducing it helps the virus replicate more efficiently," explained Prabhu. He believes that TR1 works by upsetting the chemical structure of Tat, which in turn reduces the virus' ability to replicate.

"Once we fully understand the function of these selenium proteins, it will give us a handle to come up with more effective drugs," said Prabhu, whose work is partly funded by the National Institutes of Health.


Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081128082835.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 28, 2008, 12:15:06 pm
Phase I Clinical Trial To Test Combination Of Two HIV Vaccine Candidates Starts In London

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the St. Stephen’s AIDS Trust at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have initiated a Phase I clinical trial in London, UK to test a prime-boost combination of two HIV vaccine candidates.

“Prevention is crucial in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and a vaccine is one of the most powerful prevention tools we know to combat infectious diseases,” said Professor Brian Gazzard, Research Director at the St. Stephen’s AIDS Trust and the principle investigator of this trial. “We hope this trial will contribute to a better understanding of how to induce with a vaccine an immune response to protect against HIV infection and AIDS.”

The news follows promising results recently announced by IAVI and partners for one of the two vaccine candidates to be tested, the MVA-based TBC-M4, which in a recent phase I trial generated modest immune responses in all volunteers who received the highest dose. According to Patricia Fast, Chief Medical Officer at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, “The responses observed with this vaccine candidate warrant further research to improve immune activation. We have learned from other studies that a prime-boost regimen has the potential to achieve just this.”

That is why the new trial will include a DNA-based vaccine candidate called ADVAX to prime the immune system. Previous Phase I studies with different DNA and MVA-based HIV vaccines in combination have shown that this prime-boost regimen was safe and well tolerated, and also able to generate enhanced immune responses when compared with the responses generated by either vaccine alone. The ADVAX vaccine candidate also offers economic value; it is relatively easy and cheap to manufacture, which makes it particularly appealing for use in the developing world.

A separate Phase I trial testing ADVAX and the MVA-based candidates in a prime-boost regime is planned for India. This trial would use a different mode of administration for the priming vaccine, different dosages and different vaccine regimens. Collectively, the results of both trials will help determine whether further development of both AIDS vaccine candidates in a prime-boost combination is warranted.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust, comments: “The UK has always been a leader in the quest for new technologies to prevent HIV. Hosting a vaccine trial in London is a great opportunity to continue doing our part in the global fight against HIV and AIDS. Like any medical development, discovering an HIV vaccine is a naturally long process but when a vaccine is found it could save millions of lives globally, not just in the developing world but also in the UK.”

About the vaccine candidates

The vaccine candidate TBC-M4 is based on a vector built from recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). It was designed by a biotech firm in the U.S. in collaboration with Dr. Sekhar Chakrabarty from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) in Kolkata, India . It targets HIV-1 subtype C, the most predominant HIV subtype in India, and contains 6 HIV genes : env, gag, reverse transcriptase, rev, tat and nef.

The vaccine candidate ADVAX is a plasmid DNA vaccine containing HIV-1 subtype C genes env, gag, pol, nef and tat. The vaccine was designed by the Aaron Diamond Research Centre in New York, through collaboration with Rockefeller University in New York and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

It should be noted that since both vaccine candidates contain only synthetic copies of part of HIV’s genetic material, they cannot cause HIV infection.

ADVAX will be administered with a needle-free device (Biojector 2000), and the trial will also assess whether this delivery mechanism provides benefits over regular injection with a needle and syringe. ”Needle-free injection of a DNA vaccine can provide enhanced immune responses compared with administration by needle and syringe,” according to Dr. Richard Stout, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., manufacturer of the device.

About the trial

The trial is a Phase I randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. It evaluates the safety and immunogenicity of ADVAX and TBC-M4 vaccines in a prime-boost regimen. The trial is recruiting 32 volunteers who are healthy HIV-negative men and women at low risk for HIV infection. All volunteers must provide full informed consent for their participation in the trial.

In addition to using standard immunology assays to measure the responses following vaccination, the trial will also evaluate a novel viral suppression assay. This assay provides a functional assessment of the immune response by measuring anti-viral activity. “There are indications from previous clinical studies that the laboratory assays currently used in HIV vaccine clinical trials are not an accurate predictor of whether a vaccine can prevent or control HIV infection,” said Dr. Jill Gilmour, Senior Director of Clinical Research at IAVI. “We urgently need to identify which laboratory tests give us insight into whether a person will resist infection with HIV or development of AIDS. This will enable researchers to select the most promising vaccine candidates for large-scale efficacy testing.”

It is expected that the trial will take 14 months to complete. The trial is fully sponsored by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.


Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081127075438.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 30, 2008, 11:46:29 am
Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil shows potential in males

Data from a Phase III trial in men aged 16 to 26 showed that Gardasil prevented 90% of external genital lesions caused by human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

Merck & Co has presented data on Gardasil which shows that the vaccine, which is approved for cervical cancer, is also effective in the prevention of human papillomavirus-related disease in young men.

Data from a Phase III trial in men aged 16 to 26, which was presented at the European Research Organisation on Genital Infection and Neoplasia meeting in Nice, France, showed that Gardasil prevented 90% of external genital lesions caused by human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18. These are the only data evaluating efficacy of any HPV vaccine in preventing disease in males, Merck noted.

In the study, 4,065 males received three injections of either Gardasil or placebo over a six-month period. The results showed that after a mean duration of about 29 months, three cases of genital warts were observed in the Gardasil group, compared with 31 for placebo. The jab was also found to be 85.6% effective at reducing persistent HPV infection.

Merck said that is on track to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application for Gardasil to the US Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year. The vaccine is currently approved for use in females aged 9 to 26 to prevent cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers caused by HPV strains 16 and 18, and genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11.

An approval for males would provide a huge boost to Gardasil sales which has fallen off recently after its extremely successful launch in 2006. Third-quarter revenues from the vaccine were down 4% to $401 million.


Source (http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/article.aspx?id=14749)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 30, 2008, 12:12:31 pm
Serodicordant Couples and PrEP - New Study launched

A new clinical trial to test the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis in stable sexual relationships has started in Uganda, with 3,900 discordant couples enrolled in a five-year study.

"The aim of the study is to find out whether pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] prevents HIV acquisition within HIV discordant couples," said Dr Jonathan Wangisi, principal investigator of the study.

The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), the Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDI) and the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC)  will conduct the study in various districts of Uganda. The trials are being undertaken in partnership with the University of Washington, Seattle, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

If successful, the project will present a new HIV-prevention method that focuses on a non-traditional high-risk group that has not adequately been targeted. According to the government, at least 42 percent of all new infections in Uganda occur in stable sexual relationships.

The study could also make PrEP a major tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and present discordant couples - where one partner is HIV-positive and the other negative - with a means to have children without fear of infecting the HIV-negative partner.

Wangisi said a pill with either tenofovir, or a combination of tenofovir and truvada - both highly effective life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) drugs - or a placebo, would be given to the HIV-negative partner. The pill is to be taken orally every day at a time agreed among the participants in the different study sites.

Several recent studies have shown that the odds of the negative partner in a discordant heterosexual relationship becoming infected are very low when the positive person's viral load has dropped significantly as a result of treatment.

The study has a high risk of transmission, so all participating discordant couples will be counselled and encouraged to use all available HIV-prevention measures, including male circumcision, abstinence and condoms.

"PrEP is not a substitute for condoms or other proven HIV-prevention strategies, it is an addition," Wangisi said. "Condoms, if used regularly and properly, are the best medical intervention in HIV prevention for those that cannot abstain."

Dr Kihumuro Apuuli, director-general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, said the study was necessary because of the reported low condom use among HIV-discordant couples and few people knew the HIV status of their long-term sexual partners.

Only 21 percent of Uganda's 30 million people have ever been tested for HIV, but estimates have put the number of new infections at over 100,000 annually, and at least 1.1 million people are infected with HIV.

Modes of transmission include multiple sexual partners, which accounts for 37.3 percent; mutually monogamous partnerships, 35.1 percent, and mother-to-child transmission, 18.1 percent.


Source (http://allafrica.com/stories/200811270667.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 30, 2008, 12:28:04 pm
HIV diabetics and kidney transplant

Powerful drugs to treat HIV mean it no longer is a death sentence. But longer life means fighting the same illnesses that people without HIV face, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

For HIV-positive diabetics suffering from kidney failure, the possibility of a transplant was uncertain.

Antirejection drugs could further weaken infected immune systems, possibly leading to infections and complications.

"Everybody was afraid to give HIV-positive people ... heavy drugs to prevent rejection," said Scott Gruber, a Wayne State University transplant surgeon at Harper University-Hutzel Women's Hospital in Detroit.

But between 2004 and 2008, Gruber gave nine HIV-positive patients on a general transplant list new, HIV-negative kidneys. So far, eight have been successful.

"They have to be monitored closely, but HIV should not be considered an automatic" exclusion "for a kidney transplant," he said.

Fueling drug development is an ever-changing set of HIV proteins that make the virus drug-resistant.

Ladislau Kovari, a biochemist at WSU, studies crystals of an HIV enzyme called protease.

Comparing the structure of the normal enzyme to a drug-resistant variety allows him to design better drugs to treat the 10% to 25% of people who may have drug-resistant HIV.


Source (http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=92707706)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 30, 2008, 12:36:10 pm
French claim to need largest condoms

Frenchmen fancied themselves to be the most sexually endowed in a study of European men who were asked to measure their penis.

The survey of more than 10,500 men in 25 European countries was conducted by the German-based Institute of Condom Consultancy, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Frenchmen topped the survey, claiming an average penis length of 6.09 inches [15.46 cm] -- 1.2 inches [3 cm] longer than Greeks, who had the shortest average among men participating in the survey, the Telegraph reported.

At its annual fair -- called "Pimp Your Condom" -- the Institute gives advice on condom size and how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, said Jan Vinzenz Krause, the institute's director, who once proposed an aerosol latex spray-on condom in a can.


Source (http://redorbit.com/news/health/1603276/french_claim_to_need_largest_condoms/index.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 01, 2008, 10:39:17 am
Fact sheet on the SAAVI 102/ HVTN 073  HIV vaccine trial

Two locally developed test HIV vaccines are nearing phase I clinical trials in humans. The vaccines, developed by research teams led by the University of Cape Town will be tested in both South Africa and the USA.

The test vaccines – called SAAVI MVA-C and SAAVI DNA-C2 – have undergone laboratory and animal testing, and will now enter phase 1 human clinical trials. The DNA vaccine was wholly developed by South Africans - a team of scientists at the University of Cape Town’s Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine and manufactured by Althea Technologies in the USA. The MVA vaccine was conceptualised by the team at the University of Cape Town and developed and manufactured with input from international biotech company, Therion, and the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The vaccines have been in development since 2002 and the project has been funded by the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the NIH. Both vaccines were manufactured in the USA. The vaccines are specifically targeted at the HIV-1 strain C that accounts for the majority of infections in southern Africa.

The trial is a phase I trial involving 36 people at two sites in South Africa – one in Cape Town and one in Johannesburg and 12 people in the USA.

The trial has already been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and  by the Medicines Control Council in South Africa. This phase I trial is scheduled to start in Boston in the first week in December 2008, in the USA . Testing in South Africa will start in early January 2009.

A phase I trial for an HIV vaccine generally involves volunteers who are at low risk for infection, who do not engage in risky sexual behaviours or intravenous drug use. A phase I trial primarily tests for safety, tolerability and side effects but also starts to look at the effect of the vaccine on the human immune system. If successful, a phase I trial is followed by larger phase II and III trials which involve more volunteers and provide information on whether the product is able to protect against infection. A vaccine can only be licenced for public use after it has been tested and found successful in all three phases.

South Africa has been involved in a number of clinical trials for HIV test vaccines since 2003 but this will be the first for products developed in South Africa by South African scientists.   

SAAVI is extremely gratified that these test HIV vaccines are entering human clinical trials. However, there is still a long way to go before we will know if these products will be in any way successful in preventing HIV infection.   


Source (http://www.saavi.org.za/3press2008.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 02, 2008, 07:42:01 am
Discovery Of Virus In Lemur Could Shed Light On AIDS

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2008/12/081201200113.jpg)

The genome of a squirrel-sized, saucer-eyed lemur from Madagascar may help scientists understand how HIV-like viruses coevolved with primates, according to new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine. The discovery, to be published online on Dec. 1 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could provide insight into why non-human primates don't get AIDS and lead to treatments for humans.

Scientists have long believed that lentiviruses — the family of viruses that includes HIV — started infecting primates within the past million years. In fact, said Rob Gifford, PhD, former postdoctoral researcher in infectious diseases and geographical medicine and lead author of the new study, lentiviruses may have been present in ancestral primates as long as 85 million years ago.

A type of retrovirus, lentiviruses replicate by inserting their RNA into a cell's DNA. Some retroviruses have been known to infect cells that mature into sperm or eggs, incorporating viral DNA into the genome of the host. Until last year, when Gifford discovered Rabbit Endogenous Lentivirus type K among the DNA of the European rabbit, no one knew lentiviruses could be inherited in this way.

"It allows us to put a timeline on the evolution of primate lentiviruses," said Robert Shafer, MD, associate professor (research) of infectious diseases and geographical medicine and senior author of the paper.

Gifford began computer-based screening of the DNA of 21 primates for which at least partial genome sequencing was available. He searched each species for strings of nucleotides that matched the modern lentivirus genome and found one lurking in the DNA of the tiny gray mouse lemur.

Ancestors of the modern lemur colonized Madagascar about 75 million years ago, and since then, lemurs and their lentivirus-carrying African cousins have been evolving separately. Four hundred kilometers of ocean divide the two branches, giving mainland primates limited opportunities to swap germs with lemurs. And the last of the occasional land bridges between the two disappeared beneath the sea 14 million years ago, suggesting that lentiviruses are likely at least that old, say the researchers.

High-end estimates of the age of this lentivirus, called pSIVgml, could range back 85 million years, when the primate family that includes lemurs split from the evolutionary branch that would eventually give rise to monkeys, apes and humans. "Lentiviruses could be very ancient indeed," Gifford said.

Gifford remains cautious about overestimating the virus's age, warning that the virus could have been spread within the last 14 million years by something that could cross the ocean, such as a bat. But Shafer says that sort of cross-species transmission is unlikely, because bats and primates are very distant relatives. The leap from primate to bat and back would be difficult for a lentivirus to make.

Gifford's find suggests lentiviruses could be discovered in other places they've never been seen, like Asian and New World monkeys. "As far as we're aware, nobody's really looked that hard," said Gifford. He is one of few researchers using genome databases to search for retroviruses.

Finding widespread lentivirus-primate interaction might open doors for HIV/AIDS research. Primates infected with the simian version of HIV are protected from developing AIDS by several genes which code for proteins in the immune system that slow or block retroviral reproduction. Previous research suggests these genes evolved in response to millions of years of retrovirus infection.

Until now, scientists thought lentiviruses were too young to have participated in this evolutionary back-and-forth. But if Gifford and his colleagues find more evidence that lentiviruses and primates have been in each other's genetic business for many millions of years, they could turn that assumption on its head. In the process, they might lead the way to a deeper understanding of the evolution of ancient innate immune defenses against retroviruses, which could have implications for HIV treatments or vaccines.

The research "raises a bunch of interesting questions about how mammals have dealt with these types of viruses over a minimum of 14 million years, what kind of defenses they have developed, and why some mammal species have lost these type of viruses," said Beatrice Hahn, PhD, a professor in the department of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who studies human retroviruses. She hopes to see more research into the presence of lentiviruses in mammal genomes. "This is molecular archaeology," she said. "There may be a lot of gold in these sequences that hasn't been mined yet."

Gifford and Shafer collaborated on this study with researchers from the Imperial College of London and the Institute for Emergent Infections at the James Martin 21st Century School at Oxford. The research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the James Martin 21st Century School.


Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201200113.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 02, 2008, 07:45:07 am
Obama's Plan to End the HIV/AIDS Crisis

Obama promises to leave behind ideology-driven debates over how to spend money, and instead put common sense and science first.

Like so many millions of Americans, on November 4 I sat with friends and watched in awe as America elected Barack Obama to be our 44th president. And for the past two weeks, I've been trying to understand what all this means, especially for people with HIV in the US and worldwide. In this time of transition, I've realized it's helpful to look back on where we've been in order to get an idea of just how historic this election is.

So, let's go back in time, to May of 2007. President Bush has just given a speech outlining his vision for the next five years of U.S. global AIDS efforts. In short, he said "we should keep doing what we're doing, not learn any lessons, keep pushing abstinence, and flat fund the program." This was on top of six and half years of wholesale neglect of the domestic AIDS crisis. In response, activists got together and developed a platform that laid out exactly what the next president would need to do to undo the harm of the Bush administration's AIDS plan, while continuing the parts that are doing good and saving lives.

We set out on a mission -- to convince each of the candidates for office that they needed to support our plan, which included such novel ideas as promoting comprehensive sex education, advancing generic drug access and spending $50 billion over five years on AIDS around the world. While we made some progress, the fight against AIDS was overshadowed by other issues shaping the campaigns, such as the war, healthcare and the economy.

Then, a little over a year ago, several hundred people marched through the streets of Philadelphia to the doors of the Democratic debate, and demanded AIDS plans from each of the Democratic candidates for president. Shortly after, all eight candidates had released comprehensive plans to fight AIDS, including our current President-elect and Vice-President-elect. Their plans were modeled in large part on a platform many of us had been advocating for months.

Taking a look at Obama's AIDS plan (PDF) is like reading my policy wish list. He promises to leave behind ideology-driven debates over how to spend money, and instead put common sense and science first. He wants to end our funding of programs that only discuss abstinence and fidelity without a mention of condoms. He would no longer negotiate harmful trade deals that prioritize drug company profits over people's lives. And he wants to invest fully in the fight against global AIDS, both through bilateral programs and the multilateral Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.

Domestically, his plan is spot-on. He's calling for the development of a National AIDS Strategy, including expanding Medicaid to cover people with HIV, not just AIDS, and ending the federal ban on funding for syringe exchange. He recognizes that we must do more to confront the epidemic of HIV communities of color, especially amongst gay men and other men who have sex with men, and calls for action on this issue.

Unlike Bush's plan detailed in May of 2007, we won a plan from Obama that uses many of the real tools we have to fight the epidemic. In two months and two days, President Obama will become the 44th president of the United States. We have much to be hopeful for, but we also know that he is going to face incredible challenges to enact his visionary plan. In the midst of a financial crisis, programs aimed at the poorest people are easy to push aside for a few months or a few years. We need to let President-elect Obama know we support him, and we support him implementing his AIDS plan.

In two days, one thousand activists will do just this. People living with HIV, and allies, from across the country are coming to DC to rally behind Obama's AIDS plan, and call for him to take steps to implement it in his first 100 days in office. We'll be holding an "inauguration ceremony and parade," and will march to the White House and transition team offices.

The AIDS crisis, both domestically and globally, is not something that can be ignored any longer. No president has ever taken fighting AIDS, especially at home, seriously. We're on the verge of inaugurating the first person that not only can help us end the AIDS epidemic, but has the plan to do it, too. We're hopeful that he will really do what he says he's going to do. But we're also taking action, and rallying behind his plan, because we know that grassroots action is the only way we'll really end the AIDS epidemic.


Source (http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/109350/obama%27s_plan_to_end_the_hiv_aids_crisis/)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 04, 2008, 04:28:25 am
HIV proteins and cellular control

There are a multitude of potential targets that researchers throughout the world are studying in the fight against HIV, but this virus seems to have an answer for most of them.

HIV is an extraordinarily smart virus. Just as researchers track down another potential vehicle for halting its spread, it throws up another roadblock. Research on vaccines has been ongoing for 20 years, with neutralising antibodies remaining the best hope after the recent failure of Merck’s Phase III trial of an adeno-vectored T-cell vaccine, but at the moment combination antiretroviral therapy is our only weapon.

As HIV has a relatively limited number of its own proteins, researchers have obviously zeroed in on these to try to inhibit viral replication. The virus’s ability to mutate has sidestepped many of these attempts, however, so some are looking at inducing the cellular mechanism known as RNA interference to halt the virus in its tracks by silencing gene expression. Even then, however, HIV might have a solution.

Associate Professor Damian Purcell, who heads the Molecular Virology Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, has been experimenting with RNAi since he first heard that it functioned in mammals at the 2001 RNA Society conference addressed by Tom Tuschl, one of the discoverers of mammalian microRNAs (miRNA) who also found that RNAi functions in mammalian species.

Like many, Purcell rushed back to his own laboratory and began designing short interfering RNAs (siRNA) – the small strands of RNA that bind to complementary sequences of messenger RNAs and silence gene expression post-transcriptionally – as a way of targeting HIV. However, as everyone else discovered, HIV is often able to rapidly escape control by siRNAs, its mutability working in its favour yet again.

That doesn’t mean RNAi may not prove a potent weapon against HIV, as the multitude of clinical studies currently underway illustrate. It’s just that many viruses, especially HIV, have evolved with the ability to counter these cellular control mechanisms, so designing the right siRNA is paramount. short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) are also in development. For example, in October a trial of an shRNA-based RNAi therapy in HIV patients released promising – although very early – results.

Silencing HIV genes using siRNAs and shRNAs does reduce viral replication and as such is a very promising line of enquiry. Like many others, Purcell’s laboratory has designed lentivectors for delivery of siRNA to target HIV, but his team has also pursued other protein targets, in particular cellular proteins that do not mutate and therefore may provide an alternative route.

One target is the HIV trans-activation response RNA binding protein (TRBP), which inhibits the RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) response. TRBP binds to PKR, one of the main interferon-response proteins that shut down the expression of viruses in cells, and in HIV infection keeps the PKR pathway from doing its job.

Purcell’s lab has been studying TRBP for many years and has uncovered some surprising activities of the protein in astrocytes. The researchers have also discovered that TRBP turns out to be an essential component of the miRNA biogenesis pathway – it is a binding partner for Dicer, the protein that cleaves double-stranded RNA into siRNAs and sets off the whole RNAi cascade.

“It has been an interesting observation – almost a roadblock – that the TRBP molecule turned out to be an essential component of the RNAi pathway,” Purcell says. “It turns out that it’s a very good target (for inhibition) but that also eliminates the ability to produce siRNAs.

“There’s a lot that we don’t understand in the control of gene expression at a post-transcriptional level and viruses are very busy in this area. Many of them make proteins that are able to defend against these cellular control mechanisms, and curiously the same viral proteins that inhibit PKR also inhibit RNA interference.”

Astrocytes and innate immunity

Our understanding of these viral proteins, and how our own immune system is unable to counteract them, has been much improved by studying astrocytes, the glial cells that for some reason do have a natural resistance to productive HIV infection. In 2005, Purcell and colleagues from the University of Melbourne and from McGill University in Canada looked at how astrocytes manage to silence HIV infection.

No one really knows exactly how it is done, but while astrocytes are infected by HIV, the virus’s RNA is unable to produce proteins in these particular cells. “Astrocytes are naturally infected but curiously the infection goes through all of the steps of entry and integration of the virus, and it even transcribes large amounts of RNA, but those RNAs don’t seem to yield proteins,” Purcell says. “It is blocked at a post-transcriptional level and we thought that was interesting.

“One of the things that seemed to be a candidate at the time was the known interferon response pathways involving PKR. We suspected that TRBP was a binding partner and a cellular control protein for the level of responsiveness for the PKR pathway.”

Astrocytes express unusually low levels of TRBP that makes the unchecked PKR highly responsive to viral RNA helix, prompting a cascade of cellular antiviral responses.

“When we supplied (TRBP) back to those cells at higher levels we could restore efficient HIV production. We don’t know exactly the reason but we suspect that in the brain a lot of these genetic pathways for antiviral responses have to be more sensitive than elsewhere as you can’t afford to have an expanding T cell response in the brain, for example.”

With the discovery that TRBP is a binding molecule for Dicer, and his work on the remarkable ability of astrocytes to fend off HIV by keeping TRBP at low levels, come some fascinating research potentials. “What the research is finding now is a convergence between this innate immune pathway involving PKR and interferon, which we’ve known about for a long time, and how through TRBP this connects to the genetic immune system of RNA interference. What we’ve been trying to figure out is the relative importance of RNAi compared with the PKR-interferon-driven pathway in the control of HIV.”

In addition to looking at some of the cellular proteins, Purcell and his team are of course looking at HIV’s small but powerful complement of viral proteins, as well as the RNA elements that make HIV such a fascinating and challenging virus to study.

Tat Rev, Nef and Vif are intensely studied around the world, as is the envelope, or Env, protein, which is of great interest in vaccine development. “Over the years we have been interested in understanding what virus RNA elements we must retain in order to preserve optimum expression of the viral proteins for our various HIV vaccines, without keeping so much that we allow them to reconstitute an infectious pathogenic agent,” he says.

“We’ve looked at the functions of the small control proteins Rev and Tat, but in recent times our vaccine efforts have focused on envelope, because we are very keen on understanding how we can express many different envelopes and assess them as candidate vaccines for neutralising antibodies, because that seems to be the best hope for an effective HIV vaccine.”

With the limited resources that all Australian researchers must face, Purcell has decided to take a different angle in potential vaccine development – the understanding of how the different RNA elements work to control efficient envelope expression in HIV.

Purcell says that one of the most fascinating aspects of using HIV as a model genetic system is that it must obey the rules of human genetics to survive. “Many of the things that have been observed with post-transcriptional control mechanisms have turned out to also operate in certain cellular genes during later analysis. HIV is a fairly plastic genetic system and is easy to study and manipulate, and has revealed many new mechanisms.”

Functional RNAs

Associate Professor Damian Purcell started out in molecular immunology at a time when virology wasn’t exactly booming in Australia. He did his PhD in the early 80s with Ian McKenzie, the former head of the Austin Research Institute, looking at the genetics of cancer and then moving on to endogenous retroviruses.

“Then HIV appeared, right when I was a starting PhD student,” he says. Purcell was working on gibbon ape leukaemia virus and making antibodies against what he thought might be a new human virus, and was collaborating with the now famous Robert Gallo lab at the University of Maryland.

“He was working on these kinds of viruses and I went over to one of the early Keystone conferences in 1985, when they’d just finished their work identifying the HIV virus,” Purcell says. “I wanted to talk to him about what we thought was a human endogenous retrovirus, but he said ‘thank you, but we’re frankly just not interested because HIV is so important. We’ve dropped all that other stuff and we’re just working on HIV.’ He was right.”

Purcell then received a CJ Martin Fellowship and went to the US National Institutes of Health to work with Malcolm Martin, who did a lot of the early molecular biology of HIV. “In that lab they were very interested in RNA elements and the functions of small RNAs, so I’ve been interested in functional RNA since then.”


Source (http://www.biotechnews.com.au/article/269718/hiv_proteins_cellular_control?fp=4&fpid=1014)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 04, 2008, 04:31:08 am
Intradigm issued new RNAi therapeutics patent

Intradigm Corporation has announced the issuance of United States patent 7,459,547, entitled "Methods and Compositions for Controlling Efficacy of RNA Silencing."

The issued patent, which is based on the seminal research of Philip Zamore, Ph.D., the Gretchen Stone Cook Chair of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology at University of Massachusetts Medical School, generally claims methods of enhancing the RNA silencing activity of an RNAi agent through certain structural modifications in various cell types, including mammalian. The issued claims not only focus on siRNA but also include specific claims directed to micro RNA (miRNA), pre-miRNA, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA). This patent issues from a portfolio of several applications disclosing efficacy-enhancing methods and structural elements of RNAi therapeutics that Intradigm has exclusively licensed from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

"There is little dispute among those involved in the RNAi sector that proper siRNA structure and design is taking on an increasingly important role in the development of next generation RNAi therapeutics," said James Topper, M.D., Ph.D., general partner at Frazier Healthcare Ventures and chairman of Intradigm's board of directors. "Accordingly, the siRNA structure claims of this issued patent provide Intradigm with another important tool in the company's efforts to realize the tremendous therapeutic promise of RNA interference."

"Ongoing scientific research has highlighted the importance of siRNA structure as a critical component of an effective RNAi therapeutic and the issuance of this patent provides Intradigm with a significant competitive advantage in this area," said Mike Riley, Intradigm's vice president of intellectual property and corporate development. "For Intradigm, this patent becomes even more valuable when combined with the company's proprietary RNAi sequences and delivery technologies. Ultimately, access to this intellectual property will allow Intradigm to create a high value pipeline of well- protected products developed by incorporating novel, enhanced RNAi sequences into the company's innovative RNAi delivery systems."

Intradigm possesses one of the industry's strongest RNAi IP positions including key assets strategically licensed from both the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The company's IP estate of issued patents and pending applications broadly covers structural features for a next generation of RNAi molecules, biodegradable polycationic polymers for the delivery of RNAi therapeutics, and proprietary siRNA sequence applications.

http://www.intradigm.com/


Source (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=43683)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 04, 2008, 04:33:31 am
Gilead Sciences reveals data demonstrating significant efficacy of Viread in treating Chronic Hepatitis B

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD:  News ) said the results of two late-stage trials showed that its Viread is significantly more effective in treating the virus that causes chronic hepatitis B than Hepsera, which is also developed and marketed by Gilead.

Studies 102 and 103 compare Viread to Hepsera among patients with compensated liver disease and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and HBeAg-positive hepatitis B, respectively.

Data also indicate that at week 48, Viread was superior to Hepsera in reducing HBV DNA levels to below 400 copies/mL and was comparable to Hepsera in achieving histological response, the company noted.


Source (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/QuickFacts.aspx?Node=B1&Id=792502)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 04, 2008, 04:36:39 am
Next Generation RNAi Technology Discovered by AiRNA Pharmaceuticals and Boston Biomedical

AiRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a RNAi therapeutics company based on next generation proprietary RNAi technologies, and Boston Biomedical, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel therapies targeting cancer stem cells, today announced that asymmetrical interfering RNA (aiRNA), a new fundamental RNAi technology discovered by the companies, is being published in the December issue of Nature Biotechnology. The publication titled "Asymmetric RNA Duplexes Mediate RNA Interference in Mammalian Cells" highlights that the smaller 15 bp aiRNA can target a variety of genes with superior efficiency than the standard 19-21 bp siRNA. Furthermore, the new aiRNA structure can target genes more selectively with significantly less off-target effects than the standard 19-21 bp siRNA. These results establish aiRNA as a new and superior structure to silence genes.

"We are extremely excited by the discovery of the aiRNA technology given its broad and profound potential for medicine and its superior gene silencing properties" said Dr. Chiang J. Li, senior author of the article, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Biomedical. "We believe this break-through will have far reaching benefits in the development of RNAi therapeutics, particularly with the technology's potential ability to target any of the disease-causing genes."

The new aiRNA technology centers on proprietary asymmetric structures which contrasts with the current paradigm that relies primarily on symmetric siRNA duplexes of 19-21 bp in length. The novel asymmetric structure is responsible for the gene silencing advantages of aiRNA, including reduced off-target effects, improved gene silencing efficiency, durability, and reduced synthesis cost.

The discovery of RNAi promises to revolutionize medicine due to its unlimited potential to treat genetic, epigenetic and infectious diseases. The siRNA-based approaches have met with many challenges including non-specific off-target effects, synthesis cost, and limited efficacy for some genes. The new aiRNA technology may help to unleash the enormous potential of RNAi as a whole new class of therapeutics for human diseases.

The journal article can be accessed on-line at http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nbt.1512.html

About RNA Interference (RNAi)

RNAi (RNA interference) is a revolutionary discovery in biology with broad and profound implications for biology and medicine, and was awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology/Medicine. RNAi is a natural cellular process and a catalytic mechanism of gene silencing. The discovery of RNAi promises to revolutionize medicine due to its unlimited potential to treat genetic, epigenetic, and infectious diseases. Such a natural process can, in theory, be harnessed to target any disease genes, including "undruggable" targets. Like antibody technology, RNAi may have the enormous potential to become an entirely new class of drugs for human medicine.


Source (http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2008/12/03/businesswire117382408.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 04, 2008, 04:38:26 am
Pfizer's Novel HIV/AIDS Treatment SELZENTRY(TM) Becomes the Latest Fully Approved Antiretrovial for Treatment-Experienced HIV Patients

NEW YORK, Nov 25, 2008 ----The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted SELZENTRY(TM) (maraviroc) full (traditional) approval for use in treatment-experienced adults with CCR5-tropic HIV-1 in combination with other antiretrovirals. SELZENTRY was originally granted accelerated conditional approval in August 2007 based on 24-week data from pivotal Phase 3 studies. SELZENTRY now becomes the latest fully approved treatment for HIV.
 
"New, effective and well-tolerated treatment options are critical for treatment-experienced persons living with HIV infection," said W. David Hardy, MD, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). "Selzentry, the first oral entry inhibitor, has proven to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for treatment-experienced patients whose HIV has become resistant to other treatments, but remains susceptible to this new class of medications."
 
The full approval of SELZENTRY is based on 48-week data from the MOTIVATE (Maraviroc Plus Optimized Therapy in Viremic Antiretrovial Treatment Experienced Patients) studies. The studies compared the safety and effectiveness of SELZENTRY plus optimized background therapy to placebo plus optimized background therapy in treatment-experienced CCR5-tropic HIV-1 patients.
 
Accelerated conditional approval is granted to medicines that provide a meaningful therapeutic advantage over existing treatments for serious or life-threatening diseases. FDA grants full approval status once it is satisfied with longer-term safety and efficacy data. Once full approval is granted, restrictions on promotion and/or distribution that apply to conditionally approved medicines are removed.
 
"SELZENTRY has been on a long journey, from its initial discovery by Pfizer scientists in 2000 to this full FDA approval," said Dr. Howard Mayer, Pfizer's executive director, and development team leader for HIV/AIDS. "We are extremely excited with this important milestone in SELZENTRY's lifecycle and the potential improvement it may bring to treatment-experienced people living with HIV/AIDS."
 
Results at Week 48 from the MOTIVATE studies were recently published in the October 2, 2008 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
 
About SELZENTRY
 
SELZENTRY is part of a new class of drugs called CCR5 antagonists, providing a new approach to HIV treatment. A diagnostic test confirms whether a patient is infected with CCR5-tropic HIV-1, which is also known as "R5 virus". SELZENTRY blocks viral entry into CD4 T-cells that express the CCR5 co-receptor, stopping the R5 virus on the outside surface of the cells before it enters, rather than fighting the virus inside the cell, as do all other classes of oral HIV medicines.
 
Data Supporting SELZENTRY Full Approval
 
The full approval is based on 48-week data which showed that a greater log reduction in viral load from baseline was seen in patients receiving SELZENTRY plus optimized background therapy, compared to those patients receiving placebo plus optimized background therapy (MOTIVATE 1 and 2 pooled data = -1.68 log(10) copies and -1.84 log(10) copies/mL for SELZENTRY once-daily and twice-daily, respectively, compared with -0.79 log(10) copies/mL for placebo).
 
More than twice as many patients receiving SELZENTRY plus optimized background therapy over 48-weeks achieved undetectable viral loads (<50 copies/mL HIV RNA) compared with those receiving placebo plus optimized background therapy in treatment-experienced CCR5-tropic HIV-1-infected patients (MOTIVATE 1 and 2 pooled data = 43 percent and 46 percent for SELZENTRY once-daily and twice-daily, respectively, compared with 17 percent for placebo).
 
Patients treated with SELZENTRY plus optimized background therapy achieved a significantly higher increase in CD4 cells than those receiving placebo plus optimized background therapy (MOTIVATE 1 and 2 pooled data = +116 and +124 cells/mm(3) for SELZENTRY once-daily and twice-daily, respectively, vs. +61 cells/mm(3) for placebo).
 
Results analyzed at 48-weeks showed no clinically relevant differences in the safety profile between the study treatment groups and remained consistent with 24-week results. The most common adverse events included upper respiratory tract infections, cough, pyrexia, rash, and dizziness.

Source (http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/120308_02.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 07, 2008, 05:16:32 am
Expect vaccine to inhibit HIV within 5 years: Nobel winner

A therapeutic vaccine to inhibit the spread of HIV will be available within five years, according to a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who helped discover the virus.

Luc Montagnier, director of the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, said he thinks it is "a matter of four to five years" before such a vaccine is developed. Restricting the transmission of HIV, he said, would change how the disease is managed and controlled.

Montagnier, 76, said a therapeutic vaccine, to be given to those who are already infected in order to inhibit the likelihood of transmission, would be a key step in fighting the virus. By comparison, a preventative vaccine would protect people from contracting HIV in the first place.

"Our job, of course, is to find complementary treatment to eradicate the infection. I think it's not impossible to do it within a few years," Montagnier said in Stockholm, according to Reuters.

"So I hope to see in my lifetime the eradication of, not the AIDS epidemic, but at least the infection. This could be achieved."

The French scientist did not explain why he believes the discovery will be made in that specific time frame. While medications exist that lessen the effects of the disease for those who have been infected, none has been created that prevents or cures an HIV infection.

About 33 million people across the world have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.

Montagnier, along with his colleague Françoise Barré -Sinoussi, 61, won the Nobel Prize for medicine this year for their discovery of the virus.

Last May marked the 25th anniversary of the a report, published in the journal Science of by Montagnier and colleagues of La Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital and the Institute Pasteur in Paris that indicated they had discovered the cause of the then little-known disease known as AIDS.

"A retrovirus belonging to the family of recently discovered human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLV), but clearly distinct from each previous isolate, has been isolated from a Caucasian patient with signs and symptoms that often precede the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)," their report began.

Montagnier and his colleagues named the newly discovered pathogen lymphadenopathy-associated virus or LAV. But it was subsequently renamed the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV.

Barré -Sinoussi, who was also in Stockholm Saturday in advance of Nobel festivities that end with a banquet and awards ceremony Dec. 10, said scientists have a responsibility to try to use their work to inform public — and political — opinion.

"Still, 25 years after the HIV discovery, [there is] discrimination, stigmatization against HIV-infected individuals — even criminalization. This is not acceptable. This is really not acceptable," Barre-Sinoussi said, according to Reuters.


Source (http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/06/hiv-vaccine.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 07, 2008, 05:18:17 am
Residents of Islington Benefit from Free HIV Testing and Counselling

Scores of residents from the community of Islington in St. Mary, benefitted from free HIV testing and counselling, at a health fair, organised by the St. Mary Health Department.

The event, held recently at the Islington Community Centre, was part of activities to mark World AIDS Day. HIV positive persons were sensitised about the importance of following the medical advice they received and adhering to the treatment prescribed.

Among other services provided were blood sugar and blood pressure tests, and counselling to parents and children, to encourage more effective parenting in the society.

Among the organisations providing services on the day were the Child Development Agency, the HIV Prevention and Control Programme, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and LIME.

Behaviour Change and Communications Officer for the St. Mary Health Department, Omar Marston, said he was satisfied with the day's activities, noting that the objectives of increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS, and providing general health care and advice to the people of the Islington community, were achieved.

He said he was pleased at the number of residents who requested HIV tests, noting that the results were made available on the same day.

According to Mr. Marston, the St. Mary Health Department feels a sense of satisfaction in being able to serve the parish and he urged residents to co-operate with the Department to ensure good health standards in St. Mary.


Source (http://www.jis.gov.jm/health/html/20081205T090000-0500_17698_JIS_RESIDENTS_OF_ISLINGTON_BENEFIT_FROM_FREE_HIV_TESTING_AND_COUNSELLING.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 07, 2008, 05:20:16 am
More housewives get HIV than sex workers in Malaysia: report

HIV infections among women in Malaysia are on the rise and more housewives than sex workers have been found to contract AIDS, according to a new report that has health planners worried.

With an average of 12 Malaysians testing positive for HIV daily, Malaysia has one of the fastest growing AIDS epidemics in the East Asia and Pacific region. What is more worrying is that the trend is gaining a feminine face, mainly through heterosexual transmission.

A new report released Thursday by the Malaysian Health Ministry and United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has revealed that the trend of new HIV infections amongst women rose drastically to 16 percent in 2007 from 1.2 percent of total new cases in 1990.

"The proportion of women reported with HIV has increased dramatically in the last decade. In 1990, only one in every 86 new HIV infections was amongst women and girls. As of December 2007, it was one in six new infections," Sultanah Bahiyah Foundation chairperson Safinaz said at the launch of the "Women and Girls Confronting HIV and AIDS in Malaysia 2008" report.

"Shockingly, surveys show that in 2006 more housewives tested HIV positive than sex workers," Safinaz said, adding that there are thousands of children living in homes shadowed by HIV.

She said for families affected by HIV and AIDS, the disease itself does not have so much impact as it can be kept under control for many years with effective treatment, The Sun newspaper reported.

"The biggest impact comes from stigma. Mothers whose families are affected by HIV and AIDS are most frightened by the reactions from friends, extended family, colleagues and their communities," she said, citing the case of a shopkeeper in Kedah who refused to allow a woman with HIV to enter his shop.

Unicef representative in Malaysia Youssouf Oomar said empowering and encouraging women to be leaders in any HIV response must be the strategy of the future.

"Malaysia must ensure that gender equality and empowerment of women go hand-in-hand with HIV and AIDS prevention and care programmes," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.


Source (http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/Health/20081205/1120734.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: leit on December 07, 2008, 10:01:33 am
A therapeutic vaccine to inhibit the spread of HIV will be available within five years, according to a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who helped discover the virus.
Luc Montagnier, director of the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, said he thinks it is "a matter of four to five years" before such a vaccine is developed.
[...]
"Our job, of course, is to find complementary treatment to eradicate the infection. I think it's not impossible to do it within a few years," Montagnier said in Stockholm, according to Reuters.
[...]
The French scientist did not explain why he believes the discovery will be made in that specific time frame.

I'm curious to know whether this clown dared to tell the same vague old bullshit in his Nobel Lecture (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2008/montagnier-lecture.html). Let's wait some days...
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 08, 2008, 08:14:34 am
‘Gay sex would spread HIV’

New Delhi, Dec. 7: Justifying criminalisation of homosexuality in the country, the Centre has pleaded before the Delhi High that it is one of the main reasons for spread of HIV/AIDS and needs to be curbed.
In a written submission filed by additional solicitor general Mr PP Malhotra, the Centre said that legalising men having sex with men (MSM), as pleaded by gay rights activists, would lead to spread of the dreaded disease and placed reports of various countries to substantiate its stand.

Source (http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=234796)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 08, 2008, 08:17:22 am
Inflammatory blood vessel activation is enhanced in HIV positive people independent of antiretroviral therapy and lipoatrophy


Research increasingly suggests that inflammation associated with HIV infection contributes to the spectrum of non-opportunistic conditions -- including cardiovascular disease -- seen in HIV positive patients.

Research increasingly suggests that inflammation associated with HIV infection contributes to the spectrum of non-opportunistic conditions -- including cardiovascular disease -- seen in HIV positive patients, but the complex interactions between the virus itself, immune and metabolic changes, and antiretroviral therapy remain poorly understood.

A recent study by Katherine Samaras, Andrew Carr, and colleagues (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2008/120508_a.html) found that HIV patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), especially those with lipoatrophy (fat loss, typically in the face and limbs), have a "proinflammatory milieu" similar to that of obese HIV negative individuals with insulin resistance.

But another study, published in the December 2008 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes , indicates that inflammatory changes and endothelial activation affecting blood vessels occurs in HIV positive individuals who are not on ART and do not have lipoatrophy -- and that anti-HIV therapy may, in fact, reduce inflammation.

Allison Ross and colleagues assessed the association between inflammatory and endothelial activation biomarkers and the presence of lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients. They also examined the roles of HIV itself, antiretroviral therapy, and metabolic parameters in endothelial activation and inflammation.

The prospective cross-sectional study included 182 participants seen at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, divided into 4 groups:

• 82 HIV positive patients on ART with HIV RNA < 1000 copies/mL with clinical lipoatrophy;

• 50 HIV positive patients on ART with HIV RNA < 1000 copies/mL but no lipoatrophy;

• 20 HIV positive ART-naive patients;

• 30 HIV negative healthy control subjects.

The investigators measured plasma levels of several inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors I and II, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and myeloperoxidase) and endothelial activation markers (soluble intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules and von Willebrand factor).

Results

• Limb fat and lipoatrophy were not correlated with endothelial markers.

• Levels of endothelial markers were higher in HIV positive ART-naive patients compared with both HIV positive patients on ART and HIV negative control subjects.

• However, levels were similar in HIV positive ART-treated patients and HIV negative individuals.

• Neither endothelial nor inflammatory markers were correlated with duration of HIV infection, CD4 cell count, blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels, or use of specific antiretroviral drugs.

• Strong correlations were observed between some inflammatory cytokines and endothelial markers.

Based on these findings, the investigators concluded that ART-naive HIV positive patients have enhanced endothelial activation, while HIV positive individuals on ART have values similar to those of healthy controls; furthermore, lipoatrophy did not seem to affect endothelial activation.

"In our study, we found no correlation between limb fat and any endothelial or cardiovascular marker in the subjects with clinical lipoatrophy," they wrote in their discussion. "These observations suggest that lipoatrophy does not have an independent effect on endothelial or cardiovascular markers."

But, they added, "The correlation between inflammatory markers and endothelial activation markers in the HIV positive groups suggests that inflammation may play a significant role in endothelial dysfunction seen in HIV."


Source (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Inflammatory-blood-vessel-activation-is-enhanced-in-HIV-positive-people-independent-of-antiretroviral-therapy-and-lipoatrophy)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 08, 2008, 08:22:53 am
ETAG news

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with HIV (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/High-prevalence-of-vitamin-D-deficiency-in-patients-with-HIV)
Almost a third of HIV-positive patients have vitamin D deficiency, Dutch researchers report in the November edition of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

Exercise intolerance may be due to impact of HIV treatment on heart (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Exercise-intolerance-may-be-due-to-impact-of-HIV-treatment-on-heart)
The lowered tolerance of exercise seen among people taking HIV treatment may be an early manifestation of silent cardiac dysfunction, says a research letter published in the November 30th issue of AIDS.

Faster drug approvals jeopardise patient safety, researcher claims (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/EMEA-FDA/Faster-drug-approvals-jeopardise-patient-safety-researcher-claims)
There are concerns that pressures on regulators to approve new drugs more quickly have reduced the focus on patient safety.

Atherosclerosis, coronary plaques, and heart rhythm changes in people with HIV (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Atherosclerosis-coronary-plaques-and-heart-rhythm-changes-in-people-with-HIV)
Cardiovascular disease is a growing concern as people with HIV live longer, but the complex relationship between HIV infection itself, immune activation triggered by the virus, and antiretroviral drugs used to treat it remains poorly understood.

Intracranial hemorrhage unlikely with tipranavir for HIV (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Intracranial-hemorrhage-unlikely-with-tipranavir-for-HIV)
Although use of the protease inhibitor tipranavir by patients with HIV might prompt an increase in the risk of intracranial hemorrhage, such events are rare, researchers report in the November 1st issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 08, 2008, 08:27:57 am
Interferon Needed For Cells To 'Remember' How To Defeat A Virus

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2008/12/081203084316-large.jpg)
Dr. David Farrar (right) led immunology researchers, including student assistants Ann Davis (center) and Hilario Ramos, in demonstrating that the protein interferon plays a key role in "teaching" the immune system how to stave off repeated infections of the same virus. (Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center)

ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2008) —  Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center have determined that the immune-system protein interferon plays a key role in "teaching" the immune system how to fight off repeated infections of the same virus.
The findings have potential application in the development of more effective vaccines and anti-viral therapies.


Typically, when a person is infected with a virus, the human body immediately generates a massive number of T cells – a type of immune cell – that kill off the infected cells. Once the infection has cleared, most of the T cells also die off, leaving behind a small pool of central memory cells that "remember" how to fight that particular type of virus if the person is infected again.

"In this study, we have uncovered interferon's role and the key signaling protein, called IL-2, involved in generating memory T cells," said Dr. David Farrar, assistant professor of immunology at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study. "Knowing how T cells acquire this memory may help us design better strategies and vaccines to fight HIV and other infectious diseases. Further, our discovery was made using primary human CD4+ T cells, which underscores the relevance of our discovery to human immune responses."

CD4+ T cells coordinate the actions of other cells at the site of infection.

When a virus or bacterium infects a human, the infected cells secrete several molecules, including a cytokine – or signaling protein – called interferon alpha. The action of interferon is what makes an infected person feel run down and tired. Although scientists knew that interferon alpha prevented a virus from multiplying and spreading, they didn't know what role interferon played in the creation of memory cells.

In the current study, the UT Southwestern researchers show that both interferon alpha and another signaling protein called IL-12 are needed to induce the creation of memory cells. They found that interferon and IL-12 team up to promote the creation of a special set of cells that then secrete another signaling protein called IL-2. These IL-2-secreting cells are the ones that remain in the body and "remember" how to fight off the virus.

"Without the IL-2 signaling protein, you'll generate a beautiful primary response against a virus, and you'll eliminate the bug, but your body won't remember how it defeated the virus," Dr. Farrar said. "Without these memory cells, your body is defenseless against re-infections."

Ann Davis, student research assistant in immunology and lead author of the study, said this suggests a new role for interferon: teacher.

"This is really the first demonstration of a role for interferon in teaching a T cell how to respond to viral infections," she said.

Dr. Farrar added: "Up until now, interferon has always been appreciated for its role in inhibiting virus infections. But no one's really paid attention to interferon and its role in regulating memory. That's why we're so excited about this result."

The next step, Dr. Farrar said, is to complete the same study in mice. Early results show that mice with T cells that can't respond to interferon are unable to protect themselves when a virus invades.

"Their immune systems have no idea how to fight the virus," Dr. Farrar said. Dr. Farrar said these early findings in mice may pave the way for designing more effective vaccines.

This research is available online and in the Dec. 15 issue of the Journal of Immunology. Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study were Hilario Ramos, student research assistant in immunology, and Dr. Laurie Davis, associate professor of internal medicine.

The National Institutes of Health supported the research.

Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081203084316.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: skeebo1969 on December 08, 2008, 09:51:03 am



    John1234,

     Thanks for the info, I just finsihed reading it all.  Quick question, is that Michelle Pfeiffer in your last post's pic?  The one holding the 409 bottle???
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 09, 2008, 07:38:20 am
Current FDA leaders “have lined their pockets,” Obama told

A leading US politician has told President-elect Barack Obama that “a complete change” is needed in the leadership of the Food and Drug Administration, as the agency’s current senior staff are “too close with the industries they regulate, creating a question of whom they are working for.”


“I would encourage you not to appoint any current senior FDA employee as Commissioner or Interim Commissioner of the FDA,” writes Bart Stupak, the Democratic Representative for Michigan, in a letter to Mr Obama released last Friday. While he names no agency officials in his letter, Rep Stupak’s plea to the incoming president is being widely seen as an attempt to counter support for Dr Janet Woodcock, head of the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), to be the next Commissioner, or to take the post on an interim basis, when Dr Andrew von Eschenbach steps down.

Commissioner von Eschenbach, who has held the post since September 2005, has made no announcement about his future plans, but his resignation is expected shortly.

Rep Stupak has been a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for 12 years, during which time he has been involved in “numerous” investigations of the FDA, he tells Mr Obama. Also, for the past two years has chaired the panel’s oversight and investigations subcommittee, which has primary oversight of the FDA, and: “since February 2007, I have held 16 hearings into the inadequacies of the FDA to protect Americans from unsafe food, drugs and medical devices. The subcommittee’s investigations revealed how the current FDA senior management blocked clinical trials, drove dedicated medical professionals out of the agency and lined their pockets with outrageous bonuses. The agency has abandoned its core mission of protecting Americans from contaminated food, unsafe drugs and medical devices,” he writes.

“A new Commissioner or Interim Commissioner must bring the agency back to the forefront of science, integrity and transparency,” Rep Stupak urges the incoming president.

CDER director Dr Woodcock is widely reported to be the industry’s choice to lead the Administration. This fact alone could be enough to wreck her chances of landing the post, and her 22 years at the agency also means that she is not regarded as a likely force for reform.

Pfizer whistleblower says: "I want to be FDA Commissioner"

Meantime, a new name in the frame for FDA Commissioner is Peter Rost, the controversial former Pfizer vice president who is currently involved in long-running whistleblower litigation against his former employer. He has made public his interest in the agency top job and is being supported by Democrat Sherrod Brown, the junior Senator from Ohio, with whom he has campaigned for imports of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, and by Missouri Democrat Representative Jo Ann Emerson. Rep Stupak is also reported to be backing Mr Rost.


Source (http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/article.aspx?id=14902)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 09, 2008, 07:42:23 am
New therapy for hepatitis C treatment

Combination therapies similar to those used for HIV patients may be the best way of treating hepatitis C virus (HCV), say researchers from the University of Leeds.

A study of a protein called p7, has revealed that differences in the genetic coding of the protein between virus strains - known as genotypes - alter the sensitivity of the virus to drugs that block its function. Read New treatment therapy helps inhibit hepatitis C (http://www.huliq.com/65601/new-treatment-therapy-helps-inhibit-hepatitis-c)

The p7 protein assists the spread of HCV around the body and is a promising target for new drug treatments for the virus. Its role was discovered in 2003 by Dr Steve Griffin with Professors Mark Harris and Dave Rowlands of the University's Faculty of Biological Sciences. In laboratory tests their latest research shows that inhibiting p7 with drugs can prevent the spread of HCV..

"One of the challenges in finding treatments for viruses is their ability to constantly change their genetic makeup," says Professor Harris. "Our research shows there can't be a one-size-fits-all approach to treating HCV with p7 inhibitors in the future. We believe combination treatments will work much more efficiently, as they take into account the variability of the p7 protein."

Approximately 180 million people worldwide are infected by HCV, which causes inflammation of the liver and can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Spread by contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids, there is no vaccine against the disease which is largely asymptomatic in its early stages. The disease is currently treated with broad spectrum, non-specific anti-viral drugs.

Dr Griffin and Prof. Harris examined the response of HCV to a panel of compounds including the well known anti-viral drug, rimantadine, which targets a similar protein in the flu virus. They found that the drug's effectiveness was altered depending on the genetic makeup of the p7 protein.

"We 'borrowed' rimantadine to test its effects because p7 behaves similarly to a protein found in the flu virus," says Dr Griffin. " Although rimantadine works well in the laboratory, we now need to develop new drugs specifically targeted against p7 that we can take forward for future therapies."-University of Leeds


Source (http://www.huliq.com/11/74245/new-therapy-hepatitis-c-treatment)


Human Genome Sciences  Announces Albuferon Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 Trial in Chronic Hepatitis C


ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI - News) today announced that Albuferon® (albinterferon alfa-2b) met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority to peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) in ACHIEVE 2/3, a Phase 3 clinical trial of Albuferon in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C (p=0.0086). Albinterferon alfa-2b is being developed by HGS and Novartis under an exclusive worldwide co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in June 2006.

"We are pleased that Albuferon met its primary endpoint in the ACHIEVE 2/3 trial. These Phase 3 data show that the efficacy of Albuferon was comparable to Pegasys, with half the injections," said H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "We look forward to having the results of ACHIEVE 1, our other Phase 3 trial of Albuferon, in March 2009. If ACHIEVE 1 is successful, we believe Albuferon could become the market-leading interferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and we expect that global marketing applications will be filed by fall 2009."


Full article (http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=119694)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 09, 2008, 07:48:46 am
High (>70%) Rates of Complete Remission in treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Three Italian Multicenter Studies Report High (>70%) Rates of Complete Remission (CR) Utilizing Zevalin Radio-Immunotherapy (RIT) in Treatment of Newly Diagnosed or Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

SEATTLE (Map) -  SEATTLE, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) announced today that the results of three Italian multicenter studies utilizing Zevalin(R) ([90Y]-ibritumomab tiuxetan) were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 50th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA.

In one presentation, the Italian Cooperative Study Group in a phase II study investigated the use of single dose Zevalin as sole initial treatment in 15 patients with advanced stage (III-IV) follicular NHL. Ninety-three percent (93%) of patients had a response with 73% achieving a complete remission (CR). At a median follow-up of 10 months, 93% of patients are alive, with 71% in continuous CR. No patients required hematopoietic growth factors. Hematologic toxicity was low and quickly reversible; 7 patients developed grade 3 thrombocytopenia and 5 required platelet transfusions.

In a second presentation, investigators from the European Institute of Oncology, Milan treated 13 patients with relapsed or refractory primary gastric NHL including 9 patients with Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue or MALT with a single dose of Zevalin. Ten of 13 patients achieved a CR with all 9 patients (100%) with MALT achieving a CR. Toxicities were mainly hematologic and reversible. After a median follow up of 36 months 9 of 10 CR's (90%) are disease free.

The potential benefits of RIT with Zevalin combined with BEAM conditioning regimen (Z-BEAM) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for patients who fail to achieve a CR after front line rituximab containing multi- agent chemotherapy for advanced NHL was also presented. The results of the Italian Multicenter Study demonstrated that among 53 patients who failed to achieve CR after CHOP-R, the Z-BEAM followed by ASCT resulted in a 74% CR rate. At a median follow up of 175 days post transplant 40 patients (75%) are alive, 30 patients (57%) in CR. Fourteen patients died, 7 due to treatment related toxicities, and 6 due to progressive disease. The estimated 3 year event free survival (EFS) 64%

 "These three additional studies add to the growing body of clinical trial evidence that radio-immunotherapy with Zevalin produces high, durable rates of complete remission in high risk, relapsed or refractory NHL," noted Jack Singer, M.D. and Chief Medical Officer of CTI. "We believe that the impressive 73% CR rate when given as a single agent in previously untreated patients with follicular NHL is worth pursuing in additional trials as it could potentially provide an alternative to multiagent chemotherapy regimens particularly among elderly or infirm patients. Similarly, the 100% CR rate in MALT is an intriguing finding that could represent an additional registration route as it is an unmet medical need. We believe with these and additional prospective randomized clinical trials Zevalin, Radio-Immunotherapy, may finally assume a role alongside cornerstone treatment regimens for NHL," Dr. Singer added.

About Zevalin(R)

Zevalin(R) (Ibritumomab Tiuxetan) is a form of cancer therapy called radioimmunotherapy and is indicated as part of the Zevalin therapeutic regimen for treatment of relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non- Hodgkin's lymphoma, including patients with rituximab refractory follicular NHL. Zevalin is also indicated, under accelerated approval, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory, rituximab-naïve, low-grade and follicular NHL based on studies using a surrogate endpoint of overall response rate. It was approved by the FDA in February of 2002 as the first radioimmunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of NHL.

Rare deaths associated with an infusion reaction symptom complex have occurred within 24 hours of rituximab (Rituxan(R)) infusions. Yttrium-90 Zevalin administration results in severe and prolonged cytopenias in most patients. Severe cutaneous and mucocutaneous reactions have been reported. The most serious adverse reactions of the Zevalin therapeutic regimen were primarily hematologic, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Infusion-related toxicities were associated with pre-administration of rituximab. The risk of hematologic toxicity correlated with the degree of bone marrow involvement prior to Zevalin therapy. Myelodysplasia or acute myelogenous leukemia was observed in 2 percent of patients (8 to 34 months after treatment). Zevalin should only be used by health care professionals qualified by training and experience in the safe use of radionuclides.

Patients and healthcare professionals can visit http://www.zevalin.com for more information.


Source (http://www.examiner.com/p-272512~Three_Italian_Multicenter_Studies_Report_High___70___Rates_of_Complete_Remission__CR__Utilizing_Zevalin_Radio_Immunotherapy__RIT__in_Treatment_of_Newly_Diagnosed_or_Relapsed_or_Refractory_Non_Hodgkin_s_Lymphoma.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 09, 2008, 08:09:07 am
NATAP News

9th Interntl Drug Thrpy HIV

Adherence with Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) Tablet and Soft-Gel Capsule (SGC)-Based Antiretroviral Regimens and Predictors of Early Treatment Compliance  (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_43.htm)
During the first 12 weeks of randomized therapy, LPV/r QD dosing resulted in higher levels of adherence than BID dosing.
In the setting of this clinical trial, adherence to LPV/r tablets and SGC was similar. Of note, because MEMS caps were used, subjects were required to dose LPV/r from the original container which could have impacted potential differences in adherence related to the convenience of the LPV/r tablet.
Sex, age and race were predictors of early adherence.
Differences in early adherence at 12 weeks do not appear to predict clinical outcomes at 48 weeks.
The significant between-strata difference observed in CD4+ T-cell increases when comparing whites to non-whites was consistent over time and may, in part, reflect the baseline CD4+ T-cell count difference between whites and non-whites observed in this study.

Metabolic Evaluation of Study M05-730 through Week (Wk) 48 (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_42.htm)
In this study of antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected subjects starting a LPV/r-based antiretroviral regimen:
There were increases in all lipid parameters through 48 weeks, including HDL levels. Importantly, however:
Median lipid values for TC, TG, and LDL stayed within the acceptable NCEP or clinically relevant values through 48 weeks. This was reflected by the fact that if subjects came into the study with an acceptable TG level at BL (< 2.825 mmol/L), 80% maintained these levels at Wk 48. Also, if subjects came into the study with an acceptable TC level at BL (< 5.2 mmol/L), 72% maintained these levels at Wk 48. In addition, if subjects came into the study with an acceptable LDL level at BL (< 3.38 mmol/L), 87% maintained these levels at Wk 48.
The proportion of subjects with low HDL (<1.04 mmol/L) by NCEP decreased from 60% to 33% from BL to Wk 48.
...

Topics from the Drug Therapy in HIV Infection Meeting (http://www.natap.org/2008/InterHIV/InterHIV_41.htm)
Lessons From the Developing World
Pharmacology
The Tuberculosis HIV Nexus
The Longer-Term Safety of Maraviroc
Malignancy and Immune Suppression

ICAAC

DOUBLING THE DOSE OF RALTEGRAVIR (RAL) DOES NOT INCREASE TROUGH LEVELS IN THE PRESENCE OF RIFAMPIN (RIF) (http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_87.htm)
Coadministration of 800mg q12hr RAL with 600mg qd RIF is generally well-tolerated.
Although doubling the RAL dose to 800 mg q12hr when coadministered with RIF compensates for the effect of RIF on RAL exposure (AUC0-12hr), it does not overcome the effect of RIF on RAL trough concentrations (C12hr).
Trough concentrations remain above the protein- adjusted IC95 (31nM).
The decrease in C12hr is similar to what is seen with coadministration of 400 mg q12hr RAL and RIF.
Although trough concentrations have not been shown to correlate with efficacy, caution should be used when RAL is coadministered with RIF until additional clinical information is available.

Omeprazole Increases Plasma Levels of Raltegravir (RAL) in Healthy Subjects (http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_86.htm)
Omeprazole increases plasma concentration of RAL in healthy subjects
Population PK data demonstrate that patients with HIV infection receiving RAL have similar RAL levels whether or not they receive PPI or H2 blockers
Reported differences in gastric pH between HIV infected patients vs uninfected subjects may explain this dichotomous finding
RAL codosed with omeprazole or other pH-altering agents is generally well-tolerated and no areas of concern have been identified
Data support use of RAL with gastric pH-altering agents with no dose adjustment
Further investigation is necessary to more fully characterize the PK of RAL given in combination with pH-altering agents in HIV-infected patients

Raltegravir (RAL) Pharmacokinetics in Individuals with UGT1A1*1/*1 and UGT1A1*28/*28 Genotypes (http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_85.htm)
RAL is generally well tolerated in individuals with UGT1A1 *28/*28 and UGT1A1 *1/*1 genotypes.
Plasma concentrations of RAL are modestly higher in individuals with the UGT1A1 *28/*28 genotype relative to the UGT1A1 *1/*1 genotype.
The difference in the pharmacokinetic profiles in the 2 groups is not considered to be clinically meaningful.
Overall clinical experience with RAL indicate that exposure increases on the order of 2-fold are not associated with increased risk of toxicity.
No dose adjustment of RAL is required for individuals with the UGT1A1*28/*28 genotype

Pharmacokinetic (PK) Evaluation of Darunavir/Ritonavir (DRV/r) and Raltegravir (RAL) in Healthy Subjects (http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_84.htm)
Multiple oral doses of 400-mg RAL given in combination with 600-mg DRV plus 100-mg RTV in healthy subjects resulted in a common adverse experience of rash.
Based on limited PK data, coadministration of DRV/r and RAL resulted in a modest effect on RAL with no clinically important changes in DRV pharmacokinetics.

Analysis of Resistance to the HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitor Raltegravir: Results from BENCHMRK-1 and -2 (http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_83.htm)
(http://www.natap.org/2008/images/120808/inVito.gif)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 03:42:44 am
Yep, it's the PD-1

Possible AIDS Treatment Shows Promise in Monkeys

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers report that a treatment under development appears to stop the equivalent of the AIDS virus in monkeys.

Nine rhesus macaque monkeys infected with a virus known as SIV underwent treatment and remain alive eight months later. The treatment appears to work by preventing virus cells from fooling the immune system.

There's no guarantee that the treatment will work in people. But if it's effective in humans, the treatment could allow patients to avoid taking AIDS drugs for the rest of their lives, said study co-author Rama Rao Amara, an assistant professor at Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

"If you wake up and realize you don't have to take a pill, it's a big step forward," he said. In addition, he said, current AIDS drugs are expensive and have serious side effects.

Existing AIDS drugs do have benefits: They're often effective and have allowed patients to live normal lives. However, they can't always keep up with the AIDS virus, which evolves quickly and can become immune to current treatments.

"The virus changes and then these drugs don't work after some time," Amara said.

In the new study, Amara and colleagues injected nine monkeys with an antibody that blocks a kind of "don't kill me" signal that cells infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) send to immune cells.

When the SIV-infected cells emit the signal, "the killer cell thinks, 'You are not my enemy. You're my friend,'" Amara said. But when the signal is blocked, the killer immune cells can do their job and wipe out the virus.

The researchers gave four injections of the antibody to the monkeys over 10 days and then watched to see what happened.

The study appears in the Dec. 10 online edition of Nature

The monkeys, infected with SIV for as long as 21 months, were able to beat back the virus. Levels of virus in the blood dropped and the animals remained alive.

By contrast, four out of five monkeys who received a "control" antibody died within four months.

"What is amazing to me how rapidly you can actually change these killer cells," Amara said. "Now they are good cells."

The work of the monkeys is done and they will be euthanized, Amara said. It is too expensive -- $7 a day each -- to pay for their care with available funding, he said.

In humans, the treatment could cost a couple thousand dollars per dose, Amara said, although patients might then avoid taking drugs for life.

Dr. Mark Connors, a specialist in AIDS research, said the research is "clearly valid and very interesting. I'm sure it's going to generate debate over the next year or so as to what it means."

Even skeptics may be convinced by evidence that the treatment directly affects survival and the level of the virus in the body, said Connors, chief of the HIV-Specific Immunity Section at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and amp; Infectious Diseases.

As for the future, Connors said he's "guardedly optimistic" that the treatment could be used in humans, perhaps in conjunction with other medications.


Source (http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=9500120&nav=menu69_11_3_1)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 03:45:32 am
CDC releases data on HIV transmission rates in U.S.

The HIV transmission rate in the U.S. has decreased by 89% since 1984 and 33% since 1997

CDC in a research letter published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes released updated estimates of HIV transmission rates in the U.S.,  Reuters  reports. According to the letter -- written by researchers from CDC and Johns Hopkins University -- the HIV transmission rate in the U.S. has decreased by 89% since 1984 and 33% since 1997. In addition, about 5% or less of people living with the virus will transmit it to another person in any given year, according to the letter (Fox, Reuters, 12/9). The study also found that in 1984, there were 44 transmissions per 100 people with HIV. By 2006, there were just under five transmissions per 100 HIV-positive people (CDC fact sheet, December 2008). David Holtgrave, a researcher at Johns Hopkins who led the study, said, "For every 100 persons living with HIV today, five or fewer will transmit the virus to an uninfected person in a given year."

Richard Woltiski of CDC said the declining transmission figures "really show that people living with HIV are taking steps to be responsible and protect others" and "reflect the success of prevention efforts across the nation." He added that the decreasing transmission rate is most likely the result of a "combination" of HIV prevention efforts that include "HIV testing, prevention programs for people who are living with HIV and those who are at risk for HIV, as well as the effects of HIV treatment that have prolonged the lives of so many people living with HIV." The study was based on the latest CDC data on HIV/AIDS in the U.S. The agency in October announced that 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the U.S., and in August it announced that 56,300 new infections occur annually.

Woltiski said even with the "success" in lower transmission rates, "we cannot forget that new HIV infections are increasing among" men who have sex with men and that "African-Americans and Hispanics continue to experience disproportionate and unacceptably high rates of HIV and AIDS. The fight against HIV is far from over" (Reuters, 12/9).

A CDC fact sheet about HIV transmission rates is available online (.pdf). A Johns Hopkins press release about the study also is available online .


Source (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=56000)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 03:49:31 am
Cancer to be world's top killer by 2010, WHO says

Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Rising tobacco use in developing countries is believed to be a huge reason for the shift, particularly in China and India, where 40 percent of the world's smokers now live.

So is better diagnosing of cancer, along with the downward trend in infectious diseases that used to be the world's leading killers.

Cancer diagnoses around the world have steadily been rising and are expected to hit 12 million this year. Global cancer deaths are expected to reach 7 million, according to the new report by the World Health Organization.

An annual rise of 1 percent in cases and deaths is expected — with even larger increases in China, Russia and India. That means new cancer cases will likely mushroom to 27 million annually by 2030, with deaths hitting 17 million.

Underlying all this is an expected expansion of the world's population — there will be more people around to get cancer.

By 2030, there could be 75 million people living with cancer around the world, a number that many health care systems are not equipped to handle.

"This is going to present an amazing problem at every level in every society worldwide," said Peter Boyle, director of the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Boyle spoke at a news conference with officials from the American Cancer Society, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Cancer Institute of Mexico.

The "unprecedented" gathering of organizations is an attempt to draw attention to the global threat of cancer, which isn't recognized as a major, growing health problem in some developing countries.

"Where you live shouldn't determine whether you live," said Hala Moddelmog, Komen's chief executive.

The organizations are calling on governments to act, asking the U.S. to help fund cervical cancer vaccinations and to ratify an international tobacco control treaty.

Concerned about smoking's impact on cancer rates in developing countries in the decades to come, the American Cancer Society also announced it will provide a smoking cessation counseling service in India.

"If we take action, we can keep the numbers from going where they would otherwise go," said John Seffrin, the cancer society's chief executive officer.

Other groups are also voicing support for more action.

"Cancer is one of the greatest untold health crises of the developing world," said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

"Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined. And if current smoking trends continue, the problem will get significantly worse," he said in a written statement.


Source (http://news.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Au1vuwynmvkaumVuSyX0We1s_aF4)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 04:16:20 am
NATAP News

Targeting HIV Entry: 4th Interntnl Wrkshp

Low Enfuvirtide and Maraviroc Penetration of CSF--and CSF Resistance to Enfuvirtide (http://www.natap.org/2008/ENTRY/ENTRY_03.htm)
A case report from the University Medical Center Utrecht documented low levels of the entry inhibitors enfuvirtide and maraviroc in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) despite adequate levels in plasma and undetectable plasma viremia. Virus resistant to enfuvirtide, but not to maraviroc, could be detected in CSF of this salvage therapy patient.
A 50-year-old man with multidrug-resistant virus began a rescue regimen including the fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide (90 mg once daily), the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (300 mg twice daily), and reverse transcriptase inhibitors tenofovir plus zidovudine and lamivudine coformulated as Combivir. Presalvage genotyping disclosed no enfuvirtide-related mutations in gp41, and the Trofile assay determined that the virus used the CCR5 coreceptor. After a months-long drop in plasma viremia, the viral load eventually did fall below 50 copies and remained undetectable for 8 months. At that point clinicians performed a spinal tap in an attempt to diagnose neurologic symptoms.
Although viral load remained undetectable in plasma, two CSF samples had detectable loads of 2780 and 1490 copies. Adding darunavir/ritonavir to the regimen pushed CSF loads below the limit of detection. Plasma concentrations of enfuvirtide and maraviroc were adequate at 3.74 and 0.146 micrograms/mL, but CSF levels of both drugs were low: 0.055 micrograms/mL for enfuvirtide and only traces of maraviroc below the limit of detection. CSF levels of darunavir were low but detectable.
...

Vicriviroc Phase 3 Trial and Naive Study May Afford New Angle on Role of CCR5 Blockers (http://www.natap.org/2008/ENTRY/ENTRY_02.htm)
Phase 3 trials of vicriviroc, the CCR5 antagonist that works best in a ritonavir-boosted regimen, are fully enrolled. And some baseline data suggest differences between this phase 3 study population and those in recent salvage trials could afford further insights into the eventual role of CCR5 antagonists. But those differences may also make the results harder to interpret. At the same time Schering's Lisa Dunkle offered a new analysis of pooled results from phase 2 trials, issued an update on cancer incidence among vicriviroc takers, and outlined a novel trial of this CCR5 antagonist in previously untreated people.
...
The surprise development of cancer in 6 people taking vicriviroc and 2 taking placebo in ACTG 5211 ignited fears that plugging CCR5 coreceptors somehow touches off malignancies. Summarizing cancer reports among vicriviroc takers through June 2008, including 600 person-years of vicriviroc exposure, Dunkle counted only a handful of additional cancer cases as use of the drug soared. Except for a single early report of gastric carcinoma, all malignancies have been lymphomas or cutaneous cancers. Malignancies per 100 person-years peaked in June 2006 at around 6 and dropped to around 3 by June 2008.
...

Almost 40% of Viruses in Treatment-Experienced German Group Use CXCR4 (http://www.natap.org/2008/ENTRY/ENTRY_01.htm)
Testing coreceptor use with the enhanced Trofile assay, German investigators determined that nearly 40% of viruses isolated from treatment-experienced people could use the CXCR4 coreceptor, a result meaning CCR5 antagonists will not help much in controlling these patients' viral replication. As in earlier studies, a gene-based algorithm used to predict coreceptor use had high specificity but relatively low sensitivity in yielding the same results as Trofile. Contrary to other studies, however, the German survey found that genotyping predicted Trofile-determined coreceptor use better in people with a non-B HIV-1 subtype than in people infected with subtype B virus.
...

Neurological/Cognitive Impairment on HAART: 50% on HAART have cognitive impairment (http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/121008_01.htm)
"As HIV practitioners, we must be aware of possible ongoing disruption of neurocognitive function in our patients who otherwise appear to be doing well and to the potential for HIV-related neurologic damage in the HIV-infected population as a whole. Optimization of HIV therapy in this regard may include starting antiretroviral treatment early enough to avoid neuronal loss and using viral control in the CNS as an efficacy measure. Good CNS penetration does not appear to have been a goal of recent antiretroviral drug development, and we need to support efforts to decide if brain penetration is a crucial component in the design of therapy. We should also encourage further research to develop effective means to protect the brain from alternate pathways of damage. New therapies for amyloid toxicity are being developed, and these may eventually play a role in the treatment of HIV-associated dementia."
...

ICAAC


AIDS-Defining Conditions (ADCs) in the BENCHMRK -1 and -2 Trials: 48 Week Analysis (http://www.natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_90.htm)
In the BENCHMRK studies, the rates of clinical endpoints occurring during the double-blind phase were lower for raltegravir compared with placebo at week 48, regardless of endpoint. These differences did not reach statistical significance.
Esophageal candidiasis was the most frequent ADC in both treatment groups.
Advanced disease (low CD4 counts, high HIV RNA levels, and previous ADC) rather than treatment history or GSS appeared to be associated with disease progression and/or death.
Patients who experienced an ADC or died showed lower responses for HIV RNA suppression and smaller CD4 cell increases than patients who did not.
The BENCHMRK studies are ongoing and will provide an opportunity for further analysis at time points beyond week 48.


Studies


ddi + hydroxyurea making comeback (http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/120908_03.htm)
...
A new concept of combining drugs with antiviral properties with those that act directly on the T cell target of HIV is emerging._These combinations of drugs are called "ViroStatic" as they combine anti viral and cytostatic mechanisms to inhibit viral replication.__
Virostatic combinations are being investigated to restrict virus target populations (CD4+ T lymphocytes), target viral reservoirs, and possibly restore immune functions by reducing excess immune activation - a fundamental component of HIV/AIDS pathogenesis.__
Cytostatic drugs such as hydroxyurea, mycophenolic acid, leflunomide and rapamycin utilize multiple novel mechanisms of action to impede HIV by targeting host cellular proteins that are not susceptible to mutation. Therefore, their resistance profile appears to be quite favorable. Since many of these drugs act by inhibiting the synthesis of deoxynucleotides, essential for HIV reverse transcription, they also favor the incorporation of nucleoside analogues into viral DNA, thus synergizing with the antiviral activity of currently used nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
...

Nut-Enriched Mediterranean Diet Helps Reverse Metabolic Syndrome (http://www.natap.org/2008/HIV/120908_01.htm)
A non-energy-restricted traditional MedDiet enriched with nuts, which is high in fat, high in unsaturated fat, and palatable, is a useful tool in managing the MetS (metabolic syndrome)
In this clinical trial, older participants at high risk for developing CVD who consumed a non-energy-restricted, traditional Mediterranean-style diet supplemented with 1 daily serving of mixed nuts for 1 year showed a reduction in the overall prevalence of MetS (metabolic syndrome) compared with participants given advice on following a low-fat diet. Subjects in the MedDiet + VOO (olive oil) group showed a nonsignificant reduction in MetS prevalence. The beneficial effect of the MedDiet + nuts was more a consequence of higher rates of reversion among participants who had the MetS at baseline than of a lesser incidence among those not meeting criteria for the syndrome at baseline, and was independent of sex, age, baseline obesity status, or changes in body weight. These results provide further evidence of the potential benefit of healthy dietary patterns on MetS status.13-15 The novelty of our findings is that a positive effect on MetS was achieved by diet alone, in the absence of weight loss or increased energy expenditure in physical activity.
The traditional MedDiet is characterized by a high intake of cereals, vegetables, fruits, and olive oil; a moderate intake of fish and alcohol, mostly wine; and a low intake of dairy products, meats, and sweets.10 The MedDiet is a high-fat, high-unsaturated-fat food pattern because olive oil is used abundantly as culinary fat and for dressing dishes, which facilitates intake of substantial quantities of vegetables. Nuts are another high-fat, high-unsaturated-fat food commonly consumed in the MedDiet. Evidence from epidemiological and clinical studies suggests that regular nut intake might have a positive effect on adiposity, insulin resistance, and other metabolic disturbances linked to the MetS
...
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 04:17:58 am
Charged with faking AIDS test for sex

An HIV-positive Queens man is facing jail time after allegedly faking a clean bill of health to persuade his girlfriend to have unprotected sex.

Duane Lang, 48, typed up an official-looking HIV test report from the AIDS Center of Queens, the city's Department of Investigation charged.

The report said that as of last Dec. 12, Lang was "negative/nonreactive for the HIV-1 antibody based upon the rapid HIV antibody test," investigators said.

Lang - who has been HIV-positive since 2002 - used to volunteer at the city-funded AIDS Center, authorities said.

"With deceit and depravity, the defendant repeatedly endangered the life of a person he supposedly cared for," DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said.

"Rarely have we seen a forged document used in a way that is so directly and personally destructive to another human being."

Lang was arrested Monday and charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a forged document. He was released on his own recognizance and faces seven years in prison if convicted.

The victim had unprotected sex as many as 10 times at Lang's Richmond Hill apartment from December 2007 to March, authorities said. It was unclear if the unidentified woman contracted the virus.

The horrified victim finally got the truth about Lang's medical condition on March 19, when she questioned him about the authenticity of his test report, authorities said.

Lang admitted he was HIV-positive and the test was a fake, the criminal complaint says.

He told investigators the form was used as a demonstration on a retreat. He claimed he took it home to "rip it up ... and next thing he knew it was gone," prosecutors said.

The center's medical director, Dr. Marc Johnson, was listed on the bogus test report. His name was spelled wrong and there was no signature, the complaint says. The agency is not facing any charges.


Source (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/12/09/2008-12-09_charged_with_faking_aids_test_for_sex.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 04:19:30 am
Merck plans to push for expanded use of its Isentress AIDS med and the Gardasil

Merck plans to push for expanded use of its Isentress AIDS med and the Gardasil vaccine next year. In particular, the drugmaker will seek FDA approval to market the Gardasil HPV vaccine for women up to 45 years old and…men.

Source (http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/12/merck-wants-to-develop-follow-on-biologics/)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 06:16:35 pm
After Mbeki..

Bad news for HIV patients

No new patients will be put on antiretroviral medication in the Free State until the provincial health department's financial woes are sorted out, a department spokesperson said on Thursday.

Other chronic medicines would also run out due to the lack of money, Elke de Witt said.

"Stocks must run out if you do not have money to replenish them."

The department announced its financial problems on November 14.

"We have said it from the start that no new patients would be accommodated and only existing patients would be serviced."

De Witt said the department had had to make some tough decisions about its finances.

She said it was not known when the situation would change.

On November 12 the national health department announced steps to help the Free State's shortage of ARVs, caused by budget constraints.

Amongst the measures announced was the immediate transfer of R9,5-million to buy essential drugs for patients on the ARV programme.

The Volksblad newspaper reported on Thursday that some 170 medicines were out of stock at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein.

These included medicines to treat TB, asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure and hypertension and some antibiotics.

The Free State health department had issued a circular telling hospital personnel to do only "absolutely essential services".

"The department acknowledges that due to the possible non-treatment of patients and lack of stock it might face legal action," the report read.

The health department would take full responsibility in such cases, the report noted.

De Witt said government officials were "working very hard" to solve the financial problems.

"A lot of people (officials) are very worried. The situation is seen as very serious by all the stakeholders."

The provincial health department's cost containment measures, announced on November 25, would be in effect until the end of January 2009.

The measures were applicable in 31 hospitals, clinics and administrative offices in the province.

They included the postponement of all routine, non-emergency surgical cases until the end of January 2009. Any patients that could, would be discharged.

All privately-funded patients would be redirected to private medical facilities. Public hospitals would only accept emergency referrals from other institutions and other provinces.

Staff would also be given mandatory leave.

All non essential meetings, including "non-critical appointments", were cancelled. - Sapa


Source (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081211151146505C545585)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 11, 2008, 06:18:34 pm
Individual’s DNA sets time clock for HIV to turn into AIDS

A new study has revealed how quickly HIV turns into AIDS might depend on an individual’’s DNA.

In the study, Stephen O”Brien from the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, and colleagues found that some variations in the DNA in mitochondria, the parts of cells that generate energy, seem to make AIDS develop twice as fast as others.

For the study, they examined data from five long-term studies tracking a total of 1833 people with HIV during the 1980s and early 1990s.

This was before antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was commonly used, so the team could follow the disease’’s development without intervention.

By examining the time it took for the subjects to develop AIDS-related diseases and linking it to their genetic information, the researchers found that some mitochondrial DNA genotypes are linked to rapid development of AIDS.

For example, subjects with specific sets of variations known as U5a1 and J haplogroups progressed to AIDS at twice the average rate of the studied population. On contrary, people with the H3 haplogroup progressed less than twice as slowly.

This supports existing theories that mitochondria are implicated in the progression of HIV/AIDS.

The virus kills immune cells by triggering cell suicide, which appears to happen more easily in cells with mitochondria that generate less energy.

“Having less energy available seems to exacerbate the effects of the disease,” said co-author Sher Hendrickson.

The U5a1 and J haplogroups seem to be responsible for this lack of energy.

Hendrickson said that this means mitochondrial DNA tests could one day give an accurate prognosis for people with HIV, although further work on other genetic and environmental influence factors would be necessary first. (ANI)


Source (http://www.freshnews.in/individual%E2%80%99s-dna-sets-time-clock-for-hiv-to-turn-into-aids-103737)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 12, 2008, 01:51:51 am
RNA Interference Can Facilitate Vaccine Development

Pharmaceutical companies and universities are racing to develop drugs that use the gene silencing mechanism known as RNA interference to treat a host of diseases. Now, a new study opens up an entirely new possibility for this powerful tool: Researchers at the University of Georgia have demonstrated for the first time that RNA interference can be used as a tool in the development of vaccines.

"Our data suggest that, at least in an animal model system, an RNAi prophylactic treatment can reduce infection and disease pathogenesis while also acting like a vaccine to engender immunity that protects against subsequent re-infection," said Ralph Tripp, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Vaccine Development at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine.

Tripp, whose results appear in the December issue of the Journal of Virology, co-authored the study with doctoral student Wenliang Zhang. Previous studies by Tripp and other researchers have shown that treating mice with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug can reduce the replication of respiratory syncytial virus and reduce the duration of illness. RSV is a common virus that causes flu-like symptoms in otherwise healthy adults but can be fatal in infants, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Work from the Tripp lab has already contributed to the testing of an RNAi therapeutic for RSV infection known as ALN-RSV01, which is undergoing phase II clinical trials initiated by Cambridge, Mass.-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In the latest study, Tripp explored how a related drug impacts the body's ability to respond to later infection.

The researchers treated mice with the siRNA drug, and, for control groups, treated mice with a non-specific siRNA or saline. In prophylactic treatments in which the mice were given the drug 12 hours before RSV infection, the siRNA drug reduced the viral load by up to 80 percent compared to both controls. The drug also prevented detectable disease in the mice.

Tripp pointed out that RSV replication was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, meaning that the viral load decreased in proportion to the amount of drug administered. He said it's possible to halt viral replication entirely with higher doses of the drug, but that his goal was to expose the immune system to enough of the virus so that it could mount a strong response upon future exposure.

In the next phase of the study, the researchers took mice that three weeks earlier were exposed to RSV after being prophylactically treated with either the drug or the controls and challenged them with the virus for a second time. The researchers found that levels of specific cells associated with the memory immune response were substantially increased in the experimental group versus the control groups, while the mice treated with the siRNA drug had virus concentrations that were more than 80 percent less than the control groups and recovered an average of two days faster.

"This is the first study of its kind to show the utility of using any siRNA to improve the immune system's memory response to an infectious agent," Tripp said. "We were able to reduce virus replication enough to prevent the development of disease but still induce immunity later on."

Between 75,000 to 125,000 children under age one are hospitalized with complications of RSV annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tripp notes that there is currently no effective vaccine for the virus. Unlike most viruses, the exact same strain of RSV can infect the same person repeatedly. Scientists are just now beginning to understand the many ways in which RSV evades the memory immune response, but Tripp's finding reveals that keeping RSV replication and protein expression at a low level prevents the virus from eluding the immune system.

Tripp said preliminary data also suggest siRNA drugs are likely to behave as effective vaccines for other common viral diseases, such as influenza and measles, and may help control outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

"Making siRNAs today is relatively simple because most disease-causing viruses have been sequenced or have closely-related cousins with conserved regions in their genes that can be targeted," Tripp said. "So you could prophylactically treat an animal, challenge it with the virus and see if you get reduced replication of the virus and whether that is sufficient to vaccinate against future challenge. Our data suggest that this is going to be a good strategy."

The research was supported by the Georgia Research Alliance



Source (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210171902.htm)

-----------

HIV DART 2008
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
December 9-12, 2008


Dropout Rate in Study of US Minority Women Near 25% at 24 Weeks (http://www.natap.org/2008/DART/DART_04.htm)

Almost one quarter of antiretroviral-experienced women enrolled in the GRACE trial of darunavir/ritonavir dropped out of the study by week 24, but usually not because of side effects and in only one case because of virologic failure. GRACE (Gender, Race, and Clinical Experience) aimed to enroll minority women in the United States and Puerto Rico and succeeded in recruiting a population that is nearly two thirds African American and nearly one quarter Hispanic. The dropout rate suggests the difficulties in treating a poor, often marginalized population, even in a wealthy country. (from Jules: and the diffiulty of completing a study in the patient population, particularly when there are so many more treatment options available today as compared to years ago without having to remain in a study).

...

Siliciano Proposes Novel Gauge of Antiretroviral Activity (http://www.natap.org/2008/DART/DART_03.htm)

A new way to rate antiretroviral activity ranks darunavir as the strongest current antiretroviral. Tied for second place are saquinavir and indinavir.
What's wrong with this picture? Nothing, according to Robert Siliciano of Johns Hopkins University. The first scientist to show that current antiretroviral combinations cannot eradicate the virus, Siliciano seems set to shake up the HIV field again with a new yardstick--instantaneous inhibitory potential (IIP)--to gauge activity of antiretrovirals.
Everyone would agree that darunavir, the highest-ranking drug in Siliciano's scheme, is a powerhouse antiretroviral. But saquinavir and indinavir? And the surprises don't end there. Integrase inhibitors like raltegravir are no stronger than nucleosides, according to IIP analysis. Nonnucleosides (NNRTIs) do a little better.
Siliciano spelled out the details at HIV DART 2008 [1] and in a recent Nature Medicine report. He argued that standard dose-response methods, like 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) or inhibitory quotient (drug concentration/IC50), have a severe limit: They're linear, while potent antiretroviral combinations have an exponential (logarithmic) impact in limiting viral replication. As a result, Siliciano proposed, you need a logarithmic scale to measure antiretroviral activity.

Hint of Higher Foot-Fracture Risk With Tenofovir-Containing Regimens (http://www.natap.org/2008/DART/DART_02.htm)

A retrospective case series from the Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles suggested a slightly higher risk of foot fracture among men taking tenofovir than among those not taking this antiretroviral [1]. Earlier research tied tenofovir to lower bone mineral density in adults and children [2-4]. But a bone substudy of the SMART treatment interruption trial did not isolate tenofovir as a risk factor for decreasing bone density [5]. In the Cedars-Sinai analysis, an array of contributing factors makes it impossible to discern the impact of tenofovir on foot fractures in these patients.
Collaborating with investigators from GlaxoSmithKline (the maker of competing products), the Cedars-Sinai team scrutinized medical records of all HIV-infected men in the Cedars-Sinai system with MRI-confirmed foot fractures. Among the 30 men with broken foot bones, 17 (57%) had taken a tenofovir-containing regimen before the fracture and 13 (43%) had not. Median time from starting tenofovir to foot fracture measured 2.57 years and ranged from 1.17 to 5.69 years.

...

Early Results With Antiretrovirals Plus Immunotoxins That Target Viral Reservoirs (http://www.natap.org/2008/DART/DART_01.htm)

Immunotoxins that target resting HIV-infected cells could prove a valuable adjunct to antiretroviral therapy, according to Edward Berger of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who discovered the CXCR4 coreceptor on CD4 cells [1]. Several years of immunotoxin research show that combining these agents with antiretrovirals prevents viral rebound after antiretroviral treatment stops in a mouse model of HIV infection. Immunotoxins alone kill cells chronically infected with HIV while largely sparing uninfected cells.
Berger outlined results on two immunotoxins. CD-PE40 is a recombinant single-chain chimeric protein containing the translocation and cytotoxic domains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A linked to a specific protein that binds to HIV-1 Env. This immunotoxin targets Env with soluble CD4. 3B3-PE38 is a similar construct, but it homes in on Env with a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) of the 3B3 monoclonal antibody.
CD4-PE40 killed chronically HIV-infected cells at a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of approximately 2 nM. 3B3-PE38 killed the cells much more efficiently, at an IC50 of 0.03 nM. Both immunotoxins limited viral spread in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in experiments using HIV-1 isolates of various strains, with 3B3-PE38 again flexing more antiviral muscle [2]. 3B3-PE38 also blocked spreading infection in primary macrophages. The immunotoxins had negligible activity against cells not infected by HIV.

...



-----------

Panacos Provides Update on Corporate Strategy

The Company is reducing its workforce, effective immediately, from 33 employees to 15. These actions are being taken to manage capital resources while Panacos pursues strategic alternatives, including the financing, partnering or sale of the Company or one of its several antiviral assets, including bevirimat (PA-457), the Company's first-in-class maturation inhibitor, which is currently in Phase 2b clinical studies in HIV-positive patients, the next-generation maturation inhibitor program (consisting of second- and third-generation compounds) and the oral fusion program (consisting of its lead compound, PA-161).

"Our talented and dedicated development team has worked so diligently on programs that continue to show great promise," stated Alan W. Dunton, MD, President and Chief Executive of Panacos. "However, we are faced with the reality that we must take drastic measures to reflect the current market environment. These actions are in line with our goal to secure partnerships or sale for our spectrum of HIV programs, including bevirimat, our second- and third-generation maturation inhibitors, as well as the oral fusion inhibitor program. Ultimately, everyone at Panacos is dedicated to ensuring HIV patients have access to these compounds, as there are limited choices for patients once their virus becomes resistant to the treatments that are currently available."

As of September 30, 2008, unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $26.9 million. Under the terms of the recently terminated loan agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTGC), Panacos paid Hercules approximately $17.9 million on Monday, November 24, 2008. As of December 8, 2008, unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled approximately $4.7 million. The Company is seeking additional sources of capital to continue operations.

Panacos' Development Programs

Panacos' lead compound, bevirimat (PA-457), is the first in the new class of HIV drugs under development called maturation inhibitors, discovered by Company scientists and their academic collaborators. Bevirimat is designed to have potent activity against a broad range of HIV strains, and studies have shown bevirimat is a potent inhibitor of HIV isolates that are resistant to currently approved drugs. Panacos has completed 15 clinical studies with bevirimat in nearly 650 patients and healthy volunteers, showing significant reductions in viral load in HIV-infected patients and a promising safety profile. It is currently in Phase 2b clinical studies. The Company previously determined the optimal dose range of bevirimat and identified patient response predictors to bevirimat, which now have been confirmed in multiple laboratory analyses and a prospective study. Panacos has recently developed a tablet formulation of bevirimat that demonstrates bioavailability and pharmacokinetics comparable to that of the previous solution formulation (Study 114). The Company has also completed a Phase 2b study of bevirimat (Study 204) that confirmed an optimal dose can be achieved with a twice daily dose of bevirimat tablets. Efficacy and additional safety data obtained from Study 204 support the Company's view that the 100mg bevirimat tablet formulation should be studied further in HIV patients.

In addition to bevirimat, the Company has second- and third-generation programs in HIV maturation inhibition that include compounds with activity against HIV containing Gag polymorphisms. Panacos has also selected a lead compound, PA-161, for preclinical development in its oral HIV fusion inhibitor program.



Source (http://www.panacos.com/press_detail.htm?1234875)

-----------

Increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases recorded in Philippines, official says

The registry shows that 59 new HIV cases were recorded in October, with 19% of the cases involving young people ages 15 to 24 and 27% involving people ages 25 to 29.

The Philippine's Department of Health has recorded an 84% increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases since it began monitoring in 1984, causing some officials to express concerns about the increasing prevalence of the disease in the country, the Manila Bulletin reports. Joel Atienza -- technical component manager at the health department for a Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Round 6 HIV/AIDS Project -- said that the number of cases recorded by the National AIDS Registry from January to October of this year is "alarming" because the "number is double than last year's increase." He added that it is "already near 100%."

According to the Bulletin, the registry shows that 59 new HIV cases were recorded in October, with 19% of the cases involving young people ages 15 to 24 and 27% involving people ages 25 to 29. Atienza said that most of the youth cases involved boys and men and that the "sudden increase" of new cases seen in October leads him to "[think] that the youth are really engaging in early sexual debut." However, he added that the increase could be "attributed to the youth's awareness on the services of the [health department] and they are accessing these health services." According to the Bulletin, about 12% of the total number of cases in last year's national registry involved young people. According to the Bulletin, 13 of the 59 cases affected men and all newly reported cases were transmitted sexually (Manongdo, Manila Bulletin, 12/10).


Source (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=56029)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 13, 2008, 10:17:57 am
DART

Darunavir vs Lopinavir at 96 Weeks in People With Naïve Advanced HIV - ARTEMIS Study (http://www.natap.org/2008/DART/DART_05.htm)

Antiretroviral-naive people starting treatment with once-daily darunavir/ritonavir had a significantly better 96-week virologic response than those starting once- or twice-daily lopinavir/ritonavir in the ARTEMIS trial. Response differences between darunavir and lopinavir were more marked among people who began treatment with a viral load above 100,000 copies or a CD4 count under 200. The findings extend recently published 48-week results.


Raltegravir Efficacy and Safety After 96 Weeks of Phase 2 Trial (http://www.natap.org/2008/DART/DART_06.htm)
 
Nearly half of heavily pretreated people who took the integrase inhibitor raltegravir for 96 weeks in the phase 2 protocol 005 had a viral load below 50 copies in a noncompleter-equals-failure analysis [1]. Nine of 94 people (9.6%) who continued raltegravir in the trial's open-label phase had a virologic rebound above 50 copies after week 48.


AIDSMAP


Adherence of 80-95% not good enough for long-term treatment success in British Columbia HIV patients (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B052C8E4-1FF7-4B32-BA95-CDECE58C1820.asp)

Adherence of less than 95% is associated with a substantially lower chance of a good response to treatment, even using relatively relaxed definitions of virologic and immune success, according to a new analysis reported in AIDS. The study, by investigators in British Columbia, also found that people who took less than 80% of their medication (people likely to be missing doses on a weekly basis) had only a 10 – 15% probability of achieving and maintaining a good response to treatment during the four-year follow-up period, while those taking between 80% and 95% of all doses had no more than a 41% probability of a good response to treatment.


MISC

Advanced liver disease in people with HIV (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2008icr/hiv9/docs/121208_b.html)

As HIV positive people live longer due to effective antiretroviral therapy, liver disease has become an increasingly important cause of illness and death in this population.


Merck announces FDA acceptance of supplemental new drug application for ISENTRESS in adult patients previously untreated for HIV-1 (http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/research_and_development/2008_1212.html)

ISENTRESS is approved for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced adult patients who have evidence of viral replication and HIV-1 strains resistant to multiple antiretroviral agents.


Strange prosecution may result in case of HIV status forgery (http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=4&id=25140)

A man who sought to have unprotected sex with a woman allegedly gave her a forged medical document stating he had tested negative for HIV. The man, who apparently knew he was HIV positive, now might face prison time.


Schering-Plough announces FDA approval of PEGINTRON and REBETOL combination therapy for treating pediatric hepatitis C (http://www.schering-plough.com/news/news_article.aspx?reqid=1235583)

First and only approved peginterferon in combination with ribavirin for previously untreated children with chronic hepatitis C addresses unmet medical need.


Report examines discrimination against, social exclusion of HIV-positive people in Eastern Europe, CIS region (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=56051)

The report examined exclusion in the health, education and employment fields from the perspectives of people living with HIV.


Pope discusses HIV, TB, malaria in annual peace address (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=56046)

The pope called for education for young people and increased access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria for low-income people.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 19, 2008, 03:15:10 pm
Critical new way a man can transmit the HIV virus to a woman discovered

Instead of infiltrating breaks in the skin, HIV appears to attack normal, healthy genital tissue, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday in a study that offers new insight into how the AIDS virus spreads.

Scientists had long believed that the normal lining of the female vaginal tract was an effective barrier to invasion of the HIV virus during sexual intercourse. They thought the large HIV virus couldn't penetrate the tissue.

But new research from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine has shown for the first time that the HIV virus does indeed penetrate a woman's normal, healthy genital tissue to a depth were it can gain access to its immune cell targets.

"This is an unexpected and important result," said Thomas Hope, principle investigator and professor of cell and molecular biology at the Feinberg School. "We have a new understanding of how HIV can invade the female vaginal tract."

"Until now, science has really had no idea about the details of how sexual transmission of HIV actually works," Hope added. "The mechanism was all very murky."

Full article (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081216133436.htm)


AIDS Nobel Laureate Joins Viral Genetics

Luc Montagnier, co-winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine and the co-discoverer of the HIV virus, has joined Viral Genetics (OTCBB: VRAL), a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies.

Montagnier joins a current team of esteemed advisors with diverse expertise to help guide Viral Genetics as it develops unique therapies for HIV and other diseases of the immune system.

Dr. Montagnier, Nobel Prize winner 2008 for his role in the discovery of HIV, said:

“While some preventive candidate vaccines failed to protect against HIV infection, and since there is no treatment able to cure the disease, it is important to come back to basic research and to explore new ways of research and treatment such as those explored by Viral Genetics. This is why I joined the Advisory Board of this Company.”

The purpose of the Viral Genetics Advisors is to provide independent wisdom and insight to assist Viral Genetics in the accomplishment of its medical and scientific objectives by providing advice that is consistent with best-in-class scientific and medical practices and principles. Based on new information from ongoing AIDS and Lyme disease studies being led by head of research Dr. M. Karen Newell, PhD, new components of the mechanism of TNP, the Company’s drug compound, have been identified. Viral Genetics continues to aggressively seek out the appropriate individuals in relevant fields to assist as the studies continue to move forward. These will include highly sought-after individuals in many diverse fields of research. The existing group and new advisors to be added have come together in an effort to spearhead Viral Genetics’ promising new model of targeted peptide therapies for AIDS and other immune disease as swiftly as possible.

Dr. M. Karen Newell, head of Viral Genetics’ latest research and discoverer of TNP’s mechanism stated, "We are looking forward to the guidance of Dr. Montagnier in our efforts. He will not only help us in our research efforts, but also to identify experts in the studies of immune response genes and HIV, protein and peptide chemistry, cell death and apoptosis, pharmaco-genomics and computational biology. We look to augment our existing scientific advisory team with expertises that will strengthen and accelerate our ability to return to clinical trials - armed with a new and improved model, a newly identified potential mechanism of action, and a biologic product with characteristics of a novel, therapeutic vaccine strategy than has ever been tried in the past."

Full article (http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/1022623.html)


HIV transmission rate in US has declined enormously

Fewer people with HIV transmitted the infection to others in 2006 than ever before, according to new figures released by US researchers and published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Investigators from Johns Hopkins University and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculated that in 2006 95% of people with HIV did not pass on the infection to someone who was HIV-negative. They further calculated that there has been a steady decline in the rate of HIV transmission since the 1980s. They attribute this to the success of HIV prevention initiatives, particularly increased HIV testing.

The investigators calculated the rate of HIV transmission as the number of people with HIV per 100 who infected an HIV-negative individual in a year. Recent revisions in the HIV incidence rate in the US prompted the researchers to look at the rate of HIV transmission between 1977 and 2006.

Full article (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/F9243C77-9C34-4ECC-B94A-A5299408E220.asp)


Oral sex risk very low, but not zero, concludes systematic review

The risk of HIV transmission during oral sex is very low, but not zero, conclude researchers from Imperial College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the December 2008 issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology. The researchers attempted to identify all the relevant observational studies on the topic, but found that given the lack of data, it would be inappropriate to make summary estimates for the transmission risk through oral sex.

The authors conducted a systematic review (an analysis of all the medical research on a particular subject that meets pre-defined requirements). Cohort studies and other observational studies were included, while case reports and reviews were excluded.

The studies reviewed include data from heterosexual, lesbian and gay couples, covering both fellatio and cunnilingus.

Full article (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/5B19F672-3D18-42DC-94EE-AD038F69E1B6.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 20, 2008, 01:58:32 pm

Natural Immune Response to HIV Not Sufficient to Prevent Secondary Superinfection

Researchers studying the phenomenon known as HIV superinfection have determined that the immune system's initial antibody response may not be sufficient to provide protection against later infection with a different HIV virus, a finding that may have significant implications for HIV vaccine development.

full story (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081219092048.htm)

Synthetic Molecules Prevent HIV Virus From Reproducing Within The Body, Study Suggests

Evolving HIV viral strains and the adverse side effects associated with long-term exposure to current treatments propel scientists to continue exploring alternative HIV treatments. In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has identified broad-spectrum aptamers. Aptamers are synthetic molecules that prevent the HIV virus from reproducing. In lab tests, aptamers known as RT5, RT6, RT47 and some variants of those were recently identified to be broad-spectrum, which would allow them to treat many subtypes of HIV-1.

full story (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081216114056.htm)

Charting HIV's Rapidly Changing Journey In The Body

HIV is so deadly largely because it evolves so rapidly. With a single virus as the origin of an infection, most patients will quickly come to harbor thousands of different versions of HIV, all a little bit different and all competing with one another to most efficiently infect that person's cells. Its rapid and unique evolution in every patient is what allows HIV to evade the body's defenses and gives the virus great skill at developing resistance to a pantheon of antiviral drugs.

full story (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081211200312.htm)

New Therapy For Hepatitis C Treatment

Combination therapies similar to those used for HIV patients may be the best way of treating hepatitis C virus (HCV), say researchers from the University of Leeds.
A study of a protein called p7, has revealed that differences in the genetic coding of the protein between virus strains - known as genotypes - alter the sensitivity of the virus to drugs that block its function.

full story (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081209052149.htm)


Researchers Successfully Used the 454 Sequencing System for Sensitive Detection of HIV Tropism

Life Sciences, a Roche company, announced today that a team of researchers from the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS and the University of British Columbia, Canada have used the Genome Sequencer FLX system to monitor low frequency HIV variants from human samples in a recent study. The preliminarily results of the study were presented by Dr. Richard Harrigan, the Centre’s Director of Research Labs at the HIV DART 2008 conference in Puerto Rico in a presentation entitled “Quantification of HIV Tropism by Deep Sequencing Shows a Broad Distribution of X4 Variants in Clinical Samples Associated with Virological Outcome.”

The background of this research study is that correct determination of “HIV tropism” is critical for the administration of a new class of drugs called CCR5 antagonists used for the treatment of AIDS. HIV tropism refers to the type of cell the HIV virus infects, as determined by so-called co-receptors that the virus employs for entry into the cell. Determining the co-receptor that a HIV strain uses, either CCR5, CXCR4 or a combination of both, is a critical component of monitoring and treating HIV.

full story (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/081218/20081218005317.html?.v=1)

Hospital admits a mistake when it told a man he has HIV

Video (http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=4226712&cl=11165969&src=news)


HIV couples will be allowed to marry

KUALA LUMPUR: All Muslim couples in the peninsula will have to undergo mandatory screening for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before they get married.

full story (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2432016/Article/indexpull_html)

Malaysia to impose mandatory pre-marital HIV/AIDS screening

Kuala Lumpur - Couples in Malaysia will be required to undergo mandatory screening for HIV infection before they can get married, a news report said Thursday.

full story (http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1449150.php/Malaysia_to_impose_mandatory_pre-marital_HIV_AIDS_screening_)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 10, 2009, 11:08:27 am
Interactions Between Drugs for Erectile Dysfunction and Other Medications

Anyone with a television probably knows that three prescription medications currently are used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED):

- sildenafil (VIAGRA)
- tadalafil (CIALIS)
- vardenafil (LEVITRA).

These drugs, which belong to the class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i), are widely used, especially in older men. And because older men are more likely to be concurrently taking other medications, they should be aware of the potential for dangerous interactions when ED drugs are mixed with other prescription drugs. This article deals only with these three approved prescription ED drugs, not the many untested ED products widely advertised on the Internet and elsewhere (see Tables 1, 2, and 3).

How do ED drugs interact?
Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil are drugs that cause the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilators) and this effect can be magnified when they are used with other medications with similar vasodilating effects. It is this vasodilating effect that increases blood flow to the penis causing an erection. Most ED drug interactions, however, result from the fact that these drugs are metabolized by the enzyme CYP3A4 in the intestine and liver. CYP3A4 is the most important enzyme for drug metabolism, and many medications can interact with ED drugs by decreasing or increasing CYP3A4 activity, causing ED drug levels to increase or decrease, respectively.

Interactions with vasodilators

People who take nitrates (drugs commonly used to dilate the blood vessels in the heart for patients with coronary artery disease, such as nitroglycerin), either on a regular schedule or as needed, should not use these ED drugs. A dangerous reduction in blood pressure may occur, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke, and so these drugs should not be used in combination. ED drugs also can enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects of alpha blockers such as doxazosin (CARDURA), prazosin (MINIPRESS), terazosin (HYTRIN), tamsulosin (FLOMAX) and alfuzosin (UROXATRAL). These drugs are used to treat both high blood pressure and enlarge prostate glands. If you are on an alpha blocker, consult your physician before taking an ED drug; he or she may recommend dosage adjustments or other precautions.

Interactions with drugs that decrease CYP3A4 activity
Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 can substantially increase plasma concentrations of ED drugs, potentially leading to toxicity. See Table 2 for a list of drugs that inhibit CYP3A4. If you are taking any of these drugs, check with your physician before taking an ED drug. Your physician may advise a dosage reduction of the ED drug, especially if you are taking a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor such as ketoconazole, itraconazole or ritonavir. Keep in mind that grapefruit juice is also a CYP3A4 inhibitor.

Interactions with drugs that increase CYP3A4 activity
Drugs that increase CYP3A4 activity (see Table 3) tend to reduce the effect of ED drugs. This is not dangerous, of course, but it may render the ED drug ineffective. If the increased CYP3A4 activity is marked — such as in patients taking the antibiotic rifampin, even the highest recommended dose of the ED drug may be ineffective. Again, if you are taking any of the medications in Table 3, talk to your physician before starting an ED drug so he or she will know that the effect of the ED drug may be compromised. (See Tables 1, 2 and 3 on Page 3.)

What You Can Do
Many medications have the potential to interact with ED drugs, so it is important to make sure that the physician prescribing the ED drug is aware of all the other medications you are taking. If you start or stop other medications after receiving a prescription for an ED drug, check to make sure your ED drug effect will not increase or decrease as a result.


Table 1: List of Drugs That May Cause Excessive Decreases in Blood Pressure When Taken with ED Drugs

Nitrates
Generic NameBrand Name
Isosorbide dinitrateDILATRATE-SR, ISORDIL, SORBITRATE
Isosorbide mononitrateIMDUR, ISMO, MONOKET
NitroglycerinMINITRAN, NITRO-BID, NITRO-DUR, NITROSTAT, TRANSDERM-NITRO

Alpha Blockers
Generic NameBrand Name
Doxazosin**CARDURA**
Prazosin*MINIPRESS*
Terazosin*HYTRIN*
Tamsulosin**FLOMAX**
Alfuzosin***UROXATRAL***


Table 2. Drugs That May Cause ED Drug Toxicity by Decreasing CYP3A4 Activity
Generic NameBrand Name
AmprenavirAGENERASE
AprepitantEMEND
AtazanavirREYATAZ
Clarithromycin**BIAXIN**
ConivaptanVAPRISOL
CyclosporineNEORAL, SANDIMMUNE
DarunavirPREZISTA
DasatinibSPRYCEL
DelavirdineRESCRIPTOR
Diltiazem**CARDIZEM, CARDIZEM CD, DILACOR XR, TIAZAC**
ErythromycinEES, ERYTHROCIN
FluconazoleDIFLUCAN
Fluvoxamine**LUVOX**
FosamprenavirLEXIVA
Grapefruit Juice-
ImatinibGLEEVEC
IndinavirCRIXIVAN
Itraconazole*SPORANOX*
KetoconazoleNIZORAL
LapatinibTYKERB
MifeprestoneMIFEPREX
Nefazodone*SERZONE*
NelfinavirVIRACEPT
PosaconazoleNOXAFIL
QuinupristinSYNERCID
RitonavirNORVIR
SaquinavirFORTOVASE, INVIRASE
Telithromycin*KETEK*
TroleandomycinTAO
VerapamilCALAN, CALAN SR, COVERA-HS, ISOPTIN, ISOPTIN SR, VERELAN
VoriconazoleVFEND
Zafirlukast*ACCOLATE*


Table 3. Drugs That May Inhibit the Effect of ED Drugs by Increasing CYP3A4 Activity
Generic NameBrand Name
AminoglutethimideCYTADREN
BosentanTRACLEER
CarbamazepineCARBATROL, TEGRETOL
DexamethasoneDECADRON, HEXADROL, MYMETHASONE
EfavirenzSUSTIVA
Modafinil*PROVIGIL*
NafcillinNALLPEN, UNIPEN
NevirapineVIRAMUNE
OxcarbazepineTRILEPTAL
Phenobarbital**LUMINAL, SOLFOTON**
PrimidoneMYSOLINE
PhenytoinDILANTIN
RifabutinMYCOBUTIN
RifampinRIFADIN, RIMACTANE
RifapentinePRIFTIN
St. John’s wort-

* Do Not Use in Worst Pills, Best Pills News
** Limited Use in Worst Pills, Best Pills News
*** Do Not Use Until 2010 in Worst Pills, Best Pills News

Source (http://www.worstpills.org/public/page.cfm?op_id=456)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 10, 2009, 11:22:45 am
NATAP News

Prospective study of physical fitness, adiposity, and inflammatory markers in healthy middle-aged men and women (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010709_01.htm)
In summary, changes in low-grade inflammation were positively associated with adiposity but not with fitness. Fit-overweight participants do, however, appear to have a lower risk of CVD than do their unfit counterparts. Because the excess risk of CVD events associated with obesity is partly explained by inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins, the antiinflammatory effects of exercise may partly contribute to a lower CVD risk in obesity.....

ICAAC: New CCR5 Drug PRO 140 Reduced Viral Load by 2 Logs With Single 10 mg Intravenous Dose;
5/5 patients with single 10 mg dose had >2 log reduction in viral load (http://natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_94.htm)

(http://natap.org/2008/images/010609/mg-3.gif)
(http://natap.org/2008/images/010609/vro-4.gif)
(http://natap.org/2008/images/010609/status-5.gif)
(http://natap.org/2008/images/010609/mean-7.gif)
(http://natap.org/2008/images/010609/RNA-8.gif)


Childhood Trauma and Neurological Development and Stress, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010609_01.htm)

We previously suggested that early adverse experience such as childhood abuse, neglect, and loss might be a predisposing factor that interferes with successful adaptation to stress, thereby conveying risk to develop CFS.7 This hypothesis was based on evidence from developmental neurosciences suggesting that stress early in life within a genetic window of vulnerability permanently programs the organism's responsiveness to subsequent stress throughout the lifespan. These long-term consequences of early-life stress occur through direct effects on brain circuits implicated in the mediation of cognitive-emotional regulation, vigilance, arousal, and the integration of endocrine, autonomic, and immune regulatory systems.8-10 Of note, similar changes in these circuits and regulatory outflow systems have been implicated in the pathophysiology of CFS.11-12 It is therefore conceivable that adverse experience in childhood is causally associated with developing CFS, particularly in response to challenge.

AIDS Denialism by South African Govt Leader Pres Mbeki Loses 330,000 Lives & 35,000 HIV+ Babies Born (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010509_05.htm)
More than 330,000 lives or approximately 2.2 million person-years were lost because a feasible and timely ARV treatment program was not implemented in South Africa. Thirty-five thousand babies were born with HIV, resulting in 1.6 million person-years lost by not implementing a mother-to-child transmission prophylaxis program using nevirapine. The total lost benefits of ARVs are at least 3.8 million person-years for the period 2000-2005.

The incidence of and risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia in an HIV-infected cohort in the HAART era (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010509_04.htm)
To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study of S. aureus bacteraemia to date in a US HIV-infected population. This study has several important findings. First, MRSA represented a large and growing proportion of S. aureus bacteraemias among our urban cohort of HIV-infected patients. Secondly, patients with MRSA bacteraemia were more likely to have low CD4 cell count, IDU exposure, and ESRD than were bacteraemia-free controls. Compared with patients with MSSA bacteraemia, those with MRSA bacteraemia were more likely to have ESRD and showed a trend towards a greater level of immunocompromise as measured by CD4 cell count."...."Initial antimicrobial therapy for presumed sepsis in HIV-infected patients may require agents active against MRSA, including vancomycin, linezolid and, in nonpulmonary infections, daptomycin, particularly in patients with risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia.

Long-term consequences of the delay between virologic failure of HAART and regimen modification (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010509_03.htm)
Among patients with a first HAART failure on a reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen, a 3-month delay until treatment modification was associated with an elevated hazard of mortality and immunologic failure (hazard ratio = 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08, 1.40; P = 0.002 for death and hazard ratio = 1.21; 95% CI 1.07, 1.36; P = 0.002 for immunologic failure) (Table 3). In comparison, among patients failing a protease inhibitor-based first HAART regimen, a 3-month delay until treatment modification slightly reduced the hazard of mortality (hazard ratio = 0.93; 95% CI 0.87, 0.99; P = 0.03 for death and hazard ratio = 0.98; 95% CI 0.94, 1.03; P = 0.45 for immunologic failure); however, this weak association should be interpreted cautiously given the multiple comparisons performed. These findings were reasonably consistent across cohorts and following second HAART failures

Minority Quasispecies of Drug-Resistant HIV-1 That Lead to Early Therapy Failure in Treatment-Naive and -Adherent Patients (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010509_02.htm)
By using AS-PCR (sensitive genotypic test) , we were able to show a rapid outgrow of minority quasispecies of drug-resistant viruses, undetected at baseline by conventional genotyping, that led to eVF despite excellent adherence and a potent standard regimen of lamivudine, tenofovir, and either efavirenz or nevirapine. Further studies to confirm the clinical benefit of the detection of minority quasispecies of drug-resistant viruses before starting ART in treatment-naive patients are warranted, especially in the context of ART regimens with low genetic barriers to resistance.

The Management of Treatment-Experienced HIV-Infected Patients: New Drugs and Drug Combinations (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010509_01.htm)
Recent availability of new antiretroviral agents for HIV treatment....has led to a revision of current treatment guidelines, which now state that the goal of antiretroviral therapy in all patients is suppression of the plasma HIV RNA level to <50 copies/mL.....it is critical that clinicians use the new agents carefully and that patients understand the importance of adherence. The DUET [4, 5], MOTIVATE [20], and BENCHMRK [12-14] studies suggest that an effective and durable regimen should include at least 2-and preferably 3-active agents. The years 2007 and 2008 will be viewed as a landmark in this history of HIV therapy, because for the first time, almost all patients with access to therapy can now achieve virological suppression. Whether this is the beginning of a new era or just a brief "honeymoon period" will depend on how we use these valuable new agents

Switching from suppressive protease inhibitor-based regimens to nevirapine-based regimens: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010209_03.htm)
...In our meta-analysis we observed that replacement of a PI by NVP had similar efficacy as continuation of PI-based therapy to maintain virological suppression. By intention-to-treat analysis, 81.2% of patients in the NVP group maintained viral suppression at the end of follow-up compared with 77.7% in the PI group. By on-treatment analysis, the figures were 91.1 and 88.5%, respectively. The efficacy of this strategy was similar to that reported for EFV substitution of PI-based therapy....
...The rate of hepatotoxicity leading to NVP discontinuation ranged in the literature from 12.5 to 21% in ARV-naive patients [32-34]. In most studies the risk was greater among persons with chronic viral hepatitis [32-33]. However, the risk of NVP discontinuation was lower in antiretroviral therapy-experienced patients than in ARV-naive patients in the EuroSIDA cohort, even in those with high CD4 cell counts [35]. A study conducted in India using generic NVP-based therapy in ARV-experienced men and women with elevated CD4 cell counts found no cases of severe hepatotoxicity [36]. It should be emphasized that patients on PIs were tolerating these drugs reasonably well, while the introduction of NVP runs the unavoidable risk of toxicity associated with this drug. Nevertheless, our meta-analysis showed no differences in the overall withdrawal rate between the two arms....

Lipoatrophy among HIV-infected patients is associated with higher levels of depression than lipohypertrophy (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/010209_02.htm)

In this study of 250 HIV-infected patients attending the clinic for routine visits we found a high prevalence of body morphology abnormalities: 82% of patients had at least some degree of lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy. Most abnormalities were mild, with 13% of patients reporting moderate-to-severe lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy. Mean depression scores were significantly higher among patients with lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy.....

Annual Zoledronate Increases Bone Density in Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy-Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/123008_06.htm)
"MANY cross-sectional studies have reported low bone mineral density (BMD) or higher than expected rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis in people infected with HIV"
"Participants received annual iv administration of 4 mg zoledronate or placebo. All participants took 400 mg/d calcium and 1.25 mg/month vitamin D. Zoledronate is a potent third-generation bisphosphonate."
"At the lumbar spine, BMD increased by 8.9% over 2 yr in the zoledronate group compared with an increase of 2.6% in the control group (P < 0.001). At the total hip, BMD increased by 3.8% over 2 yr in the zoledronate group compared with a decrease of 0.8% in the control group (P < 0.001). At the total body, BMD increased by 2.3% over 2 yr compared with a decrease of 0.5% in the control group (P < 0.001)."
"The current study provides evidence for the efficacy of zoledronate in the treatment of HIV-infected men who manifest significant bone loss. We found that zoledronate significantly increased BMD at the lumbar spine, hip, and total body in HIV-infected men treated with HAART, and that the between-group differences in BMD at all sites tended to increase throughout the study. Bone resorption decreased substantially by 3 months and remained stable thereafter. This is the first report of the effects on BMD of annual administration of the potent bisphosphonate, zoledronate, in men, in HIV-infected subjects, or with drug administration beyond 12 months."

Once A Year Zoledronate Bone Therapy Increased Bone Density & T-Scores (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/123008_05.htm)
HIV-associated osteopenia and osteoporosis is common with reported prevalence rates of 51-67% in various cohorts [4,5] and can result in significant morbidity [6]. Simplified regimens for HIV-associated osteopenia and osteoporosis could help to ensure compliance to all medications, as they must be taken concurrently with antiretroviral therapy......we have confirmed that annual dosing of zoledronate treats osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected men. As in other populations, this therapy probably acts by reducing bone resorption as shown by biomarkers. Zoledronate was well tolerated by our study cohort except for one episode of uveitis. Its combination of good tolerability, low medication burden, and effectiveness make zoledronate an excellent candidate to treat a common complication of chronic therapy for a life-threatening disease.....At 12-months patients receiving zoledronate increased their bone density at the lumbar spine by 3.7 ± 4.1% (mean ± SD) compared with patients receiving placebo (0.7 ± 3.1%, P = 0.04). Likewise, bone density at the hip increased at 12 months by 3.2 ± 2.2% in zoledronate recipients compared with controls (-1.8 ± 9.3%) (P = 0.016). T-scores also significantly increased at both the lumbar spine and hip over the 12-month study period in the zoledronate group compared with placebo (Fig. 1a and b). Bone density improvements in the lumbar spine peaked at 6 months among zoledronate recipients, but continued to improve over 12 months at the hip.....

Thyroid Dysfunction & Bone Disease in HIV & HCV; Thyroid Testing Recommended by UK Group (http://natap.org/2008/HIV/123008_04.htm)
(http://natap.org/2008/images/010509/cohort-1.gif)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 15, 2009, 04:21:21 pm
NATAP News

CDC Updates New HIV Cases Surveillance Estimates: "the disease continues to affect the MSM population more than any other in the United States" (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011409_02.htm)
The distribution of new HIV infections in 2006 demonstrates that, more than 25 years after the first report of AIDS, the disease continues to affect the MSM population more than any other in the United States.....the age distribution of persons with new infections suggests important differences by race and ethnicity. Among black and Hispanic MSM, most new infections were in persons aged 13-29, whereas, among white MSM, most new infections were in persons aged 30-39 years.....new infections of HIV occurred disproportionately among blacks and Hispanics.2 The results in this report indicate further that the disparity between racial/ethnic minorities and whites is greatest among females......comprehensive surveillance systems are essential for HIV incidence estimation. All states are now implementing confidential, name-based HIV surveillance, and national data on HIV diagnoses and incidence likely will continue to improve.....CDC supports state and local health departments and community-based organizations to promote effective HIV prevention interventions that target those persons at greatest risk for HIV infection.

C-Reactive Protein and Reclassification of Cardiovascular Risk in the Framingham Heart Study (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011409_01.htm)
Circulating levels of CRP help to estimate risk for initial cardiovascular events and may be used most effectively in persons at intermediate risk for vascular events, offering moderate improvement in reclassification of risk.

Researchers Identify IL-7 New Regulatory Circuit Controlling Immune Cell Production in Mice (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011309_04.htm)
To investigate the role of IL-7 in CD4+ T cell homeostasis, the researchers injected T cells labeled with a marker into mice depleted of lymphocytes, and, in a subset of these mice, they also administered laboratory-produced IL-7 to further increase the level of IL-7 in the blood. Using flow cytometry, a laboratory technique that allows researchers to measure the concentrations of different types of cells, they found that, within seven days, most of the CD8+ T cells had divided, but the proliferation of CD4+ T cells was minimal.
Dendritic cells are a specialized type of white blood cells that can potently induce T cell activation, and some of these cells contain cell surface proteins that act as receptors for IL-7. Mackall's team also found that interruption of IL-7-induced signaling in these dendritic cells led to an increase in CD4+ T cell proliferation. Cell signaling is a biochemical pathway that regulates cellular functions, such as proliferation or survival. The researchers say that this finding identifies a new regulatory circuit that prevents uncontrolled CD4+ T cell proliferation in mice.

Prolonged Nevirapine Use In Breast-Fed Babies Prevents HIV, Increased Resistance Risk (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011309_03.htm)
Investigators analyzed samples from 74 Indian babies infected with HIV; 22 were infected before birth, 19 during birth or during early breast-feeding (three to six weeks after birth), and 33 during late breast-feeding (around six months after birth). Of the 19 infants infected through breast-feeding in the first six weeks of life, four were given daily nevirapine for six weeks, and 15 received a single dose at birth. All four babies on extended nevirapine developed resistant strains of the virus, while only four of the 15 given a single dose tested positive for resistant strains after infection.
 
Factors Associated with Acquisition and Clearance of Human Papillomavirus Infection in a Cohort of US Men: A Prospective Study (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011309_02.htm)
Lifetime number of sex partners reported at enrollment was the most significant risk factor for acquisition of all types of HPV. Men reporting >16 lifetime sex partners were at significantly elevated risk of any HPV infection (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 2.8 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1-7.1]), oncogenic HPV infection (AHR, 9.6 [95% CI, 2.4-37.8]), and nononcogenic HPV infection (AHR, 3.6 [95% CI, 1.3-9.9]), compared with those reporting 0-4 partners. Circumcised men were 3 and 6 times more likely to clear infection with any and oncogenic HPV types, respectively. In addition, having had >16 lifetime sex partners was associated with greater likelihood of clearance of oncogenic HPV infection (AHR, 4.9 [95% CI, 1.2-19.8])

Our results suggest that HIV-1 infection induces an accelerated aging of T lymphocytes, which is associated with the clinical progression to AIDS and death (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011309_01.htm)
HIV-1 disease progression is associated with a decreased CD28 median florescence intensity on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells; an increased proportion of intermediate- and late-differentiated CD8+ T cells and a decreased CD31 median florescence intensity on naive CD4+ T cells of recent thymic origin. A selective depletion of peripherally expanded naive CD4+ T cells was found to be associated with HIV-1 infection but not with HIV-1 disease progression.
Conclusions:The overall change during HIV-1 infection and progression is associated with a shift in the T-cell population toward an aged conformation, which may be further compromised by impaired renewal of the less-differentiated CD4+ T-cell population. Our results suggest that HIV-1 infection induces an accelerated aging of T lymphocytes, which is associated with the clinical progression to AIDS and death.
 
Insulin Resistance (25%) Is Associated With Advanced Liver Fibrosis and High Body Mass Index in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_07.htm)
Approximately a quarter of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who underwent a liver biopsy to assess their suitability for anti-HCV therapy had IR. We also found that IR was associated with advanced liver fibrosis and a high BMI.

Cardiovascular Complications in HIV Management: Past, Present, and Future [Critical Review: Clinical Science] (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_06.htm)
Patients infected with HIV share traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors with the general population. In addition, HIV infection itself significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Control of viremia with potent and durable regimens can help reduce overall risk. Thus, effective suppression of viral replication and management of traditional risk factors (eg, lipids, blood pressure, smoking) with conventional methods provide the best approach to lowering total cardiovascular risk in patients with HIV infection. Although there is evidence that HAART may have negative effects on the serum lipid profile, these are modest, and the incremental cardiovascular risk associated with HAART is small and may be managed with treatments (eg, statins, fibrates, ezetimibe) commonly used in the general population. Switching antiretroviral agents may not resolve lipid abnormalities and should be cautiously considered, weighing the small but potential risk of virologic failure. A determination of the absolute risk of coronary heart disease in individual patients with the use of Framingham score calculations or other global risk calculators can provide valuable guidance for patient management and treatment planning.

Predictive Factors for Long-Term Non-Progressors (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_05.htm)
Background: To clarify early correlates and natural history of HIV long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) since HIV diagnosis.
Methods: Patients enrolled in the French ANRS SEROCO/HEMOCO cohort with CD4 count >500 cells/mm3 at HIV diagnosis. LTNP status was defined as being asymptomatic, antiretroviral free, and with CD4 cell count >500 cells/mm3 for >8 years after HIV diagnosis. In LTNPs, we modeled the biological markers' progression through a joint model. Factors associated with loss of LTNP status were identified through a Cox model.
Results: Sixty (9%) of 664 patients were identified as LTNPs during follow-up. At enrollment, HIV RNA was ?2.6 log copies/mL in 24% of LTNPs and HIV DNA was ?1.85 log copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 31% vs. 3% and 8% in others. In LTNPs, HIV RNA and HIV DNA levels increased by 0.04 log copies/mL per year and 0.07 log copies/106 PBMCs per year during the first 8 years after diagnosis. LTNP status was lost in 36 subjects; baseline HIV DNA >1.85 log copies/106 PBMCs and high HIV DNA increase were associated with an increased risk of losing LTNP status [adjusted hazard ratio: 2.8 (1.2-6.8) and 2.2 (1.0-4.8), respectively].
Conclusions: LTNP status is established in the first years of HIV infection, low HIV DNA level at enrollment and slow increase of HIV DNA being associated with maintained LTNP status.

Racial Disparities in HIV Virologic Failure: Do Missed Visits Matter? (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_04.htm)
HIV clinic appointment adherence was worse in African Americans. Furthermore, appointment nonadherence was associated with failure to receive ARV medications and failure to achieve an undetectable HIV VL (<50 copies/mL) among patients receiving treatment. Finally, our study identifies a role of missed visits in contributing to racial disparities in virologic failure observed in African Americans. Although other factors are certainly at play on the pathway mediating racial/ethnic HIV disparities, appointment nonadherence seems to play an important role. This study highlights the need to move beyond descriptive studies of health care disparities to identify pathways that may inform interventions to address and overcome inequities for those that bear a disproportionate burden of the US HIV epidemic.

The Absence of CD4+ T Cell Count Recovery Despite Receipt of Virologically Suppressive Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: Clinical Risk, Immunological Gaps, and Therapeutic Options (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_03.htm)
p to 30% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients who are receiving long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy do not exhibit a marked increase in the CD4+ T cell count, despite achieving complete suppression of the HIV load. These patients are referred to as "immunological nonresponders." When treating immunological nonresponders, the practicing clinician has several questions, including questions about the clinical risk associated with persistent immunodeficiency and about possible approaches to treatment that would provide clinical and immunological benefits. However, tentative answers to these questions require investigations of the mechanisms that underlie the lack of immune recovery, because only the deepest comprehension of the immunological gaps underlying functional defects will allow administration of highly targeted and efficacious treatment strategies. The aim of our review is to provide a thorough assessment of the clinical implications of a lack of increase in the CD4+ T cell count in immunological nonresponders, to examine the immunological gaps limiting recovery of the CD4+ T cell count, and to note possible therapeutic avenues, which may offer clinicians guidance regarding how to most efficaciously treat these critical patients.

Incomplete Reconstitution of T Cell Subsets on Combination Antiretroviral Therapy in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 384 (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_02.htm)
Patients in the lower baseline CD4+ strata did not achieve total CD4+ cell counts similar to those of patients in the higher strata during 144 weeks of ART, although CD4+ cell count increases were similar. Ratios of CD4+ naive-memory cell counts and CD4+:CD8+ cell counts remained significantly reduced in patients with lower baseline CD4+ cell counts (<350 cells/mm3). These immune imbalances were most notable for those initiating ART with a baseline CD4+ cell count <200 cells/mm3, even after adjustment for baseline plasma HIV RNA levels.
Conclusions. After nearly 3 years of ART, T cell subsets in patients with baseline CD4+ cell counts >350 cells/mm3 achieved or approached the reference range those of control individuals without HIV infection. In contrast, patients who began ART with 350 CD4+ cells/mm3 generally did not regain normal CD4+ naive-memory cell ratios. These results support current guidelines to start ART at a threshold of 350 cells/mm3 and suggest that there may be immunological benefits associated with initiating therapy at even higher CD4+ cell counts.

CD4+ T Cell Recovery with Antiretroviral Therapy: More Than the Sum of the Parts, EDITORIAL COMMENTARY (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011209_01.htm)
Although most HAART-treated patients may eventually achieve an optimal CD4+ T cell count outcome, an important but poorly defined subset fail to achieve this result or do so only after many years of HAART. Those patients whose CD4+ T cell counts remain low during therapy have an increased risk of a number of complications, including those due to AIDS, as well as those not traditionally thought to be HIV related (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease). The longer someone's CD4+ T cell count remains low, the higher the risk of these events. Those patients who initiate HAART with a low CD4+ T cell nadir have the highest risk of failure to achieve an optimal immunological outcome. These observations raise several important questions that investigators are now just starting to address. For example, why does HAART fail to restore normal CD4+ T cell counts in some patients? Also, why does a low CD4+ T cell count during HAART result in persistently high risk of significant morbidity, even after viral suppression has been achieved?

Increased Melanoma Rates in USA Are Real and Aging/HIV (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/010909_01.htm)
In 2004, 7046 new cases of malignant melanoma were reported in the 13 SEER registry areas of the United States. The vast majority of cases occurred among non-Hispanic whites (N=6569, 93%), whereas 3% occurred in Hispanic whites, 1% in Asians and Pacific islanders, and less than 1% in blacks and American Indians, respectively. Melanoma affected both sexes with a male: female ratio of 3:2. Data on tumor thickness were available for 85% of cancer patients; of these, most were less than or equal to <1 mm (69%) with other thickness distributions as follows: 17% 1.01-2 mm, 9% 2.01-4 mm and 5% >4 mm.


Science Daily News


Potential New Weapon In Battle Against HIV Infection Identified (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112110050.htm)
Researchers have discovered a potentially important new resistance factor in the battle against HIV: blood types. An international team of researchers from Canadian Blood Services, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Lund University in Sweden have discovered that certain blood types are more predisposed to contracting HIV, while others are more effective at fending it off.


Defensive Protein Killed Ancient Primate Retroviruses, Research Suggests (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081227223102.htm)
Retroviruses are the worst sort of guest. Over eons, these molecular parasites have insinuated themselves into their hosts’ DNA and caused a ruckus. The poor hosts can’t even be rid of the intruders by killing them, because they stubbornly remain after death.


Aidsmap News

Immune system defects persist in people who start treatment late (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/55BA208B-C6E3-4425-8760-8C4F9C6E16AA.asp)
People who started treatment with a CD4 count below 350 in a major international clinical trial were left with the immune system profile of people in advanced old age even though they appeared to have good responses to treatment, according to a report in the February 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The findings suggest that additional immunotherapies may eventually be needed to achieve a full restoration of immune health in people taking antiretroviral therapy.
As people age, their immune systems begin to decline, losing the ability to respond to new pathogens, and the CD4:CD8 cell ratio falls, indicating that regardless of the absolute CD4 cell count, the immune system's ability is weakened.


Eureka Alert News

Mutant host cell protein sequesters critical HIV-1 element (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/cp-mhc010909.php)
Scientists have identified a new way to inhibit a molecule that is critical for HIV pathogenesis. The research, published by Cell Press in the January 16th issue of the journal Molecular Cell, presents a target for development of antiretroviral therapeutics that are likely to complement existing therapies and provide additional protection from HIV and AIDS.

Indiaedu News

New hope for HIV, blood cancer patients (http://indiaedunews.net/Medical/New_hope_for_HIV,_blood_cancer_patients_7170/)
A Canadian scientist has discovered a mechanism that stops regeneration of white blood cells that play a vital role in keeping up the body's immune system.

Medicalnewstoday News

European Commission Asks HHS To Stop Requiring Foreign Visitors To Report HIV Status To U.S. Immigration Authorities (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/135527.php)
The European Commission on Tuesday called on HHS to drop a requirement that visitors inform U.S. authorities whether they have HIV, Agence France-Presse reports (Agence France-Presse, 1/13). A law that made foreigners living with HIV/AIDS inadmissible in the U.S. was repealed when President Bush signed legislation reauthorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in July 2008. HHS in 1987 placed HIV on a list of diseases barring entry into the U.S. Although that prohibition is separate from the congressionally imposed travel restrictions eased in the PEPFAR bill, federal health officials no longer were bound by law to keep HIV on the list with the signing of the PEPFAR bill. HHS in September 2008 said that it was in the process of removing HIV from the list


Other News

Aethlon Medical Nears Completion of "first-in-man" study of medical device to Treat HIV/AIDS - Quick Facts (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx?Id=825501)
Aethlon Medical, Inc. (AEMD.OB:  News ) announced that it is nearing completion of the "first-in-man" study of a medical device to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, the disease that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS.
In the study, an HIV-infected individual recently initiated treatment with the Aethlon Hemopurifier as part of a 30-day case study being conducted at the Jattinder Gambhir Hospital in Punjab, India.
The Hemopurifier is a therapeutic filtration device that serves as an artificial adjunct to the immune system.
The study goal is to demonstrate that the Hemopurifier can safely and effectively reduce viral load and trigger replenishment of CD4 immune cells in the absence of drug therapy.
The study protocol, which calls for the administration of up to twelve Hemopurifier treatments, is scheduled to be completed on January 23.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 18, 2009, 04:02:54 pm
NIH News

Intracranial hemorrhage and liver-associated deaths associated with tipranavir/ritonavir: review of cases from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System. (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Medical-Letter-on-the-CDC-and-FDA/2009-01-25/29012520096DC.html)
Tipranavir (TPV), a protease inhibitor, has box warnings for intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and hepatotoxicity (including hepatic failure and death). A box warning is a labeling statement about serious adverse events leading to significant injury and/or death. A box warning is the most serious warning placed in the labeling of a prescription medication. As a result of the respective morbidity and mortality associated with ICH and hepatic failure, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) was searched for reports of these adverse events in HIV-infected patients receiving a tipranavir/ritonavir (TPV/r)-based regimen. This search comprised part of the FDA's safety analysis for traditional approval. From July 2006 to March 2007, 10 cases of ICH were identified in AERS. From June 2005 to March 2007, 12 cases of liver-associated deaths were identified. One patient experienced liver failure and fatal ICH. Most patients with these events had additional risk factors. Among patients with liver-associated deaths, 3 had HIV-RNA less than 400 copies per milliliter at the time of hepatic failure. Among 10 patients who discontinued TPV/r when hepatic failure developed, median number of days post-TPV/r to death was 23 (range, 2-69 days). Review of AERS did not identify new safety concerns regarding ICH. Among most patients with liver-associated deaths, death appears to occur soon after hepatic failure develops. If considering TPV/r, careful assessment of risk/benefit is suggested for patients at risk for ICH and hepatic failure.


The Hindu News

A stem cell treatment 'against AIDS' (http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/099200901181421.htm)
London (PTI): Scientists claim to have achieved a major breakthrough in the fight against AIDS with a new stem cell treatment which "protects the immune system from HIV that causes the disease".
According to them, the pioneering technique involves isolating three genes which curb the spread of HIV inside the body, introducing them into human stem cells in a lab and then transplanting the stem cells into a patient's bone marrow.
"What we are doing is genetically modifying a fraction of the patient's stem cells with genes that target three diffe -rent aspects of HIV that allow it to get in the immune cells and replicate.
"When those stem cells are transplanted into patients, they create mature immune cells that circulate in the patient and protect against HIV," 'The Daily Telegraph' quoted David DiGiusto of City of Hope Medical Centre in California, where the research was carried out, as saying.
In the first human trial, the scientists transplanted anti-HIV stem cells into five AIDS patients undergoing bone- marrow replacement as part of treatment for a form of cancer known as lymphoma.
Preliminary results showed that small quantities of the transplanted stem cells were able to grow and produce new white blood cells resistant to HIV resulting in an improvement in the patients' conditions.
Now, they are planning further research to establish whether the treatment could even rid patients of HIV infection altogether.
"It is still an experimental treatment at the moment, but we hope that eventually we will be able to give AIDS pati- ents one transplant and that would then protect them for life.
We have data to show that the resistant cells are persisting in our lymphoma patients," DiGiusto said.

Metroeireann News

China criticised over HIV/drug treatment approaches (http://www.metroeireann.com/article/china-criticised-over-hivdrug,1498)
CHINA’S police and public security forces are driving drug users away from community-based prevention services and denying them access to HIV treatment, Human Rights Watch said in a report released last week.
Although China has received increasing praise for its aggressive response to the HIV/Aids epidemic in recent years, Human Rights Watch was sharply critical of its treatment of drug users.
Joe Amon, HIV/Aids programme director at Human Rights Watch, commented: “The government has expanded prevention and treatment programmes for drug users, but at the same time, the police are detaining drug users trying to access these services, and putting drug users in so-called ‘drug rehabilitation centres’ where they are provided no drug dependency treatment and no HIV prevention or treatment services.”
According to official government reports, China has three to six million drug users, and nearly half of all recent HIV transmission has been associated with drug use.
Since 2000, the Chinese government has set up more than 500 methadone treatment clinics, with the capacity to treat 100,000 drug users. Simultaneously, however, it has increasingly put drug users in mandatory rehabilitation centres, which provide no effective drug dependency treatment.
As of 2007, approximately 700 mandatory drug detoxification and 165 “re-education through labour” (RTL) centres housed at least 340,000 drug users in China. Sentences to such facilities typically range from one to three years.
Human Rights Watch found that the detoxification and RTL centres subjected drug users to abusive, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and not only failed to provide HIV prevention and treatment to drug users, but also facilitated its spread.
“The Chinese government claims that drug users are sent to these facilities for drug dependency treatment,” Amon said. “But instead of treatment they are put in overcrowded cells, denied medical care, beaten, and forced to do menial work. On top of it all, their families are forced to pay for the ‘therapy’ they receive.”
The report called on the Chinese government to close mandatory detoxification and RTL centres housing drug users and to expand voluntary community-based drug treatment and HIV prevention efforts.
Human Rights Watch also urged the United Nations agencies and international donors to support efforts to reform Chinese anti-narcotics laws and regulations, and to advocate for the rights to freedom of expression, information, assembly, and association for people living with HIV/AIDS and organisations acting on their behalf.
China has repeatedly detained and intimidated Aids activists trying to promote treatment and prevention efforts and speak out about government HIV policies.
In China, illicit drug use is an administrative offence, and Chinese law dictates that drug users “must be rehabilitated”. Chinese law requires that all patients in compulsory rehabilitation centres be provided with “medical and psychological treatment, legal education, and moral education.”
In 2007, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a new drug law, put into effect in June 2008, which substantially restructures the detention system for individuals detained for administrative drug offences, but has significant ambiguities.
While eliminating the use of RTL centres to detain drug users, it allows up to six years of confinement for a single drug offence, with one to three years in “compulsory isolation detoxification” followed by up to three years of “community rehabilitation”.

NATAP News

Interim analysis of a double- blind, placebo-controlled study with TMC207 in patients with Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis: effective and safe (http://natap.org/2008/ICAAC/ICAAC_95.htm)

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Earth Times News

Thai officials account for 3 per cent of HIV/AIDS patients (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/251186,thai-officials-account-for-3-per-cent-of-hivaids-patients.html)
Bangkok - Government officials accounted for 3 per cent of HIV/AIDS patients to receive treatment in Thailand over the past 24 years, health officials revealed Sunday. Public Health spokesman Suphan Srithamma said that since HIV/AIDS was first detected in the country in 1984, there were 337,989 accumulated patients at government hospitals of whom 92,111 had died, reported the Bangkok Post online news service.
He added that of the patients who received treatment for HIV/AIDS symptoms, some 10,728 were government officials, of whom 9,043 were men and 61 per cent were married.
According to a Public Health Ministry report on the 24-year history of HIV/AIDS in Thailand, the virus has infected up to 1.2 million people over the years, with the ratio of male to female victims close to two to one.
It is believed that more than half of the infected population have died although they may not have been diagnosed for HIV/AIDS or failed to receive treatment.

Mcot News

Thailand's 'People with AIDS' tally rises to 1.2 million (http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=8207)
BANGKOK, Jan 18 (TNA) -- The lack of proper knowledge and discipline, especially among men and women buying sex services, including a significant number of Thai government civil servants, has contributed to the total number of patients contracting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Thailand to rise significantly to about 1.2 million, according to a spokesman of the Ministry of Public Health.
Dr. Supan Srithamma said the Ministry's Disease Control Department believed that from 1984 through September 2008 some 1.2 million Thais of all ages and social conditions contracted the HIV-AIDS virus, including 92,111 who eventually died.
Of the total number of people-with-AIDS (PWA) during the period, more than ten thousand were government officials -- 10,278 , or 9,043 men and 1,235 women -- who suffered from the disease due to unsafe sex, Dr. Supan said, with 2,448 having died.
To reduce the number of the new infections, the Disease Control Department during the 2009 fiscal year ending September 30, will distribute 20 million condoms at-risk groups.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 20, 2009, 03:53:43 pm
Unprotected sex between long-term partners with HIV: no evidence for superinfection

A study of long-term HIV-positive partners who do not use condoms when they have sex with each other has found no evidence of HIV superinfection, and instead a clear relationship between long-term frequent exposure to their partner’s virus and a strong immune response to that virus, suggesting that repeated exposures eventually build immunity against superinfection.

The findings, published in the October 2008 edition of PLoS Pathogens, a free access online journal, are important, say the University of California researchers, because of the growing practice of `serosorting` - unprotected sex between people of the same HIV status.

Current guidance for people with HIV from many sources is that unprotected sex poses a risk of superinfection – infection with a new strain of HIV that over-runs the existing virus population due to lack of immunity to that virus.

However there is limited evidence about the frequency of superinfection and little evidence that it has harmful effects even when it takes place.

Superinfection seems to happen not only in people who have been recently infected with HIV, but also in those with longstanding HIV infection. A recently reported study in Kenyan women estimated an annual incidence of superinfection of at least 4%, but no evidence of disease progression as a consequence of superinfection. A study in gay men reported an incidence of 5% per year.

Although superinfection has been associated with CD4 cell declines, and a handful of cases of transmitted drug resistance, it does not appear to have a widespread compromising effect on either the health or treatment outcomes of people with HIV.

There is much stronger evidence that unprotected sex with other HIV-infected people is harmful for people with HIV where it involves the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections – especially syphilis – or to hepatitis C, both of which have been on the rise among men who have sex with men in Europe and North America.

The study
Researchers from the University of California and San Francisco General Hospital examined HIV-specific T-cell responses in 49 individuals with undetectable viral load on antiretroviral therapy from a prospective cohort of HIV-positive couples receiving treatment through the Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital.

Individuals were divided into two groups: those with partners who had undetectable viral load (n=29), and those with partners who had detectable viral load (n=20). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of relationship length, time on treatment, age, duration of infection or CD4 cell count.

Analysing T-cell HIV-specific interferon-gamma responses to various HIV epitopes (portions of viral protein that elicit an antibody response from the host), they found that significantly stronger responses to protease, reverse transcriptase and integrase peptides were detectable in those with viremic partners, with the strength of responses in this group strongly correlated with a greater frequency of unprotected sex and in particular with the frequency of receptive exposure to HIV (being the passive partner in intercourse). There was no correlation with the number of events of insertive intercourse.

There was evidence from two patients in this group whose partners started antiretroviral therapy of a subsequent decline in HIV-specific responses over the course of a year, suggesting that the control of viral load led to a loss of immune stimulus.

There was no evidence of superinfection, as measured by phylogenetic analysis of HIV DNA from patients and HIV RNA from partners.

However the authors speculate that, in order for HIV-specific immunity to be induced, a degree of superinfection must have taken place, but that it is probably confined to the mucosal surface of the body – most likely the rectum and the gut.

This phenomenon is similar to the pattern seen in exposed but uninfected sex workers, who appear to lose HIV-specific immunity if they have unprotected sex less frequently. A study in Nairobi sex workers found that women who took a break from sex work and lost HIV-specific CD8 cell responses were more likely to seroconvert subsequently, suggesting that localised mucosal infection ceased to be contained (although the study could not rule out renewed sexual exposure).

These findings suggest that even where an individual has drug-resistant virus and a detectable viral load, the risks of superinfecting an HIV-positive partner with that drug-resistant virus are low even if that partner is receptive.

The findings provide no information about what happens if an individual with HIV has receptive intercourse with many different partners with HIV, but the study’s lead author Chris Willberg, now of the Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Oxford, told aidsmap: “We would speculate that it is regular exposure to the same epitopes that is required to stimulate the responses. What we did not explore is the ability for new [epitope] responses to be developed through exposure.”

Would women exhibit the same responses if exposed to HIV from a viremic partner?

“The most logical explanation for the maintained responses that we observed is that they were driven by receptive exposure to HIV antigen derived from the viremic partner,” Chris Willberg commented. “Therefore, we would expect to see the same results in women also receptively exposed to viremic partners. If the mechanisms responsible for driving the responses in this study are the same as those that drive responses in exposed uninfected individuals, then there is plenty of evidence to suggest women would respond in a similar manner.”

Reference
Willberg CB et al. Immunity to HIV-1 is influenced by continued natural exposure to exogenous virus. PLoS Pathogens 4 (10): e1000185, 2008.

Source (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/29AD410B-DD10-43B7-A8AE-D86B1EE79E63.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 20, 2009, 03:58:18 pm
Viral and host factors important in acute HIV infection

Two European case studies have provided insight into how viral and host factors determine the severity of primary HIV infection and early response to treatment.
While the study of virus–host interactions is in its infancy and many questions remain, the reports in the journals Clinical Infectious Diseases and AIDS support the growing evidence that HLA type may play a role in determining host response. HIV disease progression depends on many factors—some related to the virus and some related to the host. Knowing more about these factors could have many implications, from tailoring antiretroviral treatment to identifying potential targets for prevention efforts.

However, it has been difficult to tease apart the multitude of factors involved. In clinical case studies of real-life situations, two research groups from Europe have identified at least some of the viral and host factors acting during primary HIV infection. Severe acute HIV infection In an article in the January 15th edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Spanish investigators report two cases of severe HIV infection progressing directly to AIDS while the patients had immunological markers of acute infection.

Investigators were also able to identify the sexual partner who was the source of HIV infection in one of the cases. HIV isolated from all patients produced signs of aggressive infection in test tube assays. The virus replicated very efficiently and was able to infect cells expressing CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptors. CXCR4-infecting virus has been linked to advanced HIV disease.
What’s more, the virus isolated in case 2 was subtype CRF02-AG, which is rare in Spain but common in West Africa and western Central Africa. The investigators write that its presence in this severe case “raises concerns about its superior replication fitness and/or transmission efficiency.”

Investigators then analysed the patients for factors that may have made them more susceptible to rapid disease progression. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I is a group of proteins that play a role in the immune system’s response to infections, including HIV. Certain versions of HLA have been associated with a slower or more rapid progression of HIV disease. Upon analysis, the patient in case 1 expressed the specific HLA type HLA-B*3503, which has been reported to increase the risk of disease progression. The immune response to viral infections like HIV includes the activation of CD8 cells, also called cytotoxic T lymphocytes, however this response can sometimes fail either due to malfunction of the system or due to escape mutations developed by the virus. In in vitro tests, patient 1 showed a widespread inability to mount an adequate response HIV and another virus, Epstein Barr virus, suggesting an inherent defect in the immune response.

In case 2, there was some evidence that the lack of response may have been due to escape mutations in the virus, but the investigators could not rule out a potential defect in the patient’s immune system. Antiretroviral therapy during acute infection In a research letter published in the January 14th edition of AIDS, German researchers describes a cluster of four people in which genetic analysis of viral genomes suggested that one source person, patient A, infected two others, patients B and C, during sex.

Patient C then transmitted HIV to a fourth person, patient D. The viral genetic sequence was nearly identical between patients, with 99.6% of the genome being the same in all four isolates, suggesting transmission occurred over a short period. As part of an acute infection treatment strategy, all patients received antiretroviral therapy for six months and all achieved an undetectable viral load.

Six months after therapy was stopped, patients’ viral loads rose, with patients A and C reporting relatively high viral set points (90,000 and 600,000 copies/ml, respectively) and patients B and D reporting lower set points (7000 and 33,000 copies/ml, respectively). With nearly identical virus, the investigators reasoned that differences in responses could be ascribed to host factors, so they then analysed several markers of immune function in the four patients.

They noted that patient B carried a potentially protective version of the CCR5 receptor gene. Further more, patients B and D had versions of HLA associated with better disease control (HLA-B57 and HLA-A11, respectively). The investigators say that their data suggest that these and other host immune factors had a strong impact on the control of viral replication following cessation of therapy.

The German study was conducted in the context of antiretroviral therapy during acute HIV infection, which has yet to show concrete benefit in clinical trials, and in conclusion investigators comment that host factors such as presence of HLA-B57 should be included in trials of acute infection therapy so that the relative contribution of each can be better defined.

Reference Dalmau J et al. Contribution of immunological and virological factors to extremely severe primary HIV type 1 infection. Clin Infect Dis 48: 229 – 238, 2009. Streeck H et al. Epidemiologically linked transmission of HIV-1 illustrates the impact of host genetics on virological outcome. AIDS 23: 259 – 262, 2009.

Source (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/F4093830-4D67-45A9-BE5C-845A9526A94F.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: leit on January 20, 2009, 11:49:34 pm

Unprotected sex between long-term partners with HIV: no evidence for superinfection

The never-ending story...

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 21, 2009, 04:10:55 am
I think like you leit.
Now superinfection have been less debated than the Swiss Statement.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 21, 2009, 04:12:56 am
Trying a Pill to Prevent HIV
Worldwide Trials of Drug to Stem HIV Infections Raises Behavioral Questions

In a massive medical trial on three continents, doctors are testing a controversial pill that could temporarily boost immunity against HIV before a person is even exposed to the virus. If the pill works safely, doctors must then address whether such a drug, if made widely available, could actually worsen the AIDS epidemic.

The pre-exposure pill undergoing testing seems promising, since HIV drugs taken within days after exposure to the virus have been shown to reduce the risk of infection by 80 percent. But public health officials debate whether people at high risk for the virus, such as men who have sex with men, would be more likely to set aside the use of condoms to instead rely on a drug regimen that doesn't provide full protection against the disease, which is spread by contact with the blood or semen of an infected person.

Dennis, a 47-year-old gay man from Atlanta, is one of the test subjects for the new pill. He calls himself "blessed" for escaping the HIV epidemic that hit many of his friends in the 1980s. But his HIV-negative status hasn't stopped him from having sex with infected partners.

Source (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AIDS/story?id=6662558&page=1)


China rolls out two HIV drugs to tackle resistance

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will provide two imported HIV drugs to patients who develop resistance to cheaper, domestic alternatives, state media said on Monday, going some way to meeting a key demand of AIDS treatment activists.

The decision to hand out the new drugs means that nine of 20 drugs to combat AIDS are now available to patients in China, the official China Daily said, citing senior Health Ministry official Hao Yang.

Treatment with Tenofovir, marketed by Gilead Sciences Inc under the brand Viread, and Kaletra, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, cost over $1,500 a year each.

In comparison, the other drugs already available in China cost as little as 5,000 yuan ($730), the report added.

The new offerings come after a nationwide survey released last year showed that more than 17 percent of HIV patients in China had developed resistance to available drugs.

China estimated at the end of 2007 that about 700,000 people were infected with HIV, up from an earlier estimate of 650,000.

Although HIV infection is incurable, cocktails of the drugs can control the virus.

Nearly 60,000 people had received free HIV drugs since they were first offered in 2003, cutting the mortality rate in China from over a quarter in 2002 to just 5.8 percent in 2007, the China Daily said.

Drug-resistant HIV strains are turning up in parts of China as the virus stretches beyond high-risk groups and gains a stronger foothold in the general population, a leading Chinese AIDS researcher said late last year.

($1=6.834 Yuan)

Source (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=687)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 21, 2009, 09:12:12 am
Panacos sells HIV drug candidate

Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Watertown biotechnology company, said it has sold the rights and assets of bevirimat, a potential HIV drug, for $7 million.

The buyer is another biotech firm, Myriad Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Salt Lake City, Panacos said.

In a statement, Panacos president and chief executive Alan W. Dunton said: "Our goal has been to develop drugs with novel mechanisms of action to give people living with HIV new treatment options. In order to achieve this goal and to manage capital resources in the current market environment, we chose to sell bevirimat to Myriad Pharmaceuticals. Myriad Pharmaceuticals has the development infrastructure and financial resources that are essential both for success of the compound as it moves into late-stage clinical testing and through FDA review. Myriad Pharmaceuticals' commitment will ensure the continued development of bevirimat for the benefit of HIV-infected patients. We now turn our full attention to our other promising HIV programs and seeking additional financing and partnerships to continue the development of our spectrum of HIV programs."

To read the Panacos press release, please click here (http://finance.boston.com/boston?GUID=7744537&Page=MediaViewer&Ticker=PANC). To read the Myriad press release, please click here (http://finance.boston.com/boston?GUID=7744517&Page=MediaViewer&Ticker=MYGN).

Source (http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/01/panacos_sells_h.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 23, 2009, 03:12:12 am
Martin Delaney


YouTube - Anthony Fauci Tribute to Martin Delaney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud51h76u3cc

NIAID Honors AIDS Activist Martin Delaney (http://natap.org/2009/newsUpdates/012009_05.htm)

(http://natap.org/2009/images/012009/martin-1.gif)

Martin Delaney, the founder and longtime director of the HIV advocacy/education organization Project Inform, has been presented with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director's Special Recognition Award for his many contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
 
Mr. Delaney in 1985 founded Project Inform, a leading national HIV treatment and public policy information and advocacy organization based in San Francisco, and served as its Director until 2008. He was a member of the NIAID AIDS Research Advisory Committee from 1991 to 1995, served on NIAID?s National Advisory Allergy and Infectious Disease Council from 1995 to 1998, and also has served in other advisory roles for the Institute.
 
The NIAID Director's Special Recognition Award cites Mr. Delaney?s "extraordinary contributions to framing the HIV research agenda, particularly with regard to antiretroviral drugs and access to treatment; exceptional efforts on behalf of HIV-infected people; and wise counsel while serving on NIAID advisory committees."
 
"Millions of people are now receiving life-saving antiretroviral medications from a treatment pipeline that Marty Delaney played a key role in opening and expanding," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "Without his tireless work and vision, many more people would have perished from HIV/AIDS. He is a formidable activist and a dear friend. It is without hyperbole that I call Marty Delaney a public health hero."
 
"As a treatment advocate and activist, Marty always has been keenly analytical, well-informed, articulate, persistent, tough-minded, gracious and fair," Dr. Fauci adds. "With this award, NIAID thanks Marty for his advice, his boldness in asking hard questions (and demanding cogent answers), and for the countless hours he has devoted to helping NIAID, formally and informally, in our work in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
 
Mr. Delaney was one of the founders of the community-based HIV research movement and, through his work at Project Inform, led the way to HIV treatment education becoming widely available to patients and medical providers.
 
He was a leader of the movement to accelerate Food and Drug Administration approval of promising drugs and a key player in the development of today's widely used Accelerated Approval regulations and Parallel Track system for providing experimental drugs to seriously ill people preceding formal FDA approval.
 
In recent years, among many other activities, Mr. Delaney has led the Fair Pricing Coalition to improve the accessibility of HIV medications, and has advocated for an aggressive research agenda to find a cure for AIDS.
 
For further information about Martin Delaney or Project Inform, please contact Ryan Clary at 415-558-8669 or rclary@projectinform.org.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 23, 2009, 03:17:51 am
ScienceDaily News

Excessive Weight Loss Can Be A Bad Thing (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090121144107.htm)
Doctors are not doing enough to pick up on problems with excessive weight loss, says a Saint Louis University physician who helped draft recent guidelines to diagnose the condition called "cachexia" (kuh-kex-ee-uh).

"In sick people, weight loss is an important indicator of disease and potentially impending death," said John Morley, M.D., an endocrinologist and director of the division of geriatric medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

"Cachexia is an extraordinary problem for people who are having other health problems, yet this is something that many physicians don't pay attention to."

A group of physicians and scientists agreed on a definition of cachexia, which was published in the December edition of the medical journal, Clinical Nutrition.

"The definition is important because it gives physicians the guidelines to make a diagnosis and treat the condition," Morley said. "A definition of cachexia also makes it easier for scientists to conduct research and potentially develop new therapies for the problem."

About half of hospitalized patients and between 10 and 15 percent of sick patients who see a doctor have cachexia. The condition accompanies diseases such as cancer, congestive heart failure, HIV, diabetes, kidney failure and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Adults with cachexia lose weight and children don't grow. Muscle mass melts away, and those with cachexia also may lose fat.

Those who traditionally have had difficulty taking off weight and suddenly find the pounds melting off should beware, Morley said. They may be ill and could get even sicker as they become weaker and weaker.

"Cachexia should be seen as a wasting disease that requires specialized treatment from a physician who is familiar with the problem," Morley said.

The researchers clarified the definition of cachexia by noting it is always linked to an underlying disease. They differentiated it from starvation; loss of muscle mass that comes with aging; depression; thyroid problems; and the body's difficulty in absorbing nutrients. Rather, cachexia is a complicated metabolic syndrome that is often associated with anorexia, inflammation, insulin resistance and increased muscle protein breakdown.

NATAP News

Once-Daily HAART Modestly Beats Twice-Daily on Adherence & Viral Suppression: meta-analysis (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012209_04.htm)
Our meta_analysis found that the rate of adherence to once-daily antiretroviral regimens was better (+2.9%) than the rate of adherence to twice-daily regimens. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to quantify, in a meta_analysis, the effect of dosing schedule on adherence to antiretroviral therapy. This effect was greater for patients who were initiating treatment than for those receiving stable therapy who were observed in "switch" studies.

Reduced susceptibility to lamivudine and emtricitabine associated with the novel K66N mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012209_03.htm)
The drug resistance profile of K66N, a novel mutation in HIV-• 1 reverse transcriptase (RT HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), is identified as a result of discrepant phenotype/genotype results.

The rare mutation K66N in HIV-1 RT is associated with reduced phenotypic susceptibility to 3TC and FTC and not to the other NRTIs.
 
Further research is required to investigate the clinical impact of this finding, how the mutation evolves and whether it is selected during a specific therapy.

HIV Prematurely Accelerates Aging (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012209_01.htm)
HIV-1 infection induces premature aging of both memory T cells and naive CD4+ T cells; in particular, the fast progressors (FPs) experience accelerated aging of lymphocytes.....Whether highly active antiretroviral therapy can reverse or retard this process is not yet clear and needs to be investigated, although 1 study has shown that accumulation of aged T cells continues in highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated patients with increased CD4+ T cells and long-term viral suppression

Effects of Omeprazole on Plasma Levels of Raltegravir (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012109_04.htm)
Overall, the data support the use of raltegravir in patients receiving gastric pH-altering agents with no dosage adjustment. Further investigation is necessary to more fully characterize the pharmacokinetics of raltegravir given in combination with gastric pH-altering agents in HIV-1-infected patients.

(http://natap.org/2009/images/012109/time-1.gif)

Persistent Minority K103N Mutations among Women Exposed to Single-dose Nevirapine and Virologic Response to Nonnucleoside reverse-Transcriptase Inhibitor-Based Therapy (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012109_02.htm)
"K103N mutations were detected by AS-PCR in 10 (10.6%) of 94 sdNVP-exposed women before they commenced treatment; the mutations were detected in viral RNA for 10 women (10.6%) and in viral DNA for 3 women (3.2%). K103N mutations were also detected by AS-PCR in 9 (15.0%) of 60 sdNVP-unexposed women before treatment; they were detected in viral RNA for 8 women (13.3%) and in viral DNA for 3 women (5.0%). Samples with the highest percentages of K103N mutations detected by AS-PCR also had K103N mutations detected by population sequencing (table 3)....Detection of K103N mutations by AS-PCR before treatment was a strong predictor of inadequate virologic response (table 4)."
 
"In conclusion, 10%-15% of women with previous pregnancies who enter treatment programs have resistance mutations that triple the chances that they will not maintain viral suppression while receiving NNRTI-based therapy. This proportion is sufficiently small such that there are no detectable consequences of sdNVP exposure that has occurred 18-36 months previously. To ensure that only few pregnant women will require therapy in the months that follow delivery, we recommend that eligible pregnant women be screened and commence effective antiretroviral therapy."


Single-Dose Nevirapine to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Type 1: Balancing the Benefits and Risks (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012109_01.htm)
The question of whether there is a long-term increased risk of virologic failure among women who have received sdNVP treatment still remains to be answered.....the article by Coovadia et al. adds to the growing body of evidence that low-frequency drug-resistant variants are important determinants of response to antiretroviral therapy

CDC Updates New HIV Cases Surveillance Estimates: "the disease continues to affect the MSM population more than any other in the United States" (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/011409_02.htm)
The distribution of new HIV infections in 2006 demonstrates that, more than 25 years after the first report of AIDS, the disease continues to affect the MSM population more than any other in the United States.....the age distribution of persons with new infections suggests important differences by race and ethnicity. Among black and Hispanic MSM, most new infections were in persons aged 13-29, whereas, among white MSM, most new infections were in persons aged 30-39 years.....new infections of HIV occurred disproportionately among blacks and Hispanics.2 The results in this report indicate further that the disparity between racial/ethnic minorities and whites is greatest among females......comprehensive surveillance systems are essential for HIV incidence estimation. All states are now implementing confidential, name-based HIV surveillance, and national data on HIV diagnoses and incidence likely will continue to improve.....CDC supports state and local health departments and community-based organizations to promote effective HIV prevention interventions that target those persons at greatest risk for HIV infection.

Medicalnewstoday

Topical Treatment Wipes Out Herpes With RNAi (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136315.php)
Harvard Medical School professor of pediatrics Judy Lieberman, who is also a senior investigator at the Immune Disease Institute, has overseen the development of a topical treatment that, in mice, disables key genes necessary for herpesvirus transmission. Using a laboratory method called RNA interference, or RNAi, the treatment cripples the virus in a molecular two-punch knockout, simultaneously disabling its ability to replicate, as well as the host cell's ability to take up the virus.

Advocates Calling On Obama Administration To Make Changes In U.S. Global Policy, Including HIV/AIDS Issues (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136219.php)
Some advocates are calling on President Obama's administration to change the nation's approach to global social and health issues, including HIV/AIDS, the Washington Post reports. According to the Post, the efforts are part of a push by advocates to "transform the way the United States deals with matters of sex, marriage and religious values in the international arena," which "will play out in upcoming United Nations conferences and meetings that set international norms on issues including human rights, public health, family planning and HIV/AIDS." Joseph Amon, head of the HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, said that although President George W. Bush made significant investment in global efforts against HIV/AIDS, the programs relied too heavily on abstinence-based initiatives. Amon said, "If we want to have an impact on the AIDS epidemic, we cannot allow moral ideological consideration to trump scientific evidence and human rights." The Post reports that some liberal advocates anticipate the Obama administration will "pursue a cautious pace" in making global policy changes and some social conservatives "are bracing for a long period in the political wilderness" (Lynch, Washington Post, 1/18).

Abcnews

Iranian AIDS Doctors Get Several Years in Jail (http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=6707403)
Iran has sentenced two internationally renowned Iranian AIDS physicians to six and three years in prison for their alleged participation in a U.S.-backed plot to overthrow Iran's Islamic regime, their lawyer said Thursday.

Aidsmap News

HIV-positive patients with lung cancer have improved prognosis with HIV treatment (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0F5513AF-2DEB-4173-ADE5-8AFD8B18937D.asp)
HIV-positive patients with non-small-cell lung cancer have a significantly better progress if they take HIV treatment, French researchers report in the online edition of the journal Lung Cancer. Patients who took HIV treatment had an average survival of nine months compared to little over four months for individuals who did not take anti-HIV drugs.

The life-expectancy of HIV-positive patients has improved dramatically since effective HIV treatment became available (http://aidsmap.com/en/news/3CEC691F-4668-4F12-BC64-E65E0EA6142F.asp). However, several studies have shown that non-HIV-related cancers are an increasingly important cause of illness and death in people with HIV (http://aidsmap.com/en/news/98513339-C440-4AAC-BF6C-503AFFD00F73.asp).
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 23, 2009, 04:39:58 pm
Stem-cell-based therapy

FDA OKs Geron's first-ever stem-cell treatment trials (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/FDA-OKs-Gerons-first-ever/story.aspx?guid={C600BCDA-E7DB-4DE0-B119-37C2581CD90A})

Geron Corp said Friday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted clearance for it to begin trials for what it said was the world's first study of a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy for people. Geron said it will begin a Phase I multicenter trial designed to establish the safety of its treatment, currently referred to as "GRNOPC1," in patients with complete Grade A subacute thoracic spinal cord injuries.

Details (http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily68.html)
The Food and Drug Administration has granted clearance of an investigational new drug application that lets Geron Corp. move forward with the world’s first study of a human embryonic stem-cell-based therapy in humans.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Geron (NASDAQ: GERN) said it plans to initiate a Phase I multicenter trial that is designed to establish the safety of the drug GRNOPC1 in patients with spinal cord injuries. The stem cells are licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the patent and technology licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Today’s news is a significant milestone in the translation of new discoveries in cell biology into life saving cures,” said Ed Fallone, president of Wisconsin Stem Cell Now. “It underscores the amazing potential of embryonic stem cell research to transform the lives of thousands of Wisconsinites and their families who struggle with chronic disease and disability.”Wisconsin Stem Cell Now in Shorewood is a not-for-profit, grassroots organization supporting stem cell research.

Geron said the treatment contains progenitor cells that have demonstrated the ability to stimulate nerve growth.

The company said that although the trial's goal is to demonstrate safety, a secondary goal is to look at efficacy, such as "improved neuromuscular control or sensation in the trunk or lower extremities."

The FDA reviewed the proposal from Geron for over a year before deciding to authorize it, Wisconsin tem Cell Now said in a press release. The study will focus on the safety of embryonic stem cell treatments as well as their effectiveness.

Embryonic stem cell research, which has been severely limited by the federal government since an executive order from former President Bush in 2001 restricted federal funding, has the potential to cure not only physical ailments like spinal cord injuries, but diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.


Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 24, 2009, 12:25:22 am
sciencedaily

Potential New Antibody Treatment For Autoimmune Diseases (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090122100836.htm)
Scientists at UCSF have discovered an abnormality in a patient’s immune system that may lead to safer therapies for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and colitis, as well as potential new ways to treat transplant rejection.

oetzl’s team evaluated a woman with a low number of blood T cells and frequent infections in the ears, urinary tract and lungs. The infection of several organs suggested a defect in the patient’s immune system similar to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), but the patient tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Further studies revealed that the patient’s CD4 T cells did not move out of her lymph nodes as they would in a normal immune system because her body created antibodies to one type of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor. S1P is critical to appropriate immune responses since it regulates T- and B-cell movement throughout the body by interacting with its receptor. The patient’s antibodies blocked the signaling that triggers T-cell movement from the thymus and lymph nodes into blood and then into many organs.

Researchers then explored whether the woman’s antibodies effectively could inhibit an autoimmune response in mice. Antibodies against the S1P receptor, created from the patient’s antibody-producing cells, were injected into mice that were induced to develop colitis. The result was a significant reduction in severity of their diseases, including colitis-associated weight loss, in those mice compared to mice that did not receive the antibodies.

“These results have broad biological implications, since the cells that carry out our immune responses are present in every organ,” said Goetzl, director of UCSF Allergy and Immunology Research, which focuses on developing new diagnostic approaches and treatments for allergic and immunological diseases.

eurekalert

STDs disrupt genetic bottleneck that usually constrains HIV infection (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/plos-sdg012109.php)
Scientists have shown that HIV faces a genetic "bottleneck" when the virus is transmitted heterosexually from one person to another, by way of the genital mucosa. The results, published January 23 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens, explain why prior infection by other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) makes individuals more susceptible to HIV infection.

The team of researchers, lead by Eric Hunter of Emory University, identified 20 heterosexual couples soon after infection occurred and obtained viral genetic sequences from both partners. They examined the most variable region of the virus' env gene, which encodes a protein forming the outer coat of the virus. Approximately 90% of the couple recipients were found to be infected by a single viral variant of HIV-1. However, that variant was not the same in each case.

For comparison, the researchers also analyzed a group of newly infected individuals who were infected by someone other than their spouse. This group showed more variety in viral sequences, with 3 out of 7 individuals infected by multiple variants. Overall, out of 42 newly infected people studied to date, all five infected by multiple viral variants had evidence of genital inflammation or ulceration.

In these cases, it appears that the bottleneck was enlarged due to the disruption of normally protective mucosal barriers by STDs. These findings suggest that the genital mucosa provides a natural barrier to infection by multiple genetic variants of HIV-1 that can be lowered by inflammatory genital infections.

To identify newly infected individuals, the team collaborated with public health programs directed by Susan Allen of Emory's Rollins School of Public Health that enroll thousands of heterosexual couples with one HIV-positive partner in Rwanda and Zambia.

medicalnewstoday

ABC News Examines Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis For HIV Prevention (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136442.php)
According to Albert Liu, director of HIV prevention intervention studies at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, there have been "reports that people may be using PrEP out in the community before it was in trial." To investigate this possibility, Liu and colleagues conducted studies in three cities in California involving 1,800 MSM. Of the men questioned, 16% reported having heard of antiretroviral use to prevent HIV transmission and 1% admitted trying PrEP on their own. In addition, a similar study of more than 227 men in Boston found that one person reported using PrEP drugs instead of a condom. However, despite the low reported rates of PrEP use outside clinical trials, some advocates worry that the number of people substituting such drugs for condoms could increase if FDA approves a PrEP regimen. Sean Strub, founder of POZ Magazine, said that the "problem" with PrEP drugs is the idea that they could act as a "disinhibitor" and thus discourage people from practicing safer sex. According to Liu, the "important thing to realize is that [PrEP is] not just an evening-before pill that people pop." Strub added that members of the community could become involved in encouraging safer sex to prevent HIV transmission.

Dana Van Goder, executive director of Project Inform, said PrEP drugs could be "costly," ranging from $500 to $900 monthly. However, prices for the drugs could decrease if the medications became more widely available, Van Goder said. According to ABC News, Liu currently is leading a trial of the drug Truvada among 3,000 men in the U.S., South America, Asia and Africa. Liu said the daily pill could have side effects such as kidney or liver damage, adding that the study participants need routine HIV testing and follow-up services. "These are men who are at risk for HIV," Liu said, adding that "since we don't know whether [PrEP] works, we want to keep them on the best prevention" (Cox, ABC News, 1/20).
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: sensual1973 on January 24, 2009, 07:16:46 am
what is Q1 09 ?
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: veritas on January 24, 2009, 08:09:37 am


Q1-09 --- means the first quarter of the year 2009 (Jan,Feb,Mar).
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 27, 2009, 04:19:37 am
Aethlon Medical Completes First Medical Device Study to Treat HIV/AIDS

SAN DIEGO —  Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) announced today that it has completed the “first-in-man” study of a medical device to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the disease that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In the study, an HIV-infected individual completed a twelve treatment study of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® administered thrice weekly over the course of 30-days. The Hemopurifier® is a therapeutic filtration device that serves as an artificial adjunct to the immune system. In HIV care the Hemopurifier® targets the clearance of all circulating strains of infectious HIV, including those varieties that cause patients to fail antiviral drug regimens. Additionally, the device assists to preserve immune response through the removal of gp120 and other toxic proteins shed by HIV to kill-off immune cells, the hallmark of AIDS. The study was conducted at the Sigma New Life Hospital in Punjab, India. Initial viral load and immune cell data resulting from the study are expected to be available for disclosure in mid-February.

“Based on previous treatment outcomes in Hepatitis-C patients, we are cautiously optimistic that the data resulting from our first HIV study will also prove to be positive,” stated Jim Joyce, Chairman and CEO of Aethlon Medical. “The principal investigator of our study has reported all twelve Hemopurifier® treatments were completed without any observed adverse events, and that the patient feels an improved sense of well being, including increased energy and appetite,” concluded Joyce.

In a previous infectious disease study, treatment with the Hemopurifier® resulted in robust viral load reductions in Hepatitis-C (HCV) infected patients who completed a treatment protocol of three, 4-hour Hemopurifier® treatments every other day during the course of one week. The Study was conducted at the Fortis Hospital in Delhi, India.

Patient #1 had a 95% reduction three days post treatment and 89% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 1 was 5.3 x 10(5) viral units per ml of blood (IU/ml). Patient 1’s viral load seven days post treatment was 5.7 x 10(4) IU/ml.

Patient #2 had a 85% reduction three days post treatment and 50% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 2 was 9.2 x 10(6) IU/ml. Patient 2’s viral load seven days post treatment was 4.6 x 10(6) IU/ml.

Patient #3 had a 60% reduction three days post treatment and 83% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 3 was 3.0 x 10(8) IU/ml. Patient 3’s viral load seven days post treatment was 5.1 x 10(7) IU/ml. All viral load measurements were performed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Control samples were measured in duplicate while treatment samples were generally measured in triplicate.

Source (http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/1081086.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 27, 2009, 04:25:23 am
New study

Discordance: experts study prevention of infection

A clinical trial on preventing the spread of HIV among discordant couples (where one person is HIV-positive and the other is negative) is going on. The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEp) strategy involves administering a pill to an HIV-negative partner in a relationship to prevent them from contracting the virus. The Infectious Disease Institute is conducting the study. Elvis Basudde interviewed Dr. Edith Nakku, the coordinator of the study

What is PrEp about?

There is scientific evidence that Tenofovir (Viread) and the combination of Tenofovir plus Emitricitabine (Truvada), if taken daily as preventive therapy, might substantially reduce the risk of contracting HIV.

This approach is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEp). Pre means before exposure to contact with HIV and Prophylaxis is about taking medication to prevent infection.

Why conduct the study?

A safe and effective approach to preventing new HIV infections is needed urgently. Each day, nearly 11,000 peopleworldwide get infected with the virus. Most of them live in Africa.

The traditional prevention methods include abstinence, being faithful to one's sexual partner, and using condoms. However, not everyone is able to use these methods. The majority of HIV infections in Africa occur among women.

The current prevention methods are inadequate, since women often do not have social or economic power to refuse sex or negotiate condom use. A vaccine against HIV is most likely to be availed in 10 years' time, so a new prevention strategy must be found.

How might PrEp protect against HIV infection?

The idea of medication that prevents infection is old. For instance, mothers who are living with HIV take medication during pregnancy to prevent them from passing the virus on to their unborn babies.

This is key because the medication gets into the bloodstream before one is exposed to infection. It also helps to prevent infection from occurring. If the PrEp medication is already in the bloodstream, when one is exposed to the virus, it would not be able to establish itself, so infection would not occur.

Is PrEp different from ARVs?

A person who is HIV-negative takes PrEp medication to prevent them from contracting HIV, whereas ARVs are given to people living with the virus, to decrease the amount of virus.

What studies on PrEp are being done?

Seven studies are being carried out in Africa, Asia, South America and the US. They will involve more than 15,000 participants, who will have to be in stable relationships or married.

How does discordance occur?

Studies in Africa have found that the partner of an HIV-infected person has a 50% chance of being infected, even if the couple has been together for several years. The factors include higher HIV levels, genital herpes and the male partner being uncircumcised.

Many couples have been in relationships for years and may not know each other's HIV status. In spite of this, however, the uninfected partner in a discordant relationship can still become infected.

In fact, stable couples that are HIV discordant are thought to account for the majority of new HIV infections among adults in Africa.

How is the PrEp study designed?

It will include about 3,900 discordant couples, enrolled at eight clinical sites in Uganda and Kenya. The study is random and the participants, who are HIV-positive, will be randomly divided into groups. All participants will take their medication everyday. One group will take tenofovir; the second, a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir; and the third will take a placebo.

What is a placebo?

It is an inactive pill that has no medicine in it that looks or tastes like tenofovir or emtracitibine. In research studies, the medicine being tested is compared with a placebo to see if the effects are truly due to the medication or merely chance.

The placebo is necessary because there is no evidence that PrEp can prevent HIV infection, so there is need to study the number of participants who get infected with HIV during the study.

Who can take part?

The study will enroll voluntary HIV discordant couples who are sexually active. To protect the health of the participants, both the HIV-negative and positive partners must meet the eligibility requirements.

The uninfected partner must be healthy, with a normal liver, kidney and blood count tests and cannot take medication that might interfere with the medication. The uninfected partner should not be pregnant or breastfeeding.

The infected partner must also be in good health, having a CD4 count of over 250 cells and ineligible for treatment with HIV. Participants will be studied for about three years.

What happens if a participant becomes pregnant?

Tenofovir and emtricitabine/tenofovir have been used safely by HIV-infected pregnant women, and animal studies have shown that these medications do not harm the unborn baby.

However, there is little experience with these drugs to tell if they are safe for pregnant women.

As a result, family planning services will be provided for all participants. Women taking the trial medication will have pregnancy tests at every monthly visit, so that pregnancy can be detected early.

If a woman taking study tablets becomes pregnant, the study medication will be stopped, but she will still continue taking part.

Source (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=727)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: sensual1973 on January 27, 2009, 10:46:58 am
what are the most promissing studies out there dealing with hiv eradication or a cure ? - am not talking preventive therapy here.
thanks
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 27, 2009, 03:56:24 pm
what are the most promissing studies out there dealing with hiv eradication or a cure ? - am not talking preventive therapy here.
thanks

Few point of views:

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=24510.0
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 28, 2009, 04:13:16 am
City of Hope’s stem cell treatment shows promise against AIDS


DUARTE, Calif. —Working with four lymphoma patients whose bone marrow had been killed via chemotherapy, a team led by Dr. David DiGuisto, director of haematopoietic cell therapies at City of Hope Medical Center (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/lib/modules/linktrack.php?url=http://www.cityofhope.org/Pages/default.aspx) in Duarte, Calif., has demonstrated promising results from subsequent treatment with genetically altered stem cells. The scientists are planning further research to establish whether the treatment might rid patients of HIV infection altogether.

The technique involves introducing genes that curb the spread of HIV inside the body into human stem cells, then transplanting the stem cells into a patient’s bone marrow. In the first human trial, anti-HIV stem cells were transplanted into the four AIDS patients undergoing bone marrow replacement as part of treatment for lymphoma. The stem cells, DiGuisto says, are a mixture of genetically altered cells and “a sufficient dose of unmanipulated stem cells.” The protocol calls for no less than 2 million cells per kilogram of body weight. “Our best estimate,” DiGuisto adds, “is that about one percent of the cells are of the genetically altered type.” All four infused patients are in remission for lymphoma with no recurrence of HIV.

Presenting his finds from the trial at the Stem Cell World Congress (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/lib/modules/linktrack.php?url=http://www.selectbiosciences.com/conferences/SCWC2009/) in Palm Springs, Calif., DiGuisto described his work as “A first-in-humans study of safety and feasibility of stem cell therapy for AIDS lymphoma using stem cells treated with a lentiviral vector encoding multiple anti-HIV RNAs.” Unanswered at this time is the fate of the 99 percent of the stem cells that were infused without the protecting treatment. The hope is that, in a sort of “survival of the fittest” at the cellular level, the treated stem cells will proliferate and take over.

“We are currently doing two things to improve the process,” DiGuisto says. “First, we are seeking approval of a protocol to introduce 100 percent of the modified stem cells. A second approach would be to introduce the same modified genes into T-lymphocytes of HIV patients. We have data to show that the resistant cells are persisting in our lymphoma patients. It is still an experimental treatment, but we hope that eventually we will be able to give AIDS patients just one transplant that would protect them for life.”

The next step is to repeat the first-in-human trial in five to 10 patients, DiGuisto adds, and then to increase the cohort to between 30 and 50 individuals.

Source (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=2720)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 28, 2009, 04:48:21 am
Heart Association Recommends Daily Intake of Omega-6 Fatty Acids

At least 5% to 10% of daily caloric intake should come from omega-6 fatty acids, according to an American Heart Association science advisory that emerged from a literature review.
 
Consumption of this level of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, William S. Harris, Ph.D., of the University of South Dakota, and colleagues reported in the advisory, published in the Feb. 17 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
 
"Aggregate data from randomized trials, case-control and cohort studies, and long-term animal feeding experiments indicate that the consumption of at least 5% to 10% of energy from omega-6 fatty acids reduces the risk of coronary heart disease relative to lower intakes," the researchers said.

Other health organizations have set recommendations for omega-6 fatty acid intake. The European Commission recommendation is 4% to 8%, the World Health Organization suggests 5% to 8%, and some North American dietetic associations say 3% to 10%. The AHA had no previous recommendation.
 
Some research, however, has suggested that omega-6 fatty acids may actually increase cardiovascular risk because they promote inflammation. Concern stems from the fact that the primary omega-6 in food is linoleic acid, which can be converted to arachidonic acid -- a substance involved in the early stages of inflammation.
 
So the researchers reviewed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving omega-6 intake and several other observational, cohort, and case-control studies.
 
Most studies, they said, found omega-6 fatty acids were associated with unaltered or lower levels of inflammatory markers. Two studies showed no effects on any metabolic parameter or platelet function, and Dr. Harris noted that conversion of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid is only about 0.2%.
 
For overall disease risk, one meta-analysis evaluated several randomized controlled trials.
 
In addition to the inability to double-blind these studies, many had design limitations such as small sample size, the provision of only approximately 50% of meals, outcomes composed largely of "soft" ECG endpoints, randomization of sites rather than individuals with open enrollment and high turnover, and simultaneous recommendations to increase fish and cod liver oil.
 
Nevertheless, a meta-analysis of six of these trials indicated that replacing saturated fatty acids with omega-6 fatty acids lowered the risk for coronary heart disease events by 24%.
 
The researchers said that the reviewed prospective cohort studies found an "overall modest benefit of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on coronary heart disease risk and no significant effect on stroke or cancer."
 
One meta-analysis of 25 case-control studies found linoleic acid content was inversely associated with coronary heart disease risk, while arachidonic acid was unrelated to risk.
 
As for disease markers, the researchers said the cholesterol-lowering effect of linoleic acid "is well established in human trials." One meta-analysis of 60 feeding studies including 1,672 patients found the nutrient lowers levels of LDL cholesterol.
 
"Favorable effects of linoleic acid on cholesterol levels are thus well documented and would predict significant reductions in coronary heart disease risk," the researchers said.
 
Linoleic acid cannot be synthesized by humans, but comes primarily from vegetable oils such as corn and sunflower oil.
 
Dr. Harris said the U.S. daily intake of omega-6 fatty acids is typically about 6% of total calories -- about 120 kcal (13 g) in a 2,000 kcal diet.
 
To measure their intake, patients should look for the polyunsaturated fat listing on products' Nutrition Facts Panel, which is virtually all omega-6 fatty acids, Dr. Harris said.
 
Companies, however, are only required to list total fat broken down into saturated fat and trans fat. If polyunsaturated fats are not listed, there's no way to distinguish the amount of omega-6 fatty acids because the "unsaturated fats" listing includes monounsaturated fats as well as polyunsaturated fats, he said.
 
While the recommended intake of omega-6 fatty acids is now 5% to 10%, Dr. Harris noted preventing coronary heart disease must be in the context of an overall healthy diet.

Source (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012809_04.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 28, 2009, 02:39:50 pm
New Australian vaccine could stop cancers


AUSTRALIAN researchers are confident they can create the "holy grail" of cancer prevention with a multi-purpose vaccine.

The team from the University of South Australia is working on a vaccine that would prevent one in five cancers by eliminating the infections that cause them.

Chronic infections such as human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and HIV can lead to a range of deadly cancers, The Advertiser reports.

Team leader and senior immunology lecturer Dr John Hayball is working on the project in conjunction with Associate Professor Michael Brown from the Royal Adelaide Hospital's Hanson Institute.

He said that while work was now in the "pre-clinical and experimental" phase, the "ultimate aim" was not just to prevent the cancer-causing infections but to cure the existing ones.

"We're trying to make therapeutic vaccines, so instead of making vaccines that just protect you from getting an infection - these vaccines will also do that - the idea is to actually kill the diseases that people carry," Prof Hayball said.

"We're trying to develop a platform technology that can be used for any number of chronic viral diseases, a lot of which are associated with causing cancer.

"If we can eliminate those infections, there's a real possibility of cutting the incidence of cancer by one fifth and obviously that's a huge leap forward."

The vaccine would be administered via injection and would be carried by a safe, non-pathenogenic virus.

The most high-profile vaccine to be developed recently is Gardasil.

It works by protecting against the HPV infection, which causes 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

Gardasil's creator, Professor Ian Frazer, is now working on a vaccine for skin cancer.

Dr Hayball said the team wanted to make a vaccine that would go to the next level.

"(The Gardasil) vaccine, like all vaccines today, can only protect you from getting the virus, once you've got it it's too late," he said.

The Cancer Council's SA chief executive, Associate Professor Brenda Wilson, said the news was an exciting advance in the battle against cancer.


Source (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24976481-2,00.html?from=public_rss)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: sensual1973 on January 29, 2009, 12:05:30 pm
so the research at the "city of hope medical centre" is to eradicate the virus or curb it and prevent  aids ? - see how can one word change the whole meaning of a certian study !
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 29, 2009, 01:05:40 pm
NATAP News

New Norvir Tablet Application Submitted to FDA by Abbott (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012909_02.htm)

January 21, 2009
 
Abbott is pleased to announce that it has submitted applications seeking registration for a new tablet formulation of our protease inhibitor (PI) Norvir (ritonavir) with U.S. and E.U. regulatory authorities. This new formulation will not require refrigeration, which will make its use more convenient, particularly in developing countries where the majority of people with HIV live.
 
Abbott's development of the Norvir tablet is the result of the efforts of our scientists to address the needs of people living with HIV. Abbott scientists tested multiple formulations before developing and submitting the final formulation for regulatory consideration. The Norvir tablet was developed using Meltrex technology, which is also used in Abbott's Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) tablets. Even with the use of Meltrex technology, ritonavir had unique formulation requirements to ensure stability and absorption. Abbott first presented data from a pivotal bioavailability study of the tablet, which compared the new formulation to the current Norvir soft gel capsule, at the XVII International AIDS conference in Mexico City (AIDS 2008) in August 2008.
 
Norvir is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection. Kaletra is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
 
Abbott intends to register the new Norvir tablet formulation broadly worldwide. We look forward to continuing to work with the HIV community to improve the lives of individuals with HIV.
 
If I can provide further information or address any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Jim Howley
Director, Advocacy and Policy, Abbott
 
Please see below for the Indication and Important Safety Information about Norvir and Kaletra in combination therapy.

Please click here for Norvir full Prescribing Information
http://www.norvir.com/
 
Please click here for Kaletra full Prescribing Information
http://www.rxabbott.com/pdf/kaletratabpi.pdf

Ultrasensitive Assessment of Residual HIV Viraemia in HAART-Treated Patients With Persistently Undetectable Plasma HIV-RNA: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/012909_01.htm)

Improvements in HIV-RNA assays have made accurate detection of as few as 2 copies/ml possible. This study objective was the evaluation of ultrasensitive HIV-RNA quantitation (beneath current threshold: 50 copies/ml) in patients receiving different antiretroviral regimens. A cross-sectional, ultrasensitive measurement of HIV-RNA levels (detection limit: 2.5 HIV-RNA copies/ml) was performed in 154 HIV-1-infected patients receiving ARV therapy, all classed as full responders according to the 50 copies/ml cut-off. Patients were undergoing treatment with two nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (N/NtRTIs) plus nevirapine (NVP, n1/448), efavirenz (EFV, n1/457) or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r, n1/449). Undetectable HIVRNA (<2.5 copies/ml) occurred in 29/48 (60.4%), 24/57 (42.1%) and 14/49 (28.6%) NVP, EFV and LPV/r recipients, respectively. Mean virologicalsuppression (<50 copies/ml) duration was 28.6 months (median1/422, SD1/417.8), and only in LPV/r recipients length of suppression was associated with significantly lower HIV-RNA levels (P1/40.015). Mean nadir CD4+ cell count of 270 cells/mm3 (median1/4240, SD1/4194.5) was significantly lower in the LPV/r arm (P<0.001). Nadir CD4+ level correlated with virological suppression but had opposite trends between NVP (positive) and LPV/r (negative; two tailed P1/40.01). Logistic regression analysis showed NVP was the only independent factor associated with virologic suppression. NVP has demonstrated a distinct virological advantage at subclinical viral loads, possibly due to its greater penetration in extra-vascular compartments, warranting further investigation in the context of persistent low-level viraemia in long-term HAART.

Among patients with HIV infection who achieved virological suppression on HAART, those receiving NVP-based regimens were able to exert a more profound inhibition of viral replication (observed below the currently adopted threshold of virological suppression) than those receiving EFV- or LPV/r-based regimens. The clinical importance of this finding deserves further study in the context of persistent low-level viraemia under long-term HAART and the impact of antiretroviral penetration into long-lived reservoirs of virus.

Aidsmap News

Study suggests that HIV infection and use of antiretroviral therapy both can have negative effects on arteries (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/881508C8-B775-453F-AB43-B73D89EC37A5.asp)

utch researchers have found associations between HIV infection and unfavourable changes in the arteries, contributing to the ongoing effort to understand why some people with HIV appear to be at elevated risk for cardiovascular problems. Their cross-sectional study, reported in the February 1st edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, measured artery wall thickness and artery stiffness in HIV-positive individuals and in a control group of HIV-negative people. HIV infection was independently associated with both of these indicators of cardiovascular risk, and there was also an association between antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and artery stiffness.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 29, 2009, 01:08:04 pm
so the research at the "city of hope medical centre" is to eradicate the virus or curb it and prevent  aids ? - see how can one word change the whole meaning of a certian study !

The scientists are planning further research to establish whether the treatment might rid patients of HIV infection altogether
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 30, 2009, 09:07:29 am
Abbott Drug Pricing Condemned By AIDS Advocates In International Protests

As part of an ongoing multinational campaign to lower drug prices and improve access to lifesaving AIDS treatments globally, AIDS advocates from three countries-Colombia, Mexico and the United States-are holding simultaneous protests today in each of the three countries targeting Chicago-based pharmaceutical giant Abbott Laboratories over the pricing of its AIDS drug, Kaletra, which can be a key component of lifesaving AIDS drug treatment regimens, particularly as part of what are known as 'second-line' treatments and salvage therapy.

Advocates from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the group coordinating the US protest in the Chicago area (which is being supported by local student activists who have been involved in the AIDS drug pricing issue) will also release a sixty second video parody lambasting Abbott and its CEO, Miles D. White over the drug giant's continuing coldhearted actions on the pricing of its key AIDS drugs. The video parody will premiere publicly for the first time when it is posted on YouTube Wednesday in conjunction with the coordinated international protests in the three countries. The spot will then also run as a paid television commercial on select Chicago area television stations.

Link to a preview of the video parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cJXSKIDcNU

Abbott Protest Schedules/Locations-US

UNITED STATES-Chicago

WHAT: Protest re: Abbott's AIDS Drug Pricing of Kaletra

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: in front of the home of
Abbott CEO Miles D. White
1313 North Green Bay Road
Lake Forest IL 60045

VISUALS: 3ft x 5ft "Shame on Abbott" placards & banners; also, release of TV commercial/video parody of Abbott and its CEO Miles White

POST-PROTEST Press Conference & Teleconference Call- CHICAGO


What: Follow Up POST-PROTEST Press Teleconference Call-
Multinational Protests re: Abbott Laboratories' AIDS Drug Pricing, Release of Parody Video

Where: Hotel Allegro, Cinema Room #1 (3rd Floor) 171 W Randolph St, Chicago IL 60601

When: 1:00 PM (Central & Mexico Time, 2:00 pm Colombia time)-Wednesday, January 28th

How: Teleconference Dial in information

US Callers
+1.877.411.9748 participant code #7931503

International Toll Callers
+.1.636.651.3128 participant code #7931503

Source (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/137201.php)


A bad start on AIDS

President Obama is all about sound science and a fresh global image. On these points he has no better opportunity than building on the prior White House's $15 billion worldwide AIDS program, one of former
President George W. Bush's notable successes.

But he fumbled the first step with summary firing of Dr. Mark Dybul, who was dismissed as global AIDS czar the day after Obama's swearing-in. It was unexpected, unceremonious and undeserved.

It's a president's prerogative to name his own team, and the Obama insiders and Dybul had agreed on a waiting period before a successor was lined up. But that orderly timetable was shredded after politics entered the picture.

Dybul, a gay physician who once worked in San Francisco, was scapegoated for the marginal portions of the Bush AIDS initiative such as an emphasis on sexual abstinence and a ban on aiding prostitutes. These stances, while objectionable, never stood at the heart of far-larger goals of prevention, research and medical treatment that has enrolled two million worldwide. But to critics, Dybul didn't object loudly enough and had to go, pronto, this instant, right now.

These are intemperate charges that miss the big picture: a conservative White House that woke up to a global scourge and actually did something. In noting Dybul's departure, the British public health journal Lancet described the effort as "the largest and most successful bilateral HIV/AIDS programme worldwide."

If the president isn't careful, the AIDS fight may return to the bad old days with factions fighting over the latest trend or more perfect answer. It's a special worry as Congress is asked to follow through on its vote last year to increase spending to $48 billion in future years, a pledge that looks iffy as economic conditions tighten.

Obama should mend his mistake by finding a replacement who matches Dybul's experience and competence. That task could be a challenge given shabby handling of this praiseworthy public official.

Source (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/30/EDV215JKSG.DTL&feed=rss.opinion)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 30, 2009, 03:22:46 pm
HIV Mutations Can Both Reduce and Enhance Virological Response to Boosted Darunavir (Prezista)

Development of viral resistance to anti-HIV drugs is a potential barrier to long-term treatment success. In the current study, published ahead of print in the January 15, 2009 online edition of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, French researchers sought to identify a pattern of HIV protease gene mutations associated with virological response to regimens containing ritonavir-boosted darunavir (Prezista).

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/pills/prezista_norvir1.gif)

The investigators analyzed 153 treatment-experienced patients starting a new salvage regimen that included darunavir/ritonavir as the sole protease inhibitor (PI). At baseline, median HIV RNA level was 4.7 log10 copies/mL and the median CD4 cell count was 142 cells/mm3.

Virological response was defined as an HIV RNA load < 200 copies/mL at month 3. The impact of individual protease gene mutations on virological response to darunavir/ritonavir was evaluated, and the combination of mutations most strongly associated with response was identified.

Results

    * At month 3, 55% of patients had a virological response and the median decrease in viral load
     from baseline was 1.7 log10 copies/mL.
    
    * All patients had detectable plasma darunavir concentrations at month 3.

    * Cochran-Armitage procedure identified 8 mutations with a negative impact on virological response,
      namely K14R, K20I, E34Q, I47V, I54M, K55R, T74P, and I84V.

    * 2 mutations (E35D and V82A), by contrast, had a positive impact on virological response.

    * In multivariate analyses, genotypic resistance scores were highly predictive of virological
      response at month 3.

    * Other predictors were baseline plasma viral load and use of enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) in
      enfuvirtide-naive patients.

The study authors wrote, "Among the eight mutations with a negative impact on the virological response, I47V, I54M, T74P and I84V were previously described as darunavir resistance-associated mutations." The others were newly identified.

They also observed that some PI resistance mutations had a positive impact on virological response, indicating that they rendered HIV more susceptible to darunavir/ritonavir.

In conclusion, the researchers stated, "These findings might help to explain the potency of darunavir/ritonavir on PI-resistant HIV."

Source (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/013009_a.html)


Changes in Darunavir/r Resistance Score After Previous Failure to Tipranavir/r in HIV-1-Infected Multidrug-Resistant Patients

Objectives: To evaluate changes in resistance to tipranavir/r (TPV/r) and darunavir/r (DRV/r) in patients who had failed a TPV/r-including regimen.

Methods: HIV genotypes obtained both at baseline and at tipranavir/r failure (TPVF) were analyzed in 47 HIV-infected patients failing a TPV/r-including regimen. Genotypes were evaluated through the Stanford mutation score: patients were ranked for TPV/r and DRV/r resistance as susceptible (class 1), potential low-level (class 2), low-level (class 3), intermediate-level (class 4), and high-level resistance (class 5). Values are expressed as median (interquartile range) or as frequency (%).

Results: Forty-seven patients were eligible. At baseline (tipranavir initiation), the scoring for TPV/r was: class 3 = 4 (8.5%); class 4 = 31 (66%); and class 5 = 12 (25.5%). Corresponding scores for DRV/r were: class 2 = 1 (2%), class 3 = 12 (25.5%), class 4 = 32 (68%), and class 5 = 2 (4.5%). At TPVF, a shift toward a higher TPV/r scoring class was seen in 16 (34.1%) patients (P = 0.001), whereas a shift toward a higher DRV/r scoring class was observed in 9 (19.2%) patients (P = 0.2381). After TPVF, 25/47 patients (53%) were treated with a DRV/r-containing regimen. After 24 weeks (on-treatment analysis), the median HIV RNA decrease was 3.04 (2.13-3.45) log10 copies per milliliter in DRV/r group versus -0.04 (-0.44; 0.50) log10 copies per milliliter in patients not treated with a DRV/r-containing regimen (P < 0.0001); CD4+ increase was 126 (70-169) cells per cubic millimeter in DRV/r group versus -42 (-121; 42) (P < 0.0001).

Discussion: Treatment with TPV/r did not significantly increase the resistance score to DRV/r and did not preclude the efficacy of subsequent treatment with DRV/r.

Source (http://www.mdlinx.com/readArticle.cfm?art_id=2569614)


Reduction in circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction in HIV-infected patients during antiretroviral therapy

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction may be used to study early atherogenesis. The aim of our study was to investigate changes in such markers during initiation of ART. Methods

In 115 HIV-positive treatment-naïve patients, plasma lipids, E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), tissue-type plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (tPAI-1) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured before and after 2 and 14 months of ART. A control group of 30 healthy subjects was included. Values are mean±standard error of the mean. Results

Prior to treatment, HIV-infected patients had elevated levels of sICAM-1 (296±24 vs. 144±12?ng/mL), tPAI-1 (18?473±1399 vs. 5490±576?pg/mL) and hsCRP (28?060±5530 vs. 6665±2063?ng/mL) compared with controls (P<0.001). In contrast, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin did not differ between the groups. Initiation of ART resulted in significantly lower levels of E-selectin (15.1±0.8; P<0.01), sICAM-1 (248±12?ng/mL; P<0.05), sVCAM-1 (766±33?ng/mL; P<0.001) and hsCRP (14?708±2358?ng/mL; P<0.001) after 2 months, which remained reduced at 14 months. tPAI-1 was not influenced by initiation of ART. Conclusions

Markers of endothelial dysfunction were elevated in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients and were related to HIV RNA viral load. Initiation of ART reduced the levels of the majority of these markers. The positive effect of ART initiation was dependent on the duration of HIV infection prior to treatment.

Source (http://www.mdlinx.com/readArticle.cfm?art_id=2569492)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 02, 2009, 11:00:37 am
Aidsmap

Internet dating does not increase STI risk
Finding sex through the internet does not increase the risk of catching the two most common sexually transmitted infections, a US survey published in Sexually Transmitted Infections has found. Indeed in the case of heterosexual men, meeting partners through the internet was associated with a lower risk of sexually transmitted infections compared with other ways of meeting.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/906ECF41-CF2C-49E3-B278-8E7E3A706D7D.asp)

Repeated exposure to HIV during oral sex elicits HIV-neutralising antibodies in HIV-negative men
Some HIV-negative men in long term relationships with HIV-positive men have an antibody response in saliva which may inhibit HIV infection, report Swedish researchers in an article published online ahead of print in AIDS. This is the first time that such a response has been described in saliva, and may help explain why infection through oral sex is somewhat infrequently reported even in serodiscordant couples.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/BDB34C8A-4CA3-4451-8FC8-DC015992FD86.asp)

Cancer is an increasingly important cause of death in people with HIV
Over a third of deaths in HIV-positive patients in France in 2005 were caused by cancers, investigators report in a study to be published in the March 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases (now online). This represents a significant increase in the proportion of cancer-related deaths in amongst French HIV-positive patients since 2000.

The investigators suggest that better cancer prevention, monitoring and care could help reduce the amount of death caused by malignancies in patients with HIV, and also stress the importance of keeping the CD4 cell count of HIV-positive individuals above 250 cells/mm3.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/597550C0-CB12-452D-B3D5-BDBA19AE85B6.asp)


Hivandhepatitis

Smoked Medical Cannabis Relieves Neuropathy Pain in HIV Patients
Painful peripheral neuropathy, a side effect of certain antiretroviral drugs, contributes to reduced quality of life and impaired daily functioning for many HIV positive individuals. Opiates and related drugs may be used to manage neuropathy pain, but these medications can cause their own side effects and carry the potential for dependence.

Medicinal cannabis has also been studied for relief of neuropathy pain in people with HIV, and research indicates that cannabinoid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems modulate pain perception.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/013009_d.html)

Treatment Interruption Is Safe and May Modestly Improve Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Well-preserved Immune Function
Evidence has accumulated in recent years -- including extensive data from the large SMART trial, -- demonstrating that CD4-guided antiretroviral treatment interruption is a potentially risky strategy.

But some studies suggest that patients who started treatment "too soon" according to treatment guidelines may be able to safely discontinue therapy.

As described in the December 1, 2008 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Daniel Skiest and colleagues assessed quality of life (QOL), symptoms, blood lipid levels, and body measurements in patients who underwent prolonged treatment interruption (up to 96 weeks) in the ACTG 5170 study.

Avoidance of drug-related toxicities is often cited as a reason for interrupting antiretroviral therapy (ART), but the researchers noted that the consequences of treatment interruption on QOL, body habitus, and metabolic parameters have not been well studied.

This prospective trial included 167 participants with a pre-treatment and current CD4 count > 350 cells/mm3 (the threshold for treatment initiation in the current U.S. and European guidelines), HIV RNA < 55,000 copies/mL at study entry, and use of ART for at least 6 months.

At baseline, the median CD4 count was 833 cells/mm3, the median nadir (lowest-ever) CD4 count was 436 cells/mm3, and the median time on ART was 4.5 years. Most patients (n = 149) were receiving a thymidine analog NRTI -- that is, zidovudine (AZT; Retrovir) or stavudine (d4T; Zerit) -- before treatment interruption; these drugs have been associated with metabolic abnormalities and fat loss (lipoatrophy).

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/013009_b.html)

Longer Exposure to NRTIs, especially Stavudine (Zerit), Increases the Risk of Insulin Resistance in Women with HIV
This prospective study included 1614 HIV positive and 604 HIV negative at-risk participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) followed between October 2000 and March 2007. Insulin resistance, estimated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) method, was evaluated during a total of 11,019 semiannual visits.

Results

   * HIV positive women reporting HAART use had a higher median HOMA-IR score than HIV
      negative women:
        o 1.20 times higher for those using protease inhibitors (PIs);
        o 1.10 times higher for those using PI-sparing HAART.
    * Among the HIV positive women, cumulative exposure to nucleoside/nucleotide reverse
       transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) for > 3 years was associated with a median HOMA-IR score 1.13
       times higher that of women with no NRTI exposure.

    * Cumulative exposure to the NRTI stavudine (d4T; Zerit) for > 1 year was associated with a
       HOMA-IR score 1.15 times higher than that of women who never used this drug.

    * Other factors associated with a higher HOMA-IR score were family history of diabetes, hepatitis C
       virus (HCV) seropositivity, higher body mass index, and menopause.
   
More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/013009_c.html)


EATAG

Genital inflammation linked to multiple-variant HIV infections
New HIV-1 infections are more likely to involve multiple viral strains when a patient already has a genital infection, researchers here said.

Most patients with new HIV infections show only a single genetic variant of the virus, reported Eric Hunter, Ph.D., of Emory University, online in the open-access Public Library of Science Pathogens.

But among 42 newly infected individuals included in the study, five had multiple genetic variants of the virus -- and all five had inflammation or ulceration of the genitals, the researchers found.

The findings suggest that the genital mucosal barrier is responsible for what has been termed the "severe genetic bottleneck" for HIV during the infection process.

Earlier studies by Dr. Hunter and other research groups had indicated that, in most cases, only a single HIV variant can establish infection even though the exposure may include several different strains.

Dr. Hunter and colleagues said the current study shows that when the barrier is disrupted by a sexually transmitted disease, this bottleneck may be removed and multiple HIV strains can take hold simultaneously.

The exact nature of the bottleneck remains uncertain, they said.

But the processes by which HIV crosses the genital mucosa to establish infection are among the most promising targets for preventive interventions, Dr. Hunter and colleagues said.

More (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/HIV-STIs/Genital-inflammation-linked-to-multiple-variant-HIV-infections)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 03, 2009, 10:35:30 am
NATAP

High Frequency of Vitamin D Deficiency in Ambulatory HIV-Positive Patients

"As expected, low vitamin D intake was associated with severe 25-D deficiency. We also found a high frequency of secondary hyperparathyroidism, possibly from vitamin D deficiency. One unexpected finding was a possible association between concurrent antiretroviral use and elevated PTH levels."
 
"Subclinical vitamin D deficiency is common in the general population and has been shown to correlate with osteoporosis"..... "A high prevalence of 25-D deficiency has been reported in some HIV-infected cohorts.......in patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy in the southeastern United States (92%)"..... The optimal 25-D concentration in serum is controversial . The current normal value for serum concentration is 20 ng/ml..... "Lower vitamin D intake was significantly associated with severe (< /=10 ng=ml) 25-D deficiency ( p=0.01) and tended to be associated with moderate 25-D deficiency ( p=0.08, both Wilcoxon rank-sum test). There was a suggestion that lower vitamin D intake (<250 IU) and lack of regular exercise were associated with moderate 25-D deficiency (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.0, 10.3, p=0.05 and OR 3.1; 95% CI 0.9, 11.1, p=0.09, respectively)."....... "Elevated PTH serum levels (>60 pg=ml) were significantly associated with concurrent antiretroviral use ( p=0.01); of the subjects who were not taking antiretrovirals, none had elevated PTH levels, whereas 40% of those on antiretrovirals had elevated PTH. Elevated PTH levels were also significantly associated with low daily calcium intake (<1000 mg) (p=0.03) and tended to be associated with low daily vitamin D intake (<250 IU) (p=0.07, both Wilcoxon rank-sum test)."....... "All of our subjects were normocalcemic; however, low-normal serum calcium (8.5-8.9 vs. >/=9mg/dl) was associated with increased PTH levels (OR=13.85, CI 1.48, 129.9, p=0.0116). Similar to other reports, PTH levels were negatively correlated with 25-D levels (r= -0.48; p=0.0003).21,23"
 
"Serum 25-D levels of >32 ng/ml may be needed to maintain normal calcium absorption and PTH levels.37,42 As higher PTH levels tend to be seen only in individuals with low 25-D vitamin levels and low daily calcium intake (<800mg/day),23 a daily vitamin D intake of at least 700-800 IU taken with 1200-1500mg of calcium may be necessary for bone health.24,26,38,39,42"

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020209_01.htm)


Aidsmap

Study supports use of 21 days doxycycline to treat LGV

LGV is an ulcerative, sexually transmitted infection caused by a strain of chlamyida. It spreads beyond the musocal linings causing inflammation and the destruction of tissue.

Dutch investigators have found evidence supporting the recommended 21 days of doxycycline treatment for the sexually transmitted infection lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).
In an article published the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases they report that the genetic material of LGV was still detectable in rectal swabs up to 16 days after treatment for the infection was initiated. However, they find no evidence to support treating LGV for up to 42 days should symptoms of the infection persist, noting such symptoms are likely to be the result of inflammation rather than the persistence of the infection.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/323B9EE9-1042-45E7-B39A-1AFAC5646C90.asp)


Reuters UK

New AIDS approach disrupts patient's DNA

(http://uk.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090203&t=2&i=8104375&w=192&r=2009-02-03T132231Z_01_BTRE512115V00_RTROPTP_0_US-AIDS-SANGAMO)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - California biotechnology company Sangamo BioSciences Inc. said on Monday it will start human testing of a new approach to treating the AIDS virus that involves deliberately damaging the patient's DNA.

The approach is based on research that has long shown that people with a certain mutation in a gene called CCR5 resist infection with the fatal and incurable virus.

The gene controls a doorway called a receptor in immune system cells. The human immunodeficiency virus uses the CCR5 receptor to latch onto the cells it infects.

Sangamo's drug SB-728-T disrupts CCR5. It is a zinc finger nuclease -- a compound that can slice open molecules.

This one is specifically designed to disrupt CCR5. The company plans to remove immune cells called CD4 T-cells from HIV patients, treat them with the drug and re-infuse them.

The hope is these damaged cells will thrive and multiply and give the patient an immune system resistant to HIV.

"This is the first time that we have had the ability to make a patient's T-cells permanently resistant to infection by CCR5-specific strains of HIV and we are very excited to begin a clinical trial of this novel zinc finger nuclease-based therapy," said Dr. Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who will help test patients.

The company said its phase I study is meant to look for safety only, and 12 patients with advanced HIV infection will be recruited.

"The ability to protect immune cells from infection with HIV and the expansion of CCR5-modified T-cells has the potential to provide long-term control of both the virus itself and eventually the opportunistic infections characteristic of AIDS," June said.

More (http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUKTRE5116DT20090203)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 03, 2009, 10:39:29 am
Blog

Trial Begins for HIV Gene Therapy

Gene therapy that could immunize people against the most common type of HIV is ready to be tested on humans.

The first people to receive the experimental treatment will be HIV patients with drug resistance problems.

"We do have good treatments for HIV. That has been one of the most successful stories of the last 20 years in Medicine," said Pablo Tebas (http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/idd/Tebas.html), an infectious disease expert at the University of Pennsylvania.

"However, over time, if the medications are not taken properly, individuals develop resistance to the HIV treatments, so they tend to have more limited therapeutic options."

Since the discovery that a small portion of people who are exposed to HIV do not get infected, scientists have been working to discover the secret to those people's resistance and how to make others resistant as well.

It turns out that most people have a gene called CCR5, which makes them vulnerable to HIV infections. The naturally resistant people have mutant CCR5 genes that inhibit HIV.

Previously, scientists found that by cutting the CCR5 gene out of white blood cells involved in the immune response known as T-cells, they could protect a tube full of human cells (http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v26/n7/abs/nbt1410.html) from the virus. The gene editing technique relies on proteins called zinc finger nucleases that can delete any gene from a living cell.

In theory, zinc finger nucleases could give that immunity to anyone.

The procedure is simple: Take some healthy T-cells out of an HIV patient, clip out their CCR5 genes, grow more of these clipped T-cells in a dish, and then put them back in the patient.

"In this first study we will re-infuse approximately 10 billion of these cells back into the participants, and we will see if it is safe and if those cells inhibit HIV replication in vivo," said Tebas. "We know they do in the test tube."

See Also:

    * Gene Editing Could Make Anyone Immune to AIDS (http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/06/gene-editing-co.html#previouspost)
    * Biotech Company Gives GMO Crops the Finger (http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/06/biotech-company.html#previouspost)
    * Researchers Copyleft a Better DNA Scissor (http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/07/researchers-cop.html#previouspost)
    * Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs of 2008 (http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/top-10-scientif.html#previouspost)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: sensual1973 on February 03, 2009, 10:52:39 am
and where is that taking place?,any direct link where we can get updates about this study ?

tanx John
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 03, 2009, 01:07:04 pm
sensual1973

This trial is still not listed here (http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/pennactu/trials/), but you can contact either:

Thomas Kenney

General Information
502 Johnson Pavilion 
Philadelphia ,PA 19104
thomas.kenney@uphs.upenn.edu
Tel: 215-349-8092
Fax: 215-349-8011
   
Or

Pablo Tebas, M.D.
AIDS Clinical Trial Unit
8 Penn Tower
34th & Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
pablo.tebas@uphs.upenn.edu
(215) 349-8092

John
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 05, 2009, 04:51:11 am
Medicalnewstoday

Once-Daily Prezista(R) (Darunavir) For Treatment-Naïve Adults With HIV-1 Receives EU Approval As Part Of Combination Therapy
Tibotec Pharmaceuticals announced that the European Commission approved once-daily dosing of 800 mg PREZISTA® (darunavir), a protease inhibitor, with low-dose ritonavir as part of combination therapy in treatment-naïve adults (those who have never taken HIV medication before). This approval broadens the previous indication of darunavir for treatment-experienced HIV-1 patients. Darunavir was developed by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals and is marketed in Europe by Tibotec, a division of Janssen-Cilag.

"We welcome PREZISTA's availability as an effective, once-daily option for adults who have never taken HIV medication before. It has made a significant contribution in the care of treatment-experienced adults with HIV for the last two years, and this is an important treatment development for patients," said Mark Nelson, M.D., Consultant Physician and Deputy Director of HIV Research at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

The approval is based on 48-week analyses of plasma HIV RNA levels and CD4+ cell counts from ARTEMIS, an open-label phase III trial in antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected adults. ARTEMIS studied the efficacy and safety of darunavir/r vs. lopinavir/r in combination with other antiretrovirals. The data showed that darunavir was non-inferior to the comparator, although more patients in the darunavir/r arm achieved undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) compared to lopinavir/r (84 percent vs. 78 percent). The common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported of at least moderate intensity (=Grade 2) in the darunavir/r arm were hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, headache, diarrhoea, nausea, and increased alanine aminotransferase.

Darunavir 400 mg, co-administered with low dose ritonavir is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral (ARV) medicinal products for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection in antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve adults.

Darunavir was given conditional marketing authorisation by the European Commission in February 2007, and received full marketing authorisation in December 2008.

"We strive to provide innovative treatment options for people living with HIV," said Roger Pomerantz, M.D., President of Tibotec Research and Development. "We are proud to make darunavir available to those who are just starting HIV treatment for the first time."

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/137792.php)


esciencenews

Green tea may negate the effects of a common cancer therapy
Green tea products have become regarded as a valuable health supplement, as studies have shown evidence of its benefit against a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, a new study suggests that some components of green tea may counteract the anticancer effects of one cancer therapy, bortezomib (Velcade®), and may be contraindicated for patients taking this medicine to ensure its maximum therapeutic benefit. This study is being prepublished online today in Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology. Because of its increasing popularity and availability to the public in many formulations, green tea has been increasingly studied to understand its effect on cancer, heart disease, and other conditions. In animal studies, an antioxidant compound in green tea called the EGCG polyphenol (epigallocatechin gallate) has been shown to be a potent anticancer agent, with effects demonstrated against leukemia, as well as lung, prostate, colon, and breast cancer. Among other properties, EGCG binds to a common protein in tumors called GRP78 (which is responsible for preventing cell death) and inhibits its function, thereby assisting in the death of tumor cells.

“We know that cancer patients look to green tea extracts among other natural supplements to complement their therapeutic regimens. We wanted to better understand how the compounds in green tea interact with a cytotoxic chemical therapy and how that may affect patient outcomes,” said Axel Schönthal, PhD, of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and senior study author.

In this study, researchers evaluated whether the combination of green tea and bortezomib would improve outcomes against multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. Bortezomib, an anticancer therapy approved to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma, normally fights disease by inhibiting proteasomes and inducing tumor cell death. However, in both in vitro and in vivo mouse experiments, the team was surprised to find that the EGCG compound seemed to prevent bortezomib from fighting the disease by blocking its proteasome inhibitory function – the two compounds effectively contradicted one another in the cell, leaving nearly 100 percent of the tumor cells intact.

Importantly, the team found that EGCG only reacted with proteasome inhibitors that have a boronic acid base (including bortezomib) but did not react with several non-boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitors (such as nelfinavir [Viracept®], a treatment for HIV). The researchers determined that the boronic acid in bortezomib helped to bind the EGCG directly to the therapy molecule, thereby cancelling out the effects of both the green tea and the therapy on the tumor cells.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/02/03/green.tea.may.negate.effects.a.common.cancer.therapy)


hivandhepatitis

Once-daily Regimen of Nevirapine (Viramune), Tenofovir (Viread), and Lamivudine (Epivir) Is Associated with Early Virological Failure
(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/pills/viramune.jpg)(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/pills/viread.jpg)(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/pills/epivir.jpg)

The current standard of care for antiretroviral therapy for HIV is a triple-drug regimen consisting of 2 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus either a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor.

Regimens taken once-daily are more convenience and are associated with better adherence than those taken more often. The NNRTI efavirenz (Sustiva) is administered once-daily, but is not appropriate for all patients, due to its neuropsychiatric side effects and risk of birth defects during pregnancy. The other commonly used NNRTI, nevirapine (Viramune) is approved for twice-daily dosing, but researchers have also tested it as a once-daily option.

As described in the February 2009 Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, French researchers conducted an open-label non-inferiority trial comparing lamivudine (3TC; Epivir) plus tenofovir (Viread) plus nevirapine, all administered once-daily, versus zidovudine (AZT; Retrovir) plus lamivudine plus nevirapine administered twice-daily.

As of May 2006, 71 treatment-naive patients with a CD4 count < 350 cells/mm3 had been enrolled (out of a projected 250) and an unplanned interim analysis was performed. The groups were comparable at baseline, with a median CD4 count of about 195 cells/mm3 and a median plasma viral load of about 5 log10.

Results

    * 8 patients experienced early non-response in the once-daily group (22.2%), while all patients
       responded in the twice-daily group.

    * There were also 2 cases of later viral rebound in the once-daily group.

    * Resistance genotypes for the 9 failing patients in the once-daily group showed that all had the
       mutations M184V/I (n = 3), K65R (n = 6), and 1 or more NNRTI resistance mutations.

    * At baseline, the 9 patients in this group who experienced treatment failure had a higher median
       plasma viral load and a lower median CD4 count than other participants in the group (5.4 vs 4.7
       log10, P = 0.002; 110 vs 223 cells/mm3, P = 0.004).

    * Nevirapine trough concentrations did not differ significantly between the 2 groups, nor between
       patients with full viral suppression and those who experienced treatment failure in the once-daily
       group.

Based on these findings, the study authors concluded, "In antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients, the once-daily lamivudine, [tenofovir] and nevirapine regimen resulted in a high rate of early virological failures."

However, they added, "The reasons for the failures remain unclear."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/020309_b.html)

Benefits versus Risks of Stavudine (Zerit) Therapy for HIV-related Neurological Complications
A recent report found that the frequency of HIV-associated cognitive impairment or dementia at the Infectious Disease Institute in Kampala, Uganda, was 31%. Co-formulated generic medications including the NRTI stavudine (d4T; Zerit) are commonly used to treat HIV patients in Uganda and in many other parts of Africa, though stavudine is no longer considered a preferred option in wealthy countries due to its side effects.

The aim of the current study, published in the January 13, 2009 issue of Neurology, was to evaluate the benefits and risks of stavudine-based HAART for HIV-related cognitive impairment and distal sensory neuropathy.

The study compared neuropsychological performance changes in HIV positive patients initiating HAART for 6 months and HIV negative individuals receiving no treatment for 6 months. The researchers also evaluated the risk of antiretroviral-associated toxic neuropathy resulting from use of stavudine.

At baseline, 102 HIV positive individuals in Uganda received neurological, neuropsychological, and functional assessments. They then began HAART and were followed for 6 months. In addition, 25 HIV negative individuals received the same clinical assessments and were also followed for 6 months.

Results

    * In the HIV positive individuals, there was improvement in verbal memory, motor and psychomotor
       speed, executive thinking, and verbal fluency after starting HAART.

    * Symptoms of neuropathy developed in 38% of previously asymptomatic HIV positive patients after
       initiation of a stavudine-based regimen.

In conclusion, the study authors wrote, "After the initiation of HAART, including stavudine, HIV positive individuals with cognitive impairment improve significantly as demonstrated by improved performance on a test of executive function."

However, they noted, "peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in 30 patients, presumably because of stavudine-based HAART, suggesting the need for less toxic therapy."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/020309_c.html)

Mindfulness Meditation May Help Slow Immune System Decline in People with HIV
(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/images2007/120_cout-raise-cd4.gif)

Results

    * Participants in the 1-day control seminar showed declines in their CD4 counts, while those in the
       8-week MBSR program had stable CD4 counts from baseline through the post-intervention
       measurement (P = 0.02).

    * This effect on CD4 cells was independent of antiretroviral therapy.

    * Additional analyses indicated that good adherence to the mindfulness meditation program, as
       measured by class attendance, was associated with greater CD4 cell preservation.

    * Participants in the MBSR program also reported greater improvement in their quality of life.

In conclusion, the study authors wrote, "These findings provide an initial indication that mindfulness meditation training can buffer CD4+ T lymphocyte declines in HIV-1 infected adults."

"The mindfulness program is a group-based and low-cost treatment," lead author David Creswell said in a press release issued by UCLA. "If this initial finding is replicated in larger samples, it's possible that such training can be used as a powerful complementary treatment for HIV disease, alongside medications."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/020309_d.html)

European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Published Updated Guidelines for Management of Chronic Hepatitis B
Several new antiviral agents have been evaluated and licensed since the previous EASL consensus conference in 2002. Currently 7 hepatitis B therapies are approved in Europe: conventional interferon alpha, pegylated interferon alpha, lamivudine (Epivir-HBV), telbivudine (Tyzeka or Sebivo), entecavir (Baraclude), adefovir (Hepsera), and tenofovir (Viread).

Low baseline HBV DNA and elevated ALT predict good response to interferon or nucleoside/nucleotide drugs, but HBV genotype only seems to make a difference with regard to interferon response, with genotypes A and B being associated with better response than C and D.

Development of drug resistance is a major barrier to long-term treatment success, and the guidelines include a discussion of treatment strategies, including combination versus sequential therapy and short-term versus continuous treatment.

The document includes guidance for management of patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, as well as liver transplant recipients. Management of children and pregnant women with hepatitis B is also discussed.

There are also sections on dealing with patients with HIV-HBV coinfection and HBV-HCV coinfection. Indications for treatment are the same in HIV positive and HIV negative individuals, based on HBV DNA level, serum ALT, and extent of liver damage. In agreement with current HIV treatment guidelines, the EASL panel recommended that coinfected patients should be simultaneously treated for both HIV and HBV using the dually active agents tenofovir and emtricitabine (Emtriva) plus a third agent active against HIV. For the small number of patients who must be treated for HBV before HIV, the authors added, adefovir and telbivudine -- which are not proven to be active against HIV -- should be preferred. In contrast, lamivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir are contraindicated as single agents for hepatitis B in coinfected patients.

Finally, the authors concluded with a section on unresolved questions and unmet needs that could be addressed in future research, including improved knowledge of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B, indirect markers of liver disease severity, the role of HBV genotype in determining disease prognosis, optimal duration of treatment, efficacy of various combination regimens, and development of new agents for multidrug-resistant HBV.

"Several difficulties remain in formulating treatments for chronic hepatitis B, thus areas of uncertainty exist," the EASL panel wrote. "At the present time clinicians, patients and public health authorities must continue to make choices on the basis of evidence that is not fully matured."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2009/020309_a.html)

Extended Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin Therapy Improves Sustained Response Rate in Slow Responder Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Patients
A considerable proportion of chronic hepatitis C patients do not achieve sustained virological response (SVR) to standard therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for 24 weeks (for HCV genotypes 2 or 3) or 48 weeks (for genotypes 1 or 4), leading researchers to study the benefits of longer treatment. While some studies have seen good outcomes with 72 weeks of therapy, the optimal duration is unknown

In a study reported in the January 2009 American Journal of Gastroenterolgy, 113 hard-to-treat genotype 1b patients with high pre-treatment HCV viral load were randomly assigned to receive pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for the standard 48-week duration or for an extended duration. In the extended duration group, treatment continued for 44 weeks after patients became HCV RNA negative, for a total duration of 48 to 68 weeks.

Results

    * The SVR rate was 36% (20 of 56) in the standard duration group compared with 53% (30 of 57)
       in the extended duration group -- a difference that did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07).

    * However, patients in the extended duration group who became HCV RNA negative between
       weeks 16 and 24 had a significantly higher SVR rate than patients in the standard duration group
       (78% [7 of 9] vs 9% [1 of 11]; P = 0.005).

    * The predictive factors for SVR were longer treatment duration and time to undetectable HCV RNA.

Based on these findings, the study authors concluded, "The extended treatment significantly increased the SVR rate in patients who were HCV RNA negative at 16-24 weeks."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/020309_a.html)

Clinical Update -- Debio 025 in Hepatitis C -- Debiopharm Starts Phase IIb Triple Therapy Study, a Promising Therapeutic Avenue
Lausanne, Switzerland -- January 26, 2009 -- Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a global biopharmaceutical development specialist that focuses on serious medical conditions and particularly oncology, announced today the randomization of its first patient in a phase IIb clinical study with Debio 025, a selective cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitor with a potent anti-hepatitis C (HCV) effect. This multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study will investigate the efficacy and safety of three different treatment regimens combining Debio 025 with Peg interferon alpha 2a (peg-IFN alpha-2a [Pegasys]) and ribavirin in treatment-naive chronic HCV genotype 1 patients.

During this 72 week trial, on top of the Standard of Care (SOC) treatment consisting of peg-IFN alpha-2a 180 mcg once weekly and ribavirin 1000 or 1200 mg/day, patients will receive an oral dose of 600 mg of Debio 025. Three different triple combination regimens will be compared to the SOC treatment. The company aims to evaluate whether there is an increase in the proportion of patients who achieve a sustained viral response (HCV RNA < 10 U/mL 24 weeks after treatment end) with Debio 025, compared to the SOC treatment. The trial will include 272 treatment-naive chronic HCV genotype 1 patients. Results of the study are expected in Q1 2011.

"We believe that the future of chronic HCV treatment lies in the combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action and potential additive or synergistic antiviral effects. For this reason we are investigating the use of Debio 025 combined with the current peg-IFN alpha-2a/ribavirin dual therapy. We are optimistic that this combination will reduce the risk of treatment failure for HCV patients and maximise their chances of sustained viral response," said Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, President and Founder of Debiopharm Group.

"With over 170 million people infected with HCV worldwide, there is a real medical need for a treatment which we hope to address," added Kamel Besseghir, CEO of Debiopharm S.A.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/020309_b.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 05, 2009, 04:55:13 am
sciencedaily

How Much Is The World Spending On Neglected Disease Research And Development ?
The first comprehensive survey of global spending on neglected disease R&D, published in the journal PLoS Medicine, finds that just over $US 2.5 billion was invested into R&D of new products in 2007, with three diseases—HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria—receiving nearly 80% of the total.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090204085129.htm)


glaucomatoday

HIV and Ophthalmology: Although advances in medical therapy have reduced the number of lives lost to AIDS and the incidence of associated blinding infections, more subtle ocular manifestations are not uncommon.
A desire to learn more about the ocular manifestations of AIDS and to understand the pathogenesis underlying this newly recognized syndrome led to a fruitful collaboration between Dr. Holland, the late Robert Foos, MD (an ocular pathologist from UCLA), and Dr. Pepose, who had just completed an MD/PhD in virology in immunology at UCLA.3,4

Their initial studies defined the gamut of associated ocular infections, neoplasms, and vascular changes; explored the etiology of cotton-wool spots; and investigated the interaction of concurrent retinal infections with CMV, herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). They also studied the effects of antiviral therapy on CMV retinitis and the impact of the AIDS epidemic on corneal transplantation.

More (http://www.glaucomatoday.com/articles/0109/GT0109_04.php)

upi

$100M given for AIDS vaccine research
BOSTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts couple is donating $100 million to help find an effective vaccine against AIDS.

The presidents of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University said the new Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Institute "will bring scientists and clinicians together with engineers using the latest technologies in an interdisciplinary effort to better understand how the body fights infections and ultimately to apply that understanding against a wide range of infectious diseases and cancers."

"This institute will let top researchers from some of the best institutions in the world apply their full creative potential to problems of tremendous global importance." Dr. Bruce Walker, director of the Ragon Institute, said Tuesday in a news release.

Phillip Terrence Ragon, 59, is the founder and sole owner of InterSystems, which provides database software to hospitals and other industries, The Boston Globe said.

More (http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/02/05/100M_given_for_AIDS_vaccine_research/UPI-92591233812291/)


Jaids

Effect of Simultaneous Use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy on Survival of HIV Patients With Tuberculosis
Introduction: The optimal timing for initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients with AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) is an unresolved question. To assess the effect of HAART on the survival of patients with TB, we designed this study.

Methods: We selected all HIV patients included in the COMESEM cohort with TB diagnosis after 1996. Clinical and epidemiological data were registered. We compared patients who started HAART at the diagnosis of TB [simultaneous therapy (ST)] or not. Survival was assessed by Cox analysis.

Results: Among the 6934 HIV patients included in the cohort, 1217 patients had TB, 322 of them (26.5%) after 1996. At the time of TB diagnosis, 45% of them started HAART (ST). There were no differences between groups regarding basal characteristics, except for a lower viral load in ST patients. ST therapy was associated with improved survival (hazard ratio 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.72, P = 0.003). By univariate analysis, survival was also associated with no endovenous drug use and a later year of TB diagnosis. After adjusting for other prognostic variables, by Cox multivariate analysis, ST remained robustly associated with improved survival (hazard ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.17 to 0.66, P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Simultaneous HAART and TB treatment in HIV patients with TB is associated with improved survival.

More (http://www.mdlinx.com/readArticle.cfm?art_id=2569608)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 05, 2009, 04:56:52 am
NATAP

High rate of early virological failure with the once-daily tenofovir/lamivudine/nevirapine combination in naive HIV-1-infected patients
The DAUFIN trial showed an unexpected and high rate of early virological failures in patients treated with tenofovirDF + lamivudine and nevirapine once daily, with a high incidence of resistance mutations to NNRTIs, and K65R conferring broad cross-resistance to nucleoside analogues. At baseline, failing patients had higher viral loads and lower CD4 cell counts than subjects with success. But adherence to treatment was similar in the two groups and we failed to identify any pharmacological explanation for virological failures. Whatever the mechanism that led to the high viral failure rate, we deem it essential to alert that the once-daily combination of tenofovirDF, lamivudine and nevirapine should not be given as a first-line ARV therapy.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020509_05.htm)

Oral HIV-exposure elicits mucosal HIV-neutralizing antibodies in uninfected men who have sex with men
Of 25 exposed, uninfected individuals (EUI), 21 reported receptive unprotected oral intercourse, whereas three of the 25 reported unprotected anal receptive intercourse. Whole saliva from both EUI and low-risk healthy controls contained HIV-neutralizing activity. However, a significant difference was seen when analyzing the salivary IgA1 fraction: 13 of 25 EUI neutralized HIV, whereas none of the 22 controls had this capacity. The neutralizing capacity of the EUI males persisted during 2 years of follow-up.
 
Conclusion: Unprotected oral sex evokes a salivary IgA1-mediated HIV-neutralizing response that persists over time during continuous exposure in uninfected male partners of infected men

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020509_04.htm)

Oral Cancer In Men Associated With HPV
Patients who have HPV infections are at higher risk for these cancers,'' Dr. Worden said. ''But the good news is that if that's the cause of their cancer, they're more likely to survive treatment. We still don't know what the ideal treatment regimens are. For example, these patients may benefit from less intense chemotherapy and radiation.
 
Although the researchers acknowledge that the number of patients in their study was small, they conclude that especially in patients with HPV-positive tumors, chemotherapy followed by combined chemotherapy and radiation appears to be an effective treatment.
 
An author of the papers has an interest in a company that is developing an HPV detection method.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020509_03.htm)

Glomerular filtration rates in HIV-infected patients treated with and without tenofovir: a prospective, observational study
Among HIV-infected viraemic persons with modest baseline renal impairment, observed improvements in MDRD that can occur as a consequence of HAART-induced viral suppression may more than offset potential negative effects of tenofovir upon renal function.
 
In conclusion, in our cohort of HIV-infected viraemic persons with modest baseline renal impairment, we observed improvements in MDRD that were likely linked to HAART-induced viral suppression. Specifically, we noted that HIV VL reductions consequent to tenofovir-based HAART usage were associated with GFR improvements. This may imply that the potential negative effects of tenofovir upon renal function were more than offset by tenofovir's beneficial effects upon HIV suppression. Randomized prospective studies are needed to verify these findings.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020509_02.htm)

New Gene Therapy Disrupts CCR5/HIV Entry: Establishment of HIV-1 resistance in CD4+ T cells by genome editing using zinc-finger nucleases
"....HIV-1-infected mice engrafted with ZFN-modified CD4+ T cells had lower viral loads and higher CD4+ T-cell counts than mice engrafted with wild-type CD4+ T cells, consistent with the potential to reconstitute immune function in individuals with HIV/AIDS by maintenance of an HIV-resistant CD4+ T-cell population....
 
"The HIV-infected mice had increased numbers of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood on days 30 to 50 after infection; however, the early engraftment was not different (Fig. 4f). In addition, mice given CCR5 ZFN-treated cells had substantially lower plasma viremia (mean viral load 8,300 copies/ml) than mice populated with the mock CD4+ T cells (mean viral load 60,100); this demonstrates highly significant protection (P < 0.001, n = 10 mice per group; Fig. 4e). Thus, the modified cells confer resistance to HIV-1 infection in vivo as measured by preferential expansion, viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts. Furthermore, these results demonstrate normal engraftment and growth of these same ZFN-transduced cells even in the absence of this selective pressure"
 
"A limitation of this model is that it is an assay of the resistance to infection, in that it demonstrates that the ZFN-modified CD4+ T cells have been made HIV resistant in vivo, but does not extend to modeling the chronic phase of infection or to issues pertaining to the remaining T-cell repertoire in immunodepleted patients."
 
"In summary, the present results support the clinical development of adoptive immunotherapy in the setting of HIV-1 infection to reconstitute or preserve the memory cell pool of HIV-infected patients with ZFN-modified ex vivo expanded, polyclonal CD4+ T cells that are intrinsically resistant to HIV infection. In our recent preclinical studies we have successfully adapted this process to large scale, yielding 1 times 1010 ZFN-modified CD4+ T cells (data not shown), a number sufficient in principle to support clinical trials. The existence of memory T cells with stem cell-like qualities and the capability for extensive self-renewal40, 41 further supports the rationale for this approach to replenish the memory T-cell pool. Finally, although there would be additional safety considerations in extending this work to stem cells, recent work indicates that it is possible to apply ZFN-based approaches to stem cells42, so that it is conceivable that the framework presented here could be applied to a number of monogenic congenital and acquired diseases."

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020409_02.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 06, 2009, 01:37:47 am
NATAP

FDA grants traditional approval of Isentress (raltegravir)
On January 29, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted traditional approval for Isentress (raltegravir) 400 mg tablets in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced adult patients. The product label and patient package insert have been updated to include 48 week data from Studies 018 and 019.

The complete revised label can be found on the FDA web site here (http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2009/022145s001lbl.pdf)

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020609_04.htm)

Patient Information Page from The Hormone Foundation: Vitamin D, Calcium, and Bone Health
Why is bone health important?

Bone is a living tissue that is constantly breaking down and being replaced. Throughout life, your body balances the loss of bone with the creation of new bone. You reach your highest bone mass at about age 30. Thereafter, you begin to lose bone mass.
 
Over time, bone loss can cause osteopenia (low bone mass) and then osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weak and are more likely to break (fracture). Fractures can cause serious health problems, including disability and premature death. Getting enough vitamin D and calcium is important in keeping your bones healthy and reducing your chances of developing osteopenia or osteoporosis.
 
Why are vitamin D and calcium important to bone health?
 
Vitamin D allows your body to absorb calcium. Calcium is necessary for building strong, healthy bones. Without enough vitamin D and calcium, bones may not form properly in childhood and can lose mass, become weak, and break easily in adulthood. Even if you get enough calcium in your diet, your body will not absorb that calcium if you don't get enough vitamin D.
 
What is vitamin D?
 
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is stored in the body's fatty tissue. People normally get vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, which triggers vitamin D production in the skin.
 
Vitamin D is found naturally in very few foods. In the United States, it is routinely added to milk and infant formula. Other good food sources are egg yolks and some types of fish such as salmon and mackerel. Vitamin D is also available in nutritional supplements.
 
You probably don't get enough vitamin D if you:
 
--spend little time in the sun or use a strong sunblock have very dark skin
--are over age 50, when the body is less able to make and use vitamin D efficiently
--have certain medical conditions such as diseases of the digestive system that interfere with fat and vitamin D absorption
--are very overweight, because vitamin D can get "trapped" in body fat and be less available for the needs of the body
 
What is Calcium?
 
Calcium is a mineral with many functions. Most of the body's calcium is stored in the bones and teeth where it supports their structure. Calcium mainly comes from the foods you eat.
 
Good sources of calcium include dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt); calcium-fortified products (foods and beverages with added calcium); canned fish with bones; and green, leafy vegetables. Like vitamin D, calcium is also available in supplements.
 
You may need extra calcium if you:
 
--are a post-menopausal woman
--eat few or no dairy products
--have a digestive disease that interferes with nutrient absorption
 
What should you do with this information?
 
Talk with your doctor about your intake of vitamin D and calcium, whether you should take supplements, and how much you should take. In addition to getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet, regular, weight-bearing exercise helps keep your bones strong and healthy.

(http://natap.org/2009/images/020509/Rec-1.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020609_03.htm)

Tibotec Submits Application to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Seeking Traditional Approval for INTELENCE(TM) (etravirine)
Tibotec, Inc. today announced it has submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking traditional approval for INTELENCE(TM) (etravirine) tablets, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). The application for traditional approval includes 48-week data from two Phase 3 studies known as DUET-1 and DUET-2.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020609_02.htm)


Aidsmap

HIV treatment during pregnancy does not increase risk of birth abnormalities - even when efavirenz included
HIV treatment during pregnancy does not increase the risk of birth abnormalities, according to the results of a large study published in the online version of AIDS. Researchers from the UK and Ireland looked at the outcome of over 8000 pregnancies in HIV-positive women over a 17 year period and found that the rate of birth abnormalities was the same as that seen in the general population.

Furthermore, no individual anti-HIV drug, including efavirenz (Sustiva, also in the combination pill Atripla) was associated with an increased risk of birth abnormalities. Efavirenz is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the first three months, due to findings from animal studies suggesting a risk of birth defects if the developing foetus is exposed to the drug.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/3DA4A24B-B5EF-4F94-9159-AEAF62B1E9EE.asp)

Untreated HIV depletes CD4 cells in semen - renders men more vulnerable to STIs
HIV infection causes a rapid depletion of immune cells in semen, investigators report in an article published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. This immune depletion could render HIV-positive men more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, suggest the researchers, and such infections can increase the risk of onward HIV transmission.

However, the team of US investigators also found that HIV treatment leads to the restoration of immune system cells in semen.

Most cases of HIV have been sexually transmitted. The risk of sexual HIV transmission is affected by a number of factors including the stage of HIV infection, and the presence of an untreated sexually transmitted infection. Both these factors can increase viral load in semen, increasingly the likelihood of HIV transmission.

Previous research has found that soon after infection with HIV there is massive loss of immune system cells in a number of sites in the body, most notably the gut.

However, the effects of HIV, disease stage and HIV treatment on the profile of immune system cells in the male genital tract has not been well described.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/99B18F9D-5102-4540-B210-063016919836.asp)


deccanherald

Third AIDS vaccine trial set to commence
AIDS researchers in the country are all set to test a combination of two AIDS vaccines, one of which, when tested individually, did not elicit enough immune response against the dreaded Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). To be conducted in two centres in Pune and Chennai, the new trial is first intended to establish the safety of the combination, comprising of two vaccines – ADVAX and TBC-M4. This will be India’s third AIDS vaccine trial in which a prime-boost strategy – one vaccine to trigger the early immune response which is being flared up by a second shot later – has been adopted.

Thirty two volunteers – 16 each at National AIDS Research Institute, Pune and one at the TB Research Centre, Chennai – will receive two dosages of the ADVAX shot followed by two dosages of the second.

While ADVAX – a DNA vaccine – was designed by the Aaron Diamond Research Centre in New York, TBC-M4 is an AIDS vaccine candidate made by an US firm in collaboration with Indian scientist, Shekhar Chakraborty. When the MVA vaccine was individually tested at TRC in 2006-07, it was concluded that though the vaccine was safe for human use, its immune response was too inadequate to take it to the next stage. This means even if the vaccine is administered, it fails to equip the body with enough weapons to battle the HIV. The alternative strategy is to use MVA with an imported DNA vaccine hoping for a better response.

The new trial – announced by the Indian Council of Medical Research and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative on Thursday – intends to try that out. As the first step, the safety of the combination will have to be established through a phase-I trial.

More (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb62009/national20090206116898.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Is Dual Therapy with Raltegravir (Isentress) plus a Boosted Protease Inhibitor a Feasible "Rescue" Strategy for Treatment-experienced Patients ?
The present report described a group of 18 patients, out of a cohort of 44 individuals treated with raltegravir as part of a rescue regimen in the Merck 023 Expanded Access Program, who had a boosted PI as the only available active drug to build an OBR.

Out of these 18 individuals, 9 had experienced virological failure with enfuvirtide (T-20; Fuzeon), 5 discontinued it due to injection site reactions, and 4 declined to start it. The novel CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (Selzentry) and the next-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) etravirine (Intelence) were not yet available at the authors' center. In all cases, the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and NNRTI GSS score was 0.

The physician constructing the patients' salvage regimens decided not to include inactive drugs, so dual-therapy regimens were used. In addition to raltegravir, most patients (n = 13) also received boosted darunavir (Prezista), 1 received lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), 3 received atazanavir (Reyataz), and 1 patient described as "absolutely intolerant" to ritonavir received unboosted atazanavir. While the patients' HIV had numerous protease mutations, both the Stanford and TruGene algorithms showed that they were fully sensitive to the chosen PIs (GSS > 2).

Of the 18 patients starting these salvage regimens, 2 were described as "absolutely non-adherent" to the regimen, and 1 developed acute hepatitis B, discontinued antiretroviral therapy, and did not return to the clinic after recovery. Another patient relapsed into serious depression and stopped all drugs.

Of the remaining 16 patients, 15 rapidly achieved HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL by week 4, and the remaining individual did so at week 8. By week 12, all still had undetectable viral load, and none had interrupted treatment at the time of the report. "Therefore, all adherent patients had undetectable viral load at week 12 (16/16) as [did] all patients who have already reached week 24 (10/10)," the authors wrote. Among the 10 patients who reached week 24, the mean CD4 cell gain was 52 cells/mm3.

No grade 3 or 4 (severe) adverse events or laboratory abnormalities were reported, with the exception of the individual who developed acute hepatitis B. One patient showed a 2-fold increase in ALT and AST at week 12, but this was not confirmed at week 24. In addition, 2 patients showed a grade 2 (moderate) increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides and were successfully treated with rosuvastatin (Crestor).

In conclusion, the authors wrote, "in our cohort where the treatment choice was so narrow, this regimen proved to be potent and highly effective (at least at this short follow-up evaluation), simple, and well accepted by patients."

Taken together, they added, "these observations confirm, as a proof of concept, that the great potency of raltegravir, combined with the potency and high genetic barrier of darunavir, may represent a valuable option in selected patients without chances of building an effective 3-drug regimen. Data on long-term follow-up is though warranted to confirm and extend these results."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/020609_c.html)

Premature Aging of CD4 Cells May Accelerate HIV Disease Progression
Despite extensive research over the past 3 decades, the mechanisms underlying HIV disease progression are still not fully understood. But a report in the January 7, 2009 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes adds another piece to the puzzle.

Weiwei Cao and colleagues sought to determine whether untreated HIV infection and disease progression is associated with premature aging of memory CD8 and CD4 T-cells and naive CD4 T-cells. CD4 cells direct the body's immune response. Memory CD4 cells are primed to respond when they encounter a previous invader again, while naive cells are able to respond to new pathogens.

The researchers looked at 20 HIV positive men classified as fast progressors (diagnosed with AIDS within 4 years of infection) and 40 men classified as slow progressors in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

The expression of cell surface markers on frozen T-cells was measured using flow cytometry, indicating their differentiation stage. Differentiation stage reflects the aging of T-cells. As people age, immune function typically declines. In part, this is related to atrophy of the thymus gland in the neck, where newly produced T-cells mature. In addition, T-cell function decreases over time -- a phenomenon known as "immunosenescence" -- as the cells proliferate in response to antigens. Studies suggest this cellular aging occurs more rapidly in the presence of HIV.

Results

    HIV disease progression was associated with:

        * Decreased CD28 expression (an indicator of immunosenescence) on both CD4 and CD8 T-cells;

        * An increased proportion of intermediate- and late-differentiated CD8 cells;

        * Decreased CD31 expression on naive CD4 cells of recent thymic origin (i.e., recently emerged
           from the thymus).

    Selective depletion of peripherally expanded naive CD4 cells was associated with HIV infection, but not with HIV disease progression.

Based on these findings, the researchers wrote, "The overall change during HIV-1 infection and progression is associated with a shift in the T-cell population toward an aged conformation, which may be further compromised by impaired renewal of the less-differentiated CD4 T-cell population."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/020609_d.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 06, 2009, 01:38:56 am
jaids

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Arterial Stiffness in HIV-Infected Patients: The Role of HIV, Antiretroviral Therapy, and Lipodystrophy
Objectives: HIV-infected patients using combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) have an increased cardiovascular risk. We aimed to identify the effects of HIV, ART, and lipodystrophy (LD) on carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT), a surrogate measure of atherosclerosis, and arterial stiffness, a marker of cardiovascular risk.

Design: Case-control study of 77 HIV-infected men (55 exposed to ART, 22 ART naive, and 23 with LD) and 52 controls.

Methods: C-IMT was measured ultrasonically, and arterial stiffness was estimated by distensibility (DC) and compliance (CC) coefficients of the carotid, femoral, and brachial arteries, by the carotid Young elastic modulus and pulse wave velocity.

Results: After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, HIV-infected patients had a 0.067 mm (10.8%) greater C-IMT than controls, 13.6% and 29.5% lower DC, and 14.1% and 31% lower CC of the carotid and femoral arteries, respectively, but similar Young elastic modulus and pulse wave velocity. Patients exposed to ART had similar C-IMT compared with ART-naive patients but 25.9% lower DC and 21.7% lower CC of the femoral artery. Arterial properties did not differ between patients with and without LD.

Conclusions: HIV infection is independently associated with C-IMT and generally increased arterial stiffness. ART use is associated with increased stiffness of the femoral artery.

More (http://www.jaids.org/pt/re/jaids/abstract.00126334-200902010-00005.htm;jsessionid=JLWhnqhmGWhQC62yNxm6q4vylQ6rpQhrnZkJKHnLR2KWJLVmf4ZF!1321082991!181195629!8091!-1)


liebertonline

Plasma Lipid Profile in Pregnant Women with HIV Receiving Nevirapine
Limited information is currently available on the metabolic profile of nevirapine in pregnancy. We used data from a national observational study to evaluate plasma lipid profile in pregnant women receiving nevirapine. Lipid values were collected during routine clinical visits. Midpregnancy (second trimester) lipid values were analyzed according to use of nevirapine, calculating differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between women taking and not taking this drug. In order to adjust for possible confounders, multivariable models were constructed using as dependent variables levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) levels and TC/HDL-C ratio, and as independent variables age, body weight, previous treatment history, CD4 count, and presence of any antiretroviral therapy, use or nonuse of protease inhibitors, stavudine, and nevirapine at the time of blood sampling. Overall, 375 women had available data for analysis. Pregnant women on nevirapine, compared to women not taking this drug, had in univariate analyses higher levels of HDL-C (difference: +13.0mg/dL [95%CI 7.4–18.6], p<0.001), lower values of TC/HDL-C ratio (difference: -0.51 [0.23–0.80], p<0.001) and a trend for lower levels of triglycerides (difference: -17.6mg/dL [0.7–35.9], p=0.06). Higher HDL-C levels were also associated with use of protease inhibitors and with no previous antiretroviral experience before pregnancy. The associations with higher HDL-C levels were confirmed in multivariable analyses. Our study indicates in pregnant women an association between nevirapine use and higher HDL-C levels. Further studies should assess whether this effect is due to an intrinsic activity of nevirapine and define the potential mechanisms involved.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0148)

Development and Efficacy of an Intervention to Enhance Readiness for Adherence among Adults Who Had Previously Failed HIV Treatment
This paper outlines the development and initial testing of the READY intervention that was designed to enhance readiness for adherence among adults with a history of nonadherence to HIV treatment. Participants in this study were adults (n=28) who ranged in age from 24 to 57: most were male (75%) and African American (64%). Participants had failed an average of four prior HIV treatment regimens due to nonadherence and were beginning a new regimen of protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral medications. The study was conducted from 2003 to 2006, prior to the standard use of boosted PI regimens. Results indicated that 50% of participants became adherent and had suppressed viral loads to less than 50 copies per milliliter at the 3-month postintervention follow-up time point. Of those who became adherent, 79% remained adherent at the 12-month postintervention follow-up time point. Implementation of the intervention was found to be feasible in a real-world setting and participants reported that they liked the intervention. A 6-session length of the intervention was found to have the same impact on adherence outcomes as a 12-session length. No differences were found in outcomes with regard to the intervention's start time: before or at the same time the new antiretroviral regimen was initiated. These results suggest that the READY intervention may have merit and that the 6-session length may be more acceptable. However, a larger controlled study is indicated to examine intervention efficacy further.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0170)


retrovirology

HIV-1 exploits importin 7 to maximize nuclear import of its DNA genome
Background

Nuclear import of the HIV-1 reverse transcription complex (RTC) is critical for infection of non dividing cells, and importin 7 (imp7) has been implicated in this process. To further characterize the function of imp7 in HIV-1 replication we generated cell lines stably depleted for imp7 and used them in conjunction with infection, cellular fractionation and pull-down assays.

Results

Imp7 depletion impaired HIV-1 infection but did not significantly affect HIV-2, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac), or equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The lentiviral dependence on imp7 closely correlated with binding of the respective integrase proteins to imp7. HIV-1 RTC associated with nuclei of infected cells with remarkable speed and knock down of imp7 reduced HIV-1 DNA nuclear accumulation, delaying infection. Using an HIV-1 mutant deficient for reverse transcription, we found that viral RNA accumulated within nuclei of infected cells, indicating that reverse transcription is not absolutely required for nuclear import. Depletion of imp7 impacted on HIV-1 DNA but not RNA nuclear import and also inhibited DNA transfection efficiency.
Conclusions

Although imp7 may not be essential for HIV-1 infection, our results suggest that imp7 facilitates nuclear trafficking of DNA and that HIV-1 exploits imp7 to maximize nuclear import of its DNA genome. Lentiviruses other than HIV-1 may have evolved to use alternative nuclear import receptors to the same end.

More (http://www.retrovirology.com/content/6/1/11)


CDC

Causes of Death in HIV-infected Persons Who Have Tuberculosis, Thailand
Up to 50% of persons with HIV and a diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in Thailand die during TB treatment. In a prospective observational study, a team of physicians ascribed the cause of death after reviewing verbal autopsies (interviews of family members about events preceding death), laboratory data, and medical records. Of 849 HIV-infected TB patients enrolled, 142 (17%) died. The cause of death was TB for 38 (27%), including 6 with multidrug-resistant TB and 20 with disseminated TB; an HIV-associated condition other than TB for 50 (35%); and a condition unrelated to TB or HIV for 22 (15%). Twenty-three patients (16%) were judged not to have had TB at all. Death from all causes except those unrelated to TB or HIV was less common in persons receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). In addition to increasing the use of ART, death rates may be reduced through expanded use of modern TB diagnostic techniques.

More (http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/2/258.htm)


esciencenews

Mathematical models reveal how organisms transcend the sum of their genes
Molecular and cellular biologists have made tremendous scientific advances by dissecting apart the functions of individual genes, proteins, and pathways. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering are looking to expand that understanding by putting the pieces back together, mathematically. John Yin, a professor of chemical and biological engineering, developed computer models of a relatively simple virus to show that genes alone do not make an organism. With mathematical representations of the virus's known biology, he and former graduate student Kwang-il Lim demonstrate how genomic organization and regulation can have a large impact on biological outcomes. As shown in a new paper, simply shuffling the order of the five genes in the virus's genome has a huge impact on how well the virus grows and how it interacts with its simulated host cell.

Their new results are reported Friday, Feb. 6, in the journal PLoS Computational Biology at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000283.

The work has many potential applications. Understanding how to control the virus's growth and infectivity will help guide efforts to develop VSV as a cancer-targeting agent and create vaccines against more problematic viruses such as HIV-1 and influenza.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/02/05/mathematical.models.reveal.how.organisms.transcend.sum.their.genes)


medicalnewstoday

Wall Street Journal Examines Unsafe Injection Practices That Could Spread HIV, Other Diseases
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined unsafe injection methods sometimes practiced in clinics and hospitals that can spread HIV, hepatitis and other bloodborne diseases. According to the Journal, most health care providers are aware of the risks associated with reusing needles; however, some medical workers do not follow other injection guidelines, such as discarding syringes after each use. If a health worker reuses either a syringe or a needle after administering an injection to someone who has HIV, hepatitis or another disease, they risk transmitting that disease to another patient. In addition, using an unclean needle or syringe to draw out medication from a multiple-dose vial can contaminate the vial itself and put future patients at risk.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/137958.php)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 06, 2009, 01:41:58 am
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Starts Sunday in Montreal

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/images/logo_1.gif)

The 59th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) will take place next week, February 8-11, in Montreal, Canada.

As one of the most prominent international scientific meetings on HIV/AIDS, many researchers choose CROI as the venue for presenting their latest research.

While no breakthrough HIV drugs are nearing approval this year, the conference will feature several sessions on shifting antiretroviral therapy strategies, including the benefits and drawbacks of earlier treatment.

CROI 2009 will also include presentations dealing with complications of antiretroviral therapy, biomedical HIV prevention methods, and management of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections in resource-limited settings.

Abstracts and selected presentations will be available on the conference web site, here (http://www.retroconference.org/2009) as content is released from embargo next Monday through Wednesday.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 07, 2009, 12:44:05 pm
bizjournals

Sales of Trimeris' Fuzeon fall 39% in 4Q
Global sales of Trimeris’ AIDS drug, Fuzeon, fell by 39 percent in the fourth quarter, continuing the treatment’s downward trend.

Trimeris (Nasdaq: TRMS), based in Durham, says worldwide net sales of the treatment were $40.5 million, down from $66.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Net sales in the U.S. and Canada were $16.1 million, down 49 percent from a year earlier. Outside the U.S., sales were $24.4 million, down 30 percent from the same period in 2007.

For all of 2008, Fuzeon sales were $167 million, down from $267 million in 2007.

Trimeris co-promotes Fuzeon with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche. The drug’s sales were poached in 2008 by new AIDS treatments from big pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Merck and Gilead Sciences.

Trimeris, once a Wall Street darling whose shares fetched more than $70 at the height of the stock market bubble in 2000, has seen its fortunes turn around since then. The company remains profitable. But the blockbuster sales many thought would come for Fuzeon never came. Efforts to bring other drugs to the market stalled.

Earlier this year, the company shut down all research efforts after finishing early-stage human trials of TRI-1144, a more potent version of Fuzeon. It also has laid off all but a small handful of workers and returned the majority of its cash to investors in the form of special dividends.

Source (http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/othercities/triangle/stories/2009/02/02/daily34.html?)


AEGIS

HAART and cervical abnormalities—a long-term study
Like HIV, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is also sexually transmitted. As a result, many HIV positive men and women are co-infected with both viruses. Infection with HPV can cause warts in or around the genitals and anus. More troublingly, HPV can also cause abnormal growths on the cervix, vulva, penis and inside the anus. In some cases, these abnormal growths can transform and become pre-cancerous and can even form tumours.

As HIV weakens the immune system, HPV infection tends to persist; therefore, co-infected women can have high rates of abnormal cervical growths and cervical cancer compared to HIV negative women.

In high-income countries, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is generally widely available. This therapy reduces the production of new HIV, allowing the immune system to begin to rebuild itself. Consequently, life-threatening infections—the hallmark of AIDS—are uncommon in people who are engaged in their medical care and treatment in these countries.

In one study, researchers in the United States have been closely monitoring the gynecologic health of HIV positive women, in some cases for up to seven years. They found that in some women the use of HAART might enhance the ability of the immune system to control HPV.

Study details

The team of researchers began recruiting hundreds of HIV positive women and other women at high risk for HIV infection in 1993. Study clinics were located in the following American cities:

    * Baltimore
    * Detroit
    * Bronx
    * Providence

Women were seen twice yearly at study clinics where they were extensively interviewed, underwent physical and gynecologic examinations and had blood and other fluids collected for analysis. During these visits, Pap tests were performed and women with abnormal results received further gynecologic care as necessary.

The study team focused on 537 HIV positive women, about half of whom had never used HAART. The average profile of these participants at the time they entered the study was as follows:

    * age – 35 years
    * 50% had injected street drugs
    * main ethno-racial distribution: 60% Black, 22% White, 16% Hispanic
    * 71% currently smoked cigarettes
    * 60% of the women had detectable HPV on their cervix using high-tech PCR tests
    * most women had CD4+ counts between 200 and 499 cells
    * only 6% of women had a viral load below the 50-copy mark

Results

Women who had moderately abnormal Pap test results and who used HAART seemed mostly likely to clear HPV cervical infection.

But in women who had mildly abnormal Pap test results, HAART did not seem to help their immune systems clear HPV.

Overall, women taking HAART were 30% less likely to have worsening Pap test results. Moreover, HAART users were 30% more likely to have Pap tests results improve over the course of the study.

Don’t miss the Pap

The study authors caution that while HAART appears to help the immune system clear HPV and reduce the severity of HPV disease, these effects do not happen quickly nor is cervical health fully restored. Therefore, HIV positive women continue to need regular and close gynecologic care so that abnormal growths can be caught early in their development.

Source (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=793)


aidsmap

Gay men should have rectal tests for chlamydia as part of routine sexual health care
A study was designed by researchers from the hospital with three aims:

    * To determine the prevalence of rectal chlamydia amongst gay men.
    * To find out how many of these infections were asymptomatic.
    * To establish the number of infections that would have remained undiagnosed had routine
       screening not been introduced.

The study was conducted between 2005 and 2006 and included a total of 3076 men. All these men had urethral screens for chlamydia and 3017 had rectal swabs for the infection.

Results showed that 8% of men had rectal chlamydia with 5% having urethral chlamydia. The prevalence of chlamydia was higher than any other infection, with tests showing that 4% of men had rectal gonorrhoea, 5% had urethral gonorrhoea and 3% syphilis.

The investigators then looked at the cases of chlamydia in more detail. Of the 397 men diagnosed with chlamydia, 62% (247) were infected rectally, 42% (165) had urethral infection and 4% (15) had the infection in both sites.

Rectal infection with chlamydia was asymptomatic in 69% (171) men and would therefore have been missed without routine screening. Only 8% of asymptomatic men also had urethral infection.

Rectal LGV was diagnosed in 14% (35) of the men with rectal chlamydia. There was also one case of urethral LGV. The vast majority of rectal LGV cases (82%) were symptomatic.

There was a high prevalence of HIV infection in men with rectal chlamydia (38%, 94 individuals). The investigators also note that twelve men were first diagnosed with HIV at the same time as rectal infection with chlamydia was detected.

Factors significantly associated with rectal chlamydia were HIV infection (p < 0.01), rectal gonorrhoea (p = 0.0002) and genital warts (p = 0.016). The investigators excluded men with LGV from their statistical analysis, but they still found a significant association between rectal chlamydia and HIV (p = o.004) and rectal chlamydia with rectal gonorrhoea (p = 0.002).

“Our data shows a higher rate of rectal chlamydia infection compared to gonorrhoea, a significant proportion of which were asymptomatic”, write the investigators.

They conclude, “current STI guidelines in the UK only recommend routine screening for rectal gonorrhoea but not rectal chlamydia and our data support the need to revisit these guidelines. We recommend routine screening for rectal chlamydia in men who have sex with men at risk of acquiring this infection.”

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AAD3C88C-0C0B-43F8-8C73-66BCD4FA16E6.asp)


NATAP

Does Early Antiretroviral Treatment Prevent Liver Fibrosis in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients ?
In this study of 395 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, the interval between diagnosis of HIV infection and initiation of antiretroviral therapy was longer among patients with significant fibrosis (F3-F4). These latter patients were less likely to be antiretroviral naive and had received antiretroviral therapy for longer than patients with mild fibrosis. This suggests that it is not the prescription or duration of HAART that protects from hepatic fibrosis but rather its early initiation after diagnosis of HIV infection. Our results are in line with those of 2 recent studies. Verma et al8 also found that fibrosis progressed more slowly in patients who started HAART early after HIV diagnosis. Likewise, Marine-Barjoan et al9 found that the interval between the presumed date of HCV infection and HAART initiation was significantly longer among patients with severe fibrosis than among patients with no fibrosis or moderate fibrosis. A recent study suggests that cytotoxic CD8 T-cell accumulation, and associated release of inflammatory mediators, may augment liver damage (mainly fibrosis) in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.10 The protective effect of HAART on liver damage could thus be linked to an attenuation of inflammation. Independent links have been reported between hepatic fibrosis progression on the one hand and CD4 cell depletion and HIV nonsuppression on the other hand.3,11 However, we found no significant association between severe fibrosis and the CD4 cell count, the CD4 cell nadir, prior CD4 cell counts below 100 cells per cubic millimeter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention class of HIV disease, or detectable HIV viral load.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020709_06.htm)

GSK Acquires New HIV NNRTI IDX899 From Idenix
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced the execution of a license agreement granting GSK exclusive worldwide rights to IDX899.

About IDX899
 
IDX899 is a potent non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) being developed for the treatment of HIV-1. Idenix has advanced IDX899 through a Phase II proof-of-concept study in HIV-1 infected treatment-naive patients that was completed in 2008. In the proof-of-concept study, patients (n=32) receiving once-daily oral administration of IDX899 achieved mean viral load reductions of 1.8 log(10), after seven days of treatment as tested with the Roche Amplicor(R) 1.5 assay. In this study, no treatment-related serious adverse events were reported and no patients discontinued. The most common adverse events observed were dyspepsia, headache and nausea; the rate of these events was similar between IDX899-treated patients and those receiving placebo. Additionally, no patterns in laboratory abnormalities between treatment groups were observed during the treatment period.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020709_03.htm)

Is Dual Therapy With Raltegravir and Protease Inhibitors a Feasible Option in Rescue Strategy in HIV-1 Infection ?
Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the rule of 3-drug combinations has become a well-recognized need in the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Two-drug combinations always proved to be less effective,1,2 and 4 drugs have been so far found to be no better than 3.3 However, in the salvage setting, the concepts of active drugs and genotypic sensitivity score flanked and often substituted this simple rule.4 Although rescue drugs generally seem to be effective in the presence of a genotypic sensitivity score (GSS) = 2 in the optimized background regimen (OBR),5 in the Benchmrk trials, the integrase inhibitor raltegravir has shown to suppress HIV RNA to <50 copies per milliliter in 67% of the subgroup of patients having a GSS = 1 in their OBR at a follow-up of 24 weeks.
More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020709_02.htm)

Use of Saliva as a Lubricant in Anal Sexual Practices Among Homosexual Men
Our findings provide the rationale for formal investigation of whether saliva used as a lubricant in anal sex may contribute to the transmission of saliva-borne pathogens in MSM. Until it can be disproved that saliva-borne pathogens are transmitted through this route, there now needs to be debated as to whether prevention guidelines should be expanded to include avoidance of saliva exposure via this route.....Education alone regarding the risks of saliva use in this manner may be all that is needed to facilitate behavior change. Structural interventions, such as the copackaging of condoms with packets of sterile jelly lubricants, might also be useful in sustaining the message. This debate will likely only be settled through collection of more epidemiologic data directly examining the infectivity of saliva when used as a lubricant and novel data from the community on the perceived consequences among MSM of a message that suggested avoidance of the use of saliva in this way.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/020709_01.htm)


huliq

Study on slow progressors to investigate new treatments for HIV
Why do some HIV patients manage to control the progression of their infection naturally over long periods of time? As part of a nation-wide investigation, a team of researchers will examine that question and others as they work to develop new strategies to fight AIDS.

The five-year study will be headed by Dr. Cécile Tremblay, a physician and investigator with the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal's Research Centre (CRCHUM) and a professor at the Université de Montréal, thanks to nearly $1 million in support from the Canadian Institutes for Health research (CIHR).

In light of a limited success in developing vaccine therapies, it has become clear that the scientific community needs to place greater emphasis on the basic research necessary to address the many unanswered questions that remain about HIV. One of the best approaches to try to develop effective vaccines is the study of HIV-infected individuals who control their infection naturally and do not show disease progression over a long period of time. Called slow progressors (SP), these individuals make up less than 1percent of HIV-infected population. Some of the questions that this study will address include:

What constitutes a protective immune response?
What are the drivers of HIV diversity?
Can we develop broadly neutralizing antibodies?
And, ultimately, how can this understanding lead to the development of an effective vaccine?
Conducting a study of this nature requires a sufficiently large pool of slow progessors. Enter Dr. Tremblay, whose team has assembled a unique cohort of slow progessors in Quebec and, thanks to the CIHR funding, she will expand it throughout Canada. This national effort will involve the collaboration of major HIV clinical scientists across the country, including in Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria, as well as international colleagues.

The cohort will enable researchers to gather important information concerning the clinical course of HIV, which may lead to the identification of factors that predict a favourable outcome. The study will enable the collection of samples that will be stored in a specimen bank, which will be made available to various investigators investigating the progression of HIV.

The project aims to determine the natural history of the disease over a five-year period. It will also focus on the impact of viral genetic evolution on the immune system through the collection of clinical, demographic, social and behavioural data that will be analyzed in correlation with virological, immunological and genetic findings.

By University of Montreal

Source (http://www.huliq.com/11/77214/study-slow-progressors-investigate-new-treatments-hiv)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 01:23:23 pm
sciencedaily

New Hope For Immunocompromised Individuals With Drug-resistant Fungal Infections
Even the most drug-resistant fungi can be eradicated in multiple in vitro and in vivo models using a lethal combination of an antifungal agent and inhibition of the heat shock protein Hsp90, according to a new study by Whitehead Institute and University of Toronto researchers. The findings could enable development of novel antifungal therapies for patients with compromised immune systems.

Immunocompromised individuals--including HIV, chemotherapy, and organ transfer patients--with resistant fungal infections suffer mortality rates ranging from 50 to 90 percent.

"Being a pediatric oncologist, I have seen many unfortunate patients die from resistant fungal infections," says Luke Whitesell, a scientist in the lab of Whitehead Member Susan Lindquist. "It's incredibly frustrating to see a child with their cancer in remission being slowly eaten alive by a fungus like Aspergillus, and there's nothing you can do about it."

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090209205317.htm)

Anti-HIV Gel Shows Promise In Large-scale Study In Women
An investigational vaginal gel intended to prevent HIV infection in women has demonstrated encouraging signs of success in a clinical trial conducted in Africa and the United States. Findings of the recently concluded study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH, were presented Feb 9 at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal.

The study investigators found the microbicide gel—known as PRO 2000 (Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, Mass.)—to be safe and approximately 30 percent effective (33 percent effectiveness would have been considered statistically significant). This is the first human clinical study to suggest that a microbicide—a gel, foam or cream intended to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections when applied topically inside the vagina or rectum—may prevent male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV infection.

"Although more data are needed to conclusively determine whether PRO 2000 protects women from HIV infection, the results of this study are encouraging," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090209110637.htm)


Washington Post

Drugs Are Found to Block HIV In Monkeys

(http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/02/09/PH2009020903370.jpg)
The Truvada pill, made by Gilead Sciences, contains two antiretroviral drugs and was tested on monkeys in a scientific study.

AIDS researchers who were gathered in Montreal yesterday heard encouraging results from studies of three strategies for preventing HIV infection using pharmaceuticals, particularly in women.

Two experiments in monkeys showed that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, given by mouth or by vaginal gel, were highly effective in blocking infection by the virus that causes AIDS.

A third study, in 3,100 women in the United States and Africa, showed a small amount of protection from a vaginal gel that acts by binding up the AIDS virus and preventing it from invading cells.

Many experts believe that, short of a vaccine, a virus-blocking substance that could be inserted in the vagina or rectum before sexual activity would be the most important tool in fighting the AIDS pandemic. Numerous topical microbicides have been tried, but none have worked, and two have actually increased the risk of infection.

"The field of microbicide gels is now moving into a new generation," said Walid Heneine, a virologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who led one of the monkey studies.

Microbicides can be applied without the knowledge of sexual partners. They are seen as being especially important in cultures where the subservient status of women makes it difficult for them to insist on abstinence or condom use, the two proven methods of preventing infection through sexual contact. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 60 percent of HIV-positive people are women.

The gel used in the human study reduced the risk of infection by 30 percent over the course of about two years, an effect that did not reach the level of statistical significance. The women -- from the United States, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe -- also used condoms in about three-quarters of their sexual encounters.

More (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020902473.html?wprss=rss_world)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 01:27:14 pm
eurekalert

Indiana University discovery may provide new approach to HIV treatment
INDIANAPOLIS — Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have identified a potential new target in the war on HIV/AIDS. The information was published in the Jan. 16 issue of the journal Molecular Cell.

The study revealed that a variant of a protein involved in HIV pathogenesis can suppress production of an HIV protein, known as Nef. Nef is required for the human immunodeficiency virus to develop into AIDS through a series of complex events involving viral elements and cellular proteins. Nef has never been a target for drug treatment in HIV patients.

Johnny J. He, Ph.D., principal author of the research and the director of the Indiana University Center for AIDS Research, said a drug affecting Nef could complement existing therapies to provide protection against the virus.

The current treatment for HIV/AIDS is highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). It is a combination of drugs that target two HIV enzymes – reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) or RT or PR inhibitors.

Dr. He said another encouraging outcome of the research was the discovery that Nef could be suppressed on the molecular level to prevent it from translating into protein.

"These scientific advances have therapeutic potential to interrupt the progression of the virus into AIDS," said Dr. He, who also is a professor of microbiology and immunology and medicine.

More (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/iu-iud012009.php)

Model of pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV forecasts benefits, potential cost-effectiveness
WHAT: For every two people who begin treatment for HIV infection globally, five others become newly infected. Therefore, preventing new HIV infections is the foremost strategy for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. One potential prevention strategy involves giving antiretroviral drug regimens to people who are at high risk for HIV to protect them from infection. Important questions about this experimental approach, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), remain unanswered, including, Could PrEP cut the lifetime risk of HIV infection? Would PrEP be cost-effective?

A new mathematical model of PrEP use in U.S. populations at high risk for HIV infection takes these and other questions into account and predicts the prevention strategy could substantially reduce the lifetime risk of HIV infection. According to the model, the cost-effectiveness of PrEP could vary substantially depending on the age of the target population, their risk behaviors, the annual rate of new HIV infections in the target population, and the efficacy and cost of antiretroviral PrEP drugs. These findings are reported by a team of scientists led by A. David Paltiel, Ph.D., of Yale University, and supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, all part of the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Paltiel says his team's model is the first to establish performance benchmarks that clarify the clinical, epidemiologic and economic circumstances under which PrEP would represent good patient care, good public health and good value.

To create their model, the researchers made several conservative assumptions: 1) PrEP is 50 percent effective; 2) the target population is American men who have sex with men who average 34 years of age; 3) 1.6 percent of this population becomes newly infected with HIV annually; and 4) the antiretroviral drugs (tenofovir and emtricitabine) cost $9,000 per year. With these parameters, the model predicts PrEP would cut the lifetime risk of HIV infection from 44 percent to 25 percent. However, the life expectancy of the target population from the time after beginning PrEP would increase by less than a year (from 39.9 years to 40.7 years) and PrEP would not be cost-effective by current U.S. standards. Yet with modest improvements in the efficacy of antiretrovirals used preventively, more realistic estimates of their cost (potentially as low as $900 per year), or a target population that is younger and at higher risk, the model predicts PrEP might be as cost-effective as other widely recommended public health and medical interventions in the United States. With large improvements in these parameters, the potential benefits of PrEP could be substantial, according to the model. For example, assuming PrEP will be 90 percent effective leads the predicted lifetime risk of HIV infection to fall from 44 percent to 6 percent.

More (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-02/nioa-mop020909.php)


news-medical

Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced the execution of a license agreement granting GSK exclusive worldwide rights to IDX899
IDX899 is a novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in Phase II clinical development being developed by Idenix for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. New NNRTIs are needed to address the increasing prevalence of viral resistance and side effects associated with this drug class. To date, IDX899 has demonstrated high potency with low milligram doses, a high barrier to drug resistance, favorable risk/benefit profile, and the convenience of once-a-day administration.

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will assume all development responsibility and associated costs for IDX899, and Idenix will receive an upfront payment of $34 million and will be eligible to receive up to $416 million in development, regulatory and sales milestones. Furthermore, if IDX899 is successfully developed and commercialized, Idenix will receive double-digit, tiered worldwide royalties.

"GSK, with a well-established HIV franchise and substantial drug development experience, is the ideal collaborator to help maximize the potential of IDX899," said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, Chief Executive Officer of Idenix. "For Idenix, the significant value created through the license of IDX899 enables us to focus all of our resources on advancing our core strategic HCV assets, which include drug candidates from the three major classes of direct-acting HCV antivirals."

More (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=45666)


aegis

Low-level HIV replication versus latency: identifying the source of viral rebounds during treatment interruption
In HIV research, there is a persistent and vigorous debate around the question of whether or not viral replication persists in the face of successful antiretroviral therapy. During a plenary session at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City back in August, Bob Siliciano made a compelling argument that, in most cases, antiretroviral therapy completely shuts down virus production.[1]

Now, a new paper in PNAS provides additional support for this view.[2]

Beda Joos and colleagues evaluated a staggering 1,753 genetic sequences from the envelope region of HIV, sampled over the course of a treatment interruption trial known as SSITT (Swiss-Spanish Intermittent Treatment Trial). The study design involved a series of two-week treatment breaks followed by a prolonged interruption (therapy was subsequently reinitiated according to the CD4 and viral load thresholds used in current treatment guidelines).

The researchers used the sequence data to plot the relationships between the different viruses, using a technique called phylogenetic analyses. For each study participant analyzed, the sequences were used to define “the most recent common ancestor” (MRCA), which is the virus sequence from which all the others derived. Viruses that appeared during treatment interruptions (TIs) were then compared to the MRCA, to see if the sequences suggested that there had been ongoing replication and evolution while the study participants were on ART. The results showed that the rebounding viruses during TI were actually more distant from the MRCA than the viruses detected when the participants first entered the study. The researchersconclude: “the striking lack of a temporal relationship between rebounding virus and pretreatment viruses strongly suggests that rebounding virus originates from reactivated, latently infected cells rather than from a cellular pool or compartment engaged in low-level replication.”

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=823)

Recent reports on new drug interactions
A selection of the latest news and reviews from the Liverpool University pharmacology team at hiv-druginteractions.org are included below.

http://www.hiv-druginteractions.org

Drug interactions with integrase inhibitors

This is an outstanding review on the pharmacology of integrase inhibitors with a substantial section on raltegravir drug-drug interactions and elvitegravir drug-drug interactions. There are four tables summarising all known interactions to date. The authors conclude that overall raltegravir has a low propensity for clinically meaningful drug interactions, whereas elvitegravir (with the presence of ritonavir) has modest potential for interactions.

The review is highly recommended and will appear in 2009. An advance version is available online, but minor changes may still occur before final publication.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=824)

Serum bilirubin increases when PEG-interferon and ribavirin are used with atazanavir
This was a retrospective study of 72 HCV/HIV co-infected patients who initiated HCV therapy (peg-IFN weekly and ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day) and were on either an atazanavir-containing regimen (n=36) or other antiretrovirals (not including indinavir, n=36). Fourteen subjects in the atazanavir group and six in the control group were then excluded from analysis due to poor drug adherence.

The major finding was that on average serum bilirubin increases following initiation of peg-IFN and ribavirin were 1.9-fold higher in patients on atazanavir than in controls. In the atazanavir group, the proportion of patients with grade 3-4 hyperbilirubinaemia increased from 2/22 to 10/22 after beginning hepatitis therapy. No controls developed hyperbilirubinaemia.

The elevation in serum bilirubin levels is directly related to the haemoglobin decline as a result of ribavirin use and haemolysis. The clearance of the increased bilirubin is compromised by atazanavir.

Ref: Rodriguez-Novoa S et al. Increase in serum bilirubin in HIV/hepatitis-C virus co-infected patients on atazanavir therapy following initiation of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=825)

Drug interactions between efavirenz and itraconazole
This is a case report of the interaction between itraconazole and efavirenz in a woman with disseminated histoplasmosis and HIV-1 infection. Previous data in healthy volunteers have shown a decrease of about 40% in exposure of itraconazole and its active metabolite (hydroxyitraconazole) and a recommendation to consider alternative antifungal treatment. Here the authors recommend that by the use of therapeutic drug monitoring of both efavirenz and itraconazole individual optimization of dosage can be made so that a change in therapy is not necessary. In this case the patient had a good clinical response and obtained therapeutic concentrations with a regimen including efavirenz 400 mg once daily and itraconazole 800 mg once daily.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=826)

Effect on tacrolimus when switching from nelfinavir to fosamprenavir
This case report outlines the change in tacrolimus trough blood concentrations when 4 HIV-infected orthotopic liver transplant patients were switched from nelfinavir (1250 mg twice daily) to fosamprenavir (1400 mg twice daily without ritonavir) due to the EMEA ruling on nelfinavir in June 2007. After the switch, tacrolimus trough concentrations dropped significantly (>50%) and a marked dosage increase was required to attain the desired target concentration. The cases highlight the need for caution in immunosuppressed patients when switching or starting a protease inhibitor.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=827)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 01:31:49 pm
hivandhepatitis

Two New Pharmaco-enhancers -- GS 9305 and SPI-452 -- May Rival Ritonavir (Norvir) as a Boosting Agent
The discovery that a small dose of ritonavir (Norvir) can be used to "boost" plasma levels of other protease inhibitors contributed to a dramatic improvement in the efficacy and convenience of antiretroviral therapy. This is due to the fact that ritonavir interferes with the action of the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzyme, which metabolizes many drugs including other protease inhibitors (PIs). When drug clearance is slowed by ritonavir, concentrations in the body remain higher for longer periods.

Ritonavir is not without problems however -- including its association with metabolic side effects such as elevated blood lipids and its control by a single company (Abbott) -- leading researchers to explore new "pharmaco-enhancing" agents that can serve the same function.

Data on 2 such candidates were presented on Monday, February 9, at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009), taking place this week in Montreal.

GS-9350

Brian Kearney from Gilead Sciences presented early data on GS 9350, the result of a development program that sought a pharmaco-enhancing agent that works by the same mechanism as ritonavir, but without anti-HIV activity of its own.

The company wanted a suitable agent to include in coformulations with other drugs, including its investigational integrase inhibitor elvitegravir, which requires boosting to reach optimal therapeutic levels (an in-progress study of elvitegravir is using ritonavir as a booster).

Preclinical Studies

Gilead reported data from pre-clinical and early clinical studies of GS 9350. Antiviral activity was assessed using standard assays. The drug's effects on CP450 enzyme inhibition and metabolism (including lipid and glucose accumulation) were studied in cultured human liver cells.

Results

    * GS 9350 was shown to slow systemic drug clearance by inhibiting CYP3A.
    * GS 9350 appeared to be a more specific inhibitor CYP3A than ritonavir, with less effect on other
       CP450 enzymes.
    * GS 9350 exhibited no activity against HIV at concentrations up to 90 mcM.
    * GS 9350 was not associated with lipid accumulation in adipocytes (fat cells) at 30 mcM and only
       minimally (< 10%) inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake at 10 mcM.
    * GS 9350 had a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, including high aqueous solubility (about 200 times
       that of ritonavir), making it suitable for coformulation with other drugs.

Phase 1 Trial

Following these promising laboratory findings, the pharmacokinetics, safety, and boosting activity of GS 9350 were studied in Phase 1 clinical trials.

In Study GS-216-0101, healthy HIV negative volunteers (18 per cohort) were randomly assigned to receive GS 9350 (at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg once-daily) or 100 mg ritonavir or placebo, both as a single dose and as multiple doses administered over a 14-day period. Investigators used the benzodiazepine midazolam -- a known CYP3A substrate -- as a "probe" to assess how well GS 9350 boosted drug levels.

Results

    * GS 9350 doses of 100 and 200 mg inhibited midazolam clearance by 92% and 95%, respectively,
       compared with 95% using ritonavir.
    * GS 9350 was generally well tolerated, both single and multiple doses.
    * No drug-related grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities or grade 4 clinical adverse events were
      observed; the single grade 3 clinical event was a woman who said she could no longer juggle while
      taking the drug, which was classified as "discoordination").
    * GS 9350 was reported to have little taste, in contrast to the notoriously bitter ritonavir.

Quad Pill

After this successful proof-of-concept trial, researchers created fixed-dose "quad" coformulations containing GS 9350 plus 150 mg elvitegravir, 300 mg tenofovir, and 200 mg emtricitabine -- a complete once-daily regimen in a single pill smaller than Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine, a collaborative effort of Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb).

Study GS-236-0101 (also Phase 1) assessed the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and safety of the quad pill in 44 healthy HIV negative volunteers. In this open-label trial, participants were assigned to receive a quad pill containing either 100 or 150 mg GS 9350.

The pharmacokinetic profile of elvitegravir administered in the single-tablet coformulation regimen was compared to the profile when the drug was boosted with 100 mg ritonavir and administered with the same doses of tenofovir and emtricitabine (the Truvada combination pill).

Results

    * Both the 100 mg and 150 mg GS 9350 coformulations boosted plasma concentrations of
       elvitegravir.
    * The tablet containing 150 mg GS 9350 produced elvitegravir concentrations previously determined
       to be therapeutic, including maintenance of an adequate trough concentration (lowest level
       between doses).
    * Here again, treatment was generally well tolerated.
    * There were no drug-related grade 3 or 4 clinical adverse events and no grade 4 laboratory
       abnormalities; the sole grade 3 lab abnormality was a transient ALT elevation.

Future Plans

Gilead is now planning Phase 2 trials to further evaluate GS 9350, including a head-to-head study comparing the quad coformulation versus Atripla in treatment-naive patients (scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2009) and an ongoing study of GS 9350 as a stand-alone agent as a booster for atazanavir (Reyataz).

"These data represent the first major step forward in Gilead's clinical development of a new integrase-based, single tablet, once-daily regimen for HIV," said Gilead's Chief Science Officer Norbert Bischofberger, PhD, in a press release issued by the company. "Results also indicate that GS 9350 holds promise as a stand-alone alternative to ritonavir for patients receiving boosted HIV protease inhibitor-based treatment regimens."

SPI-452

In the second conference presentation, Robert Guttendorf from Sequoia Pharmaceuticals reported preclinical and Phase 1 clinical data on the company's novel pharmaco-enhancer, SPI-452. Like Gilead, Sequoia sought a boosting agent with activity similar to that of ritonavir, but with no anti-HIV activity and better tolerability.

Preclinical Studies

The preclinical pharmacology of SPI-452 was evaluated in vitro in human liver cells. Its ability to boost levels of the PIs saquinavir (Invirase), lopinavir (a component of Kaletra), and atazanavir was evaluated in rats and dogs.

Results

    * In vitro, SPI-452 inhibited metabolism of all HIV PIs.
    * It also slowed metabolism of the investigational HCV protease inhibtor boceprevir.
    * SPI-452 demonstrated no inherent antiviral activity.
    * In animals, SPI-452 potently inhibited CYP3A, boosting levels of saquinavir, lopinavir, and atazanavir.

First Human Trial

In Study 0452-001 -- the first human clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of SPI-452 -- 58 healthy HIV negative volunteers first received single ascending doses of SPI-452 (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, or 600 mg); in part 2, they were assigned to receive either 50 mg or 200 mg SPI-452 plus 1000 mg saquinavir, or saquinavir alone, or placebo alone.

Results

    * SPI-452 pharmacokinetics was described as "unremarkable" and "fairly well behaved."
    * SPI-452 increased mean levels of saquinavir, demonstrating its boosting effect.
    * SPI-452 was generally safe and well tolerated in single ascending doses of 25 to 600 mg, and in
       combination with saquinavir.
    * Adverse events were typically mild, with no severe events reported.
    * The most commonly reported adverse events were headache and pharyngitis (sore throat).

Proof-of-concept

Finally, the pharmacokinetic profile of multiple doses of SPI-452 and the drug's boosting ability were assessed in a Phase 1 proof-of-concept trial. A total of 67 healthy HIV negative volunteers first received single doses of 600 mg darunavir (Prezista) or 300 mg atazanavir or placebo, in order to establish PI plasma concentrations.

Then, after a 7 day washout period, participants were randomly assigned to receive 25, 50, or 200 mg once-daily SPI-452 or placebo for 15 days. On day 15, they also received darunavir, atazanavir, or placebo co-administered with the final dose of SPI-452. On day 16, they received darunavir, atazanavir, or placebo only.

Results

    * SPI-452 drug levels reached a steady state by day 14.
    * Co-administration of SPI-452 significantly increased minimum plasma concentrations (Cmin) of the
       PIs at 12 and 24 hours:

        Darunavir: up to 37-fold increase;
        Atazanavir: up to 13-fold increase.

    * The boosting effect was durable through day 16 (the day after the last dose).
    * SPI-452 was generally safe and well tolerated at doses of up to 200 mg for 15 days.
    * Again, most adverse events were mild and no serious events were reported.
    * The most common adverse event was headache, followed by nausea/vomiting and diarrhea.
    * No significant changes were observed in laboratory parameters -- including liver function tests -- or
       ECGs.
    * Participants taking SPI-452 experienced no significant changes from baseline in LDL ("bad")
      cholesterol or triglycerides.

The researchers concluded that SPI-452 is a potent CYP3A inhibitor that was well tolerated and safe when administered at doses of up to 200 mg once-daily for 15 days.

Speaking at a press conference following his presentation, Guttendorf said the Sequoia believes SPI-452 has "great potential." The company now plans to move forward with further clinical trials looking at SPI-452 both as a stand-alone agent and as a component of fixed-dose coformulations.

In addition to pursuing SPI-452 as a booster for HIV PIs, he added, Sequoia is exploring its use in treatment of hepatitis C, and it -- as well as other pharmaco-enhancer drugs in the pipeline, including those targeting other CP450 enzymes -- might be used for other, non-viral diseases.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/021009_a.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 01:34:45 pm
natap

HIV-1 infection induces premature aging of both memory T cells and naive CD4+ T cells
in particular, the fast progressors (FPs) experience accelerated aging of lymphocytes.....Whether highly active antiretroviral therapy can reverse or retard this process is not yet clear and needs to be investigated, although 1 study has shown that accumulation of aged T cells continues in highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated patients with increased CD4+ T cells and long-term viral suppression....

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/021009_01.htm)

CROI: World Health Organization CD4 Criteria Fall - Far Short in Predicting Antiretroviral Failure
16th CROI - February 8-11, 2009

Two studies headlined in the opening press briefing of this meeting underlined the often mortally inadequate HIV care still offered in sub-Saharan Africa and the usually insoluble choice policy makers face in speeding antiretroviral access to the millions who need treatment [1,2].
 
On the one hand, a four-country study involving more than 13,000 people demonstrated the substantial risk of delaying antiretroviral therapy until the CD4 count falls below 200. On the other hand, a 1133-person study in rural Uganda showed that relying on World Health Organization (WHO) CD4-count criteria to signal treatment failure rarely identifies people with actual virologic failure.
 
The four-country study by investigators from the International Epidemiological Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) compared age-, gender-, and country-specific non-HIV death rates with mortality in five antiretroviral programs--two in South Africa and one each in Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, and Zimbabwe [1]. Of the 13,249 people in these group, two thirds were women and the median age was 34. During 14,695 person-years of follow-up, 1177 people (8%) died.
 
For people who began antiretroviral therapy with fewer than 25 CD4 cells and WHO stage 3 or 4 disease, the death rate exceeded the non-HIV death rate 47.1 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 39.1 to 56.6). For people who started antiretrovirals with at least 200 CD4s and WHO stage 1 or 2 disease, mortality was 3.44 times higher than non-HIV mortality (95% CI 1.91 to 6.17). For people in the latter group who survived the first year of antiretroviral therapy, the death rate was only 1.72 times higher than the non-HIV death rate (95% CI 0.44 to 1.17).
 
Half of the entire antiretroviral-treated study group had a death rate more than 5 deaths per 100 person-years higher than the non-HIV group.
 
The IeDEA investigators concluded that "much of the excess [mortality] might be prevented by more timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy."

But starting antiretrovirals in programs that cannot afford viral load monitoring poses grave risks of its own, according to results of a collaborative study by Johns Hopkins University and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda [2]. Because this HIV program in Rakai, Uganda measures both CD4 counts and viral loads regularly, the investigators could determine how many people who met WHO CD4 failure criteria suffered virologic failure. At the same time, they could calculate how many people with virologic failure met WHO CD4 failure criteria.
 
WHO CD4 failure criteria are (1) persistent CD4 count below 100, or (2) more than a 50% drop from peak CD4 count, or (3) a CD4 count lower than the first measured CD4 count without a coinfection that might explain the decline. The investigators defined virologic failure with three cutoffs: above 10,000, above 5000, and above 400.
 
The study involved 1133 people who began their first antiretrovirals between June 2004 and September 2007. Median follow-up measured 20.2 months (interquartile range 12.4 to 29.5 months). In that time, 125 people (11%) met WHO criteria for CD4 failure. Viral load monitoring showed, however, that only 18 of those 125 (14%) had a virologic failure at the 10,000-copy cutoff. Eighty people did endure virologic failure with a viral load above 10,000. But WHO CD4 criteria identified only 18 of them (23%) as failures. Those numbers meant WHO CD4 standards had a sensitivity of 23% and a positive predictive value of only 14% in identifying virologic failure at the 10,000-copy mark. WHO CD4 sensitivity and positive predictive value were also low with a 5000-copy failure cutoff (28% and 8%) and a 400-copy failure cutoff (26% and 21%).

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_01.htm)


discovery

HIV Mutates to Death With New Drug
HIV is notorious for its ability to mutate and evade drugs designed to destroy it. Now scientists are testing a new drug that actually speeds up that rate of change in the hope that the deadly virus will mutate itself to death.

"The HIV virus is so dependent on mutation that it really lives on the edge of existence," said John Reno, Chief Operating Officer for Koronis Pharmaceuticals, the company developing a drug called KP-1461. "But we figured that if we could increase this mutation rate, [HIV] might finally fall off that edge."

KP-1461 is a mutagen, meaning it encourages mutation, and has been in development for several years by the scientists at Koronis Pharmaceuticals.

When any cell or virus reproduces, there are inevitable mistakes, or mutations, as the four building blocks of DNA pair together into a double helix. Usually, the base adenine pairs up with the base thymine, and one called guanine pairs with cytosine.

KP-1461 looks like both thymine and cytosine, and will occasionally replace one of the normal bases in DNA, causing more errors.

"It really mucks up the genetic information inside the viral DNA," said Reno.

Disrupting HIV's replication doesn't directly destroy the virus, however, at least not immediately. It's the build-up of genetic mistakes that finally destroys it.

That build-up can take time, and could vary depending on the patient and the strain of HIV. The results of the latest Phase Two clinical trial, completed last year with 13 patients, were mixed; some patients saw no drop in their viral load, while others saw a dramatic drop. The scientists are currently working to publish the study results.

What's clear is that KP-1461 does eventually destroy HIV in some patients, unlike the current batch of antiretroviral drugs, which limit the reproduction of the virus but fail to destroy it.

KP-1461 doesn't have any known side effects, but the worry from the Food and Drug Administration is that a drug that induces mutation in a virus could also cause dangerous mutations in the patient's own DNA.

So far it doesn't appear to cause short-term mutations in animal models, but longer-term studies are necessary to eliminate the possibility, said Robert Smith, a professor at the University of Washington who studies other lethal mutagenic drugs.

Mutagenic drugs could be used to fight other diseases as well, such as polio, hepatitis C and influenza. KP-1461 is at the forefront of this new avenue of research.

"Intellectually this is exciting; it's a very creative approach," said Smith. "From a practical perspective, there are still a lot of questions."

More (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/02/09/hiv-mutation.html)


businesswire

Aethlon Medical Announces Expansion Into the Infectious Disease Diagnostic Market
Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) announced today that it has expanded the applications of its Hemopurifier® platform technology to address voids in the infectious disease diagnostic market.
The Aethlon Hemopurifier® is a first-in-class artificial adjunct to the immune system able to provide real-time capture of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive particles from the entire circulatory system. The device is a leading broad-spectrum treatment candidate for acute and chronic virus infections. Scientific techniques that established the therapeutic potential of the Hemopurifier® will be leveraged to introduce ultra-sensitive clinical and research diagnostic tools that offer significant potential for previously unrecognized revenue channels.

In diagnostic applications, Aethlon will concentrate viruses from large blood volumes to increase sensitivity of viral load testing standards, which previously have been limited to detecting viruses from small blood samples. By concentrating virus directly from a patient or from donated blood units, the sensitivity of viral load tests may be increased up to 5,000 fold as compared to 1ml blood sample testing. Thus allowing for the accurate detection of viruses such as HIV and HCV even when viral load may be deemed undetectable through current testing standards. Additional market opportunities include the identification of viral pathogens that trigger the rejection of stem-cell therapies, bone marrow, and organ transplants. Upon confirmation of such viruses, the Hemopurifier® would then become a treatment candidate to improve stem-cell therapy and transplant outcomes. Aethlon’s diagnostic techniques would provide superior detection of viruses in donated blood and may unlock the ability for researchers to discover viral biomarkers that underlie a multitude of disease conditions. Aethlon also disclosed its diagnostic capabilities will be deployed to further reinforce the therapeutic benefit of the Hemopurifier® to capture deleterious viruses from circulation. In this regard, Aethlon has initiated a diagnostic program to screen and identify all viral species captured in the recent Hemopurifier® treatment of a Hepatitis-C infected patient.

More (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090210005821&newsLang=en)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: mark86 on February 10, 2009, 01:56:02 pm
John 2038,

Really interesting stuff there but i thought i should mention KP1461 died a death a long time ago. I wonder if any company is doing any other research along the same lines though?

Mark86
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: freewillie99 on February 10, 2009, 02:19:33 pm
The return of KP-1461?  Color me skeptical.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 02:52:48 pm
i thought i should mention KP1461 died a death a long time ago. I wonder if any company is doing any other research along the same lines though?

The return of KP-1461?  Color me skeptical.

I was thinking exactly like you guys.
Just found interesting that Discovery is talking about this drug in an article dated from Feb. 9, 2009
Either a mistake, or a come back.
As you, I am sure it is a mistake.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 03:29:15 pm
eurekalert

IL-2 immunotherapy fails to benefit HIV-infected individuals already taking antiretrovirals
Providing a synthetic form of the immune system protein interleukin-2 (IL-2) to HIV-infected individuals already taking combination antiretroviral therapy boosts their numbers of CD4+ T cells, the key white blood cells destroyed by HIV, but fails to reduce their risk of HIV-associated opportunistic diseases or death compared with combination antiretroviral therapy alone.

These are the findings of two large international clinical trials presented today at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Montreal.

The Phase III trials, known as the ESPRIT and SILCAAT studies, were sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and funded respectively by NIAID and Chiron Corp. of Emeryville, Calif. (since 2006 part of Novartis Pharmaceuticals).

Marcelo H. Losso, M.D., of Hospital José María Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina, presented the results of ESPRIT, and Yves Levy, M.D., of Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France, presented the results of SILCAAT.

IL-2 is produced naturally in the body and plays an important role in regulating CD4+ T cell production and survival. As their CD4+ T cell levels drop, people infected with HIV become more vulnerable to AIDS-related opportunistic diseases and death. Earlier research established that giving synthetic IL-2 plus antiretroviral therapy to people with HIV infection boosts their CD4+ T cell counts more than does antiretroviral therapy alone, but it was unknown whether this boost translated into better health. ESPRIT and SILCAAT were designed to test whether giving IL-2 to HIV-infected individuals already on antiretroviral therapy would keep them healthier longer than HIV-infected individuals taking only antiretrovirals.

Together, the ESPRIT and SILCAAT studies involved more than 5,800 HIV-infected volunteers in 25 countries. Participants were assigned at random to receive either combination antiretroviral therapy alone or combination antiretrovirals plus injections of Proleukin (Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland), a synthetic form of IL-2, over several five-day cycles. To evaluate the effects of IL-2 treatment at different stages of HIV infection, the ESPRIT study enrolled people with early-stage infection (CD4+ T cell counts at or above 300 cells per cubic millimeter, or mm3), while the SILCAAT study enrolled volunteers with later-stage HIV infection (CD4+ T cell counts between 50 and 299 cells/ mm3).

"In both studies, the volunteers who received IL-2 and antiretrovirals experienced notable, sustained increases in CD4+ T cell counts, as anticipated," notes NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "Unfortunately, these increases did not translate into reduced risks of HIV-associated opportunistic diseases or death when compared with the risks in volunteers who were taking only antiretrovirals. Although further analyses may help us better understand these findings, the two studies clearly demonstrated that the use of IL-2 did not improve health outcomes for HIV-infected people."

It is unclear why increased CD4+ T cell counts did not translate into better health outcomes. James D. Neaton, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, principal investigator of the global clinical trials network that conducted ESPRIT, offers two possible explanations. "It could be that the types of CD4+ T cells induced by IL-2 play no role in protecting the HIV-infected patient, and therefore the administration of IL-2 has no benefit," says Dr. Neaton. "A second possibility is that the CD4+ T cells are at least somewhat functional or that IL-2 has some modest benefit, but that the side effects of IL-2 may neutralize any possible benefit."

"In the end, the results of these two studies indicate that although a person's number of CD4+ T cells is a key measure of success in the treatment of HIV with antiretroviral drugs, we can't rely on CD4+ T cell counts to predict whether immune-based therapies such as IL-2 will improve the health of HIV-infected individuals," concludes Dr. Levy, the principal investigator of SILCAAT.

"The purpose of clinical research is to clearly state and accurately test hypotheses with an ultimate goal of improving patient care," notes H. Clifford Lane, M.D., director of clinical research at NIAID and a member of the executive committee of ESPRIT. "These two clinical trials successfully reached a definitive answer about the utility of IL-2 therapy for treating HIV infection. NIAID thanks the thousands of dedicated volunteers and investigators who made these studies possible. The results will have significant implications for the future development of immune-based therapies for HIV and studies of HIV pathogenesis."

Background Information on ESPRIT and SILCAAT


The ESPRIT study—which stands for "Evaluation of Subcutaneous Proleukin in a Randomized International Trial"—began in March 2000 and ended as scheduled in November 2008. It was coordinated by the international centers of the NIAID-sponsored International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT). These centers are the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit in London; the Copenhagen HIV Program in Denmark; the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia; and the Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA) unit in Washington, D.C. The study's statistical and data management center was based at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The study investigators followed 4,111 HIV-infected men and women ages 18 and older in 25 countries at 252 clinical trial sites. Half of the volunteers were injected with 7.5 million international units (MIUs) of Proleukin twice a day for five consecutive days every eight weeks for at least six months. After six months, volunteers could receive additional IL-2 cycles at the discretion of their physicians to maintain CD4+ T cell counts at twice their baseline levels or greater than 1,000 cells/mm3 for as long as possible. All volunteers were assessed every four months for an average of seven years to monitor CD4+ T cell counts, viral load (the amount of HIV in the blood) and signs of illness.

In analyzing the ESPRIT results, researchers found that although volunteers who received IL-2 maintained a higher CD4+ T cell count (an average of 160 cells/mm3 higher) than those in the antiretroviral-only study group, there was no difference in the rate of HIV-associated opportunistic diseases or death between the two groups.

The SILCAAT study—short for "Subcutaneous, Recombinant, Human Interleukin-2 in HIV-Infected Patients with Low CD4+ Counts under Active Antiretroviral Therapy"—began in April 1999, ended in November 2008, and was conducted by the same international coordinating center structure that conducted ESPRIT. While SILCAAT was funded primarily by Chiron Corp., sponsorship of SILCAAT shifted from the Chiron Corp. to NIAID's Division of Clinical Research in 2003. The study investigators followed 1,695 HIV-infected adults in 11 countries at 114 clinical trial sites. Volunteers assigned to the IL-2 group received 4.5 MIUs of Proleukin twice a day for five consecutive days every eight weeks for one year. After that point, participants could receive additional IL-2 cycles to maintain their CD4+ T cell counts at 125 to 175 cells/mm3 above baseline. All volunteers were assessed every four months for approximately seven years.

As in the ESPRIT study, the SILCAAT volunteers who received IL-2 experienced a higher CD4+ T cell count (an average of 59 cells/mm3 higher) than those who received only antiretrovirals, but there was no difference in health outcomes between the two groups.

Additionally, IL-2 recipients in both studies experienced a greater number of serious clinical events already known to be associated with IL-2, including disorders of the heart and blood vessels, injection site reactions and such psychiatric disorders as depression and suicidal behavior.

Participants in the ESPRIT and SILCAAT clinical trials were promptly informed of the findings. Additionally, NIAID has discontinued the use of IL-2 in a separate, 20-country clinical trial known as STALWART (which stands for "Study of Aldesleukin with and Without Antiretroviral Therapy"). The study was comparing the effects of providing no treatment with the effects of intermittent cycles of IL-2 alone or IL-2 plus antiretrovirals in participants with early-stage HIV infection who do not yet meet the criteria to begin antiretroviral treatment. STALWART began in November 2005, and routine follow-up of the participants will continue until the end of February as originally planned.

Proleukin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with metastatic melanoma or metastatic kidney cell carcinoma. As a cancer treatment in the United States, it is administered to hospitalized patients for a shorter duration and at a higher dosage than those used in the ESPRIT and SILCAAT clinical trials.

More (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-02/nioa-iif021009.php)


yahoo

Increasing Diversity of HIV Strains Impacts Diagnostic Test Accuracy
Reports at CROI Meeting Confirm Rising Prevalence of Non-B HIV Subtypes in the United States
As genetically divergent strains of the HIV virus become increasingly prevalent in the United States, the ability of clinicians to effectively monitor progress of anti-viral drug therapies depends on the capacity of viral load assays to accurately quantitate, or measure, these variant HIV strains, according to research reported today at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).

A study by the Global HIV Surveillance Program at Abbott (NYSE: ABT) showed significant variation in the ability of diagnostic tests to accurately monitor viral load in patients infected with differing strains, or subtypes, of the HIV virus. The study evaluated HIV-infected specimens using the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 test and the Roche COBAS Taqman HIV-1 test.

According to the study, the Abbott RealTime HIV assay quantitated HIV more accurately than the widely used COBAS Taqman assay in an analysis of 317 seropositive samples from seven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and Uganda. The samples included six different HIV subtypes and eight circulating recombinant forms. Only 18 samples were subtype B, the most common HIV strain in the United States.

The research showed the Taqman assay failed to detect five infected samples and underquantified viral load in 38 samples, compared to the Abbott assay.

"The differences in viral load quantitation between assays is likely due to the impact of HIV genetic variation on assay performance," said John Hackett, Ph.D., lead author from the Abbott HIV Global Surveillance Program. "Since viral load measurement is critical for optimal patient management, clinicians must recognize that HIV diversity can influence the accuracy and reliability of assay performance."

The Abbott RealTime HIV-1 test is used in conjunction with clinical presentation and other laboratory markers as an indicator of disease prognosis, and as an aid in assessing viral response to antiretroviral treatment as measured by changes in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels. The RealTime assay is not intended for use as a donor-screening test for HIV-1 or as a diagnostic test to confirm the presence of HIV-1 infection.

Increasing Prevalence of Diverse HIV Subtypes

Further evidence of the growing impact of diverse HIV subtypes for monitoring AIDS patients in the United States was reported by the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The study showed the prevalence of non-subtype B strains in the Baltimore metro area is about two percent, based on tests of 2,200 HIV patients. However, in the Maryland portion of the Washington D.C. area, 13 percent of the positive samples sequenced were non-B. The majority of non-B subtypes (80.8 percent) were from recent immigrants from Africa, of which 62.5 percent were women.

More (http://ca.us.biz.yahoo.com/prnews/090210/aqtu053.html?.v=73)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 03:31:42 pm
aidsmap

When to start HIV treatment: cohort studies disagree on how early
Two major analyses of the risk of death or AIDS-related illness in people who started treatment at different CD4 counts have produced conflicting evidence about the benefit of starting treatment substantially earlier than current guidelines recommend, the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections heard on Monday.

A North American cohort study found that people who started treatment with a CD4 count below 500 cells/mm3 had a 60% higher risk of death than people who started treatment above this level, but a collaborative study by European and North American cohorts failed to find any extra benefit of starting above 400 cells/mm3. The second study found that while there was a clear benefit to starting treatment at a CD4 count in the range 350-450 cells/mm3 when compared with a lower count, starting treatment at CD4 count in the range 450-550 cells/mm3 did not provide a further benefit in terms of reducing the risk of AIDS or death.

Treatment guidelines in the developed world all concur that antiretroviral treatment should start around the time the CD4 cell count falls to 350 cells/mm3, although some groups of people, such as those with high viral load or with HIV/hepatitis C co-infection, should consider starting treatment before this point is reached.

However some physicians now believe that treatment should start considerably earlier, when the CD4 count is above 500 cells/mm3, in order to minimise the time during which individuals with HIV are immunosuppressed (the normal CD4 count in healthy adults is in the range of 700-1200 cells/mm3). Immunosuppression might increase the risk of some non-AIDS-defining cancers, which occur more frequently in people with HIV, and might also exacerbate the damage caused by hepatitis C infection, which appears to be more virulent and damaging to the liver in people with lower CD4 cell counts.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/44645131-770C-4D41-AA18-7E2E4116D4E3.asp)


Certain protease inhibitors and abacavir linked to heart attacks in two large cohort studies
The latest follow-up data from two large cohort studies, presented on Monday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, adds further evidence that specific protease inhibitors (PIs) and nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (N(t)RTIs) are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular problems in people with HIV.

While several past observational studies have seen an increased risk, controlled trials have produced conflicting results. Furthermore, the mechanisms explaining heightened cardiovascular risk in HIV-positive people - whether on or off antiretroviral therapy - are not fully understood.

D:A:D study
The D:A:D study (Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs) has collected information about the side effects of antiretroviral treatment for the past decade. This multinational collaboration includes eleven prospective cohorts from the US, Australia and Europe.

Several years ago D:A:D researchers began reporting a link between PI use and cardiovascular events. At last year’s Retrovirus conference, they reported the controversial finding that recent use (within six months) of the NRTI abacavir (Ziagen, also in the Kivexa and Trizivir coformulations) appeared to increase the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, by 90%, whilst ddI (didanosine, Videx) increased this risk by 49%.

At last summer's International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, investigators with the large SMART treatment interruption trial also reported a link between cardiovascular events and recent use of abacavir (though not ddI), but a pooled analysis of more than 50 clinical trials conducted by abacavir manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline did not find any increase in risk.

The D:A:D analysis presented this week included longer follow-up data. A total of 33,308 patients were followed from the time of enrolment through February 2008, reflecting 178,835 total person-years of follow-up. Over this period, 580 participants experienced a heart attack.

The impact of specific antiretroviral drugs on heart attack risk was assessed using Poisson regression analysis. The study looked at seven N(t)RTIs; the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) efavirenz (Sustiva, also in the Atripla co-formulation) and nevirapine (Viramune); and the PIs indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), nelfinavir (Viracept) and lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra).

D:A:D has a policy of only reporting findings for drugs that have been used by a significant number of people for a considerable length of time (more than 30,000 total person-years of follow-up). The N(t)RTI tenofovir (Viread, also in Truvada and Atripla) was left out last year due to insufficient data, but included in this year's analysis. There is not yet enough data for the newer PIs, the newly approved NNRTI etravirine (Intelence) or the fusion inhibitor, integrase inhibitor and CCR5 antagonist drug classes.

Since cardiovascular risk is influenced by many variables, risk ratios were adjusted for demographic characteristics, blood lipid levels and other metabolic measurements and other cardiovascular risk factors (such as age, smoking and family history). People with a moderate Framingham cardiovascular risk accounted for about 15% of total follow-up time, while those with a high risk accounted for about 5%. The researchers also adjusted for HIV disease status, including CD4 cell count and viral load.
The investigators found no association between heart attack risk and recent or cumulative exposure to either of the studied NNRTIs, two of the PIs (nelfinavir and saquinavir), or most of the N(t)RTIs.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/31184D41-F0E9-4A3E-ABA0-F1EE5BDD7906.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2009, 03:32:31 pm

aidsmap

HIV sporadically detectable in semen of men with undetectable plasma viral loads
At the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal on Monday morning, two back-to-back oral presentations affirmed that HIV is indeed often detectable in semen despite undetectable viral loads in blood plasma. The two studies found measurable HIV RNA ("viral shedding") in 3% to 14% of seminal fluid samples taken from study participants with undetectable plasma viral loads.

Since the 'Swiss statement' of January 2008, which described HIV-positive individuals on effective antiretroviral therapy and without sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as "sexually non-infectious", the issue of how antiretroviral treatment affects sexual infectiousness has been hotly debated. In particular, case reports have indicated that HIV may indeed be present in the semen of men who are on successful antiretroviral therapy, with undetectable blood plasma viral loads.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/C6491E0E-B323-480A-975B-7DFC4966539F.asp)

Seminal HIV: cell-free virus, not infected cells, leads to transmission between men
At the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal on Monday morning, David Butler of the University of California San Diego presented data on four cases of male-to-male sexual transmission, showing that cell-free virus in semen – not proviral DNA in infected cells – was the means of transmission in all four cases.

HIV is present in semen both as cell-free virus, measurable as RNA in the seminal fluid itself, and as proviral DNA contained within lymphocytes (white blood cells) in the semen. Until now, it has not been known which of these is responsible for sexual transmission. Little is also known about the genetic characteristics that distinguish transmitted from non-transmitted virus. The objective of this study was to study cases of male-to-male sexual transmission, to determine whether the infected partner's viral genome was more closely associated with the cell-free RNA (CF-RNA) or the cell-associated DNA (CA-DNA) in the source (infecting) partner, and explore some of the genetic differences between transmitted and non-transmitted virus strains.

The study team selected four male sexual couples, in which HIV transmission was known to have recently occurred, from a cohort study of primary infection. Samples were collected from the source partner's semen a mean of 72 days after infection took place, and from the newly infected partner's blood a mean of 59 days after infection. First of all, the link between the infecting and infected partner was verified by analysis of the viral pol gene. More detailed genomic sequencing was then performed on HIV RNA from the newly infected partner's blood, and on cell-free RNA and proviral DNA from the source partner's seminal fluid.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D61EDDCA-0FC2-40DD-B01C-30410868FE6C.asp)

PrEP could work even if taken several days in advance
A study using tenofovir and FTC (Truvada) to prevent rectal SHIV infection in monkeys – so-called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - has shown that it is as effective for the medication to be given up to three days before exposure as it is one day before. Even giving Truvada a full week before exposure resulted in a considerable reduction in the risk of infection.

In contrast, giving the medication only two hours before exposure resulted in a smaller protective effect, possibly because intracellular concentrations of the drugs had not reached high enough levels.

The study is not a ‘pure’ trial of the PrEP concept because in all cases the monkeys were also given a single post-exposure dose of Truvada. However it does demonstrate that constant PrEP is not necessary to confer significant protection and that intermittent dosing may, if anything, be even more effective, at least in the case of Truvada.

The study population consisted of a total of 51 male rhesus macaques. They had 14 weekly rectal exposures to SHIV, an artificial form of HIV adapted to infect monkeys (except one group that was exposed every two weeks).

The control arm included 27 animals that received no treatment. There were five treatment arms including a total of 30 animals all given two doses of drug. The dosing intervals in the five treatment arms were:

    * 1. Two hours before viral exposure and 22 hours afterwards
    * 2. Twenty-two hours before and two hours afterwards
    * 3. Three days before and two hours afterwards
    * 4. Seven days before and two hours afterwards (this group was exposed to the virus once every
           two weeks)
    * 5. An entirely post-exposure prophylaxis group, given Truvada two and 26 hours after viral
          exposure.
   
More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/886AF02E-3356-49FF-816C-73297543BE5F.asp)

Test can predict non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in people with HIV
The risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma developing in people with HIV within two to five years can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy using an assay already used to monitor for the development of multiple myeloma, according to findings presented on Monday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, Canada.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a relatively common cancer in people with HIV, and the most common type of lymphoma seen in people with HIV. It is a tumour that involves the uncontrolled multiplication of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. The vast majority of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are B-cell lymphomas, which are a result of uncontrolled proliferation of B-lymphocytes, the antibody-generating group of lymphocytes.

A range of cancers are related to B-cell proliferation, and a variety of markers of proliferation have been proposed as potential monitoring tools for predicting the development of these types of cancers.

Multiple myeloma, a cancer that emerges in the plasma cells of the bone marrow, is already routinely monitored using a free light chain assay. A light chain is a molecule that is normally bound to an immunoglobulin, or antibody, produced by B-cells. In the presence of myeloma, levels of unlinked, or free, light chain levels are elevated.

Researchers from the US National Cancer Institute and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York, conducted a case-control study that matched 66 HIV-positive cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma occurring between 1985 and 2004, each with four HIV-positive control cases selected on the basis of matching sex, race, age and CD4 count (225 total controls).

Levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM and IgA levels were measured from stored plasma samples, together with levels of kappa and lambda free light chains, and their predictive value for the development of NHL was assessed.

Levels of kappa and lambda free light chains were found to strongly predict the development of NHL two to five years in advance, and levels of these molecules were elevated in all HIV-positive individuals compared with reference levels in the general population. The kappa/lamda free light chain ratio did not predict NHL, and nor did changes in free light chain levels over time.

Immunoglobulin levels did not predict the development of NHL.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/26F0AD79-997F-4EF8-855C-9B14989F8483.asp)

Risk of cancers with infectious cause going down in people with HIV
A large study of HIV-positive people in the US, followed for an average of four years, shows that people with HIV have an approximately sixfold greater risk of developing a non-AIDS-defining cancer with an infectious cause compared to HIV-negative people, with the majority of these cancers potentially related to human papilloma virus (HPV). The findings, from the Kaiser Permanente healthcare database in California, were presented on Monday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, Canada.

Nevertheless the study found that for people with HIV, the risk of developing a non-AIDS-defining cancer with an infectious cause has declined since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, whereas it has remained constant in HIV-uninfected people since 1996.

Non-AIDS-defining cancers are becoming more common as the population of people with HIV lives longer and ages. Some non-AIDS-defining cancers, such as lung cancer, occur more frequently in people with HIV than in the general population, and a recent US study showed that nine non-AIDS-defining cancers occurred more frequently in people with HIV than in the general US population.

However, it is not clear if the risk of developing such cancers is increasing, or diminishing due to the effects of antiretroviral therapy.

The analysis reported today looked at the incidence of cancers in HIV-positive people receiving care through the Kaiser Permanente managed healthcare programme, which provides care for around one in four Californians. The researchers identified 18,890 HIV-positive patients and 189,804 HIV-negative patients.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/3C5916E4-6CD7-43B2-986A-E4AAB12420CD.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 11, 2009, 03:02:20 am
natap

BMS Co-Payment Assistance Program
Bristol-Myers Squibb will begin offering a co-payment assistance program within the first half of this year for new and existing REYATAZ (atazanvir) and SUSTIVA (efavirenz) patients with commercial insurance. We recognize that especially in this economic environment, out-of -pocket costs for HIV medicines may be prohibitive even for patients who have prescription drug benefits. This program reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring patients who need our medicines are able to access them. As you know, Bristol-Myers Squibb already has initiatives in place to support access to medicines for uninsured and underinsured patients living with HIV. For example, BMS participates in the pharmaceutical industry's Together RX Program. In addition, BMS provides our medicines free of charge for those who qualify through our Patient Assistance Program. We are working quickly to finalize the structure of the co-payment assistance program and will provide more detailed information to you in the near future. In the meantime, we would like to thank the many individuals and groups within the community who have lent their insights to the continued development of Bristol-Myers Squibb's access programs. We appreciate your collaboration in our efforts to continue to meet the needs of the community.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/021109_01.htm)

CROI: GS-9350: A Pharmacoenhancer Without anti-HIV Activity
-- GS-9350 is a potent, selective, mechanism-based CYP3A inhibitor that lacks anti-HIV activity and has limited effects on adipocyte function in vitro
-- GS-9350 boosts CYP3A substrates comparable to RTV in humans
-- EVG/FTC/TDF/GS-9350 FDC tablet achieves desired exposures of EVG, FTC and TFV

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_08.htm)

GS 9350 doses of 100 mg and 200 mg inhibited midazolam clearance by 92 percent and 95 percent, respectively, compared with 95 percent for the 100 mg dose of ritonavir, thereby providing clinical proof-of-concept of GS 9350 as a pharmacokinetic booster in humans.
 
Both single and multiple doses of GS 9350 were well tolerated. One drug-related Grade 3 adverse event (discoordination) occurred in one trial participant during multiple dose administration of GS 9350 100 mg. No trial participants developed drug-related Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities or Grade 4 adverse events.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_07.htm)

Note
Remember the CYP3A4 ?
CYP3A4 is the most important enzyme for drug metabolism, and many medications can interact with ED drugs by decreasing or increasing CYP3A4 activity, causing ED drug levels to increase or decrease, respectively.  It's the enzyme that is decreased for eg by Prezist, Reyataz, Diflucan, etc or increased with Viramune, Sustiva, etc. GS-9350 is a booster (pharmacoenhancer) developed by Gilead


Switching from Stable Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r)-Based to Raltegravir (RAL)-Based Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Resulted In a Superior Lipid Profile at Week 12 but Did Not Demonstrate Non-Inferior Virologic Efficacy at Week 24 (SWITCHMRK)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/021109/lipids-7.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/021109/NC-8.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/021109/Failures-9.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/021109/CON-10.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_05.htm)

In SWITCHMRK 1:
 
• Total cholesterol: -13% raltegravir vs +1% lopinavir, P < 0.001
• Triglycerides: -41% raltegravir vs +4% lopinavir, P < 0.001
• Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: -15% raltegravir vs +2% lopinavir, P < 0.001
 
The groups did not differ significantly in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol change, and the researchers did not present changes in total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, which gives a balanced view of overall cholesterol shifts. Lipid results were similar in SWITCHMRK 2.
The SWITCHMRK trials enrolled people taking a suppressive lopinavir/ritonavir regimen for at least 3 months. Because about 80% of participants had taken lopinavir/ritonavir for more than 1 year and because people taking lipid-controlling drugs were excluded from the trials, one can assume most enrollees were tolerating lopinavir/ritonavir well. Eron and colleagues randomized 178 people to stay on lopinavir/ritonavir (400/100 mg twice daily) and 176 to switch to raltegravir (400 mg twice daily). Everyone kept the same background regimen, which had to include at least two nucleosides and could include no other PI.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_04.htm)

CROI: Smoking Emerges as Top Death Risk Factor in FRAM Participants With HIV
Current smoking (but not past smoking) nearly tripled the death risk (hazard ratio 2.73, 95% CI 1.64 to 4.53, P = 0.0001).
Every added 10 years of age raised the risk more than 60% (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.05, P < 0.0001).
And every log2 higher current CD4 count lowered the risk 35% (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.73, P < 0.0001).
The link between current smoking and death held true in all three CD4 count strata.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_03.htm)

CROI: HIV and Diabetes/Hyperlipidemia Cause Kidney Decline
In this study of a cohort of patients Andy Choi reported that HIV+ individuals showed decline in kidney function as measured by GFR more quickly than expected, more quickly than in the general population, and of note HAART may reverse or slow decline but GFR still declined in HIV+ individuals in this study while on HAART. So, this means HIV can cause kidney decline and HAART can slow it but decline may continue despite fully suppressive HAART. Choi also reported importantly that patients that intermittent viral blips were strongly associated with "kidney harm" (GFR decline) suggesting that ART interruptions can cause GFR decline.; each log increase in viral load was assoiated with an accekerated GFR loss of -6.9 mL/min/1.73m2 per year. He also reported that traditional risk factors, which are common in HIV+ are important risk factors for kidney disease in this study population: diabetes and hyperlipidemia cause GFR to decline. HIV gets into the kidney upon infection with HIV. As well, HIV gets into the CNS immediately after HIV infection, within 24-48 hours. In addition, HIV causes inflammation, which is associated in HIV+ and HIV- individuals with the development of comorbidities. HAART suppresses but does not eliminate inflammation, it may still persists despite complete viral suppression. HIV is the main culprit in the development of comorbidities due to HIV accelerating the aging of important naive and memory CD4 cells. In brief, these are the reasons why aging with HIV has become the major issue today, because this underlies all the discussion about the development of non-AIDS events and death. These issues also underlie the question about when to begin HAART, because the results of numerous cohort studies find earlier HAART reduces rates for non-AIDS events and death.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_02.htm)


aidsmap

Kaletra superior to nevirapine-based ART for women already exposed to single-dose nevirapine
An antiretroviral regimen based on the boosted protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra, or Aluvia) was significantly more effective than a nevirapine-containing regimen in mothers previously exposed to single-dose nevirapine, according to results from the randomised OCTANE study presented on Tuesday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montréal.

However the difference in response to the two regimens was less pronounced among women who started treatment at a longer interval after exposure to single-dose nevirapine. There was no difference in the risk of treatment failure between the regimens among women who started antiretroviral therapy more than two years after exposure to single-dose nevirapine.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/8211A5B5-3A6B-403A-B078-FEA9AD4BD771.asp)

Maternal resistance to nevirapine following single dose reduced by AZT/ddI or one month's ART
Two Thai studies have provided further evidence that short courses of more than one antiretroviral drug after delivery almost eliminate the risk of nevirapine resistance in mothers when it is used to prevent mother to child transmission, thus preserving nevirapine as an option for maternal treatment when eventually needed.

The findings were presented on Tuesday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montréal.

In one study researchers compared a triple regimen of AZT/ddI and lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) taken for one month or one week with AZT/ddI taken for one month, while in the second study another research group compared one month of postpartum AZT/ddI to a historical control group that received AZT postpartum. Both studies evaluated the regimens in women who did not need antiretroviral therapy for their own health.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0F92D4EF-7012-4231-B61A-9F6793799583.asp)


hivandhepatitis

HIV Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis Coinfection Experience Greater Reductions in CYP3A Activity when Taking Ritonavir
A large proportion of HIV patients use low doses of the antiretroviral drug ritonavir (Norvir) to "boost" levels of other protease inhibitors (PIs) in the body. This works because ritonavir interferes with the action of the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzyme, which metabolizes many antiretroviral agents -- as well as drugs for numerous other diseases.

Because CYP3A drug processing occurs mainly in the liver (with some also occurring in the intestines), Tasmin Knox and colleagues from Tufts University evaluated whether the inhibitory effect of ritonavir on CYP3A activity differed in HIV positive patients with and without chronic viral hepatitis. Findings were reported in the December 1, 2008 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Results

    * Among patients who were not on therapy, CYP3A activity was similar in those with chronic viral
       hepatitis coinfection and those with HIV monoinfection (mean oral clearance 23.2 vs 28.5
       mL/min/kg; not a statistically significant difference).

    * Among all patients taking ritonavir, CYP3A activity was about 7% that of all control subjects not on
       therapy (mean 2.1 vs 28.5 mL/min/kg, respectively; P < 0.0004).

    * Among ritonavir recipients with chronic viral hepatitis, CYP3A activity was further reduced, to 4%
      that of control subjects not receiving therapy (mean 1.0 vs 2.1 mL/min/kg, respectively; P < 0.006).

Based on these results, the study authors concluded, "Ritonavir markedly decreases CYP3A activity. In the presence of chronic viral hepatitis, ritonavir-based therapy further reduces CYP3A activity by half. Coinfection with chronic viral hepatitis impairs CYP3A activity in the presence of the CYP3A inhibitor ritonavir."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv_hcv_co_inf/2009/021009_a.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 11, 2009, 03:14:13 am
news.gov.hk

Flu vaccine recall monitored
The Department of Health is monitoring the recall of an influenza virus vaccine manufactured by the British plant of Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics.

The drug company is asking customers to stop using doses from five lots of FLUVIRIN Influenza vaccine Luer-Lok pre-filled syringes manufactured in Britain.

Routine stability testing of FLUVIRIN revealed a minor deviation in the potency of the A/Brisbane (H1N1) component of the vaccine.

The problematic vaccines have not been imported to Hong Kong, the department said today, adding Novartis' vaccines in Hong Kong are manufactured in another country.

The vaccines are tested to be effective for the current strains of influenza virus recommended by the World Health Organisation.

More (http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/090209/html/090209en05007.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 11, 2009, 01:05:23 pm
aidsmap

Half of HIV/HCV co-infected early responders are cured with 72-week treatment

HIV/HCV co-infected individuals who achieve a complete early response to interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C have a 51% chance of achieving a sustained virological response using an extended 72-week course of treatment, researchers reported on Tuesday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, Canada.

Raymond Chung from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston reported the latest results from the American SLAM-C (Sustained Long-term Antiviral Maintenance with Pegylated Interferon in HCV/HIV Co-infected Patients) trial, also known as ACTG A5178.

Co-infected individuals tend to respond less well to interferon-based therapy than people with hepatitis C virus (HCV) alone, and this study was designed to look at extended treatment and long-term pegylated interferon maintenance in non-responders.

SLAM-C consisted of three steps. First, 329 HIV/HCV co-infected patients were treated with 180 mcg/week pegylated interferon alfa plus weight-based ribavirin (1200mg/day for those weighing more than 75kg and 1000mg/day for those 75kg or less) for 12 weeks. At this point, participants were tested to see if they had achieved early virological response (EVR), that is, at least a two log10 decrease or undetectable (less than 600 IU/ml) HCV viral load.

In step 2, early responders continued to receive pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for a total duration of 72 weeks, while non-responders dropped ribavirin and continued on the same dose of pegylated interferon monotherapy. (The standard duration of hepatitis C treatment for co-infected people is 48 weeks regardless of HCV genotype.) Results from non-responders in step 2 were reported at last year's Retrovirus conference.

This year's report focused on step 3, looking at the 183 patients (56%) who achieved a partial or complete early virological response. Of these, 169 opted to continue on combination therapy through 72 weeks. Information about sustained virological response (SVR) - continued undetectable HCV viral load 24 weeks after the end of treatment - was available for 146 participants.

In the continuing group, most (89%) were men, the median age was 48 years, 52% were white, 29% were African-American, and 15% were Hispanic. This represented a shift from 43% white and 37% African-American in the original full study population, reflecting the fact that more blacks were non-responders.

Participants generally had well-controlled HIV disease, with 89% on antiretroviral therapy, 86% with HIV viral load below 50 copies/ml, and the median CD4 count was 316 cells/mm3 (lower than the median of nearly 500 cells/mm3 in the original population). Finally, just over three-quarters had hard-to-treat HCV genotypes 1 or 4, nearly one-third had prior interferon treatment experience, and 9% had cirrhosis.

About three-quarters of early responders were classified as having achieved complete EVR, defined as HCV viral load below 600 IU/ml, while the remainder were classified as having achieved partial EVR, with at least a two log10 drop, but 600 IU/ml or higher.

Overall, 51% of patients who achieved early virological response went on to achieve sustained virological response. The SVR rate was about twice as high amongst patients with HCV genotypes 2 or 3 compared with genotypes 1 or 4 (82% vs 42%, respectively). Participants with previous unsuccessful treatment attempts were half as likely to achieve sustained response as treatment-naive patients (30% vs 60%, respectively).

Furthermore, participants who had achieved complete EVR were nearly four times more likely to achieve sustained virological response than those with partial EVR (62% vs 17%, respectively).

As expected, the overall SVR rate was lower amongst African-Americans (38%) than amongst "non-black" patients (57%). This disparity was also seen in the partial responder group, but amongst patients who achieved complete EVR, the difference in SVR rates between blacks and whites was not statistically significant (54% vs 65%, respectively).

Many patients found extended duration therapy difficult to tolerate, and just over one-third (35%) stopped treatment before 72 weeks. The most common adverse events were known interferon or ribavirin side-effects such as muscle aches, depression, and blood-cell deficiencies. Fatigue and poor quality of life were the most frequently reported reasons for stopping therapy. A majority of early discontinuations and drug dose reductions due to side-effects occurred during the final 24 weeks of treatment.

Given the large disparity in sustained virological response rates between complete and partial early responders, Dr Chung noted that failure to achieve complete HCV clearance by week 12 identifies most patients who will not go on to achieve sustained response, thereby allowing likely non-responders to avoid further futile therapy.


More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/596A4414-8167-4D76-BE64-2010212296A2.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 12, 2009, 12:18:15 pm
NATAP [CROI]

French Hospital Study and Further D:A:D - Analyses Suggest MI Risk With Abacavir
Work from the French Hospital Database on HIV supported a finding from last year's Conference on Retroviruses--an apparent link between recent abacavir use and myocardial infarction (MI)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_09.htm)

Non-AIDS Illness More Common Than AIDS--and More Deadly--in EuroSIDA
Since January 2002, non-AIDS diagnoses proved more common than AIDS diagnoses in 10,341 EuroSIDA cohort members, and non-AIDS diseases killed substantially more people than AIDS. New diagnoses of non-AIDS illnesses exceeded diagnoses of AIDS among people with CD4 counts above 100 and in those with better-controlled viral replication.
Non-AIDS illnesses considered were malignancies, end-stage renal disease, liver failure, pancreatitis, and cardiovascular disease (including acute myocardial infarction or stroke). They did not count recurrences of AIDS or non-AIDS diseases.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_10.htm)

MI Rates Converge in California Health System Groups With and Without HIV: trend down in HIV+
Researchers from the Kaiser Permanente healthcare system in California were among the first to record a higher myocardial infarction (MI) rate in people with HIV than in uninfected people [1]. In an updated analysis at this meeting, the same investigators reported that MI rates in Kaiser clients with and without HIV have converged to the point of statistical nonsignificance [2]. The new study involved 20,305 people with HIV seen from 1996 through June 2008 and 203,050 people without HIV matched to the HIV group for age and gender. Patient age averaged 41 years, 90% were men, 56% of the HIV group were white, as were 47% of the non-HIV group.
The difference between the HIV group and the non-HIV group lost statistical significance only in 2006-2008 (P = 0.088).

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_11.htm)

Peginterferon (Pegasys) and Weight-Based Ribavirin for 72 Weeks in HIV+ Early Responders
Complete early virologic response (EVR) predicted sustained virologic response (SVR) in a three-part AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) study called SLAM-C and numbered A5178 [1]. But partial EVR did not predict sustained response. Raymond Chung and ACTG colleagues proposed that complete EVR "should be utilized in the guidance of HCV/HIV-co-infected [patients], particularly when extended treatment regimens are used."

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_13.htm)

High HCV Load Doubles the Death Risk in People Coinfected With HIV
HIV-infected EuroSIDA cohort members with high HCV RNA ran a significantly greater risk of death from any cause and liver-related death than people with a lower HCV load, according to results of a 1952-person analysis [1] That finding differs from results in people infected with HCV but not HIV, in whom HCV load does not predict death. The study also determined people with HCV genotype 3 have a significantly lower death risk than people with genotype 1. Earlier work by Jurgen Rockstroh and EuroSIDA colleagues found that HCV serostatus did not influence virologic or CD4 response to potent antiretroviral therapy [2]. This and previous studies relied on anti-HCV antibody positivity to identify coinfected people. The new study set out to determine the influence of HCV RNA load and HCV genotype on HCV and HIV progression in coinfected EuroSIDA cohort members.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_14.htm)

Extra CD4s With IL-2 Confer No Clinical Benefit in Two Randomized Trials
"A potential clinical benefit of IL-2, even [a] moderate [benefit], can be definitively ruled out."
 
Interleukin 2 (IL-2) investigator Yves Levy pronounced that verdict in summarizing a combined analysis of two clinical endpoint trials that randomized people to combination antiretroviral therapy alone or to antiretrovirals plus IL-2. The massive studies, ESPRIT and SILCAAT, involved nearly 6000 people monitored for over 7 years [1,2] (from Jules: and cost up to $150 million). The two trials yielded remarkably consistent results that can be summarized in three points:
 
• People taking IL-2 gained significantly more CD4 cells than those taking antiretrovirals alone.
 
• The extra T cells with IL-2 did not protect people from disease progression or death.

• In ESPRIT, taking IL-2 posed a significantly greater risk of life-threatening grade 4 events, including deep venous thrombosis and depression. In the first year of SILCAAT, grade 4 events were significantly more frequent with IL-2.

Why didn't IL-2 work? Marcello Losso, who spelled out the ESPRIT findings, suggested two possibilities: First, CD4 cells resulting from IL-2 expansion are not functionally equivalent to CD4 cells that arise through antiretroviral-induced suppression of HIV replication. Second, IL-2 may have harmful effects that counterbalance any CD4 benefit (from Jules: one theory offered is that IL-2 disregulates cytokines). Harvard's Daniel Kuritzkes, who was not involved in either trial, offered a third possibility after Losso's talk: In a population with well-controlled viral replication, like ESPRIT and SILCAAT participants, the CD4 difference afforded by IL-2 is not enough to make a clinical difference.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_15.htm)

Risk of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Death Still Higher With HIV Infection
Despite improvements in antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) still have a higher 2-year all-cause death rate than NHL patients without HIV, according to results of a 10,000-person study in California's Kaiser Permanente health system [1]. Kaiser investigators confirmed the higher death rate with HIV regardless of NHL subtype or stage--and even though more people with HIV got chemotherapy earlier after their diagnosis than people without HIV.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_16.htm)

Lower CD4 Count Linked to Non-AIDS Cancers in EuroSIDA Study
Every doubling of a person's CD4 count independently lowered the incidence of a non-AIDS cancer 11% in a study of 12,865 EuroSIDA cohort member [1]. The finding confirms results of a recent meta-analysis tying immunodeficiency to non-AIDS cancers in people with HIV and transplant patients [2]. The EuroSIDA investigators established the correlation between CD4 count and anal cancer, digestive organ cancers, lung cancer, hematologic cancers, and urinary and genital cancers.
 
The study involved 12,865 HIV-infected people with a CD4 count measured before enrollment in EuroSIDA and with follow-up after enrollment, including CD4 count, viral load, and antiretroviral treatment status within 6 months of any non-AIDS cancer diagnosis. The model used to determine factors related to non-AIDS cancer diagnosis adjusted for year of follow-up, gender, HIV exposure group, race, region of Europe, time on combination antiretroviral therapy, hepatitis B and C status, nadir CD4 count, and whether the patient ever smoked.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_17.htm)

Replacing Enfuvirtide With Raltegravir in France
A switch from enfuvirtide to raltegravir yielded no virologic or CD4 advantage 6 months later, according to results of a randomized trial of 170 heavily pretreated French patients already taking a suppressive enfuvirtide-containing regimen [1]. (from Jules: another way to look at this is that after switching from Fuzeon to raltegravir there was no fall off in the overall viral load suppression, patients maintained suppression, which was high in both arms (89%) and only 1.2% experienced viral failure in each arm, I take it as a positive in these 3-class resistant patients). As the study name (EASIER) suggests, many people probably prefer swallowing a twice-daily raltegravir pill than injecting themselves twice a day with enfuvirtide, if they are confident of sustained viral control. But raltegravir had no safety advantage in these patients, who had been taking enfuvirtide for a median of more than 2 years.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_18.htm)


3 Studies on Abacavir & MI Risk: French Cohort, D.A.D. (slides), ALLRT with 2 Different Results
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More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_20.htm)

No Association of Abacavir Use with Risk of Myocardial Infarction or Severe Cardiovascular Disease Events: Results from ACTG A5001
In contrast to D:A:D and SMART, we did not find a significant association between recent ABC use and MI or severe CVD risk for ART-nave patients randomized to an initial ABC regimen. Our results suggest the association with recent ABC use in other studies may be a marker for other factors not discerned in their analyses.

Abacavir and Cardiovascular Risk
Although differences in study design, statistical power, endpoint definitions, and procedures to capture and validate endpoints may each contribute to these discrepant findings, additional possible explanations also need to be considered. Reviewing the characteristics of the various patient populations which were studied, one could for instance speculate whether the likelihood of identifying the CVD risk associated with ABC may be greater in those who are first exposed after their HIV infection is already suppressed. Data suggest a pathogenic mechanism (possibly of a proinflammatory nature) involving acute processes, such as plaque rupture or subesquent thrombosis, rather than a chronic one affecting atheroma formation. For now, it seems prudent to withold ABC from patients with high underlying CVD risk if suitable alternative regimens are available. If not, patients absolute CVD risk in the presence of ABC should be minimized by aggressive management of traditional CVD risk factors.

Risk of Myocardial Infarction with Exposure to Specific ARV from the PI, NNRTI, and NRTI Drug Classes: The D:A:D Study
Of the ARV considered, only IDV, LPV/r, ddI and ABC were associated with a significantly increased risk of MI. Additional follow-up will allow us to more definitively establish which of the specific (ritonavir-boosted) PI are most associated with MI risk. As with any observational study, our findings must be interpreted with caution given the potential for confounding.

Simplification with Fixed-dose Tenofovir/Emtricitabine or Abacavir/Lamivudine in Adults with Suppressed HIV Replication
The STEAL Study, a Randomized, Open-label, 96-Week, Non-inferiority Trial
In this population, TDF+FTC and ABC+3TC had similar virological efficacy and protection against AIDS. ABC+3TC was associated with more serious non-AIDS events.

Impact of Specific NRTI and PI Exposure on the Risk of Myocardial Infarction: A Case-Control Study Nested within FHDH ANRS CO4
In our study, we found that the risk of MI was increased by cumulative exposure to LPV and to APV or fPV. Initiating ABC was also associated with an increased risk of MI while longer exposure to ABC was not.

Platelet Hyper-Reactivity in HIV-1-infected Patients on Abacavir-containing ART
This study demonstrates consistently hyper reactive platelets in patients on ABC-containing ART and may help explain the increased rates of MI in ABC-treated patients. Further research is required to determine if this effect is reversible.

Inflammatory Markers among Abacavir and non-Abacavir Recipients in the Womens Interagency HIV Study and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study
ABC use was not independently associated with elevated plasma levels of hsCRP, IL-6, and D-dimer. While changes in the levels of these markers were seen between the baseline and index visits (D-dimer and IL-6 decreases, hsCRP increases), they were comparable among persons who initiated ABC versus non-ABC containing HAART. Women had higher D-dimer and lower CRP levels than men.

Assessment of Renal Findings of Abacavir/Lamivudine Compared with Tenofovir/Emtricitabine in Combination with Once-daily Lopinavir/Ritonavir over 96 Weeks in the HEAT Study
These results show that improvement in kidney function, as measured by eGFR and eCrCl, was slightly greater, though small in absolute terms, with ABC/3TC compared to TDF/FTC when combined with once-daily LPV/r through 96 weeks. In addition, fewer subjects in ABC/3TC group progressed to stage 3 CKD. Proximal tubule renal dysfunction, though not common, was seen only in those on TDF/FTC.

96-Week Effects of Suppressive Efavirenz-containing ART, Abacavir, and Sex on High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein: ACTG A5095
Durably suppressive therapy with EFV-based regimens did not improve hs-CRP levels over a 96-week period. Overall, an increase was seen which was greater for women than men. Inclusion of ABC had no significant effect on changes in hs-CRP levels.

Association of Abacavir and HIV Disease Factors with Endothelial Function in Patients on Long-term Suppressive ART
Endothelial function, a central mechanism in atherosclerosis and a marker of cardiovascular risk, is impaired among long-term HAART-treated patients with undetectable viral loads. Current use of ABC was independently associated with impaired endothelial function; this effect was not readily explained by measured confounders, including traditional risk factors. Further studies will need to determine whether ABC-associated changes in endothelial function contribute to the clinically observed relationship between ABC use and myocardial infarction.

Similar Reductions in Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Activation after Initiation of Abacavir/Lamivudine or Tenofovir/Emtricitabine: The HEAT Study
Similar decreases in markers of inflammation and endothelial activation were observed over 96 weeks of treatment with ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC. These data do not suggest that ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC contribute to an increase in cardiovascular risk mediated by inflammation or worsening endothelial activation. The findings from this randomized, prospective data do not support the hypothesis of increased inflammation attributed to ABC from recent observational, cohort studies.

Viral Dynamics and Pharmacokinetics in vivo of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate and Abacavir: Evidence of a Non-additive Antiviral Effect

TDF+ABC did not demonstrate additive antiviral potency compared to ABC alone. This lack of additive antiviral potency was not explained by differences in intracellular concentration of dNTP between mono- and dual-therapy

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_21.htm)

96-Week Results from BENCHMRK 1&2, Phase III Studies of Raltegravir (RAL) in Patients (pts) Failing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) with Triple-Class Resistant HIV
In HIV-infected, treatment-experienced patients failing antiretroviral therapy with triple-class resistant HIV:
 
Raltegravir 400 mg b.i.d. plus OBT, compared to placebo plus OBT, had potent, superior, and durable antiretroviral and immunological effi cacy sustained through Week 96.
 
   * 57% of patients receiving raltegravir maintained HIV RNA < 50 copies /mL -- up to 79% in patients
      receiving new, active ART in OBT
 
Virologic failure was generally associated with mutations at one of three primary residues, Q148, N155, or Y143, in combination with at least one other mutation.
 
Rates of ADC and death during double-blind phase were lower for raltegravir than placebo at Week 96, regardless of endpoint, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.
 
Raltegravir 400 mg b.i.d. plus OBT was generally well tolerated as compared to placebo in combination with OBT.
   * Few adverse experiences led to discontinuation
   * Risk of developing malignancy was comparable between raltegravir and comparator groups.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_22.htm)

Review of Cancer Incidence in Raltegravir (RAL) Clinical Trials
In 5 randomized clinical trials,
   * with follow-up of at least 48 to 120 weeks (over 1700 PYR RAL exposure), cancer rates were lower
   for RAL but not significantly different from comparator during double-blind treatment
   * with approximately 600 PYR additional RAL exposure during open-label phases, cancer rates
      remained similar to those during double-blind phase
 
In expanded access setting,
   * with median follow-up of 24 weeks for over 5400 patients (over 2200 PYR RAL exposure), cancer
      rates were similar to those observed in clinical trials
 
Data to date showed no difference in risk of cancer in HIV-infected patients receiving RAL vs. other ARTs, regardless of case defi nitions used

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_23.htm)

Preclinical and Early Clinical Evaluation of SPI-452, a New Pharmacokinetic Enhancer (PKE)
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More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_24.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 12, 2009, 12:31:58 pm
medicalnewstoday

Progenics Selects Subcutaneous Form Of PRO 140, A Novel HIV Antibody Therapy, For Further Development
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNX) today announced that it has selected for further development the subcutaneous form of PRO 140 for the treatment of HIV infection. The decision follows positive results from a recently completed phase 2 clinical trial as well as feedback from key opinion leaders, treatment advocates and people living with HIV. Results from the phase 2 study were presented late yesterday at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Montreal. In this clinical trial, the subcutaneous dosage form of PRO 140 demonstrated potent and highly significant antiviral effects compared to placebo at all doses of active drug examined and was generally well tolerated.

"These phase 2 clinical results confirm our previously announced interim findings which showed that subcutaneous PRO 140 therapy was potent, long-acting and well tolerated," said Paul J. Maddon, M.D., Ph.D., Progenics Pharmaceuticals' Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer. "We plan to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss registrational studies for subcutaneous PRO 140. Similar to intravenous PRO 140, the subcutaneous form has demonstrated significant antiviral activity and favorable tolerability in clinical trials to date, with the additional potential benefit of convenient self-administration by patients. Given that all currently available HIV drugs are given between one and three times daily, a weekly therapy could have many advantages related to adherence."

*To view the abstract and poster, as well as a graph depicting the mean change in viral load over time for the four dose groups, please visit the following link (http://www.progenics.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=65657).

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/138779.php)

HIV-Positive People Might Benefit From Early Treatment, Study Presented At CROI Indicates
HIV-positive people who begin drug regimens soon after infection might have better treatment outcomes than those who delay taking medication, according to a study presented Monday at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, Canada, Bloomberg reports.

During the first few weeks after contracting HIV, often called the "acute phase," HIV grows rapidly in the body. To determine the benefits of treating people during the acute phase, the researchers provided early treatment for six to 15 months to 55 HIV-positive people and did not provide early treatment to another group of 47 people. The researchers found that the 55 HIV-positive people who received treatment soon after infection generally progressed to taking long-term treatment after an average of 45 months. The 47 patients who did not receive early treatment generally progressed to long-term treatment after 32 months. According to Steingrover, the study suggests that immediate HIV treatment can delay the need for long-term drugs by about one year.

"To the question of whether this is beneficial [to the patient], I think the answer is yes," Steingrover said. "Until now, the benefits to the patient have just been theoretical," Leone said. According to Bloomberg, previous recommendations and findings for when to begin treatment range from CD4+ T cell levels of 350 copies per milliliter of blood to 500. According to Bloomberg, health workers often encounter difficulty in detecting HIV at the earliest stages because the immune proteins responding to the virus do not typically appear until a few weeks after infection. Therefore, tests to diagnose the virus during the acute phase could help people begin treatment earlier and improve treatment outcomes. According to Leone, the study "suggests that there's an opportunity to do more, if we have more research on what's going on in this early period of infection."

According to Bloomberg, additional studies presented at the conference indicate that HIV-positive people who begin long-term treatment earlier have better treatment outcomes. One study, presented by University of Washington HIV/AIDS researcher Mari Kitahata, found that the mortality risk among HIV patients who delayed long-term treatment was 60% higher than the risk among patients who began long-term treatment before their T cell counts decreased to 500. Another study -- led by Jonathan Sterne of the research group When to Start Consortium and colleagues from the University of Bristol -- examined treatment outcomes for patients with a variety of T cell levels. The study found that patients who began long-term treatment earlier had better survival rates and treatment outcomes than those who delayed treatment (Lauerman, Bloomberg, 2/9).

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/138750.php)


aidsmap

HIV infection has similar impact on hardening of arteries as smoking, diabetes
HIV infection independently increases the severity of atherosclerosis as much as traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking and diabetes, researchers reported on Wednesday at the at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montréal.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0A3C5DA7-59D5-40E4-89B6-5CA19A4BBA59.asp)

Rosiglitazone improves fat loss and insulin resistance in people with lipoatrophy
The diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) improved limb lipoatrophy in HIV-positive people taking antiretroviral therapy, researchers reported Wednesday at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montréal. However the researchers did not study the drug's effect on facial fat loss.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/BE6016B2-BFAA-4D8C-93F1-DCCA4FD6FE39.asp)

More treatment failure in people on TB treatment who start once daily nevirapine-based ART than efavirenz-based ART
People on TB treatment who started a once-daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen of nevirapine/ddI/3TC were significantly more likely to fail ART than those who started on a once-daily regimen of efavirenz/ddI/3TC, according to a randomised prospective study from Chennai, India. In fact, the nevirapine arm performed so poorly that the study’s Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) ended accrual to that study arm and closed the study ahead of schedule.

“The once-daily nevirapine arm was definitely inferior to the efavirenz regimen in terms of virological failure and death and therefore is not recommended to be used when patients are on rifampicin-containing anti-TB treatment,” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan of Chennai’s Tuberculosis Research Centre, who presented the findings this week at the Sixteenth Conference on Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections in Montréal.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/4F8CD63D-3305-4B22-89AC-22C86352AA09.asp)

ART use in mothers with low CD4 cell counts reduces breastfeeding transmission fivefold: Malawi
The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by breastfeeding mothers greatly reduced the risk of HIV transmission to their infants after a 14-week course of infant HIV prophylaxis was stopped, according to a study performed in Malawi and presented to the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) on Tuesday. However, ART use did not significantly reduce transmission risk in mothers with CD4 cell counts above 250 cells/mm3.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/2A0547CE-B27E-4F1D-A08E-00B811409722.asp)

Abacavir may increase blood coagulation risk
Two studies presented at the CROI Conference in Montreal presented contrasting findings on the relationship between the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) drug abacavir (Ziagen; also in (Kivexa (Epzicom) and (Trizivir). Ever since a relationship was found between current abacavir use and cardiovascular heart disease in 2008 (see report), with abacavir raising the risk of heart attack by 90%, a search has been on to find the reason for this apparent association.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0856A5B6-5635-4F56-A9BD-AC433F1FA058.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 12, 2009, 12:38:12 pm
Update about this well-known story.


Stem Cells Cut AIDS Virus in Patient in Germany, Ending Need for Drugs, New England Journal of Medicine Reports 2/12/2009

CNN

A 42-year-old HIV patient with leukemia appears to have no detectable HIV in his blood and no symptoms after a stem cell transplant from a donor carrying a gene mutation that confers natural resistance to the virus that causes AIDS, according to a report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Bloomberg

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) -- A German AIDS patient was able to stop drugs he had been taking for 10 years after getting a transplant of stem cells from a donor with a rare gene variant known to resist the deadly disease. The transplant also cured his leukemia, researchers reported.

The stem cell donor was among the 1 percent of Caucasians who have the variant gene that lacks a section known as CCR5 that helps the AIDS virus enter a cell, according to a report today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Doctors in Berlin hoped that putting the donor’s stem cells in the patient would rebuild his immune system and blood cells so they would lack the CCR5 piece.

The results of the experiment may point researchers to a new way of controlling the AIDS virus HIV that doesn’t force patients to take drugs for the rest of their lives. Scientists will now intensify their search for therapies that achieve the same effect, predicted Jay Levy, a University of California, San Francisco, AIDS researcher.

“I think this article is going to stimulate a lot of companies to put more emphasis on gene therapy,” Levy said yesterday in a telephone interview. He wasn’t involved in the research and wrote an editorial published today that accompanied the study.

One such trial sponsored by Sangamo Biosciences of Richmond, California, recently began at the University of Pennsylvania. It will test a gene therapy that aims to modify the immune cells in 12 patients infected with HIV so they lack the CCR5 receptor.


Read at CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/11/health.hiv.stemcell/)
Read at Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=ac9.rZCRCs8Y&refer=home)
Read at Nature (http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090211/full/news.2009.93.html)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 13, 2009, 10:28:47 am
medicalnewstoday

HIV/AIDS Preventive Vaccine Of Mymetics: Green Light From EU To Start Phase I Human Clinical Study
Mymetics Corporation (OTCBB: MYMX) announces the confirmed success of its preventive vaccine against HIV/AIDS. To this day, these results are the most promising and advanced in the world. They confirm a decisive breakthrough in the HIV/AIDS prevention. To such an extent that European authorities have just authorized the launch of the Phase I human clinical study.

On February 10th, in Montreal, for the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Dr. Sylvain Fleury, Mymetics' Scientific Chief Officer, has presented the results of a second round of preclinical tests, which confirm the success of its preventive HIV/AIDS vaccine.

It is now known that some individuals are naturally resistant to the infection from HIV/AIDS virus, despite a high degree of exposure to this virus, in particular during non protected sexual activities (notably prostitutes in Kenya and Cambodia). Those rare individuals have been identified 20 years ago from diverse populations with different ethnic backgrounds. Despite their high exposure to the virus with different HIV positive individuals, these prostitutes for example, stay HIV negative. The explanation for this natural resistance is the presence, in vaginal secretions of women - or rectal secretions of men - of specific IgA antibodies. Replicating this natural protection, Mymetics' preventive vaccine formulation induces IgA antibodies at the mucosal level, rather than IgG antibodies circulating in the blood.

Thus, Mymetics' preventive vaccine is based on an approach targeting specifically IgA antibodies, whereas all other vaccine projects have opted to target IgG antibodies, or specific cytotoxic cells against the HIV virus. This innovative approach, with mucosal antibodies rather than blood antibodies, explains Mymetics' success compared with the deceptions met by other laboratories, since its vaccine stimulates defence mechanisms blocking the virus entry at the mucosal level, the first entrance door of the virus.

In the last step of the preclinical trials, Mymetics has done a viral challenge with macaques, the species closest to humans when it comes to the development of the pathology. One group is vaccinated and the other one is the control group. Both groups then receive numerous doses of the virus to test the vaccine's efficacy.

Mymetics viral challenge results in Beijing have proven excellent. The vaccinated group is almost completely resistant to the virus and the non vaccinated control group is completely infected. The results obtained with the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science (ILAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences were checked (blind test) by an independent lab, the Center for Diseases Control (CDC) of Beijing with the same final outstanding results, using a measuring technique 5 times more sensitive, corresponding to the occidental standards.

On the basis of these results and the excellence of the project, the Belgian Ministry of Health, in the name of European authorities, has authorized (in 16 days) launching the Phase I human clinical study.

What is more, so as to block possible critics, in particular the small number of animals used in the two test groups, Mymetics has presented those extremely promising results to Dr. Chris Miller, of the University of California, whose preclinical research centre on macaques is considered by the scientific community one of the best. Dr. Miller is one of the very few who has already developed a vaccine approach at the mucosal level. Having qualified Mymetics' results as excellent he has confirmed his interest for a joint collaboration, notably for new studies on groups of macaques. These results are unique in the world, and puts Mymetics clearly in a leading position in targeting neutralizing antibodies at the mucosal level versus the approach of most other laboratories which focus on blood antibodies. The goal of the repetitive study that Mymetics plans to do with Dr. Miller is to transform stable results in indisputable results, to be able, at last, to accelerate clinical tests on humans. Because HIV/AIDS prevention is a real issue at world level which calls for an urgent mobilisation.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/138948.php)

Disparities Exist Among Races In AIDS Mortality
A new study concludes that race disparities exist in AIDS mortality and that the risk of death is higher for non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites.

Researchers examined the correlations between survival and race/ethnicity, age and gender among persons who died from AIDS-related causes. The sample consisted of 11,022 persons diagnosed with AIDS reported through 2003 to the Chicago Department of Public Health. They found increased survival times with AIDS for all race/ethnicity groups after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) became available. However, the rate at which survival improved was not uniform. The hazard of death due to AIDS between 1996-2001 was 51% higher for non-Hispanics blacks and 22% higher for Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites.

"Enhancing efforts to prevent HIV-infected individuals from infecting susceptible individuals and developing new interventions to increase early recognition of disease and to remove barriers to accessing care will help Chicago's disadvantaged population achieve even greater increases in survival," the study's authors stated. "Effective community-level interventions to reduce health disparities require public engagement and support."

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/138976.php)

Starting HAART Earlier Might Reduce Mortality Rates, Study Says
Earlier detection of HIV and initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy might help reduce high mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a study recently presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, Canada, Reuters reports. Martin Brinkhof of the University of Berne, who led the study, said that very high mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa have "substantially declined" since the introduction of HAART, "but what remains unclear is to what extent this reduction in mortality approaches the levels seen in the general population."

Brinkhof and colleagues collected data on two-year mortality rates among HIV-positive people taking HAART in Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The data were then compared with the expected number of deaths in the HIV-negative general population. The data for the general population were based on estimates from the World Health Organization's Global Burden of Disease project, which examined sex, age, country and mortality data unrelated to HIV. According to Reuters, data on 13,249 HIV-positive people were included, with women representing 67% of the participants. The participants had a median age of 34. Data on clinical stage were available for 12,720 people, and 10,811 had progressed to advanced stages of HIV when they began HAART. There were 1,177 deaths over 14,695 person-years of follow-up.

According to Brinkhof, the study found that people with extremely advanced HIV had mortality rates 400 to 500 times greater than the general population over the first three months of treatment. The researchers also found that even those with CD4+ T cell counts of 200 or more had mortality rates 20 to 30 times higher than the general population during the first three months. In addition, people who began HAART with extreme immunodeficiency had 50 times the mortality rate of the general population over the first two years of treatment, and the rates were three to four times greater for people who started treatment with T cell counts of 200 or higher.

Among patients who started treatment with T cell counts of less than 25 and WHO stage III/IV disease, the excess mortality was 17.5 per 100 person-years. This compares with 1.0 per 100 person-years among those who started treatments with a T cell count of at least 200 and WHO stage I/II disease. An excess mortality of 0.29 per 100 person-years was recorded among patients who began treatment with T cell counts of 200 or greater and WHO stage I/II disease and were alive one year later. Brinkhof said that "clearly it is critical that we have to start treating earlier" because very few patients -- less than 15% -- begin treatment with higher T cell counts and less advanced stages of the disease (Reuters, 2/9).

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/138903.php)


irishhealth

HIV breakthrough by Irish scientists
New research by Irish scientists helps explain why some HIV patients treated with antiretroviral medications experience an increased incidence of heart attacks.

Last year, a major international study identified a higher than expected incidence of heart attacks among patients being treated with antiretroviral drugs for HIV. Building on this research, scientists at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) developed a novel test tied to HIV to measure platelet activity in blood.

Platelets are essential for blood clotting when the skin is broken. However if they do not work properly within the bloodstream, they can cause clots within arteries which can lead to heart attacks.

Using this new test, a team from University College Dublin (UCD) and the Mater Hospital in Dublin carried out clinical trials to investigate the activity of platelets among HIV patients in Dublin. They found a significant increase in platelet reactivity among those taking certain antiretroviral medications.

“The international research published last year showed the link between antiretroviral treatments and increased risk of heart attacks but not the reason why. We have now demonstrated that the use of certain drugs for HIV has a direct effect on platelets within the blood. The results provide invaluable information to help in the search for safe long-term therapies for HIV infection,” explained lead researcher, Dr Paddy Mallon, a consultant in infectious diseases at the Mater.

He said that these findings would ‘significantly affect the management of patients with HIV and have important implications for the treatment of HIV worldwide’.

The research was presented at the Retrovirus Conference in Montreal, Canada this week.

More (http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=15049)


bizjournals

As others come up dry, Virxsys hauls in $26M
For a biotech company in this ravaged economy, trying to raise $35 million by the fall seems like a goal that goes beyond naivete and borders on lunacy.

Except when you are already three-fourths of the way there.

Gaithersburg-based Virxsys Corp., which is working on an HIV treatment, has received $26 million so far this year in cash or commitments during a capital market that has been nothing short of a ghost town.

That has left biotechs, some of the riskiest businesses for investors, stranded and starving for money.

But Virxsys is closing in on its final clinical tests for an HIV treatment that causes the virus to essentially commit suicide in a patient’s body. Virxsys hopes that makes it a safer bet as the company tries to persuade longtime angel investors to toss in $9 million more this year.

(http://assets.bizjournals.com/story_image/223472-120-0-6.jpg)
“We’re in fairly good shape right now,” said Riku Rautsola, the chief executive officer. “But it’s not easy, I tell you.”

Virxsys’ 10-year total has now reached $105 million, including $10 million last year and $5 million thus far this year from Signature Capital Securities LLP, a Naples, Fla.-based network of angel and private equity investors that has been Virxsys’ primary financier. The company also signed commitments with an undisclosed German hedge fund to add $21 million in the next six months.

Virxsys opened this latest financing round, its eighth, before the slow economy turned into a full-blown recession. Originally the privately held company was seeking $25 million but has upped that goal to $35 million to tide it over for a longer time.

The cash will be used to help pay the remaining bills on two sets of second-phase clinical trials for the HIV treatment.

Virxsys plans to embark soon on the last tests required for potential federal approval of the treatment. Like many other local biotechs, it is on the hunt for large partners to help finance those final trials and, longer term, launch an approved product.

Under the Virxsys treatment regimen, HIV patients get an infusion once a year, and biological deliverymen called lentiviral vectors carry new gene sequences to white blood cells, the foot soldiers of the body’s immune system army.

Those gene sequences, engineered to be exactly the opposite of the HIV cell sequences, work to cancel the virus, taking particular aim at the protein that HIV uses to bind itself to white blood cells and spread in a patient’s body.

Although the process doesn’t kill HIV, it disables the virus while bolstering the patient’s white blood cell count.

“We are breaking the cycle of infection,” said Gary McGarrity, Virxsys executive vice president of scientific and clinical affairs. “When we look at the virus, we are seeing it’s highly mutated and has much, much, much less capacity to do anything.”

Virxsys’ model is a combination of its own research and that of Intronn Inc., a local biotech that McGarrity once led and Virxsys acquired in 2007.

That approach is rare biological route to healing patients who now must swallow a chemical cocktail of drugs every day.

“If this one passes a Phase 2 test, it would lay down important groundwork for the next round of new technologies,” said Baek Kim, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology and HIV specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “This is definitely scientifically important.”

And financially important to Virxsys, which hopes this year’s fundraising round is the last it needs.

Good clinical results mean better chances for a potential initial public offering when the markets recover in the next three years, and, ultimately, a profitable sale of the 67-person company.

“The question is when is the right time,” Rautsola said. “This will end up being a platform technology within a big pharma company in the next five to seven years.”

More (http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/02/16/story4.html?b=1234760400^1778018)

aegis

AFP: HIV-positive prostitute who accused client of rape jailed in Estonia
TALLINN, Feb 11, 2009 (AFP) - An Estonian court on Wednesday sentenced an HIV-positive prostitute to three years and seven months behind bars for failing to disclose her condition while engaging in unprotected sex.

"The prostitute is Russian and she admitted she knew she was HIV-positive," Maria-Elisa Rannajoe, spokeswoman for Estonian state prosecutors, told AFP.

"She has ten days to appeal the verdict," Rannajoe added.

It is the first case in Estonia of an HIV-positive person being sentenced to prison for engaging in unprotected sex despite knowing they were sick and so putting another person at risk of infection.

An investigation into the activities of the woman, identified only as Viktoria, was launched after she accused a client of rape.

The criminal probe did not confirm rape but did reveal she was aware she was HIV-positive but had failed to inform her client with whom she engaged in unprotected sex.

It remains unclear whether the man became infected with HIV.

The woman also faces narcotics charges after being found in possession of 0.8 grams of heroin.

Viktoria is a common name used among Estonia's Russian-speaking minority that makes up around quarter of the country's 1.3 million population.

More (http://www.aegis.org/channel/s/AF090207.html?id)

SAfrica aims to double AIDS drug scheme
CAPE TOWN, Feb 11, 2009 (AFP) - South Africa will boost its battle against AIDS by almost 90 million dollars (69.5 million euros) over the next three years, doubling the number of people receiving treatment, the finance minister said Wednesday.

The extra 932 million rand will go to treatment and prevention schemes, Trevor Manuel told parliament as he presented the annual budget.

"We are budgeting to extend screening of pregnant mothers coming into the public health system and to phase in an improved drug regimen to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission," he said.

"Our anti-retroviral programme now covers 630,000 people, and the medium term expenditure framework provides for an increase to 1.4 million by 2011/12."

The three-year grant would boost the AIDS spending from 3.4 billion rand (341 million dollars) to 3.9 billion rand in this fiscal year, and up to over 5 billion rand in 2012.

Manuel also revealed 1.8 billion rand was budgeted to introduce three new child vaccines which will reduce infant deaths from pneumococcal pneumonia and rotavirus, which causes diarrhoea.

The leading causes of death for South Africa's 18 million children are AIDS, pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition and low birthweight.

Additional allocations were aimed at expanding immunisation coverage, fighting malaria and tuberculosis, and halving new HIV infections by 2011.

South Africa has the world's highest AIDS rates, with some five million people infected. More than 600,000 are currently receiving anti-retroviral drugs in the world's biggest AIDS treatment programme.

The burdened public health system would be boosted with 728 million rand to a hospital revitalisation programme, in which 31 new hospitals would be built.

"We are profoundly conscious of the complexity of the challenges facing our health services, and the strain on resources associated with a rising disease burden," said Manuel.

More (http://www.aegis.org/channel/s/AF090206.html)

SOUTH KOREA: HIV Cases Top 6,000 for First Time
South Korea had 797 new HIV cases in 2008, an increase of 7.1 percent over the 744 cases recorded in 2007, health officials said recently. Among the new cases, 99 percent were acquired sexually; 94.2 percent were male; more than half were in their 20s or 30s; and 7 percent were over age 60, according to the nation's Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 1985, South Korea has recorded a cumulative total of 6,120 people who acquired HIV, including 1,084 who died.

More (http://www.aegis.org/channel/s/AD090268.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 18, 2009, 10:42:55 am
salk university

Possible new class of HIV therapeutics
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Burnham Institute for Medical Research today announced 295 host cell factors that are involved in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The study, published in the Oct. 3 issue of Cell, could lead to the development of a new class of HIV therapeutics aimed at disrupting the human-HIV interactions that lead to viral infection.

The research, a collaborative effort between the laboratories of Sumit K. Chanda, Ph.D, previously at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) and now at Burnham and John Young, Ph.D. at Salk, combined several layers of genome-wide analysis to identify cellular proteins that aid the virus in establishing an infection.

"HIV has just nine genes, coding for 15 proteins, compared to bacteria, which harbor several thousand genes, or humans, with over 20,000 genes," said Chanda, associate professor in the Infectious & Inflammatory Disease Center at Burnham and an adjunct faculty member at Salk. "We have known for a long time that HIV hijacks our cellular proteins to complete its life cycle. This study now lays out its flight plan."

Young, professor in the Infectious Disease Laboratory at Salk added, "Due to viral resistance, there is an urgent need for new classes of therapies aimed at preventing the virus from infecting new cells as opposed to merely keeping viral replication in check. To develop more effective therapies for HIV infection and AIDS we must identify and characterize the cellular factors that participate in early steps of HIV-1 replication and prevent the virus from becoming established."

Although more than two dozen drugs are available for the treatment of HIV infection, there is a growing need for new antiviral therapies. Recent studies indicate that HIV remains "hidden" in a latent form, even after long-term suppression with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

In the study, the team of researchers used short-interfering RNA (siRNA) which, when introduced into a cell, silences cellular gene expression, one gene at a time. Using high throughput transfection technology available at GNF and at Burnham, more than 144,000 siRNAs (6 siRNAs for each gene in the human genome) were screened for their effects on HIV-1 infection. Data from the siRNA genomic screen was combined with information from large-scale, protein-protein interaction databases to identify key protein complexes that affect discrete steps in the early stages of HIV infection.

"The integration of these systems-based analyses allowed us to build, for the first time, a functionally validated map of host-pathogen interactions that are required for viral infection," said Renate König, Ph.D., of Burnham, the first-author on the study.

More (http://www.salk.edu/)


forbes

A 454 Sequencing Study Reveals New Insights in Drug Resistance and Tropism
New data from two studies, presented last week at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Montreal, Canada demonstrate that ultra-deep sequencing with the Genome Sequencer FLX System from 454 Life Sciences, in combination with traditional methods, may provide a deeper understanding of baseline viral resistance and tropism, leading to potential improvements in the way new drugs may be selected for HIV patients in the future. Effective drug selection for combination therapy is critical to ensure patients obtain optimal, long term suppression of HIV and prevent progression to AIDS.

The presentations at CROI outline research carried out by scientists from the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" and Virco BVBA, in the latest in a series of joint studies performed at Virco's laboratory to analyze and interpret data generated by sequencing HIV-infected research samples with the Genome Sequencer FLX System. The studies explore resistance to a new class of drug called integrase inhibitors, as well as an in-depth evaluation of viral tropism. The ultra-deep method enabled by 454 Sequencing systems offers dramatically improved sensitivity in detecting low-frequency viral variants, also known as viral quasispecies, compared to traditional population based sequencing.

The first study analyzed long-term antiretroviral users receiving a combination therapy of an integrase-inhibitor, raltegravir, and optimized backbone therapy. The investigators analyzed samples at multiple time-points using both traditional Sanger genotyping, in vitro phenotyping and the ultra-deep sequencing method. The researchers found, at levels far below normal detectability, an abundance of viral quasispecies in patients whose treatment failed, in contrast to a far lower number of quasispecies found among patients whose treatment was successful. They hypothesized that the co-presence of many different strains may favor the development of drug resistance and consequently drug failure.

Furthermore, the researchers suggest that the correlation between quasispecies identified at baseline and treatment failure may be occurring via pathways which are much more complex than simple drug-driven selection of the primary mutations currently identified. "The ability of the technology of the 454 Sequencing System to identify mutants at very low levels provides new insights on how HIV may develop resistance to new drugs such as Integrase inhibitors," said Professor Perno from Tor Vergata University. His colleague Dr. Ceccherini-Silberstein added, "This technology will compliment existing techniques and can provide a significant added value to HIV research."

In the second study, the researchers analyzed isolates from HIV-infected patients to characterize viral tropism by both traditional phenotyping and genotyping, as well as deep sequencing analysis. HIV tropism refers to the preference of a patient's particular HIV virus to select one of two co-receptors for entry into the patient's CD4 immune cell, where the virus reproduces. Determining the co-receptor that a HIV strain uses, either CCR5, CXCR4 or a combination of both, is a critical component of monitoring and treating HIV. Dual-tropic virus types have the ability to use either or both co-receptors for cell entry. In the research study, ten randomly-selected dual-tropic isolates were analyzed by V3 deep sequencing analysis with the 454 Sequencing System, and tested for research purposes in human immune cells for sensitivity to therapies, including the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc and the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100.

From these research samples, they found that dual tropic viruses are mostly characterized as quasispecies with potential to use both R5 and CXCR4 receptors as opposed to quasispecies with mixtures of R5 and X4 using viruses, a new insight into how the HIV virus adapts in choosing a co-receptor to enter human target cells CD4 cells. "This analysis helps develop better understanding of the complex mechanisms of HIV co-receptor tropism," said Dr. Lieven Stuyver, Vice President R&D at VIRCO BVBA. "We believe that the use of current technologies such as phenotyping, combined with the newer tools such as ultra-deep sequencing with the Genome Sequencer FLX System, linked to clinical outcome data may allow us to unravel these complex viral mechanisms and ultimately could lead to better HIV treatment in future."

"These studies continue to demonstrate the utility of the 454 Sequencing System for research on viral diseases and their potential treatment," explains Christopher McLeod, President and CEO of 454 Life Sciences. "The development of novel therapies, such as the new classes of HIV drugs, often requires companion tools for proper selection of suitable treatment regimens for patient candidates. We believe that the sensitivity, accuracy, and speed of the 454 Sequencing System will transform the way HIV is monitored and treated in the near future."

More (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/businesswire/2009/02/18/businesswire120735791.html)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 18, 2009, 10:44:30 am

berkeley university

HIV in breast milk killed by flash-heating, new study finds

A simple method of flash-heating breast milk infected with HIV successfully inactivated the free-floating virus, according to a new study led by researchers at the Berkeley and Davis campuses of the University of California.

Notably, the technique - heating a glass jar of expressed breast milk in a pan of water over a flame or single burner - can be easily applied in the homes of mothers in resource-poor communities.

The findings, to appear in the July 1 print issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, but now available online, provide hope that mothers with HIV in developing nations will soon be able to more safely feed their babies.

"We conducted this research to help HIV-positive mothers and their infants who do not have safe alternatives to breastfeeding," said Kiersten Israel-Ballard, a doctoral candidate at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health and lead author of the study. "HIV can be transmitted to the baby via breastfeeding. But for infants in developing countries where infant mortality is already so high from diarrhea and other illnesses, they can't afford to lose the antibodies, other anti-infective agents and the optimal nutrition found in breast milk. This study shows that an easy-to-implement heating method can kill the HIV in breast milk."

This line of research began when HIV-positive women in Zimbabwe asked how they could make their milk safe for their babies. Israel-Ballard conducted a study there that indicated that HIV-positive women wanted to attempt the flash-heating method. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends heat treating HIV-infected breast milk, but there has been little research into a simple method that a mom in a developing country could use.

Studies by this research team have shown that flash-heating breast milk can kill bacteria while retaining most of the milk's nutritional and antimicrobial properties, as well as a majority of its important antibodies.

"Many people in this field were skeptical that this would work," said Barbara Abrams, UC Berkeley professor of epidemiology and maternal and child health, and senior author on the study. "We wanted to be sure that there was scientific evidence that flash-heated milk was truly free of HIV, nutritious and immunologically beneficial. This study was done in response to the concerns of the mothers in Zimbabwe, and in addition provides evidence that field studies are warranted."

Banks that collect, store and dispense human milk already pasteurize milk, but the method they commonly use requires thermometers and timers that may be hard to obtain in resource-poor communities.

Flash-heating is a type of pasteurization that brings the milk to a higher temperature for a shorter period of time, a method known to better protect the anti-infective and nutritional properties of breast milk than the one typically used in human milk banks. Moreover, the low-tech materials used for this study are readily available in local communities in the developing world, and the heating method can be easily incorporated into a mother's normal daily routine.

Of the 700,000 children who become infected with HIV each year, an estimated 40 percent contract the virus from prolonged breastfeeding. WHO recommends that HIV-positive mothers avoid breastfeeding when safe feeding alternatives are available.

But in regions of the world where mothers cannot afford the cost of infant formula, water is contaminated, or other socio-cultural conditions make replacement feeding difficult, WHO recommends exclusively breastfeeding for up to six months.

"The risks and benefits of heating HIV-contaminated breast milk are different for women in developing countries than for women in the United States," said Dr. Caroline Chantry, a pediatrician and infant nutrition researcher with UC Davis Children's Hospital, and co-author of the paper. "Here we have access to safe water and formula, so it makes less sense for HIV-positive mothers in developed countries to take the risks associated with feeding babies their breast milk."

Studies indicate that when babies are breastfed exclusively, there is a 3 to 4 percent risk of HIV transmission. However, when babies are given formula or other foods in addition to breast milk, there is a significant three- to four-fold increase in the risk of HIV transmission, possibly because allergens and contaminants in solid foods and formula can compromise the epithelial lining of a baby's digestive tract, making it easier for viruses to pass through.

For this reason, WHO guidelines have recommended that after six months of exclusively breastfeeding, HIV-positive mothers wean their babies as soon as other foods are available. Even then, while weaning may decrease the risk of HIV transmission, studies have shown that it increases the risk of malnutrition, diarrhea and other diseases that can lead to infant mortality.

"Early cessation of breastfeeding has been tried in several recent studies, and the results suggest that stopping breastfeeding early increased the risk of infant illness, growth failure and death, and actually outweighed the risk of transmitting HIV through breast milk," said Abrams. "This has been a desperate dilemma for mothers in developing countries. Our method of flash-heating breast milk could be particularly important at the time the mother stops nursing. Roughly 300,000 infants contract HIV from breastfeeding each year. Even if only a small proportion of HIV-positive mothers in resource-poor countries can successfully express and flash-treat their milk, this simple, inexpensive and potentially sustainable method could still save thousands of babies from HIV infection while providing most of the health benefits of human milk."

This study reflects results from the first stage of research, headed by Abrams, into the effects of flash-heating breast milk. Chantry will head the next stage of field trials, which involve moving this technique out of the lab and into the homes of women in Africa. The researchers are seeking funding to assess the flash-heating method's feasibility for babies in local communities in developing countries.

"Clinical trials are urgently needed to substantiate that mothers can express, flash-heat and store their milk safely, and to test the impact of this method on actual HIV transmission," said Chantry. "What is important about this study is that women have the right to an informed choice. It's amazing to me that in our paternalistic society, people so often readily dismiss the possibility that women would be willing to express and heat their milk to prevent their babies from getting infected with HIV."

Of the 98 samples of breast milk collected from 84 HIV-positive women in Durban, South Africa, only 30 had detectable levels of HIV before heating. Not all breast milk from HIV-positive mothers contains HIV naturally. Milk had been hand expressed into clean, locally purchased glass food jars provided by the researchers.

For each sample of HIV-infected milk, researchers set aside 50 milliliters in the original collection jars and used the remainder as unheated controls. The uncovered jars were placed in a 1-quart pan filled with 450 milliliters of water. The water and milk were heated together over a single-burner butane stove. Once the water reached a rolling boil, the breast milk was immediately removed and allowed to cool.

The researchers checked the temperature of the milk at 15-second intervals and determined that the flash-heated milk reached a peak temperature of 163 degrees Fahrenheit (72.9 degrees Celsius), and typically stayed hotter than 132 degrees Fahrenheit (56 degrees Celsius) for more than six minutes.

Viral analysis of the flash-heated and unheated breast milk found that cell-free HIV had been inactivated in all of the heated samples.

The researchers note that they used a reverse transcriptase (RT) assay to test for an enzyme produced by viable HIV since traditional tests for HIV do not distinguish between dead and live viruses. The RT test, however, cannot detect HIV within cells, but preliminary data suggest that flash-heat inactivates cell-associated HIV as well.

"We hope this technique will not only provide HIV-free breast milk that is safe to consume, but that the milk also retains the antibodies and nutrition that will help keep their infants healthy," said Israel-Ballard. "Mothers in Africa have told us they will do anything to keep their babies alive, and this work is ultimately about providing them with viable options to do just that."

More (http://www.berkeley.edu/)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 18, 2009, 10:46:08 am
emory university

Blocking immune inhibitor improves response to HIV-like virus, prolongs survival in monkeys
By blocking PD-1 (programmed death-1), an immune receptor molecule known to inhibit the immune response to chronic viral infections, scientists have safely and significantly reduced the plasma viral load and also prolonged survival of rhesus macaque monkeys severely infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the nonhuman primate version of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The therapeutic strategy worked by boosting the function of anti-viral killer cells (CD8 T cells) and improving antibody response to the virus.

Scientists at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University, the Emory Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School conducted the research, which will be published in the current online issue of Nature, Dec. 10.

"Our findings raise the possibility that PD-1 blocking antibody treatment not only could improve the anti-viral T cell response to chronic HIV infections, but it also could generate an effective antibody response against the mutated virus of the infected host," says Rama Amara, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

"It also is important to note that this therapy was effective without anti-retroviral drugs and in monkeys with severe AIDS. It is critical to induce protective immune responses targeting the mutated virus for developing a successful immune therapy to control HIV infection," Amara continues.

In the current study, which builds on findings from previous studies with mice, the researchers tested the potential of blocking PD-1 to control HIV infection using a macaque monkey model of SIV. They injected nine SIV-infected monkeys with an antibody to human PD-1 four times over 10 days. Gordon Freeman, PhD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, provided the antibody.

Of the nine animals, five were infected for three months and four were infected for about 21 months at the time of antibody treatment. Another five SIV-infected monkeys received a control antibody at the same dose and schedule. The researchers then tested the function of the anti-SIV killer cells, antibody responses to the virus and plasma viral load.

Results showed that the improved anti-viral immune responses were associated with a reduction in plasma viral load and prolonged the survival of the infected animals. All nine animals receiving the PD-1 antibody survived more than seven months following initiation of treatment (the current time of the study), while four of the five animals receiving the control antibody died within four months following initiation of treatment.

The antibody treatment appeared to be safe and well tolerated. Within seven days of treatment, the number of anti-SIV killer T cells increased significantly and had improved function. This improvement was noted both in the blood and the gut, which is a major repository of SIV and HIV. The PD-1 antibody treatment also increased the proliferation of memory B cells and the level of antibody against SIV, a finding that had not been reported in earlier mouse studies.

"These findings are important not only because they highlight a potential therapy for HIV, but also because of the insights they offer for other challenging chronic infectious diseases such as hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis," says Emory Vaccine Center Director Rafi Ahmed, PhD, who is a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar. "Through the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, which also funded the current study, we soon will begin testing the effectiveness of the PD-1 blockade against HCV in nonhuman primates."

Several years ago, Ahmed and his colleagues discovered that the immune receptor PD-1 essentially functions as a molecular switch to turn off an effective immune response by overwhelming T cells in their fight against chronic viral infections. By injecting an antibody that binds to PD-1 into mice infected with chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), they were able to switch the immune response back on and control the virus. Dr. Ahmed is a co-principal investigator of the current study.

Other studies have since shown that anti-viral CD8 T cells express high levels of PD-1 during many human chronic infections, including HIV, hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis. However, until now the safety and effectiveness of blocking PD-1 in an appropriate animal model for these human viral infections had not been shown.

The current research team plans to continue testing the antibody therapy in combination with anti-retroviral drugs to try and improve its effectiveness. They also will explore the benefits of prolonged treatment (up to three months as opposed to 10 days in the current study). In addition, they are studying the effectiveness of antibodies against PD-1 ligands (target molecules), a strategy that was part of the earlier mouse research

More (http://www.emory.edu)


hivandhepatitis

Hormonal Contraceptives Do Not Accelerate Disease Progression in HIV Positive Women
The natural history of HIV and its treatment have not been as well studied in women as in men. Past laboratory, animal, and human research has provided conflicting data about the effects of hormonal contraception -- such as the pill and implantable or injectable methods -- on HIV disease. While some studies have suggested hormonal contraception might increase susceptibility to HIV infection or accelerate disease progression in untreated women, others have not seen these effects.

In a presentation at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last week in Montreal, Elizabeth Stringer of the University of Alabama described data from an analysis of the impact of contraception among participants in the MTCT Plus Initiative, a family-based HIV care and treatment program in Africa and Asia.

..

Results

    * Overall, there was no evidence of hormonal contraception accelerating HIV disease progression.
    * A total of 66 women died and 881 became eligible for ART.
    * Using a reference hazard ratio of 1.0 for non-hormonal or no contraception:
        o  Progesterone-only injectables and implants had an adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) for disease
            progression of 1.0 -- that is, no difference.
        o  Combination oral contraceptive pills had an AHR of 0.90.
    * Risk factors for disease progression were:
        o  CD4 count of 200-350 cells/mm3 (AHR 5.69);
        o  WHO Stage II disease (AHR 1.52);
        o  WHO Stage III disease (AHR 3.46).

Based on these results, the researchers concluded, "In contrast to some other, smaller studies, this multi-country cohort analysis suggests that hormonal contraception does not accelerate HIV disease progression."

While these results are encouraging, they added, "further research is needed to examine the potential influence of individual components of contraceptive agents on disease progression."

Speaking at a press conference about the findings, Stringer said, "Hormonal contraception appears to be safe in HIV-infected women, but more research is needed," for example on the potential link between hormones and inflammation.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/021709_dd.html)

Despite Infrequent "Blips," Tenofovir (Viread) Provides Good Hepatitis B Virus Suppression HIV-HBV Coinfected Individuals
Due to overlapping risk factors, a significant number of HIV positive individuals have also been exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV), and an undetermined proportion have developed chronic hepatitis B, which over time can progress to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Several antiviral agents are approved for treatment of hepatitis B, some of which also exhibit anti-HIV activity. Tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada and Atripla coformulation pills) and lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) are approved for both diseases, while emtricitabine (Emtriva) is currently approved only for HIV. As reported at the 2007 Retrovirus conference, entecavir (Baraclude), which is only approved for HBV, also has low-level anti-HIV activity.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/hbv_image1..jpg)
Hep B virus

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/021709_b.html)

iTherX Pharmaceuticals Announces Phase 2a Proof-of-concept Trial of First Hepatitis C Virus Entry Inhibitor
Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is the current standard of care for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but researchers are exploring several oral agents that directly target different steps of the HCV lifecycle -- an approach dubbed "STAT-C."

Several HCV protease and polymerase inhibitors are already well along in the development pipeline. Now, iTherX Pharmaceuticals has announced its plan to start a Phase 2a trial of the first HCV entry inhibitor, ITX5061.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/021309_a.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 19, 2009, 02:13:47 pm
sciencedaily

Vaccine Research Targets HIV In The Slower, Early Stage Of Infection
New research at Oregon Health & Science University's Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute suggests vaccines that specifically target HIV in the initial stages of infection before it becomes a rapidly replicating, system-wide infection - may be a successful approach in limiting the spread of the disease.

To determine whether they could proactively "educate" the immune system, scientists used a monkey model of AIDS - simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) – the monkey counterpart to HIV. They introduced an altered monkey form of cytomegalovirus (CMV) programmed to express SIV proteins and trigger specialized effector memory T-cells to look for and attack SIV in its early stages.

In total, 12 rhesus macaque monkeys at the Oregon National Primate Research Center were vaccinated using this method. When the animals were later infected with SIV, one-third were protected.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217151555.htm)


upi

Japan HIV, AIDS cases reach all-time high
The number of people in Japan newly infected with the HIV virus and those contracting AIDS reached an all-time high of 1,545, Japan's health ministry reported.

Of the 1,113 people diagnosed as newly positive with the human immunodeficiency virus in 2008 and 432 diagnosed with AIDS, 1,442 were male, the ministry's AIDS Trend Committee report said.

More (http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/02/19/Japan_HIV_AIDS_cases_reach_all-time_high/UPI-42541235062386/)


news8austin

AIDS becomes China's deadliest infectious disease
BEIJING — For the first time last year, AIDS was the top killer among infectious diseases in China.

A state news agency is reporting the increase, though it did not explain the jump. One possible factor is the Chinese government's improved reporting of HIV/AIDS statistics in recent years.

The report said nearly 7,000 people died of AIDS in China in the nine months through September. The numbers also show confirmed HIV infections have nearly doubled.

China has long denied that AIDS was a problem. But leaders have shifted in recent years, confronting the disease more openly and promising anonymous testing, free treatment for the poor and a ban on discrimination against people with the virus.

More (http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=232448)


hindustantimes

HIV+ man commits suicide in Gorai
A 40-year-old journalist was found dead in the toilet of the Vividh Bharti Complex in Gorai on Thursday. The police have recovered a suicide note from the man’s pocket.

The note said that he was committing suicide because he had contracted HIV and was frustrated. “In the note, Krishna Naik (name changed) had mentioned that he was taking his life and nobody else should be blamed for his death,” said Lalji Pawar, Sub-Inspector from Borivli police station. “It is still not known why Naik chose the Vividh Bharti Complex to commit suicide. Naik had used a knife to slit his throat.

It was found lying beside the body. Naik and his wife were HIV+ and were getting treated at JJ Hospital,” added Pawar. According to the police, Naik used to work with a local publication and stayed with his family in Gorai. He is survived by his wife, a schoolteacher, and two children. The police have sent Naik’s body for post mortem to Bhagwati Hospital and have called his wife to record her statement. “This is an open and shut case. It is clear that Naik has committed suicide so we have registered a case of unnatural death,” added Pawar.

More (http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=NLetter&id=e65454d9-0651-4315-9b42-5689636dcd79&MatchID1=4924&TeamID1=4&TeamID2=2&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1244&PrimaryID=4924&Headline=HIV%2b+man+commits+suicide+in+Gorai)


medicalnewstoday

Gene Therapy Study Shows Method Is Safe, Somewhat Beneficial, Researchers Report
A study of gene therapy to treat HIV has shown that the treatment is safe and somewhat beneficial -- a "major advance" in efforts to combat the virus -- researchers said in a study published recently in the journal Nature Medicine, AFP/Google.com reports. According to the researchers, the study -- which was headed by Ronald Mitsuyasu of the University of California-Los Angeles -- confirms that this avenue of gene therapy in HIV research is a valid approach (AFP/Google.com, 2/15). The study involved 74 HIV-positive people, half of whom received blood stem cells that included a molecule, called OZ1, which is designed to block HIV from replicating by targeting two key proteins (BBC News, 2/16). The other half were given a placebo. The study aimed to determine whether the stem cells would survive the body's immune system and if this would curb the replication of HIV. The researchers found that after 48 weeks, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. However, after 100 weeks, the group that received the RNA enzyme gene had higher levels of CD4+ T cells and low HIV viral loads. The study also showed that the new blood stem cells depleted over time -- although DNA tests showing that the modified cells were present in 94% of the gene group at four weeks, this fell to 12% by week 48 and 7% by week 100. According to the researchers, the study's results showed the treatment was "safe" and modestly effective. Mitsuyasu said that instead of putting the technique through to a Phase III trial, the team plans to modify the technique and introduce new tests on a smaller group of participants. He said the study "gives some hope" to the gene therapy approach as a treatment for HIV and other diseases, such as cancer, adding, "It's a positive finding for the field and should move the field forward" (AFP/Google.com, 2/15).

Reaction
Mitsuyasu said that the treatment is "not yet as effective or as complete as current antiretroviral therapy in controlling HIV," although the recent study "did show proof" that using a single gene in an HIV-positive patient's own blood cells could reduce the spread of the virus. Jo Robinson of the HIV/AIDS organization Terrence Higgins Trust said, "Gene therapy is an exciting area which aims to create a one off treatment for HIV, avoiding the need for people to take daily medication," adding that the therapy is in its "early days in research terms, so we're a long way from something like this being on the market." Robinson said that the new study "has shown some promising results, which definitely warrant further investigation." Keith Alcorn of the U.K.-based HIV information service NAM added that although the study's results are "very modest," the researchers showed "enough of an effect for us to be hopeful that a gene therapy approach to HIV treatment might eventually deliver effective treatments for the disease" (BBC News, 2/16).

An abstract of the study is available online (http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/nm.1932.pdf)

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139588.php)

Researcher Helps Discover A Way To Prevent The HIV Ability To Mutate
Trying to stop HIV early in its life cycle by preventing the virus from entering the body's cells and fusing is the job of drugs called fusion inhibitors. Currently, the last line of defense - the drug T20 - eventually fails as the virus mutates. A new study from researchers at the University of Missouri and Kyoto University in Japan shows that a modification to T20 can deliver a preemptive strike to the virus' ability to replicate. This new finding could give patients more options to stay healthy for a longer period of time.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139558.php)


aidsmap

Treatment switches on basis of CD4 declines often unnecessary, Uganda research shows
witching people to second-line antiretroviral treatment on the basis of CD4 declines, without information from viral load tests, could result in a large numbers of unnecessary switches to more expensive second-line regimens in resource-limited settings, a study in Uganda has found.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B583D01D-78AC-433E-B5A6-E7978C450405.asp)

Disadvantage of late treatment start in Africa may persist for years, studies find
Starting antiretroviral therapy earlier, before the development of symptoms, is the most likely way to reduce the high death rates after treatment initiation seen in people with HIV in resource-limited settings, two large cohort analyses show. The studies also show that the major disadvantage of starting treatment late - an increased risk of death - may persist for some years, burdening already overstretched health systems with illness that could be avoided by earlier treatment.

The findings, presented last week at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montréal, are likely to strengthen the case for a stronger global recommendation that people with HIV should start treatment when the CD4 cell count falls below 350 cells/mm3 wherever resources permit.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/28D93D76-70F3-4D5B-AAB4-A4D83B1413B4.asp)


aegis

VGX Pharmaceuticals Proprietary DNA Vaccines Delivered with Electroporation Achieve Immune Responses Superior to Recombinant Adenovirus Serotype 5 (Ad5) Vectors: DNA Vaccine Developer Provides Clinical Update on PENNVAX(TM) HIV Vaccines Programs
BLUE BELL, Pa. -- VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VGX), a leading developer of DNA vaccines and therapies for HIV infection, announced today that its collaborators from the University of Pennsylvania presented data showing enhanced magnitude and quality of immune responses induced by VGX's DNA vaccines with electroporation delivery compared to those induced by the recombinant Adenovirus Serotype 5 (Ad5) vector. The data was presented at the recent 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) held in Montreal, Canada.

VGX and its collaborators have previously reported that PENNVAX(TM) DNA vaccines delivered with its CELLECTRA(R) electroporation device induced dramatic increases in T-cell and antibody-based immune responses as well as improved control of viral replication following a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) challenge. The SIV model in non-human primates is considered to be the most relevant model for studying HIV infection in humans. Historically, recombinant Ad5 vector has been shown to be one of the most potent viral vectors for vaccine development.

This study was led by Professor David B. Weiner's team at the University of Pennsylvania and included collaborators from VGX and Merck. The collaborative study was the first study to directly compare a DNA plasmid-electroporation platform with a recombinant Ad5 vector in an SIV model in non-human primates. The study results showed significant enhancements in the magnitude, frequency, proliferative capacity, and polyfunctionality of the induced immune responses following DNA plasmid-electroporation vaccination compared to the Ad5 vector.

"VGX Pharmaceuticals along with our collaborators have the most active and dynamic HIV vaccine development programs in the industry," stated Dr. J. Joseph Kim, President and CEO. "We have demonstrated that our novel PENNVAX(TM) HIV DNA vaccines delivered with our CELLECTRA(R) electroporation device can induce significantly higher and broader T-cell responses in monkey models. We look forward to advancing studies with the aim of demonstrating the same outcome in humans."

PENNVAX(TM) HIV Vaccine Phase I Trial Update

Preventative PENNVAX(TM) HIV Vaccine Programs

PENNVAX(TM) is an optimized DNA vaccine for HIV developed by VGX using its SynCon(TM) technology. The Company's PENNVAX(TM)-B (targeting HIV clade B) vaccine without electroporation delivery is currently in a Phase I clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID) Division of AIDS (DAIDS) and being conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) to evaluate the vaccine's safety and immunogenicity in healthy volunteers. The HVTN recently completed enrollment of this 120-patient study (HVTN protocol number 070). VGX and its collaborators are planning a follow-on Phase I clinical trial of PENNVAX(TM)-B vaccine delivered with the CELLECTRA(R) electroporation device (HVTN protocol number 080).

In October 2008, VGX was awarded a $23.5 million contract by the NIAID to develop another preventative DNA vaccine candidate, PENNVAX(TM)-GP (targeting HIV clades A, C, and D), in conjunction with its CELLECTRA(R) electroporation technology. The Company is presently focused on optimizing the combination of the HIV vaccine candidate and electroporation delivery in pre-clinical studies.

Therapeutic PENNVAX(TM) HIV Vaccine Programs

PENNVAX(TM)-B vaccine is also being tested as a therapeutic vaccine in a Phase I study conducted by investigators from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. This 38-patient study is being funded by a grant from the NIAID and began enrolling patients in 4Q 2008. The investigators are planning a follow-on Phase I clinical trial of PENNVAX(TM)-B vaccine delivered with the CELLECTRA(R) electroporation device in a therapeutic setting.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=861)

Tentative approval of Tenofovir Disoproxil
On February 18, 2009, FDA granted tentative approval for generic tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets, 300 mg, indicated for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults.

"Tentative approval" means that FDA has concluded that a drug product meets all required quality, safety and efficacy standards, but is not eligible for marketing in the U.S. because of existing patents and/or exclusivity rights. However, tentative approval does make the product eligible for purchase outside the United States under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR (http://www.pepfar.gov/)).

The application was reviewed under expedited review provisions for PEPFAR.

Manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma Limited of Hyberdad, India, this is a generic version of Viread Tablets, 300 mg, made by Gilead Sciences, Inc. Effective patent dates for all approved drugs can be found in the agency's publication titled Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, also known as the "Orange Book (http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/docs/querytn.htm)"

As with all generic applications, FDA conducts an on-site inspection of each manufacturing facility, and of the facilities performing the bioequivalence studies, to evaluate the ability of the manufacturer to produce a quality product and to assess the quality of the bioequivalence data supporting the application prior to granting approval or tentative approval to these applications.

A list of all Approved and Tentatively Approved Antiretrovirals in Association with the President's Emergency Plan (http://www.fda.gov/oia/pepfar.htm) is available on the FDA website.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=865)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 19, 2009, 02:46:40 pm
natap

CROI: New HIV Drugs: NNRTI, PR140, Maturation
At CROI there were posters on several apparently interesting new HIV drugs: PRO 140; new NNRTIs from Ardea (RDEA427/640); Myriad presented early data on their maturation inhibitor program after acquiring Bevirimat from Panacos
The pipeline is not empty although not as exciting as 3 years ago.. There are a lot of NNRTIs (see below) in the pipeline including TMC278 as well as several integrase inhibitors, all developers hope these will be active against resistance in their class.

Phase 1, Single Ascending Oral Dose Study of the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of a Novel HIV-1 Maturation Inhibitor in HIV- Healthy Volunteers
MPC-9055 had a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile following single dose administration to healthy volunteers. A multiple dose study in HIV-infected individuals is planned.

RDEA427 and RDEA640 Are Novel NNRTI with Potent Anti-HIV Activity against NNRTI-resistant Viruses
RDEA427 and RDEA640 are superior to EFV against a panel of NNRTI-resistant viruses and are less affected by binding to serum proteins than EFV and TMC278. RDEA427 and RDEA640 also show a low potential for CYP induction and a large selectivity index. The in vitro characterization of these novel NNRTI shows strong potential for improved performance over current NNRTI and warrants evaluation in humans.

Resistance-selection Study in vitro and Favorable Human Pharmacokinetic Properties of RDEA427, a New HIV NNRTI
RDEA427 has shown potent in vitro activity against wild-type and NNRTI-resistant viruses. In a resistance-selection study, RDEA427 controlled K103N HIV-1 infection for >100 days, suggesting that RDEA427 may provide a high barrier to resistance. Favorable pharmacokinetics of RDEA427 following intravenous micro-dosing in healthy volunteers supports the development of RDEA427, and the long half-life may mitigate the risk of a missed dose.
 
Anti-viral Characterization in vitro of a Novel Maturation Inhibitor, MPC-9055
MPC-9055 is a potent anti-HIV agent with a broad range of action. It has a novel mechanism of action and targets the last step in Gag processing, cleavage of CA-SP1 to CA. MPC-9055 is also active against RT- and PI-resistant strains. Based upon this efficacy profile and novel mechanism of action, MPC-9055 is a promising new HIV therapeutic.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_55.htm)

CROI: Markers of Inflammation, Coagulation and Renal Function in HIV-infected Adults in SMART and in two Large Population-Based Studies, CARDIA and MESA: HIV+ have higher levels of inflammatory markers on and off HAART, "markers appear to predict mortality & disease progression in HIV"
Compared to participants from two population-based cohorts (CARDIA and MESA), HIV-infected individuals in SMART had higher levels of inflammatory markers (as measured by hsCRP and IL-6), coagulation and fibrinolysis activity (as measured by D-dimer) and impaired renal function (as measured by cystatin-C).

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_54.htm)

CROI: No Association of Abacavir Use with Risk of Myocardial Infarction or Severe Cardiovascular Disease Events: Results from ACTG A5001
 In contrast to D:A:D and SMART, we did not find a significant association between recent ABC use and MI or severe CVD risk for ART-naïve patients randomized to an initial ABC regimen. Our results suggest the association with recent ABC use in other studies may be a marker for other factors not discerned in their analyses.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_53.htm)
 
CROI: Subgroup Analyses from STARTMRK, a Phase III Study of Raltegravir (RAL)-Based vs Efavirenz (EFV)-Based Combination Therapy in Treatment-Naive HIV-Infected Patients
In the STARTMRK trial of combination antiretroviral therapy in previously untreated patients, RAL with TDF/FTC demonstrated consistent virologic and immunologic efficacy relative to EFV with TDF/FTC across demographic and baseline prognostic factors, including:
 
Baseline plasma vRNA level >100,000 copies/mL: Both RAL and EFV demonstrated comparable efficacy in patients with high baseline viral loads (>100,000 copies/mL) compared to patients with lower viral loads
 
Baseline CD4 count ?50 cells/mm3
--Response rates for both RAL and EFV recipients were numerically slightly lower in patients with low baseline CD4 cells (?200 cells/mm3) compared to patients with higher CD4 cells
 
Demographic groups (including age, gender, region, and race)
 
Viral subtypes (comparing non-clade B as a group to clade B)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_52.htm)
 
CROI: Factors affecting virologic response to darunavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected patients in ARTEMIS at 96 weeks
In ARTEMIS at 96 weeks, significantly more treatment-naïve patients achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL with once-daily DRV/r 800/100mg compared with LPV/r 800/200mg total daily dose, even after adjusting for baseline predictors of response (i.e. adherence, age, race and baseline HIV-1 RNA).
 
These results were also seen when patients who discontinued for adverse events or other reasons were excluded from the analysis (non-VF censored population).
 
Sub-optimal adherence to DRV/r did not compromise virologic response, whereas patients receiving LPV/r who had sub-optimal adherence were significantly more likely to fail therapy.
 
The efficacy benefit of DRV/r over LPV/r in the ARTEMIS trial was driven primarily by virologic endpoints. This efficacy benefit was not primarily caused by differences in discontinuations for adverse events or other reasons.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_51.htm)
 
CROI: Characterization of virologic failures in the randomized, controlled, Phase III ARTEMIS trial in treatment-naive patients (Week 96 analysis)
In this treatment-naïve ARTEMIS population, the VF rate was lower in patients receiving once-daily DRV/r 800/100mg compared with LPV/r 800/200mg total daily dose.
 
In this Week 96 resistance analysis, no major (primary) PI RAMs developed in VFs with an available genotype at baseline and endpoint. Almost all minor IAS-USA PI RAMs that developed were polymorphic.
 
All VFs with available phenotypes at baseline and endpoint remained susceptible at endpoint to all PIs, including the study PI used in the regimen.
 
These findings confirm the lack of development of major (primary) PI RAMs, and the preservation of phenotypic susceptibility to all PIs in ARTEMIS patients with VF.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_50.htm)
 
CROI: Emerging Patterns of Resistance to Integrase Inhibitors
Raltegravir (RAL) is the first licensed ARV that inhibits integration. Understanding resistance to this drug class is critical to maximizing the utility of the class in clinical practice, but data to date are still limited. Analysis of the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of RAL has suggested the potential for several resistance pathways, each involving multiple mutations with different effects on susceptibility and replication capacity. This presentation will update and extend the analyses of integrase resistance from the clinical trials of RAL in both treatment-naive patients and patients with triple-class resistant HIV-1 infection.

(http://natap.org/2009/images/021809/Summary-1.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/021809/PN-2.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_49.htm)
 
CROI: Assessment of Renal Findings of Abacavir/Lamivudine (ABC/3TC) Compared to Tenofovir/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in Combination with QD Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r) Over 96 Weeks in the HEAT Study
Absolute differences in renal function as estimated by eGFR and eCrCl were small between ABC/3TC and TDF/FTC each coadministered with LPV/r over 96 weeks.
 
TDF/FTC-treated subjects were more likely to experience any renal adverse event compared to ABC/3TC-treated subjects.
 
Progression to CKD stage 3 (eGFR <60mL/min/1.732) occurred more often in TDF/FTC-treated subjects.
 
Routine renal monitoring can detect overt or antiretroviral-induced kidney disease earlier and should be considered in all patients commencing antiretroviral therapy.
ABC/3TC and TDF/FTC containing therapy similarly decreased inflammatory markers associated with CV risk in antiretroviral-naive patients.
 
Few CV events occurred in HEAT and event rate was similar between arms.
 
The declines in hsCRP, IL-6, and sVCAM-1 concentrations in the HEAT study do not support the hypothesis of an ABC-induced inflammatory response leading to increased CV risk.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_48.htm)
 
CROI: Similar Reductions in Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Activation after Initiation of Abacavir/Lamivudine (ABC/3TC) or Tenofovir/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in the HEAT Study
ABC/3TC and TDF/FTC containing therapy similarly decreased inflammatory markers associated with CV risk in antiretroviral-naive patients.
 
Few CV events occurred in HEAT and event rate was similar between arms.
 
The declines in hsCRP, IL-6, and sVCAM-1 concentrations in the HEAT study do not support the hypothesis of an ABC-induced inflammatory response leading to increased CV risk.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_47.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 19, 2009, 02:47:49 pm
natap

CROI: Efficacy and Safety of Abacavir/Lamivudine Compared to Tenofovir/Emtricitabine in Combination with Once-Daily Lopinavir/Ritonavir through 48 Weeks in the HEAT Study
Abacavir/Lamivudine (ABC/3TC) or Tenofovir/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in the HEAT Study
ABC/3TC is comparable to TDF/FTC in virologic efficacy when combined with LPV/r through 48 weeks.
 
Both treatment regimens were well tolerated with few discontinuations due to adverse events in either arm.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_46.htm)
 
CROI: HIV-1 INFECTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCELERATED VASCULAR AGING
The results of the present study demonstrate that endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in HIV-1-seropositive treatment naive men compared with healthy men of similar age.
 
The degree of impairment in endothelial vasodilation in the HIV-1-seropositive men was similar to that of healthy men 25 years older, suggesting that HIV-1 infection is associated with accelerated vascular aging.
 
Diminished endothelial-dependent vasodilator function may contribute to the greater risk of cardiovascular disease and adverse vascular events in HIV-1-seropositive adults under the age of 50 years.
More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_45.htm)
 
CROI: SIMPLIFICATION WITH FIXED-DOSE TENOFOVIR-EMTRICITABINE OR ABACAVIRLAMIVUDINE IN ADULTS WITH SUPPRESSED HIV REPLICATION (THE STEAL STUDY): A RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABEL, 96-WEEK, NON-INFERIORITY TRIAL
In this population, TDF-FTC and ABC-3TC had similar virological efficacy.
 
However, ABC-3TC was associated with more SNAEs (particularly cardiovascular disease) and lipid endpoints, and TDF-FTC caused more BMD loss.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_44.htm)
 
CROI: Neurocognitive (and neuropathy) Impairment Rate Remains High in Diverse US Cohort
In the general population the metabolics are associated with vascular disease and a broad concern that can affect many organ systems: the heart, kidney, diabetes, vascular system, and the brain.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_43.htm)
 
CROI: Antiretrovirals Have Not Banished Brain Injury in 7-Center US Imaging Study: brain damage persists despite HAART- inflammation and neuronal damage
Brain injury persists in antiretroviral-treated people with stable HIV infection, according to results of a seven-center, 268-person analysis by the US-based HIV Neuroimaging Consortium [1]. Among HIV-infected people without symptoms of neurologic disease, imaging showed diffuse inflammatory changes. Because the impact of potent antiretroviral therapy on the brain in people with stable HIV infection remains unknown, the HIV Neuroimaging Consortium undertook a study of 268 people with a lowest-ever (nadir) CD4 count below 200 who had been taking antiretroviral therapy for at least 1 year. The investigators also aimed to determine whether any benefits of antiretroviral therapy persist and whether brain pathology and cognitive impairment can develop in otherwise asymptomatic people. This prospective study excluded people taking illicit drugs and people with confounding neurologic, psychiatric, or medical disorders, including hepatic, renal, or diabetic disease.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_42.htm)

CROI: HCV Independently Adds to Hospital, Emergency Room, and Disability Days With HIV: days in hospital doubled
HIV-infected people with a positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test spend twice as many days in the hospital as HCV-seronegative people with HIV, according to results of a 3000-person analysis. HCV seropositivity also independently raised rates of emergency room (ER) visits and disability days. Benjamin Linas and colleagues scrutinized data from the ACTG Longitudinal Linked Randomized Trials (ALLRT) cohort to determine how HCV seropositivity affects health resource use in distinct CD4-count strata (under 100, 100-200, 201-350, and over 350) and to compare rates of hospitalization, ER use, and disability days in HIV-infected people with and without HCV antibodies. The ALLRT cohort includes antiretroviral-naive and experienced people who enrolled in randomized ACTG trials and agreed to prospective follow-up after the trial ended.
 
For this study, the investigators asked cohort members to recall over the past 4 months the number of (1) nights spent in the hospital, (2) ER visits made, (3) days spent in bed, and (4) days forced to cut back on work or daily activities. They defined disability days as the larger number of either days spent in bed or days with reduced work or activities. The analysis included 3082 ALLRT participants with at least one CD4 count. When predicting the impact of HCV on health resource use, Linas and coworkers factored in current CD4 count, current viral load, opportunistic infection history, age, gender, race, and history of injecting drug use.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_40.htm)
 
CROI: Suspending Antiretrovirals Has Fast Negative Impact on HDL Particle Concentrations: interruptions reduce HDL and this predicts risk for cardiovascular disease in SMART
Duprez concluded that total HDL particle concentration, and particularly small HDL particle concentration, predicted risk of cardiovascular disease in SMART. The study linked intermittent antiretroviral therapy to falling HDL particle quotients when compared with continuous therapy. Duprez called for further study of how long-term antiretroviral therapy affects HDL cholesterol and HDL particles.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_39.htm)
 
CROI: First Double-Blind HIV+ Trial of Ezetimibe Plus Statin Finds Falling LDL Cholesterol
Adding ezetimibe to a statin significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B, the primary apolipoprotein component of LDL) after 12 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial [1]. Side effects were no more frequent or severe with ezetimibe than with placebo.
 
AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) investigators compared ezetimibe, which inhibits intestinal absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol, and placebo in 44 people taking pravastatin, atorvastatin, or fluvastatin with a stable antiretroviral regimen. The investigators excluded anyone with diabetes or a history of coronary heart disease or congestive heart failure, or anyone who used anabolic steroids. Forty-four study participants were randomized to take 10 mg of ezetimibe daily or placebo for 12 weeks, then to take no drugs for 4 weeks, then to switch over to the alternative study assignment.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_38.htm)
 
CROI: Endothelial Function, Inflammatory Markers Do Not Change 24 Weeks After Switch to Atazanavir
Total cholesterol and triglycerides fell significantly when hyperlipidemic people switched from a boosted protease inhibitor (PI), usually lopinavir, to atazanavir/ritonavir [1]. But 24 weeks after the switch, endothelial function and cardiovascular inflammatory markers had not changed significantly in people who started atazanavir or people who stayed with their original PI. Robert Murphy and colleagues in the US, Argentina, and Italy did not speculate on the clinical implications of their findings. (from Jules: perhaps HIV causes endothelial dysfunction that may not be reversible by a switch to a more friendly lipid ART medication).
 
Murphy and coworkers randomized 50 people taking a stable ritonavir-boosted PI regimen to continue their drugs or to swap the PI for 300/100 mg of atazanavir/ritonavir once daily. Everyone had a viral load below 500 copies and a fasting low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level above 130 mg/dL or triglycerides above 200 mg/dL. The study excluded anyone taking a nonnucleoside, anyone with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, or anyone who smoked more than one pack of cigarettes daily. However, 42% of study participants did smoke. The investigators also excluded anyone who began lipid-lowering therapy within 4 weeks and anyone who used systemic immunomodulators, insulin-sensitizing drugs, or many vitamin supplements.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_37.htm)
 
CROI: Two Inflammation Markers (hsCRP & IL-6) Predict Higher Risk of Opportunistic Disease in SMART
Two inflammation markers--high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) measured at study entry and during the trial--independently predicted a new opportunistic disease during the SMART treatment interruption study [1]. Not surprisingly, older age, clinical AIDS before SMART, latest CD4 count, and latest viral load also predicted a new opportunistic disease during the trial.
 
This case-control comparison involved 91 SMART enrollees diagnosed with a new opportunistic disease during the trial (the cases) and 273 matched SMART participants who did not have a new opportunistic disease during the study (the controls). SMART investigators measured four inflammatory markers (hsCRP, IL-6, amyloid A, and amyloid P) and two coagulation markers (D-dimer and prothrombin fragment 1+2) in samples collected at two points: at study entry and during follow-up (at the time of latest plasma sample before the opportunistic disease in cases and at a matched point in controls).

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_36.htm)
 
CROI: Platelet Function & Heart Attacks in HIV+ & ART
This is the first study to show platelet dysfunction at multiple levels in HIV+ subjects with both clinical and HIV parameters associated. Further research into underlying mechanisms and examining the effect of ART is needed to determine how platelet dysfunction links to CVD in HIV+ patients.
 
More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_35.htm)
 
CROI: Pharmacokinetics and dose selection of etravirine in HIV-infected children between 6 and 17 years, inclusive
ETR administered at 4mg/kg and 5.2mg/kg bid following a meal provides comparable exposure in HIV-infected children (aged 6-17 years, inclusive) to 200mg bid in HIV-infected adults
 
ETR was generally safe and well tolerated
-- two subjects developed a transient rash of mild-to-moderate severity during Stage 1: no apparent association of rash with ETR exposure (AUC12h)
 
Given the general concern for underdosing of antiretrovirals in children7-9 and lack of any safety signal during Stage II, the selected target dose of ETR in children aged 6-17 years inclusive, is 5.2mg per kg bid
 
A Phase II trial (TMC125-C213; PIANO) to further determine pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy over 48 weeks in treatment-experienced children is ongoing

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_34.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 03:54:59 am
GeoVax Starts Injections for Phase 2a Human HIV/AIDS Vaccine Trial in USA

ATLANTA, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GOVX - News), an Atlanta-based, publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, announced the first injections in its Phase 2a Human Clinical Vaccine Trial for its candidate HIV/AIDS vaccine. The trial, designated HVTN 205, is being conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). The HVTN, funded and supported by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is the largest worldwide clinical trials network dedicated to the development and testing of HIV/AIDS vaccines. The HVTN has sponsored over 80 Phase 1 trials for the initial evaluation of safety and immunogenicity of candidate HIV/AIDS vaccines. The results of these trials have merited only five phase 2a trials since 1992. Progressing to Phase 2 is a significant step for GeoVax. The Company is pleased to report that the first injections for the Phase 2a trial were conducted at the HVTN network sites at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and Vanderbilt University, Nashville.

The trial will include a total of 225 volunteers (150 vaccine recipients and 75 placebo recipients) and take place at 13 HVTN sites: 11 in North America and 2 in South America. Sites in the United States include Emory University, Atlanta; Harvard Medical School, Boston; Vanderbilt University, Nashville; University of Rochester; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle; the San Francisco Department of Public Health; University of Alabama, Birmingham and sites at Columbia University, Union Square, and the Bronx in New York City. In South America, participants are to be enrolled in Peru at sites in Iquitos and Miraflores (Lima).

"I am extremely pleased that our vaccine merited moving forward through the HVTN," said Harriet Robinson, Ph.D., developer of the vaccine and Senior V.P. of Research and Development at GeoVax. "This network provides a wide array of support for its clinical trials, from finances to statistical design and analysis; from community engagement to rigorous laboratory analysis. Working with the HVTN also affords us the input of the NIAID Prevention Science Research Committee, a committee with breadth of experience and knowledge in human vaccine development."

GeoVax's unique two component vaccine, a recombinant DNA and a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), is designed to stimulate both anti-HIV T cell and anti-HIV antibody immune responses. Stimulation of both T cells and antibodies differentiates the GeoVax vaccine from many other vaccine candidates. GeoVax's DNA and MVA vaccines are used in a prime-boost protocol in which priming is done with the DNA and boosting with the MVA. Both the DNA and MVA express the three major proteins of the AIDS virus: Gag, Pol, and Env, and produce non-infectious virus-like-particles. These particles contain proteins that mimic more than half of the components of the AIDS virus, but cannot cause AIDS. This multi-protein approach is designed to elicit a broad multi-target protective T cell response. The Env protein is designed to elicit a protective Ab response against the natural form of the virus envelope glycoprotein as well as protective T cells.

Dr. Paul Goepfert, principal Investigator of HVTN 205 and director of the University of Alabama trial site, said, "The road to an effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection is long and winding. It is vital to continue testing promising products. I am very pleased to aid in the further development of this important product in a phase 2 trial."

"For nearly 30 years since HIV/AIDS' discovery, researchers have been searching for a vaccine to combat its scourge," said Robert McNally, Ph.D., CEO and President of GeoVax Labs Inc. "Our Phase 1 trials found GeoVax's vaccines to be safe and immunogenic in humans. Good results from the Phase 2a human trial will build upon this foundation of safety and immunogenicity to support a Phase 2b efficacy trial."

In addition to the preventative vaccine entering Phase 2a, GeoVax also is working towards initiating human clinical trials testing its vaccines as potential therapies for people who are already infected with HIV. The goal of the therapeutic vaccination is to reduce the need of infected people for anti- viral drugs. Initial therapeutic trials will vaccinate infected people who are already on drugs to test the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in infected people. Therapeutic trials of a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) prototype of the GeoVax HIV vaccine in SIV infected primate animal models have held high promise that the GeoVax vaccine will be able to contribute to the control of HIV-1 in infected humans.

About GeoVax Labs, Inc.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a biotechnology company, established to develop, manufacture, license and commercialize human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents. GeoVax's AIDS vaccine technology is the subject of 20 issued or filed patent applications. GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed for use in uninfected people to prevent Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease (AIDS), caused by the virus known as HIV-1, should the person ever become infected. GeoVax AIDS vaccines also may be effective as therapeutics, treatment of people already infected with AIDS virus.

GeoVax's core AIDS vaccine technologies were developed by Dr. Harriet Robinson, Senior V.P. of Research and Development, through a collaboration of colleagues at Emory University's Vaccine Center, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and GeoVax.

GeoVax AIDS vaccines have moved forward in human clinical trials conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) based in Seattle, Washington. The HVTN, funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the largest worldwide clinical trials program dedicated to the development and testing of AIDS vaccines. Preclinical work enabling evaluation of GeoVax DNA and MVA vaccines was funded and supported by NIAID, which provided additional support to GeoVax AIDS vaccine development program with a $15 million IPCAVD grant awarded in late 2007.

Safe Harbor Statement: All statements in this news release, not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations and assumptions on the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether: GeoVax can develop and manufacture these vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax's vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax's vaccines will effectively prevent AIDS in humans, vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete vaccine development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax's products, and other factors over which GeoVax has no control. GeoVax assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and does not intend to do so. Certain matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements involving certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports.

Source (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/GeoVax-Starts-Injections-for-prnews-14424557.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 03:58:06 am
After new high in China and Japan, now Russia

Russia Recorded More Than 50,000 New HIV Cases In 2008, Health Official Says

A total of 50,670 new HIV cases were reported in Russia in 2008, bringing the total number of registered HIV cases since 1987 to 467,016, Chief Sanitary Inspector Gennady Onishchenko announced Tuesday, RIA Novosti reports (RIA Novosti, 2/17). Of the new cases in 2008, 6,000 people already had progressed to AIDS, according to Onishchenko. He added that Russia's HIV incidence is 306 cases per 1,000 people (CIS General Newswire, 2/17). According to ITAR-TASS, Onishchenko said that the number of HIV cases was particularly high in some areas, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The main route of transmission continues to be injection drug use, which accounted for 65% of all HIV cases, he said. Onishchenko added that more than 23 million people received HIV tests last year. In addition, an increasing number of people are accessing antiretroviral treatment, including pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, according to Onishchenko (ITAR-TASS, 2/17).

According to Onishchenko, the government plans to implement a national project to add an additional 50,000 people to its antiretroviral treatment program. He added that funding pledges for HIV/AIDS treatment programs have been "confirmed" and that no funding will be cut because of the current economic situation (CIS General Newswire, 2/17).

Source (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139749.php)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 04:00:40 am
Important notice for people with impaired immune function about peanut products recalled for Salmonella
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been receiving reports of illnesses caused by a type of Salmonella called Salmonella Typhimurium, which have been traced to certain peanut products.

People with impaired immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, are more likely to become severely ill from a Salmonella infection than are others. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and can even cause death unless properly treated.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after infection. Illness ranges from mild to severe. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, infants, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from a Salmonella infection than are others.

If you have the symptoms listed above, see your health professional. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. If your health professional determines you have the Salmonella infection, he or she will likely recommend that you increase your fluid intake to replace losses from diarrhea and, in some (but not all) instances, may also prescribe antibiotics to speed recovery. Your health professional can help you determine the right amount and type of fluid for your particular needs.

More information is available on the FDA web site as Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the Recent Salmonella Outbreak: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph/faq.htm
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 04:06:15 am
In South Africa - Free State, HIV drugs are no more delivered to new patients, and those currently treated are experiencing treatments shortages, leading to the development of resitances.
After the Mbeki policies in the early 2000s, here are the consequence 9 years later..


30 dying every day in the Free State - HIV Clinicians

Approximately 30 HIV positive people have died in the Free State every day following a moratorium the province placed on initiating any new patients on anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, according to conservative figures from the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society.

Drugs have started trickling into the province this week following the lifting of an almost four month moratorium which had been placed on the initiation of newly diagnosed HIV patients since November.

The HIV Clinicians Society figures were based on the assumption that pregnant women and children were prioritized and not included as part of the moratorium.

It made a "conservative" projection that about 20 babies was infected during birth every month, of which half will die before they turn one year.

It is estimated that at least 15 000 people needing ARVs were placed on waiting lists, but it is unknown how many people were simply turned away during a four-month moratorium which saw people with HIV in need of ARVs sent home and others who had been on the drugs for years being told that the clinic had run out of stock.

The province has since lifted the moratorium, but it is still struggling to get the drugs to its 28 treatment sites with only a few patients being initiated since last week.

This week Free State premier Beatrice Marshoff failed to mention the ARV crisis in her State of the Province address. She reportedly later denied assertions that the province's health care system was in tatters.

Marshoff later told journalists that no-one was lying about the health situation in the Free State.

She said the provincial government could assure its citizens there was no crisis in health care and that the government would provide adequate health care.

Dr Yogan Pillay, Deputy Director General of Health in the national health department admitted this week that the province had "severe financial pressures".

Meanwhile Anglican Church Bishops have expressed their shock at the Free State health department's decision last year.

The Synod of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, meeting at Modderpoort in the Free State, said the impact on the lives of patients and on the work of health professionals would be enormous.

"Such deliberate action by the Department of Health is irresponsible," the statement said.

The church said it was "speaking up on behalf of those whose voice may not be heard".

"We wholeheartedly support the South African Constitution's affirmation that access to health care is a right of all citizens, and call on provincial and national government, in the name of God, to find a way to prevent this human catastrophe immediately.

"We assure those affected - patients, families, health workers and government - of our prayers and our support," the bishops' statement said.

Source (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=881)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 04:20:08 am
hivandhepatitis

Large Meta-analysis Indicates Antiretroviral Therapy Works as Well for Women as for Men
Since the early years of the AIDS epidemic, researchers and advocates have debated whether HIV positive women benefit as much as men from antiretroviral therapy. Some studies in the early HAART era suggested that women did not fare as well, but many believe this was a reflection of poorer access to care, differences in socioeconomic status, or other factors.

At the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last week in Montreal, Kimberly Struble and colleagues from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research presented results from a meta-analysis of efficacy outcomes among women in trials of antiretroviral therapy conducted over nearly a decade.

The researchers combed through datasets for registrational randomized controlled trials submitted to the FDA, looking for any gender differences in 48 week efficacy outcomes, defined as HIV RNA < 400 copies/mL, as well as differences in treatment effect size.

Studies were stratified by whether participants were antiretroviral treatment-naive or treatment-experienced. Efficacy analyses by antiretroviral class were also performed for nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), fusion inhibitors, and CCR5 antagonists.

Results

    * The combined database included 17,826 HIV positive participants in 38 randomized controlled
      trials of 14 antiretroviral drugs.
    * There were no clinically or statistically significant gender differences in 48 week efficacy
      outcomes (assuming mean effect size difference between men and women were equal, the estimated
      95% confidence interval [CI] of equal mean effect size difference was -0.07, 0.09).
    * For treatment-naive study participants, the estimated 95%CI of equal mean effect size difference
      between men and women included zero (-0.1 to 0.09), indicating no differences.
    * For treatment-experienced patients, the estimated 95% CI also included zero (-0.095 to 0.16),
      again revealing no gender differences.
    * For all antiretroviral drug classes analyzed, the estimated 95% CI all included zero, or no
      differences:
        - NRTIs: -0.15 to 0.11;
        - NNRTIs: -0.29 to 0.35;
        - PIs: -0.08 to 0.13;
        - Fusion inhibitors: -0.50 to 0.37;
        - CCR5 antagonists: -0.46 to 0.50.

"Preliminary analyses of the FDA database are the most detailed review of gender-related antiretroviral efficacy data so far," the researchers stated.

"These analyses suggest no clinically or statistically significant gender differences in week 48 efficacy outcomes, regardless of treatment history or drug class," they continued.

"Such data could help healthcare providers and HIV-1-infected patients when considering different antiretroviral regimens," they concluded. "From scientific and regulatory perspectives, the cumulative data could help identify issues requiring additional investigation."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/022009_c.html)

HIV Positive People Can Modify Several Risk Factors that Increase Mortality
While effective antiretroviral therapy has dramatically reduced the risk of illness and death for people with HIV, positive individuals still have an elevated mortality rate relative to the HIV negative general population. Furthermore, as HIV positive people live longer, they are at increased risk for progressive conditions such as cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and non-AIDS-defining cancers.

As reported at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last week in Montreal, Colette Smith and colleagues with the D:A:D (Data Collection on Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs) study team sought to identify modifiable risk factors associated with specific causes of death.

In this analysis, more than 33,000 HIV positive patients from 11 cohorts in Europe, Australia, and the U.S. were followed from date of entry into the study until death or last follow-up, collectively contributing nearly 159,000 person-years (PY) of follow-up data. About three-quarters were men, 45% were white, 10% were black, the mean age was 39 years, 18% had a history of injection drug use, and about half were current (34%) or former (17%) smokers.

The researchers used Poisson regression to calculate adjusted rate ratios (RR) for the association between potentially modifiable risk factors and death after adjusting for other potential confounding factors.

The factors the investigators considered to be "modifiable" included body mass index (BMI), smoking, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection, diabetes, hypertension, use of antiretroviral therapy, current CD4 cell count, and current HIV viral load.

Results

    During the follow-up period, there were 2192 total deaths (14 per 1000 PY across the entire
    period, but falling from 16 to 10 per 1000 PY since 2007).

    Underlying causes of death were:

        * AIDS: 32%;
        * Liver-related causes: 14%;
        * Non-AIDS-defining cancers: 12%;
        * Cardiovascular disease: 11%;
        * Bacterial infections: 9%;
        * Non-natural causes (e.g., accidents, drug overdose, violence, suicide): 9%.
        * Other causes: 13%.

    Significant non-modifiable risk factors were:

        * Male sex: 20% increase in mortality risk;
        * Older age: 22% increase per 5 years.

    HIV/AIDS-related risk factors linked to all-cause death were:

        * Lower current CD4 count (19% increase per 50 fewer cells/mm3);
        * Higher HIV viral load (56% increase if > 400 copies/mL);
        * HIV RNA < 10,000 copies/mL if untreated: 77% increase;
        * HIV RNA > 10,000 copies/mL if untreated: nearly a 4-fold increase;
        * Among patients on antiretroviral therapy, those with a detectable viral load still had a
          higher risk of death than those with fully suppressed HIV.

    Modifiable risk factors for all-cause death were:

        * Smoking: 20% increase in risk (15% for current, 30% for former);
        * Diabetes: 83% increase;
        * HCV coinfection: 45% increase;
        * HBV coinfection: 29% increase;
        * Hypertension: 53% increase;
        * Low BMI (< 18 kg/m2): 3-fold increase.

    The strength of association of modifiable risk factors with cause-specific death rates varied
    substantially, for example:

        * Smoking (current and former) was associated with cardiovascular disease and non-AIDS-defining
          cancers;
        * HBV and HCV coinfection were associated with liver-related deaths (about 80% of liver-related
          deaths were attributable to chronic viral hepatitis);
        * Hypertension was associated with liver-related and cardiovascular deaths.
        * Diabetes was a risk factor for all specific causes except non-AIDS-defining cancers.
        * Higher HIV viral was strongly associated with AIDS-related deaths, weakly linked to
          liver-related and cardiovascular disease, but not associated with non-AIDS-defining cancers.
        * Lower CD4 count was associated with a higher risk of death due to all specific causes, but
          was most pronounced for AIDS-related deaths.

"Multiple potentially modifiable risk factors for deaths in HIV-infected persons were identified," the D:A:D investigators concluded. "These factors must be addressed to further reduce mortality. Maintaining higher CD4 cell counts is likely to have the broadest effect on decrease in deaths."

These findings agree with those from the FRAM (Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV Infection) study, also presented at the conference. In this cohort of 992 U.S. HIV patients, significant mortality risk factors were older age (61% increased risk per 10 years), low CD4 count (35% increase per 1 log decrease in CD4 cells), and current smoking (nearly a 3-fold increase).

Noting some of the more counterintuitive findings, she explained that the trend toward increased death associated with lower BMI was likely attributable to people losing weight as they get sicker. She did not have an explanation for the link between high blood pressure and liver-related deaths.

In a discussion after the presentation, some argued that these factors are not all necessarily modifiable in all cases. While hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine, for example, once a person is infected the virus may not be eradicated with antiviral treatment. Likewise, even state-of-the-art antiretroviral therapy does not always raise a person's CD4 count to a fully protective level.

In a press conference following the session, Smith noted that even in a population with widely available access to care, the most common cause of death was still AIDS, indicating that many people were not getting tested and treated in a timely manner.

The take-home message of the latest analysis, she said, is the important public health message: "You need to try as hard as you can to modify the modifiable risk factors."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/022009_a.html)

Immune Deficiency Linked to Non-AIDS-defining Cancers with Infectious Causes
Over the past few years, evidence has accumulated that immune deficiency increased the risk for several types of cancer that are not traditionally classified as AIDS-defining (i.e., Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cervical cancer). Further data along these lines were presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last week in Montreal.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/ks_1.gif)

Kaiser California

Michael Silverberg and colleagues reported rates of infection-related cancers at Kaiser Permanente health facilities in California. Like the 3 AIDS-defining cancers, several other malignancies are associated with infectious agents, and therefore might be expected to increase when the immune system is compromised. Anal cancer, for example, is caused by the same types of human papillomavirus (HPV) as cervical cancer, though only the latter is classified as opportunistic.

The investigators identified 18,890 adult HIV patients, pairing each one with 10 age-, sex-, and year-matched HIV negative Kaiser members. The HIV positive members contributed a total of 81,831 person-years (PY) of follow-up, while the 189,804 HIV negative control subjects contributed 971,675 PY. Cohort members were followed from first enrollment after January 1996 until the earliest non-AIDS-defining cancer diagnosis, last Kaiser enrollment, or December 2006. A large majority of the HIV positive patients were gay/bisexual men.

Cancers were classified as infection-related or infection-unrelated. Infection-related cancers included anal cancer, head and neck cancer (often linked to HPV, but also to non-infectious causes such as smoking), liver cancer (a possible consequence of chronic hepatitis B or C), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (associated with Epstein-Barr virus).

Incident (newly occurring) non-AIDS-defining cancers were identified from Kaiser Permanente cancer registries based on the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program. Age- and sex-adjusted rate ratios (RR) were estimated and compared between HIV positive and HIV negative participants. Changes in RRs over time were evaluated for the periods 1996-1999, 2000-2003, and 2004-2006.

Results

    * 482 non-AIDS-defining cancers were identified among the HIV positive patients, 220
      infection-related and 269 infection-unrelated (7 people had both).
    * 3065 non-AIDS-defining cancers were identified among the HIV negative participants, 398
      infection-related, and 2698 infection-unrelated (31 had both).
    * The rate of infection-related non-AIDS-defining cancers was 29.7 per 10,000 PY in the HIV
      positive group, compared with 4.4 per 10,000 PY in the HIV negative group (RR 6.8, or nearly 7
      times greater risk; P <0.001).
    * The rates of infection-unrelated non-AIDS-defining cancers were 36.4 for HIV positive group and
      30.6 for the HIV negative group (RR 1.2; P = 0.002).
    * The RR for infection-unrelated cancers was significant only for the most recent time period: 1.2
      in 1996-1999 (P = 0.26), 1.2 in 2000-2003 (P = 0.12), and 1.3 in 2004-2006 (P = 0.02) (P for
      trend = 0.85).
    * Looking at infection-related non-AIDS-defining cancers, significant rate differences between HIV
   positive and HIV negative participants were observed for anal cancer (RR 81.4, or 81% greater risk;
   P <0.001), Hodgkin's lymphoma (RR 17.4; P <0.001), and head and neck cancers (RR 2.1; P <0.001).
    * Looking at infection-unrelated cancers, HIV positive participants' rates were significantly higher
   for kidney cancer (RR 1.8; P = 0.045), lung cancer (RR 1.7; P = 0.004), and melanoma skin cancer
   (RR 1.7; P = 0.002).
    * However, HIV positive patients had a lower rate of prostate cancer (RR 0.7; P = 0.007).

The latter result agrees with a previous analysis that also found that a reduced prostate cancer rate in HIV positive men. But this study did not find an elevated risk of liver cancer in people with HIV, as others have]

"HIV positive persons have an elevated risk of non-AIDS-defining cancers, particularly infection-related, which comprised almost half of all the non-AIDS-defining cancers in this population," the investigators concluded.

They noted, however, that the risk of developing an infection-related non-AIDS-defining cancer has declined for HIV positive individuals since the advent of effective combination antiretroviral therapy, while remaining the same for HIV negative individuals, suggesting that treatment restores immune function and can protect against development of certain cancers.

EuroSIDA

A related analysis of the EuroSIDA cohort supported the Kaiser findings. Joanne Reekie and colleagues investigated whether current CD4 count was independently associated with risk of non-AIDS-defining cancers after accounting for traditional and other HIV-associated risk factors. The study included 12,865 EuroSIDA participants with a known CD4 count prior to enrollment, contributing a total of 75,234 PY of follow-up.

Results

    * A total of 317 non-AIDS-defining cancers were diagnosed in 309 patients during the follow-up
     period (58 anal, 24 lung, 60 hematological, 48 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 40 genitourinary, 55
     digestive, and 80   other), for an incidence rate of 4.2 per 1000 PY.
    * After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the excess risk of developing a
     non-AIDS-defining cancer, compared to participants with more than 500 cells/mm3, was:
        * CD4 count > 50 cells/mm3: 76% higher risk (RR 1.76; P = 0.0408);
        * 51-200 cells/mm3: 82% higher risk (RR 1.82; P = 0.0014);
        * 201-350 cell/mm3: 43% higher risk (RR 1.43).
        * 351-500/mm3: no significant difference (P = 0.89).
    * Each doubling of current CD4 count was associated with an 11% decrease in the risk of
      non-AIDS-defining cancers, including anal cancer (RR 0.83), hematological cancers (RR 0.94),
      genitourinary cancers (RR 0.87), and digestive cancers (RR 0.84).
    * Due to the small numbers of events, however, this finding only reached statistical significant
      for anal cancer (P = 0.0038) and digestive cancers (P = 0.0233).
    * In addition to CD4 count, other significant predictors of non-AIDS-defining cancer were older
      age, prior AIDS diagnosis, previous history of non-AIDS-defining cancer, time on antiretroviral
      therapy, and hepatitis B (but not hepatitis C) coinfection.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded, "Immunosuppression was associated with an excess risk of [non-AIDS-defining cancers]."

"One possible explanation is enhanced oncogenic potential by pro-oncogenic viruses (e.g., human papillomavirus and anal cancer)," they hypothesized. "An infectious oncogenesis has only been established for a few [non-AIDS-defining cancers] linked with immunosuppression in this study and other mechanisms may also contribute. As the immunosuppression may be reversed by [combination antiretroviral therapy], HIV is a suitable candidate model for improving our understanding of how immunosuppression affects oncogenic transformation."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/022009_b.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 10:20:30 am
natap


CROI:  HIV Infection May Make the Brain 15 to 20 Years Older: HIV slows cerebral blood flow and stimulus response in MRI study
Older age and HIV infection both upset cerebral blood flow, regardless of viral load, current CD4 count, or lowest-ever (nadir) CD4 count, according to results of a brain scan comparison involving older and younger people with and without HIV. By these measures, the brain of an HIV-infected person may be up to 20 years older than the brain of a person without HIV.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_76.htm)

CROI: Framingham Risk Score Linked to Other Heart Risk Factors in HIV Cohort
An intermediate or high Framingham heart risk score predicted high internal carotid intima media thickness (IMT), high common carotid IMT, and detectable coronary artery calcium in 334 HIV-infected adults in the Nutrition for Healthy Living (NFHL) cohort. Liana Falcone and Tufts University colleagues proposed that the Framingham score is a useful "predictive instrument for cardiovascular risk stratification in the HIV-infected population." Meanwhile, other researchers are trying to devise a heart disease equation specifically for people with HIV.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_75.htm)

CROI: No Residual Raltegravir Activity After Resistance Emerges
A study of 4 people who stopped only raltegravir in a salvage regimen after emergence of integrase mutations found no evidence that the drug exerts residual activity after mutations evolve.
 
"Even if further observations will be useful to be certain" of this finding, Marc Wirden and Paris colleagues concluded, "it seems unnecessary to keep this drug in such a context. Moreover, the withdrawal of raltegravir avoids the risk of accumulating mutations for future compounds within this class."
 
The four patients were taking a raltegravir-containing regimen with a stable, detectable viral load for at least 2 months. Wirden and coworkers measured viral load and CD4 count at day 0 (the day patients stopped only raltegravir), then for up to 90 days as the patients continued the same regimen. A substantial viral load gain during this time would indicate that raltegravir had been exerting some antiviral activity after resistance mutations emerged. In the last month of raltegravir therapy, the hallmark integrase mutation N155H emerged in patients A, C, and D, while the classic Q148H mutation arose in patient B. Virus from all 4 patients also had evidence of other mutations with these signature mutations. Trough raltegravir concentrations were in the therapeutic range (from 118 to 268 ng/mL) when these people stopped raltegravir, then quickly became undetectable.
 
Follow-up continued for 28 days in patients A and C, for 90 days in patient B, and for 42 days in patient D. Variations in viral load during follow-up were minimal:
· Patient A: -0.04 log, +51 CD4s
· Patient B: -0.17 log, +25 CD4s
· Patient C: +0.19 log, -56 CD4s
· Patient D: -0.20 log, +252 CD4s
Wirden and colleagues noted that all viral load variations were well below a meaningful cutoff of 0.5 log.
 
Regardless of what other antiretrovirals people were taking with raltegravir, integrase mutations did not disappear during follow-up. Because of this finding, the investigators suggested, "the discussion remains open about impact [of these mutations] on replication capacity."

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_74.htm)
 
CROI: Effects of Aging on HIV Pathogenesis: aging is associated with higher t-cell activation in women than men, effects of menopause on inflammation and immune activation...."
"Aging is associated with higher levels of T cell activation in women Effects of menopause on inflammation and immune activation plays an important role in HIV pathogenesis"
 
"HIV infection results in CD4+ T cell depletion in GALT Progression is associated with T cell activation and tissue inflammation Partial T cell restoration occurs with HAART A threshold of CD4+ T cell restoration correlates with: Reduced immune activation in GALT Reduced inflammation in GALT Suppression of viral replication"

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_73.htm)
 
CROI: Bone Loss at Baseline and Week 144 in Study 903 TDF vs d4T + EFV
The high prevalence of spine osteopenia/osteoporosis at baseline in this population suggests that BMD loss may be a consequence of HIV infection
 
Progression from normal/osteopenia to osteopenia/osteoporosis through 144 weeks was minimal and not significant between the TDF and d4T arms
 
No patient with spine osteoporosis at baseline or at week 144 developed bone fractures
 
No difference in the incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis at the spine was observed between the TDF and d4T arms

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_72.htm)
 
CROI: Safety and Efficacy of Raltegravir (RAL) in Pediatric HIV Infection. Preliminary Analysis From IMPAACT P1066
RAL in 6-18 yr old HIV infected children was generally well tolerated.
 
Preliminary data at 8 and 12 weeks shows viral suppression in a majority of participants:
-- 8 weeks: 50% <50 copies/ml; 77% <400 copies/ml
-- 12 weeks: 63% <50 copies/ml; 80% <400 copies/ml
-- CD4 increases for cohort I
 
Monitoring of safety and efficacy is continuing.
 
For Cohort IIA (ages >6-12 yrs), repeat PK and safety evaluations, at a uniform dose of 400 mg PO BID, regardless of weight, is ongoing.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_71.htm)
 
CROI: Telbivudine Has Activity against HIV
In our opinion the most likely explanation is that LdT has activity against HIV-1. We do not believe that ADV had an effect on the patient's HIV viral load because it has been shown that low dose ADV does not have any effect on HIV viral load. Given that re-challenge with LdT for 2 weeks resulted in suppression of the HIV viral load to 71 copies/mL, we believe that this is strong evidence that LdT is active against HIV-1. Until further trials have been done it should no longer be recommended as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B in HIV+ individuals who do not require treatment for their HIV.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_70.htm)
 
CROI: Abacavir Use is Not Associated with Lack of Virologic Response in ARV-treated HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients Receiving PEG-IFN and Ribavirin
Among ARV-treated HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects, abacavir use was not associated with a decrease in early virologic response or SVR rates, particularly in those patients who received appropriate doses of PEG-IFN + RBV.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_69.htm)
 
CROI: Telbivudine Has No In Vitro Activity Against Laboratory and Clinical HIV-1, Including 5 Clades and Drug Resistant Clinical Isolates
This in vitro report confirms that telbivudine shows no in vitro antiviral effect against a broad range of wild-type and multi-drug resistant HIV isolates at IC50 values >600 µM, a value well above physiologically relevant concentrations and known to inhibit HBV activity in vitro (EC50 value = 200 nM). In contrast, entecavir activity against HIV was confirmed against drug sensitive and drug resistant clinical HIV-1 isolates. These results support further investigation in a clinical trial setting, of the efficacy and safety of telbivudine, for treatment of CHB in HIV-HBV co-infected patients who do not concurrently require anti-HIV treatment and for whom there are few available treatment options.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_68.htm)
 
CROI: Heart Disease Marker Rises in Women During 96 Weeks of Suppressive Efavirenz
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a cardiovascular risk marker, rose throughout 96 weeks of successful treatment with efavirenz (with or without abacavir) in AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) study A5095 [1]. The 96-week jump was statistically significant in women, but not in men.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_67.htm)
 
CROI: Liver Fibrosis Marker Rises in SMART Interrupters and Predicts Non-AIDS Deaths
suspending treatment "is particularly dangerous" in hepatitis virus-coinfected people if hyaluronic acid is high just before the antiretroviral holiday.....Among coinfected SMART interrupters with a study entry hyaluronic acid level above normal, cumulative risk of non-AIDS death came to 37.3% after 48 months, compared with 7.3% in noninterrupters who had either a normal or high baseline hyaluronic acid reading.... Coinfected people with elevated entry hyaluronic acid readings had significantly higher interleukin 6 (IL-6) and D-dimer levels than people with normal hyaluronic acid quotients at entry. An earlier SMART analysis tied elevated IL-6 and D-dimer to all-cause mortality in SMART, and interrupting antiretrovirals led to increases in both IL-6 and D-dimer

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_66.htm)
 
CROI: Diverse Disease Markers Up in SMART Patients Regardless of Antiretroviral Therapy: inflammation markers linked to death, ART interruption, HIV, aging, & ART
Levels of hsCRP, IL-6, and cystatin-C did not differ significantly between SMART members taking versus not taking antiretrovirals.  Among 33-to-44-year-old SMART participants, D-dimer concentrations were 62% higher in SMART patients not taking antiretrovirals (P < 0.001). mong 45-to-76-year-old SMART patients, D-dimer levels were 63% higher among untreated people (P < 0.001). Both men and women in SMART had higher adjusted hsCRP concentrations than people of the same gender in CARDIA and MESA, but the differences were larger for men than for women. hsCRP level differences between SMART and the two control cohorts were even greater when the analysis excluded people with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_65.htm)
 
CROI: Immune Activators Stay High Despite Long-Term HIV Suppression With Antiretrovirals: affects CD4 recovery
Levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sCD14, two immune activators, dropped significantly during antiretroviral therapy but did not return to normal levels after up to 11 years of treatment in a study by Reena Rajasuriar and Melbourne colleagues [1]. They also found that a higher pretreatment CD4 count and IL-7R-alpha haplotype GTA predicted CD4 gains exceeding 500 cells/mm(3). Because IL-7R-alpha polymorphisms could influence antiretroviral-induced CD4-cell recovery, Rajasuriar and coworkers examined the role of these genetic shifts, as well as gut microbial translocation and immune activation, on long-term CD4 gains in people taking a suppressive regimen. They included people who began treatment with a potent combination at a CD4 count under 500 whose viral load became undetectable within 6 months of starting therapy. Everyone had at least three CD4 counts in the first 12 months of therapy.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_64.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 10:26:38 am
Natap


CROI: Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Twice Daily Atazanavir 300 mg and Raltegravir 400 mg in Healthy Subjects
Compared to ATV 300 mg BID alone, ATV adjusted geometric mean Cmax, AUC and Cmin were 11%, 17% and 29% lower, respectively, upon coadministration with RAL; all of the individual ATV Cmin values were greater than the 10-fold protein binding adjusted EC90 for ATV against wild type HIV
 
RAL exposures were increased by approximately 40 - 55% when coadministered with ATV 300 mg BID; a similar trend was previously observed when RAL was concomitantly administered with ATV 400 mg QD and ATV/RTV 300/100 mg QD
 
ATV BID and RAL BID alone and when coadministered were generally safe and well-tolerated
 
RAL coadministration did not appear to affect ATV-associated hyperbilirubinemia
 
Mean QRS and PR interval increases were observed with ATV alone and remained elevated throughout coadministration with RAL; RAL did not appear to affect ATV-associated PR or QRS changes -- The clinical relevance of QRS interval increases with ATV BID is unclear and is being investigated further in an HIV-infected patient pilot safety and efficacy study

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_63.htm)
 
CROI: Epidemic of Acute HCV Among MSM in Europe and New York City
 Acute HCV infection of HIV-infected MSM results in significant liver fibrosis. Treatment is highly successful when initiated in the acute phase, but may be less successful if initiated months later. Thus, it is crucial to detect HCV infection in the acute phase to allow successful treatment and to prevent further progression of the already significant liver fibrosis. We therefore recommend at least quarterly ALT and yearly HCV testing for all HIV-infected MSM. Promotion of safe sex and decreased drug use is also warranted.
 
More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_62.htm)
 




CROI: Neurocognitive Disorders Threaten HIV+
Here are several poster reports from CROI on neurocognitive disorders and function in HIV+ individuals. The first 2 posters report high prevalence (51% and 24%) of neurocognitive disorders despite using HAART. The 3rd study suggests cytokine dysfunction may persist in the brain despite HAART in patients with neurocognitive disorder. Another study reports CD4 nadir is associated with neurologic dysfunction despite HAART and this has been found in many studies CD4 nadir appears to predict neurologic dysfunction. A study from the CHARTER Study group found 41% of patients with undetectable HIV in the blood had HIV in the CSF when they used a sensitive assay (<2 copies/ml) and having these low levels was associated with cognitive impairment than patients with detectable HIV in both the blood and the CSF, the authors suggest this is because their HAART regimen was not effective enough in the CSF, didn't have enoiugh CSF penetration. The CHARTER group in an other study reported that substance abuse was not associated with cognitive impairment, the implication is that when HIV is found to be associated with neurocognitive disorders if the patient had a history of substance abuse it is the HIV at fault not the substance abuse.

High Prevalence (24%) of Mild Neurocognitive Disorders in HIV-infected Patients, ANRS CO3 Aquitaine Cohort
"For every 4 treated adults with well controlled HIV-infection, 1 had a mild cognitive disorder as compared to 6% in the French general population of 65 years or older"
For every 4 treated adults with well controlled HIV-infection, 1 had a mild cognitive disorder as compared to 6% in the French general population of 65 years or older. In addition to factors usually associated with mild neurocognitive disorders in the aging general population, advanced HIV infection and co-infection with hepatitis B may explain the high frequency in HIV population. A short battery of easy-to-administer tests could be used to explore mild neurocognitive disorders in HIV-infected patients.

High Frequency (51%) of Neurocognitive Disorders in Older HIV-infected Patients despite a Sustained Virological and Immunological Response on cART: The Sigma Study
Despite a sustained response to cART, neurocognitive disorders are more frequent in old HIV+ patients than in the general aging population, but are underdiagnosed by their physicians. In our patients, subcortical types of cognitive impairment remain more predominant than neocortical types. The respective role of HIV, ART, and co-morbidities is debated. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the outcome of these disorders in aging and to determine their predictive factors.
 
"irrespective of HIV RNA control in CSF cytokine and chemokine CSF expression was not modified by ART. Both findings suggest a major role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenetic mechanisms of HAND development in advanced HIV infected patients."
 
Intrathecal Immune Activation and Viral Changes in HIV-infected Naive Patients with Advanced Disease after Short-term HAART Introduction
HIV RNA decrease at a different rate in plasma and in CSF, which supports the hypothesis of compartmentalization of HIV replication in advanced disease. CSF HIV RNA levels did not seem to be primarily associated with impaired neurocognitive function. Conversely, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were strictly associated to the development of cognitive disorders. Moreover, irrespective of HIV RNA control in CSF cytokine and chemokine CSF expression was not modified by ART. Both findings suggest a major role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenetic mechanisms of HAND development in advanced HIV infected patients.
 
Cortical and Subcortical Volumes on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Associated with HIV History and Current Disease Status
"HIV severity and duration related to reduced cortical and hippocampal volumes, suggesting that patients who suffered prior severe immune dysfunction (low CD4 nadir) may eventually experience cortical and hippocampal changes even in the context of HAART. This is noteworthy, as these brain areas were not viewed as primary sites of HIV infection in the past, suggesting an evolution of cortical disturbances with chronic HIV infection that requires further investigation."

Cortical and Subcortical Volumes on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Associated with HIV History and Current Disease Status
Caudate volume was associated with current plasma viral load, as expected based on evidence from the pre-HAART. In contrast, HIV severity and duration related to reduced cortical and hippocampal volumes, suggesting that patients who suffered prior severe immune dysfunction may eventually experience cortical and hippocampal changes even in the context of HAART. This is noteworthy, as these brain areas were not viewed as primary sites of HIV infection in the past, suggesting an evolution of cortical disturbances with chronic HIV infection that requires further investigation.

Persistent HIV in the Central Nervous System during Treatment is Associated with Worse ART Penetration and Cognitive Impairment
"ART-treated individuals frequently (41%) have low levels of HIV in CSF which is associated with less penetrant ART. At least a quarter of these individuals appear to have HIV that persists solely within the central nervous system (detectable HIV in CSF but not in blood) and these individuals have much worse cognitive performance than those who appear to have a systemic source of HIV. We conclude that people living with HIV may have cognitive impairment as a result of ART that is incompletely effective in the nervous system. A more sensitive HIV assay may be needed to monitor CSF in treated individuals."
 ART-treated individuals frequently (41%) have low levels of HIV in CSF which is associated with less penetrant ART. At least a quarter of these individuals appear to have HIV that persists solely within the central nervous system (detectable HIV in CSF but not in blood) and these individuals have much worse cognitive performance than those who appear to have a systemic source of HIV. We conclude that people living with HIV may have cognitive impairment as a result of ART that is incompletely effective in the nervous system. A more sensitive HIV assay may be needed to monitor CSF in treated individuals.
 
Reduced Region-specific Corpus Callosum Volumes Correlate with Low-nadir CD4 and Decreased Cognition in HIV-infected Carriers of the ApoE4 Allele
HIV-seropositive individuals possessing at least one ApoE4 allele are more vulnerable to effects of low nadir CD4 count, which may contribute to region-specific corpus callosum atrophy and thereby to cognitive impairment. Early ART may be more vital for these patients than for those without the allele.

Substance Use and HIV Infection: Neurocognitive Effect, the CHARTER Cohort
Substance use was not associated with compromised neuropsychological function at baseline in this HIV+ cohort when important co-factors were considered. This suggests that historic substance use and acute stimulant use do not require special consideration in cross sectional analyses of neuropsychological function in neuro-AIDS research.
Substance use was not associated with compromised neuropsychological function at baseline in this HIV+ cohort when important co-factors were considered. The absence of relationship remained when substance use was determined by syndromic use, "casual" use, or urine toxicology, and did not vary by ARV status. This suggests that historic substance use and acute stimulant use do not require special consideration in cross sectional analyses of neuropsychological function in neuro-AIDS research.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_61.htm)






CROI: Immune Senescence, Activation, and Abnormal T Cell Homeostasis despite Effective HAART, a Hallmark of Early Aging in HIV Disease: "HIV-infected subjects (median 56 years) with good immune reconstitution and viral suppression had immune changes comparable to older (median 88 years) HIV-negative subjects"
HIV-infected subjects (median 56 years) with good immune reconstitution and viral suppression had immune changes comparable to older (median 88 years) HIV-negative subjects. Age-dependant changes in HIV-infected compared to young HIV-negative controls are more pronounced in CD8+ T cells, which exhibit higher immune activation and senescence levels and reduced naïve and central memory subsets. These findings have implications on the competency of adaptive immune system and its ability to combat infection
 
More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_60.htm)
 
CROI: High Prevalence of Hepatic Fibrosis and Steatosis in HIV/AIDS Patients without Chronic Viral Hepatitis but with Chronically Elevated Transaminases on ART: 35% without HCV or HBV had significant liver disease
Significant liver disease was seen in 35% of HIV-infected adults with chronic transaminase elevations while receiving ART. CT imaging and transient elastography can help identify such patients, but normal studies do not exclude significant pathologic abnormalities. Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort will better characterize the natural history of chronic transaminase elevations in this population.
 
More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_59.htm)
 
CROI: CCR5-tropic Resistance to Maraviroc is Uncommon Even Among Patients on Functional MVC Monotherapy or with Ongoing Low-level Replication
115/160 (72%) of patients receiving MVC with a wOBTSS >/= 2 were TLOVR<50 responders with a viral load <50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL at Week 48.
 
Excluding non-R5 failures and those without matched MVC susceptibility data, R5 virologic failure occurred in 62/331 (19%) patients with MVC-resistant HIV-1 seen in 22/62 (35%) of these.
 
Functional monotherapy or a single active NRTI (wOBTSS<1) accounted for 16/22 (73%) MVC resistance-associated failures, and no MVC-resistant virus was found in patients with a wOBTSS of >/= 2 who failed MVC treatment with an R5 tropism result.
 
16/80 (20%) patients who received functional monotherapy or a single active NRTI experienced MVC resistance-associated R5 virologic failure, and 50/80 (63%) of these patients responded through Week 48.
 
The low incidence of MVC resistance in patients failing with virologic rebound or who never achieved viral suppression is consistent with a high barrier to resistance in these patients. Virologic failure in these patients is likely to be associated with other factors.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_58.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 21, 2009, 10:33:23 am
Natap


CROI: Management of Treatment-Experienced Patients

Switching from Stable Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r)-Based to Raltegravir (RAL)-Based Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Resulted In a Superior Lipid Profile at Week 12 but Did Not Demonstrate Non-Inferior Virologic Efficacy at Week 24 (SWITCHMRK)
On the other hand, there are settings in which it might be safer to make RAL switches. The French ANRS 138 study randomized 170 patients with triple-class resistant HIV on an ENF-containing regimen for at least 3 months and with HIV RNA <400 c/ml to either stay on ENF (n=85) or substitute the ENF with RAL (n=84) [2]. Baseline patient characteristics were similar for both groups; it should be noted that this was a heavily pre-treated patient population with a median prior HAART and ENF exposure of 13.6 and 2.3 years, respectively. Through week 24 (ITT analysis), only 1 failure (HIV RNA >500 c/ml) occurred in each of the treatment arms and 89% of patients in both arms had HIV RNA <50 c/ml. Why such a big difference in outcome compared to SWITCHMRK? As stated previously, what is critical for RAL's efficacy seems to be its association with enough active drugs. For patients well suppressed on an ENF-containing regimen for a long period of time, it would be logical to assume that the other components of the regimen are substantially contributing to antiretroviral activity. Thus, substitution of active ENF with active RAL would be a safe and effective one-for-one switch.

96-Week Results from BENCHMRK 1&2, Phase III Studies of Raltegravir (RAL) in Patients (pts) Failing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) with Triple-Class Resistant HIV 
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests there might be a connection between the use of abacavir (ABC) and cardiovascular disease (discussed at length in a CROI newsletter on cardiovascular and metabolic issues by my colleague Pablo Tebas), and the efficacy of ABC in patients with viral loads >100,000 c/ml has recently come into question. Nonetheless, because there is still considerable controversy surrounding this topic, studies are still being conducted in which ABC is part of the NRTI backbone. One such study was presented by David Cooper and colleagues, the Simplification with fixed-dose Tenofovir/Emtricitabine or Abacavir/Lamivudine (STEAL) study [4]. This switch study has also been nicely summarized at the NATAP website so I will not go into all the details. In short, patients with HIV RNA <50 c/ml were randomized to substitute the NRTIs in their ART regimen with either tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) (n=178) or ABC/lamivudine (3TC) (n=179), both as fixed dose combinations. Baseline characteristics were evenly matched except for smoking that was more prevalent among the patients switching to ABC/3TC (40%) than among those switching to TDF/FTC (29%). After 96 weeks of follow-up, the virologic efficacy and protection against death and progression to AIDS was similar for both treatment arms. However, even in this small number of patients followed for a relatively short period of time there was a trend for fewer ischemic cardiovascular events among the TDF/FTC-treated patients (1 vs. 7 events per 100 patient-years of follow up; HR 0.15 [95% CI 0.02, 1.15]; p=0.067). On the other hand, there was less bone loss as determined by hip T-scores among the ABC/3TC-treated patients (0.09 vs. -0.07; HR 0.16 [95% CI 0.08, 0.23]; p<0.0001). Thus, while these findings are not novel, they reinforce our perception that ABC is associated with a greater frequency of cardiovascular diseases while TDF is associated with disorders of bone metabolism.

SIMPLIFICATION WITH FIXED-DOSE TENOFOVIR-EMTRICITABINE OR ABACAVIRLAMIVUDINE IN ADULTS WITH SUPPRESSED HIV REPLICATION (THE STEAL STUDY): A RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABEL, 96-WEEK, NON-INFERIORITY TRIAL
It is well-known that not all patients who start antiretroviral therapy have adequate immune restoration despite having a good virological response to antiretroviral therapy. The most recent update to the DHHS antiretroviral treatment guidelines for adults define immunologic failure on antiretroviral therapy as the inability to increase CD4+ cell counts by more than 25-50 cells/mm3 over the baseline in the first year of therapy despite having an undetectable viral load. This failure to have adequate immune reconstitution is critical as several studies have shown that such a discordant response is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic diseases, non-AIDS-related serious events, and mortality. In recognition of this, studies were begun almost a decade ago to determine if administration of IL-2, known to be associated with increases in CD4+ cell counts and especially of long-lived naïve and central memory cells, could also be associated with a lower rate of clinical complications.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_57.htm)
 
CROI: HIV Prevention at CROI 2009

HIV prevention has occupied an increasingly central place at CROI in recent years, with this year's conference no exception. Interesting and important observational and interventional studies were presented, relevant to a variety of settings and risk groups worldwide.

See the link below for more info on the following topics:

- Topical Microbicides
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Antiretroviral Treatment for HIV Prevention
- Observational epidemiologic data relevant to HIV prevention
- PMTCT
- HIV Testing in High-Prevalence Settings

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_56.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 23, 2009, 02:03:50 pm
ucla

Gene therapy shows promise as weapon against HIV

A new UCLA AIDS Institute study has found that gene therapy can be developed as a safe and active technique to combat HIV.
 
Researchers involved in this first-of-its-kind study found that cell-delivered gene transfer has the potential to be a once-only treatment that reduces viral load, preserves the immune system and avoids lifelong antiretroviral therapy. The study appears in the current online edition of the journal Nature Medicine.
 
Though modest, the results do show some promise that gene therapy can be developed as a potentially effective treatment for HIV, said lead investigator Dr. Ronald Mitsuyasu, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
 
"It is the first randomized controlled study done with gene therapy in HIV," said Mitsuyasu, who is also an associate director of the UCLA AIDS Institute. "What we were able to demonstrate was that the patients who received the gene-modified cells had a somewhat better suppression of their HIV viral replication after discontinuing their highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment, compared with the controls."
 
This was the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled gene-transfer clinical trial and involved 74 HIV-positive adults.
The patients received their own blood stem cells, either untreated or modified to carry a molecule called OZ1, which prevents viral replication by targeting a key HIV gene. OZ1 was safe, causing no adverse effects over the course of the 100-week trial.
 
At the primary end-point, the difference in viral load between the OZ1 and placebo group at weeks seven and eight, after they had stopped HAART treatment, was not statistically significant. But other viral parameters did demonstrate better HIV suppression and improvement in the counts of CD4+ lymphocytes — the cell population that is depleted by HIV.
 
The technique still needs to be developed further and perfected, Mitsuyasu said.
 
"Part of the reason that we didn't see a larger effect is that the persistence of the anti-HIV gene in the patient's blood was not as long as we would have liked," he said. "We need to find better ways to get the genes into the patients and maintain them, which could include using different vectors to get the gene into the cells or conditioning the patients prior to gene transfer."
 
Still, the results indicate that gene therapy could eventually be a useful tool in the fight against AIDS, said study co-author Dr. Thomas C. Merigan, the George and Lucy Becker Professor of Medicine emeritus at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He agrees that more needs to be done to perfect it.
 
"But in the way we set up the trial with randomized placebo controls, we could dissect out that there was a positive effect in patients who had the gene successfully installed," Merigan said. "This could be a first step in developing a new method of controlling a chronic infectious disease."
 
This study was funded by Johnson and Johnson Research Pty Limited. Grants from the National Institutes of Health also helped support part of the research.
 
The UCLA AIDS Institute, established in 1992, is a multidisciplinary think tank drawing on the skills of top-flight researchers in the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS, the first cases of which were reported in 1981 by UCLA physicians. Institute members include researchers in virology and immunology, genetics, cancer, neurology, ophthalmology, epidemiology, social sciences, public health, nursing and disease prevention. Their findings have led to advances in treating HIV, as well as other diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, influenza and cancer.

Source (http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/gene-therapy-shows-promise-as-81694.aspx)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2009, 02:52:00 pm
sciencedaily

First Step Towards A World Reclassification Of Viruses
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/02/090213172047.jpg)
The atomic interpretation of the stressosome, with multiple copies of the scaffold protein RsbS colored red, and the sensor domain of RsbR in yellow and its corresponding scaffold domain in blue. The EM-derived molecular envelope, shown as a semi-transparent surface, is colored red for the core and blue for the sensory extensions. (Credit: Copyright Newcastle University)

Prof Dave Stuart, Director of Life Sciences at Diamond – the UK national synchrotron – and head of the Structural Biology Laboratory at Oxford's Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics will unveil the structure of a biological protein from the vaccinia virus at the American Association for the Advancement of Science – AAAS- in Chicago. This is a significant step towards unlocking effective therapies to treat viruses.

The structure was solved at Diamond by Prof Stuart and his colleagues in December 2008 when they discovered that this complicated member of the poxvirus family is related to a large number of simpler viruses and shows the relevance of Darwinism to these, the simplest form of life.

Prof Stuart explains the significance of the new findings, "Viruses are by their very nature extremely hard to classify. They are much more common and diverse than any other form of life. On top of this, they evolve about 1 million times quicker than animals and we have no fossils to help us track their evolution back through history. Determining the structure of proteins is our best approximation to a fossil record and knowing more about virus families and the relationships between these families will help us to develop new, more effective, therapies".

The evolutionary path of human beings and animals fascinated Darwin and the quest for knowledge in this complex research area continues in the 21st century through the complex studies of many structural biologists across the world.

Prof Stuart continues, "With these latest results, we have been able to confirm our theories about the vaccinia virus at Diamond. This is a step towards a reclassification of the virus world, which can guide the way we think about therapies in the future. Currently, with viruses such as HIV, the therapies are targeting the replication machinery of the virus rather than their shells. If structural commonalities between viruses are known, these links can be used to create therapies that work on a family of viruses, as opposed to just one. With this approach, it is possible that we could be able to treat patients who are suffering from one of a number of viruses, in the same way that antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections."

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090213172047.htm)


aidsonline

HIV monotherapy with ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors: a systematic review
Objective: To assess the efficacy of ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy.

Design and methods: Systematic review of all protease inhibitor-monotherapy studies published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at conferences to date. Data of randomized controlled trials were pooled to yield common odds ratios.

Results: Twenty-two protease inhibitor-monotherapy studies were identified. In the intent-to-treat analysis, 395 out of 582 (67.9%) patients had undetectable HIV-RNA at the end of follow-up. In the six randomized controlled trials (all lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy), the risk of therapy failure was greater on monotherapy: 121 out of 364 (33.2%) patients on monotherapy against 64 out of 280 (22.9%) patients on HAART -pooled odds ratio 1.48 (95% confidence interval 1.02-2.13, P = 0.037). Regarding patients with successfully resuppressed HIV-RNA upon (re-)introducing nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) as nonfailures, the risk of therapy failure was comparable: 98 out of 364 (26.9%) against 64 out of 280 (22.9%) patients [odds ratio 1.05 (95% confidence interval 0.72-1.53, P = 0.81)].

Conclusion: The overall efficacy of ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy is inferior to HAART. The efficacy improves in patients started on monotherapy after suppressed HIV-RNA for at least 6 months. Ten percent of patients have viral rebound with HIV-RNA levels between 50 and 500 copies/ml. Possible explanations are lack of HIV suppression in particular cells or compartments, alternative resistance mechanisms, and nonadherence. Once proven that reintroduction of NRTIs, in patients with loss of viral suppression, is safe and effective, a broader use of simplification of HAART to protease inhibitor monotherapy might be justified. This review supports that the majority of patients with prolonged viral suppression on HAART can successfully be treated with protease inhibitor monotherapy. Arguments for this strategy are NRTI/NNRTI side effects, NRTI/NNRTI resistance, and costs.

More (http://www.aidsonline.com/pt/re/aids/abstract.00002030-200901280-00001.htm)

Efficacy and safety of etravirine (TMC125) in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients: 48-week results of a phase IIb trial
Forty-eight-week results from a randomized, multicentre, part-blinded, phase IIb clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of 400 and 800 mg etravirine twice daily (phase IIb formulation) and optimized background regimen versus standard-of-care regimen are presented. Both etravirine doses demonstrated sustained virological suppression at 48 weeks and a favourable tolerability profile. Etravirine demonstrated higher efficacy than control, irrespective of the number of detectable nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-resistance-associated mutations at baseline or active background antiretrovirals.

More (http://www.aidsonline.com/pt/re/aids/abstract.00002030-200901280-00018.htm)


ascopubs

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and the Incidence of Non–AIDS-Defining Cancers in People With HIV Infection
Purpose: The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of non–AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs) is unclear.

Methods: We have investigated the occurrence of NADCs in a prospective cohort of 11,112 HIV-positive individuals, with 71,687 patient-years of follow-up. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using general population incidence data. We investigated the effect of calendar period, HIV parameters, and immunologic and treatment-related factors on the incidence of these cancers using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: The SIR for all NADCs was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.66 to 2.29). There was no significant excess in incidence in the pre-HAART era (1983 to 1995; SIR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.58 to 1.47). However, the incidence increased in the early HAART period (1996 to 2001) and remains elevated in the most recent established HAART period (2002 to 2007; SIR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.72, and SIR 2.49; 95% CI, 2.00 to 3.07, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that use of HAART (hazard ratio HR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.39) and a nadir CD4 count less than 200/µL (HR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.54) were associated with an increased risk. Only the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) were associated with a significantly increased risk of NADCs (HR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.08). Much of this association was attributable to an increased risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma with NNRTIs (HR = 2.20; 95% CI, 1.03 to 4.69).

Conclusion: Since the introduction of HAART, there has been a significantly increased risk of NADCs, which has now stabilized. A number of factors are associated with this increased risk, including HAART use. There may be an association between the use of NNRTIs and the development of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

More (http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/6/884)


hivandhepatitis

Cancer Incidence in Clinical Trials of Raltegravir (Isentress)
The first-in-class HIV integrase inhibitor, raltegravir (Isentress), was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2007.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/pills/isentress.jpg)

During the drug's development, some clinical trials suggested that participants taking raltegravir had a higher rate of malignancies, though this was not confirmed in later studies.

In a poster presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/main.html) this month in Montreal, David Cooper and colleagues summarized the most recent and complete cancer rate data from 5 randomized, double-blind clinical trials of raltegravir and the open-label expanded access program (EAP-P023, also known as EARMRK (http://www.benchmrk.com/secure/earmrk/earmrk.html)). Data were collected through the end of August 2008.

The analysis included:

    * 96 week data from the Phase 3 trial protocols P018 and P019
     for treatment-experienced patients, better known as BENCHMRK 1 and 2;
     http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2008/072508_a.html
    * 48 week data from the Phase 3 treatment-naive study P021, better known as STARTMRK;
      http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2008icr/icaac_idsa/docs/102808_b.html
    * 120 week data from Phase 2 trials P004 and 005.

In the randomized trials, a combined total of 1039 study participants were randomly assigned to receive raltegravir (total 1454 person-years [PY]), while 605 were assigned to comparator drugs (656 PY). The BENCHMRK protocols also included an open-label phase. In the EAP, 5438 patients enrolled through March 2008 received open-label raltegravir; they were required to report all serious adverse events, including cancers, whether or not they were thought to be drug-related.

The investigators used both a broad definition of cancer that included recurrences, worsening of pre-existing cancer, non-melanoma skin cancers, and carcinoma in situ, as well as a narrower definition that excluded these categories. A time-to-first-event analysis was used to estimate event rates per 100 PY. Relative risk (RR) was determined for double-blind data only. Cancer rates in the EAP were analyzed separately using a consistent time-to-first-event approach.

Results

    * In the double-blind trials, using the broad definition, 29 cancer cases
     occurred in the raltegravir arms (1.68 per 100 PY) versus 17 in the
     comparator arms (2.24 per 100 PY), for a RR of 0.75.

    * In the double-blind trials, using the narrower definition, there were 13 cancers
     in the raltegravir arms (0.75 per 100 PY) and 11 in the comparator
     arm (1.44 per 100 PY), for a RR of 0.52.

    * Looking at all clinical trial data combined -- both double-blind and open label --
     using the broad definition, there were 49 cancer cases (2.10 per 100 PY).

    * Looking at combined clinical trial data using the narrow definition,
     there were 22 cancers events (0.93 per 100 PY).

    * In the open-label EAP, using the broad definition,
     55 cancer cases were reported (2.48 per 100 PY).

    * In the EAP using the narrower definition, there were 32 cancers (1.44 per 100 PY).

    * A majority of cancers observed in raltegravir recipients were types
     recognized to occur more often in people with HIV/AIDS:

        - Kaposi's sarcoma: 12 cases;
        - Anal squamous cell carcinoma: 7 cases;
        - Skin squamous cell carcinoma: 7 cases;
        - Basal cell carcinoma: 7 cases;
        - B-cell lymphoma: 5 cases.

Based on these findings, the researchers stated, "cancer rates were slightly lower for raltegravir, but not significantly different from comparators."

Although the EAP included some 2200 additional person-years of follow-up in patients with more advanced HIV disease, cancer rates were similar to those seen in clinical trials.

"Data to date showed no difference in risk of cancer in HIV-infected patients receiving raltegravir vs other antiretroviral therapy," the investigators concluded.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/022409_b.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2009, 02:58:37 pm
hivandhepatitis

HIV Can Remain in Semen despite Effective Antiretroviral Therapy
Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) that suppresses HIV in the blood and semen dramatically reduces the risk of transmission. In 2008, the Swiss Federal Commission for HIV/AIDS sparked controversy when they stated that fully adherent HIV positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy who maintain an undetectable viral load for at least 6 months and have no concurrent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) essentially cannot transmit HIV via sexual contact -- or at least via heterosexual vaginal intercourse.

Some researchers have suggested that universal treatment might be used as a prevention strategy, but this is not a completely reliable strategy since HIV can remain in semen despite undetectable plasma viral load.

Several studies presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) this month in Montreal shed further light on the relationship between HIV treatment and transmission.

Heterosexual Couples in Africa

Two studies looked at HIV transmission risk among heterosexual couples in Africa. Steven Reynolds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) presented findings from Rakai, a rural district in Uganda that produced some of the earliest data that antiretroviral treatment could reduce transmission.

The present analysis included stable serodiscordant heterosexual couples from the Rakai Community Cohort Study. Between 2004 and 2007, 205 serodiscordant couples were identified, and 12 HIV positive men and 8 women started free ART when they had a CD4 count < 250 cells/mm3 or WHO stage IV disease. Participants were followed for 12-18 months on average.

A total of 34 instances of HIV transmission occurred during 396 person-years (PY) of follow-up prior to ART initiation, an incidence rate of 8.6 per 100 PY. In contrast, no transmissions occurred during 25 PY of follow-up while on the positive partner was on ART. Prior to ART, the median viral load was about 44,000 copies/mL. After starting treatment, 79% achieved undetectable HIV viral load (< 40 copies/mL) at 6 months and 95% had at least 1 detectable measurement within the first 18 months.

No significant differences in sexual variables (e.g., number of partners, condom use, circumcision status, STDs) were observed between treated and untreated couples. The researchers concluded that, "ART reduced HIV transmission among discordant couples during the period ART was provided free in this rural treatment cohort."

Patrick Sullivan and colleagues conducted a similar but larger study of 2993 serodiscordant heterosexual couples in Kigali, Rwanda and Lusaka, Zambia followed from 2002 through 2008. HIV positive partners started ART when they had < 200 CD4 cells/mm3 or WHO stage III or IV disease. Negative partners were tested for HIV and received HIV risk reduction counseling every 3 months.

During a median follow-up period of 17 months, 175 new HIV infections occurred -- 171 from untreated partners (3.4% per 100 PY) and 4 from partners on ART(0.7% per 100 PY). Couples with the infected partner on ART were actually less likely to have risky sex (as determined by self-report and testing for semen in vaginal fluid) than untreated couples.

"Reduction in risk of HIV transmission was observed when HIV positive partners were on ART," the researchers concluded, adding that "the reduced risk was likely due to a combination of ART effects and lower risk behaviors." Sullivan noted that the transmission rate was 3-fold to 5-fold lower among couples receiving treatment.

HIV in Semen

Prameet Sheth presented data from a study comparing HIV positive men in Toronto, 25 of whom were just starting ART and 13 of whom had been on effective therapy for at least 4 years and had undetectable (< 50 copies/mL) plasma viral load.

In the newly treated group, plasma viral load became persistently undetectable in all cases by week 16. Most (70%) had undetectable (< 300 copies/mL) semen viral load by week 4, but some still had detectable HIV RNA in their semen at 24 weeks. A higher proportion (48%) had detectable semen viral load on at least 1 test after starting therapy -- usually isolated "blips" -- and 14% of the time HIV RNA was detectable in semen but undetectable in plasma.

Among the men on long-term ART, 31% had detectable semen HIV RNA. This was more likely in men with higher baseline semen viral load. But baseline plasma viral load, CD4 cell count, and herpes simplex virus status did not predict HIV shedding in semen.

"Although effective HAART often eliminated HIV RNA from the semen, isolated HIV semen shedding was common, even after extremely prolonged suppression of blood viral load," the researchers concluded. "Public health messages and policy must be tailored carefully to reflect this reality."

In a related study, Anne-Genevieve Marcelin and colleagues looked at 264 paired plasma and semen samples from 145 HIV positive men participating in an assisted reproduction program at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris that used "sperm washing" to enable conception without putting HIV negative female partners at risk. HIV RNA was measured in seminal fluid after sperm cells were removed by centrifugation.

In 85% of sample pairs, HIV RNA was undetectable in both plasma (< 40 copies/mL) and semen (< 200 copies/mL), while in 3.4% of pairs it was detectable in both. In 8.7% of sample pairs, however, HIV RNA was undetectable in semen despite being detectable in plasma, while in 2.7% of pairs (coming from 4.8% of the men), HIV was detectable in semen but not plasma; in all the latter cases, the men were on stable ART and had fully suppressed plasma HIV RNA for at least 6 months. Here too, detectable semen viral load often occurred as transient "blips."

"These results show that 5% of patients had detectable HIV-1 RNA in semen although they had concomitantly undetectable HIV-1 RNA in blood while they were under HAART," the researchers concluded. "These results should be taken into account in public health messages. Indeed, while effective antiretroviral therapy is likely to substantially reduce HIV transmission at a population level, residual HIV RNA shedding can occur."

Cell-free Virus

Finally, David Butler from the University of California at San Diego presented data showing that HIV may be free-floating in seminal fluid, not only as genetic material in infected semen lymphocytes.

Butler and colleagues studied 4 previously serodiscordant male-male couples in which the negative partner was recently infected. In all 4 cases, the newly infected individual's HIV was closely related to cell-free HIV RNA, but not cell-associated HIV DNA, from the positive partner.

"Recipients' blood HIV RNA sequences clustered completely and with 100% bootstrap support with their respective sources' [cell-free RNA] sequences and separately from [cell-associated DNA] sequences in all cases," they reported.

The investigators also found 6 amino acids "signature" sequences that were associated with transmission, which might provide potential targets for a preventive HIV vaccine.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/022409_c.html)


medicalnewstoday

About 42% Of Pregnant Women In Swaziland Are Living With HIV, Report Says
About 42% of pregnant women in Swaziland are HIV-positive, an increase of 3% since last year, according to a government report that was released on Friday, the AP/Google.com reports. According to the report, the increase likely is because more women's lives are being prolonged through improved access to antiretroviral drugs. About 185,000 people in Swaziland -- which has a population of one million and the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate worldwide -- are living with HIV. About 30,000 people have access to antiretrovirals in the country, and average life expectancy is 37 years.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140021.php)

Organised Crime Gang Targets HIV/AIDS Patients In Internet Scam
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is warning people to be aware of internet sites claiming to have a medical device that cures HIV/Aids among other ailments.

The company, Savec Health Systems Ltd, claimed to be able to supply the machine and associated medicine to the public with payment made via credit card, Paypal or money transfer.

Savec Health Systems also claimed to have a list of doctors who say they have used this device successfully on patients and they quote endorsement by four UK medical clinics.

Along with The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland), and the Police, the MHRA have investigated this case and believe the probability of any such device existing is extremely low.

MHRA Director of Policy, Mr Shaun Gallagher said, "We have contacted one of the clinics referred to in a testimonial on the Savec Health Systems website and they have no knowledge of the product. The Northern Ireland Authorities are contacting the other three clinics."

"It would be extremely doubtful that any machine of this kind would have any value in the treatment of HIV/Aids," he said. "But all of the evidence suggests that the product does not even exist and that this is simply a scam, being run through an organised crime gang, to take money from vulnerable people."

The website has been closed by the authorities but the MHRA is urging anyone who has had dealings with this company to come forward, and for the public to remain vigilant, reporting any similar scams they may come across on the net.

Notes

1. The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem. We encourage everyone - the public and healthcare professionals as well as the industry - to tell us about any problems with a medicine or medical device, so that we can investigate and take any necessary action.

2. MHRA (http://www.mhra.gov/)

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139982.php)


payvand

18,000 Iranians HIV positive
An estimated 18,000 of the country's 70 million population are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the pathogen that causes AIDS, secretary of the state Welfare Organization's committee of AIDS control and prevention said on Sunday.

There is about 80,000 AIDS cases in Iran, Majid Reza-Zadeh said.

He described "injecting drug use" as the main means of AIDS transmission, lamenting the fact that in some parts of the country, "HIV is typically transmitted through sexual behaviors".

Referring to the increasing numbers of AIDS sufferers all around the world, Reza-Zadeh stressed the need for accelerating HIV prevention global efforts especially those targeted at youth.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which is now a pandemic, is a very serious disease that stops the body from defending itself against infections, and usually causes death.

In 2007, an estimated 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and it killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. Over three-quarters of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

More (http://www.payvand.com/news/09/feb/1281.html)


Boston Globe

Panacos mulls sale
Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. (http://finance.boston.com/boston?Page=QUOTE&Ticker=PANC), which is trying to develop HIV drugs, said it is cutting more than more than half its workforce and is considering selling the company.

Specifically, the Watertown biotechnology company said it will close its Gaithersburg, Md. office on Friday and reduce its workforce to 4 employees, down from 11. The layoffs include Jane Pritchett Henderson, the company's chief financial officer, and Graham P. Allaway, the firm's chief operating officer and co-founder.

In addition, Panacos said it hired Oppenheimer & Co. to advise the company on "strategic alternatives," including selling its HIV drug development programs or the entire company. HIV is the virus associated with AIDS.

Unless it strikes a deal soon, Panacos warned it may not be able to continue funding the firm's operations beyond the second quarter.

More (http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/02/panacos_mulls_s.html)


bizjournals

Panacos Pharma shutters Gaithersburg office
Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. (http://finance.boston.com/boston?Page=QUOTE&Ticker=PANC) is shutting down its longtime Gaithersburg location to cut costs as it considers putting itself up for sale.

After a round of layoffs that included some Gaithersburg employees late last year, the then-33-employee company, based in Watertown, Mass., said it will shrink down to four people by the end of this week. Included in this latest round of departures this week is Graham Allaway, Panacos’ local chief operating officer who founded the Gaithersburg biotech that merged into Panacos in March 2005.

He joins three other major executives who are leaving the company this month, including the chief financial officer and chief medical officer.

Panacos also said it has hired Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. to help come up with strategic options, including the potential sale of the company or pieces of its HIV development portfolio. The company already sold its lead HIV treatment line, called bevirimat, to Myriad Pharmaceuticals Inc. last month in a $7 million deal.

If it doesn’t find buyers or partners soon, Panacos (NASDAQ: PANC) said it may not be able to survive past the second quarter of this year.

More (http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/02/23/daily21.html?surround=lfn)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2009, 03:09:02 pm
natap

New HIV Drug Candidates in Pre-Clinical Development

There is yet little exciting news in this front but there were several pre-clinical HIV drug candidates reported at CROI. CMX157 is being developed by former GSK virologist Randall Lanier down the road in Durham, NC where he is trying to develop a more potent and safer tenofovir, he presented this first last Summer at the Resistance Workshop in Spain. At this time the most promising and timely help for patients with HIV drug resistance who need new therapies may come from PRO140 and perhaps Bevirimat, as well the Tanox monoclonal antibody drug Ibalizumab appears to have survived and has a new study on clinical trials.gov. PRO140 is an entry inhibitor and data from subcutaneous injection in patients was presented at CROI, and this drug appears potent and is moving ahead in studies in patients. Bevirimat , the maturation inhibitor, was recently sold to Myriad for $7 million from Panacos. Myriad told me they are planning a new bevirimat study to start soon, as well they have their own maturation inhibitors, and Panacos also has further bak in evelopment stages a second generation maturation inhibitor program. As well, both Myriad and Panacos have additional HIV drugs, I recall Panacos has an ora fusion inhibitor, all these are several years back in develoment.
 
TNX-355 survives Tanox: new Phase 2 Dose-Finding StudyStudy (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/012809_01.htm%20target=)
TaiMed Biologics Inc. will conduct clinical trials of TNX-355 -- also known as Ibalizumab -- from a location on the West Loop near the former Tanox ... www.natap.org/2009/HIV/012809_01.htm



Hexadecyloxypropyl Tenofovir Associates Directly with HIV and Subsequently Inhibits Viral Replication in Untreated Cells

Background: CMX157 is a lipid conjugate of tenofovir (TFV). Compared to TFV, CMX157 is >300 times more potent against wild-type and NRTI-resistant HIV in vitro; it effectively penetrates isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), producing >30-fold higher intracellular levels of the active anabolite, TFV-diphosphate (TFV-PP). Since CMX157 has a lipid side chain and HIV has a lipid bilayer, it was postulated that CMX157 associates directly with virions. To test this hypothesis, purified HIV was incubated with CMX157 or TFV followed by quantification of virus-associated drug and determination of the tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50).
 
Methods: Concentrated HIV-1IIIB was incubated with 500 nM CMX157 or TFV for 2 hours, pelleted to remove unbound compound and lysed with 70% methanol. Supernatants were analyzed in triplicate using LC/MS/MS. Analytes were separated by gradient, reverse phase, ion-paring chromatography and detected by positive ion electrospray; separate viral aliquots were used to determine TCID50 by XTT, RT, and p24 assays. To assess the effect of exposure time, concentrated HIV-1IIIB was incubated with 500 nM CMX157 for 1, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes prior to TCID50. To determine the effect of drug dose, TCID50 was determined following a 15 minute incubation of virus with eight concentrations of CMX157 ranging from 0.039 to 125 nM. HDP-acyclovir was evaluated in parallel as a control.
 
Results: Analysis of purified HIV pellets following incubation with 500 nM drug showed ≈30,000 molecules of CMX157 were associated with each virion versus ≈100 molecules/virion for TFV. Incubation of HIV for 1 to 15 minutes with concentrations of CMX157down to 3.9 nM resulted in 3-4 fold decreases in TCID50. No inhibition of HIV replication was observed following incubation with TFV or the lipid control bearing the same alkyl modification as CMX157, HDP-acyclovir.
 
Conclusions: Overall, these results indicate that CMX157 associates directly with HIV and that this association enhances its antiviral activity in vitro. The most likely mechanism is direct targeting of CMX157 to the cell being infected; this has implications for treatment and prevention of HIV infection. Once inside the cell, CMX157 is presumably converted to TFV-PP which inhibits HIV replication via chain termination. CMX157 could have advantages over TFV via this mechanism of cell targeting as any HIV virion exposed to drug would carry CMX157 into any compartment or cell type it subsequently enters.



β-D-3'-Azido-2,6-diamino-2',3'-dideoxypurine Is a Potent Inhibitor of HIV-1 and Is Bioconverted Intracellularly to both AZD-TP and Its Guanosine-5'-triphosphate Form
 
Background: New antiviral nucleosides that are potent and safe are urgently needed. Recently, we showed that b-D-3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (AZG) is a potent and selective inhibitor of HIV-1 with a superior resistance profile compared to AZT. This discovery led to the synthesis and evaluation of 3'-azido-2,6-diamino-2',3'-dideoxypurine (AZD) and a 5'-monophosphate (MP) pro-drug of AZD.
 
Methods: We used a multi-disciplinary approach including medicinal chemistry, molecular virology, rational drug design, biochemistry, cellular pharmacology, HPLC-MS/MS, and enzyme kinetics to uncover the molecular mechanisms of anti-HIV-1 activity for AZD and its MP pro-drug.
 
Results: AZD was considerably more potent against HIV-1 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (EC50 = 0.07 mM) than previously reported in MT-4 cells (EC50 = 2 μM). Incubation of AZD in PBMC for 4 hours and subsequent HPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed low levels of AZD-DP and AZD-TP, but surprisingly high levels of AZG-DP and AZG-TP (ratio of AZD-TP to AZG-TP 1:167). The AZD-MP pro-drug showed greater potency (EC50 = 0.0031 mM) against HIV-1 in PBMC than AZD. This pro-drug increased the intracellular levels of AZD-TP in PBMC approximately 250-fold compared to the levels achieved with AZD and resulted in a reversal of the ratio of AZD-TP to AZG-TP (73:1). Computational evaluation of AZD paired with either T or C in a DNA duplex bound to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) indicated that AZD behaves like an A-analog rather than a G-analog.
 
Conclusions: AZD and its pro-drug can deliver both AZD-TP and AZG-TP intracellularly, each of which can inhibit HIV-1 RT. The combined delivery of chain-terminating 3'-azidopurine nucleotide analogs with different incorporation profiles (as A- vs G-analog) may improve the resistance profile of AZD. The potency and intracellular delivery of AZD-TP were substantially increased by phosphate pro-drugs of AZD.



Investigational New Drug-directed Development of IQP-0410, a Safe and Highly Potent Dual-acting Nonnucleoside Pyrimidinedione for the Therapy of HIV-1 Infection
 
Background: Drug cocktails combining NRTI and NNRTI and PI are the first-line treatment for HIV infection. The primary problems associated with anti-HIV therapy continue to be drug toxicity, drug-drug interactions, patient compliance with prescribed treatment regimens, and the appearance of drug-resistant viruses.
 
Methods: ImQuest Pharmaceuticals is developing IQP-0410, a highly potent nonnucleoside pyrimidinedione inhibitor of both HIV-1 and HIV-2. A comprehensive program of standard investigational new drug (IND)-enabling good laboratory practices (GLP) studies has been performed in order to establish the acute and multiple dose toxicity, toxico-kinetics, genotoxicity, and safety pharmacology profile of IQP-0410.
 
Results: Oral dosage of IQP-0410 administered via gavage, up to a maximum feasible dose level of 1000 mg/kg, was well tolerated in beagle dogs. There were no test article-related findings noted during the evaluation of in-life data, clinical pathology or necropsy data. Histopathology evaluation of selected tissues revealed no IQP-0410-related microscopic findings. Preliminary pharmacokinetics studies of IQP-0410 in dogs following oral administration demonstrated significant plasma concentrations of IQP-0410 at 24 hours on day 6, with an average of 37 ng/mL remaining. Cmax values for Day 1 ranged from 52 to 113 ng/mL and from 71 to 165 ng/mL on day 7 and the calculated EC95 value for IQP-0410 was 1 ng/mL. Thus the effective concentration of IQP-0410 was exceeded by 30- to 50-fold at 24 hours, indicating once per day dosage. Metabolic stability assays showed a high degree of liver microsome metabolism reaction phenotyping in human liver microsomes indicated that CYP3A4 is the major enzyme responsible for the metabolism of IQP-0410. Safety pharmacology studies (in vitro effects of IQP-0410 on the hERG channel current, neuropharmacological profile determination and pulmonary assessment in mice) showed no signs of pharmacological or toxicological activity. All genotoxicology testing of IQP-0410-including the Ames, Mouse Lymphoma, Bone Marrow Micronucleus, and CHO Chromosome Abnormality tests-were negative.
 
Conclusions: This favorable pre-clinical profile suggests that IQP-0410 will be an important addition to the currently available primary therapeutic regimens used to treat HIV. In addition, the activity of IQP-0410 against multi-drug resistant virus strains indicates a significant potential for use in salvage therapy.



Antiviral Active against Different Subtypes in vitro and Resistance Profile of 2 New HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors: CRS-074 and CRS-075
 
Background: CRS-074 and CRS-075 are 2 new PI with EC50 values of 0.5 and 50.0 nM, respectively. The aims of this study are to characterize the phenotypic and enzymatic antiretroviral activity against wild-type viruses from different HIV-1 subtypes, to investigate the resistance profile against protease inhibitor resistant (PIr) HIV-1 strains from different subtypes, and to describe in vitro selection of HIV-1 variants having increased resistance do CRS-074 and CRS-075.
 
Methods: Phenotyping assays were performed using a MT-4 cell-based MTT viability assay. A panel of 19 HIV-1 recombinant viruses was generated: 12 viruses from subtypes B and F carrying PIr mutations, and 7 others PI-susceptible, from subtypes B, C, and F. Recombinant HIV-1 protease from subtypes B, C, and F were expressed and its activity determined using a fluorogenic substrate. Selection experiments were performed in vitro by passaging HIV-1 strain NL4-3 into MT-4 cells, in the presence of increasing concentrations of CRS-074 or CRS-075. Viral RNA was extracted from selected viruses and the cDNA subjected to sequencing and viral load determination by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR).
 
Results: Both drugs presented the same EC50 for different subtypes wild-type viruses (B, C, and F). The EC50 values of CRS-074 against resistant viruses varied from 1.0- to 510.0-fold higher than the EC50 for reference virus. For the CRS-075 these EC50 values varied from 0.2 to 64.1; while ritonavir (used as a reference drug) exhibited values from 1.2- to 666.7-fold. The Ki values obtained for CRS-074 (0.02 to 0.07 nM) and for CRS-075 (0.9 to 2.2 nM) were subtype independent. After 43 days, a viral variant carrying the mutation E34G was selected for the CRS-074. No mutations were found from the viruses under selective pressure of CRS-075, after 53 days in culture.
 
Conclusions: CRS-074 is one of most potent PI ever described (EC50 = 0.5 nM). Although CRS-074 presented high relative values of EC50 against resistant viruses, the absolute value of EC50 reached is still very low when compared to other PI against susceptible viruses. CRS-075 has an EC50 value comparable to the Food and Drug Administration-approved PI, moreover, CRS-075 highly effectiveness against resistant viruses demonstrated its potential as a future drug for second line therapy. Both drugs were highly active against the different HIV-1 subtypes circulating in Brazil.



More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_86.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2009, 03:18:14 pm
natap

A Single-dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of OBP-601, a Novel NRTI, in Healthy Subjects
--Festinavir was safe and well tolerated
--Festinavir plasma pharmacokinetics demonstrated dose-proportional relationship across the dose range studied in healthy men
--At doses ranging from 100 to 900 mg given once a day, the plasma concentration of Festinavir remained above the IC90 through the dosing period (24 h); QD dosing is anticipated
--Phase 1b to further evaluate safety, tolerability, PK, and antiviral activity of Festinavir is ongoing

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_85.htm)

CMX157 Conjugate of tenofovir, prodrug: Hexadecyloxypropyl Tenofovir Associates Directly with HIV and Subsequently Inhibits Viral Replication in Untreated Cells
(http://natap.org/2009/images/022409/Intro-1.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/022409/ProCM-2.gif)

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Inhibitors of the RNase H Activity of Reverse Transcriptase as an Approach to New HIV-1 Antiretroviral Agents: Merck program
A novel series of HIV-1 RNase H inhibitors has been developed. A prototype inhibitor was shown to bind to two manganese ions in the RNase H active site of full length RT by X-ray crystallography. Systematic structure-activity studies around the core structure identified substituents which improved potency and selectivity in biochemical assays and antiviral activity in cell culture. An optimal compound from this work, inhibitor 5, showed good potency and selectivity in biochemical assays (RT RNase H IC50 = 0.045 uM, RT Polymerase IC50 = 13 uM; Integrase Strand Transfer IC50 = 24 uM) and antiviral effects in cell culture (IC50 = 0.19 uM) with a 17-fold window with respect to cytotoxicity (CC50 = 3.3 uM).

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Summary from CROI for Hepatitis Coinfection - What are the challenges and how can we improve outcome of Hepatitis coinfection in HIV-Infected Patients?
• HIV/HBV coinfected patients receiving a tenofovir-containing regimen are most likely to become undetectable for HBV-replication (>98%)
• In the few HIV/HBV coinfected patients with ongoing HBV replication despite prolonged tenofovir therapy no clear HBV relevant mutation has been described so far. The development of polymorphisms not associated with HBV resistance however, has been observed
• A first case report suggests anti-HIV activity of telbivudine which however has not been confirmed in comprehensive in vitro studies. Close monitoring of telbivudine treated HIV/HBV patients not on HAART is warranted
• First cohort data suggests that higher HCV viral load levels may have a significant negative impact on overall survival and liver disease related death
• Although these findings need to be confirmed clinicians should pay attention to HCV viral load in the setting of HIV/HCV coinfection
• In a subset of patients with HIV/HCV coinfection successful HAART is accompanied by an improved HCV specific T-cell response which may lead to lower HCV viral load levels
• Early virological response (negative HCV-RNA at week 12) is associated with the best treatment outcome under peg-IFN/RBV therapy

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_82.htm)
 
High HCV Is Associated with an Increased Risk for Mortality in HIV/HCV-co-infected Individuals
Background: The influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level and HCV genotype on HIV or HCV disease progression is still unknown. These factors were investigated in HIV/HCV-co-infected individuals from the EuroSIDA cohort
 
Methods: Serum HCV RNA level and HCV genotyping was determined in all HCV antibody-positive samples from the EuroSIDA cohort. Poisson regression analyses were used to investigate progression to death from any cause or from liver-related disease and compared between HCV-viremic (low <500,000 IU/mL and high =500,000 IU/mL) and aviremic patients (HCV RNA <615 IU/ml) and comparing genotypes 1-4. Models were adjusted for data source (analysis from central sample repository or data from clinical site), gender, HIV-transmission category, region of Europe, HBV-co-infection, race, prior AIDS diagnosis, age, CD4 at genotype testing, date recruited to EuroSIDA, type of ART, and date of HCV genotype testing.
 
Results: HCV viral load was determined in 1952 HIV/HCV antibody-positive subjects. 1537 patients (78.7%) showed detectable HCV RNA >615 IU/mL; of these, 821 (53.1%) had an HCV RNA =500,000 IU/mL. Incidence rates (per 100 person-years of follow-up) and adjusted incidence rate ratios for death and liver-related death are shown in the table. Compared to patients with low HCV RNA, viremic patients had a similar incidence of death and liver-related death while patients with high HCV RNA had a significantly increased incidence of death and liver-related death after adjustment (see slides below). Of the 1537 HCV RNA-positive patients, 800 (52.0%), 53 (3.4%), 466 (30.3%), and 218 (14.2%) were genotypes 1-4, respectively. The figure shows the adjusted IRR for death and liver-related death. After adjustment, genotypes 2 and 3 had a lower incidence of death, statistically significant for genotype 3. A similar pattern was seen for liver-related death, although it did not reach statistical significance, possibly due to limited power.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_81.htm)

A Pilot Study to Determine the Effect on Dyslipidemia of the Addition of Tenofovir to Stable ART in HIV-infected Subjects: Results from A5206 Study Team v
The addition of TDF to existing virologically-suppressed ART regimens improved lipid parameters, supporting an independent lipid-lowering effect of TDF.
 
The mechanism of the lipid-lowering effect and potential rebound effect of increased TG with discontinuation of TDF warrants further study.

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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2009, 03:19:56 pm
natap


Single Dose Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) with and without Emtricitabine (FTC) in HIV-1 Infected Pregnant Women and Their Infants: Pharmacokinetics (PK) and Safety
No significant maternal or infant adverse events were observed with the administration of 900 mg of TFV to HIV-infected pregnant women and 4 mg/kg TDF oral suspension to their infants.
 
Single dose TDF administration results in CB/M ratios of approximately 65% regardless of maternal dose.
 
There was a trend to lower AUC (<38%) and Cmax (<62%) in women delivering by VD (n=9) compared to CS (n=6) but sample size was small resulting in limited power.
 
TFV Cmax increased by 83% compared to 600 mg dosing but AUC was similar.
 
TFV exposures were lower in infants suggesting either altered absorption or more rapid clearance.
 
Single dose TDF did not result in detection of the K65R mutation in the 8 women who were assessed for resistance. However, the remaining 8 women and all of the infants had undetectable levels of viremia that precluded resistance testing.

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Cardiovascular complications 16th CROI - written by Pablo Tebas, MD University of Pennsylvania
A few studies suggest that HIV infection per se is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. These studies used surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, like coronary artery calcium (OR = 2.7 for worse calcium scores among HIV positive individuals, after adjusting for traditional risk factors)13, and arterial elasticity (individuals with untreated HIV infection had lower levels of eleasticity than HIV negative individuals after adjusting for traditional risk factors)14
 
The ACTG study presented a small study (17 patients, ACTG study # A5206) showing that tenofovir (TFV) has lipid lowering properties independent of its anti HIV properties, maybe explaining some of the results seen in studies like Gilead 903 and switch studies that have showed improvements in lipids when individuals start tenofovir compared to other nucleoside analogs. In this ACTG study, the addition of TDF to existing virologically-suppressed ART regimens improved lipid parameters -LDL-C (-12%), TC (-16%), non-HDL-C (-16%). The intervention had little effect on triglycerides. The mechanism/s by which tenofovir has these lipid lowering effects is not clear15.
 
The results of ACTG protocol A5209 were also presented, showing that Ezetimibe (Zetia) was well tolerated as an add on drug to 44 patients receiving a statin for managing their cholesterol, with a clinical safety profile similar to that of placebo, and that adding ezetimibe to ongoing statin therapy resulted in significant reductions in LDL-C (-14%), TC (-19%), non-HDL-C (-23%), and Apo B (-9%)16.

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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2009, 03:24:20 pm
natap


Back to Basics: the science at CROI focuses on the tough questions that remain in HIV pathogenesis

Is replication completely stopped by ART?
 
As the Bernard Fields lecturer in virology, Bob Siliciano opened the 16th CROI with a discussion of HIV persistence. Siliciano (abstr. #16) began by reviewing the decay of plasma viremia upon the initiation of therapy: 1) the rapid initial decay that is thought to reflect the interruption of viral infection and production by activated cells of short lifespan that produce most of the plasma virus, which is also short-lived, 2) a second slower phase of decay which was thought to originate in long-lived cells such as macrophages, but is not apparent when antiretroviral therapy (ART) includes an integrase inhibitor, perhaps due to the efficacy of this new class of drug in both resting and activated cells, and 3) the slow or negligible decay of infection in persistently infected resting CD4 T cells.

...

The effect of ART on persistent HIV

Maldarelli and colleagues at the NCI performed an additional intensification study to probe the ability of ART to affect low-level viremia (abstr. 423b). As they have with lopinavir/ritonavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, and efavirenz, they conducted a trial of treatment intensification with raltegravir in patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL but residual viremia =1 copies/mL. Five patients added raltegravir (RAL) 400 mg twice daily to their therapy for a 30-day intensification period. The level of residual viremia before intensification (median, 1.9 copies/mL plasma) was similar to that found in prior studies of patients on standard combination therapy. Overall, the median plasma HIV-1 RNA level during RAL intensification (3.2 copies/mL) was not different from the median pre-intensification level (p = 0.72), but ranged from 0.1 copies/ml to 10 copies/ml.
 
No significant decreases in HIV-1 RNA levels were observed during drug intensification in individual patient analyses. So short-term intensification (ie. 30 days) with a new (to the patient) and potent RT inhibitor, protease inhibitor, or integrase inhibitor does not affect low-level viremia. It seems unlikely that drug compartment issues could explain the lack of effect of drugs of three different classes. In small published and unpublished studies, my research group has also seen no such effect using an entry inhibitor (enfuvirtide). Therefore, the cells from which this viremia emanates must have a half-life of much longer than 30 days.

...

Where and how does HIV persist

Wightman and colleagues (abstr. 416) measured the effect of ART on HIV DNA persistence within naïve CD4 T cells that had recently left the thymus, and distinguished by the surface marker CD31. It has been previously established that most latently, persistently infected CD4 cells are within the memory subset, but infection of naïve cells may occur. 10 patients were followed after ART initiation over 18 months. HIV DNA within cell populations was measured by real time PCR, adjusting for cell equivalents by the parallel quantitation of CCR5.
 
All patients sustained HIV RNA <50 copies/mL within 6 months. CD4+ cells increased overall, with naive cells increasing by 8% and the memory population decreasing by 12%. The percentage of CD31+ naive cells did not change, consistent with both a thymic and peripheral contribution to the naive CD4 T cell increase. As expected, HIV DNA content was higher in memory CD4 T cells than in CD31+ or CD31- naive cells. However, after ART HIV DNA declined significantly in memory cells but was stable in naïve cells. The authors concluded that "infected" naive CD31+ or CD31- CD4 T cells represent a very stable reservoir on ART. However, as mentioned above, the presence of HIV DNA is not equivalent to the presence of latent, replication-competent HIV. It remains to be proven if naïve cells are a more stable site of persistent HIV infection.

...

A new strategy to purge persistent HIV

Gisslen and colleagues (abstr. 88) presented provocative findings suggesting the IV immunoglobulin therapy could reduce the frequency of latent HIV-1 infection. Like many great ideas in medicine, this trial was sparked by a clinical observation: a patient on ART was treated with IV Ig for an autoimmune disease, stopped ART, and remained aviremic for several months. The idea was that the mild immune and complement activation induced by IV Ig might ignite replication of latent HIV, and its clearance.
 
9 subjects on ART were treated with 30 gm IV Ig for 5 days. Highly purified resting memory CD4+ T cells were isolated and activated, and replication-competent HIV-1 was quantified. Replication-competent HIV-1 was detected in resting T cells in 7 of the 9 subjects. IVIG was said to decrease the frequency of resting CD4 cell infection by more than 68% during the study period (8 to 12 weeks) in 5 of 9 subjects. The investigators also observed a transitory increase in plasma HIV-1 RNA using a sensitive assay (LOD 2 copies/ml), and in increase in serum IL-7 levels.
 
This study was provocative and interesting, especially given the safety record of IV Ig. However, the frequency of resting cell infection appeared to vary over a range of 50 to 0.1 per million in the patients studied, and the quantitative measurements of infection could not be explained by the presenter. It was not clear how many replicate cultures were studied, and what quantitative change in viral recovery led to the conclusion that resting cell infection had decreased three-fold. These findings would need to be clarified, but if shown to be credible the further testing and validation of this pilot study might be worthwhile.




Overall, these presentations at CROI offered an exciting and detailed new picture of persistent HIV infection in patients on ART. The picture requires further clarification, as by some measures current ART has achieved its functional limit, but by others improvements in antiviral activity, either in hidden cells or hidden anatomic compartments, might improve its effectiveness. It appears to be more and more practical to achieve and maintain full suppression of HIV viremia in more and more people across the globe. But further advances in therapy that might achieve eradication of persistent HIV infection remains an elusive goal.


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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 25, 2009, 05:02:21 pm
liebertonline

Raltegravir and Etravirine Are Active against HIV Type 1 Group O
The activity of raltegravir and etravirine was assessed in vitro in HIV-1 group O isolates. Despite the presence of some natural polymorphisms associated with resistance to raltegravir (V72I, L74I, S153A, V201I, and T206S) and etravirine (G190A), both drugs showed significant antiviral activity. Subsequently, the clinical benefit was shown in an HIV-1 group O-infected individual in whom enfuvirtide was replaced by raltegravir. Therefore, individuals infected with HIV-1 group O might benefit from raltegravir and/or etravirine therapy.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0222)


ingentaconnect

Hazardous drinking is associated with an elevated aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in an urban HIV-infected clinical cohort

Objectives:
The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between alcohol consumption and liver fibrosis as assessed by aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) in HIV-infected adults and to explore the relative contributions of alcohol and hepatitis C virus (HCV) to APRI among HIV/HCV-coinfected adults. Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from an observational clinical cohort. Alcohol consumption was categorized according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines. We defined significant liver disease as APRI>1.5, and used multinomial logistic regression to identify correlates of increased APRI. Results

Among 1358 participants, 10.4% reported hazardous drinking. It was found that 11.6% had APRI>1.5, indicating liver fibrosis. Hazardous drinking was associated with increased APRI [adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-4.17]. Other factors associated with increased APRI were male gender, viral hepatitis, and HIV transmission category of injecting drug use. Among coinfected individuals, 18.3% had APRI>1.5, and hazardous drinking was not associated with APRI. Among non-HCV-infected individuals, 5.3% had APRI>1.5 and hazardous drinking was associated with increased APRI (adjusted RRR 3.72; 95% CI 1.40-9.87).

Conclusions:
Hazardous drinking is an important modifiable risk factor for liver fibrosis, particularly among non-HCV-infected patients. Clinicians and researchers must address alcohol use as the burden of liver disease increases among HIV-positive individuals.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000003/art00001)

Effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors on CD4 T-cell recovery in HIV-1-infected individuals receiving long-term fully suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy

Objective:
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on CD4 recovery in HIV-1-infected individuals receiving long-term suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out. The mean time-weighted CD4 change from baseline was determined at weeks 48, 96 and 144: its associations with exposure to NRTIs were assessed using linear regression. Results

One hundred and five patients were included. Their median baseline CD4 count was 225 (interquartile range 91-362)?cells/µL. A trend of greater CD4 change from baseline was observed for individuals who at baseline had CD4 counts >200?cells/µL (138 vs. 113, 176 vs. 134 and 204 vs. 173?cells/µL), or were =40 years old (136 vs. 118, 182 vs. 150, 208 vs. 174) at weeks 48, 96 and 144, respectively; however, all P-values were >0.05. Lower CD4 increases were observed in patients exposed to didanosine (ddI) or a combination of ddI and stavudine, although the difference was not statistically significant. For patients that commenced cART with CD4 count =200?cells/µL, a trend towards a CD4 count response <250?cells/µL at weeks 48, 96 and 144 was observed in patients receiving zidovudine.

Conclusion:
Exposure to different NRTIs in initial cART was not significantly associated with variable rises in CD4 cell count. However, these findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000003/art00002)


aidsmap

Swiss court accepts that criminal HIV exposure is only 'hypothetical' on successful treatment, quashes conviction

In the first ruling of its kind in the world, the Geneva Court of Justice has quashed an 18 month prison sentence given to a 34 year-old HIV-positive African migrant who was convicted of HIV exposure by a lower court in December 2008, after accepting expert testimony from Professor Bernard Hirschel – one of the authors of the Swiss Federal Commission for HIV / AIDS consensus statement on the effect of treatment on transmission – that the risk of sexual HIV transmission during unprotected sex on successful treatment is 1 in 100,000.

The case began in Lausanne in 2007, when a court sentenced the HIV-positive man, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, to a suspended 28-month sentence for having unprotected sex without disclosing his HIV status to a female complainant. Although the woman was not infected, Article 231 of the Swiss Penal Code allows prosecutions against HIV-positive individuals for having unprotected sex, with or without disclosure. Individuals can also be prosecuted under Article 122, for “an attempt to engender grievous bodily harm”.

Deborah Glejser of Swiss civil society organisation, Groupe SIDA Geneve, told aidsmap that although the law allows for prosecutions for unprotected sex even when disclosure has taken place, in practice, prosecutions for HIV exposure only take place when there is no disclosure, and that a suspended sentence is the norm.

A second complaint last year led to the man standing trial again in Geneva in November 2008. According to a report in The Geneva Tribune, an expert medical witness had testified that although treatment greatly reduces the risk of transmission, there remained a residual risk.

Although the man's lawyer, Nicole Riedle, had entered the statement by the Swiss Federal Commission for HIV / AIDS into evidence, and Geneva's deputy public prosecutor, Yves Bertossa, had wanted to suspend the hearing in order to consult with them, the lower Geneva court declined to accept any further evidence. Since this was the man’s second conviction, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison in December 2008.

In January, Mr Bertossa told the Geneva Court of Justice that he was persuaded by the Swiss Federal Commission for HIV / AIDS that the risk of transmission for an HIV-positive individual on successful treatment was less than 1 in 100,000 and that under the circumstances he wanted to drop the charges.

On Monday, the Geneva Court of Justice acquitted the man, who was freed after spending almost three months in prison.

Significantly, it was Geneva’s deputy public prosecutor, Yves Bertossa, who called for the appeal. He told Le Temps that despite the fact that there is a still some debate regarding the residual risks of transmission in people on successful treatment this should not influence justice: "One shouldn't convict people for hypothetical risks,” he said.

Professor Hirschel told aidsmap that he was very pleased with the outcome. It was, he said, the main reason that he and his colleagues were motivated to issue their January 2008 statement.

Deborah Glejser added that Monday’s ruling suggests that in Switzerland effectively treated HIV-positive individuals should no longer be prosecuted for having unprotected sex. Having already been contacted by advocates from around the world, she hoped that this ruling will have consequences for other jurisdictions that have HIV exposure laws.

Last May, a five member US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces panel discussed the effect of treatment on transmission following the appeal of an HIV-positive soldier who had previously pleaded guilty to HIV exposure following unprotected sex with two women without disclosing his HIV status. Although the majority did not agree, and did not allow the accused soldier’s guilty plea to be set aside, two members of the panel found the medical expert’s testimony – that it was highly unlikely that the soldier could have infected either women because of his low viral load – valid enough to question HIV exposure laws.

And last July, a Canadian court explored the Swiss statement following a submission from Clato Mabior’s defence team that at the time he had unprotected sex with six women without disclosing his HIV status to them, he did not believe he was infectious. Although expert testimony concluded that Mr Mabior may have been uninfectious for some of the time, this was not enough to convince the judge, who noted that neither the CDC nor WHO/UNAIDS agreed with the Swiss, and that the crimes of which Mr Mabior was accused took place prior to their being any public statement on the effect of treatment on transmission.

Following Monday’s ruling, however, Geneva’s deputy public prosecutor, Yves Bertossa, believes it is only a matter of time before other jurisdictions realise that prosecutions for HIV exposure should not take place when the accused is on successful antiretroviral therapy. He told Radio Lac: “There are some medical advances which can change the law. I think that in other [parts of Switzerland] or in other countries, the same conclusions should apply to their laws.”

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/CEFD90F2-34F1-4570-B9CF-1F0DB462AC9D.asp)

HIV doesn't increase risk of melanoma, but immune suppression associated with risk of rarer skin cancers
HIV-related immune suppression does not increase the risk of melanoma, one of the most common types of skin cancer, American investigators report in the January 23rd edition of AIDS. However, they did find that AIDS patients had a higher risk of developing two rare skin cancers, Merkel cell carcinoma and appendageal carcinomas. The investigators believe that their results “suggest a need for guidelines aimed at the prevention and early detection of skin cancers in HIV-infected individuals.”

HIV-positive individuals with suppressed immune systems have an increased risk of developing cancer. The most important cancers seen in people with HIV are related to infections, for example Kaposi’s sarcoma (due to HHV-8), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (due to Epstein-Barr virus) and anogenital cancers (caused by certain strains of human papilloma virus).

Infection-related cancers also occur more often in organ recipients who have been treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Increased rates of skin cancer, most notably melanoma have also been observed in this group of individuals. Aggressive melanomas have also been reported in people with HIV. Increased exposure to UV radiation from the sun and immune suppression have been suggested as possible causes. Furthermore, there is also some evidence that people with HIV have an increased prevalence of rarer skin cancers, such as Merkel cell carcinoma and appendageal carcinomas.

To gain a better understanding of the risk of skin cancer amongst HIV-positive patients who had been diagnosed with AIDS, US researchers designed a study that compared the risk for AIDS patients of three cancers (melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and appendageal carcinomas) with the risk for the general population.

Their study population was derived from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match study that links HIV and general cancer registry databases in nine US states. Just under 400,00 HIV-positive patients diagnosed with AIDS between 1980 and 2004 were included in the analysis. The investigators checked these databases for cases of cancer of the skin in the five years before and the five years after AIDS was diagnosed.

Results showed that patients with AIDS had a 30% increase in the risk of developing melanoma. This increased risk did not reach statistical significance. Nor did the risk of melanoma increase over time as a patient’s immune system weakened and CD4 cell count declined, suggesting to the investigators that the modest elevation in risk of this cancer they observed was not related to immune deficiency.

White gay and other men who have sex with men were the group most likely to develop melanoma (odds ratio, 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4 vs. other groups). Exposure to UV radiation was identified as an independent risk factor for melanoma (p = 0.0005).

The investigators suggest that the modest increase in the risk of melanoma seen in gay and other men who have sex with men with AIDS was most likely due to “recreational sun exposure or the use [of] tanning beds.” They also suggest that the increased surveillance of this population for Kaposi’s sarcoma could have increased the detection rate of early melanoma lesions.

However, patients with AIDS were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with both Merkel cell carcinoma (standardised incidence ratio [SIR] = 11, 95% CI 6.3-17) and appendageal carcinomas (SIR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.5-6.7). Both these cancers were, however, rare (17 cases each of Merkel cell carcinoma and appendageal carcinomas compared to 292 cases of melanoma).

Gay and other men who have sex with men had a higher risk of appendageal carcinomas than other groups (SIR = 6.8, 95% CI 3.6-12). As with melanoma, the risk of this cancer was associated with increased levels of exposure to UV light.

Risk of appendageal carcinoma also increased with increasing time (p = 0.03), suggesting an association with immune suppression.

The greatly increased risk of Merkel cell carcinoma in people with AIDS suggested to the investigators that “immunological mechanisms” were an important risk factor. They note “Merkel cell carcinoma risk is also elevated among immunosuppressed transplant recipients.”

The investigators conclude, “the greatly increased risk of Merkel cell carcinoma and appendageal carcinomas…among people with AIDS points to immunosuppression as a major risk factor for these cancers.”

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/577F95B0-BFB5-4878-8A3B-4709B0A6DF09.asp)


pattayadailynews

PATTAYA - HIV POSITIVE ROBBER HAD UNSAFE SEX WITH MORE THAN 20 WOMEN VICTIMS
At 2.00 am on 25th February 2009, Miss Tarunya Setawaree from U-dorn Thani informed Pattaya Deputy Investigator, Pol.Lt. Somchai Chaikananukul, that she had found a snatcher who robbed her on the 9th January 2009, hanging around in Soi 9, Pattaya Second Rroad. A police team was despatched to investigate.

At the scene, Miss Tarunya indentified Mr. Sirichat Tanomsook, residing at 1/4 Moo. 8, Maichieng, Cha Wang, Nokornsrithamamrat. Police arrested him immediately.

The suspect, who was taken totally by surprise, said he had suffering from the final stages of HIV/Aids and he needed money to pay for his treatment.

After checking his record, police found he had a long history of robbery. He speaks very good English because he used to work in a boat trip service and on several occasions had pretended to be a Prince from the Middle East to impress many women in Pattaya, including bar girls and high society women..

He confessed that most of the time he had sex with his victims without using condoms and robbed them after having sex. Many of these women had reported their cases to the police.

According to Tanomsook more than 20 victims have had sex with him without knowing he was HIVpositive.

He has been charged with robbery.

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nasdaq

FDA Says Ranbaxy Falsified Some Drug Application Data
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that a manufacturing plant owned by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (500359.BY) falsified data and test results in approved and pending drug applications.

The agency said it was halting the review of drug applications made at Ranbaxy's Paonta Sahib plant in India.

Last September, the FDA banned Ranbaxy from importing more than 30 generic drugs into the U.S. because of serious manufacturing violations it found at two company plants in India, including Paonta Sahib. Such drugs include generic versions of the popular cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor and the heartburn treatment Zantac.

The FDA said it hasn't identified any health problems with drugs made at the Paonta Sahib site and said consumers shouldn't stop taking medications made by Ranbaxy. "To date the FDA has no evidence that these drugs do not meet their quality specifications," the agency said in a statement.

Ranbaxy, based in India and among the world's biggest generic-drug makers, is facing investigations by the U.S. Justice Department and the FDA into whether it manufactured substandard generic drugs, including allegations that it made weak or adulterated HIV drugs given to thousands of AIDS patients in Africa.

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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 25, 2009, 05:26:24 pm
natap

Lopinavir/ritonavir+Tenofovir/Emtricitabine Is Superior to Nevirapine+Tenofovir/Emtricitabine for Women with prior Exposure to Single-dose Nevirapine: A5208 ("OCTANE")

At entry, median values were as follows: age 31 years, CD4 139 cells/mm3, HIV-1 RNA 5.15 log10 copies/mL, time since last sdNVP use 17 months, and duration of follow-up 73 weeks.
 
All women recalled sdNVP use; 73% had written documentation that sdNVP was provided. Significantly more women in the NVP arm (31, or 26%) than the LPV/r arm (10, or 8%) reached the primary endpoint (p = 0.0007). Of these, 36 had virologic failure (27 in NVP, 9 in LPV/r arm); 5 died without preceding virologic failure (4 in NVP, 1 in LPV/r arm). None of the 5 deaths were reported to be treatment-related. The difference between the NVP and LPV/r arms appeared to decrease with increasing time between last sdNVP exposure and ART initiation. Among women starting ART 6 to <12 months after sdNVP, 15 (37%) and 1 (3%) in the NVP and LPV/r arms, respectively, reached the primary endpoint, vs 12 (26%) and 6 (12%) when last sdNVP exposure was 12 to < 24 months prior, and 4 (12%) and 3 (10%) when last sdNVP exposure was =2 years prior. Baseline genotypes, run retrospectively in 239 women, showed NVP resistance in 33 (14%; K103N in 28 of 33); of these 33, 11 of 15 (73%) in the NVP arm reached the primary endpoint vs 1 of 18 (6%) in the LPV/r arm. Among the 206 women without baseline NVP resistance, 18% (NVP arm) vs 9% (LPV/r arm) reached the primary endpoint. More women (15, 12%) discontinued NVP due to adverse events than LPV/r (1, 1%).

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No Association of Abacavir (ABC) Use with Risk of Myocardial Infarction (MI) or Severe Cardiovascular Disease Events (SCVD): Results from ACTG A5001/ALLRT
In contrast to D:A:D and SMART, we did not find a significant association between recent ABC use and MI or SCVD risk for ART-naïve pts randomized to an initial ABC regimen. Our results suggest the association with recent ABC use in other studies may be a marker for other factors not discerned in their analyses.

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Progression of High-grade Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia to Invasive Anal Cancer among HIV+ Men Who Have Sex with Men
Both intra-anal and peri-anal HGAIN have potential to progress to invasive anal cancer. Carefully controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate screening and treatment of HGAIN in HIV+ MSM to prevent anal cancer.

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Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening Among HIV-Infected Women in the United States: 23% Did Not Receive Pap tests within last year
HIV care providers should ensure that annual Pap tests are performed for women of all ages who have low CD4 cell counts or receive gynecologic care elsewhere. Integrating HIV and gynecologic care and educating clinicians about Pap screening recommendations for HIV-infected women may increase screening among this population.

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Serious Fatal and Non-fatal Non-AIDS-defining Illnesses in Europe: most common no-AIDS events malignancies/CVD/liver in EuroSida
Non-AIDS-defining illnesses were more common than AIDS-defining illnesses in the combination ART era, have considerable mortality, and should be routinely reported in clinical trials and observational studies. The risk factor profile for non-AIDS-defining illnesses was diverse with multiple potentially modifiable immunodeficiency and lifestyle-related risk factors. Evidence on the influence of modifying these factors on the risk of non-AIDS-defining illness is an important but unmet research need.

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Causes of Death in Patients Treated with ART (IDUs vs non-IDUs), 1996 to 2006: Collaborative Analysis of 13 Cohort Studies
To achieve further declines in mortality rates among patients treated with ART, causes of non-AIDS death must be addressed. Such causes are of particular importance in patients infected via IDU.

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Relationship between Current Level of Immunodeficiency and Non-AIDS-defining Malignancies, EuroSida: "Immunosuppression ...current CD4 count....was associated with an excess risk of NADM"
Immunosuppression was associated with an excess risk of NADM. One possible explanation is enhanced oncogenic potential by pro-oncogenic viruses (e.g., human papillomavirus and anal cancer). An infectious oncogenesis has only been established for a few of NADM linked with immunosuppression in this study and other mechanisms may also contribute. As the immunosuppression may be reversed by cART, HIV is a suitable candidate model for improving our understanding of how immunosuppression affects oncogenic transformation.

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Infection-related Non-AIDS-defining Cancer Risk in HIV-infected and -uninfected Persons: Increased Rates in HIV+ vs HIV-negatives in Kaiser
HIV+ persons have an elevated risk of non-AIDS-defining cancers, particularly infection-related which comprised almost half of all the non-AIDS-defining cancers in this population. The increased risk of non-AIDS-defining cancers in HIV+ persons has not changed much during the ART era.

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New HIV Agents

GS 9350
Gilead Sciences obviously has incredible motivation to develop an alternative booster to RTV. The Gilead integrase inhibitor, elvitegravir, has to be given with RTV boosting. Elvitegravir has fallen behind in development compared to raltegravir, which is already approved and there has been some reluctance to studying the elvitegravir in treatment naïve patients if it has to be given with low dose RTV. At 16th CROI Brian Kearney from Gilead presented the first human data on their pharmacologic or pharmacokinetic enhancer (PKE) GS 9350[1]. The presentation was remarkably well organized, answering one by one many of the questions one would have about an alternative non-RTV PKE and addressing some of the drawbacks to RTV listed above.
..

SPI 452

Sequoia Pharmaceuticals also presented data on a non-RTV PKE[2]. This drug also does not have anti-HIV activity in vitro and is a potent preferential inhibitor of CYP3A in human liver microsomes. First in human studies demonstrated that SPI 452 had a long half life and the compound had the ability to substantially increase saquinavir concentrations with a single dose of each drug.
 
In a second study, single doses of the protease inhibitors darunavir or atazanavir or PI placebo were given, followed by washout and then 15 day dosing of one of 3 once daily doses of SPI 452 (50, 100, 200 mg) plus a SPI 452 placebo arm. On days 15 and 16 the protease inhibitors were dosed again. Boosting of either DRV or ATV was substantial and appeared similar to the boosting effect seen with 100 mg of RTV though no RTV control arm was included in the study. The boosting effect lasted even one day after the PKE was stopped (Day 16). SPI 452 appeared to be fairly well tolerated though there were GI side effects recorded and differences with PCB were not displayed. The changes in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol were not significant over 14 days compared to placebo. As yet his compound has not been formulated as a tablet, though formulation work is ongoing.
..

PRO-140 subcutaneous Infusion
 
PRO-140 is a humanized monoclonal antibody to human CCR5 that has previously been shown with single dose IV infusions to lower HIV RNA substantially in patients who have R5 virus by the standard tropism assay.[3] The highest dose decreased plasma HIV RNA by a mean of 1.83 log10 copies/mL and was generally well tolerated. However IV infusion would be cumbersome and more feasible means of administration are being explored. At 16th CROI Melanie Thompson presented new data with PRO 140 administered for up to 3 doses by subcutaneous infusion (that's right infusion, not injection)[4]. Three dosing schemes were tried 1) 162 mg SQ weekly on day 1, 8 and 15, 2) 324 mg SQ on day 1 and 15 and 3) 324 mg SQ weekly on day 1, 8 and 15 and an arm with weekly placebo infusions. The highest dose given weekly produced a mean peak reduction in VL of 1.65 log10 and an antiretroviral effect of a mean 1 log10 decrease persisted for 2 weeks following the last infusion. Side effects were minimal with short lived infusion site reactions in a minority of patients. The investigators hope that given the long half-life of this humanized monoclonal that perhaps an initial loading dose would allow for a twice weekly infusion dosing regimen.
 
Realistically though PRO-140 will still have at least 2 disadvantages. Firstly it is still a CCR5 inhibitor and therefore will only be useful in about 50% of patients who are highly treatment experienced and its mode of administration might restrict its use to this group, i.e. advanced patients. Secondly the patients will still need to have an assay result to show if they indeed have R5 virus. An oral R5 inhibitor has already been approved in the US and the uptake of maraviroc has been slow.
..

Where are the Maturation Inhibitors?
 
HIV-1 maturation inhibitors were going to be the next new agents that worked by a novel mechanism. These agents bind to the gag protein and prevent proteolytic cleavage of the gag poly-protein in a mechanism distinct from protease inhibitors. Bevirimat, which is the first agent in this class, has been in Phase IIa development (short term studies to demonstrate proof of principle and obtain initial dose ranging information)[5]. However recent data suggest that a substantial subset of subtype B variants and perhaps the majority of subtype C variants have intrinsic resistance to bevirimat based on gag polymorphisms around the bevirimat binding site[6]. Panacos stopped development of Bevirimat and this agent was picked up by Myriad Pharmaceuticals who plan to continue development. There were no new data on bevirimat at CROI but Myriad did have some preliminary data on other maturation inhibitors. Their inhibitor that is farthest along, MPC-9055, also bind to gag poly-protein at the capsid-SP1 cleavage site. This agent is active in vitro at nanomolar concentrations[7] and had activity across multiple HIV-1 sub-types including sub-type C (2 variants), which may indicate that this drug will be active against variants with gag polymorphism that reduced bevirimat activity, though such variants were not directly tested. A single point mutation at codon 364 (which is at the cleavage site) results in resistance and this mutation was selected for in vitro. This mutation also conferred resistance to bevirimat[8]. A single dose study in HIV uninfected volunteers demonstrated that it was orally bioavailable with a long half life[9]. There appeared to be some mild GI side effects with this single dose. How the concentrations achieved related to the inhibitory concentrations for the virus were not clearly defined. In summary development of maturation inhibitors continues to move forward but given development time lines it will be several years before these agents reach late stage clinical development if indeed they can pass the phase IIB hurdle of activity and safety with dosing greater than 7-14 days.

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Resistance Report

1. Resistance to Protease Inhibitors
Oral Session 18 contained a number of presentations relating to fundamental mechanisms of drug resistance. First, in Abstract 65LB, Celia Schiffer and colleagues documented that protease inhibitors (PIs) could potentially be designed that would interact with the active sites of the HIV-1 protease (PR) in such fashion as to preclude the development of drug resistance. This work was initiated on the basis of crystal structure analysis of HIV-1 PR and its ability to bind to specific protease inhibitors. The results indicated that a number of inhibitors could bind to PR notwithstanding the presence of a number of classical mutations that are associated with resistance to many other members of the PI family of drugs. Results were confirmed on the basis of phenotyping analysis to demonstrate that many of these inhibitors possessed high level potency against a panel of resistant viruses. These results validate approaches based on efforts to specifically design novel PIs that are able to fit within the substrate envelope of PR and give hope that more robust PIs will be developed in the future that will less susceptible to problems of resistance.
..

2. Resistance to NRTIs/NtRTIs
In Abstract 66LB, E. Lansdon et al, working at Gilead Sciences, have performed further work on a novel nucleotide analogue termed GS-9148-disphosphate. This molecule has a unique resistance profile and can continue to be active against viruses possessing a number of classical NRTI resistance mutations including M184V, K65R, L74V and several thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs). Co-crystallization of this molecule together with covalently tethered double-stranded DNA documented that it bound in a highly specific way to RT, such that conformational changes ensued that resulted in closing of the fingers' domain. The authors believe that this constitutes firm evidence of a unique mechanism of action of GS-9148 and helps to explain why only one mutation associated with drug resistance, i.e. the multidrug resistance Q151M substitution, was unique in being able to confer a moderate level of resistance against this compound. Further studies are underway in regard to the clinical development of GS-9148 and/or derivative molecules that will hopefully prove to be non-toxic and fully efficacious in regard to blockage of HIV replication.
..

3. Resistance to Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs)
Abstract 69 by S. Fransen and colleagues was on the topic of mutations within the integrase (IN) gene that help to define resistance against Raltagravir (Ral). These investigators studied individuals who had failed therapy with Ral and have created a series of site-directed mutants containing mutations at position 143, 148, 155, either alone or in combination with other secondary IN-related resistance mutations. Thus, these investigators created combinations of mutations that may appear early in the multiple pathways that are associated with resistance to integrase inhibitors alongside mutations of a more secondary nature that have been shown to both augment viral replication fitness, when coupled with primary mutations, as well as increase overall levels of drug resistance to integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs). In general, the results of the studies now show that the mutations at positions 143 and 148 may have less of an effect on viral replication and cause higher levels of drug resistance against Ral than do mutations at position 155.
..

4. Resistance to entry inhibitors
Session 32 at CROI included issues of drug resistance and treatment responsiveness as well as lectures on the transmission of HIV drug resistance and development of assays that might predict responsiveness to CCR5 antagonists. These topics will be dealt with by other reporters who were present at the conference.
..

5. Resistance to Bevirimat
Several abstracts dealt with the topic of resistance to this novel first-of-class maturation inhibitor. In one of them (Salzwedel et al, Abstract 635), it was demonstrated that subtype-specific polymorphisms at or near the CA-SP1 junction may determine responsiveness to this compound. Should it turn out that not all HIV subtypes can respond equally well to bevirimat, this might complicate its future use in therapy. A second abstract by NA Margot et al (Abstract 637) suggested that many patients who have not yet received bevirimat may be unable to respond to it in ideal fashion due to polymorphisms in SP1 and the capsid junction.
 
6. Studies in Developing Countries
Abstract 656 was by C. Hoffman et al reporting on the development of resistance to antiretroviral drugs in South African patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Not surprisingly, these individuals received treatment with ZDV/3TC/EFV and had a preponderance of M184V mutations in the aftermath of treatment failure. NNRTI resistance was also reported in this group as were the presence of TAMs. Patients with HIV viremia had a preponderance of NNRTI mutations. Clearly, patients who fail a regimen of ZDV/3TC/EFV with multiple mutations as noted above will be limited in regard to a number of future second or third line therapeutic options.
..

7. The Use of Ultrasensitive Procedures including Pyrosequencing for Analysis of HIV Drug Resistance
Session 42 was a themed oral discussion of abstracts that were also presented as posters in session 119 on the topic of novel technologies to better understand HIV drug resistance. In particular, pyrosequencing, also referred to as g454h sequencing, provides ultra-sensitive analyses that can detect the presence of minority viral populations including specific mutations that may be present in the total viral population at frequencies <1%. In contrast, population-based sequencing which is the classic technique employed by most diagnostic labs will only detect species that are present at a level of 20% or more of the total viral population. An important question to now ask is whether the advent of such techniques as pyrosequencing will render more traditional procedures obsolete.

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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 26, 2009, 11:00:57 am
aegis

Mylan's Matrix Receives WHO Approval for First Generic, Heat-Stable Version of HIV Protease Inhibitor: Provides first affordable protease inhibitor for patients in developing countries
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mylan Inc. (NASDAQ:MYL) today announced that Matrix Laboratories Limited, its India-based subsidiary in which it holds a 71.5% controlling interest, received the first and only World Health Organization (WHO) approval for Lopinavir/Ritonavir Tablets, 200 mg/50 mg. Matrix's version of this product is heat-stable and affordable, making it practical for distribution and use in warm climates.

Lopinavir/Ritonavir Tablets are the generic version of Abbott Laboratories' Kaletra(R) Tablets, the brand marketed in the U.S. and Europe, and Alluvia Tablets, the brand marketed in the developing world. It is used in combination with other medications to control HIV infection and is included in the antiretroviral (ARV) class of drugs known as HIV protease inhibitors.

Mylan Vice Chairman and CEO Robert J. Coury said: "Mylan and Matrix are committed to our growing and high quality ARV franchise. Our goal is to provide HIV treatments to patients around the world -- especially in developing countries. With Matrix's heat-stable and affordable version of Lopinavir/Ritonavir, patients in remote parts of developing nations now have access to this important medicine."

A WHO approval indicates that a drug meets international safety, efficacy and manufacturing quality standards. With such status, Matrix can sell the treatment in most countries outside the United States and Europe.

Matrix's wide range of ARV products includes active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and first- and second-line finished doses; patients use second-line therapies if and when they develop resistance to initially prescribed treatments. The company's emphasis on producing affordable products has allowed it to drive down the average annual cost per patient of effective therapies. Approximately 30% of HIV/AIDS patients in the developing world depend on Matrix's ARV products.

Mylan Inc., which provides products to customers in more than 140 countries and territories, ranks among the leading diversified generic and specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company maintains one of the industry's broadest - and highest quality - product portfolios, supported by a robust product pipeline; owns a controlling interest in the world's third largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer; and operates a specialty business focused on respiratory and allergy therapies. For more information, please visit www.mylan.com.

CONTACT: Media: Michael Laffin or Investors: Dan Crookshank, +1-724-514-1813, both of Mylan Inc.

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HIV quickly evolving among large groups - study
LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The AIDS virus is quickly adapting across large groups of people to avoid triggering the human immune system, posing another challenge in the search for a potential vaccine, researchers said on Wednesday.

Scientists know the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, constantly mutates within individual people to find ways to attack cells.

But the study published in the journal Nature suggests changes that help the virus do this are increasingly passed on in the wider population.

"What was previously clear is the virus could evolve within each infected person but that doesn't really matter from a vaccine perspective if the virus at the population level is staying the same," said Philip Goulder, an immunologist at Oxford University who led the study.

"The implication is that once we have found an effective vaccine, it would likely need to be changed to keep pace with the rapidly evolving virus."

There is no cure for AIDS and 33 million people globally are infected with HIV. Cocktails of drugs can control the virus and keep patients healthy. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since the early 1980s, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Researchers are trying to find vaccines that either prevent infection or would control the virus so that patients are less likely to transmit it -- a so-called therapeutic vaccine.

"The process of the virus adapting is happening before our eyes at quite a speed, and it is something we need to take into account when making our vaccines," Goulder said.

HIV attacks the immune system, the body's natural defences. Like other viruses, it cannot replicate on its own but must hijack a cell and turn it into a virus factory.

HIV must evade several genes to do this, including an immunity gene called HLA.

The team, which included researchers from Australia and Japan, analysed the genetic sequences of HIV and versions of HLA genes known to control the virus in 2,800 people.

Some people have a version of the gene that is more protective. In the study, the researchers found that mutations that allow HIV to evade immune responses directed by HLA were more common in people with the protective variant of the gene.

This was strong evidence for HIV adaptation to the human immune system among the wider population, Goulder added in a telephone interview.

This means the so-called escape mutation is circulating in more and more people and accumulating in the wider population of those infected with HIV, he said.

"We saw similar effects in every mutation that we looked at," Goulder said. "This shows that HIV is extremely adept at adapting to the immune responses in human populations that are most effective at containing the virus." (Editing by Will Dunham and Jon Boyle)

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abstract published in nature
The rapid and extensive spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic provides a rare opportunity to witness host–pathogen co-evolution involving humans. A focal point is the interaction between genes encoding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and those encoding HIV proteins. HLA molecules present fragments (epitopes) of HIV proteins on the surface of infected cells to enable immune recognition and killing by CD8+ T cells; particular HLA molecules, such as HLA-B*57, HLA-B*27 and HLA-B*51, are more likely to mediate successful control of HIV infection1. Mutation within these epitopes can allow viral escape from CD8+ T-cell recognition. Here we analysed viral sequences and HLA alleles from >2,800 subjects, drawn from 9 distinct study cohorts spanning 5 continents. Initial analysis of the HLA-B*51-restricted epitope, TAFTIPSI (reverse transcriptase residues 128–135), showed a strong correlation between the frequency of the escape mutation I135X and HLA-B*51 prevalence in the 9 study cohorts (P = 0.0001). Extending these analyses to incorporate other well-defined CD8+ T-cell epitopes, including those restricted by HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*27, showed that the frequency of these epitope variants (n = 14) was consistently correlated with the prevalence of the restricting HLA allele in the different cohorts (together, P < 0.0001), demonstrating strong evidence of HIV adaptation to HLA at a population level. This process of viral adaptation may dismantle the well-established HLA associations with control of HIV infection that are linked to the availability of key epitopes, and highlights the challenge for a vaccine to keep pace with the changing immunological landscape presented by HIV.

More (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature07746.html)


medicalnewstoday

Bioject Enters Into A Collaborative Research Agreement With IAVI For The Delivery Of An HIV Vaccine Candidate
Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: BJCT), a leading developer of needle-free injection therapy systems, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to supply its unique Needle-Free Injection Therapy (NFIT) system, the Biojector® 2000, for the delivery of a DNA-based HIV vaccine candidate that is currently under development. The new agreement extends through December 2009.

IAVI and the St. Stephen's AIDS Trust at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have initiated a Phase I clinical trial in London, UK to test a prime-boost combination of two HIV vaccine candidates. One of the vaccine candidates, a DNA-based vaccine called ADVAX, will be administered using the Biojector® 2000.

"We welcome this collaboration with Bioject to assess the value of their needle-free device for the delivery of this DNA HIV vaccine candidate," said Dr. Pat Fast, Chief Medical Officer at IAVI. "It is essential that we enhance immune responses against HIV, which may be achieved by optimizing vaccine design, but also by evaluating alternative vaccine delivery methods."

The trial in London includes ADVAX to prime the immune system prior to the administration of an MVA-based HIV vaccine candidate called TBC-M4. In a previous Phase I trial, TBC-M4 generated modest immune responses in all volunteers who received the highest dose. The rationale for combining TBC-M4 with ADVAX is to improve immune activation. Previous Phase I studies with different DNA and MVA-based HIV vaccines in combination have shown that this prime-boost regimen was safe and well tolerated, and also able to generate enhanced immune responses when compared with the responses generated by either vaccine alone. Furthermore, DNA-based vaccine candidates such as ADVAX may offer value economically, since these vaccines are relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, two characteristics that make them particularly appealing for use in the developing world.

ADVAX will be administered with the Biojector® 2000 needle-free injection system. "Needle-free injection of a DNA vaccine can provide enhanced immune responses compared with administration by needle and syringe," said Dr. Richard Stout, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Bioject. "We are quite pleased that IAVI has decided to utilize Bioject's B2000 system in order to explore the potential benefits over needle and syringe," commented Dr. Stout.

The development of a safe and effective AIDS vaccine is one of the greatest priorities in global health R&D. Today, 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV and 7,500 are newly infected every day. It is vital to have both short-term and long-term solutions to this problem. Treatment must reach those who are infected, and proven prevention tools need to be made available to those who need it. At the same time, greater investment is needed to develop new and better tools to improve control and prevention of HIV infection. An AIDS vaccine offers the best hope for achieving this and to realize a world without AIDS.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140433.php)

GSK Should Allow Generic Competition For HIV/AIDS Drugs To Address Innovation, Access Problems In Developing Countries, Opinion Piece Says
GlaxoSmithKline's recent announcement that it plans to reduce drug prices in some low-income countries and share information on patented drugs is "welcome" but not a "radical departure from standard fare," Tido von Schoen-Angerer -- director of Medecins Sans Frontieres' Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines -- writes in an opinion piece in London's Guardian. According to von Schoen-Angerer, GSK should employ the "tried and tested way to drive prices down -- competition with multiple generic manufacturers, thanks to which the first generation of AIDS treatments has seen a price drop of close to 99% in the past decade."

According to von Schoen-Angerer, the "price-cut pledge is restricted to 'the 50 least developed countries,' excluding those nations where burgeoning middle classes live side by side with millions who cannot afford medicines." He adds that this situation -- such as the one occurring in China, where GSK's patent "allows the company to charge prohibitive costs for the AIDS drug lamivudine" -- is "not one that can be wished away: as patients across the world start to develop resistance to existing drugs, they will need access to newer, more expensive medicines. The price of AIDS treatment is set to skyrocket."

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sciencedaily

Vaccine Research Targets HIV In The Slower, Early Stage Of Infection
New research at Oregon Health & Science University's Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute suggests vaccines that specifically target HIV in the initial stages of infection before it becomes a rapidly replicating, system-wide infection - may be a successful approach in limiting the spread of the disease.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217151555.htm)


iol

Gates donates funds for HIV gels
Washington - A foundation backed by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has donated $100-million to research into vaginal gels and other products which could help dramatically cut HIV-infection rates.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation made the donation to the Maryland-based International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) after clinical trails of one product posted "encouraging results", the IPM said.

Although an effective microbicide does not yet exist, health policy makers have high hopes that the gels, creams or films - which block or kill pathogens - will soon be ready for widespread use.

"Safe and effective microbicides have the potential to save millions of lives by giving women an HIV prevention option that they can initiate and control," a IPM statement said.

Last month, the US National Institutes of Health reported that a phase two clinical trial had shown microbicide candidate PRO2000 to be 30-percent more effective in preventing HIV than other products.

IPM said it would use the money to further clinical trials. "IPM will bring pioneering HIV prevention technologies into 10 new clinical studies this year, including long-acting vaginal gels and vaginal rings that could provide sustained protection for up to a month."

According to World Health Organisation estimates, more than 33 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2007. In the same year more than two million people died of Aids and 2.5 million more became infected with HIV. Two thirds of infections are in sub-Saharan Africa.

But the apparent success of PRO2000 has prompted new-found hope that effective microbicides are more than a pipe dream.

PRO2000 is based on the same anti-retroviral medicines that have proved successful in treating millions of HIV sufferers around the world.

The results of a phase three clinical trial of PRO2000 involving 9 400 women in Africa is expected in August.

On Tuesday the British government also announced it would donated around $30-million to IPM, part of a $320-million disease prevention program by the country's Department for International Development. - AFP

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businesswire

Aethlon Medical Announces Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Research Program
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) announced today it has initiated a research program to test the capabilities of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® to identify and capture Cytomegalovirus (CMV). The Hemopurifier® is a first-in-class medical device that assists the immune response in combating infectious disease through real-time therapeutic filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins from the entire circulatory system. Safety of the Hemopurifier® has been demonstrated in multi-site human studies, with robust viral load reductions observed in enrolled Hepatitis-C (HCV) infected patients. Safety and efficacy data resulting from the first use of the Hemopurifier® in an individual infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is forthcoming.

The market opportunity to extend the value of the Hemopurifier® into CMV care is significant. CMV is a common virus found throughout all geographic locations and socioeconomic groups. In the United States, between 50% and 80% of all adults are infected with CMV by 40 years of age. In general, CMV remains latent in the body unless activated by suppression of the immune system. In such cases, CMV becomes a major cause of disease and death in immune compromised individuals, including recipients of both organ and stem-cell transplants, patients undergoing hemodialysis, patients with cancer, patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and HIV infected individuals, of which CMV is considered an AIDS-defining infection.

“Our CMV research programs will study both the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of our Hemopurifier®,” stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, Jim Joyce. “While CMV represents an exciting new market opportunity, our immediate goals remain the establishment of a GMP manufacturing relationship and the hopeful demonstration that our Hemopurifier® is able to reduce viral load in both HCV and HIV infected individuals, which likely would be the first such accomplishment by a single therapeutic candidate,” concluded Joyce.

More (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090226005570&newsLang=en)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 26, 2009, 11:07:27 am
vietnamnet

A physician spends 23 years help poor patients
VietNamNet Bridge - Over 23 years, she always helps poor patients who catch social diseases such as drug addiction, tuberculosis, leprosy and mental illness. Particularly, she spends 13 years to take care HIV/AIDS patients.

(http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200902/original/images1728968_1.jpg)

She has been a friend, a mother and fulcrum for people living with deadly disease. She is physician Tran Thi Xuan Hong (photo), head of the Health Center of Xuan Khanh ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city.

“In 1995, there were three people infected with HIV/AIDS. Then everyone thinks that HIV/AIDS is death. However, I did not discriminate that” she said and added “From that to now, I have helped over 170 HIV-infected people, major of them are poor. Many patients are in the last phase, lie in dank house and they catch diarrhoead for a long time and their body is ulcerated.”

Ms. Hong said that sentiment of people with HIV/AIDS is very complicated and even some respond to her help. However, her pride is not only hurt but she always takes care and encourages them. Discrimination of the community and society is always her big worry. She has witnessed that children of people with HIV are such discriminated that they cannot sell lottery ticket because buyers are afraid of being infected with HIV through the ticket.

Not only take care people with HIV/AIDS, over past ten years she has taken care 15 drug users and helped them re-integrate into the community.

“When they detoxify, I also spend time to keep an eye on and encourage them. I am afraid that they are feeble and relapse. This is also a pleasure to solace me,” she said.

She is now managing 79 people with HIV/AIDS, 19 of them become full-blown AIDS, 98 drug users, 53 with tuberculosis, 76 with metal illness and 3 with leprosy.

In addition, she voluntarily joins a group of doctors to establish Hope House to take care AIDS patients.

More (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/02/832723/)


foundationcenter

Gates Foundation Awards $100 Million to Help Women Prevent HIV Infection
The International Partnership for Microbicides (http://www.ipm-microbicides.org/) in Silver Spring, Maryland, has announced a $100 million grant from the Bill & Melinda (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/) Gates Foundation for its work to develop microbicides that give women in developing countries the power to protect themselves against HIV infection. The UK Department for International Development has pledged an additional $28.5 million.

This is the Gates Foundation's second grant, and DFID's third, to IPM, a nonprofit product-development partnership working to accelerate the development and availability of safe, effective topical products called microbicides that have the potential to prevent HIV transmission during sexual intercourse. The announcement follows the encouraging results last month of the National Institutes of Health Microbicide Trials Network's (http://www.mtnstopshiv.org/) clinical trial of a microbicide candidate, PRO2000, which showed the product was 30 percent more effective than any other in the study at preventing HIV.

Around seven thousand new cases of HIV infection and almost six thousand AIDS-related deaths occur each day. Increasingly, women and young girls bear the burden of the epidemic, and in sub-Saharan Africa, young women are more than three times as likely to be infected as young men. But IPM's microbicide research could result in "an HIV prevention method that would put the power to prevent HIV in the hands of women, who often are unable to insist on abstinence or condoms," said Dr. Tachi Yamada, president of the Gates Foundation's global health program.

"Safe and effective microbicides have the potential to save millions of lives by giving women an HIV prevention option that they can initiate and control," said Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of IPM. "Taken together, these grants by two of IPM's longstanding donors will provide additional momentum to deliver on this promise."

“International Partnership for Microbicides Receives US $130 Million From UK Government and the Gates Foundation.” (http://www.ipm-microbicides.org/news_room/english/press_releases/2009/20090224_130mil_gates_foundation.htm)

More (http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml;jsessionid=MOY1VRL5FPQIHLAQBQ4CGW15AAAACI2F?id=244600017)


pharmatimes

Use of HIV drug Prezista expanded in the UK
Treatment-naïve patients in the UK can now get access to Johnson & Johnson unit Tibotec Pharmaceutical’s HIV drug Prezista, after regulators expanded the drug’s approved uses.

Specifically, patients who have not received prior HIV therapy can now take Prezista (darunavir) 800mg with a low-dose ritonavir as part of combination therapy, offering healthcare professionals an additional option for managing the disease.

Therapy for treatment-naïve patients consists of two 400mg Prezista pills taken in a once-daily regimen, thereby offering patients greater convenience, the company says, which should in turn help to encourage better adherence and boost treatment outcomes.

In addition, Tibotec has launched a new 600mg tablet for treatment-experienced patients with HIV, which replaces the 300mg tablet and reduced the pill burden from four a day to two.

Prezista was first launched for highly treatment-experienced adults with HIV in February 2007, and subsequently won two additional marketing authorisations within two years to expand its licence to treatment-experienced adults in November 2008 and treatment-naive adults earlier this year.

“The relatively short approval timeline since Prezista's original launch demonstrates the European Commission’s confidence in [the drug’s] safety and efficacy in all adults with HIV,” a company spokesperson told PharmaTimes UK News.

Comparable price, better efficacy
In addition, the spokesperson said pricing for the treatment-naïve dose of Prezista is comparable to Abbott’s rival drug Kaletra (lopinavir) plus ritonavir, but stressed that the Prezista/ritonavir combination provides the “added benefit of superiority” over the Kaletra-based regimen, as demonstrated by findings of the ARTEMIS trial. At 96 weeks in the study, significantly more patients in the darunavir/r arm reached an undetectable viral load (<50 copies/mL) versus those taking the lopinavir/r combination.

“We welcome Prezista’s availability as an effective, once-daily option for adults who have never taken HIV medication before,” commented Mark Nelson, Consultant Physician and Deputy Director of HIV Research at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK. “It has made a significant contribution in the care of treatment-experienced adults with HIV for the last two years, and this is an important treatment development for patients,” he added.

More (http://www.pharmatimes.com/UKNews/article.aspx?id=15389&src=UKNewsRSS)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 26, 2009, 11:19:45 am
natap

Clinical Pharmacology at CROI 2009: Pharmacoenhancement, Pharmacogenetics, Drug Interactions and the Pharmacotherapy of HIV Infection
The 16th CROI had many abstracts related to clinical pharmacology. In this report I will highlight those I think are of broad interest or might benefit from some expert clarification. I will discuss abstracts in four broad categories: pharmacoenhancement, pharmacogenetics, drug interactions and the pharmacotherapy of HIV infection.

I. Pharmacoenhancement
Clearly, the pharmacologic highlight of the 16th CROI were two abstracts describing the basic and ongoing clinical development of drugs that are intended to only inhibit CYP enzymes and thus be used clinically as booster for other PIs as is presently the use of RTV.
..

II. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenetics
CROI has provided an important venue for information related to the contribution of naturally occurring genetic variability to the variability seen in the PK of ARVs among patients and the variability seen in the response (pharmacodynamics, PD) to ARV therapy. I'll highlight some of the abstracts that presented PK information with clinical implications.
..

III. Drug Interactions
The study of interactions among ARV drugs, and among ARVs and other commonly used drugs remains an area of considerable study. Primarily, these interactions arise because of the concomitant use of drugs that are substrates, inhibitors and inducers of drug metabolizing enzymes, especially those of the cytochrome P450 system (CYP), and drug transporters.
..

IV. Pharmacotherapy of HIV Infection
In this final category I will discuss abstracts that present information relevant to improving the safe and effective use of drugs in the treatment of HIV infection. I will primarily focus on abstracts that present pharmacologic information - that is pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic or pharmacogenetic data and the implications of those data to increase the likelihood of the desired response to drug therapy and minimize the risk of adverse drug effects.
..

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_106.htm)

Pharmacology at the 2009 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections
The 16th CROI was notable for the small number of pharmacology presentations. However among the presentations several were of considerable potential importance. In his Bernard Fields Lecture during the Opening Session, Bob Silicaino reviewed his landmark work on viral persistence and latent reservoirs (summarized in the natap report by David Margolis), and connected this to his current investigations defining drug potency. Early phase studies of possible alternatives to ritonavir as a pharmacokinetic enhancer were presented by scientists from both Gilead Sciences and Sequoia Pharmaceuticals. Finally a novel means of measuring intracellular concentrations of nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor was presented by Charles Flexner and colleagues. While none of these presentations will permit clinicians new tools or agents immediately, all have great potential impact for the development of new antiretroviral agents and an enhanced understanding of how to optimally utilize current and future therapies in the treatment of HIV infection.
 
Non-Ritonavir Pharmacokinetic Enhancers
Initially developed as a protease inhibitor in the early 1990s, ritonavir's use to the field of antiretroviral therapeutics is in the enhancement (or boosting) of other PIs. Ritonavir (RTV) has complex pharmacologic activity that results in the elevation of coadministered PI levels. This has resulted in the enhanced therapeutic potency of the coadministered PI, a notable reduction in the development of PI-associated resistance mutations, and greater ease of dosing. These favorable attributes are achieved by several actions of RTV including enhanced oral bioavailability, slowing of coadministered drug metabolism, and reduction of drug (efflux) transport from target cells. These actions are mediated through RTV's inhibition of the predominant drug metabolizing enzyme, CYP3A4, and xenobiotic transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) located in critical tissue compartments of the gut, liver and lymphocytes. However RTV's inhibitory activity is not limited to CYP3A4 or P-gp, but rather extends to other drug metabolizing enzymes and cellular transport mechanisms, leading to complex and often unpredictable drug-drug interactions. Further the pharmacologic effects of RTV are not limited to enzyme and transporter inhibition, but also include induction of many of these same drug metabolizing enzymes and cellular transporters. The generalized effect of RTV on other enzyme and transporter systems is one aspect that has prompted investigation of alternative approaches to enhance PI drug exposures.
..

Defining Antiretroviral Potency - The Role of Dose Dependency
The Bernard Fields Lecture was given by Bob Silicaino from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Summarizing more than a decade of sentinel work on viral persistence (see natap report by David Margolis), Silicaino followed this discussion with work that currently involves his laboratory and collaborators. Attempting to better define and delineate concepts that assess antiretroviral potency he described an approach that adds dose-dependent antiviral response to the more traditional measures of IC50 and the inhibitory quotient. This approach was first published in 2008 (Shen, Nature Medicine).
..

Measurement of Intracellular NRTI Levels
From the time of their development it has been appreciated that the active moiety of nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitors is the intracellular tri-phosphate (TP). The ability to measure NRTI-TP during the past several years has lead to a more complete understanding of intracellular pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Indeed the dosing schedules of several approved agents have been revised based on determination of the intracellular half-life of the TP. These measurements have been time consuming, expensive, required large volumes of blood and limited in the level of TP detection. Charles Flexner in collaboration with investigators from York, UK and GlaxoSmithKline (abstract 704) reported on the use of a novel technique to quantify NRTI-TP. Using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), radio-labeled NRTI, in this instance 14carbon-labeled zidovudine, the investigators established that the method is capable of detecting levels of ZDV-TP to 10-21, considerably more sensitive than current measures. The application of AMS is potentially substantial for both currently available and investigational agents allowing determination of intracellular metabolites in numerous tissue compartments and cellular subsets. One can envision use of such techniques in the development programs of microbicides or in the development of agents used for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_105.htm)
 
Cervicovaginal Shedding of HIV-1 Is Related to Genital Tract Inflammation Independent of Changes in Vaginal Microbiota
The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1b and IL-8 are associated with higher cervicovaginal HIV-1 RNA concentrations, an association which persists after controlling for plasma viral load and vaginal microbial co-factors. This association suggests that there may be additional, non-infectious causes of inflammation that increase cervicovaginal HIV-1 shedding.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_104.htm)

Forty-Fold Elevated Risk for Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of Salivary Gland Among People with AIDS in the United States
Persons with HIV/AIDS have more than a 40-fold increased risk of LEC of the salivary gland. An increased risk for squamous cell carcinomas of both salivary gland and nasopharynx is also apparent. The magnitude of elevated risk for LEC of the salivary gland suggests an underlying viral etiology. The marked increase in risk for LEC of the salivary gland is in striking contrast to the modest increase in the risk for LEC of the nasopharynx. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that LES promotes salivary gland cancers in the HIV-infected population.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_103.htm)
 
Update on Kidney Disease in HIV Infection: CROI 2009
The growing relevance of non-AIDS conditions was again evident in this year's program, which included abstract sessions devoted to cardiovascular, hepatic, bone, and kidney disease, and concluded with a clinical symposium on non-AIDS complications. Interested clinicians are encouraged to refer to Lynda Szczech's presentation for a review of practical considerations in the management of acute and chronic kidney disease in the aging HIV population [abstract 180]. (from Jules: as the author's of this paper say at this year's CROI there was increased attention to so-called non-AIDS conditions, although they are tied to HIV in I think several ways. From looking at all the studies confirming non-AIDS events and deaths it appears evident that the ages of patients in the stays is young, in their 40s on average, which speaks volumes but is not said in a loud way. It appears that HIV plays a role in leading to premature aging of T-cells, upon initial infection HIV gets into various organs including the kidney, the heart, vascular system, the brain, the CNS, and more. HIV appears to cause immune activation and inflammation. So, although researchers are paying attention to increased morbidity and mortality due to non-AIDS researchers are not discussing understanding these underlying preocesses in such a way as to try to better understand it so we could perhaps address it and intervene, and slow aging and the development of non-AIDS events and death.
 
Kidney Disease and Non-AIDS Morbidity
Investigators from several large cohort studies described the important contribution of non-AIDS conditions such as kidney disease to morbidity and mortality. Only half of all deaths in the ART Cohort Collaboration were considered AIDS-related [abstract 708]. While non-AIDS malignancy and infections were the most common causes of non-AIDS mortality, liver, cardiovascular, and renal disease were also important contributors. Death from renal disease was associated with advanced immunodeficiency, although it is unclear whether this reflects increased frequency and severity of kidney disease, in particular HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), or a tendency to withhold dialysis in patients with advanced AIDS and severe comorbid disease.
 
The EuroSIDA investigators also reported more morbidity related to serious non-AIDS conditions than AIDS-defining illnesses [abstract 707]. The most common non-AIDS conditions were malignancy, cardiovascular disease, and liver failure, but end-stage renal disease was also an important contributor to morbidity in this cohort. The development of end-stage renal disease is of particular relevance in this largely Caucasian European cohort at relatively low risk for progressive kidney disease.
..

Chronic Kidney Disease in HIV
Andy Choi and colleagues described an accelerated loss of kidney function among HIV-positive patients enrolled in the UCSF SCOPE Cohort, compared to general population estimates [abstract 38]. Over a median followup of 2.7 years, the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was -2.6mL/min/1.73m2 per year, a figure comparable to the rate of decline observed in many patients with established kidney disease. Of note, chronic kidney disease and traditional risk factors, such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, were relatively common. Older age, female gender, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were associated with eGFR decline, while HIV-related factors did not predict the rate of decline. In particular, there was no relationship between eGFR decline and the use of ART, although the study was not powered to look at the impact of specific drugs or drug classes. In a subgroup of 82 patients who initiated ART during the study period, the decline in eGFR was slower after the initiation of ART, suggesting a beneficial effect of virologic suppression. At the same time, a separate subgroup analysis revealed that patients who achieved virologic suppression on ART had more rapid eGFR decline than elite controllers. It is not clear whether this difference reflects a balance of benefit and harm associated with ART, or whether there are other unmeasured differences between these two populations that may impact kidney disease progression.
..

Acute Renal Failure and Nucleoside Toxicity
In a prospective cohort study from Boston, Shikha Garg and colleagues reported a higher incidence of acute renal failure among patients with HIV-hepatitis C co-infection compared to patients with hepatitis C alone [abstract 822]. More than one-third of co-infected patients developed at least one episode of acute renal failure during the 7-year study period, for an incidence of 8.7 cases/100 person-years. Previous studies have demonstrated a similar increase in the incidence of acute renal failure among patients with HIV-hepatitis C co-infection compared to those with HIV alone, although the relative contribution of each viral infection is not known. Decompensated cirrhosis and cocaine use were also independently associated with acute renal failure, suggesting that factors associated with acquisition and complications of viral infection are important contributors to the risk of acute renal failure in this population.
..

Kidney Disease and ART in Resource-Limited Settings
With expanding access to ART in sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-poor regions, it is increasingly important to develop simple, inexpensive, and sensitive methods for the prevention and early recognition of ART toxicity. It is reassuring that the widespread introduction of tenofovir-containing ART in Zambia has been associated with low rates of severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 50 mL/min) comparable to that observed with alternative NRTI [abstract 142]. Longitudinal data from ART-naïve patients in Kenya suggest that baseline kidney function may predict progression of HIV disease and identify patients who would benefit from earlier initiation of ART [abstract 741], providing another potential rationale for the routine assessment of kidney function in this population. In a retrospective cohort of 8,737 patients with a CD4 above 200 enrolled in the USAID-AMPATH Partnership, a striking proportion of patients (almost 20%) had an estimated creatinine clearance below 60mL/min. Lower creatinine clearance was associated with more rapid progression to WHO stage 3-4 disease, CD4 below 200, and death. Data on progression of kidney disease were not reported.
..

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_102.htm)
 
Impairment in Kidney Tubular Function in Patients Receiving Tenofovir Is Associated with Higher Plasma Tenofovir Levels
Plasma levels of TDF are increased in patients experiencing abnormal kidney tubular function on treatment. These results confirm the potential specific toxicity of TDF on the kidney tubular epithelium, as other nucleoside monophosphates (adefovir and cidofovir). Studies assessing the efficacy and safety of lower doses of TDF are warranted, and this information could be helpful for hepatitis B mono-infected patients as well.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_101.htm)
 
HIV & HAART Interruption Increase Inflammation and Disease
Higher levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP were independently associated with development of an opportunistic disease. Although reverse causality may have influenced this association, the fact that baseline levels also predicted opportunistic disease events makes it less likely. Use of these biomarkers could provide additional prognostic information for predicting risk of development of opportunistic disease.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_100.htm)
 
Weekly and Biweekly Subcutaneous PRO 140 Demonstrates Potent, Sustained Antiviral Activity: 2-week study
(http://natap.org/2009/images/022609/log-3.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/022609/Baseline-4.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/022609/meanRed-5.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/022609/studyDesign-6.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_99.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 27, 2009, 02:28:37 pm
sciencedaily

Antibiotic Combination Defeats Extensively Drug-resistant TB

A combination of two FDA-approved drugs, already approved for fighting other bacterial infections, shows potential for treating extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), the most deadly form of the infection. This finding is reported by scientists from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in the February 27 issue of Science.

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/02/090226141112-large.jpg)

In the Science paper, Einstein researchers and collaborators at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, describe a two-drug combination that inhibited both the growth of susceptible laboratory strains and 13 XDR-TB strains isolated from TB patients in laboratory culture medium. The drugs truly work in tandem: one of them (clavulanate) inhibits a bacterial enzyme, β-lactamase, which normally shields TB bacteria from the other antibiotic (meropenem, a member of the β-lactam class of antibiotics).

The idea of inhibiting β-lactamase to make β-lactam antibiotics effective isn't new ─ which is why β-lactamase inhibitors, such as clavulanate, already exist. The strategy finally proved effective against XDR-TB because Einstein researchers conducted a detailed, methodical investigation of the β-lactamase enzyme to find the ideal combination of β-lactamase inhibitor and β-lactam antibiotic. β-lactam antibiotics include penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered and one of the safest.

Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and meropenem have excellent safety profiles and are FDA-approved for adult and pediatric use.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090226141112.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 27, 2009, 02:34:37 pm
aegis


The case for starting HIV therapy early gets stronger

People living with HIV who had a CD4 count above 500 and who waited to start therapy had a 36 percent higher risk of death than those who started highly active antiretroviral therapy.

The data [see below] presented earlier this month in Montreal at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections provided further evidence for the movement toward earlier initiation of therapy.

The analysis was the second installment of an unusual collaboration between all 22 HIV research cohorts in North America that followed patients between 1996 and 2006. In the study of patients with 350 to 500 CD4 cells researchers found that those who deferred therapy had a 70 percent greater risk of death than those who started therapy.

The new study in those with higher CD4 counts involved 9,174 patients and 25,337 person-years of follow up. Some 2,620 (29 percent) initiated HAART above 500 while the majority (6,553, 71 percent) deferred to some later point.

"Our finding suggests that therapy earlier in HIV infection could significantly prolong survival," said lead author Mari Kitahata, a researcher at the University of Washington. Neither baseline CD4 count nor viral load were predictors of mortality; increasing age was the only significant predictor of death.

In Europe, the When to Start Consortium examined 15 cohort studies and reached similar conclusions at lower CD4 ranges but not at the higher ones. Lead author Jonathan Sterne, from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, said, "Delaying to below 250 was clearly associated with increased rates of AIDS and death. We found that starting above 350 was beneficial to deferring ... but we didn't find benefit from starting above approximately 400."

He added, "Starting above 350, the absolute rates of mortality and absolute rates of death and dying are actually relatively low. So, the higher you put your threshold, the smaller the absolute benefit becomes." In other words, the costs may outweigh the benefits.

Kitahata pointed to emerging data that the ongoing inflammation of untreated HIV infection contributes to risk of heart disease, diabetes, and likely premature aging. "These help to understand why HIV is persistently creating defects in the immune system," she said.

She added that the collaboration is beginning to analyze these and other clinical events in the cohort datasets.

"We would like the message to be, the earlier you come into care, the better we can care for you," Kitahata said. Vaccinations are more effective and comorbidities often are easier to treat and resolve, she said.

"All of the data seems to be pushing in the same direction - studies on immune activation, cardiovascular disease, malignancies - it's all snowballing in favor of earlier therapy," said Johns Hopkins University infectious disease expert John Bartlett.

He also believes that an earlier start to treatment will have a public health benefit by reducing viral load and the number of new infections.

Conference chairman John Mellors, University of Pittsburgh, said concern over the toxicities of therapies had moved the field "toward the precipice" of serious HIV disease before initiating therapy. "Now I sense that we are moving away from that to higher and higher CD4 starting points," he said.

Very early treatment

Researchers have been tantalized by the possibility that treating HIV infection during the first few weeks after exposure might allow the immune system to better control the virus and significantly change the course of disease.

New evidence from an ongoing cohort study at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam teased at that possibility but did not conclusively answer the question.

The study looked at 102 patients who had detectable virus in their blood but were negative or indeterminate on tests for antibodies to HIV. Antibodies generally develop one to three months after initial infection, so these patients were within that three-month window.

Patients were randomized to receive no treatment (47) or temporary HAART for six or 15 months (55) before stopping. The patients continue to be followed and this analysis was for the five-year period March 2003 to February 2008.

About half of the first group (23 of the 47) who did not initially start treatment would later do so because of falling CD4 count and rising viral load. Some 10 patients who received early HAART and then an interruption would later restart therapy for the same reasons. Those in the untreated group went an average of 126 weeks before starting HAART, while those in the treated group restarted therapy after an average of 181 weeks off of treatment.

"Early treatment prolonged time off treatment by more than a year," said researcher Radjin Steingrover. Just how close to the point of infection these patients started therapy is unclear. "We only have data from the time of seroconversion to the start of treatment, on average that was three weeks," Steingrover said.

The most intriguing fact is that "five patients (about 10 percent) have an extreme amount of viral control after treatment and interruption, they may very well be long-term non-progressors," said Steingrover. "Several of them have [viral load] less than the limit of detection over a couple of years."

Study of individual patients suggests that starting therapy closer to the point of infection has the greatest impact on bolstering the immune response and affecting the long-term course of HIV infection.

The window for intervention likely is only a few weeks long, perhaps only a few days. This makes it difficult to study the phenomena, and nearly impossible to envision very early intervention as a major treatment strategy. However, insights from studying very early intervention may provide insights to developing a vaccine that helps patients better control the virus.

Source (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?threadid=904&fid=15&boardid=2)

data


Initiating rather than Deferring HAART at a CD4+ Count >500 Cells/mm3  Is Associated with Improved Survival

Background:  The optimal time to initiate HAART for asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals is uncertain. Emerging data about the benefits of earlier ART, such as improved response to therapy and preservation of immune function, suggest that initiating HAART earlier in the course of HIV disease may improve outcomes. Prior studies have been limited by insufficient size, follow-up, and methods to compare survival for patients who initiate HAART with those who defer treatment from the same CD4 cell count level.

Methods:  In a Canadian and US collaboration of observational cohorts, we examined all participants with a CD4 count >500 cells/mm3 between 1996 and 2006 who were free of clinical AIDS and ART-naïve. We compared the relative hazard (RH) of death for patients who initiated HAART at a CD4 count >500 with those who deferred using an inverse-probability weighted Cox proportional hazards analysis stratified by cohort and calendar-year, and adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. Patients who deferred HAART at a CD4 count >500 whose CD4 count fell to <350 without initiating HAART were censored at that time regardless of whether they subsequently started HAART.

Results:  The analysis currently includes 9174 patients who contribute 25,337 person-years of follow up; 2620 (29%) initiated HAART at a CD4 count >500 and the remaining 6553 (71%) deferred. The proportion of patients initiating HAART at a CD4 count >500 by year peaked in 1997 to 1998 (16%) and declined <10% by 2003; median (IQR) CD4 count at initiation was 674 (579 to 831), and 196 patients died. Among patients who deferred, median (IQR) CD4 count for the 602 who initiated HAART between 350 and 500 was 435 (397 to 472), and 271 died. Patients who deferred treatment at a CD4 count >500 had significantly higher risk of mortality than those who initiated HAART (RH 1.4, 95%CI 1.1 to 1.7; p = 0.008). Increasing age (RH 1.5 95%CI 1.4 to 1.7; p <0.001), but neither baseline HIV-1 RNA nor CD4 count (within range >500) were independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusions:  In this large North American cohort collaboration, we found 36% higher risk of death for patients who deferred rather than initiated HAART at a CD4 count >500. We adjusted for several prognostic variables, but the decision to start treatment may involve additional factors that could confound these results. Our findings support the initiation of HAART earlier in the course of HIV disease than currently recommended.

Source (http://www.retroconference.org/2009/Abstracts/35084.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 27, 2009, 02:44:38 pm
aidsonline

Protease inhibitor levels in hair strongly predict virologic response to treatment

Objective: Antiretroviral (ARV) therapies fail when behavioral or biologic factors lead to inadequate medication exposure. The currently available methods to assess ARV exposure are limited. Levels of ARVs in hair reflect plasma concentrations over weeks to months, and may provide a novel method for predicting therapeutic responses.

Design/methods: The Women's Interagency HIV Study, a prospective cohort of HIV-infected women, provided the basis for developing and assessing methods to measure commonly prescribed protease inhibitors (lopinavir/ritonavir and atazanavir) in small hair samples. We examined the association between hair protease inhibitor levels and initial virologic responses to therapy in multivariate logistic regression models.

Results: ARV concentrations in hair were strongly and independently associated with treatment response for 224 women starting a new protease inhibitor-based regimen. For participants initiating lopinavir/ritonavir, the odds ratio (OR) for virologic suppression was 39.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.8-564] for those with lopinavir hair levels in the top tertile (>1.9 ng/mg) compared to the bottom (=0.41 ng/mg) when controlling for self-reported adherence, age, race, starting viral load and CD4 cell count, and prior experience with protease inhibitors. For women starting atazanavir, the adjusted OR for virologic success was 7.7 (95% CI = 2.0-29.7) for those with hair concentrations in the top tertile (>3.4 ng/mg) compared to the lowest (=1.2 ng/mg).

Conclusion: Protease inhibitor levels in small hair samples were the strongest independent predictor of virologic success in a diverse group of HIV-infected adults. This non-invasive method for determining ARV exposure may have particular relevance for the epidemic in resource-poor settings due to the ease of collecting and storing hair.

Source (http://www.aidsonline.com/pt/re/aids/abstract.00002030-200902200-00005.htm)


aegis

Breaking news: Obama names AIDS policy chief
President Obama today (Thursday, February 26) announced the appointment of an openly gay man with deep connections in the AIDS service community to head the White House Office of National AIDS Policy.

Jeffrey Crowley, a former officer at the National Association of People with AIDS and a current research scholar at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, will head up the Obama administration's efforts to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The position will also now be linked to efforts to help all people with disabilities - an expansion applauded by AIDS activists.

"It's exactly the kind of integration that folks in HIV community have been talking about for a while," said Earnest Hopkins, federal policy official for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Hopkins said the choice of Crowley for the position is "really good news."

"He's a good friend, he's smart, he goes very deep, as far as his knowledge base," said Hopkins. "He's been one of the external consultants to all the national AIDS folks who do AIDS work day to day. He's really an expert. We can be pretty assured the administration is going to support something that is supporting the needs of people with HIV."

Crowley, a former Peace Corps worker, earned a master's in public health from Johns Hopkins University and served as deputy executive director for programs at NAPWA. While at NAPWA, he helped with both the National HIV Testing Day campaign and the Ryan White National Youth Conference.

A spokesperson for the White House said Crowley starts work today.

In announcing Crowley's appointment, the White House also made clear that, despite some confusion over a recent executive order projected, the Office of National AIDS Policy "is part of the executive office of the President's Domestic Policy Council."

A February 5 executive order indicated that the position of AIDS policy coordinator - the head of the Office of National AIDS Policy - was to be struck from the membership of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Carl Schmid, director of federal affairs for the AIDS Institute, said he hopes Crowley will be able to get to work immediately on developing a national AIDS strategy - a strategy that Obama said would be a goal for his first year in office.

"We'll hope he makes sure that gets off the ground, and we hope he'll be able to make sure there are increases for HIV prevention and Ryan White in the president's budget," Schmid said. The White House is releasing today a summary of its federal budget for FY 2010, but details are not expected until April.

Schmid said he hopes Crowley will also be able to advocate for directing some money from the stimulus package to go to HIV work. A specific earmark for some $400 million to go to HIV prevention efforts was lost after some Republicans claimed it amounted to spending millions of dollars on condoms.

Source (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=903)


aidsmap

Recent infection, high viral load and STIs mean higher risk of onward HIV transmission for gay men

Recent HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections, and a higher blood viral load are associated with a higher risk of onward HIV transmission in gay men, according to research conducted in Brighton and presented to the recent Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal.

The researchers used phylogenetic, clinical and epidemiological data to model the transmission of HIV. Use of HIV treatment was associated with a significantly reduced risk of HIV transmission, but they found that many cases of transmission originated in men whose HIV had not been diagnosed. Furthermore, the investigators found two possible cases of HIV transmission involving individuals who apparently had an undetectable viral load.

There continue to be large numbers of new HIV infections in gay and other men who have sex with men. Such transmissions are continuing despite the availability of effective HIV treatment that not only improves the health of the individual but can, buy lowering viral load, also reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

Recent infection with HIV and untreated sexually transmitted infections are thought to be factors associated with an increased risk of HIV transmission. There is also some evidence to suggest that a substantial number of HIV infections originate in patients whose HIV is undiagnosed.

Studies in heterosexuals have shown the association between higher viral load and an increased risk of transmission and the disproportionate contribution that recently infected individuals make to the continued spread of HIV. Evidence from heterosexual couples has also demonstrated that HIV treatment can reduce the risk of HIV transmissions. However, researchers have been cautious about applying these findings to gay men.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/28BF13ED-3F9C-4635-A6E7-6E2B23971D2B.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 03, 2009, 02:08:56 pm
aidsmap

Poorer responses to lipid-lowering drugs in people with HIV
People with HIV had poorer responses to lipid-lowering drugs than the HIV-negative population, but these responses varied according to antiretroviral regimen and lipid-lowering drug, according to a major review of patients receiving treatment through California’s Kaiser Permanente managed care system in the San Francisco area. The findings were published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The study is the largest and most rigorous comparison to date of the effects of lipid-lowering treatments in people with HIV and the general population.

Cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be altered in untreated people with HIV due to effects of HIV infection (lowered levels of `good` HDL cholesterol and elevated triglyceride levels) or effects of some antiretroviral drugs, particularly all the protease inhibitors apart from atazanavir (elevated levels of `bad` LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, normalisation of HDL cholesterol).

..

Reductions in triglyceride levels as a result of gemfibrozil treatment were significantly smaller in HIV-positive people (44.2% vs 59.3%, p<0.001), but when responses were analysed according to antiretroviral drug class, people taking non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) showed a similar triglyceride reduction to that seen in HIV-negative people.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/91F6EEDD-CE98-4790-ADFB-359B4CF6883D.asp)

Treatment intensification does not eliminate HIV in reservoir sites
HIV continues to be released in small amounts from "reservoir" sites in the body despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy, and adding more drugs has not succeeded in eradicating the virus, researchers reported at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal last month.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/6E54CD8A-D8A6-4966-AB48-6A4C5E768216.asp)


esciencenews

Largest study compares cholesterol treatment in HIV patients and patients without HIV
A new study in the online issue of Annals of Internal Medicine has found that cholesterol medications can work well among certain HIV patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. Though HIV patients are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease in part due to lipid abnormalities that can occur with the use of certain antiretroviral therapies, researchers now have evidence that cholesterol medications work very well in this population.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/02/largest.study.compares.cholesterol.treatment.hiv.patients.and.patients.without.hiv)

Researchers unveil new monkey model for HIV
Scientists have succeeded in infecting pig-tailed macaque monkeys with a human version of the virus that has until now been impossible to study directly in animals. The new strain of HIV has already been used to demonstrate one method for preventing infection and, with a little tweaking, could be a valuable model for vetting vaccine candidates.

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/03/090302183124.jpg)
A pig-tailed macaque

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/02/researchers.unveil.new.monkey.model.hiv)


newkerala

New type of vaccination may provide instant immunity against diseases
Washington, March 3 : Scripps research scientists say that a new vaccination method they have developed may be used to provide instantaneous protection against diseases caused by viruses and bacteria, cancers, and even virulent toxins.

Professor Carlos Barbas, III, says that tests on mice suggest that the vaccination method called covalent immunization can overcome a major drawback of vaccinations - the lag time of days, or even weeks, that it normally takes for immunity to build against a pathogen.

He revealed that his team tested the vaccination method on mice with either melanoma or colon cancer.

Describing the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the researcher said that the mice were injected with chemicals specifically designed to trigger a programmable and "universal" immune reaction.

They developed other chemicals, "adapter" molecules," that recognized the specific cancer cells.

The researchers said that after being injected into the mice, the adapter molecules self-assembled with the antibodies to create covalent antibody-adapter complexes.

"The antibodies in our vaccine are designed to circulate inertly until they receive instructions from tailor-made small molecules to become active against a specific target," Barbas says.

"The advantage of this method is that it opens up the possibility of having antibodies primed and ready to go in the time it takes to receive an injection or swallow a pill. This would apply whether the target is a cancer cell, flu virus, or a toxin like anthrax that soldiers or even civilian populations might have to face during a bioterrorism attack," adds the researcher.

Barbas revealed that only those mice that had received both the vaccine and the adapter compound generated an immediate immune attack on the cancer cells, which led to significant inhibition of tumour growth.

This is the first time that any research team have successfully designed and tested such a covalent vaccine.

"Our approach differs from the traditional vaccine approach in the sense that when we design an antibody-adapter compound we know exactly what that compound will react with," Barbas says.

"The importance of this is best exemplified with HIV. In current vaccines, many antibodies are generated against HIV, but most are not able to target the active part of the virus," the researcher adds.

He is currently planning future studies so that his team may apply their covalent vaccination approach to HIV, cancer, and infectious diseases for which no vaccines currently exist.

"We believe that chemistry-based vaccine approaches have been underexplored and may provide opportunities to make inroads into intractable areas of vaccinology," Barbas says.

Source (http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-103470.html)


hivandhepatitis

Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) Monotherapy May Be Hazardous for Patients with a History of Low CD4 Cell Counts
Given the side effects, inconvenience, and cost of combination antiretroviral therapy, researchers have explored various strategies for simplifying treatment, including monotherapy using a single boosted protease inhibitor (PI).

Monotherapy using nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) prior to the HAART era led to drug resistance and poor outcomes. More recent studies of monotherapy using lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) or ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (Reyataz) have produced promising results in some patients who achieved viral suppression (HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL) prior to regimen simplification.

But maintenance monotherapy may not produce adequate viral suppression in people with a history of severe immune system impairment and may not reach all body "compartments," according to a study presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/030309_b.html)

NNRTI Microbicide UC781 Appears Safe for Rectal Use
Microbicides are being studied in large trials as a means of preventing transmission of HIV to women during vaginal intercourse, but there is also an urgent need to test these products for rectal safety, since any approved product will inevitably be used for anal sex by both heterosexual and homosexual couples.

In a poster at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal, Peter Anton from the University of California at Los Angeles and colleagues presented the first data from a Phase 1 trial evaluating at the acceptability and rectal safety of a microbicide gel containing UC781, an investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/030309_c.html)


natap

Preferential Bone Demineralization at the Hip in Treated HIV+ Males: Another Example of Premature Aging?
 In both younger and older treated HIV+ males, more bone mineral density loss occurs at the total hip than at the lumbosacral spine. This differs from the pattern of bone mineral density loss observed in age-matched controls wherein the bone mineral density is similar at the total hip and the lumbosacral regions in both younger and older subjects.. Significantly, the extent of bone mineral density loss at the hip in younger HIV+ males is greater than in older controls. This preferential loss of hip bone mineral density, occurring much earlier in this population, may predict an increased risk of morbidity and fragility fractures.
 
More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_123.htm)

Changes in Bone Turnover, OPG/RANKL, and Inflammation with ART Initiation: A Comparison of Tenofovir- and Non-Tenofovir-Containing Regimens

Prior to ART initiation, bone resorption activity was high among young, untreated HIV-infected patients.
 
After 6-12 months of ART initiation, bone turnover increased markedly.
 
Changes in bone turnover were not associated with systemic concentrations of OPG or RANKL or changes in these markers.
 
Advanced HIV disease was associated with greater increases in bone resorption with ART initiation.
 
Tenofovir use, PI use and higher baseline TNFalpha activity were independently associated with increases in osteocalcin with ART initiation.
 
The acceleration of bone turnover with high levels of bone resorption may account for the decreases in bone mineral density with ART initiation observed in previous studies.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_129.htm)


aidsonline

HSV suppression reduces seminal HIV-1 levels in HIV-1/HSV-2 co-infected men who have sex with men
Objectives: Suppressive herpes simplex virus (HSV) therapy can decrease plasma, cervical, and rectal HIV-1 levels in HIV-1/HSV-2 co-infected persons. We evaluated the effect of HSV-2 suppression on seminal HIV-1 levels.

Design: Twenty antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive HIV-1/HSV-2 men who have sex with men (MSM) in Lima, Peru, with CD4 >200 cells/µl randomly received valacyclovir 500 mg twice daily or placebo for 8 weeks, then the alternative regimen for 8 weeks after a 2-week washout. Peripheral blood and semen specimens were collected weekly. Anogenital swab specimens for HSV DNA were self-collected daily and during clinic visits.

Methods: HIV-1 RNA was quantified in seminal and blood plasma by TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or Roche Amplicor Monitor assays. HSV and seminal cytomegalovirus (CMV) were quantified by RT-PCR. Linear mixed models examined differences within participants by treatment arm.

Results: Median CD4 cell count of participants was 424 cells/µl. HIV-1 was detected in 71% of 231 semen specimens. HSV was detected from 29 and 4.4% of swabs on placebo and valacyclovir, respectively (P < 0.001). Valacyclovir significantly reduced the proportion of days with detectable seminal HIV-1 (63% during valacyclovir vs. 78% during placebo; P = 0.04). Seminal HIV-1 quantity was 0.25 log10 copies/ml lower [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.40 to -0.10; P = 0.001] during the valacyclovir arm compared with placebo, a 44% reduction. CD4 cell count (P = 0.32) and seminal cellular CMV quantity (P = 0.68) did not predict seminal plasma HIV-1 level.

Conclusions: Suppressive valacyclovir reduced seminal HIV-1 levels in HIV-1/HSV-2 co-infected MSM not receiving ART. The significance of this finding will be evaluated in a trial with HIV-1 transmission as the outcome.

Source (http://www.aidsonline.com/pt/re/aids/abstract.00002030-200902200-00006.htm)


Depletion of CD4+ T Cells in Semen During HIV Infection and Their Restoration Following Antiretroviral Therapy
Background: Information concerning the effects of HIV-1 infection, disease progression, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on male genital white blood cell (WBC) profiles could provide important insight into genital immune defense in HIV-infected men and seminal HIV transmission mechanisms.

Objective: To compare concentrations of WBC populations in semen from HIV-1-seronegative (HIV-) and HIV-1-seropositive (HIV+) men and determine whether HIV disease stage and ART are associated with alterations in seminal WBC profiles.

Subjects and Methods
: Subjects were 102 HIV- men, 98 ART-naive (ART-) HIV+ men, and 22 HIV+ men on dual nucleoside ART, before and 6 months after addition of indinavir. Seminal WBCs, macrophages (MØ), and T-lymphocyte subpopulations were enumerated by immunohistology technique.

Results: Seminal CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations were severely depleted in most ART- HIV+ men regardless of peripheral blood CD4+ cell count. Seminal MØ counts were reduced by 50%. HIV+ men on dual nucleoside ART had significantly higher seminal MØ, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell counts than ART- HIV+ men; addition of indinavir led to a dramatic (>25-fold, P < 0.001) increase in seminal CD4+ T-cell counts which paralleled an increase in blood CD4+ cell counts. Two outlier ART- HIV+ men with notably elevated seminal WBC profiles (>20 × 106 WBCs/mL) and infectious cell-associated HIV in semen are described.

Conclusions: HIV infection severely depletes CD4+ T cells in the male genital tract as it does at other mucosal sites. This provides evidence that ART- HIV+ men have depressed T cell-dependent genital immune defense functions and are vulnerable to other genital infections that could promote HIV transmission. Seminal CD4+ T-cell counts rebounded after treatment with a viral-suppressing ART regimen, indicating that ART may reverse HIV-associated genital immunosuppression. The relative abundance of seminal MØ in HIV+ men suggests that these cells may be predominant HIV host cells in the male genital tract and vectors of HIV transmission. A subgroup of HIV+ men with exceptionally elevated seminal MØ and CD4+ T-cell counts and HIV titers may be highly infectious and contribute disproportionately to HIV transmission.

Source (http://www.jaids.org/pt/re/jaids/abstract.00126334-200903010-00006.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 05, 2009, 12:43:47 pm
natap

Evidence of persistent low-level viremia in long-term HAART-suppressed individuals

Results

Ultra-sensitive Plasma HIV-1 RNA Levels
A total of 1606 TMA assays were performed on 438 specimens in 180 HAART-suppressed subjects (median 3 replicates per specimen). In the first year of viral suppression, plasma RNA levels declined at a rate of -0.25 S/Co per month (p=0.001), but after month 12 there was no evidence for a continued decline (p=0.383) (Figure 2).
 
HIV-1 antibody levels
A total of 189 LS-EIA's were performed on 98/180 HAART- suppressed subjects. In the first year of viral suppression, HIV antibody levels declined at a rate of - 0.10 SOD per month (p=0.054), but after month 12 there was no evidence for a continued decline (p=0.988) (Figure 3).
 
Conclusions
Residual viremia is commonly observed in long-term HAART-suppressed patients, and appears to remain stable after 1 year of viral load suppression
 
There is an initial decline in HIV antibody levels that occurs shortly after suppression of plasma viral load. HIV antibody levels subsequently stabilize during long-term HAART, suggesting a steady-state relationship between virus and the host.

(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/Gender-1.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/TMA-2.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/LS-3.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_146.htm)


Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in HIV-infected Patients Are Associated with Reduced Frequency of Central Memory CD8+CD127+ T Cells: T-cell activation/senescence associated with bone loss
Our data show lower mean frequency of central memory CD8+CD127+ in HIV+ patients with bone metabolism disorders, independently of demographic, HIV and HAART conditions. Given that the loss of CD127 in HIV/AIDS has been related to enhanced T cell activation/senescence, accelerated turnover and reduced function, our data suggest immune hyper-activation and T cell exhaustion as a pathogenetic pathway of HIV-related bone perturbations. Furthermore, our findings identify CD8+CD127+ as a novel feature of the HIV-associated bone metabolism disorders

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_147.htm)


Brain Damage, Comorbidities and Early Death Threaten HIV+
High rates of comordities and deaths due to these comorboidities, and at early ages, were reported at CROI. This is not surprising. Reported at CROI were increased rates of certain cancers, kidney disease, liver disease/failure, bone disease, and cardiovascular disease, all exacerbated by aging, and these comorbidities occurred in the studies at average ages of patients in their 40s. Also at CROI were a series of studies of cognitive function, neuropathy, and the brain all suggesting finding high rates of cognitive impairment & neuropathy, and the rates remain high, they have not gone down despite HAART. There were 2 studies both with links to them below, finding brain damage from HIV despite HAART and early aging of the brain, accelerated aging estimated to be 15-20 years! There were a number of studies on aging suggesting that HIV causes early aging, early senesence, aging of the T-cell repertoire similar to that seen in elderly HIV-negative individuals, and inflammation and immune activation due to HIV are also causative

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_145.htm)

Tenofovir and PI Use Are Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Proximal Renal Tubular Dysfunction in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: boosted PI+TDF associated with renal function
Proximal renal tubular dysfunction is frequent in cART-treated patients. The prevalence is increased in patients treated with TDF, especially in combination with a PI. This pathophysiologically plausible link between the documented renal dysfunction and osteopenia or osteoporosis should be assessed in further studies.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_144.htm)


yahoo

Microbicide gel 'highly encouraging' in lab tests
PARIS (AFP) – The dogged search for a vaginal gel to thwart the AIDS virus earned some good news on Wednesday as scientists announced that a cheap, commonly-used compound shielded monkeys from a lethal cousin of HIV.

They cautioned that a long road lies ahead before the microbicide can be verified as safe and effective for humans but hailed the outcome as a tremendous boost.

A cream that blocks or kills the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a cornerstone of efforts in the fight against AIDS. It would be especially useful for women in sub-Saharan Africa, at risk from coercive sex from HIV-infected partners.

But the quest has suffered many blows. They include two trials that, dismayingly, found women who used a prototype gel ran a greater risk of HIV than those who used a dummy lookalike.

In a study published in Nature, researchers at the University of Minnesota tested a compound called glycerol monolaurate (GML).

GML exists naturally in the human body but is already licensed as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent in cosmetics and toiletries and as an emulsifier in foods.

Their hunch was that GML interferes with signalling processes in the immune system, thus blocking HIV's rampage at a key stage.

When the virus enters the body, defence systems unleash a cascade of orders, dispatching so-called T immune cells to the site of the infection.

It is these cells that are then hijacked by HIV and turned into virus-making mini-factories, enabling the agent to proliferate throughout the bloodstream.

"Even though it sounds counter-intuitive, halting the body's natural defence system might actually prevent transmission and and rapid spread of the infection," said chief investigator Ashley Haase.

The team gave a vaginal application of GML gel to five rhesus macaque monkeys and exposed them and a comparison group of five other animals to two large doses of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) -- the monkey equivalent of HIV.

Over the next two weeks, four of the control group contracted SIV. But none of the GML-treated group showed any acute infection, even though they were given up to two further shots of the virus.

GML, said the paper, breaks a "vicious cycle" of immune-system signalling and inflammatory response in the cervix and vagina.

"This result represents a highly encouraging new lead in the search for an effective microbicide to prevent HIV-1 transmission that meets the criteria of safety, affordability and efficacy," it declared.

Each dose of GML used in the experiment cost less than one US cent (0.75 of a euro cent).

GML's use as a microbicide and anti-inflammatory was discovered by one of the researchers, Pat Schlievert, when he probed so-called toxic shock syndrome in the use of menstrual tampons.

He found that GML inhibited the toxin-making mechanism of the germ Staphylococcus aureus. Tampons coated with GML protected women from the bacterium and eased vaginal inflammation.

"GML is exceptionally inexpensive, is widely used in foods and cosmetics and is easy to formulate in many ways for vaginal use," said Schlievert.

He added that the compound had been repeatedly tested as safe and had no effect on beneficial vaginal bacteria.

Last month, scientists reported the first positive trial of a microbicide, a formula called PRO 2000, but said it reduced the risk of infection only by around 30 percent.

This is only half of the minimum benchmark for success. Availability of a microbicide that is 60 percent effective would avert two and a half million infections over three years, according to a 2003 mathematical study.

Around 33 million people around the world have HIV, two-thirds of them south of the Sahara. Globally, women make up 50 percent of all HIV-infected people, but in Africa, this rises to nearly 60 percent.

Source (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090304/ts_afp/healthaidsmicrobicide_20090304182853;_ylt=AnLXr9HYexR76H5JNfB31xu3SpZ4)


medicalnewstoday

Hospice For HIV-Positive People In Thailand
The Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu temple, a hospice for people living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand, has provided care to more than 10,000 HIV-positive people out of the estimated 610,000 people living with the virus in the country, the AFP/MSN.com reports. People often come to the temple anonymously and without notice, according to AFP/MSN.com. The hospice was founded 17 years ago as a place to care for HIV/AIDS patients, many of whom face discrimination because of the high amount of stigma surrounding the disease. People can access some medical services, and the temple's principles are "steeped in its Buddhist faith," AFP/MSN.com reports.

One Indian nurse and one Cambodian doctor -- who is not permitted to prescribe medicines -- care for 120 residents and 300 non-resident patients. In emergency cases, patients are sent to a nearby hospital to receive antiretroviral treatment. The temple's clinic workers attempted to hire more doctors by appealing to nearby hospitals and the health department, but they had no applicants. Ching Thangsing, the nurse who works at the clinic, said, "I think [doctors] are afraid of HIV, they don't want to work with HIV-positive patients." The temple aims to combat the stigma surrounding the disease by welcoming school groups to its museums and monuments, as well as to a shrine that contains the ashes of 10,000 former residents. Japanese volunteer Katsumi Suzuki said, "This is a very unique place. It crosses the area between Buddhism and medicine" (Truscott, AFP/MSN.com, 2/28).
Hospice For HIV-Positive People In Thailand

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/141050.php)


aidsmap

Low HDL cholesterol linked to cardiovascular disease in people with HIV
Lower levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - but not of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - were associated with cardiovascular disease in the SMART treatment interruption study, researchers reported on February 11th at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Montreal, Canada

..

LDL cholesterol plays a role in the build-up of plaque on artery walls, a process that can result in loss of elasticity (atherosclerosis), inflammation, clotting and ultimately blockage of blood flow to the heart or brain. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles contain more triglyceride and are also considered harmful. Conversely, HDL carries cholesterol away for disposal and therefore helps prevent atherosclerosis. HDL particles are roughly one-third the size of LDL particles, whilst VLDL particles are many times larger.

Studies in the general population have shown that high LDL (especially small, dense LDL particles) and low HDL levels are predictors of cardiovascular disease. Since HDL was found to decline significantly more in SMART participants who interrupted treatment than in those who remained on continuous therapy, this unfavourable lipid change could offer a possible explanation for the increased risk of cardiovascular events seen in the treatment interruption arm.

..

Most study participants (about 80%) were men and the median age was 49 years. Not surprisingly, those in the cardiovascular disease group were more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure. Baseline total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels were similar in both groups, but those with cardiovascular disease had a lower median HDL level.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/2715AF59-4CE6-44B7-A821-C7552823B8B7.asp)

Continuous antiretroviral therapy improves survival in HIV/hepatitis C co-infected patients with liver cirrhosis
Antiretroviral therapy - but not treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection - was associated with significantly improved survival in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals with liver cirrhosis, researchers reported on February 10th at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Montreal, Canada.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B7AD05C2-B61D-4CC1-B756-4A4DCF12B672.asp)


annals

Response to Newly Prescribed Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Patients With and Without HIV Infection
Background:  Antiretroviral agents, particularly protease inhibitors (PIs), may adversely affect lipid levels in patients with HIV infection. However, it is not known whether HIV-associated dyslipidemia is more difficult to treat.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with and without HIV infection.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Integrated health care delivery system from 1996 to 2005.

Patients: 829 patients with HIV infection and 6941 patients without HIV infection beginning lipid-lowering therapy for elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

Measurements: Percentage change in lipids within 12 months and adverse liver- and muscle-related clinical and laboratory events.

Results: Compared with patients without HIV infection, patients with HIV infection beginning statin therapy had smaller reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (25.6% vs. 28.3%; P = 0.001), which did not vary by antiretroviral therapy class. Patients with HIV infection beginning gemfibrozil therapy had substantially smaller reductions in triglyceride levels than patients without HIV infection (44.2% vs. 59.3%; P < 0.001), and reductions with gemfibrozil varied by antiretroviral therapy class (44.0% [P = 0.001] in patients receiving PIs only, 26.4% [P < 0.001] in patients receiving PIs and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NNRTIs], and 60.3% [P = 0.94] in patients receiving NNRTIs only). Rhabdomyolysis was diagnosed in 3 patients with HIV infection and 1 patient without HIV infection. No clinically recognized cases of myositis or myopathy were observed. The risk for laboratory adverse events was low (<5%), although it was increased in patients with HIV infection.

Limitations: Laboratory measurements were not uniformly performed according to HIV status, and adequate fasting before lipoprotein testing could not be verified. Results may not be completely generalizable to uninsured persons, women, or certain racial or ethnic minorities.

Conclusion: Dyslipidemia, particularly hypertriglyceridemia, is more difficult to treat in patients with HIV infection than in the general population. However, patients with HIV infection receiving NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy and gemfibrozil had triglyceride responses similar to those in patients without HIV infection.

Funding: GlaxoSmithKline.

Source (http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/150/5/301)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 05, 2009, 12:51:25 pm
biologynews

Gene therapy shows promise as weapon against HIV

A new UCLA AIDS Institute study has found that gene therapy can be developed as a safe and active technique to combat HIV.

Researchers involved in this first-of-its-kind study found that cell-delivered gene transfer has the potential to be a once-only treatment that reduces viral load, preserves the immune system and avoids lifelong antiretroviral therapy. The study appears in the current online edition of the journal Nature Medicine.

Though modest, the results do show some promise that gene therapy can be developed as a potentially effective treatment for HIV, said lead investigator Dr. Ronald Mitsuyasu, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"It is the first randomized controlled study done with gene therapy in HIV," said Mitsuyasu, who is also an associate director of the UCLA AIDS Institute. "What we were able to demonstrate was that the patients who received the gene-modified cells had a somewhat better suppression of their HIV viral replication after discontinuing their highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment, compared with the controls."

This was the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled gene-transfer clinical trial and involved 74 HIV-positive adults.

The patients received their own blood stem cells, either untreated or modified to carry a molecule called OZ1, which prevents viral replication by targeting a key HIV gene. OZ1 was safe, causing no adverse effects over the course of the 100-week trial.

At the primary end-point, the difference in viral load between the OZ1 and placebo group at weeks seven and eight, after they had stopped HAART treatment, was not statistically significant. But other viral parameters did demonstrate better HIV suppression and improvement in the counts of CD4+ lymphocytes — the cell population that is depleted by HIV.

The technique still needs to be developed further and perfected, Mitsuyasu said.

"Part of the reason that we didn't see a larger effect is that the persistence of the anti-HIV gene in the patient's blood was not as long as we would have liked," he said. "We need to find better ways to get the genes into the patients and maintain them, which could include using different vectors to get the gene into the cells or conditioning the patients prior to gene transfer."

Still, the results indicate that gene therapy could eventually be a useful tool in the fight against AIDS, said study co-author Dr. Thomas C. Merigan, the George and Lucy Becker Professor of Medicine emeritus at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He agrees that more needs to be done to perfect it.

"But in the way we set up the trial with randomized placebo controls, we could dissect out that there was a positive effect in patients who had the gene successfully installed," Merigan said. "This could be a first step in developing a new method of controlling a chronic infectious disease."

Source (http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/02/23/gene_therapy_shows_promise_as_weapon_against_hiv.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 05, 2009, 12:56:27 pm
news-medical


Positive emotions critical for upkeep of physical health

A researcher from the University of Kansas has spearheaded a new investigation into the link between emotions and health.

The research proves that positive emotions are critical for upkeep of physical health for people worldwide, above all for those who are deeply impoverished.

The study, a joint undertaking between KU and Gallup, will be presented today at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Chicago.

"We've known for a while now that emotions play a critical role in physical health," said Sarah Pressman, assistant professor of psychology at KU and a Gallup senior research associate. "But until recently, most of this research was conducted only in industrialized countries. So we couldn't know whether feelings like happiness or sadness matter to the health of people who have more pressing concerns - like getting enough to eat or finding shelter. But now we do."

Data from the Gallup World Poll drove the findings, with adults in more than 140 countries providing a representative sample of 95 percent of the world's population. The sample included more than 150,000 adults.

Participants reported emotions such as happiness, enjoyment, worry and sadness. They described their physical health problems - such as pain and fatigue - and answered questions about whether their most basic needs like food, shelter and personal safety were adequately met.

According to Pressman, positive emotions unmistakably are linked to better health, even when taking into account a lack of basic needs. The inverse holds true as well: Negative emotions were a reliable predictor of worse health.

Most strikingly, the association between emotion and physical health was more powerful than the connection between health and basic human physical requirements, like adequate nourishment. Even without shelter or food, positive emotions were shown to boost health. Indeed, this association was strongest in the poorest countries surveyed.

Thus, the link between emotional health and physical health looks to be a worldwide fact, and especially so for people living with the fewest creature comforts.

More (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=46535)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 05, 2009, 01:04:41 pm
medindia


HIV Infections In Hong Kong Reach Record Levels
HIV infections in Hong Kong have reached their highest ever levels. Four hundred and thirty-five new cases of HIV were recorded last year.

That's 5 percent more than in 2007 and the highest number of new cases since record keeping began in 1984, Department of Health announced yesterday.

Most of the 435 new infections were the result of sexual contact. Among those, 145 resulted from homosexual or bisexual partnerships and 131 from heterosexual contact.

Of the remaining new cases of HIV, 40 resulted from intravenous drug use and three were cases of blood infusion.

The causes of the remaining infections are unknown.

Wong Kah-hing, a consultant for the Centre for Health Protection's special preventive program, said sexual transmission continued to be the major cause in the spread of HIV in Hong Kong.

He urged those who do not practice safe sex to take an HIV test and start using condoms, China Daily reported.

"They should use a condom for safer sex to reduce the risk of contracting HIV," he said.

Department of Health figures showed that during the fourth quarter of 2008, 106 people tested positive for HIV.

The cumulative total of reported HIV infections in Hong Kong since 1984 is 4,047.

HIV is the viral infection that is at the root of AIDS. About half of HIV-infected people progress to AIDS within 10 years if the condition is not treated.

Loretta Wong, chief executive of AIDS Concern, an organization that provides AIDS prevention services said the high rate of HIV infection last year is a warning that AIDS prevention efforts in the past few years have proven insufficient.

Another reason for the increased number is that more people took the HIV test over the past year, she said.

She noted that the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS is still not enough among the gay or heterosexual populations of Hong Kong.

She said about 60 percent of the gay population used condoms regularly.

"They know they should use a condom but they are willing to take risks when a condom is not available at hand," she said.

To reduce the number of HIV infections, she said social work organizations should increase AIDS prevention services.

This, she said, would require more government funding to make the services more stable and sustainable.

Getting funds is especially difficult in the current economic downturn so government help is really important for services working to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Source (http://www.medindia.net/news/HIV-Infections-In-Hong-Kong-Reach-Record-Levels-48226-1.htm)


efluxmedia

WHO: HIV Prevalence among the Elderly Very High

While public health campaigns remain largely focused on the young, the number of older people with the AIDS virus is continuously rising, global experts noted in an article published in the World Health Organization’s Bulletin.
 
“It's certainly true that we in public health concentrated our attention and efforts in terms of the AIDS epidemic and screening on younger individuals because those are the ones who are at most risk,” said Dr. George Schmid, a scientist with WHO's HIV/AIDS department in Geneva, and one of nine authors of the article.
 
This means that screening is not as readily encouraged for older people, which leads to a delayed diagnosis, decreasing life expectancy in people in this category of age. Whilst the life expectancy of those diagnosed with HIV between the ages of 5 and 14 is in excess of 13 years, this declines to 4 years for those infected after the age of 65.
 
According to the article in WHO’s Bulletin, studies in the US have seen an increase in HIV incidence in the over-50s from 20 percent to 25 percent between 2003 and 2006. In Brazil, the HIV infection rate in this category of age increased from 7.5 cases per 100,000 in 1996 to 15.7 cases per 100,000 in 2006.
 
What exactly has led to this increase? Scientists suggest that the availability of drugs treating erectile-dysfunction has extended the sex-lives of older people in the recent years. This goes hand in hand with a tendency for older individuals born in a world without AIDS not to practice safe sex.
 
“Physicians do not discuss sexual activity and risk factors for HIV infection nor are they as likely to suspect HIV infection in an older individual as much as they are in a younger individual … Physicians need to heighten their awareness that older individuals can well have risk factors for HIV infection and discuss those risk factors, including sexual activity with older individuals,” Dr. Schmidt said.
 
Another explanation could be that older people can be infected with the HIV virus much faster than young people due to a general decline in their immunity.
 
The authors of the paper noted that sexual activity remains the most likely mode of transmission for older people. However, more studies need to be done in order to establish the reason laying behind this worrisome increase in HIV cases among the elderly.
 
“We need to understand why and when these people are becoming infected so that public health campaigns can be better targeted to prevent such infections,” Dr. Schmidt said.
 
According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. Around 95 percent of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Source (http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_WHO_HIV_Prevalence_among_the_Elderly_Very_High_35601.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 06, 2009, 12:47:12 pm
sciencedaily

Tools For More Accurate Dosage Of Drugs Against HIV/AIDS And Malaria
A doctoral thesis presented at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that it is possible to describe and quantify the relationships between dose, concentration and effectiveness of several drugs against HIV/AIDS and malaria. The method may allow improved treatment and fewer undesired effects for patients with these diseases.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090306084641.htm)

New List Of HIV Mutations Vital To Tracking AIDS Epidemic
In a collaborative study with the World Health Organization and seven other laboratories, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have compiled a list of 93 common mutations of the AIDS virus associated with drug resistance that will be used to track future resistance trends throughout the world.
..

To compile the latest list, the researchers added data from other laboratories in Europe, Canada and the United States to include more than 15,000 sequences from untreated individuals, double the number available in 2007. To ensure geographic diversity, information was included for eight different subtypes of the virus, as these vary from one region of the world to another.

The researchers scoured the data to ensure they included only those mutations that were clearly recognized as causing or contributing to resistance. They excluded polymorphisms, or variants of the virus that can arise naturally, as well as drug-related mutations that occur rarely.

The result was that 16 new mutations were added to the 2007 list, while three were dropped. Shafer said it was reassuring to find minimal changes were needed.

"It shows the first list was quite good," he said.

The Stanford database can be found at: http://hivdb.stanford.edu.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305204330.htm)


medicalnewstoday

Drug Policies Could Condemn Millions To HIV
As governments meet next week in Vienna (11-12 March 2009) to set international drug policy for the next 10 years the International HIV/AIDS Alliance is concerned that HIV prevention strategies are being seriously undermined by conflicting policy approaches.

..

"Harm reduction groups from India to USA are harassed by the police at needle exchange sites and drug users are arrested attempting to access clean syringes. This simply makes users more likely to share needles. We need an environment that ensures that harm reduction strategies are not compromised and people can receive all the support they need to prevent themselves from contracting HIV and passing it to others," he said.

Notes

- HIV rates are just 1.1% in England and Wales among injecting drug users. In the USA where the federal government has not supported harm reduction approaches there is an estimated rate of 16%.

- 33 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with HIV.

- The International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) is a global partnership of nationally-based organisations working to support communities to reduce the spread of HIV and meet the challenge of AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Alliance (http://www.aidsalliance.org/)

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/141132.php)


aidsmap

HIV cure needs to be scientific, funding priority, researchers and advocates warn
A long-term public-private partnership should be developed to overcome barriers to a cure for HIV infection, a group of leading HIV researchers from academia and industry declare today in the journal Science.

Calling on colleagues, industry and donors to meet the challenge of curing HIV infection, the researchers say that exploring the possibility of engineering a drug-free remission from HIV replication – which probably requires complete elimination of the virus from the body – should be a priority.

"Without a vaccine, we are left with the substantial financial burden of lifelong treatment for tens of millions of people," said Professor Douglas Richman, director of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of California San Diego.

"Success – if achieved – will not occur quickly," Richman added. "But, bear in mind, the dramatic success of combination antiretroviral therapy which has transformed HIV/AIDS in the developed world and is beginning to impact the developing world required 15 years of substantial effort."

A similar call was recently issued by the Treatment Action Group, a US-based advocacy organisation, which recommended to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that research into an HIV cure should be reinvigorated, with particular attention given to funding innovative investigators, developing animal models in order to learn more about HIV persistence and assays to measure latent virus and the effects of treatment.

"We are not going to find a cure for AIDS until we get serious and put it on the map," said Mark Harrington, executive director of TAG. "A collaboration between independent scientists and the drug industry is a practical proposal to get this research moving," said Harrington, welcoming today’s proposal.

Both groups propose that the goal of HIV therapeutics should be a drug-free remission – the long-term absence of detectable HIV replication without the need for ongoing treatment.

Achieving this goal requires understanding how HIV continues to persist at low levels in the bloodstream, and identifying all the reservoirs from which HIV continues to spring despite highly suppressive therapy, the researchers say.

In his recent plenary lecture at the Sixteenth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Robert Siliciano presented evidence that currently available drugs are able to eliminate ongoing rounds of HIV replication, suppressing viral load below 1 copy per ml, and that any virus detectable in the bloodstream is likely to be the product of a previously latently infected cell.

However, intensification of therapy with currently available drugs did not seem to eliminate the release of virus from latently infected cells, suggesting, said Siliciano, that current treatment has reached its limit.

Siliciano explained that the cell reservoirs in which HIV persists in a latent form are still not fully understood. In addition the factors that keep HIV latent within those cells, often for many years, are not understood.

Better animal models, as well as human subjects for studies involving numerous intestinal and lymph node biopsies, are needed before the reservoirs are fully characterised and the mechanisms that maintain them understood.

Mechanisms for purging the reservoir need to identified and tested, an enterprise that will require screening of pharmaceutical compound libraries and substantial incentives for the private sector to develop research programmes.

The first major step towards reactivating the latently infected cells in the reservoir, Prof. Richman told aidsmap, is “identifying cellular targets which, if modulated, would activate only latently infected cells, since you can’t activate every cell in the body without killing someone. Step two is validating these targets in animal models and in drug discovery – hence the need for coordination.”

Tests that can accurately quantify very small amounts of HIV in tissues, which can measure latent HIV in one in a million CD4 cells and highly sensitive tests that can identify cells containing latent, integrated HIV provirus will be needed too, in order to measure the success of any therapeutic approaches.

The researchers making the case for a cure include David Margolis of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Warner Greene of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, Daria Hazuda of Merck & Co, and Roger Pomerantz of Tibotec Pharmaceuticals. The longstanding AIDS treatment activist Martin Delaney, who died in January, was also an author of the article.

The call coincides with a huge funding stimulus for AIDS research, that will arrive in the form of a $10 billion uplift to the US National Institutes of Health budget approved as part of President Obama’s stimulus package.

Blogging at AIDSMeds.com, editor Peter Staley noted last week that HIV research could attract up to $1 billion of that allocation over the next two years, with new money likely to be devoted to expanding existing research programmes and funding well-reviewed applications that just missed funding in recent funding rounds.

But whether research into HIV eradication will be able to benefit from this stimulus is less clear. NIH issued a call for information about research priorities in the quest for HIV eradication last year, and is currently digesting responses. But at present the word `cure` does not feature in the NIH Office of AIDS Research list of critical AIDS research priorities for 2010, nor in its 2009 budget.

“It’s no wonder that scientists who apply for funding to study HIV latency are so often turned down: the term does not feature in the NIH plan,” commented Bob Huff of Treatment Action Group in the February edition of the group’s newsletter TAGLine.

However, persistence of HIV reservoirs will be one of a lengthy list of areas that will be given priority for funding under challenge grants being offered with stimulus package funding.

However, challenge grants will only last for two years, with work to be completed by 2011.

“The good news is, new money is coming. The bad news is, it's going away after two years with no guarantee of continuity unless the underlying NIH base budget, currently $30 billion a year, is increased, multi-year, over inflation,” commented Mark Harrington, Executive Director of the Treatment Action Group.

“So, the prospects of a big new cure project at this time are medium to low.”

Prof. Richman told aidsmap that a collaborative project was needed in order to prioritise and coordinate research.

“The funding that is available through the stimulus package is very restricted. It would be useful for investigators who want to look at individual targets but it doesn’t address the wider questions and the need for coordination.”

Source (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1616CF81-9B41-47A8-A09F-36AED3DF3256.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 06, 2009, 01:14:34 pm
hivandhepatitis

Nicotine Replacement Aids Smoking Cessation in Program for HIV Positive Participants
(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/non_smoking..jpg)

It is well known that tobacco smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other illnesses, and several surveys have indicated that people with HIV are more likely to smoke (50%-70% in some studies) relative to the general population (20%) -- a major concern since HIV positive people taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) are already at incraesed risk for these conditions.

At the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal, Karen Tashima presented results of a study of a smoking cessation trial using a program designed for people with HIV.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/030609_d.html)


projectinform

Project Inform joins call for greater commitment and cooperation to identify a cure for HIV/AIDS
A strong arsenal of antiretroviral medications has succeeded in making HIV a chronic but manageable disease for most people infected with the virus able to access them. But they do not actually cure HIV infection or AIDS. And so, a group of leading HIV experts has come together to call for a major new commitment and better collaboration among industry, academic, government and patient advocacy leaders to identify therapies that will actually cure HIV infection, or drive it into remission.

Among the experts calling for increased focus on a cure in the March 6, 2009 issue of Science magazine is Martin Delaney, the Founder of HIV patient advocacy group Project Inform. The article appears posthumously for Delaney, who died on January 26, 2009. Titled “The Challenge of a Cure for HIV Infection,” it is co-authored with three academics, Doug Richman of UCSD, David Margolis of UNC, Warner Greene of UCSF; one community advocate, Delaney; and two pharmaceutical industry leaders, Daria Hazuda of Merck and Roger Pomerantz of Tibotec.

“Current HIV medications have radically transformed the epidemic and restored or prolonged life for countless people. But the need for decades of their use by those patients who can actually get them is extremely expensive and their side effects can be profound,” said Dana Van Gorder, Project Inform’s Executive Director. “Good as they are, existing drugs are also incapable of eliminating latent reservoirs of the virus that go into deep hiding in the body. Novel new strategies must be developed to correct this problem. Today’s scientific goal must be to actually cure HIV infection or, perhaps more realistically, force it into a state of remission that will allow patients to stop taking antiretroviral drugs. Accomplishing this will be difficult, but not impossible, and demands a level of focus, collaboration and funding that does not currently exist.”

More (http://www.projectinform.org/news/2009/030509.shtml)


natap

Inflammation, Cancers and Other Life Threats for People Living with HIV
Lost on the young but obvious to the old, is the fact we are not immortal. Those with chronic illnesses such as HIV infection are often all too well aware of the Damocles sword under which they live their lives. Fortunately, over the past decade or so mortality rates among HIV-positive persons in resource-rich nations have dropped. But, they remain in excess of those without the virus.
 
So, what do HIV-infected people die from in the era of potent antiretrovirals? What accounts for seemingly higher rates of disease associated with aging among those who are HIV-positive? Are "non-AIDS-related" conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and common malignancies actually a consequence of viral replication and/or relative immuno-suppression? These weighty questions were tackled by a number of presentations at this year's Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) and the data suggest that HAART may be an incredible savior but does not erase all the risks associated with HIV infection.

(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/Causes-1.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/NoNADIS-2.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/Count-3.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/030409/Controls-4.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_148.htm)


aidsonline

HIV-1 evolution in gag and env is highly correlated but exhibits different relationships with viral load and the immune response
Objective: To evaluate relationships between HIV-1 evolution, including immune evasion, and markers of disease progression during chronic infection.

Design: HIV-1 evolution and disease progression markers were evaluated over approximately 5 years of infection among 37 Kenyan women from a prospective, seroincident cohort. Evolution was measured in two genes, gag and env, which are primary targets of cellular and humoral immune responses, respectively.

Methods: Proviral HIV-1 gag and env sequences were obtained from early and chronic infection when plasma viral load and CD4 cell counts were available. Human leukocyte antigen types were obtained to identify changes in gag cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes. The breadth of the neutralizing antibody response was measured for each woman's plasma against a panel of six viruses. Tests of association were performed between virus evolution (diversity, divergence, and ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous divergence), markers of disease progression (viral load and CD4 cell count), and immune parameters (gag cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope mutation and neutralizing antibody breadth).

Results: HIV-1 gag and env diversity and divergence were highly correlated in early and late infection. Divergence in gag was strongly correlated with viral load, largely because of the accumulation of synonymous changes. Mutation in gag cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes was associated with higher viral load. There was evidence for adaptive evolution in env, but the extent of env evolution was only weakly associated with neutralizing antibody breadth.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that HIV-1 evolution in gag and env is highly correlated but exhibits gene-specific differences. The different immune pressures on these genes may partly explain differences in evolution and consequences for HIV-1 disease progression.

More (http://www.aidsonline.com/pt/re/aids/abstract.00002030-200903130-00004.htm)


hindustantimes

Our dream is to eradicate HIV
Professor Francois Barre-Sinoussi co-discovered the dreaded HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the cause of AIDS epidemic worldwide in 1983. But got her Nobel Prize in 2008 alongwith Luc Montagnier.

In an exclusive interview with the Hindustan Times, she said, "I guess we got the Nobel Prize after 25 years because by then we could see the benefit of the discovery on treatment of patients and prevention. Treatment of patients started in 1996 and some of the first patients who got a treatment are still alive" 

"Patients with HIV AIDS are today living with the virus but our dream is to eradicate the virus. I am still working on it today because we don't have a vaccine and we need to improve the treatment," said  Professor Francois Barre-Sinoussi who is here to attend  the symposium on trends and specifications in HIV Infection Management organized by Fondation Merieux.

(http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/2009/3/IMG_4347.jpg)
Professor Francois Barre-Sinoussi

She said, "HIV virus attacks our immune system. If you are infected by HIV, any infection you get you can die from it because your immune system is destroyed."

"The virus is capable of altering the function of our immune cells to respond to infection. We don't understand the precise mechanism of the virus as yet. This is the first virus I know which is doing this to our immune system. The virus is able to interrupt the dialogue between the cells as they communicate with each other."

Is a vaccine for AIDs in the horizon? "We don't know. It many take many years," said  Professor Sinoussi who has been working on the virus for the past 25 years since she discovered it.

Even though there was a team working on locating the virus at Pasteur Institute in Paris, while others were conducting serological tests, Montagnier did the culture, she actually 'detected' the presence of the virus by looking at the enzyme activity caused by the virus, she said.

"Twenty five years ago, AIDS was a new epidemic and there were several hypothesis as to the cause of AIDS. At our Institute we were already working on retro virus (HIV is a retrovirus) which cause leukemia and cancer in animals and were rapidly within few were able to locate HIV. It is one of the first retrovirus known to affect humans," she said.

As a consequence of the discovery diagnostic tests for blood safety were developed as millions are infected by blood, by sex and drugs and from mother to the child.

She said her reaction to having found the virus was one "to rush and try to do whatever one could for the benefit of  patients as there was an epidemic."

Her interest she said is only in the life and health of patients.

"If Indian scientists are focusing their attention on human disease, and science not for themselves but for patients then they have all the potential to succeed in winning more Nobel prizes ,"she added.

Source (http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=IndiaSectionPage&id=0489e18a-075c-4c81-8bc3-cc38e7a77fac&Headline=%27Our+dream+is+to+eradicate%26nbsp%3bHIV%27)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 08, 2009, 11:34:10 am
Just some data about the news already given above.

natap

HIV+ Die More Quickly in FRAM & Low CD4 Predicts Death

Background: Despite the widespread use of HAART in the United States, the mortality rate in HIV-infected individuals remains higher than in the general uninfected population. We compared the mortality risk of HIV-infected and control subjects and evaluated risk factors for mortality in subjects from the Study of Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV infection (FRAM).
 
Methods: Vital status was ascertained in 922 HIV-infected men and women receiving clinical care and 278 controls enrolled in FRAM between 2000 and 2002. Analyses that compared mortality of HIV-infected to control subjects excluded HIV-infected individuals with recent opportunistic infection at baseline, and were restricted to the age range of controls (age 33 to 45, n = 468). Multivariable exponential survival regression was used to estimate hazards ratios (HR) for the: association of HIV infection with mortality after adjustment for demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race) and traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (smoking, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol), and association of HIV-related factors with mortality among HIV-infected subjects.
 
Results: After 5 years of follow-up, 12% of HIV and 2% of control subjects had died (HR = 6.9, 95%CI 3.0 to 16.1; p <0.0001). After multivariable adjustment, the hazards ratio for death was 3.4 (95%CI 1.3 to 8.5, p = 0.009). The figure shows mortality by time of attempted follow up in HIV-infected subjects stratified by baseline CD4 count and controls. Within HIV-infected subjects, the factors independently associated with death included current smoking (HR = 2.73 vs never smokers, p = 0.0001), increasing age (HR = 1.61 per decade, p = 0.0001), and low baseline CD4 count (HR = 0.65 per CD4 doubling, p <0.0001).

(http://natap.org/2009/images/030909/CD4-1.gif)

Conclusions: Mortality risk was 3 times higher among HIV-infected individuals than controls even after adjustment for demographic and traditional CVD risk factors. In addition to low baseline CD4 count, older age, and current smoking were strong and independent predictors of mortality in HIV-infected individuals.

Source (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_149.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 09, 2009, 03:14:42 pm
Thanks President Obama !
We surely need stem cells research to be made !
Hoping these research won't lead to any abuses of course.

bloomberg

Obama to Restore ‘Science Integrity’ as Part of Stem-Cell Shift

March 9 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama will reverse the U.S. government’s ban on funding stem-cell research today and pledge to “use sound, scientific practice and evidence, instead of dogma” to guide federal policy, an adviser said.

Harold Varmus, co-chair of a science advisory group to the President, said Obama will ask the White House Office of Science and Technology to create guidelines to incorporate ‘scientific integrity’ into decision-making by U.S. agencies. The action on stem cells, which can grow into any kind of tissue, may help speed research into cures for major illness.

Academic laboratories, led by Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and companies already using stem-cell technology, led by Geron Corp., of Menlo Park, California, could gain tens of millions of dollars in funding because of the decision. A “significant amount” of $10 billion given the National Institutes of Health in Obama’s stimulus plan will go to this area of research, Varmus said.

“We view what happened with stem-cell research in the last administration as one manifestation of the failure to think carefully about how government use of scientific advice occurs,” said Varmus, a Nobel prize winner who is president of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in a conference call with reporters yesterday. “Public policy must be guided by sound, scientific advice.”

The order involving embryonic stem cells will reverse a decision by former President George W. Bush to ban federal support for all but 21 cell colonies created before 2001.

Derived From Embryos

Stem cells derived from days-old human embryos have the potential to form any of the body’s 200 or so cell types, such as nerve cells or brain cells, and to repair or replace damaged tissue or organs. Adult stem cells, found in living tissue, have a more limited potential to become other cell types.

Bush said it was morally wrong to destroy embryos to develop stem cells. Researchers say that policy held back scientific advances and the development of cures.

“The Obama announcement will energize the stem-cell research community,” said George Daley, a member of the Harvard Stem-Cell Institute and researcher at Children’s Hospital in Boston. “The infusion of NIH funding from the stimulus package and the President’s endorsement will allow us to jump-start our projects. I am already getting e-mails from patients and colleagues applauding the decision.”

The elevation of science will extend beyond stem-cell research and into policies on health, energy and environmental programs, including global warming, said Melody C. Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, who joined Varmus on the call with reporters.

120 Days

The National Institutes of Health, the government’s chief health-research agency, will have 120 days to develop new rules on stem cells, the White House said. Officials of the NIH have said they can prepare the guidelines more quickly than that.

The NIH has already begun requesting proposals for research projects using some of the $10 billion it was awarded from the economic stimulus.

“It’s fully anticipated that much of the stimulus money, a significant amount of it, will go to support work in this broad area,” said Varmus, who was director of the NIH from 1993 to 1999. Varmus was co-recipient of a Nobel in 1989 with J. Michael Bishop for their work on cancer genes.

Shares of stem-cell companies, which rallied in extended trading on March 6, after news of Obama’s decision became public, may gain further in today’s trading.

Company Gains

Geron gained $1.51, or 39 percent, to $5.38. Cytori Therapeutics Inc. of San Diego gained 14 cents, or 6 percent, to $2.31. StemCells Inc. of Palo Alto, California, rose 92 cents, or 66 percent, to $2.30 in extended trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Opponents of the research consider embryos to be human life and research that destroys them to be immoral. They say stem cells from adult tissue and umbilical-cord blood are available without harming embryos and already in clinical use, while treatments from embryonic cells are years off.

Bush used the first televised address of his presidency, on August 9, 2001, to announce his policy banning the use of federal funds to support research on cell colonies, or lines, created after that date. Hundreds of newer lines can be used only by researchers funded from private sources.

Congress voted twice to overturn the Bush restrictions and Bush vetoed the measures both times.

Three-Year-Old Advance

A three-year-old advance allowed researchers to turn ordinary skin cells into powerful stem cells similar to those made from embryos. These cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPS cells, were first created by Shinya Yamanaka, a researcher at Kyoto University in Japan.

Yamanaka left Japan on March 7 to fly to Washington to attend the signing ceremony today. Reached by telephone during a stopover in San Francisco, he said he supported President Obama’s decision.

“I thought I should accept this invitation because many people seem to think that because of IPS cells, embryonic stem cells are no longer required,” he said. “That is not the case.”

For Lauren Stanford, a 17-year-old high school student who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 6, Obama’s order was the culmination of years of personal lobbying that has included testifying before the U.S. Senate and speaking at last summer’s Democratic National Convention.

‘Signing Hope’

“It’s like he’s signing hope for people with diabetes and other diseases into law,” Stanford said in a telephone interview. “I think hope can be a medicine too, it goes a long way in helping a kid whose life is very difficult to just feel a little better.”

Like most people with the Type 1 form of diabetes, Stanford must continuously monitor her blood-sugar level and inject herself with insulin several times a day to control her sugar levels. Type I diabetics don’t produce insulin, a naturally occurring hormone, and researchers have reported progress in their efforts to turn stem cells into insulin-producing cells that could be transplanted into the body.

Jonathan Slaek, director of the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Minnesota, said Obama’s action will enable researchers to use a wider range of cell lines, and also “improves the image of the USA.”

Diabetes Research

Researchers in Minnesota are studying insulin-secreting cells for treatment of diabetes, among other projects.

“The international perception is that there’s no stem-cell research allowed in America,” said Slaek, who is British. “In terms of scientific reputation and business climate, I think that message will probably be the most important.”

Still, bringing products to the market “is quite a ways away,” perhaps 10 years to 20 years, he said.

“We recognize there are a range of” religious beliefs concerning stem cell research and “a constant back-and-forth here,” said the White House’s Barnes. There is also a “a broad swath of the American public that does support the steps we’re going to take.”

The issue has become a key issue for some pro-life supporters.

“Taxpayer dollars should not aid destruction of innocent human life,” said House Republican leader John Boehner.

Vatican Response

In Rome, the Vatican’s newspaper deplored Obama’s reversal, repeating Catholic doctrine that such research in the eyes of the church is “deeply immoral,” the Associated Press reported.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, called Obama’s planned reversal “a slap in the face” to Americans opposed to the destruction of human embryos.

“I believe it is unethical to use human life, even young embryonic life, to advance science,” Perkins said in a statement March 6. “While such research is unfortunately legal, taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for experiments that require the destruction of human life.”

Source (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a69RDbSmnkCQ)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 09, 2009, 04:48:17 pm
efluxmedia

HIV - Among the Greatest Battles In The History of Humanity
A study published Wednesday in the journal Nature confirms the fact that the battle against the HIV virus is far from coming to a happy end. "It's very clear there's a battle going on between humans and this virus, and the virus is evolving to become unrecognized by the immune system," said Dr. Bruce Walker, one of the researchers and director of the Ragon Institute, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "It does make clear what a huge challenge making a vaccine is."

For instance, Last month the health ministry reported that the number of new HIV cases and AIDS diagnoses in Japan hit a high of 1,545 in 2008. According to the health ministry, 1,113 people were found to be infected with the HIV virus that can lead to AIDS, and 432 others were diagnosed with AIDS. This is the sixth consecutive year that a record number of new HIV cases has been reported, and the third straight year that a record number of AIDS diagnoses has been made.

In the meantime, health officials in northwest China are reporting a sharp increase in the number of AIDS cases being reported. The number of reported cases of HIV/AIDS rose by 50 percent last year to 216 in northwest China's Gansu Province. Fifty-five people already showed full-blown AIDS symptoms and 34 others had died of the disease in the past year, said Yu Ailing, head of STD/HIV/AIDS prevention at the GPCDC.

"The main reason behind the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases year on year lies in the fact the government has stepped up efforts to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS, and tests and monitoring were tightened accordingly," said Yu.

Although treatments exist that can suppress HIV, there is no vaccine or cure. Prevention remains the only fully effective defense against the deadly virus. One doesn't have to "sleep around" to contract HIV; just a single exposure to the virus can result in infection. And because symptoms can take years to appear, many infected people are unaware they are carrying the virus. Ever since the AIDS virus was first identified more than 25 years ago, over 25 million lives have been lost because of the disease.

Throughout the study mentioned above, researchers from the Ragon Institute, Oxford University in England, Kumamoto University in Japan, and Royal Perth Hospital and Murdoch University in Australia analyzed the genetic sequences of HIV and human leukocyte antigen genes in 2,800 people total.

Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth. Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world.

Source (http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_HIV_Among_the_Greatest_Battles_In_The_History_of_Humanity_35742.html)


aidsmap

Africans and African-Americans progress to AIDS more slowly: strong association with hepatitis B
Two posters at the recent CROI conference, one from Europe and one from the USA, found that people with HIV of African descent have slower CD4 declines and progress more slowly to AIDS compared with people of European descent.

The European researchers suggest that immune-response priming due to exposure to other pathogens might be the reason why Africans progress more slowly, while the USA study found a strong association with hepatitis B infection; people who had caught hepatitis B and had either resolved it or had the chronic disease were more likely to be long-term non-progressors. They suggest that genes that are known to be associated with slow HIV progression may also make people more vulnerable to hepatitis B infection.

In the European study, the CD4 decline in patients of African and European descent in the Swiss HIV Cohort were compared. This ongoing study has recruited about 15,000 people with HIV since 1988 and currently contains about 7000 patients.

For the current study 463 European and 123 African patients were chosen and matched by age. Unusually for a cohort study the majority were women with three-quarters of African patients and nearly 60% of European patients female.

Africans had been infected on average for a shorter time (seven versus eleven years) and had a shorter time off antiretrovirals, during which CD4 counts were measured (average four versus five years). Average CD4 count at the time of cohort recruitment was 494 in Africans and 577 in Europeans.

The Africans had a twofold lower average viral load or ‘setpoint’ during the observation period (5300 versus 10250 in Europeans). They also had nearly half the rate of CD4 decline of the Europeans: the average annual CD4 decline was 28.2 cells/in Africans was 28.2 cells/mm3 in Africans and 52.5 cells/mm3 in Europeans.

The researchers analysed results according to HIV subtype, because in some other studies viral subtype has been associated with faster progression (although there were not enough patients with subtype D, which has been associated most often with fast progression). The subtypes analysed were A (most common in East Africa), B (predominant in Europe), C (mainly from southern Africa) and AG (west Africa).

The average viral load was at least 10,000 in every subtype analysed in Europeans and under 10,000 in every subtype in Africans. The highest annual CD4 decline per subtype was in subtype C in Europeans (80 cells/mm3) and subtype A in Africans (50 cells/mm3) while the lowest were subtype A in Europeans (45 cells/mm3) and subtype B in Africans (20 cells/mm3).

There was a relationship observed between setpoint viral load in Europeans and CD4 decline, but not in Africans. Every tenfold (1 log) increase in setpoint viral load in Europeans was associated with 42 more CD4 cells/mm3 lost per year, but viral load appeared to have no relationship with CD4 decline in Africans.

The researchers call their findings “remarkable” and hypothesise that one reason for slower progression in Africans might “reflect evolutionary adaptation to higher overall levels of antigenic exposure in Africa”. In other words Africans may be more likely to have genes that became predominant in response to other tropical infections and confer a degree of resistance to HIV.

The other study presented tended to support this theory by finding that African Americans had slower HIV progression than other ethnicities and also tended to have specific genes associated with slower progression. It also uncovered a remarkable and very strong association with hepatitis B infection.

The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) is the oldest HIV cohort study in the world; since 1984 it has recruited over 7000 originally HIV negative gay men and observed average time to HIV infection and the subsequent course of disease.

For this study it compared 55 Long Term Non Progressors (LTNPs) with 179 “Expected Progressors” (EPs). The definition used for LTNPs was that none of them had progressed to an AIDS-defining illness 15 years after infection, while EPs had all progressed to AIDS by their twelfth year of infection. The LTNPs were observed out at far as 22 years after infection, by which time two people had developed AIDS. In the EPs the shortest time to AIDS was three years and the median time about 6.5 years.

A number of factors were associated with being an LTNP. The first was age at infection: 60% of LTNPs were aged 25-35 at infection compared with 45% of EPs; in contrast 13% of EPs were over 45 at infection compared with 2% of LTNPs (just one person).

The second was African ethnicity. Nearly a quarter (22%) of LTNPs were African-American compared with just 4% of EPs. This was highly statistically significant (p=<0.001).

This was a striking enough finding, but what was also unexpected was the association with hepatitis B. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of LTNPs versus 42% of EPs, had had hepatitis B and had resolved it, i.e. had cleared the virus and had protective antibodies to it. In contrast 22% of LTNPs and 56% of EPs had either never been infected with hepatitis B or had been vaccinated against it. In addition 5% of LTNPs had chronic hepatitis B infection versus 1% of EPs but the numbers here were too small to be significant. The same associations were not seen with hepatitis C infection or with HHV-8, the virus that causes Kaposi’s sarcoma.

The researchers also found three specific immune-system genes to be associated with slow progression, none of them unexpected. These were the B57* HLA gene also associated with abacavir hypersensitivity (30% of LTNPs versus 6% of EPs), one copy of the CCR5d32 delete gene (37% of LTNPs versus 13% of EPs) and another chemokine-receptor gene called RANTES-403A.

The researchers note that these genes “have also been associated with recovery from hepatitis B infection”, though why slow progression should be associated with higher rates of hepatitis B infection in the first place is unclear. Vaccination could be a confounder (as indicating white ethnicity), or the same genes that confer resistance to HIV progression might also confer vulnerability to hepatitis B.

Source (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/F978B6AF-8B3E-458B-AE8D-30AB989CB1BD.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Inchlingblue on March 09, 2009, 06:59:08 pm
That article mentioning the piece in Nature about HIV being among the greatest battles in the history of humanity at first sounded very depressing but I read further and here's what one scientist involved had to say:

‘Where a favourable HLA gene is present at high levels in a given population, we see high levels of the mutations that enable HIV to resist this particular gene effect,’ says author Professor Rodney Phillips, co-director of the James Martin Institute for Emerging Infections at Oxford University. ‘The virus is outrunning human variation, you might say.’

‘The temptation is to see this as bad news, that these results mean the virus is winning the battle,’ says Professor Goulder. ‘That’s not necessarily the case. It could equally be that as the virus changes, different immune responses come into play and are actually more effective.’


Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 10, 2009, 06:48:32 am
natap

How Inflammatory Disease Causes Fatigue: chronic inflammation infiltrates the brain but can be blocked
New animal research in the February 18 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience may indicate how certain diseases make people feel so tired and listless. Although the brain is usually isolated from the immune system, the study suggests that certain behavioral changes suffered by those with chronic inflammatory diseases are caused by the infiltration of immune cells into the brain. The findings suggest possible new treatment avenues to improve patients' quality of life.
 
Chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and liver disease cause "sickness behaviors," including fatigue, malaise, and loss of social interest. However, it has been unclear how inflammation in other organs in the body can impact the brain and behavior.
 
The researchers found that in mice with inflamed livers, white blood cells called monocytes infiltrated the brain. These findings support previous research demonstrating the presence of immune cells in the brain following organ inflammation, challenging the long-held belief that the blood-brain barrier prevents immune cells from accessing the brain.
 
"Using an experimental model of liver inflammation, our group has demonstrated for the first time the existence of a novel communication pathway between the inflamed liver and the brain," said the study's senior author Mark Swain, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
 
Swain and his colleagues found that liver inflammation triggered brain cells called microglia to produce CCL2, a chemical that attracts monocytes. When the researchers blocked CCL2 signaling, monocytes did not enter the brain despite ongoing inflammation in the liver.
 
Liver inflammation also stimulated cells in the blood to make an immune chemical (TNFa). When the researchers blocked the signaling of this immune chemical, microglia produced less CCL2, and monocytes stayed out of the brain..
 
In the mice with inflamed livers, preventing the entry of monocytes into the brain reduced sickness behaviors; mice showed more mobility and social interaction. These findings suggest that people with chronic inflammatory diseases may benefit from treatments that limit monocyte access to the brain.
 
"Sickness behavior significantly impacts quality of life. Our findings further our understanding and may generate potential new avenues for treatment of these often crippling symptoms," said Swain.
 
"The brain is the master coordinator of many of our bodies' defense responses, so it must be able to sense injury and inflammation in distant body organs. This study starts to explain the peripheral communication signals that activate the brain," said Nancy Rothwell, PhD, DSc, at the University of Manchester, an expert on brain inflammation who is unaffiliated with the study.
 
The research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Liver Foundation, and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/031009_07.htm)


Quantification of HIV Tropism by "Deep" Sequencing Shows a Broad Distribution of Prevalence of X4 Variants in Clinical Samples that Is Associated with Virological Outcome

Background: "Deep" sequencing (Roche GS-FLX) detects minority HIV variants in clinical samples. Here, we performed both deep and standard sequence analyses of the HIV V3 region from individuals entering a clinical trial of maraviroc, all of whom had evidence of X4/DM virus and would not be expected to show a virological response.
 
Methods: Screening samples from the Pfizer A4001029 study were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified in triplicate (n = 202). Tropism phenotype of all samples was X4 or DM by the standard Monogram Trofile assay as defined by the study entry criteria. Conventional (n = 153) and "deep" sequencing using the GS-FLX was performed using a "barcoding" approach, allowing the simultaneous analysis of 48 samples in both directions (n = 202) in a blinded manner. V3 genotypes were interpreted using the PSSM and/or geno2pheno algorithms.
 
Results: An average of >4000 V3 sequences were obtained from each sample. All samples had detectable levels of X4 HIV by deep sequencing, with 4% of patients having ?1% inferred X4 by PSSM, 14% having 1 to 10% X4, 50% having 10 to 90% X4, and 31% of patients having more than 90% X4. Tight correlations were generally observed between the forward and reverse sequencing directions, with <4% coefficient of variation.. The percentage of X4 determined was generally similar whether the PSSM or geno2pheno interpretations were used, (72% of samples fell within 4% of each other), despite some large outliers. Standard sequence analysis failed to detect X4 in 28% of samples. This was primarily driven by the low prevalence of X4-samples which standard sequence detected as having X4 virus had a much higher proportion of X4 (median 78% X4; IQR 38 to 99% by "deep" analysis) compared to those missed by standard sequencing (median 9% X4; IQR 2.5 to 21%); p <<0.05. Preliminary analysis of viral load reductions in the twice-daily maraviroc arm showed greater response for those with <10% X4 by deep sequencing/PSSM (-1.8, -2.2, and -2.6 mean log changes at weeks 2, 4, and 8, respectively) compared to either those with >10% X4 or to those who received placebo. All of these showed <-1..75 log reductions at these points.
 
Conclusions: Deep sequence analyses detect and quantify low prevalence of X4 HIV within clinical isolates that are not detected by standard sequence analysis. A low prevalence of X4 was associated with improved virological response to maraviroc, even where standard Trofile indicated DM or X4 virus.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_153.htm)


aegis

South Africa: Hundreds of thousands die due to delay in ARV rollout - Studies
The latest edition of the HIV Treatment Bulletin contains a report on two studies calculating the excess number of AIDS deaths in South Africa resulting from a delay in governmental roll-out of highly active ARV treatment (HAART) and in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).

Nicoli Nattrass's study ('AIDS and the Scientific Governance of Medicine in Post-Apartheid South Africa', available at http://afraf.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/107/427/157) calculates that a staggering 343 000 deaths could have been prevented.

Nattrass proposed that South African AIDS policy in the post-apartheid era has been a product of enduring hostility towards antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

She said this approach initially stemmed from former President Thabo Mbeki's questioning of the science of AIDS, which developed into a marked resistance to the implementation of ARV-focussed prevention and treatment programmes. The persistent portrayal of ARVs as 'poison' by the then Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, did little to help the cause.

A Director of the AIDS and Society Research Unit (University of Cape Town) and Visiting Scholar with the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Nattrass used demographic modelling to calculate the number of HIV infections and AIDS deaths that could have been prevented between 1999 and 2007, had the national government taken a more proactive stance.

The study suggests that if, during this period, the government had used ARVs for AIDS prevention and treatment at the same rate as in the Western Cape (from 10% in 2000 to 65% in 2007), which contravened the national ARV policy, then approximately 171 000 HIV infections and 343 000 deaths could have been prevented.

Nattrass also highlights the fact that the Medicines Control Council (MCC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), two key scientific bodies, fall under the jurisdiction of the national Department of Health. Due to following a scientific approach to AIDS, both bodies, despite their theoretical independence, have suffered from political interference. Although the situation improved after 2006 when the responsibility for AIDS policy coordination was given to the Deputy President, the study underlines the importance of addressing South Africa's legacy of governmental undermining of the scientific governance of medicine.

Pride Chigwedere and colleagues at Harvard School of Public Health calculated the number of 'person-years' that could have been saved, had a feasible ARV programme been implemented in a timely fashion. The study, 'Estimating the Lost Benefits of Antiretroviral Drug Use in South Africa', is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18931626.

By refusing to accept the scientific consensus that HIV causes AIDS, and by declining free donations of nevirapine and other resources from programmes such as the Global Fund and PEPFAR, the study estimates that the government contributed to the loss of 2.2million person-years (around 330 000 lives) between 2000 and 2005. 35 000 babies were born with HIV, because a PMTCT programme was not implemented. In total, the study estimates that approximately 3.8million people-years were lost in total during this period.

Public sector HAART in South Africa only moved beyond the pilot phase in 2004, with WHO estimates showing that HAART was scaled up from less than 3% in 2000 to 23% in 2005. The study suggests that an earlier state-implemented HAART programme of 5% coverage in 2000 could have been scaled-up to 50% in 2005 - a figure that would still be lower than the 85% coverage achieved in Botswana or the 71% in Namibia.

Both studies concur that government policy towards HIV/AIDS has proved a key, destructive factor in limiting the reach of both HAART and PMTCT.

The HIV Treatment Bulletin Report is available here (http://www.i-base.info/pdf/htbvol10/htb10-1-2janfeb09.pdf)

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?threadid=946&fid=15&boardid=2)


hivandhepatitis

Merck Will Buy Schering-Plough for $41.1 Billion
Merck announced today that it is paying $41.1 billion in cash and stock for Schering-Plough (S-P), which manufactures the anti-HCV combination treatment regimen peginterferon alfa-2a (PegIntron) and ribavirin (Rebetol). S-P also brings cardiovascular, respiratory and oncology drugs to Merck's pipeline. Additionally, Merck says the merger with S-P will boost its presence in the biologics market.

Merck and Company is the manufacturer of raltegravir (Isentress), the first HIV integrase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV infection. Integrase inhibitors work by preventing HIV from inserting its genetic material into host cells, thereby halting viral replication. Because integrase inhibitors work by a different mechanism than currently approved anti-HIV drugs, they are likely to work against virus that has developed resistance to other drug classes.

S-P also brings to Merck the experimental HCV NS3 protease inhibitor boceprevir and the experimental HIV CCR5 antagonist vicriviroc.

Boceprevir is a "STAT-C" agent, a drug that works directly against the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus. S-P has completed full enrollment in the HCV SPRINT-2 trial in which 800 mg thrice daily boceprevir is used in combination with PegIntron plus ribavirin.

Vicriviroc is a novel entry and fusion inhibitor that has shown promise in the treatment of HIV patients who are resistant to enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) and other antiretrovirals. The US Food and Drug administration has granted fast-track approval status to vicriviroc. Entry and fusion inhibitors act differently than other classes of anti-HIV drugs (e.g., protease inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) by preventing HIV from infecting and entering cells, rather than trying to eradicate HIV after the virus has infected a cell.

Both boceprevir and vicriviroc are considered promising new agents for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and HIV infection, respectively.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/031009_c.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 10, 2009, 06:53:21 am
hivandhepatitis

Viral Load "Blips" Linked to Kidney Dysfunction, Role of Tenofovir Remains Unclear

Loss of kidney function is a concern for people with HIV, especially individuals of African descent. Several factors have been implicated in renal dysfunction, including HIV-associated immunodeficiency, viral replication, antiretroviral drug toxicity, and possibly inflammation and other poorly understood processes that result in higher rates of serious non-AIDS comorbidities.

GFR Changes in Treated and Untreated HIV Patients

To shed further light on these factors, Andy Choi and colleagues from the University of California at San Francisco compared rates of kidney function decline in 4 groups of HIV patients as defined by degree of viral replication in the presence or absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART):

    * Untreated controllers (HIV RNA < 1000 copies/mL);

    * Untreated non-controllers (HIV RNA > 1000 copies/mL);

    * ART-treated controllers;

    * ART-treated non-controllers.

As Choi described in an oral presentation at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal, the investigators estimated rates of change in kidney function among 615 participants enrolled in the SCOPE cohort.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/kidney2.jpg)

Most participants (87%) were men, the mean age was 45 years, and they had relatively well-preserved immune function, with a mean CD4 count of about 430 cells/mm3. Participants were not excluded on the basis of existing kidney disease, nor were they stratified based on race (about half were white, one-third black).

Kidney function was estimated using the MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) equation, which calculates glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on age, sex, race, and serum creatinine.

Results

    * In an unadjusted analysis, over a median 2.7 years of follow-up, the GFR change
       was -2.6 mL/min/1.73m2 per year in HIV positive people versus -0.4 mL/min/1.73m2 per year
       in the HIV negative population.

    * Among patients first initiating ART, the rate of GFR decline slowed after starting
       therapy (+2.8 mL/min/1.73m2 per year).

    * In a multivariate analysis adjusting for potential confounding factors, the rate of GFR decline was:

        - Lowest among untreated controllers;
        - Highest among untreated non-controllers;
        - Intermediate in the 2 ART-treated groups.

    * Relative to untreated controllers, rates of GFR decline in the other 3 groups were as follows:

        - Untreated non-controllers: -5.8 mL/min/1.73m2/year;
        - ART-treated controllers: -5.2 mL/min/1.73m2/year;
        - ART-treated non-controllers: -5.5 mL/min/1.73m2/year.

    * Despite suppressed viral load, ART-treated controllers experienced continued
       GFR loss (-1.6 mL/min/1.73m2/year).

    * In this group, transient increases in HIV viral load ("blips") were strongly associated with GFR decline.

    * Each 1 log increase in HIV RNA was associated with GFR loss of -6.9 mL/min/1.73m2/year.

    * Changes in CD4 cell count, however, were not linked to GFR changes.

    * Older age, female sex, elevated blood lipids, and diabetes were also significant predictors of kidney
       function decline.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded, "Although ART appears to help curb kidney function decline among those with uncontrolled viremia, patients who have achieved durable viral suppression continue to lose kidney function above age-expected norms."

"Overall kidney function loss is more closely associated with viremia, whereas the level of immunodeficiency (as defined by CD4 count) does not appear to be a major prognostic factor in either untreated or treated disease," they added.

Discussing the findings, Choi said that ART may reverse some kidney function decline, but it was "not completely benign," since treated HIV positive individuals still had greater decline than HIV negative people.

He added that his group plans to look more closely at inflammation, which may help explain the detrimental effect on kidney function of ongoing HIV replication.

Responding to a question about the significance of low viral load, Choi stated that "perfect controllers" with less than 50 copies/mL had a reduced rate of GFR loss compared to people with 50-1000 copies/mL.

He also noted that while the study was underpowered to analyze differences between specific antiretroviral drugs, there was no evident effect of any particular drugs, including tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada and Atripla combination pills) and indinavir (Crixivan).

Factors Associated with Kidney Function Decline

In the same session, Sonia Rodriguez-Novoa from Hospital Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, reported findings from a study that looked at genetic variations associated with tenofovir-related kidney tubule damage.

In some studies, tenofovir -- which is excreted by the kidneys -- has been associated with decreased kidney function, especially in people with pre-existing risk factors, although clinical kidney dysfunction was not observed in clinical trials that supported the drug's approval.

The mechanism underlying the effect of tenofovir on the kidney is not fully understood, but alterations in tubular transporter proteins may play a role. In this analysis, the investigators evaluated a range of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or genetic changes at specific positions, on genes thought to code for relevant drug transporter proteins.

The study included 154 HIV patients taking tenofovir-containing ART regimens, 49 participants on ART without tenofovir, and 81 treatment-naive HIV patients. A majority were Caucasian. A subset of 115 tenofovir recipients were included in the pharmacogenetic analysis, 19 with and 96 without kidney dysfunction.

Altered kidney tubular function was defined as having at least 2 of the following: non-diabetic glucosuria (glucose in the urine), urine phosphate wasting, hyperaminoaciduria (elevated levels of amino acids in the urine), beta2-microglobulinuria, or increased fractional excretion of uric acid.

The researchers found that 22% of tenofovir recipients, 6% of patients on non-tenofovir ART, and 12% of treatment-naive individuals had kidney tubular dysfunction. Abnormal function was more common in people with the ABCC2-24 GG genotype than in those with genotypes GT or TT (24% vs 6%). Specific SNPs on the ABCC2 (aka MRP2), ABCC4 (MRP4), and SLC22A11 (OAT4) genes were linked to particular manifestations of kidney dysfunction.

In a multivariate analysis the only factors independently associated with altered kidney tubular function were older age, lower weight, and most strongly GG genotype (odds ratio 5.7).

"Genetic analysis of ABCC2-24 could help to identify patients at greater risk for renal tubulopathy," the investigators concluded. "Since [tenofovir] has been shown not to serve as a substrate for ABCC2, the precise mechanism of this association requires elucidation. Close monitoring of renal function is warranted in this subset of patients."

Source (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/031009_d.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 10, 2009, 06:59:18 am
taiwannews

China says more drugs trafficked from Central Asia

China plans to strengthen security along its borders with Central Asia to combat a rise in drug smuggling through its restive western region of Xinjiang, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Xinjiang Governor Nur Bekri also said drug offenses were on the rise, and the increasing use of shared needles has given the region the highest HIV infection rate in the country, the China Daily reported.

Bekri said the region wants to beef up security forces along the border with the so-called Golden Crescent opium producing area of Central Asia, encompassing Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the newspaper said.

"We have asked (the central government) for the deployment of more security forces. The current number is simply not enough," Bekri said.

Bekri said the number of border security staff has not changed since 1992 even though the number of travelers has increased from 69,000 a year to 2 million.

The report said half of the total drugs seized by Xinjiang police last year _ about 320 pounds (144 kilograms) of heroin and 15 pounds (6.7 kilograms) of methamphetamine _ came from the Golden Crescent.

"While traffickers are trying to make Xinjiang a transit point, consumption within the region is increasing as well," Bekri told the newspaper on the sidelines of China's annual legislative session.

The newspaper cited data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention as showing that by September, about 25,000 cases of HIV infections had been reported in Xinjiang _ giving the region of 20 million residents the highest infection rate in the country.

To fight the increase in infections, Bekri said the regional government plans to allocate 40 million yuan ($5.8 million) to HIV/AIDS prevention programs this year.

He also reiterated earlier statements that officials were expecting further unrest this year in Xinjiang. Militant separatists among the region's native Turkic Uighur population allegedly carried out a series of deadly attacks last year as part of a long-simmering campaign against Chinese rule.

Authorities said they broke up other plots they claim were intended to sabotage the Beijing Olympics. They have responded to the threats with a massive security crackdown and big hike in arrests for state security crimes.

Culturally, religiously and linguistically distinct from the China's Han majority, Uighurs have long complained of economic marginalization by Chinese migrants who have flooded into Xinjiang since communist troops entered the region in 1949.

Source (http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=888023&cate_img=316.jpg&cate_rss=news_Health)


nasdaq

Asian Women Migrants Highly Vulnerable To HIV - UN Report

MANILA (AFP)--Women migrants from Asia are finding themselves "highly vulnerable" to HIV infections amid the global financial crisis, a United Nations study said Tuesday.

The crisis has led to massive job cuts and the "situation of migrant workers is under threat," according to the study, released in Manila by the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP.

"When demand for labor wanes, those in the weakest bargaining position, usually temporary migrant workers and particularly the undocumented, will accept almost any conditions to hold on to their jobs," the reports aid.

The reports said 70%-80% of migrants from Sri Lanka and the Philippines to Arab states were women. It said 60% of women migrants from Bangladesh also found employment in that region between 1991 and 2007.

But these women are now subjected to harsh realities, with many heavily indebted before leaving their home countries.

Others are subjected to sexual abuse by their employers, and fall prey to human traffickers.

"Conditions are expected to become harsher for even the employed migrant workers as they try to hang on to their jobs," said UNDP country representative Renaud Meyer, adding that among the most vulnerable were the illegals who would "accept almost any circumstances to hold on to their jobs."

"Worst still, during the present turmoil, desperation for work may lead to migration under unsafe conditions, sexual exploitation, and increased vulnerability to HIV infections," Meyer said.

While some countries require pre-departure orientation on HIV for migrants, many still remain uneducated about the virus, which causes AIDS.

In particular, 96% of Bangladeshi domestic helpers in the Middle East said they didn't receive such orientation before leaving home.

"While half of them have heard of HIV through the media or from coworkers, none had in-depth knowledge on HIV prevention and safe-sex practices," it said.

High recruitment fees and poor wages also push women migrant workers "into debt traps, which in turn, could lead to sexual exploitation."

"Those who flee abusive working conditions are immediately rendered illegal by host countries, exposing them to greater risk of abuse, including sexual exploitation and increased vulnerability to HIV," the study said.

The study was based on more than 600 interviews with migrants from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, which supply domestic helpers to countries such as Bahrain, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.

Source (http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20090310\ACQDJON200903100356DOWJONESDJONLINE000120.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Asian%20Women%20Migrants%20Highly%20Vulnerable%20To%20HIV%20-%20UN%20Report)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 11, 2009, 01:47:59 pm
This is IMHO an wonderful news as it might help those without treatment options to wait more time until the research make some progress that they can benefit from.

Better than nothing !


centredaily


Aethlon Medical Announces Significant Viral Load Reduction in Landmark Medical Device Study to Treat HIV/AIDS

The Aethlon Hemopurifier® Now Proven to Reduce Both HIV and Hepatitis-C (HCV) Viral Load in Human Studies

SAN DIEGO — Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) today announced results of the “first-in-man” study of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the disease that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In the study, viral load was reduced by 92% in an HIV-infected individual who received a total of twelve Hemopurifier® treatments administered thrice weekly over the span of one month. The study, which was conducted in the absence of any antiviral drug therapy, documented initial viral load of 102,759 iu/ml being reduced to 7,960 iu/ml at the conclusion of the study. The study, which was conducted at the Sigma New Life Hospital in Punjab, India, was designed to provide insight that will define future clinical programs and commercialization pathways for the Aethlon Hemopurifier®.

The Hemopurifier® is a therapeutic filtration device that serves as an artificial adjunct to the immune system. In HIV care the Hemopurifier® targets the clearance of all circulating strains of infectious HIV, including varieties that cause patients to fail antiviral drug regimens. Additionally, the device assists to preserve the immune response through the removal of gp120 and other toxic proteins that shed from HIV to kill-off immune cells, the hallmark of AIDS. Beyond HIV care, the Hemopurifier® is a leading broad-spectrum treatment candidate against drug and vaccine resistant viral pathogens.

“Our first HIV treatment experience supports the vision of our Hemopurifier® becoming a primary strategy to inhibit disease progression once an individual becomes resistant to antiviral drugs,” stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, Jim Joyce. “Additionally, our device offers a synergistic mechanism of action that could enhance and extend the benefit of both established and candidate antiviral therapies,” concluded Joyce.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 33 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and last year 2.2 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses. While there is no cure, HIV antiviral drug regimens have allowed people to live longer with HIV infection. Over time, resistance to these medications can evolve to eliminate the benefit of antiviral drugs, thus leaving infected individuals without further treatment options.

The individual enrolled in the Hemopurifier® study had end stage renal disease (ESRD) and was clinically defined as having AIDS based on a CD4+ T-cell percentage of total lymphocytes of 13.5% at the outset of Hemopurifier® therapy. A percentage below 14% is a defining event that indicates HIV infection has progressed to AIDS. By the end of the Hemopurifier® study, CD4+ T-cell percentage of total lymphocytes increased to 18.09%. Corresponding CD4 lymphocyte counts decreased from 215 cells/µL to 168 cells/µL. Post study follow-on testing indicated that HIV viral load was 57% lower (43,398 iu/ml) than initial study values when measured 14-days after administration of the last Hemopurifier® treatment. The principle investigator of the study reported the patient felt an improved sense of well being, including increased energy and appetite during the study. There were no observed adverse events reported by the principle investigator. All viral load measurements were performed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), with treatment samples being measured in duplicate.

Based on previous treatment outcomes in Hepatitis-C (HCV) infected patients, Aethlon management believes the Hemopurifier® to be the first therapeutic candidate to demonstrate meaningful viral load reductions in both HIV and HCV infected individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Infection (CDC), about one quarter of HIV-infected persons are also infected with HCV. HCV is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease and HCV infection progresses more rapidly to liver damage in HIV-infected persons. HCV infection may also impact the course and management of HIV infection. In addition, HIV suppression of the immune system reduces patient ability to tolerate the HCV standard of care.

Beyond the potential to treat individuals infected with both HIV and HCV, the opportunity for the Hemopurifier® in HCV care is significant, as approximately 170 million people worldwide (3% of the world's population) are HCV infected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 30-50% of infected patients beneficially respond to the 48-week pegylated interferon-ribavirin treatment standard.

In studies of HCV infected individuals, treatment with the Hemopurifier® resulted in robust viral load reductions in HCV patients who completed a treatment protocol of three, 4-hour Hemopurifier® treatments every other day during the course of one week. The study was conducted at the Fortis Hospital in Delhi, India.

Patient #1 had a 95% reduction three days post treatment and 89% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 1 was 5.3 x 10(5) viral units per ml of blood (IU/ml). Patient 1’s viral load seven days post treatment was 5.7 x 10(4) IU/ml.

Patient #2 had an 85% reduction three days post treatment and 50% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 2 was 9.2 x 10(6) IU/ml. Patient 2’s viral load seven days post treatment was 4.6 x 10(6) IU/ml.

Patient #3 had a 60% reduction three days post treatment and 83% reduction seven days post treatment. The initial viral load for patient 3 was 3.0 x 10(8) IU/ml. Patient 3’s viral load seven days post treatment was 5.1 x 10(7) IU/ml.

Source (http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/1164451.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 11, 2009, 02:01:47 pm
aidsmap

European study confirms that HIV treatment within three months of birth improves outcome for HIV-positive infants

HIV infected infants who start HIV treatment within three months of birth have a significantly reduced risk of developing AIDS or dying, European investigators report in the March 13th edition of AIDS. “Deferring treatment in infected infants is no longer an option”, write the investigators.

Without HIV treatment approximately 20% of HIV-infected infants born in richer countries like the UK will develop AIDS or die in the first year of life. The introduction of combination HIV treatment in the mid 1990s lead to suggestions that starting HIV treatment soon after birth could reduce the risk of disease progression in infected children. There were, however, concerns about the pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs in children, the lack of paediatric formulations and the risk of both short- and long-term side-effects.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/74D7D190-B4CF-404F-9C3F-991466611F59.asp)


High HIV prevalence amongst men who have sex with men in Laos

HIV prevalence is significantly higher amongst men who have sex with men in Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) than any other group in the country, according to a study published in the January 28th edition of AIDS.

The study was conducted in the capital, Vientiane, and found that 6% of men who have sex with men were HIV-positive, and that attempted suicide was associated with HIV infection, a finding that the investigators believe “may point to the mental health needs of men who have sex with men.”

HIV prevalence in Laos is low compared to neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Research has suggested that 0.1% of the adult population in Laos are HIV-positive, and that approximately 1% of female sex workers are infected with HIV.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/31BFE8B4-DAEE-4CF2-9BD2-AE3FE3535724.asp)


Half million deaths from cryptococcal meningitis a year in people with HIV

Researchers have estimated that there were about one million infections and a half a million deaths from HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis worldwide in 2006. The findings published in the February 20th edition of the journal AIDS also show that sub-Saharan Africa had the highest global burden of cryptococcal meningitis among people living with HIV.

The scientists (led by Benjamin J. Park of the US Centers for Disease Control) did the study because although although cryptococcal meningitis is one of the most widely reported HIV-related opportunistic infections, the global burden is unknown

In regions with higher HIV burdens, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, cryptococcal meningitis has been reported to be on the increase (more than any other type of meningitis).

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/CE8A5494-4408-467B-822C-58FC529CAB33.asp)


Screening for cryptococcal antigens in HIV-positive cohort shows benefits of targeted pre-emptive strategy

Screening for cryptococcal antigens in HIV-positive patients before the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a highly effective way of identifying those at risk of developing cryptococcal meningitis, researchers from South Africa have found.

Cryptococcal meningitis is one of the leading causes of death in ART patients who die during the first year of treatment, accounting for up to 20% of all deaths.

The majority of patients at risk of cryptococcal meningitis have detectable Cryptococcus antigen more than three weeks prior to developing meningitis, so a screening test could prevent many cases if patients are then able to receive prompt preventive treatment with the anti-fungal drug fluconazole, or with amphotericin B if a lumbar puncture shows evidence of central nervous system involvement.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/90359960-8B9D-4457-8DCF-9F0AFDD84BD9.asp)


aegis

Tentative approval of lopinavir/ritonavir Tablets, 200 mg/50 mg

On March 10, 2009, FDA granted tentative approval for a generic formulation of lopinavir/ritonavir Tablets, 200 mg/50 mg, manufactured by Matrix Laboratories, Ltd., of Hyderabad, India, for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

This is a generic formulation of Kaletra Tablets, 200 mg/50 mg made by Abbott Laboratories.

"Tentative approval" means that FDA has concluded that a drug product meets all required quality, safety and efficacy standards, but is not eligible for marketing in the U.S. because of existing patents. Tentative approval, however, does make the product eligible for consideration for purchase outside the United States under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Effective patent dates can be found in the agency's publication titled Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, also known as the "Orange Book (http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/default.htm)".

This application was reviewed under expedited review provisions developed by FDA for the PEPFAR program

As with all generic applications, FDA conducts an on-site inspection of each manufacturing facility, and of the facilities performing the bioequivalence studies, to evaluate the ability of the manufacturer to produce a quality product and to assess the quality of the bioequivalence data supporting the application prior to granting approval or tentative approval to these applications.

A list of all Tentatively Approved Antiretrovirals in Association with the President's Emergency Plan (http://www.fda.gov/oia/pepfar.htm) is available on the FDA website.

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 11, 2009, 02:04:10 pm
newkerala

HIV could become non-lethal with passage of time, says Oz scientist

Melbourne, Mar 11 : An Australian scientist has claimed that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) may adapt so that it is no longer a life-threatening virus.

Speaking ahead of the launch of Adelaide University's Robinson Institute, Roger Short, a professor from Melbourne University's medicine faculty, said it was not in the virus's interest to kill its host.

"If we look into long term future, if humans survive that long, it seems likely that over time the virus, which mutates incredibly rapidly, will eventually adapt so it doesn't kill us," News.com.au quoted Short, as saying.

"Chimpanzees suffer no disease when infected with HIV, whereas for us it is lethal; can we learn from chimpanzees how to protect ourselves?" the expert added.

During the speech, Short urged his fellow researchers to help discover what currently protects sperm and eggs from contracting HIV.

"That is a key question," he said.

"And we need to know more about how gametes (mature reproductive cells) are formed," he added.

According to Short, HIV's evolution could enable the virus to get into reproductive cells - called germ cells - causing it to be passed on to new generations through DNA.

"Geneticists have been able to trace several inserts into our genes which must have come from viruses in the past, hundreds or thousands of years ago," he said.

"Once HIV gets into our sperm it really will have become part of us.

"Maybe some of the research that the (Robinson) institute does on all the stem cells ... will tell us what is so very special about germ cells that protects them from being infected by viruses," he added.

Source (http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-1672.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 12, 2009, 06:23:09 am
medicalnewstoday

Specialists Are Highly Satisfied With The Safety And Efficacy Of Atripla And Isentress In The Treatment Of HIV Patients

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed infectious disease specialists identify a therapy's effect on the ability to achieve viral load suppression in treatment-naive patients as the attribute that most influences their prescribing decisions in HIV. Surveyed specialists indicate they are highly satisfied with Gilead/Bristol Myers Squibb's Atripla and Merck's Isentress in this attribute.

The new report entitled HIV: Opportunity lies for Drug Developers in Integrase Inhibitors and Next Generation CCR5 Antagonists finds that a novel drug in the CCR5 antagonist class that is dosed once daily and achieves maximum physician expectations would earn an 18 percent patient share in HIV in the United States and a 30 percent patient share in Europe, according to surveyed U.S. and European infectious disease specialists.

In 2008, Decision Resources' proprietary clinical gold standard for HIV was Merck's Isentress/Gilead's Truvada. Based on expert opinion, Isentress/Truvada will retain clinical gold standard status through 2017, owing to its balance of efficacy, novel mechanisms of action and safety. Although some therapies in development for HIV hold promise, most have efficacy, safety and tolerability, and/or delivery features that interviewed thought leaders believe are inferior when compared with Isentress/Truvada.

"Experts we surveyed rated Isentress plus Truvada as one of the safest antiretroviral regimens available," said Decision Resources Analyst Jose Avalos, Ph.D. "Furthermore, interviewed specialists believe Isentress' novel mechanism of action provides advantages in highly treatment experienced patients."

About the Report

HIV: Opportunity lies for Drug Developers in Integrase Inhibitors and Next Generation CCR5 Antagonists is a DecisionBase 2009 report. DecisionBase 2009 is a decision-support tool that provides in-depth analysis of unmet need, physician expectations of new therapies and commercial dynamics to help pharmaceutical companies optimize their investments in drug development.

The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of the media may request an interview with an analyst.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (http://www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/141949.php)


aidsmap

Efavirenz dose reduction safe for patients with gene associated with high drug levels and side-effects

Doses of efavirenz (Sustiva) can be safely reduced by up to two-thirds in patients who develop side-effects if these are due to a genetic mutation resulting in high concentrations of the drug, Japanese investigators report in the January 28th edition of AIDS. Furthermore, a Japanese company has developed a low-cost test to see which patients have this mutation.

Efavirenz is metabolised by the liver using the p450 2B6 (CYP2B6) pathway. Earlier research has shown that patients who have a mutation, or polymorphism, in the gene associated with metabolising efavirenz called CYP2B6 516G>T have extremely high blood levels of the drug when treated with the drug’s standard once-daily dose of 600mg.

Japanese investigators performed a study to see if was possible to reduce the dose of efavirenz in patients with this polymorphism who had high concentrations of efavirenz.

Their study involved twelve individuals. Five had their dose of efavirenz reduced to 400mg once daily, the other seven to 200mg daily. Viral load remained undetectable in all twelve individuals.

Nine of the patients had experienced chronic central nervous system side-effects when taking full-dose efavirenz. However, these side-effects improved in nine individuals on reduction of the efavirenz dose.

They highlight the case of a 71-year-old man who had reported virtually nightly nightmares after starting full-dose efavirenz treatment. His blood concentrations of the drug were extremely high and tests revealed that he had the genetic mutation associated with high levels of the drug.

Reduction of his efavirenz dose to 400mg daily resulted in a dramatic improvement in his dreams. His efavirenz concentrations nevertheless remained high and further reduction of the daily dose to 200mg resulted in a complete disappearance of his dreams. Levels of the drug in his blood were within target levels and his viral load was still undetectable two years after the dose of the drug was reduced to 200mg.

Cost had been highlighted as a potential barrier to testing efavirenz-treated patients for the mutation associated with high concentrations of the drug. However, the investigators report that a Japanese company has developed a test costing approximately US$75, “thus, the financial benefits of reducing efavirenz dosage should compensate for the cost of genotyping”, they suggest. However they note “further larger-scale studies are needed to discuss genotype-based tailored efavirenz treatment.”

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/4145C441-C1FB-4E9E-B1DC-DC76C324E01B.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Studies from Europe and the U.S. Provide Further Information on Sexual Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus among HIV Positive Men

Starting in 2000, clinicians in several large European cities began reporting clusters of apparently sexually transmitted acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, primarily among HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM). More recently, similar outbreaks have also been reported in the U.S.

In several posters presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal, researchers provided further data on the maturing HIV/HCV epidemics in Europe and the newer outbreaks in the U.S.

Ongoing Epidemic in France

Jade Ghosn and colleagues presented evidence of ongoing sexual transmission of HCV among MSM in France, based on a national survey of acute hepatitis C cases conducted by the French National Institute for Public Health Surveillance in 2006-2007.

The survey included a sample of patients from 115 medical wards across the country, based on the number of HIV and AIDS cases in MSM reported to the National HIV surveillance system. Acute HCV was defined as a positive HCV antibody or HCV RNA within 1 year of a documented negative test.

..

"We show evidence for ongoing sexual transmission of HCV in HIV-infected MSM in France, with an ongoing epidemic transmission of genotype 4d virus in the Parisian area," the investigators concluded. "Our results support the need for regular screening for HCV infection in HIV-infected MSM."

Rapid Rise in Amsterdam

Guido Van Den Berk and colleagues reported a rapid rise in acute hepatitis C cases at OLVG Hospital in Amsterdam, which currently cares for more than 1800 HIV positive patients, about three-quarters of them MSM.

The researchers retrospectively reviewed data on HIV positive MSM identified with HCV coinfection between January 2000 and August 2008. Stored blood samples here tested for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA in an attempt to narrow the potential seroconversion interval.

..

"Our study confirmed a marked increase in the occurrence of acute HCV starting from 2003 and escalating in 2008, and mostly involving HCV genotypes with a poor response to therapy," the investigators concluded. "In the absence of classical risk factors, HCV has become a sexually transmitted disease in HIV-infected MSM. Efforts to contain this epidemic should be started rapidly."

Risk Factors in New York vs the U.K.

Researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital and School of Medicine in New York City were among the first to report an outbreak of apparently sexually transmitted HCV among MSM in the U.S.

Sarah Fishman and colleagues undertook an analysis comparing characteristics and risk behaviors among HIV positive men with acute hepatitis C in New York and in the United Kingdom, where the first European cases were reported.

..

"HCV transmission among HIV-infected [MSM] is not the result of adolescent risk taking, rather transmission is occurring primarily in men over the age of 35 years," the investigators concluded. "This demographic feature raises the possibility that older age may be a risk factor for sexual transmission of HCV, as previously reported. The greater use of non-injection recreational drugs in the U.K. cases was a notable finding."

Liver Disease Progression

The Mt. Sinai team also presented the latest data on liver disease progression and treatment response in HIV positive individuals with acute HCV infection.

Daniel Fierer first reported at the 2007 CROI that HIV positive MSM with acute hepatitis C showed evidence of unusually rapid and severe liver fibrosis, which typically develops much later in the course of HCV infection. He followed up with similar findings at the 2008 CROI and published further data in the September 1, 2008 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

As of this report, the investigators had enrolled 45 HIV positive MSM with acute hepatitis C, defined as newly identified HCV antibody seropositivity with either ALT elevation, >1 log HCV viral load fluctuation, or high clinical suspicion. The median age was 40 years, the median CD4 count was 525 cells/mm3, and 94% had HIV viral load < 400 copies/mL; 89% had HCv genotype 1 (this cohort overlaps with the New York group described above).

Just 4 patients (9%) spontaneously cleared HCV infection -- lower than the 25% or so typically seen in studies of HIV negative people with acute hepatitis C. Of the remainder, 15 started hepatitis C therapy, all with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, while 20 refused or deferred treatment and 6 were still being evaluated.

Of the 10 patients who completed a 24-week post-treatment follow-up period, 8 achieved sustained virological response (SVR) while 2 were non-responders (others are still undergoing treatment).

For 24 participants, liver biopsies were performed a median of 4 months after the first identified ALT elevation. Within this group, 1 patient (4%) had stage 3 fibrosis (using the 0-4 Scheuer scale), 18 (75%) had stage 2, 3 (13%) had stage 1, and 2 (8%) had stage 0.

In a case-control study of 21 matched HCV infected/HCV-uninfected pairs, significant risk factors for HCV infection were unprotected receptive anal intercourse with or without ejaculation (P = 0.03-0.04), unprotected receptive oral sex with ejaculation (P = 0.03), use of sex toys (P = 0.03), sex while high on drugs (P = 0.01), and use of marijuana (P = 0.04). Interestingly, in this analysis getting fisted was not a risk factor, while active fisting was associated with a slightly higher risk that did not reach statistical significance.

"Acquisition of HCV infection in the outbreak of acute HCV infection in HIV-infected MSM in New York City is associated with receptive, unprotected sex and results in early and rapid progression of liver fibrosis," the researchers concluded, confirming their earlier findings.

"Treatment is highly successful when initiated in the acute phase but many do not receive prompt treatment, missing the opportunity to prevent further progression of the already significant liver fibrosis," they continued.

"We therefore recommend at least quarterly ALT and yearly HCV testing for all HIV-infected MSM and rapid referral to an HCV treatment expert upon suspicion of HCV" they added. "Promotion of safe sex and decreased drug use is also warranted."

Screening in 6 U.S. Cities

Finally, Karen Hoover with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and colleagues estimated the proportion of HIV positive MSM receiving care at 8 HIV clinics who were ever screened for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or HCV.

HIV management guidelines have consistently recommended that HIV positive individuals should be screened for HBV, which can be prevented with a vaccine if a person is unexposed; there is also a vaccine for HAV, but not for HCV. Despite the mounting evidence that HCV is sexually transmitted among HIV positive MSM, screening is not yet routine.

The present analysis looked at medical record of 1607 patients who made approximately 12,000 visits to 8 clinics in 6 cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco) since 1998.

The investigators found that while just 45% of the men had been tested for HAV and 48% for HCV, the rate for HBV was much higher, at 89%.

"Screening for HBV and HAV infection and vaccination of susceptible persons are important preventive services in the management of HIV-infected persons," the researchers concluded. "Screening for HBV and HCV infection and evaluation of those persons with chronic infection is important to identify those who require treatment and may be at risk for progressive liver disease."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/031009_e.html)


physorg

Study suggests salt might be 'nature's antidepressant'

Most people consume far too much salt, and a University of Iowa researcher has discovered one potential reason we crave it: it might put us in a better mood.

UI psychologist Kim Johnson and colleagues found in their research that when rats are deficient in sodium chloride, common table salt, they shy away from activities they normally enjoy, like drinking a sugary substance or pressing a bar that stimulates a pleasant sensation in their brains.

"Things that normally would be pleasurable for rats didn't elicit the same degree of relish, which leads us to believe that a salt deficit and the craving associated with it can induce one of the key symptoms associated with depression," Johnson said.

The UI researchers can't say it is full-blown depression because several criteria factor into such a diagnosis, but a loss of pleasure in normally pleasing activities is one of the most important features of psychological depression. And, the idea that salt is a natural mood-elevating substance could help explain why we're so tempted to over-ingest it, even though it's known to contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and other health problems.

More (http://www.physorg.com/news155933499.html)


Cellphones may spread superbugs in hospitals: study

Cell phones belonging to hospital staff were found to be tainted with bacteria -- including the drug-resistant MRSA superbug -- and may be a source of hospital-acquired infections, according to study released Friday.

Researchers from the Ondokuz Mayis University in Turkey led by Fatma Ulger tested the phones and dominant hands of 200 doctors and nurses working in hospital operating rooms and intensive care units.

Ninety-five percent of the mobile phones were contaminated with at least one type of bacteria, with the potential to cause illness ranging from minor skin irritations to deadly disease.

Nearly 35 percent carried two types of bacteria, and more than 11 percent carried three or more different species of bugs, the study found.

Most worring, one in eight of the handsets showed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a virulent strain that has emerged as a major health threat in hospitals around the world.

Only 10 percent of staff regularly cleaned their phones, even if most followed hygiene guidelines for hand washing, the study noted.

"These mobile phones could act as a reservoir of infection which may facilitate patient-to-patient transmission of bacteria in a hospital setting," the authors warned.

Several strains of drug-resistant bacteria are generally harmless to healthy people but can become lethal to hospital patients in weakened conditions. The bacteria slip into open wounds and through catheters or ventilator tubes, typically causing pneumonia or bloodstream infections.

The researchers noted that more studies were needed to confirm their findings, which were based on a relatively small sampling.

More (http://www.physorg.com/news155538696.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 12, 2009, 06:25:39 am
scoop

Nations Should Reject UN Drug Policy : New 10-Year Plan Omits Critical Protections on HIV and Human Rights

(Vienna , March 11, 2009) - The new UN Political Declaration on Drugs, designed to guide drug policy for the next 10 years, lacks critically important measures for treating and stemming the spread of HIV, Human Rights Watch, the International AIDS Society, and the International Harm Reduction Association said today.

The groups said that respect for human rights and HIV prevention should be at the heart of the policy, but that critical elements had been stripped from the final declaration. They called on member governments to refuse to support the declaration, which is being considered at the high-level segment of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) this week in Vienna .

"Government delegations could have used this process to take stock of what has failed in the last decade in drug-control efforts, and to craft a new international drug policy that reflects current realities and challenges," said Prof. Gerry Stimson, executive director of the International Harm Reduction Association. "Instead, they produced a declaration that is not only weak - it actually undermines fundamental health and human rights obligations."

What is at issue is a series of measures known collectively as "harm reduction services," which have been endorsed by UN health and drug-control agencies, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, UNAIDS and the World Health Organization. These measures include needle and syringe exchange and medication-assisted therapy (for example, with methadone), both inside and outside prisons, as essential to address HIV among people who use drugs. The groups noted that a wealth of evidence proves harm reduction is essential to HIV prevention for people who use drugs. The action was taken against the direct advice of UNAIDS, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the UN special rapporteurs on health and on torture.

Up to 30 percent of all HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa occur via unsafe injecting drug use. The groups said there is clear evidence that harm reduction interventions can halt or even reverse HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs.

"This political declaration fails public health," said Craig McClure, executive director of the International AIDS Society. "Coming less than 12 months after UN member states convened a high level meeting in New York to restate the international commitment to fight HIV, the denial of any reference in the declaration to life-saving harm reduction programs is unacceptable and unconscionable."

More (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00247.htm)


infectiousdiseasenews

‘Enough is enough’: the HIV/AIDS epidemic among black Americans

In the United States, blacks are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. What is being done to curb this crisis?

No one statistic best illustrates the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the black population in the United States.

Blacks represent 12% of the population but account for 46% of Americans with HIV/AIDS, according to data from the CDC. Forty-five percent of all new HIV infections in the United States are now among blacks.

The rate of new HIV infections among black men is six times higher than it is for white men and three times higher than it is for Hispanic men. While there are fewer new infections among black women than black men, black women are far more affected by HIV than women of other races. They are 15 times more likely to contract HIV than white women and four times more likely than Hispanic women.

For this article, Infectious Disease News contacted several experts working on this health issue who agree that immediate action is needed. What remains unclear is exactly where that action should be focused.

In the United States, the most dramatic increases in the HIV/AIDS epidemic have been among black men who have sex with men. This fall, the CDC reported that 63% of new HIV infections in black men now occur among MSM. Young black men are especially impacted.

In 2006, there was a higher number of infections among black MSM aged 13 to 29 years than in any other age or racial group of MSM. Most experts cite stigma and homophobia as driving factors behind the heavy burden of HIV in this population.

Lisa Bowleg, PhD, associate professor in the department of community health and prevention at the School of Public Health at Drexel University in Philadelphia, is conducting research on the experiences of ethnic and sexual minorities. “Young black MSM live at the intersection of racism, sexism and homophobia,” she told Infectious Disease News. “When we talk to young men about these three societal pressures, we get a clear picture of a life of unrelenting stress.”

Bowleg said that such stresses can lead to chronic health problems, including obesity and hypertension, and she contends that HIV should be added to that list. She said the lives of many young MSM place them in situations conducive to HIV transmission, often on a daily basis.

Julie Scofield, executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, echoed this point. “You have issues of being gay and what it means in this country and how to address the needs of gay people,” she said. “Then you are addressing all of those things about being black. When you put those two together it ends up being more than a double whammy. All of this is compounded by issues of stigma and homophobia that exist in black communities. High-risk behaviors often are a natural consequence of such conditions.”

A further complication is self-stigmatization — or internalized stigmatization — that experts like Scofield have observed among black MSM. “We have seen black gay men wonder whether their lives have value,” she said. “The messages they have been raised with in the black community about what it means to be a man often tell them otherwise.”

Victoria Cargill, MD, MSCE, director of Minority Research and Clinical Studies at the Office of AIDS Research at the NIH, discussed this phenomenon. “Young black MSM absorb what they perceive to be the values around them and then use those values to beat themselves,” she said in a recent interview. “Many feel as though they are not living up to the call of being a black male, whatever that might mean.”
Identity is an issue

According to Cargill, black MSM who identify themselves primarily as homosexual are more likely to get tested for HIV, to understand HIV/AIDS protection and to be aware of risk behaviors and how to modify those behaviors.

..

Social determinants

David Malebranche, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the Emory University Division of General Medicine in Atlanta, discussed the shifting priorities of the fight against HIV/AIDS among black Americans. “I think the biggest challenge is moving our approach away from one that is crisis-mode and disease-first,” he said in an interview. “We need to work backward to an approach that looks at the larger structural and social conditions disproportionately impacting black Americans.” Among those conditions are poverty and inadequate housing, he said.

..

Effect of incarceration

“We know now that there is no evidence of widespread HIV transmission in prisons, but because prisons bring together such a high-risk population, it certainly provides a unique opportunity for intervention,” Fenton said. “This incidental point can have an impact not only for the prison itself but outside the walls as well.”

..

Intervention by black churches

Cargill said many black churches have taken the issue head-on by providing HIV/AIDS ministries and links to care. Others have simply provided a place for pamphlets in the church vestibule. Others grapple with the realization that the behaviors the church condemns often lead to HIV transmission. The response can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and from congregation to congregation.

..

National strategy

President Barack Obama has emphasized the need for a national strategy to tackle AIDS in the United States, particularly among black Americans. Scofield said that community organizations — both religious and secular — could provide the backbone of a coordinated national strategy.

..

Education needed

Education is key to fighting the HIV epidemic, Cargill said. The economic benefits are clear: Education helps people find employment that leads to stable housing and health insurance. Education is also likely to lead to better health-related decisions.

..

Role of physicians

Malebranche said that physicians need to do a better job of educating patients. “We all need to be better clinicians and consider the whole patient, not just the patient as disease,” he said.

Clinicians are trained to view the social history of patients in terms of broad, incomplete categories like "smoker" or "drug user." “This puts us in a position where we are working from a deficit model,” Malebranche said. “It does not embrace who our patients are or what their motivations are. Medical schools and residency programs need to develop a much more biopsychosocial model of health care and train people accordingly.”

The physician needs to be aware that the patient is not simply a black man, an injection drug user or an MSM, according to Cargill.

..

Public-private partnerships needed

Most researchers believe that the efforts by community-based organizations to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic are vital. “The PhDs are not necessarily churning out the best interventions,” Bowleg said. “There are people on the ground level who are really making things happen.”

Public-private partnerships with such organizations are mobilizing and making positive progress. “Leaders within black communities are really beginning to embrace this issue, and we are seeing mainstream institutionalized black organizations focusing on HIV/AIDS as a legitimate crisis,” Scofield said.

..

More (http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/37042.aspx)


mydesert

Generic drugs, early treatment among new strategies to fight HIV/AIDS

Generic drugs could be the next big thing in fighting the AIDS epidemic in the U.S., an HIV clinician told conference attendees in Cabazon today.

“What it means is more drugs for more people,” said Virginia Cafaro, M.D., an HIV clinician and medical director of The WellSpring Medical Group, one of the largest primary care practices in the country.

“Once you start having tolerable drugs and cheap, those are going to become the first lines of medication.”

Most of HIV meds in the U.S. are branded and very expensives costing as much as $1,000 monthly, Cafaro said.

AZT is expected to come out with a generic brand in the next couple of years. Some of the same medications sold in the U.S. are made as generics abroad and can be purchased for about $1.

Hosted by the Riverside Count Department of Public Health, the 5th annual Inland Empire HIV/AIDS conference discussed the epidemic and the need for multi-cultural approaches to educate the public. More than 250 people from various community based organizations serving AIDS patients and healthcare workers attended the conference.

Another emergy therapy that is expected to come on the market in the next couple of years is a gell contraceptive women can use to guard against infection, Cafaro said.

Early prevention is also having a huge impact. Because the HIV virus is drug resistant, traditional wisdom said to put off drug therapy. A guideline change last year encourages earlier treatment following a 2007 UK study that showed patients had fewer side effects.

Worldwide, about 25 million people have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS since 1990, amid unprecedented educational campaigns and medical research.

“My generation has failed to impart the history of this epidemic,” the Rev. Christoph Sandoval, an AIDS pioneer, said.

“This has been the profanity of the epidemic: cultural competance. The idea of tayloring the messenger and empowering the audience is critical.”

The Inland Empire accounted for nearly 10 percent of those in the state living with HIV/AIDS in 2007, according to data compiled by the San Bernardino County Health Department.

HIV inflection is an issue that is particularly important in the Palm Springs area, which boasts one of the largest gay populations per capita in the United States. Gay and bisexual men of all races account for the majority of those living with HIV.

Riverside County ranks fifth in the state with about 4,200 people infected or living with AIDS.

Each year in California, an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people become infected. About one in five do not know they are infected.

The conference also included topics on HIV prevention programs for seniors, medical marijuana, Hepatitis C and co-infection.

More (http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090311/NEWS01/90311008/-1/rss)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 12, 2009, 06:33:50 am
My friend, Bill Gates, you are a great man !


forbes

In Pictures: The 50 Richest People In The World

William Gates III

(http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2009/william-gates.jpg)

$40 billion
Microsoft/U.S.
53. Married, three children

Software visionary regains title as the world's richest man despite losing $18 billion in the past 12 months. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft last summer to devote his talents and riches to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Organization's assets were $30 billion in January; annual letter lauds endowment manager Michael Larson for limiting last year's losses to 20%. Gates decided to increase donations in 2009 to $3.8 billion, up 15% from 2008. Dedicated to fighting hunger in developing countries, improving education in America's high schools and developing vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. Appointed Microsoft Office veteran Jeffrey Raikes chief executive of Gates Foundation in September. Gates remains Microsoft chairman. Sells shares each quarter, redeploys proceeds via investment vehicle Cascade; more than half of fortune invested outside Microsoft. Stock down 45% in past 12 months. "Creative capitalist" wants companies to match profit making with doing good.


More (http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/10/50-richest-people-billionaires-2009-billionaires-wealth_slide_2.html?partner=yahoo)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 13, 2009, 12:59:46 pm
natap

HIV-1 Can Persist in Aged Memory CD4+ T Lymphocytes With Minimal Signs of Evolution After 8.3 Years of Effective Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

During long-term suppressive HAART, HIV is able to persist in terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells as proviral DNA of which the evolution is restricted to a minimum.....One suggested mechanism which could contribute to the latent reservoir is a low level of ongoing viral replication.11,48 Viral replication under selective pressure of HAART will ultimately lead to emergence of drug-resistant viruses. However, no major drug resistance mutations in protease did develop in our patients. Our study thus extends the findings of a previous study reporting a lack of drug resistance development in protease in PBMCs after 2 years of successful HAART by a period of almost 7 years

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/031209_02.htm)


A Noninferiority Study of Saquinavir/Ritonavir Versus Lopinavir/Ritonavir as Initial HIV-1 Therapy in Adults

(http://natap.org/2009/images/031309/TG-1.gif)
(http://natap.org/2009/images/031309/SQV-2.gif)

The results from the Gemini study demonstrate that SQV/r is noninferior to treatment with LPV/r in efficacy, is similar in tolerability, and results in significantly lower increases in TG values. These data provide further information on therapeutic options for the physician who must weigh the risk factors associated with initial therapy for HIV-1 therapy patients. The results also add further support to the current treatment guidelines that boosted PIs are a viable component of highly active antiretroviral therapy in first-line therapy of HIV-1-infected patients.

Inflammatory Markers among Abacavir and non-Abacavir Recipients in the Womens' Interagency HIV Study and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

Biomarker level changes were seen between the baseline & index visits (D-dimer and IL-6 decreases, hsCRP increases), and were comparable among persons who initiated ABC vs non-ABC containing HAART. From Jules: of note the biomarker levels as seen in graph below were all with normal ranges suggested by presenter in slide.
 
ABC use was not indepently associated with elevated plasma levels of hsCRP, IL=6 and d-dimer when compared to levls in non-ABC users.
 
WIHS women had lower CRP & IL-6 levels than MACS men at index visit.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_156.htm)


High-density Lipoprotein Particles but Not Low-density Lipoprotein Particles Predict Cardiovascular Disease Events in HIV Patients: Strategies for Management of ART Study


In the SMART study lower total HDL-p and especially small HDL-p are predictive for cardiovascular events in HIV patients.
 
Intermittent ART therapy (DC) is associated with a decrease in HDL-p concentration in comparison with continuous therapy (VS) after 1 month.
 
The long-term effects of ART on HDL-chol and particles and therapy to increase it need to be further studied in randomized trials in HIV patients.
 
From Jules: and in the next to last slide below you can see inflammation marker IL-6 was associated with CVD risk.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_155.htm)


Another Wave of Acquisitions Is Likely as Companies Worry About Their Drug Pipelines and Health-Care Change

Drug makers have begun a frenzied consolidation drive that is redrawing the industry landscape.
 
Merck & Co.'s $41.1 billion agreement to acquire Schering-Plough Corp., announced Monday, follows Pfizer Inc.'s $68 billion January takeover deal for Wyeth.. Roche Holding AG's seven-month pursuit of Genentech Inc. was also nearing an agreement Monday, according to people familiar with the situation.
 
The push to consolidate is being driven by the knowledge that the big companies' pipelines aren't producing enough new moneymakers to keep growth going when major products lose patent protection over the next couple of years. As a result, the drug giants are looking to consolidations that will cut costs by combining research and sales efforts and eliminating other overlaps.
 
What will be left is an industry dominated by behemoths, raising questions about the fates of smaller drug companies, as well as the countless small biotechs hungry for suitors. Even though their labs aren't what they used to be, the major pharmaceutical companies have product lineups that still command fat margins, giving most of them the cash to pursue deals.
 
"There are too many companies chasing smaller revenue opportunities, so there's got to be a shakeout," says analyst Tim Anderson at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. "If you've got cash and the value of the companies you want to buy is lower, it's the perfect setup."
 
Johnson & Johnson seems most likely to be involved in the next wave of consolidation in the drug industry, analysts say.

..

More (http://natap.org/2009/newsUpdates/031309_04.htm)


Gilead Sciences Agrees to Acquire CV Therapeutics for $20.00 Per Share
 
- Deal to Expand Gilead's Cardiovascular Franchise and Pipeline -
- Transaction Expected to be Neutral to Accretive to Gilead Earnings in 2010 -
- Gilead to Host Conference Call Today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern -

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) and CV Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CVTX) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Gilead will acquire CV Therapeutics for $20.00 per share in cash through a tender offer and second step merger. CV Therapeutics' Board of Directors has unanimously approved the transaction and has agreed to recommend to its stockholders that they tender their shares pursuant to the tender offer. CV Therapeutics will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.4 billion and is expected to be dilutive to Gilead's earnings in 2009, neutral to accretive in 2010 and accretive in 2011 and beyond.
 
CV Therapeutics focuses on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In 2008, its two marketed products, Ranexa (ranolazine extended-release tablets), indicated for the treatment of chronic angina, and Lexiscan (regadenoson) injection for use as a pharmacologic stress agent in radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging in patients unable to undergo adequate exercise stress, contributed to total revenues of $154.5 million. CV Therapeutics' pipeline includes multiple product candidates currently being evaluated for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, pulmonary diseases and diabetes..
 
"The acquisition of CV Therapeutics represents a unique opportunity to complement and strengthen our growing cardiovascular portfolio," said John C. Martin, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. "CV Therapeutics' experienced management team has built a portfolio of marketed and investigational products that address significant unmet medical needs, and that represent a strategic fit with Gilead's capabilities and focus. We look forward to working together with the CV Therapeutics team to bring Ranexa to more patients and deliver on the potential of the company's promising pipeline programs."
 
"Since our company's founding more than 15 years ago, we have been focused on the development of medications to address cardiovascular disease," said Louis Lange, MD, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CV Therapeutics. "Through the dedication and effort of our employees, we have made tremendous progress in changing the practice of cardiology. We are very pleased with the offer Gilead presented, which we believe represents compelling value for our shareholders."

More (http://natap.org/2009/newsUpdates/031309_02.htm)


physorg

Nanoparticles Generate Supersonic Shock Waves to Target Cancer

By mixing nanomaterials that act as fuel and oxidizer, researchers have created a combustible nano explosive that can generate shock waves with Mach numbers up to 3.

..

The power of these nano explosives could lead to a breakthrough in drug delivery for cancer and HIV, the researchers explain. First, drugs would be administered with a needle as usual, dispersing through the entire body. But then a hand-held device aimed at the tumor would send a pulse into the tumor. The shock waves created by the pulse would make tiny holes in the cells it was aimed at, allowing the drug to enter the tumor cells. Further, the force of the shock waves would push the drugs to those cells within milliseconds.

The researchers have tested the method on animal tissue, and have demonstrated a 99% success rate – almost all of the cells have properly accepted the drugs. Healthy cells, on the other hand, demonstrate much fewer side effects than with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy. As Gangopadhyay explains, the nano explosives have some different characteristics than conventional explosives.

“In conventional explosives, shock waves are generated during detonation,” she says. “In nanothermites, fast propagating chemical reactions can create shock waves without detonation.” Generating shock waves without detonation is the key to this technology, she says

More (http://www.physorg.com/news119702507.html)


sciencedirect

Treatment of oral thrush in HIV/AIDS patients with lemon juice and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and gentian violet

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of lemon juice and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) in the treatment of oral thrush in HIV/AIDS patients when compared with the control group using gentian violet aqueous solution 0.5%. Oral thrush is a frequent complication of HIV infection.

In the Moretele Hospice, due to financial constraints, the treatment routinely given to patients with oral thrush is either lemon juice directly into the mouth or a lemon grass infusion made from lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) grown and dried at the hospice. These two remedies have been found to be very efficacious therefore are used extensively. Gentian violet, the first line medication for oral thrush in South Africa, is not preferred by the primary health clinic patients due to the visible purple stain which leads them to being stigmatized as HIV-positive. Cymbopogon citratus and Citrus limon have known antifungal properties.

Methods

The study design was a randomised controlled trial. Ninety patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: gentian violet, lemon juice or lemon grass. Inclusion criteria included being HIV-positive with a diagnosis of oral thrush. The study period was 11 days and patients were followed up every second day. International ethical principles were adhered to during the study.

Results

Of the 90 patients, 83 completed the study. In the intention-to-treat analysis, none of the p-values were significant therefore the null hypothesis could not be rejected. In the analysis of the participants who actually completed the trial, the lemon juice showed better results than the gentian violet aqueous solution 0.5% in the treatment of oral thrush in an HIV-positive population (p<0.02). The null hypothesis in terms of the lemon grass and gentian violet could also be rejected on the basis of the Chi-square test and the likelihood ratio test (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Though the patient population was small, the use of lemon juice and lemon grass for the treatment of oral candidiasis in an HIV population was validated by the randomised controlled trial.

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7GVW-4V6RNJR-2&_user=10&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F2009&_rdoc=4&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%2320441%232009%23999839997%23917069%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=20441&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=25&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e9e0c701dd602092d8f823891de6d870)


aidsmap


Ritonavir-boosted atazanavir as protease-only maintenance therapy: 48-week results

In a small pilot study, 30 out of 34 people who had undetectable viral loads on protease inhibitor-based triple therapy were still virally suppressed 48 weeks after switching to a maintenance regimen of atazanavir/ritonavir only. No major protease inhibitor resistance mutations were found in any of the people whose viral load rebounded on the simplified treatment. The findings were published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases in March.

In several studies, Kaletra (lopinavir boosted by ritonavir) has proven surprisingly effective thus far as a maintenance regimen – i.e., at keeping HIV viral load suppressed in people who switch to Kaletra monotherapy after first suppressing their viral loads on a 'standard' combination regimen.

Investigators are now examining other maintenance regimens of ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PIs), such as in this prospective, 48-week, single-arm open-label study of atazanavir/ritonavir (Reyataz/Norvir). This trial enrolled 36 adults who had maintained an HIV viral load below 50 copies/ml for at least 48 weeks on their first antiretroviral regimen – in all cases, a protease inhibitor (PI) plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). (In fact, most had been suppressed for a considerable time – a median of 6.8 years.)

At study entry, all participants (except three, who were already taking boosted atazanavir) switched from their current PI to 300mg atazanavir plus 100mg ritonavir, once daily. Six weeks after this switch, two had dropped out of the study (one due to a viral load increase to 50 copies/ml); the remaining 34 then discontinued their NRTIs.

The main end point was time to virologic failure, defined as two consecutive HIV RNA measurements = 200 copies/ml. Previously-reported data had shown that 31 out of 34 patients (91%) maintained viral suppression at 24 weeks after the simplification to atazanavir/ritonavir. (This data was presented at the 13th CROI and subsequently published in JAMA).

Now, after 48 weeks, four participants failed by the stated definition: two at 12 weeks after simplifying, one at 20 weeks and one at 28 weeks. A fifth participant had a detectable plasma viral load of 508 copies/ml at the last study visit, unconfirmed by a second measurement.

Counting only the four repeated failures, the probability of virologic success at week 48 was 88%, with a lower one-sided 90% confidence interval [CI] limit of 81%. Counting the fifth participant as a treatment failure, the success rate was 84% (lower 90% CI, 76%). Finally, using a stricter definition of failure (repeated – although not single – HIV RNA measurements of = 50 copies/ml), the success rate was 82% (lower 90% CI, 73%). (None of these figures include the single participant who withdrew due to viral rebound after switching to atazanavir, but before dropping the NRTIs.)

The study also examined blood plasma levels of atazanavir, residual (low-level) viraemia, and drug resistance mutations. No major PI-associated resistance mutations were found by standard population genotyping in any of the five participants with virologic rebound, although several "minor" mutations (I64V and G73S) were identified. In eight virally suppressed participants who received single-copy assay (SCA) viral load testing, there were no significant differences in HIV RNA levels throughout the course of the study; median levels were less than 1.1 copies/ml overall at 48 weeks.

Atazanavir blood plasma concentrations were measured monthly, and were linked to likelihood of treatment failure. Three participants had undetectable atazanavir concentrations at least once during the study. Two of these three (67%) went on to virologic failure, which occurred in only in two of the 31 (6%) who had consistently detectable atazanavir levels, "strongly suggest[ing] that suboptimal adherence was an important factor in the development of virologic failure." Median plasma concentrations of atazanavir were also lower, although not statistically significantly, in participants with virologic failure (380 ng/ml vs 660 ng/ml, p=.18).

While noting that this was a non-randomised pilot study of patients with a very stable treatment history, the researchers concluded that it "adds to a growing body of data that simplified maintenance therapy with a boosted PI alone is effective in maintaining virologic control after initial suppression with a 3-drug regimen." Adherence and adequate drug concentrations may be particularly important in the continued success of such simplified treatments.

Source (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AFE8384A-9115-4B92-AE31-FF16133D3054.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 13, 2009, 01:17:52 pm
hivandhepatitis

Gastrointestinal Tolerance of the New Tablet Formulation of Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra)

Boosted protease inhibitors (PIs) are one of the most frequently-used components of combination antiretroviral therapy. One of the first to be widely used was lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), which combines a PI plus a boosting dose of ritonavir in the same pill -- originally a soft-gel capsule followed more recently by a tablet formulation.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/gas2.jpg)

The objective of the present study, published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, was to determine the difference in adverse gastrointestinal (GI) side effects in patients who switched from lopinavir-ritonavir soft-gel capsules to film-coated tablets.

The effectiveness of lopinavir/ritonavir has been widely demonstrated [1,2], the study authors noted as background, and it is currently one of the PIs used as first-line therapy for HIV patients [3,4].

The most commonly reported side effect associated with lopinavir/ritonavir is mild to moderate diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting, changes in blood lipid levels, elevated transaminase (ALT and AST) levels and altered glycemia profiles also have been widely reported. In the Phase 2/3 studies that supported the drug's approval, the drop-out rate due to adverse side effects was 4.5% among treatment-naive individuals and 9% among treatment-experienced patients over 48 weeks [5].

The original soft-gel capsule formulation of lopinavir/ritonavir contained 133.3 mg of lopinavir and 33.3 mg of ritonavir. In addition to GI side effects, lopinavir/ritonavir capsule had low bioavailability when taken without fatty foods, and it was necessary to keep the capsules refrigerated at 4-8 degrees Centigrade in order for the drug to maintain its effectiveness.

With the aid of new technology, it became possible to manufacture a new formulation, a solid-state dispersion of lopinavir/ritonavir in a film-coated tablet containing 200 mg of lopinavir and 50 mg of ritonavir.

The change in formulation created several advantages over the original capsule. These include reduction of the dose from 3 to 2 pills every 12 hours, and the ability to store the drug at room temperature -- a considerable benefit in resource-limited settings. In addition, the absorption rate of the tablets enables use of the drug with or without food [6,7].

Because the rate of adherence to therapy is closely related to the presence of side effects, it is widely accepted that many patients will stop treatment to avoid such adverse events, regardless of the clinical effectiveness of treatment [5].

Preliminary studies suggested that the new lopinavir/ritonavir tablet formulation could cut down the rate of adverse GI symptoms associated with the soft-gel capsules. However, no long-term studies had compared the 2 formulations. (This may no longer be possible, as production and marketing of the soft-gel capsule has been halted.)
In the present study, the researchers conducted an uncontrolled, open-label, prospective study that including a pre/post comparison using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) modified for the characteristics of HIV PIs.

Results

    * 70 patients were included, with a mean treatment time on the new formulation of 77 days.
    * The total GSRS score was 26.96 in the pre-switch survey and 26.27 in the post-switch survey,
       with a mean difference of 0.69 points (P = 0.47, not a statistically significant difference).
    * None of the survey questions reached the objective of a difference of at least 2 points, previously
       set as a clinically significant difference.
    * Only 1 patient dropped out of the study due to gastrointestinal symptoms.

In conclusion, the authors wrote, "Our study has unearthed no clinically significant differences in the gastrointestinal tolerance profile of lopinavir/ritonavir soft-gel capsules and lopinavir/ritonavir film-coated tablets, measuring this tolerance level by application of the GSRS scale."

The authors observed that there is only 1 prior study [8] that has provided information about the side effects of the new lopinavir/ritonavir formulation, an open Phase 1 study "in which the main aim is to show the pharmacokinetic bioequivalence between both formulations and to quantify gastrointestinal toxicity on the basis of the notified side effects."

Further, they noted, "From the total of 15 patients included [in that study], 4 report diarrhea in the lopinavir/ritonavir soft-gel capsule group and 2 in the lopinavir/ritonavir film-coated tablet group, with 2 patients reporting abdominal pain in both groups. This same research group published results from the extension of this study, with a total of 63 patients, again recording no differences in the side effects profile of the 2 formulations [6].

The authors of the present study emphasized that monitoring the side effects of antiretroviral therapy "should be considered as a key aspect, especially those symptoms impinging on the patients' quality of life, due to their influence on adherence and ipso facto on therapy effectiveness."

"The contribution of the current study," they wrote, "is the use of a specifically designed tool for monitoring side effects of this type, duly modified by us to bring it into line with the gastrointestinal tolerance profile of the PIs. We believe that this could be a useful tool for monitoring the adverse gastrointestinal symptoms of HIV patients."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/031009_e.html)


WHO and International Researchers Publish Updated List of HIV Drug Resistance Mutations

Emergence of drug resistance is one of the major barriers to long-term effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. When drugs are used alone, or with other drugs that are no longer active, HIV can develop mutations that allow it to replicate despite treatment. Some people are infected with HIV that already carries resistance mutations even though they have never received treatment (known as primary resistance).

Clinicians test whether an individual has resistant virus in 2 ways: phenotypic tests expose HIV to a drug in the laboratory to see how well the agent inhibits viral replication, while genotypic tests analyze the genome of an HIV isolate to see if it carries mutations known to be associated with resistance.

In the March 6, 2009 edition of the open-access online journal PLoS ONE, Diane Bennett from the World Health Organization (WHO) and colleagues from several international HIV/AIDS research institutions published an updated list of known resistance mutations.

"Programs that monitor local, national, and regional levels of transmitted HIV drug resistance inform treatment guidelines and provide feedback on the success of HIV-1 treatment and prevention programs," they wrote. "To accurately compare transmitted drug resistance rates across geographic regions and times, the World Health Organization has recommended the adoption of a consensus genotypic definition of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance."

In January 2007, WHO outlined criteria for developing a list of mutations for drug-resistance surveillance and compiled a list of 80 reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease mutations meeting these criteria. Since then, several novel antiretroviral drugs have been approved and several new drug-resistance mutations have been identified.

The updated list consists of 93 mutations including:

    * 34 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) resistance mutations
       at 15 RT positions;
    * 19 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance mutations at 10 RT positions;
    * 40 protease inhibitor (PI) resistance mutations at 18 protease positions.

The database does not yet included resistance mutations for the novel classes of HIV entry inhibitors and integrase inhibitors, but work in this area is underway.

See Stanford University press release, one of the institutions that collaborated in the project, providing further details about how the mutation list was compiled and how it can be used.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/031309_c.html)


Elevated Rate of Heart Attacks and Strokes in HIV Patients on HAART Begins to Decline at California Kaiser Permanente

As HIV positive people began to live longer thanks to the development of effective antiretroviral therapy, cardiovascular disease became a growing concern, especially given evidence that HIV infection itself and the drugs used to treat it can increase cardiovascular risk.

However, according to a Kaiser Permanente study presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal, elevated rates of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events among HIV positive patients appear to be declining, and may be approaching those of HIV negative individuals.

Daniel Klein and colleagues identified HIV positive adult members of the Kaiser Permanente California health system -- which cares for more than 6 million patients in California -- matching them 10:1 with HIV negative members of the same age, sex, and year of enrollment in the cohort.

Overall, they analyzed data from 20,305 HIV positive and 203,500 HIV negative participants, contributing 89,683 and 1,063,567 person-years (PY) of follow-up data, respectively. Almost all (90%) were men, the average age was 41 years, and the HIV positive group included a slightly larger percentage of white patients (56%) than the HIV negative group (47%).

Using a standardized disease classification system, the investigators collected information on hospitalizations for myocardial infarctions (MIs or heart attacks) and cerebral vascular disease (strokes).

Results

    * In unadjusted data from 1996 through 2008, the MI hospitalization rate was 3.0 per 1000 PY for
       HIV positive patients (264 events) compared with 1.7 per 1000 PY for HIV negative participants
       (1800 events) (P < 0.001).
    * Adjusted for age and sex, the annual MI rate fell by 5% in the HIV positive group and declined by
       1% in the HIV negative group
    * The unadjusted stroke hospitalization rate was 1.8 per 1000 PY for HIV positive
       patients (160 events) compared with 1.1 per 1000 PY for HIV negative
       participants (1136 events) (P < 0.001).
    * Adjusted for age and sex, the annual stroke rate stayed the same (0% change) in the HIV positive
       group but rose by 3% in the HIV negative group
    * Over the successive time periods, crude MI hospitalization rates among HIV positive patients were
      as follows:
        o  2.6 per 1000 PY in 1996-1997;
        o  3.3 per 1000 PY in 1998-1999;
        o  2.8 per 1000 PY in 2000-2001;
        o  3.7 per 1000 PY in 2002-2003;
        o  3.1 per 1000 PY in 2004-2005;
        o  2.5 per 1000 PY in 2006-2008.
    * Crude stroke hospitalization rates among HIV positive patients were as follows:
        o  1.7 per 1000 PY in 1996-1997;
        o  0.9 per 1000 PY in 1998-1999;
        o  1.8 per 1000 PY in 2000-2001;
        o  2.0 per 1000 PY in 2002-2003;
        o  2.0 per 1000 PY in 2004-2005;
        o  2.0 per 1000 PY in 2006-2008.
    * Looking at adjusted rate ratios for MI hospitalizations among HIV positive compared with HIV
      negative participants, the excess rate fell to borderline significance in the most recent period:
        o  RR 1.9 in 1996-1997 (P = 0.011);
        o  RR 2.3 in 1998-1999 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 2.0 in 2000-2001 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 2.2 in 2002-2003 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 1.7 in 2004-2005 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 1.3 in 2006-2008 (P = 0.057).
    * A similar pattern was observed in the latter 3 periods for adjusted rate ratios for stroke
       hospitalizations:
        o  RR 2.3 in 1996-1997 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 1.3 in 1998-1999 (P = 0.513);
        o  RR 1.7 in 2000-2001 (P = 0.010);
        o  RR 2.1 in 2002-2003 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 1.9 in 2004-2005 (P < 0.001);
        o  RR 1.4 in 2006-2008 (P = 0.052).
    * The percentage of HAART-treated patients receiving stavudine (d4T; Zerit) declined over time,
       while percentages taking tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada and Atripla combination pills) and
       atazanavir (Reyataz) increased.
    * Use of lipid-lowering medications increased over time.
    * The mean Framingham cardiovascular risk score for HIV positive members fell from 7.2
       in 2000-2001 to 6.4 in 2006-2008.

"Rates of MI and stroke in a matched sample of HIV negative patients were significantly lower than among HIV positive patients," the investigators stated.

However, they continued, "during 1996-2008, the rates of MI among HIV positive and HIV negative patients converged such that in 2006-2008 the difference in rates between the two groups became statistically non-significant."

"The convergence was due to a decline in the rate of MI among HIV positive patients while the rate among HIV negative patients was stable," they added.

With regard to strokes, they stated, "We observed the same convergence in stroke rates. However for stroke, the convergence was due to a rise in the rate of stroke among HIV negative patients while the rate among HIV positive patients was stable."

Explaining their findings, the investigators concluded, "Among HIV positive patients, the observed decline in rate of MI and stable rate of stroke is consistent with 1) a shift to more lipid friendly antiretroviral retroviral regimens, 2) increased use of lipid-lowering therapy, and 3) effective management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors as evidenced by stable Framingham risk scores despite an aging population."

Source (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/031309_a.html)


Does Efavirenz (Sustiva) Cause Lipid Accumulation in the Liver?

HIV positive patients taking antiretroviral therapy may experience an array of metabolic complications including lipodystrophy (body fat changes) and altered blood lipid profiles. But research has produced conflicting data about whether these problems are due to HIV infection itself, specific antiretroviral medications, or perhaps a combination of known and unknown factors.

While the thymidine analog NRTIs (stavudine [d4T, Zerit] and zidovudine [AZT, Retrovir]), the "d-drugs" (stavudine and didanosine [ddI, Videx]), and protease inhibitors have most often been linked to metabolic manifestations, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI] class was thought to have fewer metabolic side effects.

But the NNRTI efavirenz (Sustiva) may cause alterations in lipid metabolism that lead to fat accumulation in the liver (steatosis), according to a poster presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) last month in Montreal.

Juan Esplugues from the University of Valencia in Spain and colleagues analyzed molecular mechanisms that might be implicated in alterations of lipid metabolism associated with efavirenz, as well as the role of the so-called "master switch" of regulation of cellular bioenergetics, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPk).

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/lifecycle_of_lipoproteins.jpg)

In this laboratory study, non-infected Hep3B cells (a liver cell line) were stained with a fluorescent probe after 24-hour exposure to efavirenz (10, 25, or 50 mcM). In order to characterize the nature of accumulated lipids, cells were treated for 4 hours with efavirenz (10 and 25 mcM) and intracellular lipid content was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, expression of the fatty acid transporters CD36 and FATP was analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction assay. Selected experiments were performed in cells pretreated for 30 minutes with an AMPk inhibitor known as Compound C.

Results

    * Efavirenz induced neutral lipid accumulation in hepatic cells after 24-hour
       incubation (124-147 mcM with efavirenz vs 106 mcM in unexposed control cells).
    * In the nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, the effects of efavirenz were significant
       following 4-hour incubation.
    * The observed profile of the accumulated lipids suggested that they did not originate in the
       cell membranes.
    * Changes in lipid accumulation related to efavirenz were not observed when fatty acids were
       removed from the culture medium, demonstrating that these changes were due to fatty acid
       uptake from the surrounding extracellular material.
    * Likewise, changes in lipid accumulation did not occur in the presence of Compound C,
       suggesting that AMPk plays a key role in this lipid uptake.
    * The role of AMPk was also underlined by the fact that efavirenz was associated with increased
       expression of CD36 and FATP mRNA, 2 of the enzyme's downstream targets.

"Our results demonstrate that efavirenz increases fatty acid uptake in hepatic cells, leading to the accumulation of lipids," the investigators concluded. "These lipids have the same chemical composition as those that form droplets."

"Given the long-term treatment of patients with efavirenz, such effects on lipid content suggest that this drug exerts a pro-steatotic role in the liver and could alter lipid metabolism in this organ," they continued. "Due to the importance of the liver in the general regulation of lipids, efavirenz may also be implicated in some of the alterations that are characteristic of lipodystrophy."

Source (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/031309_b.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 13, 2009, 01:20:55 pm
inquirer

Aussie jailed for infecting ex-wife with HIV

SYDNEY -- An Australian hemophiliac was jailed for five years Friday for infecting his former wife with HIV and then lying about it to keep her from leaving him.

The 39-year-old man pleaded guilty to repeatedly having unprotected sex with the woman in 1996, despite knowing he was infected with the virus, local media reported.

Judge Thomas Wodak said the man acted with gross irresponsibility and selfishness and that his conduct was shocking, leaving his wife with AIDS.

The man had been HIV-positive since he was 15, when he contracted the virus from a contaminated blood transfusion in 1984.

After his wife, who was 28 at the time, tested positive for HIV, he told her he must have been infected by a former South African girlfriend, the judge said.

Judge Wodak said that he admitted the truth in 1997.

"[She] asked why you had lied to her about how you had become infected with HIV and you replied that you were concerned about your relationship with her if she knew the truth," he said.

The man pleaded guilty to one count of reckless conduct endangering life.

Source (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090313-193989/Aussie-jailed-for-infecting-ex-wife-with-HIV)


chinapost

People don't fear HIV/AIDS

NEW DELHI -- People are forgetting to practice safe sex because they no longer fear dying from HIV/AIDS, says the doctor who won the Nobel prize for helping to discover the virus.

Treatment advances mean “some people in my country, France, and other Western countries have become complacent — they see HIV/AIDS as a chronic disease — not as one that can kill,” virologist Francoise Barre-Sinoussi said.

The doctor shared the Nobel Prize last year with fellow French virologist Dr Luc Montagnier for their discovery in 1981 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.

Barre-Sinoussi noted there has been a huge leap forward in treatments for HIV/AIDS with a cocktail of drugs that reduces the level of virus in the body and likewise lowers the risk of passing on the pathogen to others.

But she told AFP she worried that people's confidence in retroviral drugs had created a false sense of security, leading to an increase in unprotected sex.

Speaking on the sidelines of a medical conference last week organized by French charity Foundation Merieux in New Delhi, she noted a “frightening” rate of new male-to-male infection in some Western countries such as France.

“We should tell the truth about HIV/AIDS — that new treatments can be very effective, helping them live years longer,” said Barre-Sinoussi.

But she added that HIV/AIDS patients are prone to other illnesses, especially cancers. They can also be resistant to the life-saving drugs, creating “major complications.”

Between 2001 and 2006, male-to-male sex was the largest HIV transmission category in the United States and the only one associated with an increasing number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 56,300 people were infected with HIV in the United States in 2006, according to the organization, with gay and bisexual men accounting for about half of all new infections.

Source (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/health/aids/2009/03/13/199952/People-don%27t.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 15, 2009, 04:31:47 pm
esciencenews

A natural approach for HIV vaccine

For 25 years, researchers have tried and failed to develop an HIV vaccine, primarily by focusing on a small number of engineered "super antibodies" to fend off the virus before it takes hold. So far, these magic bullet antibodies have proved impossible to produce in people. Now, in research to be published March 15 online by Nature, scientists at The Rockefeller University have laid out a new approach. They have identified a diverse team of antibodies in "slow-progressing" HIV patients whose coordinated pack hunting knocks down the virus just as well as their super-antibody cousins fighting solo. By showcasing the dynamic, natural immune response in these exceptional patients, the research, led by Michel C. Nussenzweig, Sherman Fairchild Professor and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, suggests that an effective HIV vaccine may come from a shotgun approach using of a wide range of natural antibodies rather than an engineered magic bullet.

"We wanted to try something different, so we tried to reproduce what's in the patient. And what's in the patient is many different antibodies that individually have limited neutralizing abilities but together are quite powerful," says Nussenzweig, who also is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. "This should make people think about what an effective vaccine should look like."

HIV strains mutate rapidly, making them especially wily adversaries of the immune system. But one element is shared almost universally among the diverging strains — a protein on the envelope of the virus called gp140 that HIV needs to infect immune cells. Prior research has shown that four randomly engineered antibodies that block the activity of that protein prevent the virus from infecting immune cells in culture, but all attempts to coax the human body into producing those four have failed.

So Johannes Scheid, a visiting student in Nussenzweig's lab who is now a doctoral candidate, turned his attention to the antibodies produced by six people infected with HIV whose immune systems put up an exceptionally strong fight. The patients represent the roughly 10 to 20 percent of HIV patients who are able to control the virus and are very slow to progress to disease. Their immune systems' memory B cells produce high levels of antivirus antibodies, but until now, researchers have known little about the antibodies or how effective they are.

With help from Rockefeller's Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Rockefeller scientists David D. Ho and Jeffrey V. Ravetch, Scheid and colleagues isolated 433 antibodies from these individuals' blood serum that specifically targeted the envelope protein — the chink in HIV's protean armor. He cloned the antibodies and produced them in bulk, mapped which part of the envelope protein each targeted, and gauged how effective each was in neutralizing the virus. In the process, he identified a new structure within the envelope protein — called the gp120 core — that had never been recognized as a potential target for antibodies. "It's the first time that anyone has defined what is really happening in the B cell response in these patients," says Scheid.

Scheid's work shows that it's common for these antibodies to have neutralizing activity, says Nussenzweig. But each antibody alone has limited ability to fight the virus. "Individually, they're not as strong as the Famous Four," says Nussenzweig, referring to the high-profile super antibodies on which several vaccine attempts have been based. But in high concentrations, a combination of the sets of antibodies cloned from the individual patients seemed to act as teams to knock down the virus in cell culture as well as any single antibody studied to date. These natural antibodies were also able to recognize a range of HIV strains, indicating that their diversity may be an advantage over a single super antibody that focuses on only one part of the virus, which can mutate. The findings suggest that research into vaccines that mimic this natural antibody response could pay off.

Source (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/15/a.natural.approach.hiv.vaccine)


fda

FDA approved first DNA test for two types of human papillomavirus

Agency also approved second DNA test for wider range of HPV types.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the first DNA test that identifies the two types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause the majority of cervical cancers among women in the United States.

The test, called Cervista HPV 16/18, detects the DNA sequences for HPV type 16 and HPV type 18 in cervical cells. Differentiating these HPV types gives health care professionals more information on a patient’s risk of subsequently developing cervical cancer.

A positive Cervista 16/18 test result indicates whether HPV type 16, 18 or both types are present in the cervical sample.

The FDA also approved yesterday the Cervista HPV HR test, which is the second DNA test that detects essentially all of the high-risk HPV types in cervical cell samples. The Cervista HPV HR test uses a method similar to the Cervista HPV 16/18 test to detect the DNA sequences of these HPV types.

In women age 30 and older or women with borderline cytology, the Cervista HPV 16/18 test can be used together with cytology and the Cervista HPV HR test to assess risk of cervical disease.

“Results from these two tests, when considered with a physician’s assessment of the patient’s history, other risk factors, and professional guidelines, can help physicians better determine risk and could lead to better patient management,” said Daniel G. Schultz, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 6 million Americans become infected with genital HPV each year and that more than half of all sexually active women and men become infected at some time in their lives.

For most women, the body's own defense system clears the virus and infected women do not develop related health problems. However, some HPV types can cause cell abnormalities on the lining of the cervix that later can become malignant. While there are many different types of HPV, types 16 and 18 cause about 70 percent of all cervical cancers.

Cervista HPV 16/18 and Cervista HPV HR are manufactured by Madison, Wis.-based Third Wave Technologies.

More (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01974.html)


washingtonpost

HIV/AIDS Rate in D.C. Hits 3%

At least 3 percent of District residents have HIV or AIDS, a total that far surpasses the 1 percent threshold that constitutes a "generalized and severe" epidemic, according to a report scheduled to be released by health officials tomorrow.

Video (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2009/03/13/VI2009031303066.html)


That translates into 2,984 residents per every 100,000 over the age of 12 -- or 15,120 -- according to the 2008 epidemiology report by the District's HIV/AIDS office.

"Our rates are higher than West Africa," said Shannon L. Hader, director of the District's HIV/AIDS Administration, who once led the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's work in Zimbabwe. "They're on par with Uganda and some parts of Kenya."

"We have every mode of transmission" -- men having sex with men, heterosexual and injected drug use -- "going up, all on the rise, and we have to deal with them," Hader said.

In addition to the epidemiology report, the city is also releasing a study on heterosexual behavior tomorrow. That report, funded by the CDC, was conducted by the George Washington University School of Health and Health Services.

Among its findings: Almost half of those who had connections to the parts of the city with the highest AIDS prevalence and poverty rates said they had overlapping sexual partners within the past 12 months, three in five said they were aware of their own HIV status, and three in 10 said they had used a condom the last time they had sex.

..

More (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031402176.html?wprss=rss_metro/dc)


natap

Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Semen and Plasma: Investigation of Sexual Transmission Risk Behavioral Correlates

We found that 53% of men with undetectable plasma viral loads had measurable virus in their semen
 
the majority of HIV transmission risk behavior in our sample occurred among men who had the highest concentration of HIV in their semen. It is noteworthy that differences in sexual activity between men with higher and relatively lower concentrations of HIV in semen were significant only for insertive sexual acts. One factor that may explain these findings was the potential co-occurrence of other STIs.

The association of higher rates of insertive intercourse and semen viral loads may therefore be a function of asymptomatic or subclinical urethritis
 
We recommend that future research investigating relationships between sexual transmission risk behavior and semen viral loads perform more comprehensive clinical examinations for clinical and subclinical urethritis and conduct more comprehensive testing for STIs on larger samples. We also recommend that HIV-positive men be warned that they cannot infer their infectiousness from their plasma viral load test results and that behavioral risk reduction practices remain the only means for preventing the spread of HIV.
 
Analyses of sexual transmission risk behaviors showed that men with greater concentrations of HIV in their semen relative to concentrations of HIV in plasma reported significantly greater rates of unprotected vaginal intercourse and total number of unprotected sexual intercourse occasions as the insertive partner than men with equal to or greater concentrations of virus in their plasma than semen.
 
We were particularly interested in patterns of transmission risk behaviors exhibited by men who were more infectious than implicated by their plasma viral load. Given that greater concentrations of virus are typically detected in plasma relative to serum,12 and the demonstrated association between urethritis and viral load in semen,17 we hypothesized that men who presented higher viral loads in semen than blood would be more likely to have a recent STI and would exhibit higher rates of HIV transmission risk behaviors than men whose plasma viral load was equal to or less than their semen viral load.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/031609_01.htm)


physorg

A sticky business -- how cancer cells become more 'gloopy' as they die

The viscosity, or 'gloopiness', of different parts of cancer cells increases dramatically when they are blasted with light-activated cancer drugs, according to new images that provide fundamental insights into how cancer cells die, published in Nature Chemistry today.

More (http://www.physorg.com/news156348853.html)


belfasttelegraph

Might be true worldwide..

Sexual healing

Have you ever found yourself daydreaming while standing in a shop queue, thrust into consciousness by the shocking realisation that you're staring intensely at the condom section?

Or, have you flippantly lifted a colourful little package while instantaneously reading the dreaded words ‘Extra-Ribbed For Heightened Sensitivity and Pleasure'?

Despite apparent sexual enlightenment, sex remains intertwined with guilt and shame and the mere existence of condoms can render us red-faced with embarrassment.

The Fusion Condoms Sex Survey has delved into our inherent attitudes towards sex, uncovering some |extremely disquieting revelations.

Approximately 8,000 UK residents, 500 from Northern Ireland, were polled and it's now critically apparent that performing safe sex is unequivocally low on our agendas.

Embarrassment at purchasing condoms is a serious matter as it precipitates risk-taking behaviours.

The results from this comprehensive survey indicate that this fear has contributed to the reported doubling of HIV incidents within Northern Ireland from 2007-2008.

Studies have also shown that between 2002-2006, there were dramatic increases in chlamydia, which rose by 51 per cent, gonorrhoea by 11 per cent, genital warts by 17 per cent, and syphilis, which increased by an |astounding 139 per cent.

“There's approximately a 40 per cent divorce rate in Northern Ireland,” says managing director of Fusion Condoms, Shandip Shah.

“Consequently more middle-aged people are looking for new, or multiple partners, and they're not using effective protection. There's also the naivety that nothing could happen to you.

“Promiscuity has become more acceptable and combined with the feelings of invincibility experienced by the young, life-threatening decisions are being made.

“The stats from the survey showed that 65 per cent of people in Northern Ireland are embarrassed by buying condoms.”

The research also revealed that 93 per cent of Northern Ireland respondents want more discreet packaging to alleviate their discomfort, while 83 per cent believe condoms are over-priced.

Despite the undisputed gravity of the statistics and Northern Ireland's sexual-health problems, the survey also disclosed some relatively light-hearted trends and attitudes towards sex.

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius claimed: “The sexual embrace can only be compared with music and prayer.”

However, according to 15 per cent of the Northern Irish participants, the joy of sex doesn't remotely compare with their enjoyment of alcohol.

And 52 per cent of both sexes questioned said size does not matter.

We also had the lowest regional figure in regards to the number of sexual encounters with more than one partner experienced within 24 hours.

Source (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sexual-healing-14227920.html?r=RSS)


businesswire

Dr. Margaret Hamburg Nominated to Lead FDA and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein Nominated as Deputy Commissioner

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood released the following statement today commending President Barack Obama for his nomination of Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner and appointment of Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

“BIO welcomes the nomination of Dr. Hamburg as the next FDA Commissioner and we urge the Senate to move swiftly to confirm her. The vital work of the FDA touches every American in very personal ways – from ensuring the safety of the foods we serve our families to overseeing the medicines we give our children when they are sick. The FDA needs a strong, confirmed Commissioner to effectively fulfill its expanding obligations, advocate for sufficient agency resources, ensure the integrity of scientific decisions and promote morale and a sense of mission at the agency.

“Dr. Hamburg’s strong background in public health and bioterrorism make her uniquely qualified for this important position. She served as health commissioner for New York City where she implemented several innovative public health programs, including a control program that reduced New York’s tuberculosis rate by 46 percent She has an understanding of the federal health infrastructure, having worked as an AIDS researcher at the National Institutes of Health and later as an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Hamburg also has served as a key member of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on reducing the public safety threat from chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

“BIO also welcomes the appointment of Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as Deputy Commissioner as he brings an impressive resume to the FDA as well. A Harvard-trained doctor, he has served as Health Commissioner of Baltimore, Maryland for the past four years. Dr. Sharfstein understands the legislative process well, having served on the professional Committee staff of U.S. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA).

“Our member companies recognize that a reliable, science-driven regulatory environment fosters innovation, promotes economic competitiveness, and maintains high patient and consumer confidence in the products that FDA regulates. Changes in the world are affecting the health and well-being of every American and the safety of the food that we eat and the drugs, biologics, and medical devices upon which we depend. We welcome the nomination of an FDA Commissioner who can help the agency address the myriad challenges of the 21st century.

“The next FDA Commissioner will play a pivotal role in strengthening the FDA’s ability to operate a modern, scientifically-based agency and ensuring that the agency is fully resourced and prepared to confront future challenges. We appreciate the fact that the Administration has made the swift identification of a FDA Commissioner a priority. The American public deserves such steady, capable and visionary leadership.

“We look forward to working with the next Commissioner, her leadership team and the Congress to ensure that the FDA has the resources necessary to protect America’s patients and consumers.”

Source (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090315005030&newsLang=en)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 17, 2009, 06:38:03 am
sciencedaily

New Technology Opens Gateway To Studying HIV-specific Neutralizing Antibodies

Many scientists believe a vaccine that prevents HIV infection will need to stimulate the body to make neutralizing antibodies, infection-fighting proteins that prevent HIV from entering immune cells. Previous research has shown that some individuals who control HIV infection without medication naturally produce antibodies able to neutralize diverse strains of HIV.

Until now, however, scientists were hampered in studying the way effective HIV-neutralizing antibodies arise during natural HIV infection because scientists lacked the tools to obtain more than a few HIV-specific antibodies from any given individual.

A new research endeavor has assembled a group of state-of-the-art techniques for the first time to study the phenomenon of natural antibody-mediated HIV neutralization. The project demonstrates how this system can isolate dozens of HIV-specific antibodies from a single HIV-infected individual, something never accomplished before. Applied prospectively to a large group of HIV-infected individuals, the system will enable scientists to identify and define the diverse set of neutralizing antibodies that arise during natural HIV infection, information that may prove important in vaccine development.

John R. Mascola, M.D., Richard T. Wyatt, Ph.D., and Mark Connors, M.D., all of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, participated in the research, which NIAID co-funded. Michel C. Nussenzweig, M.D., Ph.D., of The Rockefeller University led the team of 22 co-investigators in this collaboration.

The process begins with collecting memory B cells, which produce antibodies, from HIV-infected individuals previously screened for strong neutralizing antibody responses. These B cells are incubated with a specially flagged protein from the outer shell of an HIV virus particle. The HIV-specific memory B cells bind to the flagged protein, enabling researchers to identify these cells, isolate and store them. Then, for each of the HIV-specific memory B cells, a pioneering technique expresses the genes that code for HIV-specific antibodies. Finally, assays help scientists determine which of these antibodies can effectively neutralize HIV.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316092010.htm)


Waking Up Dormant HIV

HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) has emerged as an extremely effective HIV treatment that keeps virus levels almost undetectable; however, HAART can never truly eradicate the virus as some HIV always remains dormant in cells. But, a chemical called suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), recently approved as a leukemia drug, has now been shown to 'turn on' latent HIV, making it an attractive candidate to weed out the hidden virus that HAART misses.

Matija Peterlin at UCSF and colleagues had previously identified another chemical called HMBA that could activate latent HIV, but the risk of several toxic side effects made HMBA clinically non-viable. However, the chemically similar SAHA had received FDA approval, making it a potentially safer alternate.

So, the researchers examined whether SAHA had any effect on HIV latency. They found that SAHA could indeed stimulate latent HIV to begin replicating, which exposes the infected cell to HAART drugs. SAHA could activate HIV in both laboratory cells as well as from blood samples taken from HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy. Importantly, this successful activation was achieved using clinical doses of SAHA, suggesting toxicity will not be a problem.

This study appeared in the March 13 issue of Journal of Biological Chemistry

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316120848.htm)


UV Light Cuts Spread Of Tuberculosis

Ultraviolet lights could reduce the spread of tuberculosis in hospital wards and waiting rooms by 70%, according to a new study, published in PLoS Medicine today. The study, which explored the transmission of tuberculosis (TB) from infected patients to guinea pigs, suggests that installing simple ultraviolet C (UVC) lights in hospitals could help reduce the transmission of TB, including drug-resistant strains.

Every year, over nine million people are infected with tuberculosis and nearly two million people die from the disease, according to the World Health Organisation. Infection rates are particularly high in places where vulnerable people are crowded together, such as hospitals, homeless shelters and prisons.

When a tuberculosis patient coughs, bacteria are sprayed into the air in tiny droplets, floating around the room and infecting other patients, visitors and healthcare staff. These bacteria can be killed by hanging a shielded UVC light from the ceiling with a fan to mix the air, say the researchers, from Imperial College London, the University of Leeds, Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Lima, Perú and other international institutions.

UVC light kills tuberculosis bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, by damaging their DNA so they cannot infect people, grow or divide. It is already used at high intensity to disinfect empty ambulances and operating theatres.

Dr Rod Escombe, the study's principal investigator from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Clinical Tropical Medicine at Imperial College London, said: "When people are crowded together in a hospital waiting room, it may take just one cough to infect several vulnerable patients. Our previous research showed that opening windows in a room is a simple way to reduce the risk of tuberculosis transmission, but this is climate-dependent – you can't open the windows in the intensive care ward of a Siberian hospital for example."

"Thankfully, the rate of tuberculosis infection in countries like the UK is relatively low and people who are infected can be treated using antibiotics, which are readily available here. People are more likely to die from the disease in developing countries like Perú, because there are limited resources for isolating patients, diagnosing them quickly and starting effective treatment. Also, the prevalence of drug-resistant TB is much higher in the developing world. Preventing infection is much easier and cheaper than treating a patient with tuberculosis," added Dr Escombe.

Plans are already underway to install upper room UV lights in the chest clinic at St Mary's Hospital, part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which will be the first hospital to have them in the UK.

Introducing UVC lights could be a relatively low-cost measure, say the researchers. Currently, a typical UVC ceiling light costs around US$350 and replacement bulbs cost from US$25. The researchers are now working to develop more affordable US$100 units.

The impact of UV lights is greatest when combined with careful management of the air flow on the wards, as Dr Cath Noakes from the University of Leeds' Faculty of Engineering explains: "The lights must be set high enough to ensure patients and health workers are not overexposed, but if the lights only treat air at that level, there will be little benefit. To be most effective, ventilation systems need to create a constant flow of treated air down to patient level, and potentially infected air up towards the lights."

To reach their conclusions, scientists hung UVC lights in a hospital ward in Lima, Perú where 69 patients with HIV and TB were being treated. The researchers pumped air from the ward up to a guinea pig enclosure on the roof of the hospital for 535 consecutive days. The guinea pigs were split into three groups of approximately 150: the first group received air exposed to the UV lights in the ward, the second group received ward air treated with negative ionisers, and the third control group was given untreated air straight from the ward. The guinea pigs were given skin tests for tuberculosis once a month.

By the end of the experiment, 35% of the control group were infected with TB, compared to 14% of the ionised air group and 9.5% of the UVC group. 8.6% of the control group developed the active form of the disease after being infected with TB, compared to 4.3% of the ionised air group and 3.6% of the UVC group.

This research was funded by the Wellcome Trust, Sir Halley Stewart Trust and the Sir Samuel Scott of Yews Trust, Proyecto Vigia (USAID) and the charity Innovation for Health and Development (IFHAD).

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316201505.htm)


Combination Therapy Restores T Cell Numbers In HIV-infected Individuals

CD4+ T cell depletion by HIV is a major blow to the immune system. Combination antiretroviral therapy (c-ART) restores the T cell population, however not all patients respond to this therapy.

University of Paris researchers report that administration of interleukin-7 (IL-7) to c-ART--treated, HIV-infected patients with low T cell counts, boosted T cell numbers and was well tolerated for 48 weeks. HIV-infected patients may benefit from intermittent IL-7 therapy in combination with c-ART.

White blood cells known as CD4+ T cells are the main target of HIV. The virus hijacks these cells and replicates within them, which ultimately destroys the cell. This depletion of the T cell population represents a major blow to the immune system and puts HIV-infected individuals at increased risk of opportunistic infections. Treatment of HIV-infected individuals with a cocktail of drugs called combination antiretroviral therapy (c-ART) is able to restore the T cell population and help fight HIV infection, however not all patients respond to this therapy. The growth factor interleukin-7 (IL-7) is known to stimulate T cell production and survival, suggesting that IL-7 may help restore the T cell population during HIV infection.

In a new study published in the JCI, Yves Levy and colleagues at the University of Paris undertook a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of repeated IL-7 therapy over a 16-day period in 13 c-ART–treated, HIV-infected patients that possessed low T cell counts despite successful suppression of virus levels with c-ART. In these individuals, IL-7 was well tolerated and boosted the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which were able to mount an immune response against HIV. These effects were observed for 48 weeks. The data suggest that HIV-infected patients may benefit from intermittent therapy with IL-7 in combination with c-ART.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316173313.htm)


aidsmap

Swiss study finds moderate drug resistance; highlights difficulty of interpreting trends in changing treatment populations

A study published in the April st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases reports moderate drug resistance rates in a large Swiss cohort, while also cautioning that resistance data may be misleading if the treatment history of the population of interest is not taken into account. The cohort’s resistance level in 2007 was estimated to be 37% to 45%, much less than what has been reported in some other studies.

..

The Swiss HIV Cohort Study was the source of data for the recently reported findings. Researchers analysed data from 8064 antiretroviral-experienced men and women who had been examined at least once between 1999 and 2007. Cohort members were divided into three subgroups: those thought to be at high risk for resistance mutations because they had either taken weak early antiretroviral regimens or had experienced treatment failure; those thought to be at low risk because they were not undergoing treatment or had maintained viral suppression while on treatment; and those whose status was unknown. Most people in the high-risk group had initially been treated with one or two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

About 40% of the study population had undergone HIV genotypic resistance testing. Tests were categorised according to whether people had been in the high-risk subgroup, low-risk subgroup, or unknown subgroup when the sampling occurred. Researchers calculated the proportion of tests in each subgroup that indicated the presence of at least one major resistance mutation. Resistance to fusion inhibitors was disregarded, as was resistance to some etravirine (Intelence) mutations that may take multiple forms.

..

This shift in the composition of the study population appeared to influence long-term resistance trends. In 1999, between 50% and 57% of people were estimated to have at least one resistance mutation, while in 2007, the proportion had dropped to between 37% and 45%. Since resistance mutations generally persist, the change may seem paradoxical. But the researchers believe the most likely explanation to be the simultaneous growth of the low-risk subgroup and shrinking of the high-risk subgroup over time.

To distinguish between changes in the study population and changes in resistance levels, the researchers performed the same set of analyses on a cohort of individuals seen every year from 2002 through 2007. In other words, this “closed” cohort had no deaths or losses to follow-up, and all cases of resistance were carried forward. Resistance levels were estimated at 45% to 52% in 2002, and 49% to 55% in 2007. Importantly, increases in prevalence became smaller over the years.

Resistance change rates, calculated using lower-bound estimates for the open and closed cohort, were stratified according to the potency of cohort members’ first antiretroviral regimens. In the open cohort, resistance increased by 1.5% per year among people who had initiated therapy with a highly effective regimen that included an unboosted protease inhibitor (PI), and by 0.6% per year among those who had started on newer regimens (combinations including either a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or a ritonavir-boosted PI). In the closed cohort, resistance increased by 1.2% per year for people who had started on unboosted PIs and by 1.6% per year for people who had started on newer regimens.

The researchers report that other studies based on analyses of antiretroviral resistance databases have found resistance rates of 76% to 90%. “However, patients who had undergone drug resistance tests are not representative of the entire [antiretroviral]-exposed population,” they note. “Studies of such patients tend to be biased toward patients who had experienced problems while undergoing therapy.”

The Swiss HIV Cohort Study appears to be very representative of diagnosed HIV-positive people in Switzerland, and the researchers suggest that findings in this study population may also apply to HIV-positive people in other countries with highly developed health care systems.

The researchers speculate that the prevalence of antiretroviral resistance will continue to decrease at the population level in developed countries “because of the observed dilution effects, but also, and more importantly, because durable therapy success can more often be achieved with newer drugs and thus the emergence of new drug resistance is considerably slowed.”

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/79F5821E-1C0A-4373-B505-14E1E2566A87.asp)


High rate of anal HPV infection, low rate of clearance and significant new infections in HIV-positive gay men

Anal infection with human papilloma virus was almost universal amongst HIV-positive gay men in a Canadian study published in the April 1st edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study also found that there was a high prevalence of infection with cancer-associated strains of human papilloma virus and that few mean cleared such infections in the course of the study.

Furthermore, during the three years of the study a significant proportion of men became infected with strains of human papilloma virus associated with a high risk of pre-cancerous and cancerous cell changes in the anus.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1D283AC1-8C8B-4DDB-88EB-E490C194B13D.asp)


Circumcision trial shows how HIV and herpes amplify each other: circumcision protects against both

New findings from the South African randomised controlled trial (RCT) of circumcision have found that HIV and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) independently reinforce each others’ effects. People with one infection in the study were more likely to acquire the other infection. The study also found that circumcision protected men in the study against HSV-2 as well as HIV.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/65D8D8DE-0C2B-4E68-A1B5-BA74EF88EEC1.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 17, 2009, 06:47:04 am
hivandhepatitis

Response to Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Individuals with and without HIV Infection

It is widely recognized that antiretroviral therapy may adversely affect blood lipid levels in people with HIV-a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is particularly true of protease inhibitor-based regimens. However, it is not known whether dyslipidemia is more difficult to treat in HIV positive patients compared to HIV negative individuals.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/choleshtline.jpg)

In the current retrospective cohort study, published in the March 2009 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from Kaiser Permanente Northern California and the University of California at San Francisco compared the effectiveness and safety of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with and without HIV infection.

The population evaluated was comprised of 829 patients with HIV infection and 6941 patients without HIV who were starting lipid-lowering therapy for elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or triglyceride levels. The investigators determined percentage change in lipids over 12 months and liver- and muscle-related clinical and laboratory adverse events.

Results

    * Compared to HIV negative individuals, HIV positive patients beginning statin therapy had smaller
       reductions in LDL cholesterol levels (25.6% vs 28.3%; P = 0.001), a finding that did not vary
       according to antiretroviral drug class.
    * HIV positive patients starting gemfibrozil therapy had substantially smaller reductions in triglyceride
       levels than HIV negative participants (44.2% vs 59.3%; P < 0.001).
    * Triglyceride reductions with gemfibrozil varied by antiretroviral drug class: 44.0% (P = 0.001) in
       patients receiving only protease inhibitors (PIs), 26.4% (P < 0.001) in patients receiving PIs and
       non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and 60.3% (P = 0.94) in patients
       receiving only NNRTIs only.
    * Rhabdomyolysis (a type of muscle damage) was diagnosed in 3 HIV positive patients and 1 HIV
       negative participant.
    * No clinically recognized cases of myositis or myopathy (other types of muscle inflammation and
       injury) were observed.
    * The overall risk for laboratory adverse events was low (< 5%), although it was higher for patients
       with HIV.

The study authors noted several possible limitations of their study: "Laboratory measurements were not uniformly performed according to HIV status, and adequate fasting before lipoprotein testing could not be verified. In addition, results may not be completely generalizable to uninsured persons, women, or certain racial or ethnic minorities."

Based on their findings, the authors concluded that dyslipidemia, in particular hypertriglyceridemia (elevated triglycerides), is more difficult to treat in patients with HIV than in HIV negative individuals. However, they stated, "Patients with HIV infection receiving NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy and gemfibrozil had triglyceride responses similar to those in patients without HIV infection."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/031709_b.html)


Many Tuberculosis (TB) Cases are Preventable in People with HIV

Many cases of tuberculosis (TB) are preventable in HIV patients, according to a study published in the March 2009 issue of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/tb_day6.gif)

In this analysis, researchers from Vanderbilt University and the Comprehensive Care Center in Nashville, Tennessee determined the proportion of TB cases that could have been prevented among HIV positive individuals receiving medical care in the HAART era.

The investigators conducted an observational cohort study that included 360 HIV-infected patients with at least 2 outpatient visits at the Comprehensive Care Center between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2005.

A potentially preventable TB case was defined as one in which the patient received no screening tuberculin skin test (TST) prior to TB diagnosis, or a case in which a patient with a positive screening TST did not complete treatment for latent infection.

Results

    * Of 3601 HIV positive individuals in care, 29 developed TB.
    * Of these 29, 20 (69%) had not had a TST performed as part of routine screening.
    * Of the 9 patients who were screened, 4 had a positive test.
    * 3 of these individuals completed treatment for latent TB infection.
    * Of 29 total TB cases, therefore, 21 (72%) were potentially preventable with appropriate care.

Based on these results, the study authors concluded, "Most TB cases in this cohort were potentially preventable had the patients undergone a screening TST followed by treatment of latent infection if they had a positive TST."

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/031709_c.html)


Entecavir (Baraclude) Produces Greater Early HBV DNA Suppression than Adefovir (Hepsera) in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Several nucleoside/nucleotide analog agents are active against hepatitis B virus (HBV), but development of drug resistance can present a barrier to long-term treatment success.

The EARLY Study (aka ETV-079) was an international (Canada, the U.S., and several countries in Asia) randomized, open-label trial comparing the newer nucleoside analog entecavir (Baraclude) versus the nucleotide analog adefovir (Hepsera).

Previously presented at the April 2007 annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and at May 2007 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) conference, the study findings have now been published in the January 2009 issue of Hepatology.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/nleung1..jpg)
Nancy Leung

Nancy Leung and colleagues analyzed early antiviral activity and viral kinetic profiles of entecavir and adefovir in 69 hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B patients who had not previously received nucleoside/nucleotide analogs. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 0.5 mg/day entecavir or 10 mg/day adefovir for a minimum of 52 weeks.

The primary efficacy analysis compared mean reductions in HBV DNA at week 12 adjusted for baseline levels.

Results

    * Entecavir demonstrated superior early antiviral activity and viral kinetic profiles compared with
       adefovir.
    * At week 12, the mean change from baseline in HBV DNA was -6.23 log10 copies/mL in the
       entecavir arm versus -4.42 log10 copies/mL in the adefovir arm (a mean difference of -1.58 log10
       copies/mL; P < 0.0001).
    * Both drugs demonstrated biphasic viral kinetics, with a first phase of rapid HBV DNA decline lasting
       10 days.
    * The advantage of entecavir over adefovir was apparent as early as day 10 (difference of -0.66
       log10 copies/mL)
    * There was considerably less variability in the extent of HBV DNA reduction in the entecavir arm.
    * Both the mean decrease in HBV DNA and the proportion of patients achieving HBV DNA < 300
       copies/mL were greater in the entecavir arm compared with the adefovir arm at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12,
       24, and 48.
    * Early virological response was a significant predictor of subsequent virological response.
    * Patients with lower HBV DNA levels at day 10 were more likely to achieve HBV DNA < 300
       copies/mL at week 48.
    * At week 48, just 1 patient (3%) in the entecavir arm had HBV DNA > 100,000 copis/mL,
       compared with 15 patients (47%) in the adefovir arm.
    * Both entecavir and adefovir were generally well tolerated.

Based on these findings, the study authors concluded, "Entecavir therapy resulted in earlier and superior reduction in HBV DNA compared with adefovir in nucleoside-naive HBeAg positive patients with chronic hepatitis B."


springerlink

Effect of Suppressing HIV Viremia on the HIV Progression of Patients Undergoing a Genotype Resistance Test after Treatment Failure

Background
Treatment guidelines for multi-experienced HIV patients have recently evolved from aiming to preserve immunity to achieving virological success, largely due to the availability of new antiretroviral drugs and drug classes. To assess the role of viral suppression on clinical progression following a genotypic resistance test (GRT), we have examined a database on patients failing to respond to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Methods
Patients undergoing a GRT after failure to respond to cART between January 1999 and May 2006 were followed up to December 2006. Time-to-death or a new AIDS event/death were considered to be analysis end-points. Viral suppression (< 50 copies/ml [c/ml]) after GRT, a time-dependent covariate, was tested as predictor of disease progression.

Results 
Overall, 1,389 patients were included in this observational study. After the GRT, patients were followed up to 72 months (median 28 months, IQ range 13–51 months). During the follow-up, 124 patients (9%) died, and 86 (6%) experienced a new AIDS event. 774 patients (56%) achieved < 50 c/ml HIV-RNA. The results of an adjusted Cox model showed that undetectable HIV-RNA after the GRT was significantly associated with a lower risk of death (harzard ration HR 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–0.76) and AIDS/death (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.28–0.65). The adjusted hazard ratios suggested a twofold risk reduction. A threefold risk reduction of death related to achieved undetectable viral load was found in patients with resistance to more than one drug class and with CDC-C diagnosis; a fourfold reduction was found in patients with < 200 CD4+/mm3.

Conclusions
Maximal viral suppression has a large impact on HIV progression, particularly in heavily pre-treated individuals. Our findings support the latest treatment guidelines, which have rapidly evolved from an initial lack of indication to suggestions, and finally to strong recommendations for achieving the goal of suppressing viremia.

More (http://www.springerlink.com/content/ch8g16221jjt2563/)


liebertonline

Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction Is Prevalent in HIV-Infected Patients

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has markedly improved survival in HIV-infected patients, but not without significant adverse effects including ART-associated dyslipdemia and insulin resistance, which may in part contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Other contributing factors to cardiovascular risk may include uncontrolled HIV replication, the effects of HIV and ART on vascular endothelium and inflammatory cytokines.

Diastolic dysfunction may be an early sign of cardiovascular disease.
Our objective was to determine the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in HIV-infected patients without cardiovascular symptoms.

We enrolled 91 subjects in a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected patients without cardiovascular symptoms between September 2004 and August 2005, to assess whether demographics, HIV-related factors, cardiac risk factors, and ART were associated with diastolic dysfunction.
All subjects underwent two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging. Subjects were predominately male with a median age of 38 (interquartile range [IQR]: 33, 42) years and median ART duration 6.15 (IQR: 2.1, 8.4) years. Subjects had low Framingham risk scores.

Diastolic dysfunction was observed in 34 patients (37%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 27.4, 48.1).
Cardiac risk factors or poor prognostic indicators of AIDS progression were uncommon with no difference between subjects with or without diastolic dysfunction. A nonstatistically significant trend in increased rate of diastolic dysfunction was observed in patients receiving protease inhibitors 1 year or more, 44% versus 28%, respectively (univariate odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 0.83 to 4.90).

This was not observed with prolonged use of either non-nucleoside or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. A high prevalence of diastolic dysfunction (37%) in a cohort of HIV-infected patients on ART at low risk for AIDS and cardiovascular disease was demonstrated.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0142)


jaids

HIV-1 Can Persist in Aged Memory CD4+ T Lymphocytes With Minimal Signs of Evolution After 8.3 Years of Effective Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Background: Patients on long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were studied to determine persistence, drug resistance development, and evolution of HIV-1 proviral DNA.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained by large volume blood drawn (500 mL) from 8 clinically successfully treated patients who had received uninterrupted HAART for up to 8.9 years. HIV-1 load was determined by Taqman real-time polymerase chain reaction. Drug resistance mutations were determined by sequencing and ultrasensitive, allele-specific, reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: HIV-1 DNA load was significantly higher in aged memory (CD45RO+ CD57+) when compared with memory (CD45RO+ CD57-) and naive (CD27+ CD45RO-) CD4+ T cells after HAART. Sequencing revealed no major drug resistance mutations in protease in all patients and appearance of resistance mutations in RT in just 1 patient. In 1 of 5 patients with undetectable viremia during treatment, RT M184 substitutions were detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed short genetic distances between patient sequences.

Conclusions: During long-term HAART, HIV-1 is able to persist in terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells as proviral DNA. Viral evolution was restricted, and in 80% of the patients with undetectable viremia, no sign of viral replication could be detected.

More (http://www.jaids.org/pt/re/jaids/abstract.00126334-200904010-00001.htm)


natap

Review of HIV+ Patient's Immunological Response Rate to High-dose HBV Re-vaccination Series: Cd4 & viral load predict response

CONCLUSION
 
The preliminary data of this study suggest that more patients are likely to respond to the conventional HBV vaccine dose series if their CD4 counts are above 350 or they have undetectable viral load at the time of vaccination. In patients not responding to the conventional dose series, re-vaccinating with the high dose series may be a promising option. Future studies may include the comparison of high dose with conventional dose re-vaccination in HIV+ patients not responding to conventional dose vaccination series.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_176.htm)


The Long-term Use of Tenofovir in HIV/HBV Co-infection Induces a Marked Decrease in Liver Fibrosis

CONCLUSION

TDF induced a significant decrease in fibrosis level after mean treatment duration of 29.6 months. Our findings suggest extending use of TDF in HBV-infected patients.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_170.htm)


Progression of Liver Fibrosis in a Large Cohort of HIV Patients Over 4 Years: Emerging Contribution of Antiretrovirals and Metabolic Abnormalities

CONCLUSION

Progression of liver fibrosis in HIV patients is associated with classical factors, as HCV co-infection or alcohol abuse, and may be less frequent in patients treated with NNRTI-based regimens. In addition, elements of the metabolic syndrome (high body mass index, hyperglycemia) may equally contribute to LFP in HIV patients.
 
(http://natap.org/2009/images/031709/Prog-2.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_161.htm)


Prolonged ART and Risk for Chronic Elevation of Alanine Aminotransferase in HIV-infected Persons without HBV or HCV Co-infections

CONCLUSION

The incidence of chronic ALT elevation was 3.7/100 person-years in patients without hepatitis virus co-infections. In multivariable models, prolonged ART, NRTI exposure, PI exposure, increased body mass index, and high alcohol use were associated with chronic ALT elevation. Long-term follow-up is needed to assess whether chronic ALT elevation will result in increased morbidity or mortality.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_166.htm)


independent

Handful of 20-year HIV survivors hold key to discovering vaccine

Researchers are looking into the antibodies that provide natural immunity

In a desperate attempt to reverse 25 years of failure to develop an Aids vaccine, scientists have a new approach: studying people who have been infected with HIV for many years without any signs of ill-health. The patients' secret? Natural immunity.

The researchers have investigated the virus-fighting antibodies found in the blood of six long-term survivors of HIV whose own immune systems appear to be capable of shrugging off the virus. Results of tests show that a prototype vaccine made from several of the antibodies produced by those long-term survivors can prevent HIV from infecting human cells. The experiments have been successful on human cells growing in a test tube. Now further trials are planned on laboratory animals and human volunteers.

The search for an Aids vaccine has suffered a series of setbacks over the years. The most recent was the failure of the most promising potential vaccine, in a major clinical trial by the US drug company Merck. The trial, which had involved thousands of volunteers, had to be abandoned at the end of 2007 because of fears that the trial vaccine might in fact make patients more susceptible to Aids.

(http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00149/kai_149102t.jpg)
Kai Brothers contracted HIV in the Eighties, but never developed Aids

More (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/handful-of-20year-hiv-survivors-hold-key-to-discovering-vaccine-1645735.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 21, 2009, 01:39:25 pm
Risk of developing AIDS before VS. after Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy

Before

(http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2853/3yrcd4vlprehaart.jpg)

After

(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8505/3yrcd4vl.jpg)

Source (http://www.faetc.org/PDF/16th_Annual/Fundamentals/Fund_Day1_01_Marinez_AntiretroviralTherapy.ppt)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 23, 2009, 01:43:30 pm
eurekalert

Herpes: Scientists find cellular process that fights virus

Scientists have discovered a new way for our immune system to combat the elusive virus responsible for cold sores: Type 1 herpes simplex (HSV-1).

More (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-03/uom-hsf032309.php)
Seen also here (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/23/herpes.scientists.find.cellular.process.fights.virus)


bjreview

China Seeks More Volunteers for AIDS Vaccine

Chinese scientists need to enroll more volunteers for a human test of the AIDS vaccine.
Chinese scientists said on Saturday that they need to enroll more volunteers for a human test of the AIDS vaccine, as the research has moved into the second phase.

More (http://www.bjreview.com.cn/health/txt/2009-03/23/content_186692.htm)
Seen also here (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Aids_Focus/0,,2-7-659_2489591,00.html)


aegis

AIDS vaccine tests move ahead in China

Chinese scientists said they intend to enroll 30 more volunteers for the next round of tests, Xinhua reported.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1007)


New Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV Research Created in South Africa

A groundbreaking partnership between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa will establish an international research center focused on making major scientific contributions to the worldwide effort to control the devastating co-epidemic of tuberculosis and HIV and on training a new generation of scientists in Africa.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1002)


ARV moratorium in Free State (South Africa) was never lifted - TAC

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) says the Free State moratorium on the provision of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for new patients was never lifted. The provincial government imposed the moratorium on the lifesaving drugs in November of 2008.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1001)


U.S. tuberculosis rate hits all-time low, CDC says

The U.S. tuberculosis rate hit an all-time low in 2008, but the infection continues to disproportionately affect minorities and immigrants, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1003)


asm

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Population Genetics and Adaptation in Newly Infected Individuals

The results have important implications for vaccine strategies because they imply that some HLA alleles could be compromised in newly acquired HIV infections. 

More (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/6/2715)

Demonstration of Sustained Drug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Lineages Circulating among Treatment-Naïve Individuals 

The findings provide new insights for the planning and management of treatment programs in resource-rich and developing countries. 

More (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/6/2645)


Determinants Flanking the CD4 Binding Loop Modulate Macrophage Tropism of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 R5 Envelopes 

The CD4 binding loop flanks are variable and may contribute to a general mechanism for protecting proximal CD4 contact residues from neutralizing antibodies. The results have relevance for env-based vaccines that will need to expose critical CD4 contact residues to the immune system. 

More (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/6/2575)


Lambda Interferon Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection of Macrophages

The findings indicate that IFN-lambda may have therapeutic value in the treatment of HIV-1 infection. 

More (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/8/3834)


HLA-B57/B*5801 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Elite Controllers Select for Rare Gag Variants Associated with Reduced Viral Replication Capacity and Strong Cytotoxic T-Lymphotye Recognition 

The data suggest a dual mechanism for durable control of HIV replication, consisting of viral fitness loss resulting from CTL escape mutations together with strong CD8 T-cell immune responses to the arising variant epitopes. 

More (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/6/2743)


sciencedirect

Evasion from CypA- and APOBEC-mediated restrictions is insufficient for HIV-1 to efficiently grow in simian cells 

The data suggested that evasion from CypA- and APOBEC-mediated restrictions is still insufficient for HIV-1 to completely overcome the species barrier. 

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VPN-4TYJV42-1&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2009&_rdoc=4&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236211%232009%23999889997%23964107%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=6211&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=23&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=06ee2c1f836c8c52b766a88c96add753)


newkerala

Carbohydrate-based vaccines to battle malaria, HIV come closer to reality

German scientists have developed an automated synthesizer that can enable the use of carbohydrates in revolutionary new vaccines and drugs to battle malaria, HIV, and a bevy of other diseases.

More (http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-8381.html)
Seen also here (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/22/first.automated.carbohydrate.assembly.line.opens.door.new.field.medicine)


Scientists to create 'synthetic blood' for infection-free emergency transfusions

British scientists are all set to become the first in the world to use embryonic stem cells for producing unlimited amounts of synthetic human blood, paving the way for infection-free emergency transfusions.

More (http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-8322.html)


esciencenews

Redefining DNA: Darwin from the atom up

Modern drug cocktails for these diseases are highly effective, reducing the viral load in the bloodstream to nearly zero. But at some point, the virus mutates, enabling it to evade the drugs and repopulate. As the viral tide rises, there are no outward symptoms in the patient, so the mutated strain is often discovered long after the virus has spread again.

The viral load detector, which relies on Benner's 12 letter system to tag DNA, may change that.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/23/redefining.dna.darwin.atom)
Seen also here (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=51678471)


TB vaccine developed at McMaster University in Canada

McMaster University researchers are about to launch Canada's first tuberculosis (TB) vaccine clinical trial with a vaccine totally designed, manufactured and tested within McMaster.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/19/tb.vaccine.developed.mcmaster.university.canada)


Pitt-led researchers create quick, simple fluorescent detector for TB

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed an onsite method to quickly diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and expose the deadly drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can mingle undetected with treatable strains.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/19/pitt.led.researchers.create.quick.simple.fluorescent.detector.tb)


medicalnewstoday

Paper Examines Drug Access Under ADAPs

The policy paper examines the AIDS Drug Assistance Program of the Ryan White Program and how adequately it provides access to medications for HIV-positive people in the U.S.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143214.php)


hivandhepatitis

ALT Flares in HIV-HBV Coinfected Patients after Starting Antiretroviral Therapy

People with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may experience "flares" or sudden increases in blood levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), an enzyme that indicates liver inflammation. Among HIV-HBV coinfected individuals, such flares may occur after starting antiretroviral therapy.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv_hbv_co_inf/2009/032009_a.html)


sciencedaily

Genomic Fossils In Lemurs Shed Light On Origin And Evolution Of HIV And Other Primate Lentiviruses

A retrovirus related to HIV became stably integrated into the genome of several lemurs around 4.2 million years ago, according to research led by Dr. Cédric Feschotte at the University of Texas, Arlington. The new analysis of prosimian immunodeficiency virus (pSIV) offers new insights into the evolution of lentiviruses.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319224524.htm)


aidsreviews

Is HIV Eradication Feasible?

Bone marrow stem cells may have cured one man of HIV (Hutter, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:692-8). The patient had been infected with HIV for a while before developing acute myeloid leukemia. He received a stem-cell transplant from a donor who was homozygote for ?32 CCR5. Interestingly, the patient has remained without viral rebound 20 months after transplantation and discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy. Moreover, a search for HIV sequences in proviral DNA has also failed to prove that the virus could still be hidden in some reservoirs. In addition, the CD4+ T-cell count has returned to a normal range.

Carmen de Mendoza |Full Article in PDF (http://www.aidsreviews.com/files/2009_11_1_52-5.pdf)


news-medical

MRSA study suggests strategy shift needed to develop effective therapeutics

USA300-the major epidemic strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing severe infections in the United States during the past decade-inherits its destructiveness directly from a forefather strain of the bacterium called USA500 rather than randomly acquiring harmful genes from other MRSA strains.

More (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=47025)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 24, 2009, 05:07:02 am

MARCH 24, 2009


isvhld 2009

13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (ISVHLD)
March 20-24, 2009

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/isvhld_logo1.jpg)

Continuing the tradition of the recent landmark meetings held in Paris, Sydney, Atlanta, Rome, and Tokyo, the 13th ISVHLD will commemorate progress made in the global fight against viral hepatitis and liver disease and focus the field's attention on the key future challenges.

More (http://www.isvhld2009.org/)


natap

Plasma Levels of Bacterial DNA Correlate with Immune Activation and the Magnitude of Immune Restoration in Persons with Antiretroviral-Treated HIV Infection

Although there is increasing consensus that immune activation is central to the pathogenesis of HIV disease, the mechanisms whereby activation drives immunodeficiency are poorly understood.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/032409_01.htm)


Key Health Care Provisions in Stimulus Legislation

(http://natap.org/2009/images/032309/ACT-1.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/ISHLVD/ISHLVD_03.htm)


Estimated Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) in Foreign-Born (FB) Persons Living in the United States (U.S.) by Country/Region of Origin

(http://natap.org/2009/images/032309/HBV-4.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/ISHLVD/ISHLVD_05.htm)


sciencedaily

Human Genes Required For Hepatitis C Viral Replication Identified

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers are investigating a new way to block reproduction of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) – targeting not the virus itself but the human genes the virus exploits in its life cycle. In the March 19 Cell Host & Microbe, they report finding nearly 100 genes that support the replication of HCV and show that blocking several of them can suppress viral replication in cultured cells.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090318140516.htm)


Goodbye Needle, Hello Smoothie: New Generation Oral Vaccine Uses Dairy Probiotics To Protect Against Disease

Instead of a dreaded injection with a needle, someday getting vaccinated against disease may be as pleasant as drinking a yogurt smoothie.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090317162846.htm)


aidsmap

Isoniazid and ARVs reduce TB risk by 90% in two South African clinics

Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) combined with antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduced the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) in people with HIV by almost 90% compared with no treatment, a South African study has shown.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/7F39F3BB-E04B-412D-9F27-9487136AAD8B.asp)


aegis

Approval of generic stavudine for oral solution, 1 mg/mL

On March 20, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a generic formulation of stavudine for oral solution, 1 mg/mL. Stavudine is a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI) indicated for used in combination with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV infection.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1013)


South Africa tries treating TB patients at home

South Africa is trying a new approach to controlling drug-resistant tuberculosis - treating people at home rather than in isolation hospitals surrounded by barbed wire and baton-wielding guards, health officials said Monday .

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1011)


Network Successful in Uniting Vaccine Researchers

The Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD) network has made considerable progress towards the goal of developing an effective vaccine against HIV.

Launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in July 2006, the CAVD was created to establish a collaborative international network of researchers focussed on developing an HIV vaccine.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1010)


Fashion Advice and Info for HIV-Positive Women

The colourful new magazine of the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) in Latin America and the Caribbean has a modern look and provides not only information but articles on fashion and entertainment. It is also the perfect size to carry in a purse.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1009)


Years after his death, AIDS activist Pedro Zamora is celebrated on film

Fifteen years after Miami's Pedro Zamora became a national symbol for living with HIV -- and dying of AIDS -- a new drama about his life will soon debut on the network that made him a reality TV star.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1008)


esciencenews

Coenzyme rare to bacteria critical to Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival

Coenzyme F420, a small molecule that helps certain enzymes transfer electrons, is found in microorganisms known as methane-producing archaea, some of which thrive in extreme environments. It also helps the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) to survive the defenses of the human immune system. Scientists have now discovered at least one way F420 helps to arm the pathogen. The research will appear in the early online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) during the week of March 23, 2009, in the article, "Conversion of NO2 to NO by Reduced Coenzyme F420 Protects Mycobacteria from Nitrosative Damage," by Endang Purwantini and Biswarup Mukhopadhyay, both with the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/23/coenzyme.rare.bacteria.critical.mycobacterium.tuberculosis.survival)


hivandhepatitis

Tenofovir (Viread) during Pregnancy: Findings from the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry

"As of March 20, 2009, no overall increase in prevalence or any specific pattern of congenital anomalies has been detected with the use of tenofovir in 800 live births through prospective voluntary reporting to the APR," the study investigators concluded.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/032409_b.html)


Is Tenofovir an Option for Prevention of Mother-to-child HIV transmission?

The use of antiretroviral therapy by HIV positive mothers during pregnancy and labor and babies for a brief period after birth can reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission to less than 2%. Zidovudine (AZT; Retrovir) was the drug first studied for this purpose, and single-dose nevirapine (Viramune) is widely used in resource-poor countries.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/032409_a.html)


canada

Sask. sees HIV infections spike

Saskatchewan has seen a dramatic increase in HIV infections, putting the province far above the national average, health officials say.

There was a 40 per cent increase in new cases of HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — detected last year, compared to 2007. That made for 174 new cases in 2008, the province’s chief medical health officer said Monday.

More (http://www.canada.com/Health/Sask+sees+infections+spike/1420093/story.html)


cosmeticsbusiness

MTV and The Body Shop say Yes, Yes, Yes to fighting AIDS

For the third year running MTV Networks International and The Body Shop have announced they are working together to raise funds for MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation with the launch of their “Yes, Yes, Yes – To Safe Sex” campaign.

More (http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=3496&c=1)


miamiherald

Doctors, assistants plead guilty in HIV-drugs scam

Two Miami-Dade doctors and their medical assistants have pleaded guilty to plotting to defraud Medicare of $10 million with phony claims for HIV-infusion treatments that patients did not need or receive, federal prosecutors said Monday.

More (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/964610.html)


doctorswithoutborders

Swaziland: HIV / AIDS and Tuberculosis - Breaking The Silence

More than 50 percent of Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Swaziland are reportedly also infected with HIV, and it is estimated that this figure is well below the actual percentage of co-infected patients. This video [see website] highlights a forgotten humanitarian emergency, showing the link between HIV and TB, and the importance of early diagnosis.

More (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=3508&cat=video&ref=news-index)


businesswire

£18 Million Boost for Discovery of New Oral Treatment for TB

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The drive to discover and develop new oral treatments for tuberculosis (TB), which could save millions of lives in developing countries, will receive an £18 million boost, International Development Minister Ivan Lewis announced today.

More (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090324005389&newsLang=en)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 25, 2009, 11:00:34 am
MARCH 25th, 2009


medicalnewstoday

Lancet Opinion Piece Examines Progress Made Against HIV/AIDS

"Nearly 30 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are able to access our progress in tackling the disease with both increased knowledge and the benefit of hindsight," former UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot of Imperial College London, who also serves as an adviser on global health strategy to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143620.php)


Low-fat Dairy Products, Alongside Fruit And Veggies, May Help HIV Patients Maintain Healthy Body Weight

Eating more low-fat dairy products alongside fruit and vegetables boosts nutrient intakes and may help HIV patients to maintain a healthy body weight, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143590.php)


Latvia's Public Health Agency Releases HIV/AIDS Data

Latvia's Public Health Agency recently released data about HIV/AIDS in the country in 2008, indicating that the spread of the virus through heterosexual contact is increasing, the Baltic Times reports

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143617.php)


Global HIV-Related TB Deaths Higher Than Previously Thought

A new report from the World Health Organization shows that while the total number of new TB cases worldwide remained stable in 2007, and the proportion of people becoming ill with TB continued to fall, the proportion of TB deaths that are HIV related is now thought to be 25 per cent, which is twice as many as previously estimated.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143583.php)

Seen also on aidsmap (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/600F014E-ABBC-4A8F-9BBC-E22B1BAF4A39.asp), esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/24/alarming.new.data.shows.tb.hiv.co.infection.a.bigger.threat)


aidsmap

Slow progress in diagnosis and treatment of MDR-TB and XDR-TB

There were in excess of 500,000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in 2007, according to figures released in the World Health Organization 2009 Global Tuberculosis Control report. But, says WHO, less than 30,000 cases of MDR-TB were notified in 2007, and just 1% of the global population of MDR-TB cases received appropriate treatment.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D7788858-89FE-4771-A133-DD11F9733C06.asp)


newkerala

Scientists create nanoparticle to fight drug addiction

Washington, Mar 25 : Scientists at University at Buffalo (UB) have developed a nanoparticle that can silence a gene that triggers drug addiction.

More (http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-9801.html)


aegis

Argos Therapeutics Presents Research on the Development and Evaluation of Immunotherapies for HIV - Abstracts Presented at Keystone Symposia on HIV Immunobiology

DURHAM, N.C. - Argos Therapeutics today announced the presentation of an abstract related to its Arcelis(TM) HIV immunotherapy program at the Keystone Symposia Global Health Series conference on HIV Immunobiology (http://www.keystonesymposia.org/Meetings/ViewMeetings.cfm?Meeting), held March 22 - 27 in Keystone, CO. The poster presentation details important research on the immunosuppressive properties of HIV, and how this research may influence the development of HIV immunotherapies.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1018)


Aphios Corporation Executes Collaborative R&D Agreement with VivaCell Biotechnology Espana to Develop Combination Therapy For HIV Latency

WOBURN, Mass. - Aphios Corporation today announced entering into a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with VivaCell Biotechnology Espana S.L., Cordoba, Spain to develop a combination therapy for the treatment of HIV latency.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1019)
Seen also on yahoo (http://[url=http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Aphios-Corporation-Executes-bw-14725549.html)

IPT encouraged for TB sufferers living with HIV

RIO DE JANEIRO - The Global Plan to Stop TB and delegates attending the 3rd Stop TB Partners Forum have upped the call for HIV-people attending HIV care services to receive isoniazid preventative therapy (IPT).

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1026)


jaids

Association of Low CD4 Cell Count and Intrauterine Growth Retardation in Thailand

Cailhol J et al. - The current World Health Organization recommendation to initiate combination antiretroviral therapy for immunocompromised women as early as possible during pregnancy for their own health and for the prevention of HIV mother-to-child transmission is likely to also decrease the incidence of IUGR. Encouraging immunocompromised HIV-infected women who plan to become pregnant to wait until immune restoration has been achieved may help to reduce the risk of IUGR. 

More (http://www.jaids.com/pt/re/jaids/abstract.00126334-200904010-00010.htm)


Epidemiologic Characteristics and Natural History of HIV-1 Natural Viral Suppressors

Sajadi MM et al. - The NVS cohort has demonstrated remarkable stability and a low rate of progression over many years. Detailed evaluations of viral-host immune regulatory factors associated with persistent HIV-1 natural viral suppression, and loss of such suppression, has the potential to provide important new insight in HIV pathogenesis and future immune regulatory targeted preventive and therapeutic research. 

More (http://www.jaids.com/pt/re/jaids/abstract.00126334-200904010-00009.htm)


washingtonpost

PRINCE GEORGE'S PUBLIC HEALTH - County Still No. 2 in Md. For STDs, Official Says

Prince George's County continues to have the second-highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases in Maryland and the second-highest number of reported AIDS and HIV cases, according to the county's top health official. Prince George's trails only Baltimore in both categories.

More (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/24/AR2009032401805.html)


reuters

UPDATE 2-Glaxo to buy stake in S.Africa's Aspen -sources

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L) plans to take a significant stake in Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd (APNJ.J) to strengthen its partnership with the South African drugmaker, people familiar with the situation said.

More (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSLP28900720090325)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 26, 2009, 05:37:29 am
MARCH 26th, 2009


sciencedaily

HIV-1 Protease Inhibitor Induced Oxidative Stress In Pancreatic B-cells: Thymoquinone Protection

Researchers at the Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana have discovered that the HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs), such as nelfinavir included in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 patients, induce deleterious effects on insulin secretion mediated through the oxidative stress pathway.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090325132502.htm)
Seen also in esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/25/hiv.1.protease.inhibitor.induced.oxidative.stress.pancreatic.b.cells.thymoquinone.protection)


aidsmap

Wasting, anaemia predict very high short-term risk of death in Asian ARV patients

Severe anaemia or a body mass index below 18 were good predictors of a very high risk of developing AIDS or dying within the following three months among Asian patients receiving antiretroviral therapy, and could be used in the absence of CD4 cell counts to identify patients in need of close attention after starting treatment, researchers from South-East Asia and China report in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/24FA5615-E10E-417A-8F7A-C1A65E640308.asp)


Therapists still offering treatments for homosexuality despite lack of evidence

A significant minority of psychiatrists and therapists are still attempting to help lesbian, gay and bisexual clients become heterosexual despite lack of evidence that such treatment is beneficial or even safe, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/25/therapists.still.offering.treatments.homosexuality.despite.lack.evidence)


aegis

Southern Africa: Politicians Fail to Address HIV

LUSAKA, MAR 23 (IPS) - Parliamentarians across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have failed to put HIV on the political agenda.

"Considering SADC is at the epicentre of the HIV pandemic, not enough is being done to address it. HIV has a very negative impact on [the region's] development," lamented SADC Parliamentary Forum secretary general Dr. Kasuko Mutukwa at a media briefing in Zambia's capital Lusaka on Mar. 18.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1024)


canada

HPV vaccine can protect men too

MONTREAL - Soon girls may not be the only ones getting Gardasil injections.
Merck Frosst is moving ahead with plans to extend the use of its controversial Gardasil vaccine to boys and young men.

More (http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/health/story.html?id=959176)


yahoo

America’s Unhealthiest Restaurants

Your favorite fast food restaurant is often like your favorite city: Visit some neighborhoods and you live the high life. Visit others and you’re just plain asking for trouble. And that’s where Eat This, Not That! comes in: We’ve analyzed and graded 66 different chain restaurants—fast food and sit-down—to determine which ones have healthy options, and which could turn out to be diet disasters.

What we found will surprise you. Specifically, some of the fast food joints you’ve come to think of as terrible for you actually ranked alright—McDonald’s scored a B+, for example, so the Micky D’s drive-thru just might be your fast-lane to weight loss. Something even more shocking, though: more than half of the sit-down restaurants we graded ended up with our lowest scores!
 
To separate the commendable from the deplorable, we calculated the total number of calories per entrée. This gave us a snapshot of how each restaurant compared in average serving size—a key indicator of unhealthy portion distortion. Then we rewarded establishments with fruit and vegetable side-dish choices, as well as offering whole-wheat bread. Finally, we penalized places for excessive amounts of trans fats and menus that tempt you with fat-laden desserts. Hey, if the neighborhood is crowded with shady characters, sooner or later, one of them will jump you.

Here’s our restaurant report card for some of the unhealthiest restaurants in America. It’ll help you stay on the safer side of town.
 
D+
Baskin-Robbins
We thought we'd see some improvements after we identified Baskin's Heath Shake as the Worst Drink on the Planet. All they did was lower it from 2,300 to 1,900 calories, leaving an almost equally egregious drinkable disaster to set back unsuspecting sippers. It’s typical of the menu there; B-R’s soft serve is among the most caloric in the country, the smoothies contain more sugar than fruit, and most of what Baskin sticks into a cup winds up with more fat than what'll end up on your plate at a steakhouse buffet. Check out our complete list of the 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America to see the other liquid offenders. If you learn how to make smart choices when you sip, you can lose a few pounds a month—without giving up your favorite foods, or ever dieting again.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: With frozen yogurt, sherbet, and no-sugar-added ice cream, Baskin's lighter menu is the one bright spot. Just be sure to ask for your ice cream in a sugar or cake cone—the waffle cone will swaddle your treat in an extra 160 calories.
 
D+
Carl’s Jr.
Most fast-food restaurants today are making at least some attempt to offset their bulging burgers and deep-fried sides with healthier options such as lean sandwiches or yogurt parfaits. But Carl's Jr. is swimming against the nutritional tide, trying to attract those with hearty appetites and less concern about fat, salt and calories. The lightest item on the breakfast menu, for instance, is the Hash Brown Nuggets—but even they have 21 grams of fat, and 5.5 of them are trans fats. (As a rule, you should try to get 2 grams or fewer of the stuff in an entire day!) The burgers are worse, and there's not a side on the menu that hasn't been given a long, bubbling bath in their trans-fatty frying oil.   
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Find another place to grab lunch. Failing that, you should settle on either the Charbroiled Chicken Salad with Low-Fat Balsamic Dressing or the Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich—the only sandwich on the menu with fewer than 400 calories.
 
D+
Denny’s
Too bad the adult menu at Denny's doesn't adhere to the same standard as the kids' menu. The famous Slam breakfasts all top 800 calories, and the burgers are even worse. The Double Cheeseburger is one of the worst in the country, with 116 grams of fat, 7 of which are trans fats! (This explains why it made our list of the worst burgers in America (and what you should eat instead). Make sure you try to avoid it (and all others on the list) whenever possible.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: The Fit Fare menu gathers together all the best options on the menu. Outside of that, stick to the sirloin, grilled chicken, or soups. For breakfast, order a Veggie Cheese Omelet or create your own meal from a la carte options such as fruit, oatmeal, toast, and eggs.
 
D+
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen’s taste for excess rivals that of other fast-food failures such as Carl's Jr. and Hardees. But unlike Carl's, DQ offers an avalanche of ice cream creations to follow up its sodium-spiked, trans-fatty foods. Here's a look at one hypothetical meal: a Bacon Cheddar GrillBurger with Onion Rings and a Small Snickers Blizzard is a staggering 1,740-calorie meal with 2,640 mg sodium and 83 grams of fat—2 grams of which are trans fats.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Play solid defense. Skip elaborate burgers, fried sides, and specialty ice cream concoctions entirely. Order a Grilled Chicken Sandwich or an Original Burger, and if you must have a treat, stick to a small soft-serve or a small sundae.
 
D+
Ruby Tuesday
The chain earned its fame from a hearty selection of hamburgers. The problem: They average 75 grams of fat a piece—more than enough to exceed the USDA's recommended limit for the day. Even the veggie and turkey burgers have more than 850 calories! The chain rounds out its menu with a selection of appetizers that hover around 1,000 calories (supposedly to be split 4-ways), a smattering of high-impact entrées like potpie and ribs, and a sloppy selection of salads that is just as bad.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Solace lies in the three Ss: steak, seafood, and sides. Sirloins, salmon, and shrimp all make for relatively innocuous eating, especially when paired with one of Ruby Tuesday's half dozen healthy sides such as mashed cauliflower and baby green beans. Other than that, impersonate Mick Jagger and think about occasionally saying goodbye to Ruby Tuesday!
 
D
Chili’s
From burgers to baby back ribs, Chili's serves up some of the saltiest and fattiest fare on fast-food row. In fact, with 3,810 mg of sodium and 122 grams of fat, Chili's Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger earns the distinction as being one of the worst burgers in America. The Guiltless Grill menu is Chili's attempt to offer healthier options, but with only eight items and an average sodium count of 1,320 mg, there’s meager hope for nutritional salvation.

SURVIVAL STRATEGY: There's not too much to choose from after you omit the ribs, burgers, fajitas, chicken, and salads. You're better off with a Classic Sirloin and steamed vegetables or broccoli. Another decent option is the Chicken Fajita Pita with Black Beans and Pico de Gallo. A lot of the appetizers, while delicious, are worrisome too—one from Chili’s made it on our list of Worst Appetizers in America.

D
Uno Chicago Grill
Uno has some serious strikes against it: The chain invented the deep-dish pizza, they encouraged gluttony with their Bigger and Better menu, and in 1997 they faced false-advertising charges for erroneously claiming that some of their pizzas were low in fat. They've cleaned up some of the more conspicuous health hazards and have increased nutritional transparency at all of their stores, but from appetizers to desserts, this menu is still riddled with belt-busting fat.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: First off, cast aside the bloated breadstick that Uno tries to sneak onto most plates. Next, choose flatbread over deep-dish pizzas—it could save you more than 1,000 calories. Beyond that, stick to soups or entree items served with Mango Salsa.

D
Chevy’s
Don't let the made-fresh-daily shtick distract you; Chevy's massive portions push many of the meals beyond the 1,000-calorie threshold. The taco trader’s menu has three strikes against it: 1.) the consistently high amount of fat in its entrees (the average salad has 67 grams); 2.) the outrageous salt levels that make it difficult to find a meal with fewer than 2,000 mg of sodium (you should get around that amount in an entire day of eating); and 3.) the chain earns its poor score by failing to offer complete nutritional disclosure. It provides no information for its appetizers or quesadillas, for instance, and although it maintains it uses trans-fat free oils, there's no trans-fat data for the full entrees.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: The best items on the menu are the Homemade Tortilla Soup, with just 393 calories and a full 26 grams of protein, and the Santa Fe Chopped Salad, which has only 470 calories when you order it without cheese. If you can't resist an entrée, order it without all the fixin's—tamalito, rice, sour cream, and cheese. That should knock more than 300 calories off your meal.

D-
On the Border (http://On the Border)
On the Border is a subsidiary of Brinker International, the same parent company that owns Chili's and Romano's Macaroni Grill. It should come as no surprise then that this chain is just as threatening to your health as its corporate cohorts. The overloaded menu offers appetizers with 120 grams of fat, salads with a full day's worth of sodium, and taco entrées with an horrific 960 calories—and that’s the calculation without rice and beans. Border crossing is a decidedly dangerous enterprise.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: The Border Smart Menu highlights four items with fewer than 600 calories and 25 grams of fat. Those aren't great numbers considering they average 1,800 mg of sodium apiece, but that's all you've got to work with.
 
D-
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
For years now we've been on Romano's case to clean up the menu at the beloved Macaroni Grill. So far we've had no luck. This Italian grease spot serves some of the worst appetizers in the country, offers not one dinner entrée with fewer than 800 calories, and hosts no fewer than 60 menu items with more than 2,000 mg of sodium—almost an entire day’s worth of the salt! A select few menu items earn the restaurant's Sensible Fare logo—a fork with a halo over it—but unfortunately these items can still carry up to 640 calories and 25 grams of fat.
 
SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Macaroni Grill will let you build your own dish. Ask for the marinara over a bed of the restaurant's whole-wheat penne, and then top it with grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. Just beware their salads—one of them made our list of America’s Worst Salads!
 
D-
Baja Fresh
It's a surprise Baja Fresh's menu has yet to collapse under the weight of its own fatty fare. About a third of the items on the menu have more than 1,000 calories, and most of them are spiked with enough sodium to melt a polar icecap. Order the Shrimp Burrito Dos Manos Enchilado-Style, for instance, and you're looking at 5,130 mg sodium—that's more than 2 days' worth in one sitting!

SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Unless you're comfortable stuffing 110 grams of fat into your arteries, avoid the nachos at all costs. In fact, avoid almost everything on this menu. The only safe options are the tacos, or a salad topped with salsa verde and served without the belly-busting tortilla bowl.

F
Applebee’s, IHOP, Outback, T.G.I. Friday’s
These titans of the restaurant industry are among the last national chains that don’t offer nutritional information on their dishes. Even after years of badgering their representatives, we still hear the same old excuses: it’s too pricey, it’s too time-consuming, it’s impossible to do accurately because their food is so fresh, or we have too much variety. Our response is simple: If nearly every other chain restaurant in the country can do it, then why can’t they?
 
Your Survival Strategy: Write letters, make phone calls, beg, scream, and plead for these restaurants to provide nutritional information on all of their products. Here’s the contact information for each of the restaurants that refuse to fess up!

Applebees: 888-59APPLE, or send an e-mail
IHOP: 818-240-6055 (press 1 for Guest Visit issues)
Outback: Send an e-mail
T.G.I. Friday's: 800-FRIDAYS
 
For a comprehensive Restaurant Report Card on all of the other fast food and chain restaurants, please click here for the whole list.

You can also join the Eat This, Not That! premium Web site, which acts as a 24-hour-a-day online personal nutritionist, offering other useful tips, tricks, hints, and insights into navigating the restaurant industry’s nutritional landmines and making the best eating choices each and every time. Or, check out the regular site for other great articles—like the 20 worst foods of 2009 and the 20 most sugar-packed foods in America.

More on menshealth (http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/Restaurant-Report-Card/index.php?cm_mmc=Yahoo_Blog-_-ETNT-_-Americas%20Unhealthiest%20Restaurants-_-The%20Best%20%20an)

Source (http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/26542/americas-unhealthiest-restaurants)

Note (John2038)
Fast-food (any of them) such as McDonalds can deteriorate significantly your lipid profile in just a week.
Remember the study published above

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 26, 2009, 08:08:13 pm
MARCH 27th, 2009


7th European HIV Drug Resistance Workshop (EHDRW)
25 to 27 March 2009
Stockholm, Sweden

(http://www.virology-education.com/assets//206_1_629B713F-CFD1-AA56-7B56034168A66223.JPG)

Website (http://www.virology-education.com/index.cfm/t/7th_European_HIV_Drug_resistance_workshop/vid/BE7B04C1-A716-BE06-EB8D24B3BD465931)


natap

Avexa Reaches First Critical Evaluation Point for new NRTI ATC's Phase III Trial

Avexa Limited (ASX:AVX) today announced that the last patient enrolled in the initial two dose phase of the apricitabine (ATC: 0.24, 0, 0%) Phase III trial has passed the week 16 time point. This significant event triggers the start of the data analysis for the Week 16 results. The company is expecting to announce the results in the second quarter of 2009.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/032709_04.htm)
Seen also in aegis (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1037)


Prevalence, Clearance, and Incidence of Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection in HIV-Infected Men: The HIPVIRG Cohort Study

Results. HPV DNA was detected in 97.9% of the 247 participants at baseline (median, 5 HPV types). The most common types were HPV-16 (38.2%) and HPV-6 (35.3%). Prevalent HPV-16 infections had the lowest clearance rate (12.2 cleared episodes per 1000 person-months [95% confidence interval {CI}, 8.5-17.7]) and a mean retention time of 36 months (95% CI, 32.7-38.8). The highest incidence rates were found for HPV-16 (10.8 new cases per 1000 person-months [95% CI, 8.0-14.7]), HPV-52 (10.8 new cases per 1000 person-months [95% CI, 8.2-14.1]), and HPV-53 (9.8 new cases per 1000 person-months [95% CI, 7.4-13..0]), with cumulative incidences at 36 months of 30%.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/032709_05.htm)

 
EHDRW: Cumulative Resistance Score Gives Broader View of Potential Antiretroviral Activity

A resistance score incorporating all mutations ever detected in a person's virus--not just mutations in the last genotype--afforded a deeper look at potentially inactive antiretrovirals in a two-center study [1]. The results confirm and extended earlier findings in a Canadian cohort [2]. Federico Garcia and colleagues in Granada and London studied 227 people who had two or more genotypic resistance tests while taking antiretrovirals. They figured two genotypic susceptibility scores (GSS)--one based only on the latest genotype and one based on every genotype for each patient. Using the Stanford, ANRS, and Rega genotypic resistance interpretive systems, the investigators scored individual antiretrovirals as 1 (susceptible), 0.5 (intermediate resistance), or 0 (high-level resistance).

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_01.htm)


EHDRW: Resistance Testing Is Not Standard-of-Care After Antiretroviral Failure in Europe

Despite long-standing guidelines recommending resistance testing after virologic failure, more than two thirds of EuroSIDA cohort members had no recorded resistance test after taking a failing regimen 4 months or longer [1]. In people who did get a resistance test after failure, time from failure to testing averaged about 7 months

..

Kaplan-Meier analysis calculated the following probabilities of having a resistance test after failure:
 
• 20.8% by 1 year
• 27.9% by 2 years
• 33.3% by 3 years
• 37.6% by 4 years
• 40.8% by 5 years
• 43.5% by 6 years
• 44.2% by 7 years

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_02.htm)


EHDRW: Viral Loads--But Not Transmission of Resistant Virus--Falling in Italian Cohort

Improved antiretroviral regimens and better care greatly lowered the proportion of people with a high or detectable viral load in a large Milan cohort at the L. Sacco Hospital [1]. But that viral load decline from before 2000 to 2006-2007 did not result in a significant drop in proportions of untreated people infected with resistant virus. Transmission of drug-resistant HIV persisted especially among gay men.

..

The Milan team also charted viral loads in 369 newly diagnosed people, including 103 (28%) recently infected people (seroconverters) with a known date of seroconversion. This subgroup was mostly male (84%), 52% were infected during gay sex, and 44% were infected during sex between men and women. During the five study periods, proportions of people in the overall group with a viral load below 1000 or 50 copies rose significantly (P < 0.0001 for both measures):
 
• Before 2000: 49.5% below 1000, 10.3% below 50
• 2000-2001: 56.6% below 1000, 28.2% below 50
• 2002-2003: 66.1% below 1000, 42.2% below 50
• 2004-2005, 70.0% below 1000, 52.1% below 50
• 2006-2007, 81.6% below 1000, 66.1% below 50
 
Transmission of drug-resistant HIV fell over three periods in both newly diagnosed people and recent seroconverters, but these declines did not approach statistical significance:
 
• 2002-2003: 15.2% (15 of 99 people)
• 2004-2005: 10.9% (15 of 137 people)
• 2006-2007: 11.5% (15 of 130 people)

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_03.htm)


EHDRW: HIV-Induced CD4 Declines Affect Immune Response to HBV in Untreated People

Untreated HIV-induced immune suppression slows selection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (RT) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) mutations and so may speed HBV disease progression and liver-related mortality in people coinfected with HIV and HBV [1].

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_04.htm)


EHDRW: Genotyping for Coreceptor Use Concordant With Trofile in PBMCs and Plasma

Three genotyping systems to predict viral coreceptor use proved 70% or more concordant with the Trofile phenotyping assay in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), according to results of a 73-person French study [1]. Prevalence of maraviroc-related resistance mutations was equivalent in plasma and PBMCs.

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_05.htm)


Tight glucose control may increase mortality in critically ill patients

Sydney, Australia - Ninety-day mortality was 14% higher in hyperglycemic patients in general intensive-care units (ICUs) who received insulin to meet intensive vs conventional blood glucose targets, in a large, multinational trial [1].

..

The study showed that "intensively lowering blood glucose to a target of 81 to 108 mg/dL does not benefit critically ill patients and may well increase their risk of dying," lead author Dr Simon Finfer (the George Institute for International Health, Sydney, Australia) told heartwire. "There is no benefit to be gained beyond a target of less than 180 mg/dL."

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/032709_03.htm)


sciencedaily

Structure Of Protein That Makes Cancer Cells Resistant To Chemotherapy Identified

A research team at the Scripps Research Institute has obtained the first glimpse of a protein that keeps certain substances, including many drugs, out of cells. The protein, called P-glycoprotein or P-gp for short, is one of the main reasons cancer cells are resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Understanding its structure may help scientists design more effective drugs.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326141555.htm)
Seen also in esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/26/scripps.scientists.find.structure.a.protein.makes.cancer.cells.resistant.chemotherapy)


medicalnewstoday

Human Papillomavirus Genotype Distribution In New Mexico Cervical Cancers

DNA from human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) and HPV type 18 (HPV18) were found in the majority of invasive cervical cancers in New Mexico in the 1980s and 1990s, according to a population-based study published in the March 24 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143838.php)


Nutrition for Cancer Prevention

Find out what foods are best if you want to try to protect yourself from cancer.

(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/images/healthology/oncedailyhealth-20090326.jpg)

More (http://www.healthology.com/once_daily/once_daily.aspx?cValue=od_dietcancer_0021&fValue=od4&bValue=medicalnewstoday)


forbes

AIDS Activists Claim Victory: Abbott Cuts Mexican Price of Kaletra 20%

A coalition of AIDS activists known as the Coalicion de Activistas por el Acceso Universal, spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which operates four free treatment clinics in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Tuxtla Gutierrez and Pachuca), declared victory today in its campaign to lower drug prices and improve access to lifesaving AIDS treatments in Mexico. As a result of the coalition's prolonged, multinational campaign to raise awareness about the high price charged by Abbott Laboratories Inc. for its key AIDS drug, Kaletra in Mexico, the company has cut its price by twenty percent -- from $4688.00 pesos MXN per patient per month to $3750.40 MXN. The new lower price was published for the first time last Friday on the website of CENSIDA, Mexico's National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS.

More (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/businesswire/2009/03/26/businesswire122441725.html)


asm

Steady-State Pharmacokinetics of Abacavir in Plasma and Intracellular Carbovir Triphosphate following Administration of Abacavir at 600 Milligrams Once Daily and 300 Milligrams Twice Daily in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Subjects

This study showed that ABC 600 mg QD and ABC 300 mg BID regimens led to similar intracellular CBV-TP C values, thus providing pharmacokinetic support for the interchangeability of these two regimens. Women had higher intracellular CBV-TP exposure than did men.

More (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/1532)


chestjournal

Trends in Hospitalizations for AIDS-Associated Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in the United States (1986–2005)

While there have been significant reductions in hospitalizations and hospital mortality for AIDS-associated PCP over the last twenty years, these reductions have not been homogenous across demographic subpopulations and geographic regions and point to new at-risk populations. Furthermore, mortality in severe cases of PCP that require mechanical ventilation has improved substantially. 

More (http://www.chestjournal.org/content/early/2009/02/20/chest.08-2859.short?rss=1)


springerlink

Radiology services for children in HIV- and TB-endemic regions: scope for greater collaboration between radiologists and clinicians caring for children

This review aims to heighten awareness of issues confronting radiologists and clinicians caring for children and to encourage greater collaboration between these two disciplines in HIV- and TB-endemic regions. The Child-Friendly Healthcare Initiative is discussed, emphasizing opportunities to promote child friendliness in radiology services. 

More (http://www.springerlink.com/content/h651075318387l67/)


Central nervous system manifestations of HIV infection in children

Vertically transmitted HIV infection is a major problem in the developing world due to the poor availability of antiretroviral agents to pregnant women. HIV is a neurotrophic virus and causes devastating neurological insults to the immature brain. The effects of the virus are further compounded by the opportunistic infections and neoplasms that occur as a result of the associated immune suppression. This review focuses on the imaging features of HIV infection and its complications in the central nervous system.  Vertically transmitted HIV infection is a major problem in the developing world due to the poor availability of antiretroviral agents to pregnant women. HIV is a neurotrophic virus and causes devastating neurological insults to the immature brain. The effects of the virus are further compounded by the opportunistic infections and neoplasms that occur as a result of the associated immune suppression. This review focuses on the imaging features of HIV infection and its complications in the central nervous system. 

More (http://www.springerlink.com/content/0604276531493g53/)


interscience

Reduced morbidity and mortality in the first year after initiating highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) among Ugandan adults

The results confirm the reduction in morbidity due to HAART, and the additional protection of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. 

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122268305/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


sagepub

Successful switch to sitaxsentan in a patient with HIV-related pulmonary arterial hypertension and late intolerance to nonselective endothelin receptor blockade

The authors report the case of a successful switch to sitaxsentan in a HIV-infected patient with PAH initially receiving bosentan who developed a late treatment-related side-effect. 

More (http://tar.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/3/1/11)


informaworld

Community factors shaping HIV-related stigma among young people in three African countries

The results demonstrate a clear influence of the community environment on shaping HIV-related stigma among young people. The elements of the community that were significantly associated with HIV-related stigma were the economic and behavioral aspects of the community environment, and there was no evidence of relationships between demographic patterns and HIV-related stigma. Behavioral change interventions must address HIV-related stigma in order to encourage behavior change, and must take into account the social, economic and cultural environments in which young people exist. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909513356~db=all~jumptype=rss)


Gay men's current practice of HIV seroconcordant unprotected anal intercourse: serosorting or seroguessing

Because both HIV-positive and HIV-negative men often seroguess, education and prevention programs should address the fact that HIV-negative men who engage in UAI due to this practice may be at high risk of HIV infection. HIV prevention should take into account these contemporary changes in behaviors, especially among HIV-negative gay men. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909273996~db=all~jumptype=rss)


Slow to share: social capital and its role in public HIV disclosure among public sector ART patients in the Free State province of South Africa

This study identified bonding social capital as a leverage to maximize potential benefits and minimize potential risks in order to shift the balance toward consistent public disclosure. Furthermore, the importance of bridging social capital initiatives is demonstrated, especially for the most vulnerable patients, those who cannot capitalize their bonding social capital by disclosing their HIV serostatus to family and friends at the start of treatment. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909274129~db=all~jumptype=rss)


The influence of the patients' educational levels on socioeconomic, clinical, immunological and virological endpoints

The patient's educational level influences clinical and immunological outcomes of HIV infection. This impact is probably mediated through differences in the long-term effects of treatment, as a result of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and to medical indications. The evaluation of social aspects such as the patient's education should be incorporated into routine clinical practice to improve the results of treatment. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909274571~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 28, 2009, 01:51:43 pm
MARCH 28th, 2009


aidsmap

HIV treatment is not the cause of cryptogenic liver disease

HIV treatment does not cause cryptogenic liver disease. Nor is there an association between any individual anti-HIV drug and the development of the disease, UK investigators report in the April edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Their findings contradict the results of earlier research that suggested an association between ddI (didadosine, Videx) treatment and the development of cryptogenic liver disease.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B08C7E31-E8DB-4440-A5E3-8B13E2584B6C.asp)


Hepatitis C has no impact on CD4 cell recovery in patients taking HIV treatment

Patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus whose HIV treatment is suppressing their viral load to undetectable levels have comparable CD4 cell count increases to those seen in patients who are only infected with HIV, investigators report in the April 15th edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/7984F686-CBA7-4508-ABC9-2C99749605AA.asp)


natap

EHDRW:  Weighted Genotypic Score Predicts Response to Maraviroc in MOTIVATE Trials

A score based on resistance mutations and type of antiretrovirals given in a salvage regimen predicted response to maraviroc in people enrolled in the MOTIVATE 1 and 2 trials of this CCR5 antagonist [1]. This result reflects findings of an earlier study in which a weighted phenotypic resistance score predicted response to maraviroc [2]. Nearly 80% of MOTIVATE participants randomized to maraviroc had a viral load under 50 copies at trial week 48 if they began treatment with more than 50 CD4s and had a weighted genotypic optimized background therapy susceptibility score (g-wOBTSS) indicating an active background regimen.

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_07.htm)


Expand Medicaid to HIV+ with Low Income ETHA Bill Introduced

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) re-introduced the Early Treatment for HIV Act" (ETHA) on Thursday to allow states to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income individuals with the HIV virus before it advances to full-blown AIDS. Currently, most lower-income persons must first become disabled by AIDS before receiving Medicaid provided care and treatment, which could have prevented them from becoming seriously ill, and at which point treatment is far more expensive.

More (http://www.natap.org/2009/newsUpdates/033009_01.htm)


ART Interruption in Pregnancy Increases MTCT

"In our cohort, temporary ART discontinuation early in pregnancy is more frequent in women receiving HAART, probably because of the fear of drug toxicity in the embryo. However, temporary discontinuation led to a 10-fold increase in the rate of MTCT, overcoming all other risk factors, except for the independent factor of high plasma viral RNA load at delivery.. When viral load increased by 1 log10 copies/mL, the risk of MTCT was, indeed, more than doubled."..."counseling on the temporary discontinuation of ART in the first trimester should consider both the need for maternal health [7] and the increased risk of HIV-1 transmission to the offspring"...."Overall, the rate of MTCT in the whole cohort was 1.3% (95% CI, 0.7%-2.3%). The rate of MTCT among children born to mothers who had ART interrupted in the first trimester was 4.9% (95% CI, 1.9%-13.2%), and the rate of MTCT among children born to mothers who had ART interrupted in the third trimester was 18.2% (95% CI, 4.5%-72.7%)."

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/033009_08.htm)


medicalnewstoday

Flossing is important for a healthy mouth. But to get the most benefit without causing pain, you need to know how to do it the right way

(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/images/healthology/oncedailyhealth-20090328.jpg)

Video (http://www.healthology.com/once_daily/once_daily.aspx?cValue=od_teethfloss_0098&fValue=od1&bValue=medicalnewstoday)

Note
Video: Choose an answer to continue video



HIV-1 Protease Inhibitor Induced Oxidative Stress In Pancreatic B-Cells: Thymoquinone Protection

Researchers at the Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana have discovered that the HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs), such as nelfinavir included in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 patients, induce deleterious effects on insulin secretion mediated through the oxidative stress pathway.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143824.php)


Transfer Of HIV Between T Cells Captured On Video

A team of researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the UC Davis Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology have for the first time captured on video the transfer of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from infected to uninfected T cells through structures called virological synapses. The breakthrough study, which could lead to new methods to block the transmission of HIV, will be published in the March 27 edition of Science.

Mount Sinai Medical Center (http://www.mountsinai.org/)

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143904.php)


infectiousdiseasenews

Mathematical models identify mortality risk among patients with HIV

Patients with HIV who have severe anemia and who also have a BMI of 18 or less may br at a high risk for mortality, according to findings from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database.

More (http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/38293.aspx)


timesonline

Harvard Aids expert says Pope 'correct' on condoms and spread of HIV

The head of a Harvard-based AIDs prevention centre says the Pope is “correct” to claim that condom distribution risks aggravating the transmission of HIV.

More (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5987155.ece)


mediaforfreedom

More People Get HIV Drugs, but Even More Get Infected

A United Nations report says almost three million people in developing countries are now receiving drugs for H.I.V. This is an increase of almost one million people from two thousand six. Still, the hope was to reach three million by two thousand five.

Download Audio (http://www.51voa.com/path.asp?url=/mp3/voa-se-hea-AIDS-Report-3jun08.mp3)

More (http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=15098)


miamiherald

Colonoscopies suspended at Miami VA Hospital as investigation opens

A five-member team of doctors and administrators arrived at Miami VA Hospital to investigate how veterans were exposed to risk of HIV and hepatitis through contaminated colonoscopies.

More (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/971896.html)
Seen also in justnews (http://www.justnews.com/health/18996113/detail.html)


hivandhepatitis

Treatment for Hepatitis B: When to Start, What to Use, and When to Stop

At the 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease held in Washington March 20-24, 2009, invited experts presented their views on a variety of important issues related to the treatment and management of hepatitis B and C.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/hbv_virus5.gif)

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2009/032709_a.html)


Chronic Hepatitis B Patients May Need to Begin Liver Cancer Screening at a Younger Age than Currently Recommended

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Epidemiologic studies have shown that 60% of all HCC cases are related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2009/032709_b.html)


Preventive Isoniazid plus HAART Lowers the Risk of Active Tuberculosis among HIV Patients by 89%

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death for people with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that people with HIV/AIDS account for 25% of all TB deaths.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/032709_d.html)


whiotv

Dayton Police: 41 Prostitutes HIV Positive

DAYTON, Ohio -- Dayton police released a shocking statistic Friday saying 41 prostitutes working in Dayton are HIV positive.

More (http://www.whiotv.com/news/19031712/detail.html)


yahoo

South Africa: AHF to Launch New State-of-the-Art Free AIDS Treatment Clinic Location in Umlazi

DURBAN, South Africa, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Following seven years of continuing growth at its first free international AIDS treatment site outside of the United States, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US, which currently provides medical care and services to more than 98,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, will launch a new, expanded state-of-the-art clinic location in Umlazi, Durban, South Africa.

More (http://ca.us.biz.yahoo.com/prnews/090328/3866096en_public.html?.v=1)


informaworld

No evidence of HIV pol gene in spinal cord tissues in sporadic ALS by real-time RT-PCR

The authors could not find direct evidence of retroviral/HIV activity in SALS CNS to support a relationship. However, this method could miss novel retroviruses with non-homology in the pol gene. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909879485~db=all~order=pubdate)


Stress, needs, and quality of life of family members caring for adults living with HIV/AIDS in Taiwan

A family-centered care for PLWHA and their families in the community is crucial to improve quality of care and to prevent family's overload, particularly for families with no alternative manpower and for those being PLWHA's parents. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909274726~db=all~jumptype=rss)


Discussing matters of sexual health with children: what issues relating to disclosure of parental HIV status reveal

Interviews elucidated the difficulty that parents have in discussing their own HIV status and more general sexual health issues with their children. Parents and other guardians require support in managing age-appropriate disclosure to their children. This may further enable access to forums that can help children cope with their fears about the future and develop life skills in preparation for dealing with relationships of a sexual nature and sexual health as children move into adulthood. In developing such support mechanisms, changing family roles in Botswana need to be taken into consideration and the role of other family members in the upbringing of children in Tswana society need to be recognised and utilised. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909439661~db=all~jumptype=rss)


Which factors hinder the decision of Polish HIV-positive patients to take up antiretroviral therapy

The therapy is generally not discussed with the patients for whom it is not currently indicated, which may contribute to the fixation of fears and prejudices. Doctors who treat HIV-positive patients should be aware of the prejudices and fears their patients have towards antiretroviral therapy in order to react properly and by means of the available antiretroviral drugs help prolong life and improve its quality. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909443619~db=all~jumptype=rss)


Relational contexts in adjustment to pregnancy of HIV-positive women: relationships, social support and personal adjustment

Profile analysis suggests a greater importance of social support provided by the partner and both parents, especially the support provided by the mother. At the same time, it seems to highlight the buffering hypothesis of social support, which could be understood as a protection factor in the adjustment of HIV-infected women' to pregnancy. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909436918~db=all~jumptype=rss)


Intervention to train physicians in rural China on HIV/STI knowledge and risk reduction counseling: preliminary findings

The findings suggest that training physicians on HIV/STI-related knowledge and risk reduction counseling is a promising strategy for reducing HIV/STI epidemics in rural China. 

More (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909274402~db=all~jumptype=rss)


asm

Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 M184V and K103N Minority Variants in Patients with Primary HIV Infection 

The authors used an allele-specific real-time PCR assay to explore the presence of K103N and M184V minority species among primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and their potential influence in HIV transmission. Thirty randomly chosen antiretroviral drug-naive patients lacking both the K103N and the M184V mutations as determined by conventional sequencing methods were studied, and K103N and M184V viral minority species were found in three and four patients, respectively. 

More (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/1670)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on March 31, 2009, 12:02:30 pm
MARCH 31th, 2009


sciencedirect

Hepatitis B vaccination: The key towards elimination and eradication of hepatitis B 

Mass hepatitis B vaccination in children decreases the carriage of the virus, and the diseases associated with acute and chronic infection, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Challenges that need to be solved to expand mass vaccination, and the strategies towards elimination and eventual eradication of hepatitis B in the world are also discussed. 

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W7C-4VHSC0R-1&_user=10&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2009&_rdoc=30&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236623%232009%23999499995%23977050%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=6623&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=38&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=22fe27b1d22e29492e04541a2fa1439d)


natap

Aspirin, salicylates, and cancer

We summarise evidence for the potential benefit of aspirin and natural salicylates in cancer prevention.

WARNING (John2038): Aspiring may interact with your meds.
See for e.g. Check My Meds (http://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm) a tool that includes interactions based on almost ANYTHING in medical literature, including published case reports.


More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/033109_04.htm)


UPITER Study Reports Reducing hsCRP & LDL to Low Levels with Statin rosuvastatin Further Reduced Cardiovascular Risk

"In healthy men and women starting rosuvastatin therapy in the JUPITER trial, achievement of target concentrations of LDL cholesterol less than 1·8 mmol/L (<70 mg/dl) and hsCRP less than 2 mg/L was associated with improved event-free survival compared with achievement of neither target or with achievement of reduced LDL cholesterol alone.
 
We recorded a 79% reduction in hazard in participants who achieved the targets of LDL cholesterol less than 1·8 mmol/L and hsCRP less than 1 mg/L (table 4, figure 2). In similar analyses restricted to participants who achieved LDL cholesterol concentrations less than 1·8 mmol/L, those who achieved hsCRP concentrations less than 1 mg/L had better clinical outcomes than did those who did not."
 

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/033109_03.htm)


JUPITER: Rosuvastatin reduces risk of VTE in healthy subjects
 
Orlando, FL (updated March 29, 2009) - The use of rosuvastatin (Crestor, AstraZeneca) in healthy individuals reduced the risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the treatment effect was similar to and independent of the previously reported reduction in cardiovascular events [1].
 
The findings, from the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention TrialEvaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER), presented during a late-breaking clinical-trials session at theAmerican College of Cardiology 2009 Scientific Sessions and published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest a widening use of statins in different patient populations.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/033109_02.htm)


EHDRW: Comparison of two etravirine weighted genotypic scores with phenotypic susceptibility and virological response data

The TBT and MGR genotypic interpretation systems for ETR showed very good concordance in
- defining sensitivity or resistance to ETR
- association with virological outcome
 
Among the discordant samples, neither of the two genotypic interpretation systems was clearly associated with a particular virological outcome
 
The two weighted genotypic scores provided similar results when defining susceptibility to ETR in treatment-experienced patients

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_10.htm)
 
 
EHDRW: No Darunavir & Kaletra Major PI Mutations in ARTEMIS 96 Weeks

(http://natap.org/2009/images/033009-1/con-1.gif)

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_08.htm)


EHDRW: Low-Level Transmitted K103N Mutation Predicts Virologic Failure

Pretreatment low-frequency K103N mutations correlated with virologic failure of a nonnucleoside-based regimen in a British case-control study [1]. Four of 7 patients had transmitted nonnucleoside resistance mutations that could be detected only with a real-time PCR assay that identifies virus making up 0.3% to 1% of a viral population. Standard bulk sequencing sees virus only when it makes up about 20% or more of a viral population.

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_13.htm)

 
EHDRW: No Resistance to Darunavir or Lopinavir After 96 Weeks in ARTEMIS

No major protease mutations arose upon failure of darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir in a 96-week analysis of the ARTEMIS trial, which enrolled previously untreated people [1]. In all darunavir and lopinavir failures analyzed to date, HIV remained susceptible to all protease inhibitors (PIs)--including the study PI--after failure. These results do not make it easier to explain why ARTEMIS researchers recorded significantly more failures with lopinavir than with darunavir at 96 weeks. Some evidence suggested worse adherence to lopinavir can be blamed.

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_12.htm)


EHDRW: Weighted Genotyping Scores Work Equally Well in Predicting Response to Etravirine

Two weighted genotypic scores for predicting response to the nonnucleoside etravirine yielded highly similar results in a 4000-sample analysis and in a review of more than 300 DUET trial participants [1]. Both scores--one devised by Tibotec (etravirine's maker) and the other by Monogram Biosciences--closely reflected phenotypically measured viral susceptibility to etravirine in these viral isolates.

More (http://natap.org/2009/EHDRW/EHDRW_11.htm)


eurekalert

Potential new HIV drug may help patients not responding to treatment

A potential treatment for HIV may one day help people who are not responding to Anti-Retroviral Therapy, suggests new research published tomorrow in The Journal of Immunology. Scientists looking at monkeys with the simian form of HIV were able to reduce the virus levels in the blood to undetectable levels, by treating the monkeys with a molecule called D-1mT alongside Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).

More (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-03/icl-pnh033109.php)


esciencenews

Brazil plays key role in improving access to medicines for all

The Role Brazil has played in changing global AIDS policy and promoting widespread access to AIDS treatment is explored in a new paper by academics from Scotland and the United States. Brazil's large-scale, successful HIV/AIDS treatment program is considered a model for other developing countries aiming to improve access to AIDS treatment.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/03/30/brazil.plays.key.role.improving.access.medicines.all)


rsmjournals

Identification of oral candidosis, hairy leukoplakia and recurrent oral ulcers as distinct cases of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

The findings show that cases of oral candidosis, hairy leukoplakia and recurrent ulcers can be instances of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/259)


Chylous ascites: a late complication of intra-abdominal Mycobacterium avium complex immune reconstitution syndrome in HIV-infected patients 

Chylous ascites is a late complication of intra-abdominal MAC-IRS, and is usually associated with a favourable prognosis. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/285)


Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) results from pathological immune responses occurring during immune reconstitution. IRIS is best considered a group of disorders with a wide range of clinical manifestations, incorporating disease resulting from pathological inflammation to pathogens, immune-mediated inflammatory disease and autoimmune disease. Clinical effects range from a mild, self-limiting illness to severe morbidity and mortality. Clinicians working in the field of HIV medicine can expect to encounter individuals with IRIS. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/221)


Haemophilus ducreyi detection by polymerase chain reaction in oesophageal lesions of HIV patients 

The authors report Haemophilus ducreyi genetic material detected by polymerase chain reaction in biopsies of oesophageal lesions in three HIV-1-infected patients. This finding may be an indication of its aetiopathological role in oesophageal lesions of HIV patients. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/238)


ingentaconnect

Frequent Hemorrhagic Lesions in Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in AIDS Patients 

Hemorrhagic lesions are frequently found on cranial MRI scans in cerebral toxoplasmosis. AIDS patients presenting with hemorrhagic cerebral lesions should be considered for a trial of presumptive antitoxoplasma treatment. 

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jon/2009/00000019/00000002/art00010)


Comparison of glomerular filtration rate estimates vs. 24-h creatinine clearance in HIV-positive patients

Estimates were lower than the measurements of 24-h CrCl. Original MDRD estimates were lower than those with other equations. CG and simplified MDRD estimates showed a satisfactory correlation. 

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000004/art00003)


Implications of and perspectives on HIV surveillance using a serological method to measure recent HIV infections in newly diagnosed individuals

Cross-sectional surveillance of recent HIV infections proved to be relevant to the identification of current risks for acquiring HIV infection. The high proportion of recent HIV infections in MSM and the even higher proportion in MSM younger than 30 years indicate ongoing HIV transmission in this group. The method will be used in future national HIV surveillance in Germany. 

More (http://More)


Vertically acquired HIV diagnosed in adolescence and early adulthood in the United Kingdom and Ireland: findings from national surveillance

A small number of young people with vertically acquired HIV survive childhood without ART and are diagnosed at age >=13 years in the United Kingdom/Ireland. Half of the patients were asymptomatic, highlighting the importance of considering HIV testing for all offspring of HIV-infected women, regardless of age or symptoms. Increased awareness among clinicians and parents is required to reduce delayed presentation with advanced disease and to avoid onward transmission as these young people become sexually active. 

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000004/art00007)


Objective amount of limb fat in HIV-infected subjects with subjective diagnosis of lipoatrophy

The diagnosis of lipoatrophy was highly correlated with the amount of limb fat, irrespective of the investigators. HIV-infected men with clinically evident lipoatrophy had a limb fat loss of >50% compared with non-HIV-infected healthy males. 

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000004/art00008)


How does loss to follow-up influence cohort findings on HIV infection

Among LFU patients, 28.1% returned to follow-up after several years and at least 21.4% died, which led to a slight overestimation of both survival and the impact of DAC on survival. 

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000004/art00005)


sciencedaily

Transmission Of Drug Resistant HIV-1

Drug-resistant forms of HIV can be spread between individuals who have not received anti-retroviral treatment, according to Professor Deenan Pillay from University College, London and the Health Protection Agency, speaking at the Society for General Microbiology meeting at Harrogate March 30.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090329205441.htm)
Seen also in news-medical (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=47585)


HIV inhibitor grown in tobacco plants

Scientists have worked for years to create an HIV prophylactic to compete with the condom -- a gel that would allow women, particularly in developing nations, to reduce the risk of getting AIDS.

So far, the results have been disappointing, and none have reached the global market.

But yesterday, Louisville's James Graham Brown Cancer Center announced that one of its scientists had used Kentucky tobacco plants to cheaply grow a potent, protein-based drug that inhibits HIV.

More (http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090331/NEWS01/903310391/1008/rss01)
Seen also in business-standard (http://www.business-standard.com//india/storypage.php?autono=57655&tp=on), Nature (http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090330/full/news.2009.208.html)


medicalnewstoday

1.7M People Visit Webpage Urging Gov. Schwarzenegger To Save California AIDS Care Plan

More than 1.7 million people have visited a multi-media webpage urging California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to 'Have a Heart' and save 'Positive Healthcare,' a California primary care case management health care plan caring for low income people living with AIDS. The webpage (http://ga1.org/campaign/ahf_gov_haveaheart) is a part of an ambitious ongoing public awareness campaign spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the operator of the Positive Healthcare program, intended to persuade the Governor and State health officials to halt the forced closure of the respected money-saving AIDS care plan. Without intervention from the Governor or other officials, Positive Healthcare will be forced to cease operating after this Tuesday, March 31st.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144274.php)


Newly Created Institute 'Rare Bit Of Good News' In HIV/AIDS Vaccine Efforts, Editorial Says

Although former President George W. Bush "made an ambitious new commitment to the global fight against AIDS," and Congress in 2008 "authorized billions in new spending," lawmakers and philanthropists "will retreat" as the current economic recession continues, a Providence Journal editorial says. So it "comes as a rare bit of good news" that Phillip Ragon -- founder of the software company InterSystems Corp. -- is "giving $100 million of his own to the quest for an AIDS vaccine," the Journal says. Ragon "will allocate his gift in $10 million annual installments over 10 years" to the newly formed Ragon Institute -- a collaboration between Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University -- the Journal continues, adding that the three groups will "join in an effort to find new approaches" to an HIV/AIDS vaccine.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144311.php)


aidsmap

Court of Appeal says refused asylum seekers not ordinary UK residents, therefore not entitled to free NHS care

The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that refused asylum seekers should not be classified as normally resident in the UK and are therefore not entitled to free National Health Service (NHS) treatment and care.

This overturns a judgement in the High Court made in April 2008 that classified refused asylum seekers as normal UK residents. (http://aidsmap.com/en/news/C80C4EC8-6ED8-4048-AEB1-9F868766F315.asp)

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/85EF1548-264A-4898-A096-77498823A13C.asp)


hivandhepatitis

U.S. Agencies Release Updated Opportunistic Infection and Pediatric Antiretroviral Therapy Guidelines

In recent weeks, U.S. agencies have released updated version of 2 sets of guidelines for treatment of people with HIV/AIDS.

The full text of the updated OI guidelines is available online. (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr58e324a1.htm)

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/033109_a.html)


aegis

Mylan's Matrix Receives First Tentative FDA Approval Under PEPFAR for Generic Truvada

PITTSBURGH, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mylan Inc. (NASDAQ:MYL) today announced that Matrix Laboratories Limited, its India-based subsidiary in which it holds a 71.2% controlling interest, has received the first tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Tablets, 200 mg/300 mg.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1047)


medilexicon

Cardiovascular Mortality And Shortness Of Breath In Heart Failure Patients With Normal To High Blood Pressure Are Reduced When Relaxin Is Prescribed

A phase II study (PRE-RELAX-AHF), as reported in an article published Online First and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet, coinciding with the announcement of the findings at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in Florida USA, reveals an improvement of cardiovascular mortality and shortness of breath as well as other clinical end points for heart failure patients with high blood pressure when prescribed the naturally occurring hormone Relaxin.

More (http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=144252)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 01, 2009, 12:43:19 pm
APRIL 1st, 2009


rsmjournals

Syphilitic hepatitis among HIV-infected patients

This study showed that syphilitic hepatitis is common, occurring in 38% (12/32) of HIV-positive patients with early stages of syphilis infection. Most cases occurred during secondary syphilis, with the most common finding being a maculopapular rash. Syphilis should be included in the differential diagnosis of HIV patients presenting with liver test abnormalities, rash and/or sexual risk factors. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/278)


Loneliness, social support and family function of people living with HIV/AIDS in Anhui rural area, China

Loneliness prevails among PLWHA. It may limit PLWHA's ability or access to social relationship. These findings support the hypothesis that if PLWHA are better supported and cared for, their negative psychosocial consequences might be prevented or at least reduced. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/255)


A delayed hypersensitivity reaction to enfuvirtide after rechallenge

The authors report this case to highlight the possibility of a delayed hypersensitivity reaction as an important potential side-effect of enfuvirtide treatment. A highly antiretroviral treatment-experienced man was commenced on a new regimen containing enfuvirtide. Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia was started using trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP-STX) simultaneously. Ten days later, he developed a maculopapular rash on the chest and abdomen without any systemic features. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/288)


Recurrence of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected patients following immune reconstitution

Two HIV-infected patients had recurrent cryptococcal meningitis (CM) despite treatment with fluconazole and immune reconstitution with combination antiretroviral therapy (CART). Following treatment of CM with fluconazole, lumbar puncture should be performed either after completion of induction treatment for CM or before starting CART, in order to confirm cerebrospinal fluid sterility. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/274)


Resistance mutations in HIV-1 infected pregnant women and their infants receiving antiretrovirals to prevent HIV-1 vertical transmission in China

The study indicates that NVP resistance after sdNVP was associated with CD4 cell count at delivery. ZDV-sdNVP regimen was of more significance in the prevention of the emergence of NNRTI-related DR than sdNVP. 

More (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/249)


sciencedirect

Comparison of 3 nucleic acid isolation methods for the quantification of HIV-1 RNA by Cobas Taqman real-time polymerase chain reaction system

Manual isolation method is a cheaper alternative, but because the nucleic acid isolation can be performed in a shorter time by automated systems when compared with manual isolation method, these systems can be preferred especially in the laboratories that have high number of samples. 

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T60-4VMX81R-6&_user=10&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2009&_rdoc=4&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235016%232009%23999369995%23988069%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5016&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=19&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2c611acb7bce17eb40f60261c735039d)


Nebrodeolysin, a novel hemolytic protein from mushroom Pleurotus nebrodensis with apoptosis-inducing and anti-HIV-1 effects

It was found that this hemolysin induced apoptosis in L929 and HeLa cells as evidenced by microscopic observations and DNA ladder, respectively. Moreover, this hemolysin was shown to possess anti-HIV-1 activity in CEM cell culture. 

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7GVW-4T893BK-1&_user=10&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F2009&_rdoc=14&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%2320441%232009%23999839997%23917069%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=20441&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=25&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=10bded97868f6095fd9a618419b94d80)


ajph

Reducing Risky Sexual Behavior and Substance Use Among Currently and Formerly Homeless Adults Living With HIV

The authors examined the efficacy of the Healthy Living Program in reducing risky sexual behavior and substance use among adults with HIV infection who were marginally housed (i.e., homeless at some point over a 37-month period). Intensive, skill-focused intervention programs may improve the lives of marginally housed adults living with HIV infection. 

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2007.121186v1)


sagepub

Delirium in Children With HIV/AIDs

The authors also present a hypothesis in relation to HIV-associated delirium as a potential neuropsychiatric manifestation of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in children commenced on highly active antiretroviral therapy. 

More (http://jcn.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/0883073809332399v1)


liebertonline

Comparison of Once-Daily Fosamprenavir Boosted with Either 100 or 200 mg of Ritonavir, in Combination with Abacavir/Lamivudine: 96-Week Results from COL100758

Through 96 weeks, FPV/r100 was more effective and prompted less elevation in triglycerides than FPV/r200.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0231)


nytimes

Dying, and Alone, in Myanmar

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/03/31/world/31myanmar-600.jpg)
A 49-year-old man in the advanced stages of H.I.V. has not told friends about his situation because of the social stigma attached to the disease. "The worst thing for me is the loneliness," he said. Two weeks after this photograph was taken, he died.

BANGKOK — The most heartbreaking moment for doctors and nurses treating people with H.I.V./AIDS in Myanmar is the arrival of a new patient. Running short of funds and medications, clinics have started turning dying people away.

“They continue to knock on our doors, even though we can’t take in most of them,” said Joe Belliveau, operations manager of the international aid group Médecins Sans Frontières.

More (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/world/asia/01iht-myanmar.html?partner=MOREOVERFEATURES&ei=5040)
Seen also on aegis (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1059)


eatg

GSK completes Cervarix submission in the USA

The likelihood of GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix reaching the US market has been given a boost after the company said it has submitted final data from a key study of the cervical cancer vaccine to the Food and Drug Administration.

More (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/HIV-STIs/GSK-completes-Cervarix-submission-in-the-USA)


hivandhepatitis

Liver Steatosis in HIV Positive Patients with and without Hepatitis C Coinfection

Liver steatosis, or accumulation of fat in liver cells -- also called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) -- has a variety of causes including viral hepatitis, especially with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3. (The name distinguishes from a similar condition caused by excessive alcohol consumption.) Steatosis may coexist with -- and contribute to -- liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images_2008/fatty3.gif)

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/033109_c.html)


Prevalence and Clearance of Anal Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in HIV Positive Men and Women

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/hpv3.gif)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause genital warts, and certain "high-risk" types --especially 16 and 18 -- can cause genital, anal, and oral cancers. Although considerable research has shown that HIV positive people are more likely to become infected with HPV and tend to develop more severe disease, studies have yielded conflicting data.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/033109_d.html)


Use of New Drugs in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

There are now 7 FDA-approved therapies for chronic hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection: 2 formulations of injectable interferon -- conventional interferon alfa (Roferon A and Intron A) and pegylated interferon alfa (Pegasys and PegIntron) -- and 5 oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogs: lamivudine (Epivir-HBV), adefovir (Hepsera), entecavir (Baraclude), telbivudine (Tyzeka) and tenofovir (Viread).

At the 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (ISVHLD) last week in Washington, DC, experts in the field of viral hepatitis were asked to present their views on various issues.

Dr. Robert Perrillo of the Hepatology Division at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, presented his opinions concerning how best to utilize the new anti-HBV agents that have recently become available. Following is a summary of his remarks at the meeting.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2009/033109_a.html)


aegis

Tentative approval of abacavir sulfate and lamivudine tablets, 600 mg (base)/300 mg

On March 30, 2009, FDA granted tentative approval for abacavir sulfate and lamivudine tablets, 600 mg / 300 mg, manufactured by Matrix Laboratories Limited of Hyberdad, India, for use in combination with other antiretrovirals in the treatment of HIV infection. The application was reviewed under expedited review provisions for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1060)


independent

China facing HIV and AIDS crisis

CHINA is facing an epidemic of HIV infection after the government admitted yesterday that new cases had risen by 45pc in two years.

AIDS is now the leading cause of death among infectious diseases on the mainland, as official figures showed that 7,000 people had died in the first nine months of 2008 and 45,000 were infected with HIV.

More (http://www.independent.ie/world-news/in-brief-china-facing-hiv-and-aids-crisis-1692059.html)


esciencenews

Study details strategy for boosting ranks of black HIV/AIDS researchers

African Americans, who make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, are disproportionately affected by AIDS, accounting for nearly 49 percent of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases nationwide. About 500,000 African Americans are now living with HIV/AIDS. Yet there are very few African American HIV/AIDS researchers, due to historical, social and other factors that prevent them from training in the biomedical, behavioral and social aspects of HIV/AIDS research.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/01/study.details.strategy.boosting.ranks.black.hivaids.researchers)
Seen also in eurekalert (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-03/uoc--sds033109.php)


herald

Hero who stopped beating now left with HIV worry

A heroic shop assistant who was bitten on the hand by a middle-aged woman after he tried to stop her attacking a teenage girl has spoken of his fear of contracting HIV and hepatitis.

Brian Noonan, who was working at the Vivo store in Dolphins Barn, was trying to pull local woman Miriam Power away from the young teen after she attacked her at the counter.

Power (40) from the Seagull House Flats on Crumlin Road, was found guilty of assault after the Richmond Court heard that she had shouted "I'm going to kill you," to her victim before biting Brian on August 3, 2007.

More (http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/hero-who-stopped-beating-now-left-with-hiv-worry-1688990.html)


apria

City could be center of HIV fight

Within a decade, Owensboro could be the production center for a drug that could effectively eliminate the spread of HIV and AIDS worldwide -- if clinical trials are successful.

Kenneth Palmer, a researcher at the Owensboro Cancer Research Program, is the senior author of a study published Monday by the National Academy of Sciences about how the HIV inhibitor can be produced cheaply in plants.

Plans call for the drug -- if it eventually wins approval from the Food and Drug Administration -- to be grown in a form of tobacco plants patented by Kentucky BioProcessing in Owensboro and produced by KBP.

More (http://www.apria.com/resources/1,2725,494-913935,00.html)
Seen also on owensboro (http://www.owensboro.net/), therapeuticsdaily (http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contenttype=sentryarticle&contentvalue=1898332&channelID=28)

Note (John2038): Not sure if this is an interesting news

redorbit

AIDS Funding Encouraged

(http://www.redorbit.com/modules/imglib/resize.php?Url=/modules/news/upload/9b9aa9a03cc3ee6c12cb9cdc071dfe6a.jpg&resize_type=fixed&width=250&height=180)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged donors to ignore the global economic downturn when it comes to giving to a major international fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

"At this time of economic crisis I say to you that spending on AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is a smart investment, it is a true recovery package," he said in a video message played at the start of a two-day meeting in Spain of key donors to the Global Fund.

"The Global Fund has saved millions of lives and it has shown that we can beat these diseases. It is important that we replenish it," he said, adding it "helps parents, workers and teachers stay alive and productive".

More (http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1663793/aids_funding_encouraged/index.html?source=r_health)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 03, 2009, 12:24:29 pm
APRIL 3rd, 2009


natap

Emerging role of hepatocellular carcinoma among liver-related causes of deaths in HIV-infected patients: The French national Mortalite 2005 study

Longer exposure to hepatitis C (HCV) or B virus (HBV) and the increased use of hepatitis treatment might have an impact on liver-related deaths in patients co-infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We describe the proportion of liver-related deaths among HIV-infected patients in 2005 compared with 2000.

Conclusion: Liver-related deaths, mainly liver cancers, have increased in HIV-infected patients in France despite wide access to HCV treatment. The stability of HBV-related deaths might be explained by the use of dually active antiretroviral drugs in co-infected patients.


More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040309_06.htm)
Seen also in medicalnewstoday (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144953.php), esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/02/more.compelling.evidence.why.earlier.hiv.treatment.lengthens.survival), natap (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040309_05.htm)


When to Start HAART' Experts Disagree-NEJM Study

In a second analysis, this time including 9,155 patients, 24 percent started treatment at CD4 counts of more than 500 cells per millimeter, while the other 76 percent delayed therapy till after their counts fell below that threshold. In this group, patients who deferred therapy experienced a 94 percent rise in death risk compared to those who began their therapy earlier.
 
"Our study adds to the growing evidence that support earlier initiation of therapy to improve survival," Kitahata said. "We think antiretroviral treatment should be started when the CD4 count is above 500. I feel these data are strong enough that I would start a patient who is ready and willing to begin therapy at a CD4 count above 500 and certainly between 350 and 500," she said.
 
Dr. Paul E. Sax, from the division of infectious diseases and the department of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said the study does seem to tilt the argument in favor of earlier treatment.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040309_04.htm)


aidsmap

Prevention for HIV serodiscordant couples: it's more than just condoms

Promoting 100% condom use may not be the most appropriate HIV prevention strategy for serodiscordant couples, according to research presented to the Fifteenth Conference of the British HIV Association. However, researchers found that there was little awareness or use of other methods of HIV prevention, such as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or the impact of viral load on infectiousness.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0BF6C211-D616-4634-8FB6-D54FAFD2C67B.asp)


TB treatment completion rates for HIV-positive UK patients: good but not quite on target

Just over 80% of HIV-positive patients co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) complete their full course of TB treatment, according to an audit presented to the fifteenth annual conference of the British HIV Association in Liverpool. This rate of treatment completion is below the 85% target set by the UK’s Chief Medical Officer. The vast majority of patients, however, received treatment with a standard and recommended regimen of tuberculosis drugs.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/516D439E-69A6-49FE-8539-21B4DF13959D.asp)


UK women with HIV need more conception and contraception advice

Women living with HIV in the UK would welcome greater provision of integrated sexual and reproductive healthcare services by their HIV clinics, according to three separate studies presented at the British HIV Association conference in Liverpool this week. There is a particular need for advice on conception and contraception that reflects the specific issues for women living with HIV.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/CCA6B6BF-A482-4B67-9046-DEC6035C0720.asp)


Strategies and challenges to reduce undiagnosed infection

Delegates at the British HIV Association conference in Liverpool this week presented the findings of pilot projects that helped increase the uptake of HIV testing, highlighted the continuing problem of the untested children of HIV-positive parents, and identified a limited awareness of HIV testing guidelines among non-HIV doctors.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1548E66E-DB7D-4DEC-B74A-C13D78F8B5C5.asp)


esciencenews

Can periodontal disease act as a risk factor for HIV-1 ?

Today, during the 87th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, convening at the Miami Beach Convention Center, a group of scientists from Nihon University (Tokyo, Japan) will present findings suggesting that periodontal disease could act as a risk factor for reactivating latent HIV-1 in affected individuals. Latently infected cells harbor HIV-1 proviral DNA genomes integrated with heterochromatins, allowing for the persistence of transcriptionally silent proviruses. Hypoacetylation of histone proteins by histone deacetylases (HDACs) is primarily involved in the maintenance of HIV-1 latency by repressing transcription from HIV-1 provirus. On the other hand, periodontal diseases, caused by infection with the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), are found worldwide and are among the most prevalent microbial diseases of mankind.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/03/can.periodontal.disease.act.a.risk.factor.hiv.1)
Seen also in genengnews (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=52280146)


hivandhepatitis

Lower CD4 Counts in Seroconverters Suggest HIV May Have Become More Virulent

There is no clear answer yet to the question of whether or not HIV seroconverters have presented with progressively lower CD4 cell counts over the course of the HIV epidemic. Lower CD4 counts might indicate that the virus is becoming more virulent, or able to replicate and infect new cells more rapidly and efficiently.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/040309_a.html)


Fosamprenavir (Lexiva) Works Well with 100 mg Ritonavir (Norvir) at 96 Weeks in Treatment-naive Patients

The use of ritonavir (Norvir) to boost blood levels of other protease inhibitors has improved the effectiveness and convenience of combination antiretroviral therapy, but ritonavir can cause metabolic side effects and adds to the number of pills a patient must take.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/040309_b.html)


Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Mortality Remains High for People with HIV, but Antiretroviral Therapy Reduces Risk

(http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/0_images2009/non_hodg1.jpg)

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), one of the 3 AIDS-defining malignancies, remains a significant cause of death among HIV positive individuals in the HAART era. But effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly reduces the risk of NHL, and blood biomarkers can predict its development, according to studies presented at the recent 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2009) in Montreal.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/040309_a.html)


FDA Approves Generic Versions of Abacavir/lamivudine, Tenofovir/emtricitabine, Nevirapine, and Stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine for PEPFAR Program

Drug cost remains a major barrier to access to antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited areas. Several companies produce generic versions of anti-HIV medications under World Trade Organization provisions for low- and middle-income countries.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/040309_c.html)


uchicago

Tuberculosis Complicating Hepatitis C Treatment in HIV-Infected Patients

Tuberculosis characteristics and incidence were assessed among patients with concurrent human immunodeficiency virus infection and chronic hepatitis C virus infection who were receiving interferon-based therapy at 3 hospitals in Spain. Four of 570 patients received a diagnosis of tuberculosis; all of them presented with a decrease in CD4+ cell count before diagnosis, and 3 of them received a delayed diagnosis. After tuberculosis treatment, all patients were cured.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/597503)


oxfordjournals

Safety, Tolerability and Effectiveness of Generic HAART in HIV-Infected Children in South India

The most common adverse events to therapy were nausea and rash. Over one-fifth of patients substituted therapy due to toxicities and 19.4% of patients switched to second-line protease inhibitor-containing regimens. In this South Indian pediatric cohort, generic HAART was safe, effective and relatively well tolerated.

More (http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/fmn080)


Time-independent Maternal and Infant Factors and Time-dependent Infant Morbidities including HIV Infection, Contribute to Infant Growth Faltering during the First 2 Years of Life

Maternal schooling, immunological status and infant infections are important predictors of early growth in children born to HIV-positive women.

More (http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/55/2/83)


Children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Admitted to a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in South Africa

Fifty-seven percent had advanced clinical and immunological disease. Seventeen died in PICU and 4 shortly afterwards; poor PICU outcome was significantly associated with HIV status. Lower total lymphocyte count and higher gamma globulin level were paradoxically, the only findings significantly associated with survival. Acute respiratory failure accounted for 76% of admissions, including Pneumocystis jiroveci in 38%. Fifty-one percent had evidence of cytomegalovirus infection. HIV-infected children requiring PICU can survive despite the lack of availability of antiretroviral therapy.

More (http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/fmm088)


liebertonline

Worldwide Distribution of HIV Type 1 Epitopes Recognized by Human Anti-V3 Monoclonal Antibodies

The method described here is capable of accurately determining the worldwide occurrence and subtype distribution of any crystallographically resolved HIV-1 epitope recognized by a neutralizing antibody, which could be useful for multivalent vaccine design. More importantly, these calculations demonstrate that globally relevant, structurally conserved epitopes are present in the sequence variable V3 loop.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0188)


High HIV Type 1 Prevalence and Wide Genetic Diversity with Dominance of Recombinant Strains But Low Level of Antiretroviral Drug-Resistance Mutations in Untreated Patients in Northeast Gabon, Central Africa

Analysis of antiretroviral drug-resistance mutations in protease and reverse transcriptase from this untreated population showed a low level of specific mutations. These mutations were associated with subtype polymorphism rather than with resistance to antiretroviral drugs. The wide diversity and the emergence of recombinant strains are in accordance with the rapid spread of new HIV strains in the population and, thus, the dynamic evolution of the epidemic.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0223)


Lack of a Decline in HIV Incidence in a Rural Community with High HIV Prevalence in South Africa, 2003–2007

The authors show for the first time that high levels of HIV incidence have been maintained without any sign of decline over the past 5 years in both women and men in a rural South African community with high HIV prevalence. It is unlikely that the HIV epidemic in rural South Africa can be reversed without new or intensified efforts to prevent HIV infection.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0211)


Liver Complications Have Reached a Plateau as Cause of Hospital Admission and Death in HIV Patients in Madrid

Hepatic complications are currently still responsible for 8.7% of all hospital admissions and one-third of in-hospital deaths, with hepatitis C virus infection by far the leading etiologic agent.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0242)


Dendritic Cell Differentiation and Maturation in the Presence of HIV Type 2 Envelope

HIV-2 Env had no effects upon DC differentiation and maturation despite its broad receptor usage and ability to modulate monocyte function. It is plausible to speculate that a reduced ability of the HIV-2 Env to impair myeloid DC function could represent a contributory factor to the relatively benign course of HIV-2 disease.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0247)


ingentaconnect

Morbidity and mortality among a cohort of HIV-infected adults in a programme for community home-based care, in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania (2003-2005)

The high level of morbidity observed in this study, and the causes of mortality that were identified, emphasise the need for CHBC programmes to provide HIV-infected patients with improved access to basic resources such as SXT and isoniazid prophylaxis, clean water, oral rehydration therapy, and micronutrient supplementation, in addition to increased access to ART.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/atmp/2009/00000103/00000003/art00007)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 06, 2009, 01:48:09 pm
APRIL 6th, 2009


aidsmap

HIV superinfection may cause increasing viral loads and a second seroconversion illness    

Infection with a second strain of HIV (superinfection) may have medical consequences, according to a presentation at the 15th British HIV Association (BHIVA) conference.

A small study of eight gay men with HIV who were not on treatment and had increases in their viral load found two whose viral load increases were clearly due to infections with a second strain of HIV.

In one case the patient‘s second strain of HIV was drug-resistant. He also experienced a recurrence of acute HIV symptoms which required hospitalisation for suspected meningitis and a large, though temporary decrease in CD4 count. In the other case the patient’s original strain of HIV, which was drug-resistant, was replaced by an apparently stronger non-resistant strain and his viral load increased from around 3000 to half a million. However he maintained a CD4 count over 1000 and his viral load had returned to 3000 a year later.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/18CDEFBE-B491-4D73-AC92-AB0177577FF0.asp)


Mental impairment relatively more common in younger people with HIV: brain changes seen but significance unclear    

Several presentations at the 15th British HIV Association (BHIVA) conference in Liverpool found further evidence that even people on stable HIV therapy and with good CD4 counts show signs of subtle psychological and neurological impairment, and one study found signs of nerve cell loss in the brain. However in most of the studies the differences in performance were subtle, and in the study that found brain changes, they were not related to test results.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/59AAC6B7-C891-4D0C-BEC7-032B1985F96D.asp)


Vitamin D supplementation may help with tenofovir-related bone hormone deficiency

Giving patients taking tenofovir supplements of vitamin D helped reduces levels of a hormone – parathyroid hormone or PTH - that causes loss of calcium from the bones, a joint London/New York study has found.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AA992216-3C05-4F6F-93EB-3423DEC33FA9.asp)


London patient surveys find widely different rates of patients referred to care and lost to follow-up

A number of surveys presented to the 15th British HIV Association (BHIVA) conference in Liverpool have found wide variation between clinics in the proportion of patients in the UK who see an HIV doctor within two weeks of diagnosis and also the number who disappear from care (in medical terms ‘lost to follow-up’ or LTFU).

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/764036E2-DF6E-46F8-8A18-773D20D03617.asp)


eatg

Many over-45s 'ignore STI risks'

Many middle-aged people are continuing to take an irresponsible attitude to their sexual health, say experts.

More (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/HIV-STIs/Many-over-45s-ignore-STI-risks)


physorg

Team to develop nanosensors for HIV diagnosis and monitoring

The London Centre for Nanotechnology will develop a new device to enable people living with HIV to monitor their own health and the effectiveness of their treatments, thanks to a £2 million EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) grant announced today.

More (http://www.physorg.com/news158234040.html)
Seen also in genengnews (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=52447727&chid=2&taxid=17)


ajph

Correlates of Incarceration Among Young Methamphetamine Users in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Incarcerated methamphetamine users are engaging in behaviors and being exposed to environments that put them at increased risk of infection and harmful practices. Alternatives to incarceration need to be explored for youths.

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2008.136648v1)


Factors Associated With the Sexual Behavior of Canadian Aboriginal Young People and Their Implications for Health Promotion

Sexual behavior change interventions for Aboriginal young people must move beyond the individual and incorporate interpersonal and structural dimensions. Interventions to reduce substance use and sexual abuse and promote feelings of family connectedness in this population should be explored. Young people living on land reserves need special attention.

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2007.132597v1)


The Effect of Name-Based Reporting and Partner Notification on HIV Testing in New York State

HIV reporting has permitted improved monitoring of New York’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. This benefit has not been offset by decreases in HIV testing behavior, including willingness to test among those at high risk of acquiring HIV.

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2006.092742v3)


liebertonline

Women's Opinions about Routine HIV Testing During Pregnancy

Comfort with HIV testing was associated with higher HIV knowledge. Approximately half of the respondents indicated that HIV tests are different from other tests and that women need more information prior to testing. Results demonstrated clear consensus in support of routine testing. Increased efforts to disseminate resources to providers coupled with providers' effective communication of information to pregnant women can build on the support that women have conveyed for HIV testing during pregnancy.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0186)


Single Nef Proteins from HIV Type 1 Subtypes C and F Fail to Upregulate Invariant Chain Cell Surface Expression But Are Active for Other Functions

The authors identified two primary HIV-1 NefC and NefF alleles that are selectively impaired for Ii upregulation and that may help to elucidate the mechanism of this Nef function in the future. It will be important to determine whether the observed differences are HIV-1 subtype dependent and influence viral immunopathogenesis.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0132)


lvrj

Most vulnerable to lose HIV therapy

At 20 months of age, Yordanny Zier could not know that her mother was a crackhead, a woman who says she spent much of 12 years in Las Vegas whoring for a fix.

More (http://www.lvrj.com/news/42491692.html)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 08, 2009, 07:39:30 am
APRIL 8th, 2009 - Part I/II


huliq

Has HIV become more virulent?

Damage to patients’ immune systems is happening sooner now than it did at the beginning of the HIV epidemic, suggesting the virus has become more virulent, according to a new study in the May 1, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

More (http://www.huliq.com/11/79425/has-hiv-become-more-virulent)
Seen also in sciencedaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090407105259.htm), eurekalert (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/idso-hhb040709.php), esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/07/has.hiv.become.more.virulent)


ingentaconnect

Darunavir: A Review of its Use in the Management of HIV Infection in Adults

Darunavir is an oral nonpeptidic HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI) that is used, together with a low boosting dose of ritonavir, as part of an antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen in treatment-experienced and -naive patients with HIV-1 infection.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/adis/dgs/2009/00000069/00000004/art00007)


nih

Maraviroc: A coreceptor CCR5 antagonist for management of HIV infection

Available data support the use of maraviroc, the first CCR5 antagonist to receive FDA marketing approval, as part of an optimized antiretroviral regimen in treatment-experienced patients infected with CCR5-tropic HIV.

More (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19336831?dopt=Abstract)


A single-dose, randomized, open-label, two-period crossover bioequivalence study comparing a fixed-dose pediatric combination of lamivudine and stavudine tablet for oral suspension with individual liquid formulations in healthy adult male volunteers.

Lamivudine (CAS 134678-17-4) is a synthetic nucleoside analogue with activity against HIV-1 and HBV. Stavudine (CAS 3056-17-5) is a synthetic thymidine nucleoside analogue, active against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Lamivudine and stavudine in combination with other antiretroviral (ARV) agents are indicated for the treatment of HIV infection. As there are no suitable pediatric ARVs, adult fixed-dose ARVs are commonly used in children. This practice poses concerns about dose inaccuracy, which may lead to resistance or toxicity. A new fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablet for oral suspension, containing lamivudine 40 mg and stavudine 10 mg has been developed. An open-label, balanced, randomised, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, single-dose, crossover bioequivalence study was conducted following administration of a fixed-dose combination of lamivudine and stavudine tablet for oral suspension (test formulation) and innovator products (reference formulations) in healthy, adult, male human subjects under fasting condition.

More (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19338141?dopt=Abstract)


natap

Broccoli appears to reduce risk for stomach cancer, reduced inflammation in stomach

The isothiocyanate sulforaphane [SF; 1-isothiocyanato-4(R)-methylsulfinylbutane] is abundant in broccoli sprouts in the form of its glucosinolate precursor (glucoraphanin). SF is powerfully bactericidal against Helicobacter pylori infections, which are strongly associated with the worldwide pandemic of gastric cancer. Oral treatment with SF-rich broccoli sprouts of C57BL/6 female mice infected with H. pylori Sydney strain 1 and maintained on a high-salt (7.5% NaCl) diet reduced gastric bacterial colonization, attenuated mucosal expression of tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} and interleukin-1ß, mitigated corpus inflammation, and prevented expression of high salt-induced gastric corpus atrophy. This therapeutic effect was not observed in mice in which the nrf2 gene was deleted, strongly implicating the important role of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proteins in SF-dependent protection. Forty-eight H. pylori-infected patients were randomly assigned to feeding of broccoli sprouts (70 g/d; containing 420 µmol of SF precursor) for 8 weeks or to consumption of an equal weight of alfalfa sprouts (not containing SF) as placebo. Intervention with broccoli sprouts, but not with placebo, decreased the levels of urease measured by the urea breath test and H. pylori stool antigen (both biomarkers of H. pylori colonization) and serum pepsinogens I and II (biomarkers of gastric inflammation). Values recovered to their original levels 2 months after treatment was discontinued. Daily intake of sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprouts for 2 months reduces H. pylori colonization in mice and improves the sequelae of infection in infected mice and in humans. This treatment seems to enhance chemoprotection of the gastric mucosa against H. pylori-induced oxidative stress.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040409_01.htm)


Mass Spec Technique Analyzes Defensive Chemicals On Seaweed Surfaces For Potential Drugs

A new analytical technique is helping scientists learn how organisms as simple as seaweed can mount complex chemical defenses to protect themselves from microbial threats such as fungus. Known as desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS), the technique for the first time allows researchers to study unique chemical activity taking place on the surfaces of these organisms.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090406192231.htm)


medicalnewstoday

Miami Herald Examines Issues Surrounding HIV Status Disclosure Among MSM

The Miami Herald on Monday examined issues that some HIV-positive men who have sex with men face when determining when to reveal their status to potential partners. According to the Herald, a recent study from the Gay Men's Health Crisis found that half of U.S. residents surveyed said they believe that HIV/AIDS contributes to discrimination against MSM. In addition, discrimination in the MSM community toward HIV-positive MSM is not discussed widely, according to the Herald. This stigma often leads to a fear of disclosure among HIV-positive MSM, which can contribute to high-risk sexual activity and the spread of HIV.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145478.php)


Obama Administration Announces New Campaign To Refocus National Attention On The HIV Crisis In America

Every 9 ½ minutes another person in America becomes infected with HIV. Officials from the White House, Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today a new five-year national communication campaign, Act Against AIDS, which highlights this alarming statistic and aims to combat complacency about the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145548.php)


Hamilton Spectator Examines Debate Over Criminalizing HIV Transmission

The Hamilton Spectator on Monday examined debate among some legal experts and HIV/AIDS advocates over criminalizing HIV transmission for those who know they are living with the virus. The Spectator examined the case of Johnson Aziga, an HIV-positive Canadian resident who on Saturday was convicted of murder for not informing sexual partners of his HIV status and knowingly spreading the virus. One of Aziga's sexual partners who became contracted the virus died. According to the Spectator, although some people believe that knowingly spreading HIV should be considered a criminal act, many HIV/AIDS advocates contend that such actions are unreasonable and counterproductive.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145477.php)


Inter Press Service Examines Research Into PrEP

Inter Press Service (http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46356) last week examined how researchers are investigating the use of antiretroviral drugs as a possible method of pre-exposure prophylaxis. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition's Executive Director Mitchell Warren recently said that such efforts are "a pivotal moment in HIV/AIDS research." Mitchell -- who was speaking at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference -- said, "We are at a time where prevention and treatment need to marry." Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa, said that PrEP is "biologically plausible" and that the method "could prevent millions of new infections every year."

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145348.php)


Mylan's Matrix Receives First Tentative FDA Approval Under PEPFAR For Generic Truvada

Mylan Inc. announced that Matrix Laboratories Limited, its India-based subsidiary in which it holds a 71.2% controlling interest, has received the first tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Tablets, 200 mg/300 mg.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145321.php)


Bush's AIDS Treatment Program Saved 1.2 Million Lives In Africa

According to a new report, PEPFAR, President Bush's AIDS treatment program reduced the total number of AID/HIV deaths by 1.2 million from 2004 to 2007. PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) targeted Africa's most stricken countries.

PEPFAR was launched by President Bush in 2003. Experts from the Stanford University, lead by Eran Bendavid, state in a report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that the program reduced AIDS deaths by approximately 10.5% per year in the most stricken African countries. They added that PEPFAR did not prevent new infections or reduce overall prevalence of AIDS.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145376.php)


aidsmap

Guilty verdict in first ever murder trial for sexual HIV transmission

A Canadian man who is thought to have recklessly transmitted HIV to seven women, two of whom subsequently died, has made legal history by becoming the first person ever to be convicted of first-degree murder for sexual HIV transmission. The case has reignited the criminalisation debate in Canada, which has prosecuted more HIV-positive individuals per capita for sexual HIV exposure or transmission than any other country in the world.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/779517F3-B26C-473F-B809-58C1548E4A91.asp)


Less than half of all TB patients in London being offered an HIV test

Over 50% of tuberculosis (TB) patients in London were not offered an HIV test, investigators reported at the Fifteenth Annual Conference of the British HIV Association. Even in groups with a high risk of HIV, the offer of a test for HIV was not universal, the conference was told.

A separate audit (http://aidsmap.com/en/news/516D439E-69A6-49FE-8539-21B4DF13959D.asp) of TB treatment for patients with diagnosed HIV was presented to the conference and found that the proportion of patients completing treatment was slightly below target.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/A6A920D1-997C-4E4B-A4B9-FFDE244653E4.asp)


Early KS can be successfully treated with HIV treatment with no need for chemotherapy

The early stages of the AIDS-defining cancer Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) can be successfully treated with HIV drugs alone without the need for additional chemotherapy, research presented to the Fifteenth Annual Conference of the British HIV Association showed.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/C2E5EBC4-BD30-4DB7-8A55-324CBF66CAC7.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Many Non-specialist Hospital Physicians Have a Poor Understanding of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV

The mean percentage of correct responses was 33% for resident physicians and 37% for attending physicians, compared with 93% for ID or HIV specialists. In particular, non-ID/HIV physicians scored less than 6% on questions about antiretroviral drug dosing. Higher scores were independently associated with ID or HIV specialty, number of outpatients seen per month, and reported comfort level in managing HIV patients (all P < 0.001).

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/040709_d.html)


Early Initiation of HAART Significantly Prolongs Survival

The question of what is the optimal timing for initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in asymptomatic HIV positive individuals has been controversial for more than a decade. Current U.S. and European guidelines recommend treatment for asymptomatic HIV patients who have a CD4 count less than 350 cells/mm3 (1).

However, results of a new study, published April 1, 2009 in the advance online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, add weight to a growing body of evidence suggesting that earlier treatment initiation can reduce the risk of various conditions and prolong survival among HIV patients.

(http://content.nejm.org/content/vol0/issue2009/images/medium/NEJMoa0807252f1.gif)

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/040709_a.html)
Seen also in nejm (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa0807252v1#F1)


Non-AIDS-defining Cancer Is an Increasingly Common Cause of Death among HIV Patients

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced overall mortality among people with HIV, especially deaths related to opportunistic illnesses. As HIV positive people survive longer, however, they are more prone to progressive diseases that develop over time, including liver disease and non-AIDS-defining cancers.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/040709_b.html)


ISVHLD: Pegylated Interferon Monotherapy for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious clinical problem and a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Despite the widespread availability of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HBV infection, newly diagnosed infections remain common. Therefore effective treatment of chronic hepatitis B is of vital importance.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2009/040709_a.html)


ISVHLD: ImQuest Identifies First Non-nucleoside Inhibitors of Hepatitis B Virus

HBV is unusual in that it uses reverse transcriptase to replicate, a characteristic usually seen only in retroviruses such as HIV. Several nucleotide/nucleoside analog inhibitors are approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection -- lamivudine (Epivir-HBV), adefovir (Hepsera), entecavir (Baraclude), telbivudine (Tyzeka), and tenofovir (Viread) -- and some are dually active against both HBV and HIV.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2009/040709_b.html)


ISVHLD: Studies Shed More Light on Acute Hepatitis C among HIV Positive Men in the U.S. and Europe

Since around 2000, clinicians have been reporting outbreaks of apparently sexually transmitted acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among mostly HIV positive men in cities in the U.K. and continental Europe. More recently, such cases have also been described in Australia and the U.S., and one group has found that HCV infection in people who already have HIV may lead to unusually rapid liver disease progression.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv_hcv_co_inf/2009/040709_a.html)


nejm

HEALTH CARE 2009: Budgeting for Change — Obama's Down Payment on Health Care Reform

Outlining a bold set of initiatives that would increase the role of government well beyond the boundaries sketched out by the $787 billion economic stimulus package, President Barack Obama has proposed a 2010 budget supporting his commitment to expanding a range of domestic programs, redistributing wealth to middle- and lower-income families, and reforming the health care system. The spending plan is breathtaking in scope and is designed to replace conservative policies that have been embraced by Republican administrations going back to Ronald Reagan. Released on February 26, the $3.6 trillion proposal calls on Congress to commit to a down payment of $630 billion over the next decade to finance health care reform and work with the administration to design a reform package. The budget adds substantially to the $150 billion in health-related revenues from the economic stimulus package that Obama signed into law on February 17.

(http://content.nejm.org/content/vol360/issue14/images/medium/03f1.gif)

More (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/14/1381)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 08, 2009, 07:48:01 am
APRIL 8th, 2009 - Part II/II


aegis

Not so symptom-free after all

If left untreated, HIV infection inevitably degrades the immune system, leading to the development of life-threatening infections-AIDS-about 10 years later. The time between initial HIV infection and the development of AIDS is commonly referred to as the symptom-free, or asymptomatic, period. The reason for this is that during that time life-threatening infections are uncommon. The idea of dividing the stages of HIV disease into these specific periods occurred early in the course of the AIDS pandemic, when the medical focus was on delaying the appearance of severe infections and the always-looming spectre of death.

..

Symptoms

Commonly reported symptoms included the following:

    * fatigue
    * depression
    * muscle aches
    * worry
    * difficulty concentrating
    * memory loss

For some participants, regardless of CD4+ counts, these symptoms were intense.

Some of the above-listed symptoms could occur as isolated problems or as part of many other health conditions, including but not limited to anxiety, depression and hormonal deficiencies. Although none of the study participants were experiencing life-threatening conditions, even those who had more than 350 CD4+ cells were experiencing symptoms of illness, perhaps unrelated to HIV.

The international study team suggests that doctors and nurses carefully interview their patients about health-related issues regardless of CD4+ counts. In doing so, health care professionals may uncover underlying conditions that are reducing their patients’ quality of life, which would allow them to provide relief.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1089)


HIV-resistant Ugandans found

A SMALL fraction of Ugandans have been able to naturally knock off HIV from their body, a development that could lead to an HIV vaccine, scientists have said.

Dr. Pontiano Kaleebu, an immunologist heading the Basic Sciences Programme of the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), told Saturday Vision that an ongoing study and a previous one at the institute had unearthed signs that some Ugandans may be resistant to HIV.

They have special white blood cells that can only be produced when the virus attacks the body. However, even with the most sophisticated tests, HIV could not be found in these individuals, implying that the virus had tried to infect them but the immune system kicked it out.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1091)


Don't be complacent on HIV

The news that a small number of Ugandans are possibly resistant to HIV is exciting but calls for extreme caution.

While it raises hopes of getting a vaccine, the revelation does not have any immediate application to the lives of Ugandans. What scientists at the Uganda Virus Research Institute have established in collaboration with American and British researchers is that some individuals in Uganda have evidence that they have ever been exposed to HIV but were not infected. The scientists have not yet got conclusive evidence that these individuals can never be infected by HIV. Even then, such people can only be very few in society.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1092)


docguide

HIV-Positive Patients Show Lower Response to Hepatitis B Vaccination Even at Double Doses: Presented at BHIVA

LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom -- April 7, 2009 -- Individuals who are HIV-positive (+) have a reduced response to the intramuscular hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine (Engerix) compared with HIV-negative (-) vaccine recipients, even when a double dose of the vaccine is given, according to a study presented here at the 15th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association (BHIVA).

More (http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852575910070D044)


webindia123

New TB vaccine found safe in Phase I trial

A leading new tuberculosis vaccine, called MVA85A, has been found to be safe in its Phase I trial.

Lead researcher Dr. Helen McShane, reader in vaccinology and Wellcome senior fellow at the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute in England, studied the effects of the vaccine specifically in people who had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), which can cause full-blown disease when re-activated.

Note (John2038)
This news can be found in reputable meds website such as elsevier, but their access isn't free for all.


More (http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/Health/20090408/1220390.html)


cbc

St. John's AIDS clinic's only nurse-practitioner tenders resignation

(http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/11/26/nl-wiseman-ross-20081125b.jpg)
Health Minister Ross Wiseman says he is confident Eastern Health 'will make
a commitment to provide some kind of continuity' at the HIV-AIDS clinic. (CBC)


Patients who rely on the only HIV/AIDS clinic in Newfoundland and Labrador have been delivered another blow, as the lone nurse-practitioner at the St. John's-based clinic has resigned.

The nurse, who had been on a leave of absence, has decided not to return to her job. She had been responsible for seeing patients after the only infectious diseases specialist in the province moved away.

The clinic was force to close temporarily while the nurse-practitioner, who had the authority to write prescriptions, went on sick leave.

Jones, who said she was told of the resignation on Tuesday afternoon, said the resignation makes a bad situation worse.

More (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/04/08/aids-clinic-nurse-048.html?ref=rss)


lww

Aging, Neurocognition, and Medication Adherence in HIV Infection

Older HIV-positive individuals with neurocognitive impairment or drug problems are at increased risk of suboptimal adherence to medication. Likewise, older adults may be especially vulnerable to immunological and neurocognitive dysfunction under conditions of suboptimal HAART adherence. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing medication adherence rates and evaluating neurocognition in the growing population of older HIV-infected patients.

More (http://journals.lww.com/ajgponline/Abstract/2009/04000/Aging,_Neurocognition,_and_Medication_Adherence_in.4.aspx)


ajph

The Implications of Relationship Fluidity for Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Condom use was less likely in forms in which the distinction between client and lover (sipa in Malagasy) was fluid. For many sex workers, therefore, relationships they understood to be intimate imparted the greatest health vulnerability. It is important to examine the influence of the meaning of sexual relationships on condom use for HIV prevention. Policy implications for HIV prevention for HIV prevention work with sex workers are considered.

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2007.118422v1)


biomedcentral

Progress in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection in Ukraine: results from a birth cohort study

There have been substantial improvements in use of PMTCT interventions in Ukraine, including earlier diagnosis of HIV-infected pregnant women and increasing coverage with antiretroviral prophylaxis and the initial MTCT rate has more than halved. Future research should focus on hard-to-reach populations such as IDU and on missed opportunities for further reducing the MTCT rate.

More (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/40)


sagepub

Plasmablastic Lymphoma Affecting the Lung and Bone Marrow With CD10 Expression and t Translocation

Plasmablastic lymphoma is a rare variant of a diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma, which typically presents in the oral cavity in immunocompromised patients. In HIV positive patients, this tumor has a tendency to manifest in extramedullary sites. In this report, the authors document a rare instance in which this neoplasm besides affecting the bone marrow also involved the lung. In addition, the lymphoma in the case disclosed CD10 positivity on immunohistochemistry and t translocation on cytogenetic analysis, mimicking a Burkitt/atypical Burkitt lymphoma.

More (http://ijs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/2/163)


liebertonline

Risk-Based HIV Testing in South Carolina Health Care Settings Failed to Identify the Majority of Infected Individuals

The findings underscore the need for more routine HIV testing of adults and adolescents visiting health care facilities in order to facilitate early diagnosis.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0193)


Efficacy and Acceptability of Rapid, Point-of-Care HIV Testing in Two Clinical Settings in Ghana

Rapid point-of-care testing in both of these settings was successful in improving diagnosis of HIV infection and engaging those testing positive in a clinical care program.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0224)


HIV Stigma and Missed Medications in HIV-Positive People in Five African Countries

This study provides evidence of a significant and stable correlation that documents the relationship between perceived HIV stigma and self-reported reasons for missed medications over time. These findings suggest that part of the reason for poor adherence to ARV medications is linked to the stigma experienced by people living with HIV.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2008.0164)


Analysis of pol Integrase Sequences in Diverse HIV Type 1 Strains Using a Prototype Genotyping Assay

Some samples had other mutations selected by these drugs including T97A, and some had amino acid polymorphisms at positions associated with raltegravir and elvitegravir resistance. Mutations associated with other investigational HIV IN inhibitors were also identified. This suggests that HIV strains may vary in their natural susceptibility to HIV IN inhibitors.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aid.2008.0236)


ajkd

Drug-Drug Interaction in a Kidney Transplant Recipient Receiving HIV Salvage Therapy and Tacrolimus

The case highlights that coadministration of a PI and tacrolimus is feasible through intense reduction in dose and prolongation of the dosing interval of the calcineurin inhibitor. Complex drug interactions may become more frequent because more HIV-infected patients are undergoing transplantation and newer HIV drugs are being used. Close monitoring and excellent adherence are mandatory to avoid the risk of harm for the graft and patient.

More (http://www.ajkd.org/article/PIIS0272638609004429/abstract?rss=yes)


wiley

Progressive CD127 down-regulation correlates with increased apoptosis of CD8 T cells during chronic HIV-1 infection

This study, therefore, will extend the notion that IL-7 could be a good candidate for immunotherapy in HIV-1-infected patients.

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122304948/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 09, 2009, 10:10:59 am
APRIL 9th, 2009


livescience

Spray Aids Premature Ejaculation

A study of 300 European men who had been diagnosed with premature ejaculation problems found help with a topical spray in a clinical trial.

More (http://www.livescience.com/health/090408-sex-spray.html)


reuters

HIV treatment should start earlier: experts

The results suggest that 350 cells per (mu)L should be the minimum threshold for initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and should help to guide physicians and patients in deciding when to start treatment.

More (http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53797520090408?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews)
Seen also in medpagetoday (http://www.medpagetoday.com/HIVAIDS/HIVAIDS/13662), aidsmap (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/E0A9E19E-16A7-40D1-A9A6-9B40571A6DB6.asp), sciencedaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090408145354.htm),thelancet (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60612-7/abstract)


nature

Bone marrow transplant muffles HIV

An HIV-positive subject who received a bone marrow transplant for leukemia showed no evidence of the virus in his bloodstream after 20 months of follow-up, according to a report by Gero H|[uuml]|tter et al.. In a rare and lucky match-up, his donor was not only compatible but also homozygous for mutations in the HIV receptor CCR5 that result in resistance to HIV infection.

Note (John2038)
The old story but in nature


More (http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v15/n4/full/nm0409-371.html)


infectiousdiseasenews

Obama administration launches new HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, initiative

The White House, the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC recently launched a new national communication campaign to fight HIV/AIDS.

More (http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/38815.aspx)


esciencenews

Middle school youth as young as 12 engaging in risky sexual activity

Middle school youth are engaging in sexual intercourse as early as age 12, according to a study by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/08/middle.school.youth.young.12.engaging.risky.sexual.activity)


aidsmap

Incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma rising among black South Africans

The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma is increasing amongst Black South Africans and is a growing health problem that requires urgent attention, according to work published by the University of Kwazulu Natal at the 4th South African AIDS Conference in Durban.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/3D6BF59D-0B89-4CE3-8B62-848F0C53314E.asp)


Anaemia is a risk factor for mortality in patients with AIDS

HIV Patients suffering simultaneously from anaemia and WHO stage 4 HIV disease have a 59% (or greater) chance of dying, even when opportunistic diseases like TB are being treated with antibiotics.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/13428250-363B-4F26-A781-7E3C0FDD2C6B.asp)


Study shows potential for using dried blood spots for HIV viral load testing

Dried blood spots can be used to measure HIV viral load, using the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay, although they tend to produce somewhat higher values than viral load tests in plasma, and the method may fail to quantify the virus in some specimens from subjects with low plasma viral loads, according to South African and international studies described at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference in Durban.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/BCE7DDBF-6260-47EC-AE3F-1683FDD255AD.asp)


Children in rural South Africa may be at increased risk of acquiring MDR-TB in hospitals

Children may be at risk of acquiring multidrug-resistant TB in hospitals in South Africa and more resources should be directed at preventing and controlling infection spread in hospitals, according to research published at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference in Durban.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/DE695EA8-8A42-4882-84DE-F081B4F1CFE8.asp)


sciencedaily

New Molecular Mechanism Linking Viral Infection To Cancer Susceptibility Discovered

Portuguese scientists discovered a new molecular mechanism that allows gamma herpes viruses to chronically infect patients and helps to explain why these patients present an abnormally high incidence of the lymphocyte (or white blood cell) cancer lymphoma, particularly when their immune system is compromised.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090408074353.htm)


natap

Vitamin D Deficiency in Older Men

Deficiency [25(OH)D <20 ng/ml] was present in 26%, and insufficiency (<30 ng/ml) was present in 72%.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040909_06.htm)


Relationships of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D to Bone Mineral Density and Serum Parathyroid Hormone and Markers of Bone Turnover in Older Persons

In conclusion, low serum 25(OH)D concentrations are very common in the elderly. Bone health and physical performance in older persons are likely to improve when serum 25(OH)D is raised over at least 50-60 nmol/liter. The implication for our older population is that at least 64% should receive vitamin D supplements because they had a serum 25(OH)D level lower than 60 nmol/liter.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040909_05.htm)


The Relationship Between Prolonged Antiretroviral Therapy and Cryptogenic Liver Disease

We defined CLD as persistently elevated hepatic transaminase levels in the absence of replicative HBV or HCV infection or other common causes of chronic liver disease
Our study does not confirm an association between the development of CLD and the prolonged use of antiretroviral drugs.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040909_03.htm)


Whither Recombinant Human Leptin Treatment for HIV-Associated Lipoatrophy and the Metabolic Syndrome? EDITORIAL

A discussion about this subject.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040909_04.htm)


Leptin Improved Belly Fat/Dyslipidemia - The Effects of Recombinant Human Leptin on Visceral Fat, Dyslipidemia, and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Lipoatrophy and Hypoleptinemia - Pilot Study

Leptin treatment was associated with marked improvement in dyslipidemia. Hepatic insulin sensitivity improved and lipolysis decreased. Visceral fat decreased with no exacerbation of peripheral lipoatrophy. Results from this pilot study suggest that leptin warrants further study in patients with HIV-associated lipoatrophy.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040909_02.htm)


Belly Fat & Women. Adipokines, Inflammation, and Visceral Adiposity across the Menopausal Transition: A Prospective Study

Women going through the menopausal transition have deleterious changes in inflammatory markers and adipokines that correlate with increased visceral adiposity.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/040909_01.htm)


aegis

Gilead Sciences Announces Notification of ANDA Filing for Atripla

Gilead Sciences today announced receipt of a Paragraph IV Certification Notice Letter advising that Teva Pharmaceuticals submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting permission to manufacture and market a generic version of Atripla(R) (efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg). Atripla is currently sold in the United States through a joint venture between Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1098)


Obama's Domestic AIDS Proposal Disappoints

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organization in the US which currently provides medical care and services to more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, expressed its deep disappointment today regarding President Obama's proposal to spend $45 million over the next five years---only $9 million per year---on a national communications campaign on HIV/AIDS here in the United States. The proposal---Obama's first official action on AIDS---falls far short of the need to adequately address the growing domestic epidemic and appears to be window dressing of a potentially politically-charged issue. The White House will partner with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the campaign, the first federally funded national domestic HIV/AIDS campaign in almost twenty years according to White House officials.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1095)


New policy brief on disability and HIV

An estimated 650 million people, or 10% of the world’s population, have a disability. Although people with disabilities are found within the populations at higher risk of exposure to HIV, not much attention has been paid to the relationship between HIV and disability.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1100)


uchicago

Variable Impact on Mortality of AIDS-Defining Events Diagnosed during Combination Antiretroviral Therapy: Not All AIDS-Defining Conditions Are Created Equal

In the combination antiretroviral therapy era, mortality rates subsequent to an ADE depend on the specific diagnosis. The proposed classification of ADEs may be useful in clinical end point trials, prognostic studies, and patient management.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/597468)


Incidence and Outcome of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy over 20 Years of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Combination antiretroviral therapy reduced the incidence and PML-attributable 1-year mortality, regardless of baseline CD4+ T cell count, whereas overall mortality was dependant on cART use and baseline CD4+ T cell count.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/598335)


retrovirology

A novel HIV-1 restriction factor that is biologically distinct from APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases in a human T cell line CEM.NKR

The results not only demonstrate that all these aforementioned anti-HIV APOBEC3 proteins do not contribute to this HIV-1 restriction, but also shed light on a novel and potent HIV-1 inhibitor in CEM.NKR cells.

More (http://www.retrovirology.com/content/6/1/31)


sciencedirect

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis in children and adolescents presenting for reported sexual assault

Results indicate that the prevalence of HIV infection among sexually abused children in this population is low, and follow-up rates are poor. Intensive efforts to try to ensure follow-up are warranted whenever PEP is prescribed.

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V7N-4VXCG1D-2)


oxfordjournals

Effect of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy on Incident AIDS Using Calendar Period as an Instrumental Variable

Weighting by the inverse probability of calendar period given age at seroconversion, race/ethnicity, and time since seroconversion did not appreciably alter the results. These methods may help resolve discrepancies between observational and randomized evidence.

More (http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/kwp002)


jimmunol

Association of HIV-Specific and Total CD8+ T Memory Phenotypes in Subtype C HIV-1 Infection with Viral Set Point

The proportions of memory subsets significantly correlated with CD38+CD8+ T cells. Thus, it is likely that a high Ag burden resulting in generalized immune activation may drive differentiation of HIV-specific and total memory CD8+ T cells.

More (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/182/8/4751)


asnjournals

Iron-Related Proteins: Candidate Urine Biomarkers in Childhood HIV–Associated Renal Diseases

The findings suggest that iron and iron-related proteins might be promising candidate urine biomarkers to identify HIV-infected children at risk of developing HIVAN and HIV-HUS. Moreover, based on the results of previous studies, the authors speculate that the release or accumulation of iron in the kidney of HIV-infected children may contribute to the rapid progression of their renal disease, and could become a new therapeutic target against HIVAN and HIV-HUS.

More (http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/4/4/763)


sciam

HIV drugs turned street drugs in South Africa

Teens in South Africa have found a new use for efavirenz (brand name Stocrin in South Africa and Sustiva in the U.S.), an antiretroviral drug that prevents HIV from making copies of itself in the body. Instead of using efavirenz as it was intended – to keep the AIDS virus at bay – kids are crushing the pills and smoking the powder to get high, ABC News reports.

More (http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=hiv-drugs-turned-street-drugs-in-so-2009-04-07)
Seen also in abcnews (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=7227982&page=1)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 10, 2009, 06:00:00 am
APRIL 10th, 2009


bhiva

15th Annual Conference of BHIVA, Liverpool 2009

(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7865/bhivalogo.th.jpg) (http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7865/bhivalogo.jpg)

More (http://www.bhiva.org/)


natap

Screening for Albuminuria Identifies Individuals at Increased Renal Risk

This study demonstrates that in the general population, albuminuria is associated with renal risk: The higher the level of albuminuria, the higher the risk for need for RRT and the more rapid the rate of renal function decline. Screening for increased albuminuria levels in the general population detects more than half of the patients who started RRT during follow-up, approximately 40% of whom were previously not known to have renal disease. Restricting screening to those with known hypertension, known diabetes, CVD history, or age >55 yr would identify nearly all incident cases of RRT during follow-up; however, nearly half of the individuals with UAC =20 mg/L would be left undetected, but these individuals are at considerable cardiovascular and renal risk.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/041009_03.htm)


Phase III Study of Gilead's Darusentan for Resistant Hypertension Meets Primary Endpoints

Gilead Sciences today announced that DAR-311 (DORADO), a Phase III clinical trial evaluating the company's endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) darusentan for the treatment of resistant hypertension, met its co-primary efficacy endpoints of change from baseline to week 14 in trough sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and trough sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP). DORADO is one of two ongoing Phase III clinical trials evaluating the safety, efficacy and tolerability of darusentan as an add-on treatment for resistant hypertension, defined as the failure to achieve goal blood pressure while adhering to full doses of an appropriate three-drug regimen that includes a diuretic. The second study, DAR-312 (DORADO-AC), is approximately 90 percent enrolled and is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/041009_01.htm)


hivandhepatitis

Raltegravir (Isentress) plus Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) Produces More Rapid HIV Decline in Treatment-naive HIV Patients

At the 15th British HIV Association Meeting (BHIVA 2009) held April 1-3, 2009 in Liverpool, UK, researchers reported on a study of treatment-naive HIV patients receiving either lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) in combination with the integrase inhibitor raltegravir (Isentress) or lopinavir/ritonavir plus tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada).

The results showed that through 8 weeks of treatment, patients using raltegravir plus lopinavir/ritonavir experienced a significantly greater reduction in viral load than those receiving lopinavir/ritonavir plus tenofovir/emtricitabine, according to the investigators.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041009_a.html)


Reports from the 15th British HIV Association Meeting (BHIVA 2009)

Following are selected slide presentations from the meeting.

* Top 10 Papers 2008-2009 (http://www.bhiva.org/files/file1031767.pdf)
* Social Care Standards for People with HIV (http://www.bhiva.org/files/file1031768.pdf)
* Rheumatological Manifestations and HIV (http://bhiva.org/files/file1031769.pdf)
* Management of tuberculosis in HIV co-infected patients (http://www.bhiva.org/files/file1031770.pdf)
* Life Expectancy in HIV (http://www.bhiva.org/files/file1031771.pdf)
(http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5694/populationm.th.png) (http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5694/populationm.png)(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3842/lifexp3.th.png) (http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3842/lifexp3.png)(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2818/lifexp2.th.png) (http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2818/lifexp2.png)
* HAART Failure in Resource-limited Settings: How to Diagnose and What to Do (http://www.bhiva.org/files/file1031772.pdf)
* Difficult Pharmacology SpR Case Presentations (http://www.bhiva.org/files/file1031774.pdf)

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041009_b.html)


Durable Effects of Polylactic Acid for Facial Lipoatrophy in People with HIV

Facial lipoatrophy (loss of fat in the face) is a constant reminder to affected HIV positive individuals that they have a devastating disease. The chief characteristics of facial lipoatrophy are sinking of the cheeks, eyes, and temples, due to loss on subcutaneous fat.

(http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4307/lipoatrophy1.th.gif) (http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4307/lipoatrophy1.gif)

Currently there are 2 temporarily successful interventions for facial lipoatrophy: plastic surgery or the use of fillers. One of several filler components available, polylactic acid (PLA) is called "New Fill" in Europe and "Sculptra" in the U.S. (produced by Dermik Laboratories in Berwyn, PA, a division of Aventis in trasbourg, France).

(http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7223/sculptra.th.jpg) (http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7223/sculptra.jpg)


More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041009_d.html)


infectiousdiseasenews

Metabolic syndrome not linked to CVD risk in people with HIV

After consideration of the risk from its components, metabolic syndrome was not a predictor of cardiovascular disease in patients with HIV.

More (http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/38832.aspx)


art-cohort-collaboration

Risk calculator

Two risk calculators available online:
  * risk calculated from start of ART
  * risk calculated from 6 months after start of ART, taking into account initial virological and immunological response

Example
(http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/121/tool.th.png) (http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/121/tool.png)

More (http://www.art-cohort-collaboration.org/)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 11, 2009, 04:14:42 pm
APRIL 11th, 2009


medicalnewstoday

Two New Studies Suggest an Intensive Disease Management Approach to Smoking Cessation

According to two new studies being published in the April 7 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, physicians should treat smoking as a chronic disease if they want to help their patients quit successfully. Patients may require repeated or intensive interventions that include pharmacotherapy and counseling, as well as continued dialogue with their physicians.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145385.php)


uchicago

Response-Guided Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients Coinfected with HIV: A Pilot Trial

A response-guide therapy is feasible and may be useful to optimize the individual outcome of HCV treatment in patients coinfected with HIV.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/597470)


Changes in Body Composition with Ritonavir-Boosted and Unboosted Atazanavir Treatment in Combination with Lamivudine and Stavudine: A 96-Week Randomized, Controlled Study

This 96-week, open-label, randomized study assessed changes in body composition in treatment-naive patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 who were treated with either atazanavir or ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, in combination with stavudine and lamivudine. Both treatment groups had similar increases in trunk fat, but patients treated with ritonavir-boosted atazanavir had a significantly lower incidence of lipoatrophy.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/597776)


Effect of HIV-1 Subtype on Virologic and Immunologic Response to Starting Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Patients infected with prevalent non-B subtypes were as likely to achieve viral load suppression as persons infected with subtype B and showed comparable rates of CD4 cell count recovery. HAART achieves excellent outcomes regardless of the infecting subtype.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/598502)


chestjournal

Performance of Tests for Latent Tuberculosis in Different Groups of Immunocompromised Patients

Blood tests identified significantly more patients as being infected with M. tuberculosisthan did the skin test, although diagnostic agreement variedacross groups. Based on these results, the authors recommendtailoring applications of the new blood interferon-gamma assays for latent tuberculosis infection in different high-risk groups and advise caution in their current use in immunosuppressed patients.

More (http://www.chestjournal.org/content/early/2009/03/06/chest.08-2575.short?rss=1)


asm

Correlation between Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) RNA Measurements Obtained with Dried Blood Spots and Those Obtained with Plasma by Use of Nuclisens EasyQ HIV-1 and Abbott RealTime HIV Load Tests

The HIV-1 load can accurately be quantified by testing DBS by either the Nuclisens or the m2000rt test, although the Nuclisens test may outperform the m2000rt test when nucleic acids are extracted manually.

More (http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/4/1031)


internationaljournalofcardiology

HIV-associated vascular diseases: Structural and functional changes, clinical implications

Cardiovascular prevention is required in more than one half of HIV-infected/treated patients to achieve a reliable effectiveness of modern antiretroviral therapy. As the prognosis of HIV patients improves continuously, this rate is also likely to increase in the future.

More (http://www.internationaljournalofcardiology.com/article/PIIS0167527308013259/abstract?rss=yes)


sciencedirect

Outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus–infected and –exposed children undergoing surgery

Human immunodeficiency virus–positive and –exposed patients present a unique challenge in management which is complicated by concomitant disease and poor nutrition. These patients require an expanded differential diagnosis. The authors believe that, although on the surface there may be a higher complication rate, this needs to be confirmed in an expanded comparative cohort study, which is underway and that patients should still receive the benefit of full surgical intervention.

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WKP-4W15DPF-4)


A Qualitative Study on the Disclosure of Their Condition by Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Positive Adolescents

The health care team should systematically address the issue of disclosure with the adolescent and his family, the aim being to balance the right of the adolescent and that adolescent's family to maintain privacy against the concerns of sexual partners, as well as the adolescent's interest in divulging HIV status to relatives, school staff, and friends.

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T80-4TT1G37-9)


Adverse psychosocial factors predict poorer prognosis in HIV disease: A meta-analytic review of prospective investigations

The current review reveals a robust relationship between adverse psychosocial factors and HIV disease progression. Furthermore, there would appear to be some evidence for particular psychosocial factors to be most strongly associated with HIV disease progression.

More (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WC1-4VGPSK1-3)


rochester

Stephen Dewhurst to Lead Department of Microbiology & Immunology

(http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8629/dewhurst412009.th.jpg) (http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8629/dewhurst412009.jpg)

After an in-depth, national search, a leading researcher in the design of next-generation vaccines for HIV and influenza has been chosen as the new chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The appointment will be effective July 1, 2009, pending approval by the University Trustees.

More (http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=2437)


aegis

Tobira Therapeutics Inc. Initiates Proof of Concept Study with TAK-652 for the Treatment of HIV: New phase 2a trial for CCR5 antagonist

PRINCETON, N.J. and SAN DIEGO, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Tobira Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company committed to the research and product discovery against life-threatening and life-altering infectious diseases, today announced that it has initiated a proof-of-concept study for TAK-652, a CCR5 antagonist, in HIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy-experienced, CCR5-naive patients. The study is being conducted under an investigational new drug (IND) application filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1112)


South Africa: Funds running out for ARVs

South Africa has the most extensive antiretroviral treatment programme in the world -- but experts in the field are warning that it is failing and could soon collapse.

Aids activist and deputy chairperson of the South African National Aids Council Mark Heywood said the 2009-10 budget for ARV provision will fall short by R1-billion if the numbers of infected people continue to grow at their current pace.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1113)


Blair Underwood's "Man Up" Ad Campaign Promotes AHF's Free HIV Testing Services

Now Appearing on LA Billboards and Online, Campaign Directs Public to www.freeHIVtest.net for Info on Free, Fast and Convenient HIV Testing Locations; Encourages Personal Responsibility and Need for Individuals to Know HIV Status to Protect Partners

Campaign is Part of AHF's Year-Long Initiative to Test 40,000 People for HIV in Los Angeles

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1118)


Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 14, 2009, 11:46:39 am
APRIL 11th, 2009


aidsmap

Smear-negative TB: C-reactive protein may provide useful screening method

Screening HIV-positive people with smear-negative pulmonary TB for high levels of C-reactive protein can detect the presence of active TB with a fairly high degree of accuracy, suggesting that C-reactive protein could provide the basis for a point of care test to detect active TB in smear-negative cases in high burden settings, according to findings come from a study presented at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference in Durban in early April.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/E065BE3F-1A8B-4570-B7E0-4423DA03E2DF.asp)


Top four needs of people with HIV in the UK all related to mental health

Anxiety and depression, self-esteem, sleep and sex are the areas of life that pose problems to the greatest number of people living with HIV in the UK, according to a new study published by Sigma Research. They note that these problems relate to the intimate details of personal experience and quality of life, rather than practical and physical problems.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/BAF2A3F3-86A2-4DD4-8872-168F3C487E57.asp)


FDA cautions that Kaletra should not be used by patients with heart rhythm problems or underlying heart conditions

Drug regulatory authorities in the United States have updated the product labelling of the protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir Kaletra, warning that it should not be prescribed to individuals with either heart rhythm problem or any underlying heart problems.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/9B1D5954-4103-422C-BC7F-A077F4EEC29D.asp)


sciencedaily

Gene Targeting Discovery Opens Door For Vaccines And Drugs

(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9271/090413185728.th.jpg) (http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9271/090413185728.jpg)
David Bzik (left) and Barbara Fox examine flasks for infection.
(Credit: Image courtesy of Dartmouth Medical School)


In a genetic leap that could help fast track vaccine and drug development to prevent or tame serious global diseases, DMS researchers have discovered how to destroy a key DNA pathway in a wily and widespread human parasite. The feat surmounts a major hurdle for targeting genes in Toxoplasma gondii, an infection model whose close relatives are responsible for diseases that include malaria and severe diarrhea.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090413185728.htm)
Seen also in esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/13/dartmouth.medical.school.gene.targeting.discovery.opens.door.vaccines.and.drugs), scientistlive (http://www.scientistlive.com/European-Science-News/Pharmacology/Gene_targeting_discovery/22087/)


HIV Pays A Price For Invisibility

Mutations that help HIV hide from the immune system undermine the virus's ability to replicate, show an international team of researchers in the April 13 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine. The study was published online on March 23.

More (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090413083307.htm)
Seen also in esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/13/hiv.pays.a.price.invisibility), medicalnewstoday (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145879.php)


hivandhepatitis

NRTI Backbone Choice Affects Durability of Efavirenz- or Nevirapine-based HAART in Treatment-naive HIV Patients

The calendar year in which HIV patients initiated HAART and durability of the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase (NRTI) backbone are significant predictors of virological success and treatment failure, according to a study published in the April 6, 2009 early online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041409_b.html)


Protease Inhibitor Regimens Associated with Greater Decrease in Bone Mineral Density than NNRTI Regimens in Treatment-naive HIV Patients

HIV positive individuals taking combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) commonly develop reduced bone mineral density (BMD), a metabolic disorder. This high prevalence of osteopenia and the more severe osteoporosis has been linked to various factors including HIV infection itself, aging of this population, lower body weight, and smoking. Although some studies suggest that reduced BMD is associated with use of protease inhibitors (PIs), others have not confirmed these findings.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041409_c.html)


Naturally Occurring Vaginal Microbicide Compound Protects Monkeys against SIV Infection

(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3733/microbicidegel.th.gif) (http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3733/microbicidegel.gif)

In an effort to reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV among heterosexuals, researchers have explored a variety of women-controlled methods including vaginal microbicides. Microbicides are gels, films, or other products inserted prior to intercourse. A similar strategy could potentially be used to prevent HIV transmission during anal sex.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041409_d.html)


AIDS Drug Assistance Programs Feel the Effects of Recession

On April 7, 2009, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) released the "2009 National ADAP Monitoring Project Annual Report," followed the next day by NASTAD's monthly "ADAP Watch" for April.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041409_e.html)


HCV Vaccine Development

At the 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (ISVHLD) (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/kshvd/main.html), held May 20-24, 2009 in Washington, DC, experts were invited to present their views on various issues related to viral hepatitis. Dr. T.J. Liang of the Liver Diseases Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (part of the National Institutes of Health) offered a summary of his views on the history and prospects for development of a vaccine to prevent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Following are edited excerpts from his remarks.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/041409_a.html)


A Small Proportion of Hepatitis C Patients Develop Liver Cancer despite Sustained Response to Interferon-based Therapy

(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3624/boneosteopenia.th.gif) (http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3624/boneosteopenia.gif)(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9246/boneosteoporisis.th.gif) (http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9246/boneosteoporisis.gif)

Over years or decades, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to advanced liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sustained response to interferon-based therapy dramatically reduces the risk of liver disease progression, but does not eliminate it completely, according to 2 recently published studies.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/041409_b.html)


medicalnewstoday

Delaying HAART Might Prevent Complete Immune System Recuperation, Study Says

People living with HIV who do not start highly active antiretroviral treatment until their CD4+ T cell counts drop below 200 might not be able to reach a normal CD4 cell count, even after 10 years of otherwise effective treatment, according to a study in the March 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Reuters reports. According to Reuters, an HIV-positive person is considered to have a normalized immune status after CD4 counts are maintained above 500.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145803.php)


Study Supporting Earlier Antiretroviral Treatment 'Not Definitive,' NEJM Editorial Says

Although the results of a study comparing early and deferred antiretroviral treatment scheduled to be published in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine are "striking," they "cannot be considered definitive evidence that everyone with HIV should start receiving antiretroviral therapy," Paul Sax and Lindsey Baden of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital (http://www.brighamandwomens.org/) write in an NEJM editorial.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145851.php)


Time.com Examines Efforts To Curb HIV/AIDS In China

(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4968/chinaaids0407.th.jpg) (http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4968/chinaaids0407.jpg)
A Chinese woman holds a red ribbon to show solidarity
with HIV carriers and AIDS patients during an AIDS campaign
in Tianjin, China, in November 2008


Time.com (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1890270,00.html) on Wednesday examined China's efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and address the rising number of related deaths in the country. China announced (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=57044) in February that HIV/AIDS was the country's No. 1 deadly infectious disease in 2008, resulting in almost 7,000 deaths in the first nine months of last year. Time.com reports that the "fact that HIV ... is a significant and increasing cause of death" in the country "shows that government programs are not reaching enough people." Bernhard Schwartlander, coordinator of UNAIDS in China, said that it is "very difficult" to discuss sex in China's schools, workplaces and relationships. He added, "If they don't know about it, how can they protect themselves?"

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145850.php)


Bioalliance Pharma To Complete NDA For Loramyc(R) With Data On Debossed Mucoadhesive Tablet

BioAlliance Pharma SA (Paris: BIO), the specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of opportunistic infections in cancer and AIDS, announced that the FDA did not accept the NDA for Loramyc® (miconazole) mucoadhesive buccal tablet (MBT) to be filed based on the lack of a tablet imprint code. Loramyc® was approved in Europe in 2007 and is currently marketed in several EU territories including France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. While the EU does not require a unique tablet identifier, the U.S. FDA does require a tablet imprint code for drug identification purposes. Prior to the initial filing, BioAlliance initiated the development of a debossed tablet to fulfill this requirement. BioAlliance will work closely with the FDA on the introduction of the debossed tablet and will soon after resubmit the Loramyc® application.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145916.php)


norwichbulletin

HIV/AIDS: 'It's out there and it's a killer'

(http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6456/norwich.th.jpg) (http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6456/norwich.jpg)
Lloyd Winisborrow, left, and Wendy Brown sit with some of their AIDS
medications Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in their Norwich apartment.


Number of cases rises in Eastern Connecticut


Norwich resident Wendy Brown has lived with full-blown AIDS since 1991.

Now 53, she contracted the disease by sharing needles during cocaine binges with her boyfriend, who never told her he had AIDS.

She later watched him die.

Brown said she knows three prostitutes in the city who have died from the disease. A former prostitute herself, Brown wept when she thought she gave her current partner AIDS.

More (http://www.norwichbulletin.com/homepage/x1579125896/HIV-AIDS-Its-out-there-and-its-a-killer)


lancasteronline

AIDS doesn't relent

There are more cases here because patients live longer, and that has reduced fears.

(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/598/236214aids1ful.th.jpg) (http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/598/236214aids1ful.jpg)
Bob and Melanie Lewis, co-founders of the Gathering Place ministry,
say the numbers of people with HIV in Lancaster County continue to grow.


The woman who came to the Gathering Place had a problem: She'd found out she was infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because her husband had been unfaithful.

She also has Hepatitis C and needs a new liver.

Not so long ago, she'd have had no options.

But soon, Bob Lewis, co-founder of the Gathering Place, will be taking her to the University of Philadelphia Hospital to be evaluated for a liver transplant.

HIV isn't necessarily a death sentence now. People are living longer, staying healthier.

More (http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/236214)


aegis

NEUROLOGICAL IMPACT OF HIV: HIV infection in the brain: a long-term limitation of HAART?

The recent focus on the impact of unsuppressed viral replication in the SMART and other studies, has lead to emerging concerns that overlap the issues of aging, cardiovascular health, bone disease and higher rates of some cancers. For the last three years at CROI, neurological function has expanded from the previous single lectures to full plenary sessions. This year provided perhaps the most compelling and concerning results yet from many different research approaches.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?threadid=1121&fid=15&boardid=2)


biomedcentral

HIV care and treatment factors associated with improved survival during TB treatment in Thailand: an observational study

Among HIV-infected patients living in Thailand, the single most important determinant of survival during TB treatment was use of ART. Controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the findings that early ART initiation improves survival and that the choice of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor does not.

More (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/42)


retrovirology

Conservation of Nef function across highly diverse lineages of SIVsmm

Nef alleles from different lineages of SIVsmm do not require adaptive changes to be functionally active in human cells. Strain rather than lineage-specific differences in Nef function may impact the virological and immunological feature of SIVsmm in SMs and possibly affected viral fitness and pathogenicity in human and macaque hosts.

More (http://www.retrovirology.com/content/6/1/36)


Isolation and characterization of a small antiretroviral molecule affecting HIV-1 capsid morphology

A-hydroxy-glycineamide has an unusually simple structure and a novel mechanism of antiviral action. Thus, a-HGA could be a lead for new antiviral substances belonging to a new class of anti-HIV drugs, i.e. capsid assembly inhibitors.

More (http://www.retrovirology.com/content/6/1/34)


smajournalonline

Primary Meningococcal Arthritis as Initial Presentation in a Previously Undiagnosed HIV-Infected Patient

The authors present a case of primary meningococcal arthritis caused by N meningitidis serogroup X as the initial presentation of a patient with previously undiagnosed HIV. The diagnosis was made based on arthrocentesis results showing Gram-variable cocci and monosodium urate crystals in the synovial fluid.

More (http://www.smajournalonline.com/pt/re/smj/abstract.00007611-200904000-00029.htm)


jci

Girls homozygous for an IL-2–inducible T cell kinase mutation that leads to protein deficiency develop fatal EBV-associated lymphoproliferation

The results suggest that ITK deficiency causes what we believe to be a novel immunodeficiency syndrome that leads to a fatal inadequate immune response to EBV. Because ITK deficiency resembles EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in boys, the authors suggest that this molecular cause should be considered during diagnosis and treatment

More (http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37901)


karger

Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Considering the significantly lower frequency of the high production haplotype and the higher frequency of the low production halplotype of TGF-, low production of this cytokine is expected in some CVID patients.

More (http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowAbstract&ArtikelNr=210374&Ausgabe=248328&ProduktNr=224161)


allafrica

South Africa: How the Free State ARV Moratorium Breached the Constitution

The government has violated the Constitution by imposing a moratorium on the roll-out of antiretroviral drugs, for new HIV/AIDS patients in the Free State, the AIDS Law Project recently told a civil society gathering in Bloemfontein.

More (http://allafrica.com/stories/200904140361.html)


earthtimes

German HIV-positive pop star arrested over unprotected-sex charges

Darmstadt, Germany - A member of Germany's leading female pop band has been arrested for allegedly having unprotected sex despite being HIV positive, lawyers said Tuesday. Nadja Benaissa, a 26-year-old singer with the group No Angels, is to have had unprotected sex with three men in 2004 and 2006, the state prosecution in the town of Darmstadt said.

One of the three men is now HIV positive, possibly as a consequence of his sexual relations with Benaissa.

More (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/264255,german-hiv-positive-pop-star-arrested-over-unprotected-sex-charges.html)


nypost

GAY BRANDED 'HIV BOY' SUES

A gay man says his boss at an international branding company mocked his sexuality and labeled him "HIV boy."

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court seeking $3 million in damages, Christopher Perez said his boss at Wolff Olins, Dean Crutchfield, "used sexually charged language in the workplace and was abusive," and "would frequently say things like, 'Where is HIV boy?' "

A rep for Wolff Olins, which has done logo designs for the city's taxis and tourism departments, didn't immediately return a call for comment.

More (http://www.nypost.com/seven/04142009/news/regionalnews/gay_branded_hiv_boy_sues_164361.htm)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 14, 2009, 12:26:24 pm
HIV Replication (Nice) Video

(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6496/hivreplication.th.png) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8MP3wMvqg)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 15, 2009, 11:51:04 am
APRIL 15th, 2009


corante

An HIV Drug. Or A Gout Drug? Or Both...

As Xconomy (http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/04/08/ardea-biosciences-in-moment-of-serendipity-discovers-hiv-drug-that-may-work-for-gout/) details, the company (formed out of the remnants of IntraBiotics and Valeant) was testing an HIV compound in the clinic when they noticed significant declines in blood levels of uric acid.

More (http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2009/04/13/an_hiv_drug_or_a_gout_drug_or_both_.php)


aidsmap

Higher rates of breast enlargement in males in South Africa on ART

“Gynaecomastia [breast enlargment] is a frequent side effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and is seen earlier and more frequently in our patient population than in European cohorts,” said Dr Tom Heller, the HIV and TB Coordinator in the Hlabisa district in the Northern KwaZulu-Natal at the South African AIDS Conference earlier this month.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/994EA0C9-4A92-42CF-9B67-B4D09E1C0042.asp)


Over a third of gay men infected with strain of HPV most associated with anal cancer

Anal infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is at near universal levels in gay men, a study conducted in Australia and published in the online edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections has found. Significant numbers of men were infected with strains of the virus that carry a high risk of cancerous and pre-cancerous cell changes in the anus.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/44684313-9869-4FE9-BFE4-2B7CB5859216.asp)


acs

Discovery of Novel HIV Entry Inhibitors for the CXCR4 Receptor by Prospective Virtual Screening

(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2965/ci200800468q0004.th.gif) (http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2965/ci200800468q0004.gif)

The process of HIV entry begins with the binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 to both the CD4 receptor and one of CXCR4 or CCR5 chemokine coreceptors. There is currently considerable interest in developing novel ligands which can attach to these coreceptors and hence block virus-cell fusion. This article compares the application of structure-based (docking) and ligand-based (QSAR analyses, pharmacophore modeling, and shape matching) virtual screening tools to find new potential HIV entry inhibitors for the CXCR4 receptor. The comparison is based on retrospective virtual screening of a library containing different known CXCR4 inhibitors from the literature, a smaller set of active CXCR4 inhibitors selected from a large combinatorial virtual library and synthesized by us, and some druglike presumed inactive molecules as the reference set.

More (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ci800468q)


medscape

FDA Issues Safety Labeling Changes for Kaletra

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved changes on April 6 to the product label for lopinavir/ritonavir tablets and oral solution (Kaletra, Abbott Pharmaceuticals) and also issued a new medication guide. The new labeling changes include warnings and precautions regarding QT/QTC interval and PR interval prolongation.

More (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/590940?src=rss)


esciencenews

Male circumcision reduces HIV risk: No further evidence needed

Three recent African trials support male circumcision for reducing the risk of contracting HIV in heterosexual men. After including new data from these trials in their review, Cochrane Researchers have changed their previous conclusions that there was insufficient evidence to recommend circumcision as an intervention to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/14/male.circumcision.reduces.hiv.risk.no.further.evidence.needed)
Seen also in medicalnewstoday 1 (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146079.php), physorg (http://www.physorg.com/news158992038.html)
On the same subject, see also medicalnewstoday  (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146044.php),

HIV dearms protective protein in cells

The AIDS-causing HIV specifically counteracts the mechanisms of human cells that protect these against viral infections – a special viral protein marks protective cellular proteins for their rapid destruction and thus diminishes the cell's supply. A team of researchers in Heidelberg under supervision of virologist Dr. Oliver Keppler demonstrated this mechanism for the first time in cell cultures, thus discovering a target for a novel treatment strategy. Another important discovery of the Heidelberg virologists – this strategy of the human HIV is not effective in a rat model for AIDS. The protective protein in rats is immune to HIV counteraction. Consequently, HIV cannot propagate itself as easily in the animal model as in humans – one limitation of the current rat model. However, this new knowledge may enable an improvement of the small animal model developed by the Heidelberg researchers. The study was published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe in March 2009.


More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/15/hiv.dearms.protective.protein.cells)
Seen also in eurekalert (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/uhh-hdp041509.php), sciencedaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090415102203.htm)

uchicago

Etravirine, a Next-Generation Nonnucleoside Reverse-Transcriptase Inhbitor

Etravirine is the first next-generation nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that is approved for the treatment of HIV infection in patients who have experienced virologic failure while receiving an NNRTI-containing regimen. Etravirine demonstrates potent in vitro activity against wild-type and NNRTI-resistant strains of HIV. The major adverse effects of etravirine therapy are nausea and rash, which are typically self-limiting and do not lead to treatment discontinuation.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/597469)


asm

Evaluation of Different RNA Extraction Methods and Storage Conditions of Dried Plasma or Blood Spots for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA Quantification and PCR Amplification for Drug Resistance Testing

The RNA extraction method is an important factor in obtaining reliable RNA quantification and PCR amplification of HIV-1 on DPS/DBS. DBS could be used as an alternative for DPS depending on HIV RNA cutoffs for virological failure. VL measurements remain stable over a longer period than do PCR amplification results

More (http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/4/1107)


Comparison of the Abbott RealTime Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Assay to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Test: Workflow, Reliability, and Direct Costs

In selecting an assay for implementation, laboratories should consider how various assay and instrument features might impact laboratory operation and patient care

More (http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/4/889)


oxfordjournals

A Qualitative Analysis of Discussions about HIV in Families of Parents with HIV

Discussions between youth and their parent with HIV and their siblings vary, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

More (http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jsn119)


springerlink

Positron emission tomography in patients suffering from HIV-1 infection

In the clinical setting, PET has been shown to allow the differentiation of AIDS-related opportunistic infections and malignancies, and to allow monitoring of side effects of HAART. However,in patients suffering from HIV infection and presenting with extracerebral lymphoma or other human malignancies, knowledge of viraemia is essential when interpreting FDG PET imaging.

More (http://www.springerlink.com/content/v23101701n627470/)


Mathematical Analysis of a Two Strain HIV/AIDS Model with Antiretroviral Treatment

A two strain HIV/AIDS model with treatment which allows AIDS patients with sensitive HIV-strain to undergo amelioration is presented as a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations. The disease-free equilibrium is shown to be globally asymptotically stable when the associated epidemic threshold known as the basic reproduction number for the model is less than unity. The centre manifold theory is used to show that the sensitive HIV-strain only and resistant HIV-strain only endemic equilibria are locally asymptotically stable when the associated reproduction numbers are greater than unity. Qualitative analysis of the model including positivity, boundedness and persistence of solutions are presented. The model is numerically analysed to assess the effects of treatment with amelioration on the dynamics of a two strain HIV/AIDS model. Numerical simulations of the model show that the two strains co-exist whenever the reproduction numbers exceed unity. Further, treatment with amelioration may result in an increase in the total number of infective individuals (asymptomatic) but results in a decrease in the number of AIDS patients. Further, analysis of the reproduction numbers show that antiretroviral resistance increases with increase in antiretroviral use.

More (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19357968?dopt=Abstract)


medicalnewstoday

BBC News Examines Mobile Device For Monitoring HIV-Positive Patients

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7989856.stm) on Sunday examined how the Bwindi Community Hospital (http://www.bchc.ug/) -- located in a remote region on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo -- has improved its capacity to monitor HIV-positive people using a portable blood-testing device, called the PointCare NOW machine. According to BBC News, the Bwindi hospital provides health care to about 40,000 people, including 1,000 people living with HIV.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146112.php)
Seen also in thebody (http://www.thebody.com/content/art51248.html)


'Alarming Complacency' About HIV/AIDS In U.S., Editorial Says

"When it comes to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, there is an alarming complacency among Americans," a Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/13/AR2009041302442.html) editorial says. It adds, "Perhaps it's the success of antiretroviral drug treatments. In the eyes of many, those drugs have transformed the disease from one with no cure to a manageable ailment." It might be the "view that AIDS is more of a worry in Africa or Southeast Asia," the editorial says, adding, "But it's not just happening 'over there.' And the Obama administration took a first step last week to remind people that it's happening right here, right now."

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146113.php)


physorg

R u learning? Health educator experiments with using text messaging to teach

Cornelius is currently performing a pilot study to test the effectiveness of text messaging as a medium for delivering HIV prevention education to at-risk teens. The study is first of its kind to be performed and is being funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Nursing Research.

More (http://www.physorg.com/news158936038.html)


kaisernetwork

Proposed Informed Consent Requirement for Routine HIV Tests in New York Could Affect Minorities' Access to Treatment, Advocates Say

Some minority advocacy groups are opposing proposed legislation in New York state on HIV testing consent requirements, saying they could pose a barrier for minorities, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports. The groups say that the bill falls short of addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis, particularly among the minority community, because it does not remove the permission requirement altogether.

More (http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=58009)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 16, 2009, 01:10:57 pm
APRIL 16th, 2009


azonano

UCL Wins Four Grants from EPSRC to Support Research into Nanotechnology for Healthcare Purposes

UCL (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/) has won four grants worth a total of just over £5million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support research into large-scale integrated projects that exploit nanotechnology for healthcare purposes.

The projects will focus on using nanotechnologies –systems that function at the level of molecules – to advance knowledge and treatment of cancer, dementia and HIV.

The projects funded through the council’s ‘Nanoscience through Engineering to Application’ programme, which supports research that aims to develop nanotechnologies for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents and for healthcare diagnostics.

More (http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=10958)
Seen also in nanowerk (http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=10134.php)


stockpoint

Genetic Immunity, InPlay: Second Phase II Clinical Trial Commences in Italy on Company's Lead Product Candidate DermaVir Patch HIV Vaccine

Genetic Immunity is pleased to announce the commencement of an exploratory Phase II clinical trial of the Company's DermaVir Patch HIV nanomedicine vaccine lead product candidate being conducted at Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, Italy.

This Phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is designed to investigate whether therapeutic immunization during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) induces elevations of HIV-specific memory T cells in HIV-1-infected individuals, and whether the quantity of these memory T cells correlate with the viral load set point following analytical treatment interruption (ATI). Subjects are being randomized to receive either DermaVir Patch (8 subjects per cohort) or Placebo Patch (8 subjects per cohort) every four weeks for three applications while receiving maximally suppressive HAART. HAART will be discontinued at Week 9 for an ATI period of 20 weeks. The trial will employ a novel assay of memory T-cell function known as the PHPC (Precursors with High Proliferative Capacity) assay developed by ViroStatics, srl, the Italian partner of Genetic Immunity.

More (https://sites.stockpoint.com/dain/newspaper.asp?site=D&Mode=Market&Story=20090416/106u1752.xml)
Seen also in msn (http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=MW&date=20090416&id=9792409), stockpoint (https://sites.stockpoint.com/dain/newspaper.asp?site=D&Mode=Market&Story=20090416/106u1752.xml)


netdoctor

Drug users face high TB risk

Illicit drug injectors are at serious risk of catching the lethal illness tuberculosis (TB), with 67 per cent of users testing positive for the infection in a recent study.

According to new research, more than two thirds of injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico, tested positive for TB, highlighting an urgent need for screening for the contagious infection among this at-risk demographic.

More (http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/news/theme_news_detail.php?id=19123047&tab_id=116)
Seen also in esciencenews (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/15/tijuana.injection.drug.users.collision.course.hiv.and.tb), eurekalert (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/uoc--tid041409.php), genengnews (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=52859313&chid=4&taxid=37)


wsj

Fresh Off Wyeth Deal, Pfizer Inks HIV Pact with Glaxo

Today, GlaxoSmithKline (http://www.silobreaker.com/View360.aspx?Item=11_343266) and Pfizer (http://www.silobreaker.com/View360.aspx?Item=11_325103) announced a deal that’s a larger-scale version of the third type: They’re combining their HIV businesses, forming a separate HIV company that could be valued at as much as $7.5 billion based on expected sales.

The deal is meant to help both companies mitigate some of their problems. Glaxo is a big seller of HIV drugs, including Combivir and Epzicom, but its products are relatively old and aren’t growing so briskly, while its pipeline of HIV drugs in development is relatively week, the WSJ says. Meanwhile, Pfizer has a bunch of HIV drugs in development but doesn’t have as many products now being sold. (Selzentry is its young HIV drug on the market.)

More (http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/04/16/fresh-off-wyeth-deal-pfizer-inks-hiv-pact-with-glaxo/)
Seen also in rttnews (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx?Node=B1&Id=914304), reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSTRE53F26Z20090416?feedType=RSS&feedName=innovationNews), genengnews (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=52883565&chid=0&taxid=1&source=genwire), kaisernetwork (http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#58033), etc


aegis

Crystal meth—interviews reveal its impact on HIV positive men

Experiments in animals suggest that crystal meth weakens the immune system.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1139)


New AIDS Research Training Grants Awarded For Projects In 15 Countries: Funds Support U.S. Universities in Collaboration With Low-and Middle-Income Countries

The Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health has awarded seven grants totaling almost $2.7 million to train HIV/AIDS researchers in 15 low- and middle-income countries.

The funds are awarded under the center's 20-year-old signature AIDS International Training and Research Program, which has trained nearly 2,000 foreign researchers, most of whom remain in their countries to battle the epidemic, train young scientists and move into government health leadership.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1131)


medicalnewstoday

Canada Should Pass Bill That Would Expedite Export Of Low-Cost Drugs For HIV, Other Diseases, Opinion Piece Says

"For many years, countries such as Canada have avoided the uncomfortable truth that millions are dying in the developing world due partly to legal barriers that render access to medicines unaffordable," Michael Geist, chair of Internet and E-commerce law at the University of Ottawa (http://www.uottawa.ca/), writes in a Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/617406) opinion piece in response to a recently introduced bill (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=57843) that would reform Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (http://www.camr-rcam.gc.ca/index_e.html) by expediting the process of exporting generic drugs for diseases such as HIV to developing countries.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146287.php)


Starting Antiretroviral Treatment Earlier Could Reduce The Risk Of Death By Up To 94 Percent

Begin treatment as early as possible: this general common sense rule seems to apply to most diseases except HIV-AIDS, which is only treated once a certain number of immune cells called "CD4+" cells have disappeared. The results of a North American study, which involved the team of Dr. Marina Klein of the Research Institute of the MUHC, run contrary to this consensus. The findings show that the risk of death in seropositive patients decreases by 69% to 94% if they start treatment earlier than officially recommended.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146160.php)


lww

Highly restricted T-cell receptor repertoire in the CD8+ T-cell response against an HIV-1 epitope with a stereotypic amino acid substitution

The results provide an example of restricted TCR repertoire in a specific CTL response against the escaping epitope. The authors speculate that impairment of antigen presentation in escaping viruses may underlie the restricted repertoire.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Highly_restricted_T_cell_receptor_repertoire_in.2.aspx)


Host genetics and HIV-1 viral load set-point in African-Americans

Although rs9264942 and B*57 (but not rs2395029G) are clearly associated with control of viral load set-point among African-Americans, fine-mapping of MHC SNPs in populations of African and European descent should help reveal the causative variants and the underlying functional mechanisms.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Host_genetics_and_HIV_1_viral_load_set_point_in.4.aspx)


Morphologic and metabolic abnormalities in vertically HIV-infected children and youth

In a large group of vertically HIV-infected children and youth with extensive antiretroviral therapy exposure, height, weight, and total and limb fat were lower than in controls. There was a high prevalence of lipid abnormalities among those on protease inhibitors and evidence of developing insulin resistance, factors that may accelerate lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Morphologic_and_metabolic_abnormalities_in.3.aspx)


wiley

A package of primary health care services for comprehensive family-centred HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs in low-income settings

The prevention of tuberculosis, diarrhoea, and, in endemic regions, malaria; the addressing of debilitating depression; cervical screening; and the management of chronic cardiovascular disease and its risk factors are all of benefit to patients accessing HIV/AIDS care. As family-centred care models develop in resource-limited settings, the availability of evidence-based service packages such as presented here will help program designers prioritize available human and materiel resources toward those interventions that improve patients' global health and well being.

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122322935/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


annalsofepidemiology

The Search for Protection Against HIV Infection

The major obstacle to development of a vaccine has been the absence of naturally acquired protective immunity, which is characteristic of most infectious agents. The authors and others, however, have identified individuals who appear to be resistant to infection. Using a combination of epidemiology, molecular biology, and genetics, the authors hypothesize that these individuals are able to resist infection by clearing low doses of HIV from their systems. The authors further hypothesize that they are able to clear the virus through a highly efficient system of processing and presentation of HIV epitopes (antigens) to CD8+ cytotoxic cells, which activate them to remove virally infected cells. Subsequent studies have lent support to this hypothesis.

More (http://www.annalsofepidemiology.org/article/PIIS1047279709000349/abstract?rss=yes)


asm

Whole-Cell Pertussis Vaccine Induces Low Antibody Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children Living in Sub-Saharan Africa

The authors also observed a high risk of low antibody levels in response to the DTwP vaccine in HIV-infected children with severe immunodeficiency. The concentrations of antibodies induced by the DTwP vaccine were lower in HIV-infected children than in uninfected children. This study supports the need for a booster dose of the DTwP vaccine in order to maintain high antibody levels in HIV-infected children.

More (http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/4/479)


liebertonline

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy-Associated Metabolic Disorders and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

An increasing population of aging HIV-positive patients with a spectrum of antiretroviral therapies and accumulation of endocrine abnormalities and conventional cardiovascular risk factors will present preventive and therapeutic challenges to the health-care system.

More (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/met.2008.0096)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 17, 2009, 12:25:58 pm
APRIL 17th, 2009 - PART I/II


virology-education

(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6855/virologyedu.th.jpg) (http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6855/virologyedu.jpg)
The 10th International Workshop on Clinical Pharmacology of HIV Therapy has bene held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 15-17 April, 2009.

More (http://www.virology-education.com/index.cfm/t/10th_International_workshop_/vid/56A54EF2-CBF4-3016-E2BC78951244B23C)


businesswire

Gilead Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial of Integrase-Based, Single-Tablet, Once-Daily Regimen for the Treatment of HIV

Gilead Sciences today announced that it has begun enrolling patients in a Phase II clinical trial of its investigational integrase-based, single-tablet, once-daily regimen of elvitegravir, GS 9350 and Truvada® (emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. GS 9350 is an investigational compound being developed as a pharmacoenhancing or “boosting” agent to increase blood levels and allow once-daily dosing for certain medicines, including Gilead’s investigational HIV integrase inhibitor, elvitegravir. The Phase II study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the regimen compared to once-daily Atripla (efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg). The study will enroll 75 HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral treatment-naïve adults across approximately 50 investigative sites in the United States.

More (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=2009a0417005139&newsLang=en)


irinnews

SWAZILAND: A culture that encourages HIV/AIDS

(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/434/swazi.th.jpg) (http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/434/swazi.jpg)
Swazi women preparing food
MBABANE, 15 April 2009 (IRIN) - Anecdotal evidence that entrenched cultural beliefs among Swazis actively encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS has been confirmed by a joint government and UN report.

The study by UN the Population Fund (UNFPA) and Swaziland's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - The State of the Swaziland Population - echoes warnings by local NGOs that "AIDS cannot be stopped unless there is a change in people's sexual behaviour."


Despite consistent efforts to curtail the most severe AIDS epidemic in the world, it appears to have gained ground. "Swazis are very traditional people, and their sexual behaviour is inbred and totally against safe sexual practices, like condom use and monogamous relationships, that limit the spread of HIV," Thandi Mngomezulu, an HIV testing counsellor in Manzini, the country's main commercial city, told IRIN.

More (http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=83937)


natap

CROI:  Prevention of Rectal Simian HIV Transmission in Macaques by Intermittent Pre-exposure Prophylaxis with Oral Truvada

Conclusions: Our results in a repeat-exposure macaque model suggest that effective PrEP with Truvada does not require daily dosing, define several highly protective iPrEP modalities, and support iPrEP efficacy trials in humans.

More (http://natap.org/2009/CROI/croi_189.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Efavirenz Lowers Levels of Darunavir Given as 900/100 mg Once Daily With Ritonavir

A standard dose of efavirenz significantly lowered darunavir concentrations when healthy volunteers added the nonnucleoside to 900/100 mg of darunavir/ritonavir once daily [1]. Because darunavir's minimum concentration never fell below the 50% effective concentration (EC50) of darunavir for nonresistant virus (55 ng/mL), investigators from the National University of Singapore and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore suggested this may be a viable regimen for previously untreated people without resistant virus. But they cautioned that their results need to be confirmed in people with HIV.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_05.htm)
 
 
10th Int PK Wrkshp: Early Look at Once-Daily Darunavir/Ritonavir for Treatment-Experienced Patients

Darunavir/ritonavir taken once daily at a dose of 900/100 mg worked well in a nonrandomized study of 25 people with some antiretroviral experience, including one or more previous protease inhibitors (PIs) [1]. No one in this study had darunavir-related mutations before starting darunavir/ritonavir.
Once-daily 800/100-mg darunavir/ritonavir is licensed for treatment-naive patients, but the sanctioned dose for experienced people remains 600/100 mg twice daily. The study by Barcelona clinicians involved 25 people, 12 of them with a viral load under 50 copies. Among people with a detectable load, the median load was 20,000 copies/mL.
Median CD4 count stood at 330 and median body mass index at 24 kg/m(2). Thirteen people had HCV infection. The study group had a median of 2 nucleoside-related mutations and 2 nonnucleoside mutations, but a median of 0 PI mutations (range 0-2) meaning some people had a few PI mutations. No one had a darunavir-specific mutation.
People had taken a median of 5 earlier regimens, including 2 PI regimens, and a median of 1 PI regimen had failed.
All study participants began 900/100 mg of darunavir/ritonavir once daily with at least one other drug judged to be active against their virus. (Four people took raltegravir.) After 6 months, everyone had an undetectable viral load and the median CD4 count rose by 67. Liver function and lipid profiles did not change significantly.
No one had a serious side effect, and no one stopped treatment.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_04.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: How Much (or How Little) Ritonavir Do You Need to Boost Another PI?

Protease inhibitors (PIs) fall into two groups--those whose concentration correlates closely with the boosting dose of ritonavir, and those that do not--according to a 16-study systematic analysis by Andrew Hill (University of Liverpool) and colleagues at other centers [1]. Finding the lowest effective boosting dose could cut costs and lower the risk of side effects. Hill suggested 50 mg of ritonavir once daily--or less--may be enough to boost some PIs.
 
Hill analyzed results of 16 PI/ritonavir dose-ranging studies.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_03.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Lopinavir/Ritonavir Monotherapy as an Antiretroviral Stopping Strategy

Several trials have scrutinized lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy as a simple maintenance or first-line antiretroviral regimen [1]. Now British clinicians and pharmacologists proffer a different reason for giving lopinavir/ritonavir with no other antiretrovirals--as a way to take people off their antiretroviral regimen without running the risk of resistance [2]. Steve Taylor (Birmingham Heartlands Hospital) and colleagues at other centers call it "a universal ART stopping strategy."

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_02.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Genetic Markers Tied to Early Discontinuation of Three Antiretrovirals

Pharmacogenetic markers that purportedly signal antiretroviral side effects predicted discontinuation of atazanavir, efavirenz, and tenofovir (but paradoxically not abacavir) within the first year of treatment in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) [1]. Sara Colombo and colleagues cautioned that gender and ethnicity also correlated with stopping antiretrovirals and complicate interpretation of their results. But they plan a randomized study to see if monitoring patients for toxicity-related genetic shifts can improve antiretroviral care.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_01.htm)


A Policy Cocktail for Fighting HIV: 3 approaches - PrEP, universal testing/immediate ART, 'cure'/functional cure research

In the absence of a vaccine, three bold new approaches to controlling the HIV/AIDS pandemic are being discussed by those working in medicine and public health. These approaches are still in the conceptual and testing phases, but if applied as a group, it's possible they could have a dramatic effect.

More (http://www.natap.org/2009/newsUpdates/041709_07.htm)


eurekalert

US releases updated clinical guidelines for HIV-associated opportunistic infections

The first complete update in five years of the U.S. guidelines for preventing and treating HIV-associated opportunistic infections has been released by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in cooperation with the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

The new Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents apply state-of-the-art science and medicine to 29 infectious diseases of concern. More than 140 medical experts contributed their knowledge to this edition of the guidelines, released on April 10.

More (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/nioa-uru041609.php)
NIH Website (http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/hiv_guidelines.htm)


medicalnewstoday

New Approach For Treatment Of The AIDS Virus?

The AIDS-causing HIV specifically counteracts the mechanisms of human cells that protect these against viral infections - a special viral protein marks protective cellular proteins for their rapid destruction and thus diminishes the cell's supply. A team of researchers in Heidelberg under supervision of virologist Dr. Oliver Keppler demonstrated this mechanism for the first time in cell cultures, thus discovering a target for a novel treatment strategy.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146332.php)


aidsmap

Bone loss during HIV treatment most associated with protease inhibitors

Over a third of HIV-positive patients about to start antiretroviral treatment have reduced bone mineral density, French investigators report in the April 27th edition of AIDS. The researchers also found that bone mineral density continued to fall after starting HIV treatment, particularly in individuals who were taking a protease inhibitor.
People with HIV are more likely to have conditions such as osteopenia (low bone mineral density) and osteoporosis (weakened bones) than HIV-negative individuals of the same age and sex. Factors such as low body weight and increased levels of smoking may contribute to this. It is also thought that HIV infection itself may be a cause. Some studies have also found an association between the use of HIV treatment and a loss of bone mineral density.
The results of this research are conflicting, but some have shown that treatment with protease inhibitors or tenofovir lead to a loss of bone.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/617557CA-06A0-45BC-A052-50D4DA5DEA90.asp)


aegis

The Virus, Vitamins and Vegetables - Living with AIDS

A new book, the Virus, Vitamins and Vegetables, documenting the South African government's controversial response to the AIDS epidemic was launched in Durban and Johannesburg, recently.

The Virus, Vitamins and Vegetables is a compilation of essays by journalists, activists, doctors and scientists. Each of the 13 writers tells of what they have witnessed of the government's response or lack, thereof, to the AIDS epidemic under Thabo Mbeki and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, both fallen from their positions as president and Health Minister, respectively. The book is set against the backdrop of a period in the 1990s when Mbeki questioned the causal link between HIV and AIDS and his Health Minister promoted beetroot and garlic and other alternatives over antiretrovirals as treatment for AIDS.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1143)


hivandhepatitis

Some People Do Not Achieve Complete CD4 Cell Recovery even after 10 Years on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy

People who take combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) typically experience an increase in their CD4 count as their viral load falls, but this is not always the case. Despite suppressive treatment, some patients who started therapy with a low CD4 count may not achieve full immunological recovery even after 10 years, according to a study published in the March 15, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041709_a.html)


Suboptimal Adherence May Have Less Detrimental Effect in Patients Taking Boosted Darunavir (Prezista)

Several studies in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) have indicated that near-perfect adherence is important for achieving optimal outcomes. But some drugs are more "forgiving" of suboptimal adherence than others.

Research has shown that treatment failure is more likely to occur when patients do not achieve complete adherence to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) compared with ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors. Now, a study presented at the 15th British HIV Association Meeting (BHIVA 2009) this month in Liverpool suggests there are also differences among drugs in the protease inhibitor class.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041709_b.html)


Tobira Therapeutics Initiates Proof-of-concept Study of Experimental CCR5 Antagonist TAK-652

CCR5 antagonists, a type of HIV entry inhibitor, represent one of the newest classes of antiretroviral therapies. The first CCR5 antagonist, maraviroc (Selzentry), was approved in August 2007, shortly before the first integrase inhibitor, raltegravir (Isentress).

Last week Tobira Therapeutics announced that it has started a randomized Phase 2a proof-of-concept study of a new CCR5 antagonist candidate, TAK-652, to be conducted in the U.S. and Argentina.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041709_d.html)


Studies Examine Bone Loss in Women with HIV

(http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2981/bonewomen.th.jpg) (http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2981/bonewomen.jpg)Bone loss (osteopenia or the more severe osteoporosis) is common in people with HIV, although it remains unclear whether this is due to HIV infection itself, antiretroviral drugs such as tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada and Atripla combination pills), the normal aging process as HIV positive people survive longer, or some combination of factors.

Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) occurs when the activity of osteoblasts (cells that build new bone tissue) and osteoclasts (cells that re-absorb bone) gets out of balance, but the mechanisms underlying this imbalance in HIV positive people is not fully understood.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/croi/docs/041709_a.html)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 17, 2009, 01:08:55 pm
APRIL 17th, 2009 - PART II/II


nejm

Genetics of Type 1A Diabetes

In 1976, the noted human geneticist James Neel titled a book chapter "Diabetes Mellitus: A Geneticist's Nightmare."1 Over the past 30 years, however, the phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of diabetes has been painstakingly teased apart to reveal a family of disorders that are all characterized by the disruption of glucose homeostasis but that have fundamentally different causes. Recently, the availability of detailed information on the structure and variation of the human genome and of new high-throughput techniques for exploiting these data has geneticists dreaming of unraveling the genetic complexity that underlies these disorders. This review focuses on type 1 diabetes

More (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/360/16/1646)


lww

Effect of pulmonary tuberculosis on mortality in patients receiving HAART

The increase in death that the authors observed among individuals with PTB at the time of HAART initiation appears not to be due to the to the presence of PTB, but instead to confounding factors such as low CD4 cell count, low BMI, and WHO stage IV disease. These results further demonstrate that initiation of HAART soon after initiation of PTB treatment is not likely to put patients at higher risk of death.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Effect_of_pulmonary_tuberculosis_on_mortality_in.9.aspx)


Kidney tubular abnormalities in the absence of impaired glomerular function in HIV patients treated with tenofovir

Exposure to TDF is associated with an increased risk over time of kidney tubular abnormalities in the absence of significant impaired glomerular function. Although long-term consequences of this tubulopathy are unknown, close monitoring of accelerated bone mineral loss and renal insufficiency are warranted. Periodic screening of tubular function parameters should be recommended to patients receiving TDF.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Combinatorial_content_of_CCL3L_and_CCL4L_gene_copy.5.aspx)


metapress

Zidovudine, Lamivudine, and Nelfinavir Concentrations in Amniotic Fluid and Maternal Serum

NFV and M8 exhibited partial drug transfer and/or accumulation in the amniotic compartment, whereas ZDV and 3TC concentrations mostly exceeded that in maternal plasma. Overall, all drugs achieved exposures in the amniotic fluid in excess of their wild-type viral susceptibilities. Amniotic fluid is an important compartment in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

More (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/226042774j37181m/)


Effects of First-Line Use of Nucleoside Analogues, Efavirenz, and Ritonavir-Boosted Protease Inhibitors on Lipid Levels

The PIs showed two different types of lipid elevations: Group 1: saquinavir/r, atazanavir/r, and darunavir/r; and Group 2: lopinavir/ritonavir and fosamprenavir/r. There were greater elevations in total cholesterol and triglycerides for Group 2 compared to Group 1 but no differences in LDL or HDL between Group 1 and Group 2. Patients treated with efavirenz showed similar rises in total cholesterol and LDL compared with the PIs in Group 2 but showed smaller rises than in Group 1. There is a wide range of lipid elevations during 48 weeks of first-line HAART, which depends on the choice of antiretrovirals used.

More (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/2848977866402462/)


oxfordjournals

Unprotected sex following HIV testing among women in Uganda and Zimbabwe: short- and long-term comparisons with pre-test behaviour

HIV-infected women reduced the number, but not the proportion, of unprotected acts. HIV-negative women did not increase condom use after testing and counselling, but neither did they decrease condom use, suggesting that testing negative was not interpreted as endorsement of risky behaviour.

More (http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/dyp171v1?rss=1)


audiologyonline

Audiology and HIV: Developing Best Clinical Health Practices

Caution, prudence, assumption of infection, and proven clinical methodologies comprise the best course of action for the hearing health care professional. This enables audiologists to deliver required medical and quality of life services in a manner that is safe for the practitioner, staff, and patients.

More (http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/article_detail.asp?article_id=2017)


Combinatorial content of CCL3L and CCL4L gene copy numbers influence HIV-AIDS susceptibility in Ukrainian children

Transmission risk is greatest when mother and offspring both have low CCL3L or CCL4L gene doses. The impact on HIV-AIDS susceptibility of the chemokine gene-rich locus on 17q12 is dependent on the balance between the doses of genes conferring protective (CCL3La and CCL4La) versus detrimental (CCL4Lb) effects. Hence, the combinatorial genomic content of distinct genes within a copy number variable region may determine disease susceptibility.


uchicago

Rifamycin-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Era

Rifamycin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection occurs disproportionately among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have a low CD4 cell count. The authors observed 3 genetically confirmed cases of relapse with rifamycin-resistant M. tuberculosis infection following concurrent treatment with rifabutin and a ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitor during a prior episode of drug-susceptible tuberculosis.

More (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/598336)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 20, 2009, 03:37:23 pm
APRIL 20th, 2009 - PART I/II


natap

10th Int PK Wrkshp:  Merck Offers Unique Perspective on Second-Generation Integrase Inhibitor

Invoking terms like "functionally irreversible" inhibition and "one-shot kill," Merck's Jay Grobler offered a fresh perspective on why raltegravir controls HIV well and--perhaps more importantly--why the company's second-generation integrase inhibitor may do better.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_10.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Differing Darunavir Troughs With Once- and Twice-Daily Dosing in Practice

Darunavir minimum concentration (Cmin) was 45% lower with once-daily dosing (for antiretroviral-naive people) than with twice-daily dosing (for experienced patients), according to an observational study of 138 patients who started darunavir/ritonavir at three French hospitals. But Cmin exceeded target concentrations for almost everyone in this study. Raltegravir or nonnucleosides had little impact on darunavir Cmins in this population

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_09.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Unboosted Atazanavir Plus Raltegravir Analyzed as Two-Drug Replacement Regimen

Concentrations of atazanavir (without a ritonavir boost) plus the integrase inhibitor raltegravir looked good in a study of 21 HIV-infected people switching to the two antiretrovirals.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_08.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Etravirine Levels Higher When Added After Darunavir vs With Darunavir
 
Etravirine trough concentrations were significantly higher when patients already taking darunavir/ritonavir added etravirine than when they started the drugs together. Whether this difference will hold true for most people starting these two antiretrovirals sequentially is difficult to say because of the small size of this comparison.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_07.htm)
 
 
10th Int PK Wrkshp: Enfuvirtide-to-Raltegravir Switch Lowers Levels of Darunavir and Tipranavir

Replacing enfuvirtide with raltegravir in a salvage regimen lowered concentrations of the protease inhibitors (PIs) darunavir and tipranavir in the French EASIER trial. However, minimum and maximum concentrations (Cmin and Cmax) of the PIs stayed in the range of previously reported levels, reported Anne-Marie Taburet, and the falling PI concentrations in EASIER had no apparent impact on virologic outcome.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_06.htm)
 
 
Zoledronic acid and risedronate in the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (HORIZON): a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial

Zoledronic acid was non-inferior and superior to risedronate for increase of lumbar spine bone mineral density in both the treatment (least-squares mean 4·06% [SE 0·28] vs 2·71% [SE 0·28], mean difference 1·36% [95% CI 0·67-2·05], p=0·0001) and prevention (2·60% [0·45] vs 0·64% [0·46], 1·96% [1·04-2·88], p<0·0001) subgroups at 12 months. Adverse events were more frequent in patients given zoledronic acid than in those on risedronate, largely as a result of transient symptoms during the first 3 days after infusion. Serious adverse events were worsening rheumatoid arthritis for the treatment subgroup and pyrexia for the prevention subgroup.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_15.htm)
 
 
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: hope on the HORIZON-COMMENT

Glucocorticoids are used to treat many disorders. Their negative effect on skeletal health is a substantial drawback, such that their use is the most frequent secondary cause of osteoporosis.1 30-50% of patients who take glucocorticoids chronically have a fracture. Glucocorticoids decrease bone formation by reducing the lifespan of osteoblasts and osteocytes (figure).

(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5350/lining1.th.gif) (http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5350/lining1.gif)
Effects of glucocorticoids, bisphosphonates, and teriparatide
on bone cells Dotted lines indicate potential effects of bisphosphonates.


More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_14.htm)
 
 
Reversing HIV T-Cell Aging

Chronic immunodeficiency virus infections are characterized by dysfunctional cellular and humoral umoral antiviral immune responses1, 2, 3. As such, immune modulatory therapies that enhance and/or restore the function of virus-specific immunity may protect from disease progression. Here we investigate the safety and immune restoration potential of blockade of the co-inhibitory receptor programmed death 1 (PD-1)4, 5 during chronic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in macaques. We demonstrate that PD-1 blockade using an antibody to PD-1 is well tolerated and results in rapid expansion of virus-specific CD8 T cells with improved functional quality.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_13.htm)
 
 
HIV-1 Infection Is Associated With an Earlier Occurrence of a Phenotype Related to Frailty: HIV+ men in MACS 10-Times More Likely to Exhibit Frailty than HIV-negative Men.

In this study, both HIV infection and AIDS were predictors of frailty-like manifestations, and the duration of HIV infection was associated with the likelihood of these manifestations. The observed increases of FRP with low CD4 T-cell count and high HIV viral load, two biomarkers of HIV disease progression, suggest a common underlying biology between frailty and HIV disease. However, the presence of the FRP was far from automatic in men with HIV or AIDS. Finally, in this study, HIV infection for ?4 years appeared to confer a rate of FRP comparable to that of HIV-uninfected men 10 years older, and this rate was further increased by 2- to 3-fold for men infected > 4 years and an additional 2-fold for men with AIDS.
 
It has been posited that HIV infection demonstrates similarities to aging and possibly to frailty (54). Specifically, HIV infection is associated with diverse impairments that resemble frailty, such as myopathy, loss of muscle mass and weight, fatigue, functional impairments, cognitive dysfunctions and motor abnormalities, as well as rheumatological disorders and neuropathies, even in the absence of identifiable opportunistic illnesses.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_12.htm)


MACS Frailty/HIV/CD4 Study Misses The Point

This study extends a previous report in which we defined a FRP (frailty-related phenotype)38 to approximate the clinical definition of a frailty phenotype by Fried et al16 and showed it to be associated with HIV-1 infection.
A low CD4 T-cell count was an independent significant predictor of the FRP in HIV-positive men, adjusting for AIDS, and also in the absence of having a wasting syndrome. Furthermore, the association between CD4 T-cell count and the FRP remained the same after restriction to HAART-treated men with a good virological response to HAART (whether they had a CD4 cell response or not) or after taking into account hepatitis B or C status and depressive symptoms. These findings provide evidence that the FRP is etiologically related to a compromised immune system as associated with HIV infection. Of note, the findings of the present study parallel other work in older HIV-uninfected individuals which indicates that a compromised immune system is associated with frailty and predictive of mortality.27,56-58 Taken together, these findings support the notion of a common etiology of frailty associated with aging and with HIV.
Of note, we estimated that in the current HAART era, the impact of a 10-year increase in age was similar to that of a decrease of 250 CD4 T cells per cubic millimeter for average ages and CD4 T-cell counts

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_11.htm)
 
 
Women exposed to single-dose nevirapine in successive pregnancies: effectiveness and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance

This study shows that effectiveness of sdNVP may be compromised by prior exposure to sdNVP, although the increase in transmission rate after prior exposure could not be explained by the detection of NVP resistance mutations prior to re-exposure as measured both by standard genotyping and highly sensitive allele-specific PCR assays. Furthermore, transmission rates of women with prior exposure were not higher than those reported elsewhere.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_10.htm)
 
 
PrEP, Microbicides and IL-2

Current PrEP trials are using oral tenofovir (Viread), oral co-formulated emtricitabine-tenofovir (Truvada), or intravaginal tenofovir gel, the last an indication of the direction that the topical microbicide field has taken into incorporating antiretroviral agents into its products. The scale of the current trials is large, with >20,000 participants anticipated to enroll across the eight trials; however, each trial is distinct in its study population and route of HIV exposure, including men who have sex with men, injection drug users, high- and low-risk women, and HIV serodiscordant couples.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_09.htm)
 
 
Poly-l-lactic acid for HIV-1 facial lipoatrophy: 48-week follow-up

In conclusion, this multicentre, open-label study of PLA treatment is the first to demonstrate objectively assessed clinically modest increases in facial volume and soft tissue thickness that were sustained over 48 weeks in injection planes but not in other facial areas. Patient-perceived benefits included aesthetic improvement and enhanced social functioning and QoL; however, psychological benefits were greater in those treated at baseline. The cost of soft tissue augmentation is substantial as third-party providers contribute minimally. It is encouraging to know that treatment delays, necessitated on financial grounds, would not be expected to impact outcomes adversely. The optimal treatment approach for HIV facial lipoatrophy is currently unknown. Research to define and compare the most efficacious filling agents for this distressing condition will require use of validated diagnostic criteria and/or tools to assess lipoatrophy severity and validated measures of facial soft tissue thickness or volume.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_07.htm)
 
 
Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r) Combined With Raltegravir (RAL) Provides More Rapid Viral Decline Than LPV/r Combined With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in Treatment-na•ve HIV-1 Infected Subjects

Through 8 weeks of treatment, an NRTI-sparing dual-agent regimen of LPV/r + RAL is well tolerated and enabled a greater proportion of antiretroviral-naïve, HIV-1-infected individuals to achieve viral loads <40 copies/mL compared with LPV/r + TDF/FTC.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_06.htm)
 
 
Ignoring Addiction in Prison/Jails Increases HIV & HCV Infections

The United States must do more to curb the spread of diseases like AIDS and hepatitis C in prison, where infection rates are high and inmates can easily spread disease through unprotected sex or by sharing needles.
Drug treatment in prison is clearly part of the solution. But by some estimates, fewer than one in five inmates who need formal treatment are actually getting it. That's alarming, given that about half the prison population suffers from drug abuse or dependency problems.
Addicted prisoners cause problems outside the walls. After they're freed, addicts with H.I.V. or AIDS can infect spouses and lovers. They feed their addictions by returning to crime, which lands them back in prison and starts the terrible cycle over again.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_05.htm)
 
 
Hypoglycemic Episodes and Risk of Dementia in Older Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Among older patients with type 2 diabetes, a history of severe hypoglycemic episodes was associated with a greater risk of dementia. Whether minor hypoglycemic episodes increase risk of dementia is unknown.
 
More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_04.htm)
 
 
The REYATAZ and SUSTIVA Co-pay Benefit Program

Bristol-Myers Squibb is launching a co-pay assistance program in April for eligible new and existing REYATAZ (atazanavir) and SUSTIVA (efavirenz) patients who are commercially insured and have high co-pays or co-insurance. We recognize that especially in this economic environment, out-of-pocket costs for HIV medicines may be prohibitive even for patients who have prescription drug benefits. This program reflects Bristol-Myers Squibb's ongoing commitment to helping patients who need our medicines to access them.
   
More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_03.htm)
 
 
Treatment Interruption Revisited with LOTTI Study: authors reported interruptions were not inferior to continuous HAART in this study

The LOTTI Study published in April 2009 AIDS finds CD4-guided treatment interruptions within certain parameters to be equal in clinical outcomes to continuous HAART. Patients had to have >700 CD4s and no history of nadir CD4 <200. They restarted HAART if CD4 was <350 and had to remain on HAART until CD4 increased to >700 again. Besides the SMART trial, LOTTI is the largest controlled trial ever performed on CD4 cell-guided STIs.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_02.htm)
 
 
Etravirine-raltegravir, a marked interaction in HIV-1-infected patients: about four cases

Recently, new compounds, capable of overcoming the extensive class resistances observed in multitreated patients, became available for HIV-infected patients. Raltegravir (RAL) is the first compound of a new class of antiretrovirals, the integrase inhibitors. Etravirine (ETV), a next-generation nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), has been demonstrated to be active against HIV strains presenting resistance to first-generation NNRTI.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042009_01.htm)


medicalnewstoday

UNITAID, Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative Reach Agreement With Generic HIV/AIDS Drug Manufacturers To Lower Prices

UNITAID (http://www.unitaid.eu/) and the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/clinton-hiv-aids-initiative/) on Friday announced a bulk purchasing agreement with a group of generic drug manufacturers that will reduce the price of some antiretroviral drugs in developing countries, Reuters reports. The discounted prices have been reached for 41 adult and pediatric medications at an average discount of 16% compared with 2008, according to Reuters

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146611.php)
Seen also in yahoo (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Mylans-Matrix-Selected-by-the-prnews-14971639.html?.v=1), pharmiweb (http://www.pharmiweb.com/pwToday/default.asp?row_id=1248#1248)

Lancet Examines Concerns That Obama Administration Could Flat-Line PEPFAR Funding

President Obama's administration in its fiscal year 2010 budget proposal could flat-line global HIV/AIDS funding at its current level of $5.3 billion, some congressional aides and lobbyists said recently, the Lancet (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60755-8/fulltext) reports. According to the Lancet, the possible funding freeze for global health programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (http://www.pepfar.gov/) might indicate that Obama's "stated goal of expanding prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in poor countries could be on hold" because of the current economic downturn.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146610.php)


Antenatal Testing And Intervention Are Saving Babies From HIV Infection

All pregnant women, particularly those from countries with a high HIV prevalence, should be tested for HIV early in their pregnancy.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146664.php)


Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 20, 2009, 03:38:09 pm
APRIL 20th, 2009 - PART II/II


aidsmap

Fracture patients infected with HIV infection may not warrant extra precautions against opportunistic infection

Doctors treating open fractures in patients infected with HIV do not need to be more cautious about opportunistic infections compared with HIV-negative patients. The finding, presented by James Aird of Ngwelezane Hospital at the Fourth South African AIDS conference in Durban this month, follows research conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/A25C5C8A-4AC5-406C-851C-D0D5E32D1EB6.asp)


Estimates of HIV incidence may be unreliable: techniques need refinement

The BED method for estimating HIV incidence should be standardised so that it can be reliably used in an African setting, and the technique needs to be improved to avoid counting people with longstanding HIV infection as recent infections, according to two South African research groups. Their findings were presented at the South African AIDS Conference in Durban earlier this month.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AC511E43-2B5B-4930-A082-C394680733E5.asp)


Maternal HIV-positive status shown to be linked to poor vaccination coverage in children

Children born to HIV-positive mothers were 25 to 40% less likely to be vaccinated for childhood diseases, according to findings from a study based on data from rural KwaZulu-Natal, presented at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference in Durban in early April.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/287FFC77-DF40-4CC3-A572-A5E11627C4A8.asp)


infectiousdiseasenews

Antibiotic resistance: an escalating threat

(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2226/thomasobrienweb.th.jpg) (http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2226/thomasobrienweb.jpg)
Thomas O’Brien, MD, said antibiotic resistance may become a more significant
problem in the future because the rate of discovery of new antibiotics has slowed down.


In recent years, prominent infectious disease specialists and leaders of major medical associations have been warning both health care professionals and the general public about the looming potential perils associated with antibiotic resistance.

More (http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/38900.aspx)


Patients at South Dakota urology clinic may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis

Patients treated at a South Dakota urology clinic may have been accidently exposed to HIV and hepatitis after employees of the clinic reused some medical products that were intended to be single-use only.

More (http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/39083.aspx)


nwitimes

VA: 3 patients HIV-positive after clinic mistakes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Three patients exposed to contaminated medical equipment at Veterans Affairs hospitals have tested positive for HIV, the agency said Friday.
Initial tests show one patient each from VA medical facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Augusta, Ga.; and Miami has the virus that causes AIDS, according to a VA statement.
The three cases included one positive HIV test reported earlier this month, but the VA didn't identify the facility involved at the time.
The patients are among more than 10,000 getting tested because they were treated with endoscopic equipment that wasn't properly sterilized and exposed them to other people's body fluids.
Vietnam veteran Samuel Mendes, 60, said he was surprised to learn of an HIV case linked to the Miami facility, where he had a colonoscopy. He was told he wasn't among those at risk.
"I was hoping and expecting to not get anyone contaminated like that," he said. "It's probably a little worse than we thought."

More (http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2009/04/20/ap/health/d97ktp0o0.txt)
Seen also in ajc (http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2009/04/20/veterans_HIV_test.html)


kaisernetwork

Shortage of HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Drugs in Ugandan District Could Lead to Treatment Interruption, Drug Resistance

A shortage of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria medications in Uganda's northern Gulu district could cause patients to interrupt treatment and lead to drug resistance, Paul Onek, Gulu director of health services, said recently, IRIN/PlusNews reports (http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83956). According to IRIN/PlusNews, inadequate management of the country's drug supply regularly causes shortages.

More (http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#58094)


esciencenews

Humanized mouse infected with HIV vaginally and rectally allows testing

The "humanized mouse" developed by Dr. J. Victor Garcia-Martinez has allowed the University of Texas Southwestern physician-scientist to conduct HIV/AIDS studies that would have been impossible without such a small animal model of HIV infection. The virus only infects humans and chimpanzees, which are protected as endangered species. But because the new mouse model is a chimera, with a human immune system, it can be infected. Last year, using these humanized mice, a team of scientists led by Dr. Garcia-Martinez demonstrated that antiretroviral drugs given before and after exposure to HIV could prevent vaginal transmission of the virus. That suggests the possibility that women at high risk of HIV infection might one day be able to take a pill on a regular basis. And, since the drugs tested are already available, having gone through the long and complex approval process, that day might be sooner rather than later.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/20/humanized.mouse.infected.with.hiv.vaginally.and.rectally.allows.testing)
Seen also in eurekalert (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/foas-hmi041909.php)


tht

People living with HIV still refused entry to USA, warns Terrence Higgins Trust

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is warning that people living with HIV remain banned from travelling to the USA unless they have specifically applied for a visa to do so. Despite the recent introduction of an online visa waiver system (ESTA), people living with HIV still need to attend an interview at the American Embassy in London before they can travel legally.

More (http://www.tht.org.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2009/april/april20.htm)


phytomedicinejournal

A protein with antiproliferative, antifungal and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activities from caper (Capparis spinosa) seeds

A protein exhibiting an N-terminal amino acid sequence with some similarity to imidazoleglycerol phosphate synthase was purified from fresh Capparis spinosa melon seeds. The purification protocol entailed anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, cation exchange chromatography on SP-Sepharose, and finally gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. The protein was adsorbed using 20mM Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.4) and desorbed using 1M NaCl in the starting buffer from the DEAE-cellulose column and SP-Sepharose column. The protein demonstrated a molecular mass of 38kDa in gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that it was monomeric. The protein inhibited proliferation of hepatoma HepG2 cells, colon cancer HT29 cells and breast cancer MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of about 1, 40 and 60µM, respectively. It inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with IC50 of 0.23µM. It inhibited mycelial growth in the fungus, Valsa mali. It did not exhibit hemagglutinating, ribonuclease, mitogenic or protease inhibitory activities.

More (http://www.phytomedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS0944711308001700/abstract?rss=yes)


allafrica

South Africa: Dead Or Alive - Aids Patients Sent Home to Die

Cape Town — The families of terminally ill patients are shunting their relatives back from Cape Town and other urban areas to the Eastern Cape before they die because it is cheaper for them to be transported alive rather than paying hefty undertaker's fees.
And researchers say the return migration is largely due to the extremely high numbers of people infected with HIV.
Patricia Fekema, a manager at Zusake Youth Support Group, an NGO in Du Noon township outside Cape Town, said there had been a "tremendous" increase in migration back to the Eastern Cape.

More (http://allafrica.com/stories/200904201399.html)


aegis

Warning against castor oil injections

The New York City health department is warning residents about the dangers of receiving body-enhancement injections of castor oil and other substances.
Dr. Nathan Graber, director of the health department's environmental and occupational disease program, says the department has been notified of five cases in the past two years involving injections of various oils to the hips, thighs, breasts and buttocks by unlicensed practitioners for cosmetic purposes. Similar cases have been reported in other cities and states.
The substances used to enhance body parts include castor oil, silicone, petroleum jelly, mineral oil or cod liver oil.
Those practices are illegal and unsafe, Graber says. The injections can cause serious infections, nerve damage, respiratory and kidney failure, irreversible disabilities, disfigurement and death. They also carry the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C.

More (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=1153)


metapress

Rates of HCV Treatment Eligibility Among HCV-Monoinfected and HCV/HIV-Coinfected Patients in Tertiary Care Referral Centers

HCV/HIV-coinfected persons are less likely to undergo a liver biopsy or be eligible for HCV therapy and are more likely to have treatment contraindications compared with HCV-monoinfected subjects. Strategies to address modifiable factors may enhance treatment eligibility in HCV-infected populations.

More (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/2463432353127k5u/)


thelancet

Timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy in AIDS-free HIV-1-infected patients: a collaborative analysis of 18 HIV cohort studies

The results suggest that 350 cells per (mu)L should be the minimum threshold for initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and should help to guide physicians and patients in deciding when to start treatment.

More (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609606127/abstract?rss=yes)


ajph

The Health Impact of Supportive Housing for HIV-Positive Homeless Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Homelessness is a strong predictor of poor health outcomes and complicates the medical management of HIV. This housing intervention improved the health of HIV-positive homeless people.

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2008.137810v1)


Sexual Violence and Reproductive Health Outcomes Among South African Female Youths: A Contextual Analysis

Programs to reduce adolescent pregnancies and HIV risk in South Africa and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa must address sexual violence as part of effective prevention strategies.

More (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2008.136606v1)


medpagetoday

AACR: Green Tea Blocks Activity of Cancer Drug

DENVER, April 20 -- Some cancer patients who take green tea to fight the disease may have it backward: the popular dietary supplement actually blocks the effect of bortezomib (Velcade) and similar anticancer drugs, a researcher said here.

More (http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AACR/13809)


guardian

GlaxoSmithKline to buy US drugmaker Stiefel Laboratories

• Buy-out likely to cost Glaxo up to $3.6bn
• Stiefel experts in skin treatments for acne and psoriasis

(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9594/glaxosmithklinebuilding.th.jpg) (http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9594/glaxosmithklinebuilding.jpg)

GlaxoSmithKline, Britain's biggest drugs company, has agreed to buy US drugmaker Stiefel Laboratories for up to $3.6bn (£2.5bn) in cash.
The move comes as Glaxo aims to diversify from its best-selling pharmaceutical products into consumer products – Stiefel produces skin treatments for acne and psoriasis.
The two companies will combine their dermatology businesses, creating a unit with $1.5bn of annual sales and 8% of the world market for prescription skin treatments, Glaxo said.
Based in Coral Gables, Florida, Stiefel makes Soriatane, a pill to treat severe psoriasis – a chronic, noncontagious autoimmune disease that affects the skin and joints. Glaxo sells about $550m worth of prescription skin products a year.

More (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/20/glaxosmithkline-pfizer)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 21, 2009, 12:23:15 pm
APRIL 21th, 2009


ingentaconnect

Survival and predictors of outcomes in non-HIV-infected patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

There was high mortality in non-HIV-infected patients with XDR-TB at a TB referral hospital in South Korea. Adjunctive surgical treatment and linezolid improved the outcome for selected patients with XDR-TB.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2009/00000013/00000005/art00012)


lww

Failure of immunologic criteria to appropriately identify antiretroviral treatment failure in Uganda

Immunologic failure criteria performed poorly in this setting and would have resulted in a substantial proportion of participants with suppressed HIV-1 viral load being switched unnecessarily. These criteria also lacked sensitivity to identify participants failing virologically. Periodic viral load measurements may be a better marker for treatment failure in this setting.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Failure_of_immunologic_criteria_to_appropriately.7.aspx)


Impact of HIV-1 viral subtype on CD4+ T-cell decline and clinical outcomes in antiretroviral naive patients receiving universal healthcare

Despite having similar demographic, socioeconomic, and nutritional status to Haitians, Africans infected with non-B clade HIV had slower rates of disease progression compared with both Haitians and Canadians, with both groups being infected by the clade B virus. The findings suggest that viral subtype may be an important predictor of HIV natural history in a developed medical setting.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Impact_of_HIV_1_viral_subtype_on_CD4__T_cell.12.aspx)


Patterns of engagement in care by HIV-infected adults: South Carolina, 2004-2006

Large proportions of the South Carolina HIV-infected adult population are not consistently accessing HIV-medical care. Targeted programs are needed to improve engagement for HIV-infected adults most likely to transition or not be in care.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Patterns_of_engagement_in_care_by_HIV_infected.11.aspx)


Stable frequency of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance in patients at the time of primary infection over 1996-2006 in France

In this large study of patients at the time of primary infection, the frequency of acquired resistant virus was stable over time, over 5% for nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. One explanation for this stability may be the increasing number of treated patients in virological success.

More (http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2009/03270/Stable_frequency_of_HIV_1_transmitted_drug.10.aspx)


asm

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Molecule-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Peptide Analysis Using a Microarray Chip

Peptide microarray chips allow the comprehensive and simultaneous screening of a high number of candidate peptide epitopes for MHC class II binding, guided by subsequent quality data extraction and binding pattern cluster analysis.

More (http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/4/567)


hivandhepatitis

Virological Suppression Reduces Disease Progression in Patients with Highly Resistant HIV

With modern antiretroviral therapy, HIV positive people starting treatment today have an excellent chance of achieving a good response. But the situation is more challenging for highly treatment-experienced patients who have developed resistance to multiple drug classes and may require complex "salvage" regimens.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/042109_a.html)


Newly Updated Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of HIV-related Opportunistic Infections

The first complete update in 5 years of the U.S. Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-infected Adults and Adolescents has been released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in cooperation with the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/042109_c.html)


Some AIDS-defining Opportunistic Illnesses Remain a Significant Cause of Death in the HAART Era

Since the mid-1990s, combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced the risk of AIDS-related illness and death in people with HIV. But some opportunistic illnesses (OIs) remain a concern, according to a study by investigators with the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration published in the April 15, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/042109_d.html)


What are the Next Practical Steps to Prevent or Reduce the Rate of New HIV Infections?
   
About 56,000 new cases of HIV infection have occurred annually in the U.S. over the past 10 years. Globally, in 2007 alone, the number of new infections was 2.7 million.
Although vaccines have historically provided the most effective method of controlling the most lethal infectious diseases, thus far efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine for preventing HIV infection have failed. So what is the current focus of policy-makers and researchers in terms of preventing new HIV infections in light of the well-publicized failure of recent vaccine trials?
   
More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/042109_e.html)


esciencenews

Too much sugar is bad, but which sugar is worse: fructose or glucose?

In 2005, the average American consumed 64kg of added sugar, a sizeable proportion of which came through drinking soft drinks. Now, in a 10-week study, Peter Havel and colleagues, at the University of California at Davis, Davis, have provided evidence that human consumption of fructose-sweetened but not glucose-sweetened beverages can adversely affect both sensitivity to the hormone insulin and how the body handles fats, creating medical conditions that increase susceptibility to heart attack and stroke.

More (http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/21/jci.table.contents.april.20.2009)


aidsmap

Senegal frees HIV workers imprisoned for being gay

The court of appeal in Senegal has freed nine gay men imprisoned in January 2009 for “acts against nature and the creation of a criminal organisation.”

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1D971552-FFC7-458C-8DD1-7A345D743F84.asp)


CD4 cell counts becoming lower soon after infection with HIV, suggests virus becoming more virulent

The initial CD4 cell counts of patients newly infected with HIV fell significantly between 1985 and 2001, US research published in the May 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases has shown. This suggests that the virus may have evolved to become more virulent during this time period, which could have clinical implications, shortening the interval between infection with HIV and the need to start HIV treatment.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0062784F-A1FD-4B4E-AB12-DA1F2693D8F8.asp)


Starting HIV therapy improves some cardiovascular markers - but not all

Starting combination antiretroviral therapy improves markers of endothelial function but not arterial thickness and stiffness regardless of regimen type, says a new study reported in the April 15th issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The small study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular diseases that are becoming increasingly common among people with HIV on effective antiretroviral therapy.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B1BBAC14-70D1-403A-8A20-16901B6C6AE3.asp)


medicalnewstoday

AP/Long Island Newsday Examines New Female Condom

Some advocates of the female condom hope that a new version of the product -- which is less expensive and more user-friendly -- will increase use and expand its role as a women-initiated method of protecting against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146832.php)


msnbc

New version of female condom touted

(http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9114/femalecondom.th.jpg) (http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9114/femalecondom.jpg)
Female condom. Advocates hope to see greater use in global fight against AIDS

NEW YORK - Advocates of the female condom are promoting a less costly, more user-friendly version that they hope will vastly expand its role in the global fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
An early version of the female condom was introduced in 1993, and it remains the only available woman-initiated form of protection against both STDs and unintended pregnancy. Yet despite global promotion by the United Nations and other organizations, its usage is still minuscule, even as women bear an ever-growing share of the AIDS epidemic.
Advocates hope the dynamics will change following last month's approval by the Food and Drug Administration of the FC2, a new version of the female condom produced by the Chicago-based Female Health Co.

More (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30250550/)


natap

10th Int PK Wrkshp: Raltegravir Levels in Cervicovaginal Fluid May Prompt PEP and PrEP Studies

Raltegravir area-under-the curve level in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) was equivalent to blood levels after multiple doses in HIV-negative volunteers. And half-life of the integrase inhibitor was more than twice as long in CVF as in blood. These findings and others led Amanda Jones and University of North Carolina colleagues to propose that raltegravir should be evaluated for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in women.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_11.htm)


huffingtonpost

Merck sees 57 percent drop in first-quarter profit

(http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/156/merck.th.jpg) (http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/156/merck.jpg)
n the April 15, 2009 photo, people are seen as they walk along
a hallway past large signs at Merck & Company, Inc.'s world headquarters
in Whitehouse Station, N.J. Drugmaker Merck & Co.


TRENTON, N.J. — Drugmaker Merck & Co. on Tuesday posted a 57 percent drop in first-quarter profit, falling short of expectations, because of a drop in both sales of its drugs and income from its partnership on cholesterol medicines.
Last year's quarter also benefited from a one-time pretax gain of $2.2 billion from Merck's partnership with Britain's AstraZeneca PLC. Merck also said the global recession hurt results.

More (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/21/merck-sees-57-percent-dro_n_189395.html)


managingip

Generics agree HIV price cut for off-patent drugs

UNITAID and the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative have agreed a deal with generic drugs makers that should cut the cost of paediatric and second-line antiretroviral (ARV) medicines used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The deal, announced on Friday, should cut the price of one year's supply of the cheapest second-line ARVs by more than $100 to $590.

More (http://www.managingip.com/Article/2184655/Generics-agree-HIV-price-cut-for-off-patent-drugs.html)


yahoo

Aethlon Medical Announces Engagement of RedChip Companies to Initiate Investor and Media Relations Programs

SAN DIEGO, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AEMD - News), developer of the Hemopurifier®, a first-in-class medical device to treat infectious disease, today announced that it has hired RedChip Companies, Inc. to lead its investor relations outreach programs.
"We have created the first medical device that can selectively remove viruses from the bloodstream," stated James A. Joyce, chief executive officer of Aethlon Medical. "We plan to leverage RedChip's strong media, investor, and public relations platform to raise the visibility of our endeavors and expand our base of loyal shareholders," concluded Joyce. So far in 2009, the Aethlon Hemopurifier® has demonstrated significant viral load reductions in both Hepatitis-C (HCV) and HIV infected patients.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to represent Aethlon Medical, a company that is making such groundbreaking advances in the field of virus treatment," said Dave Gentry, president and chief executive officer of RedChip Companies, Inc. "We look forward to introducing Aethlon to RedChip's investor network as we launch a comprehensive investor relations program."

More (http://ca.us.biz.yahoo.com/prnews/090421/la02114.html?.v=1)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 22, 2009, 08:06:21 am
APRIL 22th, 2009 - PART I/II


natap

Sunlight and Vitamin D Both Good for Cardiovascular Health
 
Patients should have a blood level of 25(OH)D tested once a year, ideally at the end of the Fall season, to ensure that they are not vitamin D deficient before Winter. This will prevent many of the complications associated with vitamin D deficiency.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042209_03.htm)


aidsrestherapy

Is vitamin D deficiency involved in the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome?

About 20-30% of persons with HIV infection, especially those living in countries with limited resources, experience an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after starting antiretroviral treatment. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, is a key player in clearance of pathogens and influences the level of inflammation and macrophage activation.

More (http://www.aidsrestherapy.com/content/6/1/4)


Tight Glycemic Contril NOT Recommended for Diabetics in Annals Review

Some diabetes guidelines set low glycemic control goals for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (such as a hemoglobin A1c level as low as 6.5% to 7.0%) to avoid or delay complications. Our review and critique of recent large randomized trials in patients with type 2 diabetes suggest that tight glycemic control burdens patients with complex treatment programs, hypoglycemia, weight gain, and costs and offers uncertain benefits in return. We believe clinicians should prioritize supporting well-being and healthy lifestyles, preventive care, and cardiovascular risk reduction in these patients. Glycemic control efforts should individualize hemoglobin A1c targets so that those targets and the actions necessary to achieve them reflect patients' personal and clinical context and their informed values and preferences.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042209_02.htm)

 
A Systematic Review of the Evidence Supporting a Causal Link Between Dietary Factors and Coronary Heart Disease

The evidence supports a valid association of a limited number of dietary factors and dietary patterns with CHD. Future evaluation of dietary patterns, including their nutrient and food components, in cohort studies and randomized trials is recommended.

More (http://natap.org/2009/HIV/042209_01.htm)


10th Int PK Wrkshp: Raltegravir Levels in Cervicovaginal Fluid May Prompt PEP and PrEP Studies

Raltegravir area-under-the curve level in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) was equivalent to blood levels after multiple doses in HIV-negative volunteers [1]. And half-life of the integrase inhibitor was more than twice as long in CVF as in blood. These findings and others led Amanda Jones and University of North Carolina colleagues to propose that raltegravir should be evaluated for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in women.

More (http://natap.org/2009/PK/PK_11.htm)


medicalnewstoday

African First Ladies To Meet With Experts, Advocates In Los Angeles

Fifteen African first ladies will convene in Los Angeles on Monday for a two-day meeting to promote their work in advancing heath care and education for African women and girls, Reuters reports.

More (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146829.php)


northjersey

Legislators trying to avoid co-payments for some AIDS/HIV patients

Legislators suggested today that they are exploring ways to head off proposed co-payments for some AIDS/HIV patients who get their medications through the state as part of Governor Corzine’s new budget.

More (http://www.northjersey.com/news/njpolitics/Legislators_trying_to_avoid_co-payments_for_some_AIDSHIV_patients.html)


aidsmap

German NGO endorses treatment as prevention

Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, the largest HIV voluntary sector organisation in Germany has issued a position paper on the role of treatment in HIV prevention which broadly echoes and supports last year’s landmark Swiss statement on the limited risk of a person taking effective HIV treatment passing on their infection

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0257C267-B067-4220-9285-5E3D5957C1B2.asp)


Rheumatologic symptoms after ART may be due to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)

New or worsening rheumatologic symptoms that follow antiretroviral therapy may be due to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), according to findings reported at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference in Durban.

Mpre (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/A5FFE373-EE8D-4501-9913-28F9408B2B81.asp)


Home stimulation programme shows positive impacts on the neurodevelopmental status of children infected with HIV

Participation in a basic home stimulation programme can lead to improvements in both motor and cognitive development in HIV-positive children under 30 months, according to findings from a study presented at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference in Durban in early April.

More (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/233890BA-6FCB-4688-85AC-A42670B0581F.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Interferon-based Therapy for Hepatitis C Improves Fibrosis Even in Individuals without Virological Response

(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5425/liverdamage1.th.gif) (http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5425/liverdamage1.gif)

Successful treatment with interferon-based therapy can clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) and slow or halt liver disease progression, but studies have produced conflicting results with regard to improvement or reversal of existing liver fibrosis.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/042109_a.html)


Sustained Response to Interferon-based Therapy Reduces Risk of Diabetes in Hepatitis C Patients

(http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2488/diabetes.th.gif) (http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2488/diabetes.gif)

Several studies have shown that people with chronic hepatitis C have an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, but it is not clear whether this excess risk can be reduced with interferon-based therapy.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/042109_b.html)


Occult Hepatitis B Virus in HIV Patients with Low CD4 Cell Counts May Resolve after Starting Antiretroviral Therapy

Due to overlapping transmission routes, a minority of people with HIV are also coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). In addition to those with measurable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), some patients have "occult" or hidden HBV, characterized by low-level detectable HBV DNA in individuals with HBV core antibodies (anti-HBc) but without HBsAg.

More (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv_hbv_co_inf/2009/041709_a.html)


ingentaconnect

Long-term outcome of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate use against hepatitis B in an HIV-coinfected cohort

TDF was able to control HBV replication in most HIV-coinfected patients after a median follow-up duration of 34 months, regardless of previous lamivudine treatment. However, a sizeable proportion of patients developed virological breakthrough.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hiv/2009/00000010/00000005/art00002)


Primary and secondary tuberculosis preventive treatment in HIV clinics: simulating alternative strategies

IPT programs implemented through ARV clinics may be effective at reducing TB incidence. The resistance contribution of IPT appears unlikely to supersede its overall incidence and mortality benefits.

More (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2009/00000013/00000005/art00021)


asm

Dried Plasma Transport Using a Novel Matrix and Collection System for HIV and HCV Virologic Testing

The authors demonstrated successful detection of multiple analytes including HIV-1 viral load, HIV-1 antiretroviral resistance genotype, and HCV genotype from a single ST unit. Dried plasma collected with ST yielded comparable results to frozen samples for multiple analyte clinical testing. As such, SampleTanker® could be a useful alternative for virologic tests and clinical trials worldwide by significantly diminishing transportation cost and the sample volume restrictions associated with dried blood spot (DBS) technology.

More (http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/JCM.02354-08v1)


Single-Point Mutations Causing More than 100-Fold Underestimation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Load with the Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Real-Time PCR Assay

Systematic sequence analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants with RNA levels underestimated by the Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 assay demonstrated that mutations at a single position of the downstream primer can lead to the underestimation of HIV-1 RNA levels by more than 2 log and to false-negative results in minipool screening of blood donors. Mutations at this position are found in about 2% of all HIV-1 M gag sequences.

More (http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/4/1238)


bmj

Meta-analysis: Prevalence of HIV Infection and Syphilis among MSM in China

MSM are a high risk population for HIV infection in China. An effective strategy for prevention and control is required for this specific population. Differences between sampling methods, sample sizes and study locations may explain some of the inconsistencies found in the included studies.

More (http://sti.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/sti.2008.034702v1)


High prevalence of risk behavior concurrent with links to other high risk populations: a potentially explosive HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, China

HIV has been introduced into MSM in Guangzhou. The risk factors both on the demographic and behavior and the overlapped risky population would contribute to a potential explosive of HIV among MSM, even bridge to female population in Guangzhou if none timely and effective response is implemented.

More (http://sti.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/sti.2009.035808v1)


biomedcentral

Risk and prognostic significance of tuberculosis in patients from The TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database

The risk of TB diagnosis was associated with increasing immunodeficiency and partly reduced by antiretroviral treatment. The prognosis of developing TB appeared to be similar to that following a diagnosis of other non-TB ADI.

More (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/46)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 22, 2009, 08:16:03 am
APRIL 22th, 2009 - PART II/II


metapress

Prevalence of HLA-B*5701 in HIV-Infected Patients in Spain (Results of the EPI Study)

These aspects define this test as a useful tool for the management of HIV-infected patients.

More (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/26011881w436418j/)


A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Benfluorex in HIV-Infected Patients with Insulin Resistance or Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Added to antiretroviral therapy, a 6-month therapy with BFL improved insulin sensitivity but is not sufficient to reduce significantly visceral fat mass.

More (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/2248pl871h121210/)


Access to Medications and Medical Care After Participation in HIV Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review of Trial Protocols and Informed Consent Documents

Posttrial medications or medical care was mentioned in the trial documents of <50% of reviewed antiretroviral trials. Improved efforts are needed to clearly describe posttrial services in clinical trial protocols and ICFs.

More (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/2701uw8257788702/)


trend

German star in HIV case released

A singer from the German girl band No Angels arrested on suspicion of infecting a partner with HIV has been released from custody, BBC reported.
Prosecutors say Nadja Benaissa, 26, had unprotected sex with three men without informing them she was infected, and that one later tested positive himself.
Ms Benaissa's lawyers said she should enjoy the presumption of innocence.
A spokesman for a court in the town of Darmstadt said her release was subject to certain undisclosed conditions.
Ms Benaissa was arrested in Frankfurt 10 days previously, before she was due to perform in a solo concert.
The prosecutor's office in the western town of Darmstadt said she had been detained because of the "urgent suspicion" that she slept with three people between 2004 and 2006, without telling them she was HIV-positive.
She reportedly faces a possible charge of grievous bodily harm.
But her lawyers note that there is no proof that she infected anyone.
Benaissa was chosen to join No Angels in 2000 through the TV casting show Popstars.
The group recorded a series of hits and emerged as Germany's most successful girl band.

More (http://news-en.trend.az/world/wnews/1459232.html)


projectinform

Indicators about hepatitis C co-infection among HIV-positive gay men concern Project Inform

In the past two years, through the leadership of Ryan Clary, our Public Policy Director, Project Inform has become heavily involved in work to increase the government response to the grossly ignored U.S. epidemic of hepatitis C (HCV). Matt Sharp, our new Director of Treatment & Prevention Advocacy, is now monitoring drug development in this area and will help guide our work to educate people with hepatitis C about treatment options.

More (http://www.projectinform.org/advo/hepc/042109.shtml)


tvnz

Taxi driver gets nine years for rape of passenger

A HIV-positive taxi driver twice found guilty of raping a teenaged female passenger has been jailed for nine years.
Abdirazak Yussuf Mussa, 56, was originally found guilty in November 2007 of rape and abduction with intent to sexually violate and jailed for seven years.
The Court of Appeal last year quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial.
Last month he was again found guilty of raping the woman but not guilty of abduction.

More (http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/taxi-driver-gets-nine-years-rape-passenger-2667402)


safetylit

Suicide attempts among people living with HIV in France

This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of attempted suicide among a representative sample of French Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals. In 2003, a face-to-face survey was conducted among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) selected in a random, stratified sample of French hospital departments. Among solicited individuals, 2,932 agreed to participate and were asked if they had ever AS. Among the respondents, 23% had AS. Female gender, younger age, native French citizenship, reporting household financial difficulties, having been HIV-contaminated through homosexual contact or through injection drug use and suffering from lipodystrophy-related symptoms were all independently associated with AS. HIV-discrimination and the lack of social support from family remained independently associated with AS. Our findings indicate a high level of AS among PLWHA and emphasize the multiple roles of factors associated with living with HIV, together with sociodemographic factors. The results enable the possibility for vulnerable groups to be targeted for specific future interventions in order to prevent attempted suicide.

More (http://www.safetylit.org/)

Note (John2038)
To access the article directly, search for it typing "Suicide attempts among people living with HIV in France". The URLs of this website are not compatible with the posting syntax used on this board.



biospace

Gilead Sciences, Inc. - Profit Rises a Higher-than-Expected 21 Percent

Reuters - Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) said on Tuesday first-quarter profit rose 21 percent, topping analysts' expectations, on increased sales of its drugs to treat the virus that causes AIDS.

More (http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=135978)


drugandalcoholdependence

Methadone metabolism and clearance are induced by nelfinavir despite inhibition of cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) activity

Nelfinavir induced methadone clearance by increasing renal clearance, and more so by stereoselectively increasing hepatic metabolism, extraction and clearance. Induction occurred despite 50% inhibition of hepatic CYP3A4/5 activity and more than 75% inhibition of first-pass CYP3A4/5 activity, suggesting little or no role for CYP3A in clinical methadone disposition. Nelfinavir may alter methadone pharmacodynamics, increasing clinical effects.

More (http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/PIIS0376871609000131/abstract?rss=yes)


nature

A genetic polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) affects the changes in circulating MMP-9 levels induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients

We examined whether two functional polymorphisms (g.-1562C>T and g.-90(CA)14–24) in the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 gene or MMP-9 haplotypes affect the circulating levels of pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) ratios in AIDS patients, and modulate alterations in these biomarkers after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We studied 82 patients commencing HAART. Higher pro-MMP-9 concentrations and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were found in CT/TT patients compared with CC patients. HAART decreased pro-MMP-9 levels and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in CT/TT patients, it did not modify pro-MMP-9 levels and it increased pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in CC patients. The g.-90(CA)14–24 polymorphism, however, produced no significant effects. Moreover, we found no significant differences in HAART-induced changes in plasma pro-MMP-9, TIMP-1 and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios when different MMP-9 haplotypes were compared. These findings suggest that the g.-1562C>T polymorphism affects pro-MMP-9 levels in patients with AIDS and modulates the alterations in pro-MMP-9 levels caused by HAART, thus possibly affecting the risk of cardiovascular complications.

More (http://www.nature.com/tpj/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/tpj200913a.html)


wiley

Interleukin-10-secreting T cells define a suppressive subset within the HIV-1-specific T-cell population

Recent studies have indicated that Treg contribute to the HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-related immune pathogenesis. However, it is not clear whether T cells with suppressive properties reside within the HIV-1-specific T-cell population. Here, PBMC from HIV-1-infected individuals were stimulated with a 15-mer Gag peptide pool, and HIV-1-specific T cells were enriched by virtue of their secretion of IL-10 or IFN- using immunomagnetic cell-sorting. Neither the IL-10-secreting cells nor the IFN--secreting cells expressed the Treg marker FOXP3, yet the IL-10-secreting cells potently suppressed anti-CD3/CD28-induced CD4+ as well as CD8+ T-cell proliferative responses. As shown by intracellular cytokine staining, IL-10- and IFN--producing T cells represent distinct subsets of the HIV-1-specific T cells. Our data collectively suggest that functionally defined HIV-1-specific T-cell subsets harbor potent immunoregulatory properties that may contribute to HIV-1-associated T-cell dysfunction.

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122341505/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


Study on the Inhibitory Mechanism and Binding Mode of the Hydroxycoumarin Compound NSC158393 to HIV-1 Integrase by Molecular Modeling

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme in the life cycle of this virus and also an important target for the study of anti-HIV drugs. In this work, the binding modes of the wild type IN core domain and the two mutants, i.e. W132G and C130S, with the 4-hydroxycoumarin compound NSC158393 were evaluated by using the relaxed complex molecular docking approach combained with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Based on the monomer MD simulations, both of the two substitutions affect not only the stability of the 128-136 peptide, but also the flexibility of the functional 140s loop. In principle, NSC158393 binds the 128-136 peptide of IN, however, the specific binding modes for the three systems are various. According to the binding mode of NSC158393 with WT, NSC158393 can effectively interfere with the stability of the IN dimer by causing a steric hindrance around the monomer interface. Additionally, through the comparative analysis of the MD trajectories of the wild type IN and the IN-NSC158393 complex, we found that NSC15893 may also exert its inhibitory function by diminishing the mobility of the function loop of IN. Three key binding residues, i.e.W131, K136 and G134, were discovered by energy decomposition calculated with the MM-GBSA method. Characterized by the largest binding affinity, W131 is likely to be indispensable for the ligand binding. All the above results are consistent with experiment data, providing us some helpful information for understanding the mechanism of the coumarin-based inhibitors

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122337518/abstract)


Stringent testing identifies highly potent and escape-proof anti-HIV short hairpin RNAs

These highly potent shRNAs could be used for a clinical vector and the comparison of the developed assays might help other researchers in their search for antiviral shRNAs.

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122341747/abstract)


Absence of genotypic drug resistance and presence of several naturally occurring polymorphisms of human immunodeficiency virus-1 CRF06_cpx in treatment-naive patients in Estonia

All non-B HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) are characterized by several polymorphisms in protease (PR) region. In addition, in recent years the increasing use of antiretroviral treatment (ART) has rapidly raised the spread of transmitted drug resistance. We aimed to determine the presence of naturally occurring polymorphisms and transmitted drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in ART naïve HIV-1-positive subjects in Estonia. A total of 115 drug-naive HIV-1-infected subjects (mean age 27 years; 70% male; 65% infected via intravenous drug use and 34% by heterosexual contact) were enrolled. Viral genomic RNA from plasma was directly sequenced in PR, revertase (RT), and envelope (env) regions. Phylogenetic analysis of RT and env regions revealed that 89% and 3% of sequenced viruses belonged to CRF06_cpx and subtype A1, respectively, and 6% were described as unique recombinants (signed A1-06) between CRF06_cpx and subtype A1 viruses. No primary DRMs were found in PR or RT regions indicating the absence of transmitted drug resistance. The most common polymorphisms in the PR region were K14R, M36I, H69K, and L89M seen in 96%, 100%, 99%, and 100%, respectively. The clinical relevance of these polymorphisms in terms of success of ART has to be monitored in future clinical studies. J. Med. Virol. 81:953-958, 2009.

More (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122341272/abstract)


sagepub

Autonomous Regulation and Locus of Control as Predictors of Antiretroviral Medication Adherence

The purpose of the current study was to examine the interrelationships between autonomous regulation (AR) and locus of control (LOC) and their prediction of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) adherence among 189 HIV+ patients. Path analyses revealed that neither AR nor LOC directly predicted adherence although AR was indirectly related when mediated by self-efficacy. AR was positively related to internal and doctors LOC, but not related to chance or others LOC. Overall, results support Self-determination Theory's conceptualization of AR and indicate that AR may be a more robust predictor of medication adherence than LOC variables.

More (http://hpq.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/14/4/578?rss=1)


jnj

Virco Lab, Inc. Enters Into Collaboration with Smartgene, Inc. Enhancing HIV Resistance Test Services for Laboratories and Physicians

Virco Lab, Inc. a leader in HIV resistance testing services, is pleased to announce a US collaboration with SmartGene, Inc. a provider of novel services for the management and analysis of genetic data to provide laboratories and physicians with greater insight into HIV drug resistance and to transfer the ordering, viewing and storage of HIV resistance reports to an innovative secure Web-based system.

More (http://www.jnj.com/connect/news/all/20090421_140000)


journalofnursingstudies

HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and risky sexual behavior in adolescents: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Improving Taiwanese adolescents’ HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy could be useful to reduce risky sexual behaviors in this population. Results of this study may assist nurses in understanding factors related to adolescents HIV/AIDS related risky sexual behavior and its’ preventions. However, future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether depressive symptoms is a major influential factor that might interfere with the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

More (http://www.journalofnursingstudies.com/article/PIIS0020748908003416/abstract?rss=yes)


jci

Genetic susceptibility to HIV-associated nephropathy

HIV-1–associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a common complication of HIV-1 infection, and its skewed incidence in certain ethnic groups suggests that there is a genetic basis to HIVAN susceptibility. In their study reported in this issue of the JCI, Papeta and colleagues used a combination of gene expression profiling and linkage analysis to identify three genomic loci that regulate a network of genes expressed by podocytes — cells that are crucial to the filtration of fluid and waste by the kidney (see the related article, doi:10.1172/JCI37131). Surprisingly, two of these loci confer disease susceptibility in a transgenic mouse model of HIVAN. This report confirms the central role of podocytes in the pathogenesis of HIVAN and demonstrates the power of this combination of genomic analysis techniques in elucidating the pathogenesis of glomerular disease.

More (http://www.jci.org/articles/view/39254)


jwatch

Has HIV Become More Virulent?

Some studies have suggested that as the HIV epidemic progresses, infected patients are presenting at progressively lower CD4-cell counts, perhaps reflecting an increase in the virulence of the virus. However, the results have been inconsistent and often confounded by a lack of information about known dates of seroconversion.
The U.S. military provides a unique opportunity to study this issue because active-duty personnel are screened for infection at regular intervals and thus have reliable seroconversion windows. In the Tri-Service AIDS Clinical Consortium, investigators evaluated initial CD4-cell counts (assessed within 6 months of HIV diagnosis) among 2174 treatment-naive individuals with documented HIV seroconversions between 1985 and 2007.

More (http://aids-clinical-care.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2009/413/1)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on April 27, 2009, 04:22:00 pm
(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6472/palmtree.jpg)

On leave few days.

Keep Well.

John
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: georgep77 on April 27, 2009, 04:55:39 pm
(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6472/palmtree.jpg)

On leave few days.

Keep Well.

John
Have fun John & thanks for the news !!!!
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on June 18, 2009, 12:21:08 pm
More News on Twitter http://twitter.com/HIVResearchNews
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Inchlingblue on June 18, 2009, 01:55:11 pm
Wow, HIV research on Twitter@! Who knew?

Thanks, John.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 05, 2010, 01:08:18 pm
Sharing couples of news in a single place.

aidsmap

Low quality of life associated with poorer survival for patients taking HIV treatment

Results were scored on a scale from zero to 100.
Mortality was related to health-related quality of life. Patients with scores in the lowest quartile had a mortality rate of 20%, compared to a rate of 13% for the second quartile, 8% for the third quartile and 4% for the highest quartile. These differences were significant (p < 0.001).

Fulll Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AE494EDD-2A55-4F8E-81E5-A03E4098E1BE.asp)

Starting HIV treatment reduces risk of death from all causes; additional benefits if treatment started sooner

HIV-positive patients who take antiretroviral treatment reduce their mortality risk by 50%, an international team of investigators report in the January 2010 edition of AIDS. Especially substantial reductions in mortality risk were seen amongst those who started taking HIV treatment when their CD4 cell count was below 100 cells/mm3.

Fulll Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/87599F98-C968-4476-8D20-A0AD9D5C4E6F.asp)


New resistance becoming rarer as more patients achieve undetectable HIV viral load

There has been a drastic fall in the incidence of new cases of drug-resistant HIV amongst patients taking antiretroviral therapy in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/4B6F10BA-3397-4B98-B798-862AA75116C2.asp)


US HIV travel ban has now ended

HIV-positive individuals can legally visit and migrate to the US from today.
President Obama announced the end of the ban at the end of October 2009, but there was a 60-day waiting period before this finally came into effect.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/77AD97E9-68DE-47F5-87E5-525128EC1082.asp)


Longer duration of infection with HIV linked with hardening of coronary arteries

Using CT scans, US investigators have found that young men with HIV are significantly more likely than their HIV-negative peers to have hardening of the arteries. In a study published in the on-line edition of AIDS the researchers also found that arterial disease was so severe in 7% of men with HIV that it was blocking blood flow. Longer duration of HIV infection was the most important risk factor for hardening of the coronary arteries.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/22522DF9-D2F6-4596-AD1C-249B1A693C84.asp)


natap

Impact of Tenofovir on Renal Function in HIV-Infected, Antiretroviral-Naive Patients

The only statistically significant predictors of greater than 50% decline in GFR or as a continuous outcome measure were increased age, diabetes mellitus, inclusion of PI class in regimen, and lower CD4 counts at baseline.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/122809_04.htm)


biospace

Gladstone Institute Scientists Identify Target That May Inhibit HIV Infectivity

Gladstone Institute -- Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology (GIVI) have discovered a new agent that might inhibit the infectivity of HIV. The agent, surfen, impairs the action of a factor in semen that greatly enhances the viral infection. Surfen might be used to supplement current HIV microbicides to greatly reduce HIV transmission during sexual contact.

Full Text (http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=166665)


medscape

TMC278 Less Toxic Than Efavirenz in HIV Therapy

In antiretroviral-naive HIV patients, the next-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor TMC278 provides results comparable to those of efavirenz with fewer adverse events, researchers report in the January 2nd issue of AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714512)


nih

Life expectancy after HIV diagnosis based on national HIV surveillance data from 25 states, United States

Average life expectancy after HIV diagnosis increased from 10.5 to 22.5 years from 1996 to 2005. Life expectancy (years) was better for females than for males but improved less for females (females: 12.6-23.6 and males: 9.9-22.0). In 2005, life expectancy for black males was shortest, followed by Hispanic males and then white males. AYLL for cases diagnosed in 2005 was 21.1 years (males: 19.1 and females: 22.7) compared with 32.9 years in 1996. CONCLUSIONS: Disparity in life expectancy for females and both black and Hispanic males, compared with males and white males, respectively, persists and should be addressed.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19730109)


aegis

South African Doctor Sees Drug-Resistant HIV

Ten years ago, drug-resistant HIV affected 1-5 percent of HIV/AIDS patients worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where few patients had access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) a decade ago, resistance rates have climbed to about 5 percent in the past few years. Since many physicians and clinics do not track resistance, the proportion could be even higher.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100002)


eurekalert

HIV-related memory loss linked to Alzheimer's protein

More than half of HIV patients experience memory problems and other cognitive impairments as they age, and doctors know little about the underlying causes. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests HIV-related cognitive deficits share a common link with Alzheimer's-related dementia: low levels of the protein amyloid beta in the spinal fluid.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/wuso-hml120209.php)


A global breakthrough in the study of a protein linked to the spread of viruses

Montreal, January 5, 2010 – Professor Denis Archambault of the Department of Biological Sciences of Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), and doctoral student Andrea Corredor Gomez have made a major discovery in the field of molecular biology. They have unlocked some of the secrets of a viral protein, known as Rev, which is very different from other proteins of the same type studied to date. The results of their research were recently published in the prestigious Journal of Virology.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/udq-agb010510.php)


HIV-infected postmenopausal women at high risk for bone fractures

With potent therapies comes longer life for HIV-infected individuals, but with longer life comes metabolic complications

Chevy Chase, MD— According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), postmenopausal HIV-infected women have a high prevalence of low bone mineral density and high bone turnover placing them at high risk for future bone fractures.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/tes-hpw010410.php)

lww

HIV and bone mineral density

Low BMD is prevalent in HIV-infected patients, with traditional risk factors, HIV infection and exposure to antiretroviral therapy all contributing. The role of specific antiretrovirals in the development of low BMD remains controversial, but most changes arise at either antiretroviral therapy initiation or switch.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/co-infectiousdiseases/Abstract/2010/02000/HIV_and_bone_mineral_density.2.aspx)


medicalnewstoday

Expert Panel Releases 2010 Adult Immunization Schedule, Stresses Importance of Vaccination

HPV, Influenza, Measles - mumps- rubella (MMR), Hepatitis A, Meningococcal , Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)

Note
Not specific to HIV, so need to be discussed with your ID Doc


Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175116.php)


AP Series Examines Worldwide Impact Of Drug Resistance

The Associated Press reports on how the misuse of drugs worldwide has contributed to drug-resistant diseases in a series of articles following a six-month investigation by the news service.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175090.php)


eatg

Head-to-head studies identify best treatment regimen for hepatitis C

The fact that both of these studies yielded similar and significant results confirms the potential advantages of PEG-IFN-2a plus RBV versus PEG-IFN-2b plus RBV.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Hepatitis/Head-to-head-studies-identify-best-treatment-regimen-for-hepatitis-C)


harthosp

Decreasing your diabetes risk after smoking

Smoking carries many health risks: the CDC states that smokers have an increased risk of developing lung cancer, coronary heart disease and respiratory disease, just to name a few. But HealthDay News reports that people who quit smoking have an increased risk of developing diabetes. In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers found that former smokers were diagnosed with diabetes 70 percent more than people who never smoked; the increase in weight was most likely the cause.

Full Text (http://www.harthosp.org/NewsEventsClasses/NationalNews/default.aspx?chunkiid=564833)


newsnet5

Drug-Resistant Infections Lurk In Our Meat

More and more Americans -- many of them living far from barns and pastures -- are at risk from the widespread practice of feeding livestock antibiotics. These animals grow faster, but they can also develop drug-resistant infections that are passed on to people. The issue is now gaining attention because of interest from a new White House administration and a flurry of new research tying antibiotic use in animals to drug resistance in people.

Full Text (http://www.newsnet5.com/health/22073579/detail.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 07, 2010, 01:47:23 pm
NEWS - January 7, 2010


aidsmap

Women who start ART in pregnancy do just as well as non-pregnant women

The authors conclude “HIV-infected women in resource-limited countries who start ART during pregnancy have similar or better long-term CD4 cell count responses as compared with other adults. These data support efforts to provide pregnant HIV-infected women with access to ART in resource-limited countries.”

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/4F2A9EEF-4892-4BE6-82EA-50DBA5EBFCA4.asp)


Alternative treatments are commonly, but covertly, used alongside ARVs in London

Alternative treatments such as herbal remedies are commonly used by patients from southern Africa in London, but imbalanced power relationships discourage discussion of their use with clinicians, researchers report in the online edition of Social Science and Medicine.

The researchers note that there is a potential for interactions between the active ingredients in such treatments and antiretroviral medications. Moreover the treatments may lead to vomiting or diarrhoea, which can also affect levels of antiretrovirals in the body.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D77496C7-280E-48F9-A43A-DBB49FCA420A.asp)


sciencedaily

Study Links Vitamin D, Race and Cardiac Deaths

Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to a higher number of heart and stroke-related deaths among black Americans compared to whites, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105170924.htm)


eurekalert

Circumcision associated with significant changes in bacteria

Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a study led by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Johns Hopkins University and published Jan. 6 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/ttgr-ssw010510.php)


worldpoliticsreview

End to HIV/AIDS Travel Bans Applauded

A Dutch man was the first person to take advantage of a change in U.S. policy removing travel restrictions for individuals with HIV/AIDS, after the ban was lifted Monday. Rights advocates and the United Nations applauded the move, as well as a similar one by South Korea, while calling for 57 other countries with various restrictions in place to follow suit.

Full Text (http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/show/4889)


marketwatch

Gilead leads biotech stocks higher

(http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/121/gildjan72010.th.gif) (http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/GILD)

Biotech stocks trended higher Wednesday as shares of Gilead Sciences gained on positive Phase II data for an HIV combination therapy that includes two new drug candidates.

Full Text (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/drug-stocks-inch-up-gilead-gains-on-hiv-study-2010-01-06?siteid=moren)


aegis

CANADA: Not All Gay Blood Donors Pose Same Risk, Court Told

Canadian Blood Services wrongly assumes that every man who has had sex, even once, with another man since 1977 presents the same HIV risk, an attorney argued yesterday in an Ottawa courtroom. CBS' "blanket ban" on blood donations by men who have sex with men also applies to MSM who practice safer sex and might pose a "negligible" risk, Patricia LeFebour said in closing arguments of a civil trial.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100020)


SWITZERLAND: Antiretroviral Drugs Cut Suicide Rate in Swiss AIDS Patients, a Study Finds

A recent study led by an HIV expert at the University of Bern finds suicides among Swiss AIDS patients declined by more than 50 percent following the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996.
Dr. Olivia Keiser and her team analyzed data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the Swiss National Cohort, a longitudinal study of mortality in Switzerland's general population. From 1988 to 2008, 15,275 patients were followed in the SHCS for a median duration of 4.7 years. Of these, 150 died by suicide (rate 158.4 per 100,000 person-years).

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100022)


medscape

Interruptions in Anti-HIV Therapy Carry High Risk of Thrombocytopenia

In HIV-infected patients, risk factors for thrombocytopenia include interruptions in antiretroviral therapy, high HIV RNA levels, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and cirrhosis, according to two papers in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes for December 15.
In the first paper, Dr. Marie-Anne Bouldouyre, from Hopital Saint Louis, Paris, and colleagues report that one in four patients who interrupted their highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) developed thrombocytopenia (<150,000 platelets/microliter) over the 96-week study period.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714678)

Progestin-Only Contraception Worsens Metabolic Outcomes in Women With HIV

Progestin-only contraception worsens metabolic outcomes in women with HIV infection, according to a report in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes on December 15.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714744)

Discontinuation of Enfuvirtide in Heavily Pretreated HIV-infected Individuals

A total of 151 patients were analyzed. The median baseline CD4 cell count was 108 cells/µL (interquartile range [IQR] 50–206) and HIV RNA was 4.7 log10 copies/mL (IQR 4.1–5.2). Virologic suppression, defined as a viral load below 50 copies/mL at 12 months, was achieved by 57.6% of patients. Overall, a median CD4 cell increase of 121 cells/µL (IQR 50–189) from baseline was noted. Up to 50% of patients discontinued enfuvirtide within the first year of treatment, mainly because of the patient's choice. After discontinuation of enfuvirtide, high rates of virologic failure and clinical progression were observed, notably when CD4 cell count at stopping enfuvirtide was below 100 cells/µL and no switch to new potent antiretroviral drugs such as darunavir, maraviroc, or raltegravir was performed.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/713577)

bmj

Which HIV-infected MSM in care are engaging in risky sex and acquiring sexually transmitted infections: Findings from a Boston community health center

The sample was predominantly Caucasian (74.6%) and college educated (51.7%). On average, participants were 41.5 (SD=8.4) years old and had been HIV-infected for 8.6 years (SD=6.7). Nine percent of the sample had an STI, with 6.4% testing positive for syphilis, 3.1% for gonorrhea, and 0.25% for Chlamydia. Age (OR=0.63, CI=0.44-0.91) and years since HIV-diagnosis (OR=0.66, CI=0.45-0. 97) were significantly associated with testing positive for an STI, as was engaging in TRB (OR=4.4, CI=1.88-10.36) and using methamphetamine (OR=3.37, CI=1.67-6.81), ketamine (OR: 4.48; CI: 1.83-11.00), and inhalants (OR: 2.60; CI: 1.28-5.30). Substance use, particularly methamphetamine use, and being more recently diagnosed with HIV were each uniquely associated with TRB in a multivariable model.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/08/30/sti.2009.036608.abstract)


jvi

A Single Amino Acid Substitution in HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Significantly Reduces Virion Release

The results demonstrate that a single amino acid substitution at HIV–1 RT can radically affect virus assembly by enhancing Gag cleavage efficiency, suggesting that in addition to contributing to RT biological function during the early stages of virus replication, the HIV–1 RT tryptophan repeat motif in a Gag–Pol context may play an important role in suppressing the premature activation of PR during late–stage virus replication.

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/2/976)


ijidonline

Human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis C virus co-infection in pregnant women and perinatal transmission to infants in Thailand

Acquisition of HCV through intravenous drug use partially explains the higher rate of HCV infection in HIV–infected Thai women than in HIV–uninfected controls. Perinatal transmission occurred in 10% of infants of HIV–HCV–co–infected mothers and was associated with high maternal HCV RNA.

Full Text (http://www.ijidonline.com/article/PIIS1201971209003609/abstract?rss=yes)


biomedcentral

HIV-1 subtype and viral tropism determination for evaluating antiretroviral therapy options: an analysis of archived Kenyan blood samples

HIV–1 subtype A accounted for majority of the infections. Though perceived to be a high risk population, the prevalence of recombination in this sample was low with no dual infections detected. Genotypic co–receptor analysis showed that most patients harbored viruses that are predicted to use CCR5.

Full Text (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/215)


eatg

Caffeine linked to reduced liver fibrosis

Those who consumed more than 308 mg of caffeine a day -- equal to about 2.25 cups of coffee -- were 75% less likely to have advanced fibrosis than those who consumed less.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Caffeine-linked-to-reduced-liver-fibrosis)


plos

Study Suggests Why Circumcised Men Less Likely To Become Infected With HIV

Pooling data from "three randomized-control trials in sub-Saharan Africa, where the circumcision rate is relatively low and the HIV infection rate is relatively high," the researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Johns Hopkins University found "for the first time that circumcision significantly changes the bacterial community of the penis," according to a TGen press release. The study concluded that: The anoxic microenvironment of the subpreputial space may support pro-inflammatory anaerobes that can activate Langerhans cells to present HIV to CD4 cells in draining lymph nodes. Thus, the reduction in putative anaerobic bacteria after circumcision may play a role in protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0008422)


gazetteonline

HIV, AIDS cases increasing again in Iowa

The number of HIV diagnoses hit a record 126 in 2007 but then dropped to 107 in 2008. However, Jerry Harms of the state Department of Health said 70 HIV and 46 AIDS diagnoses were reported during the first half of 2009 – figures that both topped the averages for the previous five-year periods.
As of last June 30, there were 1,667 people – 1,314 males and 353 females — living in Iowa who had tested positive for HIV or AIDS, including 11 people under the age of 13. Health officials reported there were 26 HIV-infected deaths in Iowa in 2008

Full Text (http://gazetteonline.com/breaking-news/2010/01/07/hiv-aids-cases-increasing-again-in-iowa)


medicalnewstoday

Medicare Begins To Reimburse For HIV Screening

Medicare is beginning a new federal policy that covers HIV screening for seniors. The Hartford Courant reports that "testing for the virus among those 65 and older lags far behind testing of other Americans, and experts say they worry that HIV cases in older adults go undiagnosed - some because of the stigma that the disease still carries, some because patients might dismiss the symptoms of the virus as signs of other conditions more frequently associated with aging and some because doctors can be hesitant to talk to older patients about sex or link their symptoms with HIV."

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175207.php)


ap

HIV-positive adults needed for vaccine study

Researchers at Saint Louis University are recruiting HIV-infected adults for a clinical trial of how the swine flu virus may affect them.
The researchers will also study the subjects' immune response to the H1N1 vaccine.
Saint Louis University is one of a half-dozen sites conducting the study. The entire project will enroll about 240 HIV-positive men and women ages of 18 to 64.
The university is among the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation units funded by the National Institutes of Health. Its researchers have also studied the effects of the swine flu vaccine on healthy adults, children and pregnant women.

Information on clinic trials: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

Full Text (http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-92/1262860697271390.xml&storylist=health)


examiner

Antibiotic resistance: Living green can decrease the chances

Antibiotic resistance can be slowed by green living. Green living is more than protecting the external environment. Green is about reducing chemical usage, adopting habits of recycling and reuse, and exploring natural approaches to treating minor illness. In today’s society, people want fast results

Full Text (http://www.examiner.com/x-15544-St-Louis-Parenting-Teens-Examiner~y2009m12d29-Antibiotic-resistance-Living-green-can-decrease-the-chances)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 08, 2010, 01:10:23 pm
NEWS - January 8, 2010


jimmunol

Dynamics and Consequences of IL-21 Production in HIV-Infected Individuals: A Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Study

The results suggest that serum IL–21 concentrations may serve as a useful biomarker for monitoring HIV disease progression and the cytokine may be considered for immunotherapy in HIV–infected patients.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/1/114)


springerlink

BNP in HIV-Infected Patients

The data demonstrate that BNP is suitable for the detection of cardiac disorders in HIV–infected subjects. Therefore, BNP could be an appropriate tool for a screening program for HIV–associated disorders in this patient population.

Full Text (http://www.springerlink.com/content/p28825n508251q17/)


medscape

HIV Suppression Rates Lower in US Blacks Than in Whites

HIV viral suppression is less likely in black Americans than in whites, even in a military setting where all patients have equal access to health care, new research shows.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714783)


Longer Surgeries Mean More Infections, Longer Hospital Stays

The longer an operation, the greater the risk that a patient will have infectious complications and spend extra days in the hospital, according to a new study.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714830?src=rss)


whec

Better antiseptic curbs post-surgery infections

Looks like doctors aren’t the only ones who should scrub before surgery. Bathing patients with an antiseptic and squirting medicated ointment up their noses dramatically cut the rate of dangerous staph infections afterward, researchers found.

Full Text (http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S1348966.shtml?cat=577)


bmj

Using mathematical modelling to estimate the impact of periodic presumptive treatment on the transmission of STIs and HIV amongst female sex workers

Despite the model's assumption of homogeneous risk behaviour probably resulting in optimistic projections, and uncertainty in STI cofactors and transmission probabilities, projections suggest PPT interventions with sufficient coverage and follow–up could noticeably decrease the HIV incidence amongst FSW populations with inadequate STI treatment.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/10/22/sti.2008.034678.abstract)


uchicago

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a US Cohort of HIV-Infected Individuals during the Past 20 Years

Although the burden of HBV infection overall is slowly decreasing among HIV?infected individuals, the persistent rate of HBV infection after diagnosis of HIV infection raises concern that more–effective prevention strategies may be needed to significantly reduce the prevalence of HBV infection in this patient population.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649885)


journalofclinicalvirology

Viro-immunological dynamics in HIV-1-infected subjects receiving once-a-week emtricitabine to delay treatment change after failure: A pilot randomised trial

Once–weekly emtricitabine led to a higher viral rebound than once–daily monotherapy, but similar immunological changes, thus suggesting a role of M184V in slowing the decrease in CD4% in treatment failing subjects.

Full Text (http://www.journalofclinicalvirology.com/article/PIIS1386653209005988/abstract?rss=yes)


news-medical

Pharmaceutical companies working on nearly 100 life-changing medicines for HIV/AIDS

Medical News Today recently reported that America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working on nearly 100 life-changing medicines for diseases affecting people with HIV/AIDS, according to a new report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100108/Pharmaceutical-companies-working-on-nearly-100-life-changing-medicines-for-HIVAIDS.aspx)


aidsmap

DetecTB study shows intensified case finding can reduce burden of TB within community with high HIV prevalence

Going into communities to actively screen for tuberculosis (TB) can uncover a very large number of TB cases in settings with a high prevalence of HIV — and within a couple of years, reduces the community’s burden of TB, according to the DetecTB study conducted in Harare, Zimbabwe and presented as a late breaker at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health held in Cancún, Mexico in December.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/198697BA-5EE8-47F8-AEEE-C8C4A1CCEBBC.asp)


Household contact tracing reveals extensive community spread of MDR and XDR TB

Approximately half of adult household contacts of drug resistant TB cases had resistance profiles that differed from the index case of TB, according to a presentation given by Dr. Tony Moll at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cancún, Mexico.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/A944FD07-8DDC-4AD3-B5B0-9E55FC3D2D5A.asp)


Circumcision may protect against HIV due to changes in bacteria

The reduction in HIV infection risk after circumcision may be the result of a decline in bacteria on the surface of the penis that assist the process of infection, according to findings from the research team that helped establish the evidence base for using male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/91F9987B-D909-4CE0-94DE-73464FEFA658.asp)


sciencedaily

Rules Governing RNA's Anatomy Revealed

University of Michigan researchers have discovered the rules that dictate the three-dimensional shapes of RNA molecules, rules that are based not on complex chemical interactions but simply on geometry.
Manipulating RNA is a much sought-after goal, given the recent explosion in vital cellular roles ascribed to RNA and the growing number of diseases that are linked to RNA malfunction. RNA performs many of its roles by serving as a switch that changes shape in response to cellular signals, prompting appropriate reactions in response. The versatile molecule also is essential to retroviruses such as HIV, which have no DNA and instead rely on RNA to both transport and execute genetic instructions for everything the virus needs to invade and hijack its host.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100107143911.htm)


Increased Presence, Severity of Coronary Artery Plaques in HIV-Infected Men

A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study has found that relatively young men with longstanding HIV infection and minimal cardiac risk factors had significantly more coronary atherosclerotic plaques -- some involving serious arterial blockage -- than did uninfected men with similar cardiovascular risk.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100107151659.htm)


ispub

Perception Of Clinicians Regarding Most Appropriate Antibiotic In Treatment Of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

UTI is most common bacterial infection of human being. The emerging antimicrobialresistance in UTI is a major health problem of 21st century. The perception of cliniansthat ciprofloxacin is most appropriate and least resistant drug in complicated UTI iswrong.

Full Text (http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_urology/volume_6_number_2_41/article/perception-of-clinicians-regarding-most-appropriate-antibiotic-in-treatment-of-complicated-urinary-tract-infections.html)


individual

GeoVax Labs names new vice president of R&D

GeoVax Labs, a biopharmaceutical company, has appointed Mark Newman as its new vice president of R&D.
In his new role, Dr Newman will be responsible for developing GeoVax's therapeutic HIV vaccine initiative and broadening the GeoVax pipeline. Prior to joining GeoVax, Dr Newman served as vice president of R&D at PaxVax.

Full Text (http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=112683287&hash=c926d164d0a845068cdae25f52eba591)


drugdiscoverynews

Biomagnetics to develop blood diagnostic device

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a developer of diagnostic systems and technology for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria detection, announced in December that it has acquired intellectual property rights from Los Alamos National Security for the development of an integrated optical biosensor capable of screening blood donors for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3503)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 11, 2010, 01:25:57 pm
NEWS - January 11, 2010


sciencedaily

New Ways to Pressure HIV

Two new studies showing that protein bits produced by unusual "reading" of the HIV genome can induce immune responses will appear online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on Jan. 11. This finding suggested that mutations in these reading frames may have been caused by pressure from the hosts' immune systems.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111091220.htm)


aidsmap

Cardiovascular risks common amongst young US women with HIV

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are common amongst young, HIV-positive women in the US, investigators report in the January 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
“More than one-third…reported a family history of heart disease or of type 2 diabetes, more than one third smoked cigarettes, and fewer than one-third exercised regularly”, comment the investigators.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/38EDDA04-31DA-4FED-B971-274CF017058F.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Antiretroviral Therapy Reduces Overall Mortality, but Effects Differ According to HIV Risk Group

Andrew Phillips and more than 1000 co-investigators with the international HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration sought to estimate the effect of combination ART on mortality among HIV positive individuals, after adjusting for potentially confounding time-varying factors.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/010810_b.html)


wiley

Yoga lifestyle intervention reduces blood pressure in HIV-infected adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors

Among traditional lifestyle modifications, yoga is a low–cost, simple to administer, nonpharmacological, popular behavioural intervention that can lower blood pressure in pre–hypertensive HIV–infected adults with mild–moderate CVD risk factors.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123233693/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


Is long-term virological response related to CCR5 (delta)32 deletion in HIV-1-infected patients started on highly active antiretroviral therapy

The (delta)32 deletion in (delta)32/wt patients is associated with a beneficial virological response to cART in the long term. Whether this association is a direct effect of the (delta)32 deletion remains unclear and requires confirmation in further observational studies.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123227340/abstract)

Opportunistic infections and organ-specific diseases in HIV-1-infected children: a cohort study (1990–2006)

This study provides evidence of improved clinical outcomes in HIV–infected children over time and shows that mortality, AIDS, opportunistic infections and organ–specific diseases declined as HAART was progressively instituted in this population.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123227337/abstract)


jimmunol

A High-Affinity Inhibitor of Human CD59 Enhances Complement-Mediated Virolysis of HIV-1: Implications for Treatment of HIV-1/AIDS

The authors demonstrated that rILYd4 together with serum or plasma from HIV–1–infected patients as a source of anti–HIV–1 Abs and complement did not mediate complement–mediated lysis of either erythrocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These results indicate that rILYd4 may represent a novel therapeutic agent against HIV–1/AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/1/359)

Distribution, Persistence, and Efficacy of Adoptively Transferred Central and Effector Memory-Derived Autologous Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cell Clones in Rhesus Macaques during Acute Infection

These studies establish methods for adoptive transfer of autologous SIV–specific CD8+ T cells for evaluating immune control during acute infection and demonstrate that infused cells retain function and persist for at least 2 mo in specific tissues.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/1/315)

Inhibitory TCR Coreceptor PD-1 Is a Sensitive Indicator of Low-Level Replication of SIV and HIV-1

These results demonstrate that PD–1 can serve as a sensitive indicator of persistent, low–level virus replication and that generalized PD–1 expression on T lymphocytes is a distinguishing characteristic of uncontrolled lentiviral infections.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/1/476)


Trafficking, Persistence, and Activation State of Adoptively Transferred Allogeneic and Autologous Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cell Clones during Acute and Chronic Infection of Rhesus Macaques

This suggests that expression of such markers by T cells at mucosal sites may not reflect recent activation, but may instead identify stable resident memory T cells. The lack of impact following transfer of such a large number of functional Ag–specific CD8+ T cells on SIV replication may reflect the magnitude of the immune response required to contain the virus.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/1/303)


thelancet

Routine versus clinically driven laboratory monitoring of HIV antiretroviral therapy in Africa (DART): a randomised non-inferiority trial

ART can be delivered safely without routine laboratory monitoring for toxic effects, but differences in disease progression suggest a role for monitoring of CD4–cell count from the second year of ART to guide the switch to second–line treatment.

Full Text (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609620675/abstract?rss=yes)


bmj

Prevalence, incidence and risk factors for hepatitis C in homosexual men: Data from two cohorts of HIV negative and HIV positive men in Sydney, Australia

HCV prevalence was almost ten times higher in HIV positive homosexual men. Although incident HCV infection was uncommon in both cohorts, cases of non–IDU related transmission did occur, possibly linked to sexual contact with HIV positive men.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/10/19/sti.2009.038182.abstract)


Assessment of attitudes and practices of providers of services for individuals at high risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Karnataka, South India

Following physician training, quality of care appears to be generally acceptable, but it is important to further improve the attitudes of providers towards sex work, and improve practices such as speculum examination and partner referral that can enhance quality of care.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/11/03/sti.2008.035600.abstract)


Prevalence, incidence and risk factors for pharyngeal gonorrhoea in a community-based HIV-negative cohort of homosexual men in Sydney, Australia

The majority of pharyngeal gonorrhoea occurred without evidence of concurrent anogenital infection and the high incidence–to–prevalence ratio suggests frequent spontaneous resolution of NAAT–detected infection. The association of pharyngeal gonorrhoea with oro–anal sex indicates a broader range of sexual practices are likely to be involved in transmission of gonorrhoea to the pharynx than previously acknowledged. Screening the pharynx of sexually active homosexual men could play a role in reducing the prevalence of anogenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/10/19/sti.2009.036814.abstract)


drugdiscoverynews

NIH researchers discover DNA sequences related to lung function

Treating disease needs to be about tracking down root causes more than just treating symptoms as was the case for so much of medical history, and researchers with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have made a solid step along that path with a new study involving data from more than 20,000 individuals that has uncovered several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function and that shine a light on genetic links to lung disease risk.   

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3543)


finanznachrichten

Inhibitex Provides Update on Its Staph Vaccine, FV-100 and INX-189 Development Programs

Inhibitex, Inc. (Nasdaq: INHX) today announced that its collaborator, Pfizer, Inc., has initiated patient recruitment for 408-patient, randomized, double-blind Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of three ascending dose levels of a 3-antigen Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) vaccine (SA3Ag) in healthy adults. The SA3Ag vaccine contains an antigen originating from the Company's MSCRAMM® protein platform. The Company licensed its MSCRAMM® protein platform to Wyeth (acquired by Pfizer in 2009) on an exclusive worldwide basis for the development of active vaccines against staphylococcus in 2001.

Full Text (http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2010-01/15862782-inhibitex-provides-update-on-its-staph-vaccine-fv-100-and-inx-189-development-programs-004.htm)


radionz

Double killer dies in Wanganui prison

Glenn Mills, an HIV positive man accused of deliberately infecting people with the disease was found dead at the Auckland Remand Centre at Mt Eden Prison in November.
A notorious sex offender, Taffy Hotene, was also found dead in Wanganui prison in November.

Full Text (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2010/01/11/1247ebfafca0)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 12, 2010, 01:03:22 pm
NEWS - January 12, 2010


aidsmap

Thrombocytopenia associated with treatment interruptions: HIV replication a cause

A quarter of patients interrupting antiretroviral therapy developed thrombocytopenia, French investigators report in the December 15th edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Treatment interruptions should be “strictly forbidden” for patients with low platelet counts and a history of thrombocytopenia, recommend the investigators. They conclude, “thrombocytopenia…is another limitation of intermittent treatment, which should be avoided as much as possible.”

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1BF78415-5D23-4440-A4B3-6A8B2E187B9D.asp)

Detectable viral load, hepatitis C and cirrhosis risk factors for thrombocytopenia for patients with HIV

HIV viral load, co-infection with hepatitis C virus, and cirrhosis are all linked to thrombocytopenia in patients with HIV, US investigators report in the December 15th 2009 edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/6A1394EA-E071-46B8-AAB5-73DEFD6DC0B3.asp)


sciencedaily


Researchers Trace HIV Mutations That Lead to Drug Resistance

(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9265/weiwang.th.jpg) (http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9265/weiwang.jpg)
Computers and a statistical screen allowed Wei Wang to trace
mutations in HIV that lead to drug resistance. (Credit: UC San Diego)


Chemists at UC San Diego and statisticians at Harvard University have developed a novel way to trace mutations in HIV that lead to drug resistance. Their findings, once expanded to the full range of drugs available to treat the infection, would allow doctors to tailor drug cocktails to the particular strains of the virus found in individual patients.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111154918.htm)


natap

Investigational HIV agents for salvage

It is now possible for the majority of patients who are highly experienced in terms of drug treatment and who have virological failure to achieve HIV-1 viral loads below the limit of detection. There are, however, some patients who continue to have virological failure and develop further resistance and these patients need therapy that is effective; new drugs are being developed to meet this need.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/011110_02.htm)


eatg

Vertex to ask for telaprevir OK later in 2010

Telaprevir is one of several potential hepatitis C treatments in development. If approved, it could face competition from Schering-Plough Corp.'s experimental hepatitis C drug boceprevir.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Vertex-to-ask-for-telaprevir-OK-later-in-2010)

Idenix Pharmaceuticals highlights progress in three HCV programs

Interim analysis of 50 mg cohort demonstrates potent HCV antiviral activity at 14 days for IDX184 in combination with PegIFN/Ribavirin; IDX375 exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties in a Phase I healthy volunteer study; Clinical Trial Application filed in December 2009 for IDX320.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Idenix-Pharmaceuticals-highlights-progress-in-three-HCV-programs)

Achillion announces additional positive Phase 1b data with ACH-1625 to treat hepatitis C

Second dosing cohort achieves 4.25log10 viral load reduction with continued safety and tolerability.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Achillion-announces-additional-positive-Phase-1b-data-with-ACH-1625-to-treat-hepatitis-C)

US govt study probes “extraordinary” Rx price rises

Limited competition and a lack of therapeutically-equivalent drugs may be contributing to “extraordinary price rises” for branded medicines, a US government report claimed yesterday.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/US-govt-study-probes-extraordinary-Rx-price-rises)

AHF to host protest targeting Merck over the steep price for its key HIV/AIDS drug, Isentress

“Now that it has been approved for first-line treatment, there is no justification for Merck to price Isentress three times higher than other first-line AIDS drugs. It is pure greed.”

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/AHF-to-host-protest-targeting-Merck-over-the-steep-price-for-its-key-HIV-AIDS-drug-Isentress)


jimmunol

Neuroprotective Activities of CEP-1347 in Models of NeuroAIDS

Dendritic integrity and neuronal loss were sustained and prevented, respectively. These results demonstrate that CEP–1347 elicits anti–inflammatory and neuroprotective responses in an HIVE model of human disease and as such warrants further study as an adjunctive therapy for human disease.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/2/746)


futuremedicine

Randomized, controlled trials for HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa: learning from unexpected results

The history of RCTs for AIDS prevention in Africa has been highlighted by unexpected results. RCTs have almost exclusively focused on sexual transmission, a framework that may be a leading culprit behind unexpected and disappointing outcomes.

Full Text (http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/fvl.09.65)

Establishment and maintenance of HIV latency: model systems and opportunities for intervention

HAART has succeeded in reducing morbidity and mortality rates in patients infected with HIV. However, a small amount of replication–competent HIV can persist during HAART, allowing the virus to re–emerge if therapy is ceased. The therapeutic approaches for eliminating latent cells that have been attempted are also discussed, including how improvements in understanding of these persistent HIV reservoirs are being used to develop enhanced methods for their depletion.

Full Text (http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/fvl.09.70)


bmj

Prevalence of unsafe sex with one's steady partner either HIV-negative or of unknown HIV status and associated determinants in Cameroon

The prevalence of unsafe sex remains high among sexually active PLWHA in Cameroon. Treatment with ART is identified as a factor associated with safer sex, which further encourages the continuation of the national policy for increasing access to HIV treatment and care, and underlines the need to develop counseling strategies for all patients.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/10/16/sti.2008.035147.abstract)

Comparison of Focus HerpesSelect and KalonTM HSV-2 gG2 ELISA serological assays to detect herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies in a South African population

Newer HSV–2 serological tests have low specificity in this South African population with high HIV–1 prevalence. Two–step testing strategies could provide rational testing alternatives to WB.

Full Text (http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2009/10/16/sti.2009.036541.abstract)


annfammed

Safety and Efficacy of Nontherapeutic Male Circumcision: A Systematic Review

Strong evidence suggests circumcision can prevent human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome acquisition in sub–Saharan African men. These findings remain uncertain in men residing in other countries. The role of adult nontherapeutic male circumcision in preventing sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, and penile cancer remains unclear. Current evidence fails to recommend widespread neonatal circumcision for these purposes.

Full Text (http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/content/full/8/1/64)


lww

The Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Breastfeeding on the Nutritional Status of African Children

This study shows the impact of infant HIV infection on growth and supports the critical importance of breast–feeding. Mother–to–child transmission of HIV programs should endeavor to preserve breast–feeding and find alternative measures to prevent postnatal HIV transmission.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstract/publishahead/The_Effect_of_Human_Immunodeficiency_Virus_and.99396.aspx)


journalofclinicalvirology

Acute hepatitis B virus infection with simultaneous high HBsAg and high anti-HBs signals in a previously HBV vaccinated HIV-1 positive patient

The authors present a case of a clinical manifest hepatitis B virus infection and a potentially misleading HBV serological profile in an HIV–1 positive patient despite previous HBV vaccination. The patient presented with an acute hepatitis B and there was no indication of chronic HBV infection or the presence of a mutation in the ‘a’ determinant. Remarkably, simultaneously with high HBV surface antigen and HBV viral load, high anti–HBs antibodies were present. If, due to previous HBV vaccination only anti–HBs was tested in this patient, the result of the high anti–H

Full Text (http://www.journalofclinicalvirology.com/article/PIIS1386653209005927/abstract?rss=yes)


medscape

Hot Topics in HIV and Hepatitis Coinfection: Noninvasive Diagnosis of Liver Disease, Liver Transplantation, and New Drugs for Treatment of Hepatitis Coinfection

Although liver biopsy still remains the globally accepted gold standard for assessing liver disease, the more recent introduction of noninvasive markers in form of blood tests as well as transient elastography have led to the development of new algorithms for assessing liver disease in HIV and hepatitis coinfected individuals.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/713429)


smartbrief

Trimeris Receives Delisting Notice From NASDAQ

Trimeris, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMS) (“Trimeris” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the commercialization of therapeutic agents for the treatment of HIV, today announced that it has received a NASDAQ Staff determination letter dated January 5, 2010, notifying the Company that its common stock is subject to delisting due to the Company’s failure to hold its required annual meeting for fiscal year 2009.

Full Text (http://www.smartbrief.com/news/AANP/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=441429BB-E810-4DFE-AED1-A9A19705CAB8&;sb_code=RSS&;i=Biopharmaceuticals%20%26%20Biotherapeutics)


plosone

Prevalence and Predictors of Colposcopic-Histopathologically Confirmed Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in HIV-Infected Women in India

HIV-infected women in Pune, India have a substantial burden of cervical precancerous lesions, which may progress to invasive cervical cancer unless appropriately detected and treated. Increased attention should focus on recognizing and addressing this entirely preventable cancer among HIV-infected women, especially in the context of increasing longevity due to antiretroviral therapy.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008634;jsessionid=4430E43F36234423A00E653DAF35E574)


smh

Highly qualified doctor who ravaged South Africa's health services

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was South Africa's most notorious cabinet minister since the apartheid era. ''A drunkard and a thief,'' was how the Johannesburg Sunday Times described the former minister of health in 2007. The headline hardly did her justice: the theft was a wristwatch taken from the arm of a comatose patient; the drunkenness was in anticipation of a transplant.

Full Text (http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/highly-qualified-doctor-who-ravaged-south-africas-health-services-20100112-m4qm.html)


medicalnewstoday

News From The Annals Of Family Medicine, January/February 2010

Low Levels of Vitamin D Increase Risk of Heart Disease and Death and May Account for Higher Cardiovascular Risk Among Blacks

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175701.php)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 13, 2010, 12:13:10 pm
NEWS - January 13, 2010


aidsmap

Asian gay men’s sex survey reports high levels of sex without condoms

The world’s second-largest gay men’s sex survey, focusing mainly on men in East and Southeast Asia, has found that 46% of men who have sex with men who answered the online survey reported inconsistent condom use during anal intercourse with casual partners, and higher levels of unprotected sex with regular partners.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B1929638-8613-42D3-96E8-65CBAC6EB398.asp)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension still a risk in patients with HIV

A low CD4 cell count is associated with a poor prognosis for HIV-positive patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, French investigators report in the January edition of AIDS. The study also showed that the condition developed in patients taking antiretroviral therapy, which did not, by itself, provide an effective treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/4CAB3988-0464-414A-B602-117E567DA487.asp)


natap

The association between symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia and mortality in type diabetes: retrospective epidemiological analysis of the ACCORD study - BMJ Jan 2010

Symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia was associated with an increased risk of death within each study arm. However, among participants who experienced at least one episode of hypoglycaemia, the risk of death was lower in such participants in the intensive arm than in the standard arm. Symptomatic, severe hypoglycaemia does not appear to account for the difference in mortality between the two study arms up to the time when the ACCORD intensive glycaemia arm was discontinued.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/011210_02.htm)

Update on HIV Eradication - Report from the 4th HIV Persistence Intl Wksp

Several mechanisms that might contribute to the establishment and maintenance of latent proviral infection have been described, yet it seems most likely that several populations of cells that are persistently infected will require unique therapeutic approaches.
Developing the ability to eradicate established HIV infection requires a prolonged scientific commitment, further discoveries in the basic mechanisms of HIV persistence, the development of new model systems to test therapeutic approaches, and careful but innovative translational studies. Hopefully these will continue to emerge when the Persistence Workshop reconvenes in 2011.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/011210_01.htm)


nytimes

New Jersey To Legalize Medical Marijuana

The New York Times: "The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure on Monday that would make the state the 14th in the nation, but one of the few on the East Coast, to legalize the use of marijuana to help patients with chronic illnesses. The measure - which would allow patients diagnosed with severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis to have access to marijuana grown and distributed through state-monitored dispensaries - was passed by the General Assembly and State Senate on the final day of the legislative session"

Full Text (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/nyregion/12marijuana.html)


mysinchew

Progress On MDG Targets Is 'Key Priority' In 2010 For U.N. Secretary-General

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Monday he would make the drive to achieve key poverty-reduction goals around the world by 2015 one of his key priorities this year.
The targets include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and other disease, ensuring environmental sustainability and creating a global partnership for development.

Full Text (http://www.mysinchew.com/node/33816)


biomedcentral

Modelling imperfect adherence to HIV induction therapy

Induction therapy with partial adherence is tolerable, but the outcome depends on the drug cocktail. The theoretical predictions are in line with recent results from pilot studies of short–cycle treatment interruption strategies and may be useful in guiding the design of future clinical trials.

Full Text (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/10/6)


wiley

Mid-dosing interval concentration of atazanavir and virological outcome in patients treated for HIV-1 infection

The authors identified a C12 h efficacy threshold that predicted virological response; this could be useful for morning TDM in selected subjects receiving ATV in the evening. Results must be interpreted with caution given the retrospective design of the study.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123237053/abstract)

Introduction of pharmacogenetic screening for the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) B*5701 variant in Polish HIV-infected patients

The HLA B*5701 variant was found in 11 of 234 subjects. Testing with the selected method proved quick and reliable.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123237055/abstract)


jimmunol

AIDS Progression Is Associated with the Emergence of IL-17–Producing Cells Early After Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

The results demonstrate that IL–17–producing NKT are associated with the pathogenesis of SIV in RMs and suggest that TGF–[beta] and IL–18 play a role in their development.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/2/984)

lancet

Switch to a raltegravir-based regimen versus continuation of a lopinavir-ritonavir-based regimen in stable HIV-infected patients with suppressed viraemia (SWITCHMRK 1 and 2): two multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trials

Although switching to raltegravir was associated with greater reductions in serum lipid concentrations than was continuation of lopinavir–ritonavir, efficacy results did not establish non–inferiority of raltegravir to lopinavir–ritonavir.

Full Text (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2809%2962041-9/abstract)


plos

The Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Hepatitis B Virus Serologic Status in Co-Infected Adults

Clinical indicators of immunologic status in HIV-infected individuals, such as CD4 cell count, are associated with HBV serologic outcome. These data suggest that immunologic preservation through the increased use of HAART to improve functional anti-HBV immunity, whether by improved access to care or earlier initiation of therapy, would likely improve HBV infection outcomes in HIV-infected individuals.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008687)

Common Genetic Variants and Risk for HPV Persistence and Progression to Cervical Cancer

We examined host genetic factors hypothesized to play a role in determining which subset of individuals infected with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) have persistent infection and further develop cervical pre-cancer/cancer compared to the majority of infected individuals who will clear infection.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008667)


aegis

AUSTRALIA: Chlamydia Infections at All-Time High in Australia

Australia's National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System reports that 61,172 chlamydia notifications were filed in 2009. By comparison, 16,960 cases were reported in 2000. "Regardless of whether this is a result of better screening processes or unsafe sex practices, the one thing that is a certainty is that chlamydia is out there, and those that don't use condoms are at risk," said Jill Michelson, national clinical adviser for Marie Stopes International.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/s/AD100057.html)


yahoo

China announces 'first gay marriage'

State press splashed a front-page photo of China's first publicly "married" gay couple on Wednesday - the latest sign of new openness about homosexuality in a country where it has long been taboo.

Full Text (http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/6676276/china-announces-first-gay-marriage/)


biospectrumasia

Quest for HIV vaccine

Status of Development..

Full Text (http://www.biospectrumasia.com/content/130110SGP11789.asp)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 14, 2010, 12:37:21 pm
NEWS - January 14, 2010


sciencedaily

Biologists wake dormant viruses and uncover mechanism for survival

(http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5411/squattervirus.th.gif) (http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5411/squattervirus.gif)

It is known that viral "squatters" comprise nearly half of our genetic code. These genomic invaders inserted their DNA into our own millions of years ago when they infected our ancestors. But just how we keep them quiet and prevent them from attack was more of a mystery until EPFL researchers revived them.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100113131512.htm) EPFL article (http://actualites.epfl.ch/presseinfo-com?id=866) Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cGIRRidqa8)

Key Mechanism for the Proliferation of Epstein-Barr Virus Discovered

Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have elucidated a crucial mechanism in the lytic cycle of Epstein-Barr virus. A team of researchers led by Professor Wolfgang Hammerschmidt identified the function of a protein which plays a critical role in the proliferation of the virus. The Epstein-Barr virus can induce cancer.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114081547.htm)

Report Recommends Steps to Tackle Hepatitis B and C

Stepped-up vaccination requirements, a boost in resources for prevention and treatment, and a public awareness campaign similar to the effort that dispelled the stigma of HIV/AIDS are needed to curb the health threats posed by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111112847.htm)


natap

GS-9148 Nucleotide Active Against Resistance

GS-9148 retained its activity against viruses with four or more TAMs, including combinations containing the M41L and L210W mutations....Viruses carrying the K65R, K70E, L74V, or M184V mutation, as well as various combinations thereof, were fully susceptible or slightly hypersensitive to GS-9148.....GS-9148 showed a minimal loss of activity against a multidrug-resistant virus containing TAMs in combination with M184V and an insertion at T69 suggesting a less effective renal transport and possibly a lower potential for nephrotoxicity than that of acyclic nucleotide analogs. Finally, quantitative studies confirmed that despite increased cellular permeation, GS-9131 at concentrations of up to 50 µM did not cause any selective depletion of mtDNA in HepG2 cells (data not shown), an observation consistent with the low potential of GS-9148 to interfere with the replication of mtDNA.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/011310_02.htm)


medscape

Several Antiretroviral Drugs Linked to Myocardial Infarction

The nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) abacavir and didanosine, and the protease inhibitors (PIs) indinavir and lopinavir-ritonavir, all increase the risk of myocardial infarction (MI).

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715095)


ajcn

Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and liver enzymes in HIV-infected subjects

The adverse relations between omega–6 PUFA intake and liver enzymes that were previously shown could not be confirmed in this study. In contrast, plasma omega–6 PUFA concentration was inversely related to liver enzymes in both HIV–infected and HIV–uninfected subjects. Subjects in this study did not use abused fats, which could partly explain these findings.

Full Text (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/ajcn.2009.28874v1)


lww

Pneumocystis Pneumonia in South African Children With and Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

PCP is a common cause of hypoxic pneumonia and mortality in HIV–infected South African infants. Underuse of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission program and failure to institute trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis in HIV–exposed children identified through the program are important obstacles to reducing PCP incidence.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstract/publishahead/Pneumocystis_Pneumonia_in_South_African_Children.99392.aspx)


wiley

Perturbation of the natural killer cell compartment during primary human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection primarily involving the CD56bright subset

The results indicate a marked perturbation of the NK cell compartment during HIV–1 infection that is multifaceted, starts early and is progressive, primarily involves the CD56bright subset, and is partially corrected by effective HAART.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122538613/abstract)


ama-assn

Detecting Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Using 3 Different Screening Immunoassays and Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus RNA, 2006-2008

Pooled NAAT after third–generation testing increases HIV case detection, especially in venues of high HIV seropositivity. Therefore, targeted AHI screening using pooled NAAT after third–generation testing may be most effective, warranting a cost–benefit analysis.

Full Text (http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/170/1/66)

Treatment Modification in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Individuals Starting Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Between 2005 and 2008

Drug toxicity remains a frequent reason for treatment modification; however, it does not affect treatment success. Close monitoring and management of adverse effects and drug–drug interactions are crucial for the durability of CART.

Full Text (http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/170/1/57)


sagepub

Treatment of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in intravenous drug users co-infected with HIV

2RZ should be considered an option to prevent TB in selected groups of patients infected with HIV, such as injection drug users on methadone treatment.

Full Text (http://bji.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/11/1/12)


yahoo

The Tech-Aid Institute Releases HIV/AIDS Prevention Software for Women with Intellectual Disabilities

The Tech-Aid Institute, the award-winning software group gaining national recognition for its unprecedented work, has released another interactive CD-ROM for people with intellectual disabilities:  Live Safe™: Preventing HIV/AIDS for Women with Intellectual Disabilities.

Full Text (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-TechAid-Institute-prnews-2751315744.html?x=0&.v=1)


medicalnewstoday

BD Biosciences Collaborates With ReaMetrix To Develop New, Affordable CD4 Testing Products To Help Fight HIV/AIDS In Developing Countries

BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced today a new strategic collaboration with ReaMetrix, a private biotechnology company based in Bangalore, India, to develop dried reagents for its BD FACSCount™ Flow Cytometry System, which is used throughout Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America for CD4 monitoring of HIV/AIDS patients. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176017.php)


eatg

Merck provides accurate information about the pricing of ISENTRESS®

The price of ISENTRESS was determined after consultation with respected leaders in the HIV community, and in line with Merck's long-standing commitment to ensure access to our medicines.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/Merck-provides-accurate-information-about-the-pricing-of-ISENTRESS-R)

Experimental CCR5 antagonist vicriviroc appears safe and well tolerated in HIV/HCV coinfected patients

Vicriviroc did not affect hepatitis C virus levels, but it also did not lower HIV viral load as intended.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Experimental-CCR5-antagonist-vicriviroc-appears-safe-and-well-tolerated-in-HIV-HCV-coinfected-patients)

Men exposed to HIV via oral sex have HIV neutralizing antibody levels corresponding to partner's viral load

Neutralization was associated with previous measured highest viral load in the HIV positive partner, as well as time elapsed since the peak viral load. Neutralization also persisted over time in spite of a continuous low viral exposure.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Prevention/Men-exposed-to-HIV-via-oral-sex-have-HIV-neutralizing-antibody-levels-corresponding-to-partner-s-viral-load)

Anal Pap smears about as effective as cervical cancer screening

However, anal Paps are not as effective at finding precancerous cells as an expert visual examination of the anus and rectum through a scope.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Anal-Pap-smears-about-as-effective-as-cervical-cancer-screening)

EU to scrutinise generic drug patent settlements

Patent settlements between pharmaceutical companies are set for European Commission scrutiny over concerns that some of the deals could deny EU consumers broader choice and lower-priced medicines.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/EU-Policy/EU-to-scrutinise-generic-drug-patent-settlements)


examiner

Congress considers a new way to pay for healthcare reform by taxing investment income

The new plan proposes to apply Medicare payroll taxes not just to income but also to investment income.

Full Text (http://www.examiner.com/x-11804-Health-Care-Examiner~y2010m1d14-Congress-considers-a-new-way-to-pay-for-healthcare-reform-by-taxing-investment-income)


nih

Association of C-reactive protein with mild cognitive impairment

Among 313 subjects with MCI and 1570 cognitively normal subjects, a CRP level in the upper quartile (>3.3 mg/L) was significantly associated with MCI (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.01) and with nonamnestic MCI (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.12-3.78) after adjusting for age, sex, and years of education. However, there was no association with amnestic MCI (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.81-1.82). No association was observed with the other inflammatory markers. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma CRP is associated with prevalent MCI and with nonamnestic MCI in elderly, nondemented persons in a population-based setting. These findings suggest the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of MCI.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19751919)


the-scientist

Haitian AIDS clinic still standing

The HIV/AIDS clinic in the center of the area of Port-au-Prince hardest hit by yesterday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake is badly damaged but still standing, and most of the center's staff is apparently alive, according to the clinic's director Jean Pape.

Full Text (http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/56272/)

Key Mechanism for the Proliferation of Epstein-Barr Virus Discovered

Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have elucidated a crucial mechanism in the lytic cycle of Epstein-Barr virus. A team of researchers led by Professor Wolfgang Hammerschmidt identified the function of a protein which plays a critical role in the proliferation of the virus. The Epstein-Barr virus can induce cancer.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114081547.htm)


EDIT
Added Epstein Virus
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: skeebo1969 on January 14, 2010, 12:51:23 pm


   I just read this thread, word for word, start to finish..  It's so good to have you back Johnny!
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 14, 2010, 01:30:35 pm
Thanks skeebo1969 !
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 15, 2010, 02:22:30 pm
NEWS - January 15, 2010


ucdavis

UC Davis study suggests that excess folic acid may pose health risks for the elderly

A new UC Davis study found that elevated levels of folic acid may aggravate metabolic complications associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency — a serious health concern that can lead to anemia and neurological damage. The results, which were published in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that it is wise to avoid taking folic-acid supplements unless specifically advised by a physician.
"We do have to worry about folic-acid supplementation. The fact is that a lot of people are getting more of it than is good for them."

Warning
Not specific to HIV+. Please consult your health care provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/20100113_folic_acid/)


sciencedaily

Benefits of Calcium and Vitamin D in Preventing Fractures Confirmed

Taking both calcium and vitamin D supplements on a daily basis reduces the risk of bone fractures, regardless of whether a person is young or old, male or female, or has had fractures in the past, a large study of nearly 70,000 patients from throughout the United States and Europe has found.

Warning
Not specific to HIV+. Please consult your health care provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114143325.htm)


newscientist

Drug-resistant HIV set for rapid upsurge

Drug-resistant strains of HIV have already been documented in San Francisco and elsewhere in the US, and Europe. Now a model of their transmission, based on studies of gay San Francisco men, forecasts a rapid upsurge in the next five years.

Full Text (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18394-drugresistant-hiv-set-to-surge.html)


Exercise Associated With Preventing, Improving Mild Cognitive Impairment

Moderate physical activity performed in midlife or later appears to be associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment, whereas a six-month high-intensity aerobic exercise program may improve cognitive function in individuals who already have the condition, according to two reports in the January issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111161929.htm)


Excess Protein in Urine Is Indicator of Heart Disease Risk in Whites, but Not Blacks, Study Suggests

The cardiovascular risk that is associated with proteinuria, or high levels of protein in the urine, a common test used by doctors as an indicator of increased risk for progressive kidney disease, heart attack and stroke, has race-dependent effects, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Warning
Not specific to HIV+. Please consult your health care provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111155104.htm)

How Calorie-Restricted Diets Fight Obesity and Extend Life Span

Scientists searching for the secrets of how calorie-restricted diets increase longevity are reporting discovery of proteins in the fat cells of human volunteers that change as pounds drop off. The proteins could become markers for monitoring or boosting the effectiveness of calorie-restricted diets -- the only scientifically proven way of extending life span in animals.

Warning
Not specific to HIV+. Please consult your health care provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209134642.htm)


eatg

Accelerated ageing of the brain found in some HIV-positive people

The preliminary findings suggest that the brains of some HIV-positive people appear to be prematurely aged to a considerable degree.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Accelerated-ageing-of-the-brain-found-in-some-HIV-positive-people)

A novel and simple formula to predict treatment success in chronic hepatitis C

The likelihood of treatment success of 48 wk peg-interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy for chronic hepatitis C may be predicted by viral kinetics on therapy.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/A-novel-and-simple-formula-to-predict-treatment-success-in-chronic-hepatitis-C)

The IAS 2009 Evaluation Report is now available for download.

Download from here. (http://www.iasociety.org/Web/WebContent/File/IAS%202009%20Evaluation%20Report.pdf)

Source (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/The-IAS-2009-Evaluation-Report)


nature

CD31 (PECAM-1) is a marker of recent thymic emigrants among CD4+ T-cells, but not CD8+ T-cells or [gamma][delta] T-cells, in HIV patients responding to ART

Some severely immunodeficient HIV patients experience poor recovery of CD4+ T-cell counts on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Evaluation of the function of thymopoiesis in T-cell production in individual patients requires a simple marker of T-cells that have recently emigrated from the thymus. Here, we address whether expression of CD31 on CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, regulatory T-cells and ?d T-cells correlates with other indicators of thymus function.
The data support the use of CD31 as a marker of recent thymic origin in CD4+ T–cells, but not CD8+ T–cells in HIV patients receiving ART. In such patients, CD31 expression is unlikely to indicate thymic origin in [gamma][delta] T–cells.

Full Text (http://www.nature.com/icb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/icb2009108a.html)


uchicago

Therapy Failure following Selection of Enfuvirtide-Resistant HIV-1 in Cerebrospinal Fluid

The authors report the selection of enfuvirtide-resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in subsequent loss of viral suppression in the plasma. This case report emphasizes the potential danger of low-level penetration of entry inhibitors into the central nervous system.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649874)

Fungal Infections in Leukemia Patients: How Do We Prevent and Treat Them

CT-guided treatment decisions are more complex in patients with advanced leukemia, however, because of concomitant infection or relapsing malignancy. Similarly, posaconazole is often not a viable prophylaxis or treatment option in patients with poor oral intake, gastrointestinal dysfunction, or possible drug interaction. As a result, the management of IFI in patients with leukemia demands an individualized treatment plan.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649879)


sciencedirect

Glove use and the HIV positive massage therapy client

Massage therapy is often used to treat stress, and other symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Massage therapy standards of practice require the use of gloves only when contact with blood and bodily fluids is expected. Health care professionals often mistrust universal precautions and use gloves when their use is not indicated, especially when dealing with HIV positive clients. This case report explored the effects of un–indicated glove use on stress levels, satisfaction with treatment, perception of the therapist, and perceived stigma during a massage therapy treatment. In this case, gloved treatments were only 80% as effective at reducing stress as ungloved treatments. No difference was found in sense of stigma, perception of the therapist, or overall satisfaction in ungloved compared to gloved treatments. Suggestions for future considerations and additional research are made.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WHF-4VP1CT5-1)


asm

Tiered Categorization of a Diverse Panel of HIV-1 Env Pseudoviruses for Assessment of Neutralizing Antibodies

The data provide the first systematic assessment of the overall neutralization sensitivities of a genetically and geographically diverse panel of circulating HIV–1 strains. These reference viruses can facilitate the systematic characterization of NAb responses elicited by candidate vaccine immunogens.

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/3/1439)


uchicago

Elevations in Mortality Associated with Weaning Persist into the Second Year of Life among Uninfected Children Born to HIV-Infected Mothers

Shortening the normal duration of breast-feeding for uninfected children born to HIV–infected mothers living in low-resource settings is associated with significant increases in mortality extending into the second year of life. Intensive nutritional and counseling interventions reduce but do not eliminate this excess mortality.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649886)

HIV Infection and Aging Independently Affect Brain Function as Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Frailty parallels between HIV infection and aging could result from continued immunological challenges depleting resources and triggering increased metabolic demands. In the future, fMRI could be a noninvasive biomarker to assess HIV infection in the brain.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649899)


journalofinfection

Circulating antibodies to endogenous erythropoietin and risk for HIV-1-related anemia

Anti–EPO are an independent risk factor for anemia in HIV–1–infected patients. HAART seems to reduce both anti–EPO and anemia prevalence.

Full Text (http://www.journalofinfection.com/article/PIIS0163445309003971/abstract?rss=yes)


springerlink

Renal disease in AIDS: it is not always HIVAN

The authors describe two cases of patients with acquired immune–deficiency syndrome (AIDS) who presented with rapidly progressive renal failure but were found to have reversible etiologies. The first case was found to have syphilis and the second, disseminated histoplasmosis; their renal injury resolved after initiation of a third–generation cephalosporin antibiotic and amphotericin B, respectively.

Full Text (http://www.springerlink.com/content/n834245k6p323353/)


examiner

Woman claims to have infected 500 people with HIV

Authorities are trying to determine whether a woman who claims in an online video that she intentionally infected more than 500 people in suburban Detroit with HIV is real or a hoax.
The unidentified woman says in a nearly 11-minute video posted on mediatakeout.com that since contracting HIV in 1998, she has been "pretty upset" about having to "suffer," and has "set out to "destroy the world" because a cure for the virus that causes AIDS has not been found.
Deputy Police Chief James Tolbert tells The Detroit News that tipsters have told police that the woman lives in Detroit. Police are seeking possible victims.
Fred Mwangaguhunga, the Web site's editor, says the videotape was received electronically on Wednesday.

Source (http://www.examiner.com/a-2422736~Woman_claims_to_have_infected_500_people_with_HIV.html?cid=rss-Michigan_Headlines)


pr-inside

Mutant HIV Strains Pose Serious Threat to Poor Nations

Mutant strains of HIV, while being treated in western countries, pose a serious risk to poor nations, threatening to undermine the progress that has been made against HIV in those nations.

Full Text (http://www.pr-inside.com/mutant-hiv-strains-pose-serious-threat-r1670276.htm)


dailytelegraph

Aboriginal health is the worst in the world

AUSTRALIA'S Aborigines have the worst life expectancy rates of any indigenous population in the world, a UN report has found.

Full Text (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/aboriginal-health-is-the-worst-in-the-world/story-e6freuy9-1225820229660)


pharmacyeurope

Size a factor in antibiotics dosage

The "one-size fits all" approach to prescribing antibiotics is no longer effective and larger patients may need to be given higher doses, according to doctors.

Full Text (http://www.pharmacyeurope.net/default.asp?title=Sizeafactorinantibioticsdosage&page=article.display&article.id=20031&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PharmacyEurope+%28Pharmacy+Europe+latest+news%29)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: red_Dragon888 on January 15, 2010, 09:28:56 pm
NATAP Raltegravir SWITCHMRK Study published Lancet

http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/011410_01.htm
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Inchlingblue on January 15, 2010, 09:37:23 pm
NATAP Raltegravir SWITCHMRK Study published Lancet

http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/011410_01.htm

I'm not sure why this is being reported on now, it was announced back in early 2009. Here is Gallant's take on it:

Isentress and the results of the SWITCHMRK studies

Joel E. Gallant, M.D., M.P.H.

Posted on Feb 12, 2009

Dear Dr. Gallant,

Are you suprised by the poor performance of Isentress in the SWITCHMRK studies?

From my understanding of the reports, similar results would likely have been obtained if Sustiva (i.e. rather than Isentress) had been substituted for Kaletra. Or am I mistaken?

Many thanks, as usual, for this forum!

d.

On Feb 12, 2009 Joel E. Gallant, M.D., M.P.H. replied:
You're not mistaken. The results are not at all surprising. In the SWITCHMRK studies, patients with undetectable viral loads on a boosted protease inhibitor-based regimen were allowed to enter the study and were randomized to either continue the boosted PI with nucleoside analogs or switch to Isentress plus nucleoside analogs. However, many of the patients had extensive treatment histories with prior virologic failure on older regimens. There were patients enrolled in the study who had taken over a dozen different antiretrovirals in the past, with up to 22 years of treatment (dating back to the AZT monotherapy days). Thus, participants might have had high-level nucleoside analog resistance and been on the equivalent of boosted PI monotherapy when they enrolled. We know that boosted PIs have a much stronger genetic barrier to resistance than Isentress, so a switch from boosted PI monotherapy to the equivalen of Isentress monotherapy is not a good idea.

The results of the SWITCHMRK studies do not indicate that Isentress isn't a good drug, OR that you can't switch from a boosted PI to Isentress. Instead, they teach us several important lessons:

1. Isentress needs to be combined with other active drugs (something we already knew from the BENCHMRK studies).

2. Don't switch from a boosted PI to a drug with a lower barrier to resistance unless you're sure about the activity of the other drugs in the regimen.

3. Just because a clinical trial allows you to enroll in a study doesn't mean you should. It is important that physicians and investigators use appropriate clinical judgment before enrolling a patient in any clinical trial.

LINK:

http://www.hopkins-hivguide.org/q_a/patient/antiretroviral_therapy/simplifying_and_intensifying_therapy/isentress_and_the_results_of_the_switchmrk_studies.html?contentInstanceId=470786
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 18, 2010, 01:52:47 pm
NEWS - January 18, 2010


voxy

NZ: Once-Daily Dosing Of Kaletra Tablet Now Available

The Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) tablet has been registered by Medsafe for once-daily dosing for HIV treatment-nave adult patients. Kaletra is now registered for once-daily as well as twice-daily use in this patient population in combination with other antiretroviral agents, giving physicians another option when deciding on the most appropriate dosing regimen.

Full Text (http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/once-daily-dosing-kaletra-tablet-now-available/5/35555)


aidsmap

Anal cytology tests useful for detecting pre-cancerous cell changes in patients with HIV

Anal cytology may be a useful tool for detecting pre-cancerous cell changes that can lead to anal cancer, UK investigators report in the online edition of AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1E3BF113-5F79-4F1D-8061-C54F82A5FD25.asp)

Bone loss following onset of menopause may put HIV-positive women at risk for fractures

Postmenopausal HIV-positive women may be at high risk for fractures because of low bone mineral density (BMD), according to a study appearing in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/23CC8CCD-F766-4759-9782-ACBAD810EA2E.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Antiretroviral Therapy Is Effective for Children with HIV in both Wealthy and Resource-Limited Settings

A related systemic analysis found that among HIV-infected children in resource-limited countries, virological and immunological responses to HAART were similar to those of children in wealthier areas.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/011210_a.html)


uchicago

Zambian study finds longer breastfeeding best for HIV-infected mothers

A new study from Zambia suggests that halting breastfeeding early causes more harm than good for children not infected with HIV who are born to HIV-positive mothers.
Stopping breastfeeding before 18 months was associated with significant increases in mortality among these children, according to the study's findings.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649886)


who

Preventive therapy and intensified case finding for TB in people living with HIV

The WHO HIV/AIDS and Stop TB Departments will host a joint meeting with key experts, 25-27 January 2010 to prepare guidelines on preventive therapy and intensified case finding for TB in people living with HIV.
The new guidelines will update the WHO/UNAIDS 1998 Policy statement on preventive therapy against TB in people living with HIV to produce new WHO guidelines, reconceptualising TB preventive therapy and intensified TB case finding, as integral parts of HIV treatment, care and support services.

Full Text (http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/tb/preventive_therapy/en/index.html)


medscape

AMA Urges Restraint for Clinicians Seeking to Volunteer in Haiti

"The spontaneous volunteer has no place in disaster response," asserted James J. James, MD, DrPH, MHA, director of the Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response, at the American Medical Association (AMA), during a webinar held today for medical and public health responders to assist them in preparing for the Haitian earthquake disaster relief effort.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715326)

Cardiac CT Angiography Points to Preclinical Atherosclerosis in HIV+ Men

Another imaging study--this time using coronary computed-tomography angiography (CTA)--should help confirm what other studies have previously suggested: that HIV-infected men have a higher prevalence of preclinical atherosclerosis than men without HIV. According to study authors, led by Dr Janet Lo (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA), the study is the first to use coronary CTA to screen for coronary atherosclerosis and/or stenosis and to quantify plaque burden.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715323)

Makeshift Hospitals in Haiti Providing Only Emergency Medical Care

Rescue teams with Médicins sans Frontièrs (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) in Haiti describe a "race against time," and people remain trapped under rubble. Supplies, including water, are just now beginning to arrive on the scene since a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti around 5 pm local time on January 12.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715270)

Increased Risk for MRSA Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Among HIV-Infected Persons

HIV-infected persons have an elevated risk for both MRSA colonization and infection. Recent studies have suggested that patients with HIV have an 18 times higher rate of MRSA infections compared with that in the general population.[3,4] The incidence of MRSA infections among HIV-infected persons has been estimated as 9-12 cases per 1000 patient-years. Clinical manifestations of MRSA infections among HIV-infected persons mirror those seen in the general population; most patients present with skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) including furuncles, abscesses, and/or cellulitis.[3,6-8] Complicated disease also may occur, including necrotizing soft-tissue infections, fasciitis, bacteremia, and endocarditis.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714821_2)


newsrx

New cryptococcosis immunology findings from College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology published

New research, 'Improved survival of mice deficient in secretory immunoglobulin M following systemic infection with Cryptococcus neoformans,' is the subject of a report. "Cryptococcus neoformans causes severe, and often fatal, disease (cryptococcosis) in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with HIV/AIDS. Although resistance to cryptococcosis requires intact T-cell immunity, a possible role for antibody/B cells in protection against natural disease has not been definitively established," scientists in the United States report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/articles/1727386.html)


karger

Impacts of Vaccination on Hepatitis B Viral Infections in Korea over a 25-Year Period

The prevalence of HBV carriers in Korea was markedly reduced after the introduction of the universal HBV vaccination program. Korea is now classified as an area of intermediate endemicity for HBV.

Full Text (http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?doi=252780)


plosone

Changes to the Natural Killer Cell Repertoire after Therapeutic Hepatitis B DNA Vaccination

Activation of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system by DNA immunization may be of particular importance to the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in a context of chronic infections.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008761)

High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection in a Small Town of Argentina. Phylogenetic and Bayesian Coalescent Analysis

A total of 89 out of 1814 blood samples collected from people living in Wheelwright, were positive for HCV infection. The highest prevalence (4.9%) was observed in people older than 50 years, with the highest level for the group aged between 70–79 years (22%). The RFLP analyses showed that 91% of the positive samples belonged to the HCV-1b genotype.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008751)

Cost-Effectiveness of Newborn Circumcision in Reducing Lifetime HIV Risk among U.S. Males

Newborn circumcision resulted in lower expected HIV-related treatment costs and a slight increase in QALYs. It reduced the 1.87% lifetime risk of HIV among all males by about 16%. The effect varied substantially by race and ethnicity. Racial and ethnic groups who could benefit the most from circumcision may have least access to it due to insurance coverage and state Medicaid policies, and these financial barriers should be addressed. More data on the long-term protective effect of circumcision on heterosexual males as well as on its efficacy in preventing HIV among MSM would be useful.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008723)


news-medical

Obama's latest dilemma: Confronting the AIDS pandemic

Confronting the ongoing AIDS pandemic for his upcoming first national HIV/AIDS Strategy is President Obama's newest dilemma, say former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, former White House Drug Policy spokesman Robert Weiner, and Dartmouth College Coalition for Progress president Jordan Osserman.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100118/Obamas-latest-dilemma-Confronting-the-AIDS-pandemic.aspx)

Scientists determine structure of enzyme essential to the survival of protozoan parasites

"With human migrations, HIV co-infections and the broadening of the host reservoirs due to climate changes, sleeping sickness and other diseases caused by these protozoan pathogens are now spreading around the world, including within the United States and Europe," said Lepesheva, a research associate professor at the Vanderbilt's department of biochemistry. "It is our hope that the results of our work might be helpful for the development of an effective treatment for such protozoan infections, some of which still remain incurable."

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100118/Scientists-determine-structure-of-enzyme-essential-to-the-survival-of-protozoan-parasites.aspx)

allafrica

Kenya: Young And Living Positively With HIV

Nairobi — Reports on the rate of HIV infections in Kenya released early last week painted a gloomy picture on the fight against HIV and Aids.
For every HIV positive person who is put on medication, four more adults are infected, according to UNAids. The total number of people living with HIV in the country is estimated to be 1.2 million.

Full Text (http://allafrica.com/stories/201001180356.html)


eatg

Treatment for chronic hepatitis C: A phase II study

The addition of ketoprofen to the conventional combination therapy is associated with better viral kinetics and early activation of the IFNa signaling pathway, thus improving virological response rates.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Treatment-for-chronic-hepatitis-C-A-phase-II-study)


asiaone

'He didn't tell me he had Aids and had sex with me'

HER husband was diagnosed with Aids.
But he allegedly not only failed to tell her, he continued having sex with her.
Aida (not her real name), 33, later tested HIV-positive. Her husband, a technician, died of Aids in June 2008. He was 48.
As she grew too weak to work, she began worrying about how she was going to pay the $420 she needed for her medicines every month. She has no savings.

Full Text (http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Women%2527s+Matters/Sexual+Health/Story/A1Story20100118-192518.html)

Merck submits Gardasil data for women 27 to 45

Merck & Co on Wednesday said it had provided U.S. regulators with new information needed for approval to market its Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine to women between the ages of 27 to 45.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/HIV-STIs/Merck-submits-Gardasil-data-for-women-27-to-45)

Abacavir, ddI and two protease inhibitors remain associated with heart attacks in largest cohort study

For the first time D:A:D also reports a smaller increasing risk of heart attacks related to the total time on abacavir as well.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Abacavir-ddI-and-two-protease-inhibitors-remain-associated-with-heart-attacks-in-largest-cohort-study)


health-e

Foreigners fare better on HIV treatment than citizen

JOHANNESBURG: (PlusNews) - A study finding that foreigners are about half as likely to fail antiretroviral (ARV) treatment as South African citizens attending the same Johannesburg clinic has challenged widely held assumptions about migrants' ability to adhere to HIV/AIDS drug regimens.

Full Text (http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20032628)


un

Health Ministry Confirms 974 Deaths Of Flu And Acute Respiratory Viral Infections

he Health Ministry of Ukraine has confirmed 974 deaths caused by influenza and acute respiratory viral infections starting from October 29, 2009, through January 15 in all the 24 regions, the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol, and in Crimea.

Ukrainian News learned this from a statement by the Health Ministry.
 
Full Text (http://un.ua/eng/article/241641.html)


jwatch

Respiratory Infections in the Setting of HIV

Viral pathogens were identified in about 65% of HIV-infected patients seeking outpatient care for respiratory symptoms. Influenza viruses were most common, followed by hMPV.

Full Text (http://aids-clinical-care.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2010/115/3)


medicinenet

Ear Infections: New Thinking on What to Do

Rather, pain control and pain management might need to take center stage, at least initially. For pain, Rosenfeld suggests ibuprofen over acetaminophen because, he said, "it lasts longer."

Warning
Not HIV related. Please consult your healthcare provider for better information.

Full Text (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=109780)


newsrunner

UPDATE: Woman In Video Admits HIV Hoax

The woman who caused a stir on the Internet this week with a video in which she says she has infected more than 500 people with HIV told The Detroit News  that she does not have the virus.

Full Text (http://www.newsrunner.com/display-article/?eUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ftheurbandaily.com%2Fnews%2Fjust-because-i-look-fine-doesnt-mean-im-healthy%2F%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Bblackplanet%252Ftheurbandaily%2B%2528The%2BUrban%2BDaily%2529&eSrc=The+Urban+Daily&eTitle=UPDATE%3A+Woman+In+Video+Admits+HIV+Hoax)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 19, 2010, 02:45:20 pm
NEWS - January 19, 2010 - PART I/II


aidsmap

Risk of kidney problems argues for 'strategic' use of tenofovir in higher risk patients

Treatment with tenofovir causes long-term declines in kidney function, US investigators report in the January 1st edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D7B15542-522E-4A67-BCAD-94696F158B57.asp)


hivandhepatitis

Do White People with HIV Lose CD4 Cells Faster than Blacks in the Absence of Antiretroviral Therapy?

Untreated white HIV patients experienced significantly larger decreases in CD4 cells than black patients in 2 very different settings -- Switzerland and South Africa

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/011510_b.html)


ctv

Craig Kielburger: The indomitable hope of Haitians amid chaos

Marie didn't appear to be injured when we met her in at the Partners in Health hospital in Cange.
She was wearing a pink dress with blue and purple flowers. She stared wide-eyed at the ceiling.
The doctors explained that while she had no physical wounds from the earthquake, she was gravely ill. They were trying to treat her for a heart condition. They believed it was caused by a secondary infection associated with HIV/AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100119/haiti_craig_day_three_100119/20100119?hub=World)


examiner

Some infections you can get from man’s best friend

This article present a summary of possible diseases and routes of infection.

Full Text (http://www.examiner.com/x-7707-Infectious-Disease-Examiner~y2010m1d18-Some-infections-you-can-get-from-mans-best-friend)


eatg

The epidemic continues

New York City has the highest AIDS case rate in the country, with more AIDS cases than Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and Washington DC combined. HIV is the 3rd leading cause of death below age 65 in New York City.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/The-epidemic-continues)

Obama battles Congress and PhRMA over biogenerics

US research-based drugmakers have threatened to withdraw their support for President Barack Obama’s health care reforms unless biologic drugs receive 12 years’ guaranteed protection from generic competition.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Pharma-Industry/Obama-battles-Congress-and-PhRMA-over-biogenerics)


uchicago

Factors Associated with Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV-1 Despite a Maternal Viral Load <500 Copies/mL at Delivery

Early and sustained control of viral load is associated with a decreasing residual risk of MTCT of HIV–1. Guidelines should take into account not only CD4+ T cell count and risk of preterm delivery, but also baseline HIV–1 load for deciding when to start antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650005)

Comparative Efficacy versus Effectiveness of Initial Antiretroviral Therapy in Clinical Trials versus Routine Care

Although marked differences in efficacy versus effectiveness have been observed in the therapeutic outcomes of other conditions, this study, analyses found no evidence of such divergence among patients who initiated antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650004)

Cost-Effectiveness of Tenofovir as First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in India

As per the study, using tenofovir as part of first–line ART in India will improve survival, is cost–effective by international standards, and should be considered for initial therapy for HIV–infected patients in India.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649884)


sciencedaily

More Proof That Withholding HIV Treatments Led to Thousands of Deaths in South Africa

Despite irrefutable proof that HIV treatments have proven benefits, AIDS denialists continue to deny their value. In a paper just published online in Springer's journal AIDS and Behavior, Professor Myron Essex and Dr. Pride Chigwedere, from the Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative in the US, provide additional proof that withholding HIV treatments with proven benefits led to the death of 330,000 people in South Africa as the result of AIDS denialist policies.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100118132134.htm)

Being Pear Shaped Protects Against Heart Disease

If you're prone to worrying whether your 'bum looks big in this', particularly after the Christmas period, you can take comfort that there may be health benefits.

Warning
Not HIV related. Please consult your healthcare provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100116104535.htm)

Trial of New Osteoporosis Drug Beginning

Endocrinologists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC are launching a human trial of a new drug that their research indicates holds great promise for building bones weakened by osteoporosis.

Warning
Not HIV related. Please consult your healthcare provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114143517.htm)


medicalnewstoday

Leptin Therapy Could Hold Key To Long-Term Weight Loss

Hormone Helps to Regulate Energy Homeostasis, Neuroendocrine Function, and Metabolism
Leptin also restores ovulatory menstruation in women with hypothalalmic amenorrhea and improves metabolic dysfunction in patients with lipoatrophy, including lipoatrophy associated with HIV or highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176411.php)


aethlonmedical

Aethlon Medical to Present at 12th International Conference on Dialysis

Aethlon Medical, Inc. announced today that its Chief Science Officer, Dr. Richard H. Tullis, will give a clinical presentation of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® at the 12th International Conference on Dialysis on January 22nd.  The presentation will review treatment outcomes of dialysis patients infected with Hepatitis-C (HCV), and will discuss the additional use of the Hemopurifier® in HIV and Cancer care.  The conference will be held at the Marriott New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Additional information, including the speaker agenda, can be accessed online at: http://www.renalresearch.com.

Full Text (http://www.aethlonmedical.com/news/news2010.htm)


newswise

Johns Hopkins Researchers Awarded $8 Million for HIV Research

A multidisciplinary research team at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has been awarded $8 million in funding by the National Institutes of Mental Health to develop methods to rid the body of HIV.

Full Text (http://newswise.com/articles/johns-hopkins-researchers-awarded-8-million-for-hiv-research)


cnn

Mymetics Corporation: The First Human Vaccinations of Mymetics' Preventative HIV Vaccine Candidate are Well Tolerated

EPALINGES, Switzerland -- Mymetics Corporation, a pioneer in the development of mucosal focused vaccines for human infectious diseases, announced today that following the vaccination of human volunteers as part of a clinical Phase I trial, the company's first preventative HIV vaccine has been well tolerated.

Full Text (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/182092.htm)


bbc

Man guilty of 'reckless' HIV sex

A woman who found out she had HIV when she was pregnant with twins was infected by her boyfriend who had known he had the virus for nine years.

Full Text (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8468354.stm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 19, 2010, 02:48:36 pm
NEWS - January 19, 2010 - PART II/II


newsrx

Study results from Rush University broaden understanding of HIV/AIDS

"The goal of this study was to develop an in vivo murine model that can be used to study the influence of HSV-2 on HIV infection. Mice expressing transgenes for human CD4, CCR5, and Cyclin T1 were infected intravaginally with HSV-2 and 3-7 days later infected with HIV," investigators in the United States report.
HIV DNA was detected by real-time PCR. The frequency of detection of HIV DNA was significantly higher (65%) in vaginal tissue of HSV-2-infected mice compared to mock-infected mice (35%) when HIV was given 3 days after HSV-2. HSV-2-infected mice also had significantly higher levels of HIV DNA in vaginal tissue. HIV DNA was not detected in vaginal tissue of mice.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/430119201019RW.html)

Data on HIV/AIDS described by researchers at Kyoto University

According to a study from Kyoto, Japan, "Lentiviral vectors modified from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) offer a promising approach for gene therapy, facilitating transduction of genes into non-dividing cells both in vitro and in vivo. When transducing cytotoxic or anti-HIV genes, however, the vector must avoid self-inhibition by the transgene that can lead to a disruption in production of infectious virions."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010104RW.html)

Investigators at Southern Medical University have published new data on HIV/AIDS

"We previously identified a small-molecule anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (anti-HIV-1) compound, ADS-J1, using a computer-aided molecular docking technique for primary screening and a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a secondary screening method. In the present study, we demonstrated that ADS-J1 is an HIV-1 entry inhibitor, as determined by a time-of-addition assay and an HIV-1-mediated cell fusion assay," scientists in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010105RW.html)

Investigators at University of Cincinnati have published new data on HIV/AIDS

According to recent research from the United States, "Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a subpopulation of CD4(+) T cells characterized by the suppressive activity they exert on effector immune responses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific immune responses. Because Treg express CXCR4 and CCR5, they represent potential targets for HIV; however, Treg susceptibility to HIV infection is still unclear."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010106RW.html)

New data from National Institutes of Health illuminate research in HIV/AIDS

According to recent research from the United States, "Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients, including those co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are at increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the ability of agonistic human monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors, mapatumumab and lexatumumab, respectively, to induce TRAIL-receptor mediated apoptosis (TRMA) in HCC (HCV-infected and -uninfected) cells and in peripheral blood cells (HIV-infected and -uninfected)."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010107RW.html)

New HIV/AIDS study results reported from M.G. Bego et al

"The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory protein Vpu enhances virus particle release by counteracting a host factor that retains virions at the surfaces of infected cells. It was recently demonstrated that cellular protein BST-2/CD317/Tetherin restricts HIV-1 release in a Vpu-dependent manner," scientists in Montreal, Canada report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010108RW.html)

New research on HIV/AIDS from J. Feldmann and co-authors summarized

According to recent research published in the Journal of Virology, "Chronic immune activation is thought to play a major role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathogenesis, but the relative contributions of multiple factors to immune activation are not known. One proposed mechanism to protect against immune activation is the ability of Nef proteins from some HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus strains to downregulate the T-cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex of the infected cell, thereby reducing the potential for deleterious activation."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010109RW.html)

New research on HIV/AIDS from State University of New York summarized

"Natural killer (NK) cells are stimulated by ligands on virus-infected cells. We have recently demonstrated that NK cells respond to human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-infected autologous T-cells, in part, through the recognition of ligands for the NK cell activating receptor NKG2D on the surface of the infected cells," scientists in the United States report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010110RW.html)

Reports outline HIV/AIDS research from W.S. Blair and colleagues

According to a study from Sandwich, the United Kingdom, "A new small-molecule inhibitor class that targets virion maturation was identified from a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antiviral screen. PF-46396, a representative molecule, exhibits antiviral activity against HIV-1 laboratory strains and clinical isolates in T-cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010111RW.html)

Research data from T. Dieltjens and colleagues update understanding of HIV/AIDS

"Studies of viruses taken from individuals with broad cross-neutralizing antibodies against primary isolates may reveal novel antibody specificities and their associated epitopes that could be useful for immunogen design. We report on the Env antigenic variability of a slow progressing HIV-1 subtype A-infected donor with consistent broad cross-neutralizing antibodies during the second decade of disease progression after vertical transmission," scientists in Antwerp, Belgium report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010112RW.html)

Research from M. Tsiang and co-authors yields new data on HIV/AIDS

According to recent research from the United States, "The interaction between lens epithelium-derived growth factor/transcriptional co-activator p75 (LEDGF) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) is essential for HIV-1 replication. Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays were developed to characterize HIV-1 integrase dimerization and the interaction between LEDGF and IN dimers."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010113RW.html)

Research from Y. Iwatani and co-researchers in the area of HIV/AIDS described

According to recent research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, "During coevolution with the host, HIV-1 developed the ability to hijack the cellular ubiquitin/proteasome degradation pathway to counteract the antiviral activity of APOBEC3G (A3G), a host cytidine deaminase that can block HIV-1 replication. Abrogation of A3G function involves the HIV-1 Vif protein, which binds A3G and serves as an adapter molecule to recruit A3G to a Cullin5-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010114RW.html)

Research results from A. Fernandezgarcia and colleagues update understanding of HIV/AIDS

"We report the near full-length genome characterization of an HIV-1 subtype F virus (D88_845) collected in St. Petersburg, Russia, from a 25-year-old Russian woman perinatally infected in 1982," scientists writing in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010115RW.html)

Research results from Boston University, Medical Department update knowledge of HIV/AIDS

"The advent of HIV protease inhibitors has greatly extended the life span of AIDS patients. With an aging HIV+ population, the cardiometabolic side effects of these drugs are becoming increasingly important clinical concerns," scientists in the United States report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010116RW.html)

Research results from University of Pittsburgh update understanding of HIV/AIDS

"Nef, a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory factor capable of interaction with a diverse array of host cell signaling molecules, is essential for high-titer HIV replication and AIDS progression. Previous biochemical and structural studies have suggested that Nef may form homodimers and higher-order oligomers in HIV-infected cells, which may be required for both immune and viral receptor downregulation as well as viral replication," scientists writing in the Journal of Molecular Biology report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010117RW.html)

Researchers from University of Jaen detail findings in HIV/AIDS

According to recent research published in the journal Human Gene Therapy, "Despite the efficient HIV-1 replication blockage achieved with current highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) therapies, HIV-1 persists in the body and survives in a latent state that can last for the entire life of the patient. A long-lived reservoir of latently infected CD4(+) memory T cells represents the most important sanctuary for the virus and the greatest obstacle for viral eradication."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010118RW.html)

Studies by K. Hadian and co-authors describe new findings in HIV/AIDS

According to recent research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, "The Rev protein is a key regulator of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression. Rev is primarily known as an adaptor protein for nuclear export of HIV RNAs."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010119RW.html)

Studies from George Mason University reveal new findings on HIV/AIDS

According to recent research from the United States, "HIV fusion and entry into CD4 T cells are mediated by two receptors, CD4 and CXCR4. This receptor requirement can be abrogated by pseudotyping the virion with the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein ( VSV-G) that mediates viral entry through endocytosis."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010120RW.html)

Report summarizes HIV/AIDS vaccine study findings from M.A. Arroyo and co-researchers

"In preparation for HIV-1 vaccine trials in Kenya, 2801 study volunteers, from a tea plantation in Kericho, were recruited as part of a prospective vaccine cohort development study. Cryopreserved plasma was available from 401 HIV-positive volunteers, and was the source of viral RNA for genotyping by the multiregion hybridization assay (MHA)," scientists in the United States report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010121RW.html)

Research conducted by F. Martinon and co-researchers has updated our knowledge about HIV/AIDS vaccine

"Strategies to improve vaccine efficacy are still required, especially in the case of chronic infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). DNA vaccines have potential advantages over conventional vaccines; however, low immunological efficacy has been demonstrated in many experiments involving large animals and in clinical trials," investigators in France report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010122RW.html)

Studies from University of Pennsylvania add new findings in the area of HIV/AIDS vaccine

According to recent research from the United States, "We created a hybrid adeno-associated virus (AAV) from two related rhesus macaque isolates, called AAVrh32.33, and evaluated it as a vaccine carrier for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type A influenza virus antigens. The goal was to overcome the limitations of vaccines based on other AAVs, which generate dysfunctional T-cell responses and are inhibited by antibodies found in human sera."

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010123RW.html)

Study results from A.B. Abecasis and colleagues broaden understanding of HIV/AIDS vaccine

"Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity, due to its high evolutionary rate, has long been identified as a main cause of problems in the development of an efficient HIV-1 vaccine. However, little is known about differences in evolutionary rate between different subtypes," scientists in Oeiras, Portugal report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010124RW.html)

Scientists at Michigan State University publish research in inflammation therapy

Scientists discuss in 'Bacterial- and viral-induced inflammation increases sensitivity to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity' new findings in inflammation. "Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity accounts for nearly half of acute liver failure cases in the United States. The doses that produce hepatotoxicity vary considerably and many risk factors have been proposed, including liver inflammation from viral hepatitis," scientists writing in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Virus-Weekly/2010-01-19/4301192010201RW.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 20, 2010, 01:36:11 pm
NEWS - January 20, 2010 - PART I/II


time

The Man Who Could Beat AIDS

(http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1875/awho0125.th.jpg) (http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1875/awho0125.jpg)
Ho with a model of the antibody that he believes may prevent HIV infection.

Ho, who has been working to develop an HIV vaccine of his own, now believes that a traditional shot, one that relies on snippets of a virus to both awaken and prod the immune system to churn out antibodies, may not be the best way to fight HIV. Rather than expecting the body to do all the work of first recognizing then mounting an attack against the virus, why not just present the body with a ready-made arsenal of antibodies that can home in on HIV? It's the immunological equivalent of a frozen dinner; the already cooked antibodies eliminate all the hard work of prepping and priming the immune system to do battle.

Full Text (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1953703,00.html)


aegis

Researchers Find Study of Medical Marijuana Discouraged

Despite the Obama administration's tacit support of more liberal state medical marijuana laws, the federal government still discourages research into the medicinal uses of smoked marijuana. That may be one reason that -- even though some patients swear by it -- there is no good scientific evidence that legalizing marijuana's use provides any benefits over current therapies.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/news/nyt/2010/NYT100106.html)

Enrollment Open for Clinical Trial of Cytolin(R), a Novel Immune Therapy from CytoDyn for Treating Early HIV Infection

The study protocol calls for 10 adults with early HIV infection and 10 healthy control subjects. According to the study protocol, it could take up to one year to fill these 20 slots. Although the Company expects enrollment to be completed in a shorter period of time, there can be no guarantee that enrollment will be completed in less time than is permitted by the study protocol.
(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, ID NCT01048372). Significantly, Cytolin(R) is not an antiviral drug although it has a significant, albeit indirect, antiviral effect (log reduction in viral burden). A first-in-class drug, Cytolin(R) is designed to prevent the wholesale destruction of helpful CD4 T cells by a person's own killer T cells. The killer T cells are made by the human body in response to HIV infection as part of the natural defense against the virus.

Full Text (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?threadid=2569&fid=15&boardid=2)


sciencedaily

Common Stomach Pathogen May Protect Against Tuberculosis, Researchers Find

It's been implicated as the bacterium that causes ulcers and the majority of stomach cancers, but studies by researchers at Stanford University, UC Davis, and the University of Pittsburgh have found that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) also may play a protective role -- against the worldwide killer, tuberculosis (TB).

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119213136.htm)


natap

HIV Life Expectancy Study Published

(http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/805/lifeexp2010.th.gif) (http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/805/lifeexp2010.gif)

Based on population-based HIV surveillance data from 25 states, life expectancy after an HIV diagnosis has improved significantly (12 years) from 1996 to 2005, particularly in the first 5 years after the introduction of HAART.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/011910_02.htm) pdf (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/Life.pdf)

Life expectancy of individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy in high-income countries: a collaborative analysis of 14 cohort studies

(http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/3185/lifeexp2008lancet.th.gif) (http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/3185/lifeexp2008lancet.gif)
Table 5 displays mortality rates, PYLLs, and life expectancy stratified by baseline
CD4 cell count. Overall mortality rates, mortality rates between the ages of 20
and 44 years, and PYLLs decreased substantially with increasing CD4 cell count at
baseline, as did life expectancy at age 20 years and at age 35 years.


"Life expectancy at age 20 years increased from 36·1 (SE 0·6) years to 49·4 (0·5) years. Women had higher life expectancies than did men. Patients with presumed transmission via injecting drug use had lower life expectancies than did those from other transmission groups (32·6 [1·1] years vs 44·7 [0·3] years in 2003-05). Life expectancy was lower in patients with lower baseline CD4 cell counts than in those with higher baseline counts (32·4 [1·1] years for CD4 cell counts below 100 cells per µL vs 50·4 [0·4] years for counts of 200 cells per µL or more).

Original Study: The Lancet, Volume 372, Issue 9635, Pages 293 - 299, 26 July 2008

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/011910_01.htm)

AIDS ERADICATION SCIENTIFIC UPDATE FROM THE ST.MARTIN MEETING in SF Feb 4 2010

Researchers, physicians, medical students and advocates are invited to attend a scientific update from a recent research conference on HIV viral eradication.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/newsUpdates/011910_01.htm)


eatg

Telaprevir may be viewed more positively by clinicians than boceprevir for hepatitis C virus treatment following their launches in 2011

Uptake of telaprevir and boceprevir will be key drivers of substantial overall market growth through 2013, according to new findings from Decision Resources.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Telaprevir-may-be-viewed-more-positively-by-clinicians-than-boceprevir-for-hepatitis-C-virus-treatment-following-their-launches-in-2011)

Promising candidates for malaria vaccine revealed

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have uncovered a group of proteins that could form the basis of an effective vaccine against malaria.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/TB-Malaria/Promising-candidates-for-malaria-vaccine-revealed)


eurekalert

HIV: Positive lessons from home-based care

Intensive home-based nursing in HIV/AIDS patients significantly improves self-reported knowledge of HIV, awareness of medications, and self-reported adherence to medication programmes, according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. One home-based care trial included in the review also significantly impacted on HIV stigma, worry, and physical functioning. It did not, however, help improve depressive symptoms, mood, general health, and overall functioning.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/w-hpl011510.php)

First evidence that blueberry juice improves memory in older adults

Scientists are reporting the first evidence from human research that blueberries — one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants and other so-called phytochemicals — improve memory. They said the study establishes a basis for comprehensive human clinical trials to determine whether blueberries really deserve their growing reputation as a memory enhancer. A report on the study appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.

Warning
Not HIV specific. Please consult your healthcare provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/acs-fet012010.php)

Post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed with magnetism

A group of 74 US veterans has been involved in clinical trials which appear to have objectively diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), something conventional brain scans, be it X-ray, CT or MRI, have thus far failed to do.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/iop-psd011810.php)

Cholesterol-lowering drug shows promise against serious infections in sickle cell disease

New research suggests a family of widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs might help protect individuals from serious illness following bacterial infection, including the pneumococcal infections that pose a deadly threat to those with sickle cell disease.

Warning
Not HIV specific. Please consult your healthcare provider for better information.


Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/sjcr-cds011910.php)

Researchers find a treatment for deadly brain tumor

New research at Rhode Island Hospital has identified a treatment in animal models for glioblastomas -- deadly brain tumors which, once diagnosed, offer a poor prognosis and relatively short life expectancy. Using a synthetic form of a naturally-occurring hormone combined with chemotherapy, researchers were able to inhibit tumor growth and achieve a 25 percent cure rate. The study and their findings are published in the Journal of Oncology.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/l-rfa011910.php)

Sweating out the cravings

A University of Western Ontario team has shown that supervised exercise in addition to pharmacological agents like nicotine replacement therapy helps smoking cessation, improves physical fitness, and delays weight gain in women smokers.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/uowo-sot011910.php)


uci

UCI cardiologists discover 'pouch' in heart that may raise stroke risk

UC Irvine cardiologists have found a pouchlike structure inside the heart's left atrial chamber that may be a potent source of stroke-causing blood clots.

Full Text (http://today.uci.edu/news/nr_heartpouch_100119.php)


recordonline

Middletown's TOUCH food program provides proper nutrition for people with HIV/AIDS

(http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4299/bildes.th.jpg) (http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4299/bildes.jpg)
When money is scarce, health is fragile and problems seem overwhelming, people
with HIV/AIDS in Orange County can turn to the nonprofit organization TOUCH –
Together Our Unity Can Heal – which provides free, nutritionally balanced food,
among other services. Robert Maher, executive director/CEO, left, and
volunteer Robert Michaels are shown preparing groceries for delivery.


A strong immune system is a powerful weapon when the body is battling illness. In fact, for people with HIV/AIDS, strengthening immunity can be a matter of life and death.
In Orange County, people living with HIV/AIDS can seek help from the TOUCH food program in Middletown. TOUCH — which stands for Together Our Unity Can Heal — offers people with HIV/AIDs a bevy of services, including a free weekly food program that provides the basics of a balanced diet. And, yes, they deliver.

Full Text (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100120/HEALTH/1200342)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 20, 2010, 01:38:10 pm
NEWS - January 20, 2010 - PART II/II



chinadaily

80 infected with AIDS in blood transfusions

A hospital has confirmed that more than 80 people have been infected with HIV/AIDS from contaminated blood, Wuhan Morning Post reported Wednesday.

Full Text (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-01/20/content_9349692.htm)


dailyiowan

Iowa HIV numbers rising

With a 42.9 percent increase in the number of newly confirmed cases of HIV in Iowa in the first half of 2009, state officials are concerned about what they’ll find in the second half.

Full Text (http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/01/20/Metro/15074.html)


beaumontenterprise

New law requires HIV tests for pregnant women

Pregnant woman are being tested during their last trimester for the virus that causes AIDS as part of a new effort to save young lives in Texas.

Full Text (http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/new_law_requires_hiv_tests_for_pregnant_women.html)


newsrx

Researchers from University of North Carolina, Department of Epidemiology detail new studies and findings in the area of HIV/AIDS epidemiology

Each log(10) increase in copy-years viremia was associated with a 1.70-fold increased hazard (95% confidence interval: 0.94, 3.07) of AIDS or death, independently of infection duration, age, race, CD4 cell count, set-point, peak viral load, or most recent viral load," wrote S.R. Cole and colleagues, University of North Carolina, Department of Epidemiology.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/articles/1738637.html)


iol

Woman infected with HIV by paramedic

A Bedfordview, Johannesburg woman was infected with HIV virus by a KwaZulu-Natal health department paramedic who attended to her, the Pietermaritzburg High Court said on Wednesday.

Full Text (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20100120175629442C599736)


newkerala

HIV-positive tested couples wed in Pune

Their marriage was solemnised as per traditional Hindu wedding rites in the city''s Suyog Hall.

Full Text (http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-33556.html)


informahealthcare

Discontinued drugs in 2008: anti-infectives

Of the many drugs dropped from development in 2008, 27 were under development for therapy or prophylaxis of infectious diseases. The antiviral agents were primarily against HIV and hepatitis C virus, together with agents against hepatitis B virus and West Nile virus.

Full Text (http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1517/13543780903473150)


ama-assn

New HIV Recommendations

Citing new evidence that earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves survival and reduces HIV-related illnesses, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that ART should be started in all patients with HIV who have a CD4 T-cell count of 350 cells/µL or less. The agency's previous guideline revision, in 2006, called for starting treatment when a patient's CD4 count dwindled to 200 cells/µL, when symptoms of HIV disease typically emerge.

Full Text (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/303/3/215)


uchicago

Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Patients with HIV Infection Exposed to Specific Individual Antiretroviral Drugs from the 3 Major Drug Classes: The Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs Study

As per the study, of the drugs considered, only indinavir, lopinavir–ritonavir, didanosine, and abacavir were associated with a significantly increased risk of MI.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649897)

A Case of Seronegative HIV-1 Infection

The authors describe a human leukocyte antigen B*5802–positive individual who presented with acquired immune deficiency syndrome despite repeatedly negative HIV–1 antibody screening test results.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649822)


jem

Viral adaptation to immune selection pressure by HLA class I-restricted CTL responses targeting epitopes in HIV frameshift sequences

The study indicate that responses to ARF–encoded HIV epitopes are induced during natural infection, can contribute to viral control in vivo, and drive viral evolution on a population level.

Full Text (http://jem.rupress.org/cgi/content/short/207/1/61?rss=1)


medscape

Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, St. Joseph Aspirin, Rolaids Recall

Because of a sickening smell in some containers, 54 million packages of 27 different over-the-counter remedies now are being recalled.
Products include various types of child and/or adult Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, St. Joseph Aspirin, Rolaids, and Simply Sleep. This adds to the 6 million packages of Tylenol recalled late last year, bringing the total number of recalled products to 60 million.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715279)


nih

Variability in drug metabolizing enzyme activity in HIV-infected patients.

Infection with HIV or stage of HIV infection may alter Phase I and II drug metabolizing enzyme activity. HIV infection was related to an increase in variability of these drug-metabolizing enzymes. Altered metabolism may be a consequence of immune activation and cytokine exposure.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20084375?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=3)

The effect of human immunodeficiency virus on hepatitis B virus serologic status in co-infected adults.

Clinical indicators of immunologic status in HIV-infected individuals, such as CD4 cell count, are associated with HBV serologic outcome. These data suggest that immunologic preservation through the increased use of HAART to improve functional anti-HBV immunity, whether by improved access to care or earlier initiation of therapy, would likely improve HBV infection outcomes in HIV-infected individuals.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20084275?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=6)

HLA-B27: what's new?

The HLA-B27 molecule is one of the most fascinating in medicine. Its contribution to the aetiopathogenesis of SpA and other diseases, and its protective action in certain infections, continue to challenge our understanding of its immunobiology and physiological roles.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20083539?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=11)

Scaling up access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection: the impact of decentralization of healthcare delivery in Cameroon.

Success in scaling-up access to ART in Cameroon has been facilitated by decentralization of the healthcare system. Long-term sustainability urgently implies better integration of this HIV-targeted programme in the global healthcare reform of financing mechanisms, management of human resources and drug procurement systems.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20023440?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=23)

Who starts antiretroviral therapy in Durban, South Africa?... not everyone who should.

Less than half of ART-eligible subjects started ART within 12 months. Substantial attrition and mortality follow HIV diagnosis before ART initiation in Durban, South Africa. Major efforts directed towards earlier HIV diagnosis, effective linkage to care and timely ART initiation are urgently needed.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20023438?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=25)

Higher risk of unsafe sex and impaired quality of life among patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon

In addition to increasing clinical effectiveness, earlier initiation of ART at less severe immune-depression levels than previously recommended by World Health Organization guidelines for low-resource settings may be justified for improving subjective health and positive prevention among people living with HIV.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20023436?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=27)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 21, 2010, 01:38:32 pm
NEWS - January 21, 2010


aidsmap

Merck will not seek vicriviroc licenses in treatment-experienced

Merck has announced that it will not press ahead with attempts to obtain a license for vicriviroc in treatment-experienced patients with HIV following disappointing results in two phase III studies that were designed to clinch approval of the drug.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/3742FB07-7AAF-4E5A-B5BD-418C2A1B3901.asp)

Subtle changes in immune system soon after HIV infection show who may benefit from earlier treatment

Subtle changes in the immune system soon after infection with HIV have an impact on long-term prognosis, investigators from the US military report in the January 15th edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The level of cell-associated viral load was also shown to be an important prognostic marker.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/50F9D5AA-865D-43E9-B7A9-14D43C1B46A5.asp)

Latest Scottish HIV transmission conviction sets worrying legal precedent

A 41-year-old HIV-positive man has been convicted by a court in Edinburgh of reckless and culpable conduct after infecting a female sexual partner with HIV.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/95ADA666-4585-4C1D-BBFE-8A3035E4ED08.asp)


sciencedaily

plos

Systemic pre-exposure administration of antiretroviral drugs provides protection against intravenous and rectal transmission of HIV in mice with human immune systems, according to a new study (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008829) published January 21, 2010 in the online journal PLoS ONE.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120211006.htm)


plosone

Sexual Seroadaptation: Lessons for Prevention and Sex Research from a Cohort of HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

Potentially effective HIV prevention strategies, such as seroadaptation, have evolved in communities of MSM before they have been recognized in research or discussed in the public health forum. Thus, to be informative, studies of HIV risk must be designed to assess seroadaptive behaviors rather than be limited to individual characteristics, unprotected intercourse, and numbers of partners. STI surveillance is not an effective indicator of trends in HIV incidence where there are strong patterns of seroadaptation.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008831)

Analysis of Memory B Cell Responses and Isolation of Novel Monoclonal Antibodies with Neutralizing Breadth from HIV-1-Infected Individuals

This study reveals that by using appropriate screening methods, a large proportion of memory B cells can be isolated that produce mAbs with HIV-1 neutralizing activity. Three of these mAbs show unusual breadth of neutralization and therefore add to the current panel of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies with potential for passive protection and template-based vaccine design.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008805)

Vitamin D Status of HIV-Infected Women and Its Association with HIV Disease Progression, Anemia, and Mortality

Low vitamin D status (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<32ng/mL) was significantly associated with progression to WHO HIV disease stage III or greater in multivariate models (incidence rate ratio [RR]: 1.25; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.05, 1.50). No significant relationship was observed between vitamin D status and T-cell counts during follow-up. Women with low vitamin D status had 46% higher risk of developing severe anemia during follow-up, compared to women with adequate vitamin D levels (RR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.96). Women in the highest vitamin D quintile had a 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality, compared to the lowest quintile (RR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.84). Vitamin D status had a protective association with HIV disease progression, all-cause mortality, and development of anemia during follow-up in HIV-infected women. If confirmed in randomized trials, vitamin D supplementation could represent a simple and inexpensive method to prolonging the time to initiation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008770)

Changes to the Natural Killer Cell Repertoire after Therapeutic Hepatitis B DNA Vaccination

These changes in the CD56bright population may suggest a NK helper effect on T cell adaptive responses. Activation of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system by DNA immunization may be of particular importance to the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in a context of chronic infections.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008761)

Common Genetic Variants and Risk for HPV Persistence and Progression to Cervical Cancer

HPV infrequently persists and progresses to cervical cancer. We examined host genetic factors hypothesized to play a role in determining which subset of individuals infected with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) have persistent infection and further develop cervical pre-cancer/cancer compared to the majority of infected individuals who will clear infection.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008667)


natap

Fish oil protects against cellular aging

Farzaneh-Far and colleagues measured the length of telomeres in blood cells in 608 heart attack patients to see if there was any association between the levels of omega-3 fatty acids and the change in telomere length over time.
"We found a very clear association that increasing levels of the amount of omega-3 fish oil in the blood was associated with a decrease in the rate of biological aging," Farzaneh-Far said.
Those with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids had the longest telomeres, while patients with low levels of the compounds had shorter telomeres, he said.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012010_01.htm) Seen also on asiaone (http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20100120-193012.html)


asiaone

"I wished someone had warned me"

He wished he had listened to warnings about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people.
Now, he is in his 50s and have had more than 40 sex partners. He is also HIV positive.

Full Text (http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20100118-192648.html)

Is big pharma just milking our fears?

Quite apart from product branding - the building up of the value of a particular drug in the minds of patients and doctors - the pharmaceutical industry has, since the 1990s, been branding illnesses as well. The idea is to take an illness and widen its boundaries so that the uses of, and thus the market for, a drug that treats it will be inflated too. To this end, campaigns to raise public awareness about these conditions are carried out.

Full Text (http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20100120-193258.html)


sama

Home Aids tests 'too risky'

"The tests have important implications for the individual, especially in respect of HIV counselling procedures.
"There is also the danger of people committing suicide after being informed of their HIV positive status, or even following misinterpretation of the results of the home test kit," said Mabasa.

Full Text (http://www.samedical.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=90&Itemid=228)  Seen also on iol (http://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=nw20100121082307560C274082&sf=)


nih

Abacavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate co-administration results in a nonadditive antiviral effect in HIV-1-infected patients.

In this study, the viral decay during ABC and TDF dual-therapy was similar to that during ABC therapy alone, suggesting a nonadditive antiviral effect. This negative pharmacodynamic interaction was not explained by changes in CBV-TP or TFV-DP concentrations. Rather, modest increases in endogenous dATP pools were associated with reduced antiviral potency of TDF during co-administration with ABC.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20087154?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=16)

Identification of Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Inhibitory Peptides Based on the Antimicrobial Peptide Database

To identify novel anti-HIV-1 peptides based on the antimicrobial peptide database (http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/main.php), we have screened 30 candidates and found 11 peptides with EC50 concentrations < 10 muM and therapeutic indices (TI) up to 17. Furthermore, among the eight peptides (with identical amino acid composition but different sequences) generated by sequence shuffling of an aurein 1.2 analog, two had a TI twice that of the original sequence. Because antiviral peptides in the database have an arginine/lysine (R/K) ratio > 1, an increase in the Arg content in amphibian maximin H5, dermaseptin S9, and database-derived GLK-19 peptides improved their TIs. These examples demonstrate that the antimicrobial peptide database (APD) is a rich resource and useful tool for developing novel HIV-1 inhibitory peptides.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20086159?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=18)


allafrica

ZW: Boyfriend infected with HIV

A HARARE woman who "willfully" infected her boyfriend with HIV as a way of "fixing" him and subsequently bragging about it appeared in court on Monday charged with deliberate transmission of the incurable virus.

Full Text (http://allafrica.com/stories/201001210330.html)


nejm

Herpes Therapy Doesn't Bar HIV Transmission

Treating herpes has no effect on the transmission of HIV among discordant couples, researchers said.

Full Text (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/NEJMoa0904849)


dovepress

Profile of etravirine for the treatment of HIV infection

In randomized, controlled trials, twice daily etravirine combined with darunavir/ritonavir plus optimized background therapy demonstrated better efficacy compared to darunavir/ritonavir plus optimized background therapy alone in treatment experienced populations out to 96 weeks follow–up. The main etravirine–associated toxicity is mild to moderate self–limiting rash, although severe and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. Etravirine offers a potent sequencing option after the development of resistance to first–line NNRTIs, and is a welcome addition to this established drug class.

Full Text (http://dovepress.com/profile-of-etravirine-for-the-treatment-of-hiv-infection-peer-reviewed-article-TCRM)


clinicalradiology

Chest radiographic features of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis in HIV-infected children

The radiological features of LIP have not been systematically analysed. However, CDC criteria remain reliable, allowing diagnosis of at least 75% of cases. The sensitivity of these criteria may be increased by including cases with persistent focal pulmonary opacification superimposed on diffuse nodularity. Longitudinal studies utilizing standardized radiographic analysis are needed to elucidate the natural history of LIP.

Full Text (http://www.clinicalradiologyonline.net/article/PIIS0009926009003614/abstract?rss=yes)


asm

Breadth of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific Neutralizing Activity in Sera: Clustering Analysis and Association with Clinical Variables

The study shows that clustering analysis of sera by a novel method identified a statistically robust subgrouping of sera that demonstrated broad and potent neutralization activity.

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/3/1631)

Protease Cleavage Sites in HIV-1 gp120 Recognized by Antigen Processing Enzymes Are Conserved and Located at Receptor Binding Sites

The results suggested that HIV may have evolved to take advantage of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen processing enzymes in order to evade or direct the antiviral immune response.

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/3/1513)


EDIT: Fixed reported broken links
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: red_Dragon888 on January 21, 2010, 04:30:04 pm
When do you think that they will find a cure to test on humans?  five, ten, twenty years?!  Or are they already testin on humans?
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: skeebo1969 on January 21, 2010, 04:43:15 pm
When do you think that they will find a cure to test on humans?  five, ten, twenty years?!  Or are they already testin on humans?

John's a very busy man and I certainly hope you are not patronizing him. 
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: red_Dragon888 on January 21, 2010, 04:53:43 pm
John's a very busy man and I certainly hope you are not patronizing him. 
???
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 22, 2010, 03:15:17 pm
red_Dragon888, a personal point of view will be provided in the thread you have open about your question (here (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=30919.0))
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 22, 2010, 03:16:21 pm
NEWS - January 22, 2010


yahoo

Drug Combo Blocks HIV Infection in Mice

New research in mice suggests that a commonly used drug combination might protect people from being infected by the AIDS virus through the major routes of transmission.
The research raises the prospect that "one single pill once a day, totally available in the pharmacy for patients, can be used to prevent transmission by any mode anywhere in the world," said J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and senior author of a study published online Jan. 20 in PloS One (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008829).
The drug in question is the Truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine).

Note
Repeated news, but this latter is easier to read.


Full Text (http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100122/hl_hsn/drugcomboblockshivinfectioninmice)


plos

Postcoital Bioavailability and Antiviral Activity of 0.5% PRO 2000 Gel: Implications for Future Microbicide Clinical Trials

Postcoital responses to PRO 2000 differ from precoital measures and the results obtained may provide insights into the clinical trial findings in which there was no significant protection against HIV-1 or HSV-2. Postcoital studies should be incorporated into clinical studies before embarking on large-scale efficacy trials.

Full Text (http://)


medpagetoday

HIV/AIDS -- Much Progress, No Cure

It's 1984. A 20-year-old homosexual man walks into the clinic complaining of swollen glands.
It could well be a death sentence.
Today, says Joel Gallant, MD, director of Johns Hopkins' Moore Clinic for HIV Care, if our hypothetical young man walked in "I would assure him that he will not die of AIDS if he remains under medical care by an HIV expert and takes his medications as prescribed."

Full Text (http://www.medpagetoday.com/HIVAIDS/HIVAIDS/17665) Audio Report (http://www.medpagetoday.com/medpage_audio_player.cfm?tbid=17665)

HIV Switch Trial Succeeds and Fails

Changing HIV drug regimens reduced metabolic side effects in two clinical trials, researchers said -- but, unfortunately, the switch resulted in some loss of control over the virus.

Full Text (http://www.medpagetoday.com/HIVAIDS/HIVAIDS/17922)


kff

Americans Are Divided About Health Reform Proposals Overall, But the Public, Including Critics, Becomes More Supportive When Told About Key Provisions

(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1680/kff.th.gif) (http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1680/kff.gif)

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that Americans are divided over congressional health reform proposals, but also that large shares of people, including skeptics, become more supportive after being told about many of the major provisions in the bills.

Full Text (http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/kaiserpolls012210nr.cfm) Chartpack (http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8042-C.pdf) Topline (http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8042-T.pdf) Findings (http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8042-F.pdf)


eatg

Pharmasset initiates Phase 2a trial with PSI-7977, a chirally pure isomer of PSI-7851

The trial will evaluate various doses of PSI-7977 in combination with Pegasys and Copegus in patients with HCV genotype 1 who have not been treated previously.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Pharmasset-initiates-Phase-2a-trial-with-PSI-7977-a-chirally-pure-isomer-of-PSI-7851)

Tree shrew offers small-animal model of hepatitis C virus infection

This discovery would replace the need for rare and expensive studies using chimpanzees, currently the only validated animal model for HCV.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Tree-shrew-offers-small-animal-model-of-hepatitis-C-virus-infection)

Merck rewrites history on pricing top AIDS drug, Isentress, says AHF

The controversy around Merck's pricing for its key AIDS drug Isentress continued this week following Merck's reaction to recent public criticism of its AIDS drug pricing.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/Merck-rewrites-history-on-pricing-top-AIDS-drug-Isentress-says-AHF)

Africa: Crackdowns on gays make the closet safer

More than two-thirds of African countries have laws criminalizing homosexual acts, and despite accounting for a significant percentage of new infections in many countries, men who have sex with men tend to be left out of the HIV response.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/MSM/Africa-Crackdowns-on-gays-make-the-closet-safer)


medicalnewstoday

HIV Infection Prematurely Ages The Brain

HIV infection or the treatments used to control it are prematurely aging the brain, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California-San Diego have found.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176799.php)


irishexaminer

63% would not tell boss about a mental health issue

MORE than a third of employers have admitted they would not feel comfortable giving a job to someone with a mental health issue.

Full Text (http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfkfauauidsn/rss2/)


hivandhepatitis

MONET Study Finds Boosted Darunavir (Prezista) Monotherapy Maintains HIV Suppression as well as Standard Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Patients with undetectable viral load who switched from standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens to ritonavir-boosted darunavir (Prezista) monotherapy maintained HIV RNA suppression and stable CD4 cell counts, according to findings from the MONET study reported in the January 16, 2010 issue of AIDS. Investigators concluded that darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy is non-inferior to triple therapy in this carefully selected population.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/011909_c.html)

Study Shows Improved Survival for HIV Positive People with Good Physical Health Quality of Life

 People who report having good overall physical health had a significantly better chance of survival than those with poor health-related quality of life, according to an analysis of the ATHENA Dutch national HIV cohort published in the January 15, 2010 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649216). Reported mental health status, however, was not significantly associated with survival.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/011909_b.html)

Math Model Predicts "Wave" of Drug Resistant HIV in San Francisco, but Vancouver Study Find "Drastic Decrease" in Resistance

 Is HIV drug resistance becoming more common? Two recent studies suggest opposite answers. A mathematical model by University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers found that resistant HIV strains are common in San Francisco, and 60% of them could potentially cause self-sustaining epidemics. Local public health officials, however, said drug resistance is not new or cause for extraordinary concern. And a study looking at actual trends in drug resistance among participants in the British Columbia Drug Treatment Program found that the incidence of new resistance fell more than 12-fold between 1997 and 2008.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/011909_d.html)

Progestin-only Hormonal Contraception Linked to Lower HDL Levels and More Insulin Resistance in Women with HIV

HIV positive women who use progestin-only hormonal contraception (such as injections, implants, or the "mini-pill") are more likely to have low levels of high-density lipoprotein and greater insulin resistance than women who use combined estrogen/progestin methods. These findings, published in the December 2009 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, suggest that combination contraceptive methods may be preferable for women at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/011909_a.html)


medscape

Capacity for Medical Care Increasing in Haiti

In the wake of a 5.9-magnitude aftershock yesterday, surgical teams in Haiti have been performing an average of 130 operations per day, and this number is expected to increase as more surgeons arrive, according to Médicins sans Frontièrs (MSF, Doctors Without Borders). The area has experienced at least 2 more aftershocks of about 4.0 in magnitude since yesterday, and at least 10 aftershocks since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake on January 12, the US Geological Survey reports (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html).

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715579)

Early Weaning Linked to Mortality, Poor Nutrition in Infants of HIV-Positive Mothers

In babies of HIV-positive mothers, the benefits of breast milk outweigh the risks of disease transmission, studies from Africa show.

Note
Repeated news, but this latter is easier to read.


Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715648)

Perinatal Acquisition of Drug-resistant HIV-1 Infection: Mechanisms and Long-term Outcome

This study confirms the importance of early resistance genotyping of HIV-1-infected newborns. In most cases (75%), drug resistance was archived in the cellular reservoir and persisted during infancy, with or without antiretroviral treatment. This finding stresses the need for effective antiretroviral treatment of pregnant women.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715065)


aegis

UTAH: Chlamydia Tops List of Communicable Diseases in Davis County

STDs accounted for more than half of all communicable-disease reports in Davis County last year, according to preliminary data that Brian Hatch, the county's epidemiologist, presented recently to the Board of Health. Chlamydia topped the list with 735 cases - 200 more than in 2008 - followed by influenza leading to hospitalization, hepatitis C, latent TB infection, chicken pox, streptococcal invasive disease, gonorrhea, giardia, hepatitis B, and salmonella. A spike in gonorrhea cases moved the STD from 11th place in 2008 to seventh place in 2009. "You have to know you have it before we can treat," Hatch said of STDs. "People out there don't know they're infected. They're spreading it but never know they have it."

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100108)

OHIO: AIDS and Depression: Ohio University Tests HIV Phone Therapy

Can depressed HIV/AIDS patients in rural settings benefit from weekly psychotherapy sessions by telephone? An Ohio University professor of geriatric medicine/gerontology hopes his new study will answer that question.
"Telephone-administered psychotherapy has been used before to reduce depression, but it's never been tested with rural people living with HIV who are also diagnosed with depression," said Timothy Heckman, whose four-year project is supported by a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/s/AD100106.html)


prlog

R&D Diet Cookie diet aid to Begin Using Stevia as Sweetener

R&D Diet Cookie diet aid announces they will be using Stevia, instead of sucralose, to sweeten their popular cookie diet aid.
Their website http://www.RandDDietCookie.com describes the cookies as being good for you.  “… packed with the best, high quality protein blends, fiber, and good carbs, low in sodium, naturally low in cholesterol, and an excellent source of Omega 3’s and Vitamin E…  and now, sweetened with stevia!”

Full Text (http://www.prlog.org/10500227-rd-diet-cookie-diet-aid-to-begin-using-stevia-as-sweetener.html)


natap

Estimating the proportion of patients infected with HIV who will die of comorbid diseases

(http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/346/19587612.th.gif) (http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/346/19587612.gif)

Misc studies. One among others:
For 30-year-old patients with CD4 counts of 800 cells/mm3 and viral loads of 10000 copies/mL, median life expectancy was 31.3 years. In contrast, for patients of the same age with CD4 counts of 200 cells/mm3 and viral loads of 1000000 copies/mL, estimated median life expectancy was only 12.2 years.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012010_02.htm) pdf (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/Aging.pdf) iasusa 2007 (http://www.iasusa.org/pub/topics/2006/issue5/dec_jan2007.pdf)


cochrane

Antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

A total of 14 randomised clinical trials with at total of 2269 patients have been included in this review. Peginterferon plus ribavirin may be considered a treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C and stable HIV who have not received treatment for hepatitis C as the intervention may clear the blood of HCV RNA. Supporting evidence comes mainly from the analysis of this non–validated surrogate outcome assessed in comparisons against other antiviral treatments. There is no evidence on treatment of patients who have relapsed or did not respond to previous therapy. Careful monitoring of adverse events is warranted.

Full Text (http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004888.html)


uchicago

Incidence and Risk Factors for Chronic Elevation of Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in HIV-Infected Persons without Hepatitis B or C Virus Co-Infection

The study shows that among patients without hepatitis virus co–infection, the incidence of chronic elevated ALT levels was 3.9 cases per 100 person–years, which was associated with high HIV RNA levels, increased BMI, severe alcohol use, and prolonged stavudine and zidovudine exposure.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/649922)


ersjournals

Enhanced diagnosis of HIV-1 associated tuberculosis by relating T-SPOT.TB and CD4 counts

The ratio of summed T cell response to CD4 count improved diagnostic accuracy of the T–SPOT.TB assay in HIV–infected persons and ratio of SFC/CD4>0.12 should prompt investigation for active disease. A strong association between the degree of sputum positivity and T–SPOT.TB score was found. The sensitivity of T–SPOT.TB in active disease may be less impaired by advanced immunosuppression.

Full Text (http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/09031936.00171509v1)

EDIT:
Missing link
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 25, 2010, 02:18:11 pm
NEWS - January 25, 2010


aidsmap

Almost 30 percent of HIV-positive New York jail inmates may not know their status

Two new studies in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes call attention to the challenges associated with encouraging inmates in United States jails to undergo HIV testing and receive appropriate health care

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/E852ED6B-DE5D-4321-B924-7DB545D80768.asp)


HIV-positive migrants in France hit hard by TB

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) amongst HIV-positive patients in France doubled between 1997 and 2008, investigators report in the January 28th edition of AIDS. During this period there was a particularly large increase in TB incidence among HIV-positive migrants, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/8BA43F9B-0FA6-4CA0-A219-77784D20FA50.asp)


genomeweb

NIDA Grants to Fund Systems Bio, HIV Studies

The National Institute on Drug Abuse intends to fund research that will use systems biology and genomic and proteomic data to understand the complex relationship between HIV/AIDS and substance abuse

Full Text (http://www.genomeweb.com/nida-grants-fund-systems-bio-hiv-studies)


biomedcentral

A multiattribute utility evaluation of different methods for the detection of enteric protozoa causing diarrhea in AIDS patients 

The authors conclude that a combination of minimum three procedures should be carried out for the screening of stool specimens of HIV positive patients. Kinyoun's staining should be made mandatory for every diarrheal stool sample from HIV patients. Also every laboratory should assign its own value to the attributes and apply Multiattribute utility theory or the Analytical hierarchy process to decide the most appropriate methodology.

Full Text (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/10/11)


retrovirology

Vpu serine 52 dependent counteraction of tetherin is required for HIV-1 replication in macrophages, but not in ex vivo human lymphoid tissue 

The data explain why the effect of the S52A mutation in Vpu on virus release is cell–type dependent and suggest that a reduced ability of Vpu to counteract tetherin impairs HIV–1 replication in macrophages, but not in tissue CD4+ T cells.

Full Text (http://www.retrovirology.com/content/7/1/1)


cell

Lessons learned from natural infection: focusing on the design of protective T cell vaccines for HIV/AIDS 

The authors discuss qualitative parameters of the CD8+ CTL response and mechanisms operative in the control of persistent virus infections and suggest new strategies for design and delivery of HIV vaccines.

Full Text (http://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/abstract/S1471-4906%2809%2900232-4)


aidsrestherapy

Further benefits by early start of HIV treatment in low income countries: survival estimates of early versus deferred antiretroviral therapy 

This study demonstrates that HIV patients live longer with early start strategies in low income countries. Since low income countries have many constraints to full coverage of HAART, this study provides input to a more transparent debate regarding where to draw explicit eligibility criteria during further scale up of HAART.

Full Text (http://www.aidsrestherapy.com/content/7/1/3)

Magnitude and determinants of nonadherence and nonreadiness to highly active antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross - sectional study 

In this study the level of nonadherence and nonreadiness to HAART seems to be encouraging. Several factors associated with nonadherance and nonreadiness to HAART were identified. Efforts to minimize nonadherence and nonreadiness to HAART should be integrated in to regular clinical follow up of patients.

Full Text (http://www.aidsrestherapy.com/content/7/1/2)


ingentaconnect

Hepatitis C and diabetes: one treatment for two diseases

Epidemiological data clearly indicate a link between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and disturbed glucose homeostasis. The prevalences of both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR) are higher among those chronically infected with hepatitis C when compared with the general population and those with other causes of chronic liver disease. Both IR and diabetes are associated with adverse outcomes across all stages of CHC including the liver transplant population. The adverse effects that directly influence patient outcome are reduced responsiveness to antiviral therapy, more rapid progression of fibrosis to cirrhosis and a higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Full Text (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/liv/2010/00000030/00000003/art00004)

The neglected hepatitis C virus genotypes 4, 5 and 6: an international consensus report

In HCV–5, a sustained virological response is achieved in >60% with 48 weeks of therapy. HCV–6 is also considered an easy–to–treat genotype, leading to a response in 60–85% of cases.

Full Text (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/liv/2010/00000030/00000003/art00003)

Quantitative HBsAg and HDV-RNA levels in chronic delta hepatitis

HBsAg levels correlated with HDV viraemia in chronic HDV. Biochemical parameters did not accurately indicate the stage and grade of liver disease in chronic HDV and thus liver biopsy seems to remain the major tool for the evaluation of delta hepatitis patients.

Full Text (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/liv/2010/00000030/00000003/art00013) HDV -WHO (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/whocdscsrncs20011/en/index.html)


wiley

Early treatment improves outcomes in acute hepatitis C virus infection: a meta-analysis

The authors advocate a 12 week period of observation for spontaneous clearance before treatment initiation. If no clearance has occurred by 12 weeks, treatment should be initiated.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122539809/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


natap

The effects of intermittent, CD4-guided antiretroviral therapy on body composition and metabolic parameters in SMART  -

Intermittent ART in the SMART Body Composition substudy increased subcutaneous fat, had no effect on VAT, decreased plasma lipids, and increased hemoglobin A1C compared with continuous ART.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012510_03.htm)

Abacavir-based therapy does not affect biological mechanisms associated with cardiovascular dysfunction

Abacavir/lamivudine increased total and LDL cholesterol compared with tenofovir/emtricitabine, but it did not cause inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, or insulin resistance in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012510_02.htm)


aegis

Dutchmen get tougher sentences for HIV attac

Two Dutchmen convicted of drugging, raping and injecting men with HIV-contaminated blood at gay sex parties had their sentences increased by three and four years on appeal Friday, a court said.
"(They) are responsible for four relatively young men having to go through life ... suffering from a chronic disease for which there is treatment but also still a reasonable chance of death," the ruling by the appeals court said.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AF100108)

ARKANSAS: Berryville AIDS Clinic Offers Free Treatment

Today OARS operates two Saturdays a month and it still provides its services free, including HIV tests, medicine, supplies, and education about the virus. The organization is supported entirely by donations and a triennial fundraiser. Horton, who also works at St. John's Clinic in Berryville, has never received payment for his OARS work.
For more information, visit www.ozarksaids.org

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100114)

HIV infections emerge long after China blood scandal: report

At least 80 hospital patients in central China were infected with HIV through contaminated blood, according to a state media report that highlighted the continuing impact of a 1990s blood-selling scandal.
The patients at the No. 2 Hospital in Hubei province's Daye city were infected after receiving transfusions of blood sold by several local residents who were later found to have HIV, the Wuhan Morning Post said on Wednesday.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AF100107)

CALIFORNIA: Tattooers, Piercers May Get Regulated

The act would require shops to register with a law enforcement agency and pay a fee set at the local level. Practitioners would also have to register as individuals; prove they were vaccinated against hepatitis B; show proof they had completed a federally overseen blood-borne pathogen training course as well as CPR and first-aid training; and post their registration certificate at work. Similar rules would cover temporary expositions. The law would allow the random inspection of shops and the suspension of non-compliant operators. It provides for a hearings process and makes violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $1,000. Local governments would retain the right to enforce stricter rules in their jurisdiction.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100109)


plos

Phase 1 Safety and Immunogenicity Evaluation of ADVAX, a Multigenic, DNA-Based Clade C/B' HIV-1 Candidate Vaccine

ADVAX delivered intramuscularly is safe, well-tolerated, and elicits modest but transient cellular immune responses.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008617)

Phase 1 Safety and Immunogenicity Evaluation of ADMVA, a Multigenic, Modified Vaccinia Ankara-HIV-1 B'/C Candidate Vaccine

ADMVA was well-tolerated and elicited durable humoral and cellular immune responses.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008816)

Rapid Species Diagnosis for Invasive Candidiasis Using Mass Spectrometry

Direct MALDI TOF-MS analysis of aliquots from positive blood cultures allowed rapid and accurate identification of the main Candida species, thus obviating the need for sub-culturing on specific media. Subsequent to this proof-of-principle demonstration, the method can be extended to other clinically relevant yeast species, and applied to an adequate number of clinical samples in order to establish its potential to improve antimicrobial management of patients with fungemia.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008862)

Postcoital Bioavailability and Antiviral Activity of 0.5% PRO 2000 Gel: Implications for Future Microbicide Clinical Trials

Postcoital responses to PRO 2000 differ from precoital measures and the results obtained may provide insights into the clinical trial findings in which there was no significant protection against HIV-1 or HSV-2. Postcoital studies should be incorporated into clinical studies before embarking on large-scale efficacy trials.

Full Text (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008781)


examiner

Harvard Medical School recommends a balanced exercise program

Everyone knows they need a balanced diet; not everyone is aware of the fact they need to have a balanced exercise regime to obtain and maintain optimum health.

Full Text (http://www.examiner.com/x-24152-Healthy-Living-Examiner~y2010m1d23-Harvard-Medical-School-recommends-a-balanced-exercise-program)


yahoo

Smokers with cancer could quit and double survival

People with lung cancer who continued smoking had a 29 to 33 percent chance of surviving five years. But those who kicked the habit had a 63 to 70 percent chance of being alive after five years.

Full Text (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100122/ap_on_he_me/eu_med_lung_cancer_surv)


eatg

Parker sentenced to 20 years for infecting people with hepatitis C

The woman responsible for exposing thousands to hepatitis C, and infecting at least three dozen, to feed her drug habit has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/Parker-sentenced-to-20-years-for-infecting-people-with-hepatitis-C)


medscape

Gastric Acidity Inhibitors and the Risk of Intestinal Infections

A proper utilization of these drugs, particularly for patients at high risk, is imperative in order to reduce deleterious effects on infection risk and to optimize cost-effectiveness ratio.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714570?src=rss)


medicalnewstoday

Strong New Evidence Links Retail Meat To Urinary Tract Infections

Chicken sold in supermarkets, restaurants and other outlets may place young women at risk of urinary tract infections (UTI), McGill researcher Amee Manges has discovered.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176741.php)


news-medical

Bill Gates' annual letter highlights innovations aimed at combating disease, hunger and poverty

Throughout his letter, Gates highlights innovations that are saving or improving lives and expanding opportunity. In the developing world, vaccines are thwarting preventable disease in children, new tools are aiding in the fight against malaria and HIV, and improved seeds and farming techniques are increasing agricultural productivity. In the United States, innovations are helping educators improve teaching and learning so that high school students graduate ready for success and are prepared to earn postsecondary degrees.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100125/Bill-Gates-annual-letter-highlights-innovations-aimed-at-combating-disease-hunger-and-poverty.aspx)


rttnews

Abbott Lab Submits New HIV Test To FDA For Expedited Review

Upon approval, the assay is expected to be the first test available in the United States to simultaneously detect the combined presence of HIV antigens (proteins produced by the HIV virus) and antibodies (proteins produced by the body to fight HIV antigens), which would allow for the early detection and ongoing monitoring of the virus.

Full Text (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/QuickFacts.aspx?Node=B1&Id=1188710)


eyewitnessnews

RSA: Recent HIV/Aids survey not all good news

An increasing number of South Africans now recognize that having more than one sexual partner; increased their chances of HIV infection. What we are not seeing is it translating in the reduction of the number of people reporting having more than one partner

Full Text (http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=31029)


msn

NanoViricides Announces That Its Major Shareholder Has Completed Programmed Sale

NanoViricides, Inc. currently has two drug candidates at advanced stages of preclinical development. FluCide™ is designed to attack all Influenza viruses such as “Swine Flu” H1N1/2009, H5N1 Bird Flu, Highly Pathogenic Influenzas, and Seasonal Flu. HIVCide™ is designed against all HIV virus strains, including their mutations. The Company has previously reported that FluCide has shown extremely high efficacy against influenza in extremely lethal animal challenge studies. The Company has also reported that HIVCide™ was more that 25X (>2,500%) more effective compared to a three drug HAART cocktail in the standard SCID-hu mouse model of HIV. HAART stands for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, a 3-drug regimen that has significantly extended the lives of HIV-infected individuals

Full Text (http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=BW&date=20100125&id=11053187)


busrep

RSA: Faithfulness reduces HIV risk: survey

The percentage of respondents who believed faithfulness was a way to prevent HIV had increased from 26 percent in 2006 to 39.1 percent in 2009.

Full Text (http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=552&fArticleId=5325520)


usaid

The Role of Partner Reduction and Faithfulness in HIV Prevention

Fewer lifetime sexual partners and partner faithfulness reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Full Text - pdf (http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADN708.pdf)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 26, 2010, 01:23:44 pm
NEWS - January 26, 2010


aidsmap

Poor kidney function increases cardiovascular disease risk for patients with HIV

Poor kidney function is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with HIV, US investigators report in the January 28th edition of AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/1CF68B2D-FADA-42A7-8777-2EF196915D57.asp)

Adherence partners give short-term boost, but no long-term benefit, in Nigerian study

People with HIV who selected treatment partners to support their adherence were more likely to return to the clinic to collect further doses of antiretrovirals, and showed a higher rate of viral suppression after six months of treatment, but showed no longer-lasting advantage in terms of viral suppression, CD4 cell counts or mortality, Nigerian and American researchers report in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/C572DDDD-0191-4377-8167-183FA340BA91.asp)


natap

Vicriviroc Effective in Treatment-Experienced Patients in Phase 2 Study VICTOR-E1

The benefits of vicriviroc, especially 30 mg once daily, were demonstrated by reductions in viral load, a significant likelihood of achieving and maintaining full virologic suppression (HIV RNA level <50 copies/mL), a reduced incidence and longer time to virologic failure, and improvement in CD4 counts. The responses to vicriviroc were often apparent by week 12 and were sustained through weeks 24 and 48, supporting the durability of the early antiviral effect.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012610_03.htm)

Proinflammatory IL-18 Increased in HIV+ Despite HAART

HIV-1 Causes an Imbalance in the Production of Interleukin-18 and Its Natural Antagonist in HIV-Infected Individuals: Implications for Enhanced Viral Replication

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012610_02.htm)


ajhp

Etravirine: A novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for managing human immunodeficiency virus infection

Etravirine, a second–generation NNRTI, is efficacious in achieving viral suppression and improving the immune function in treatment–experienced HIV–infected patients.

Full Text (http://www.ajhp.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/3/193)


tuberculosisjournal

A mutation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis rpoB gene confers rifampin resistance in three HIV-TB cases

Patients with rifampin monoresistant MTB tend to have poorer outcomes than those with fully susceptible strains. Risk factors for the development of rifampin monoresistance include co–morbid HIV infection and previously treated tuberculosis. HIV infection has been associated with malabsorption of anti–tuberculous medications leading to sub–therapeutic levels of administered drugs. These factors may have played a role in the development of this previously undocumented mutation.

Full Text (http://www.tuberculosisjournal.com/article/PIIS1472979210000028/abstract?rss=yes)


wiley

The effects of HIV/AIDS on rural communities in East Africa: a 20-year perspective

Restudies in Tanzania and Uganda show that from 1986 to the present, HIV and AIDS have sometimes thrown households into disarray and poverty, but more often have reduced development. The progressive and systematic decline predicted in earlier work has not come to pass. However, poverty remains, as does endemic HIV disease.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123237098/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


rsmjournals

Evaluation of a school-based HIV/AIDS peer-led prevention programme: the first intervention trial for children of migrant workers in China

The findings suggest that peer–led education was an effective method in improving knowledge, attitude and protection self–efficacy in Chinese children of migrant workers. Heightened concerns targeting the group students were particularly necessary, given their lower level of related knowledge and vulnerability to HIV infection.

Full Text (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/2/82)

Establishment of an HIV/sexually transmitted disease programme and prevalence of infection among incarcerated men in Jamaica  

The goal of this study is to describe the establishment of an HIV testing and treatment programme in the Jamaican correctional system and to estimate the prevalence of HIV/sexually transmitted disease among adult incarcerated men in this country.

Full Text (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/2/114)


postgradmed

Higher Pneumococcal Disease Vaccination Rates Needed to Protect More At-Risk US Adults

Advanced age, chronic lung or cardiovascular disease, immunosuppressive conditions, and smoking increase the risk for infection. Despite the availability of an effective pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), vaccination rates among adults remain suboptimal. This is of immediate concern given the current H1N1 pandemic, since secondary bacterial infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is common and can contribute to morbidity and mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently called for increased efforts to vaccinate recommended persons against pneumococcal disease. Long–term trends including the growth of the elderly population and an increase in the number of patients with chronic conditions also underscore the importance of improving pneumococcal vaccination rates.

Full Text (http://www.postgradmed.com/index.php?art=pgm_11_2009?article=2069)


missouri

New compound could be alternative strategy for preventing HIV infection

With the help of effective drug therapies, HIV patients are living longer, healthier lives. Now, researchers want to improve these drug therapies and develop alternative preventative strategies, such as vaginal gels and creams that contain the same or related compounds used in treatments for people infected with HIV. A University of Missouri researcher is developing a compound that is more potent and longer-lasting than current HIV therapies

Full Text (http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2010/0125-new-compound-could-be-alternative-strategy-for-preventing-hiv-infection/)


drugdiscoverynews

After HIV-related advances with zinc fingers, Sangamo adds diabetic neuropathy and gliobastoma to mix

Sangamo BioSciences Inc. (http://www.www.sangamo.com) recently announced the initiation of two new clinical trials related to its ZFP Therapeutics program, one of them a Phase 2b study in diabetic neuropathy  and the other a Phase 1 trial in glioblastoma—as well as announcing the renewal of $3 million in funding for the Phase 2b trial by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF (http://www.jdrf.org)).

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3546)

Synthetic red blood cells mimic the real thing

Scientists at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the University of Michigan have collaborated to develop synthetic particles that closely mimic the characteristics and key functions of natural red blood cells, including softness, flexibility and the ability to carry oxygen.

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3545)


aegis

TEXAS: Foundations to Offer Free HIV Testing

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is bringing its Magic Johnson mobile HIV testing van to San Antonio this week.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100125)

COLORADO: Judge Refuses Plea Deal for Surgery Tech in Hepatitis C Case

Having pled guilty to charges arising from a drug-theft and needle-swap scheme that infected some 35 hospital patients with hepatitis C, Kristen Diane Parker walked into a Denver courtroom Friday expecting to be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100123)

AFRICA: Acyclovir and Transmission of HIV-1 from Persons Infected with HIV-1 and HSV-2

"Most persons who are infected with [HIV-1] are also infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which is frequently reactivated and is associated with increased plasma and genital levels of HIV-1," wrote the authors.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100122)

CANADA: HPV Vaccine Could Prevent Other Cancers, Researchers Believe

Though intended to prevent cervical cancer, human papillomavirus vaccination programs could lead to decreasing rates of head and neck cancer among women and men alike, some oncologists are saying.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100120)

PORTUGAL: HIV Tests to Be Available in Health Centers

Rapid-result tests will soon be available in health centers across the country. Barros said he hopes making the test more widely available will lead more people to take it, and he is looking to add more mobile testing units to the current fleet of three. Barros emphasized that counseling before and after testing remains vitally important.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100124)


medscape

Suicide Rate Declines in HIV-Positive Patients, But Remains High

A nationwide Swiss study shows that after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996, suicide rates among HIV-positive patients decreased by more than 50%. Nevertheless, the investigators found that in 2008 suicide rates in HIV-infected individuals were more than 3 times higher than the rates of the general population.
From 1988 to 2008, 15,275 HIV-infected patients were followed up for a median duration of 4.7 years. Of these individuals, 150 died by suicide.
The investigators report that in men standardized mortality ratios decreased from 13.7 in the pre-HAART era to 3.5 in the late HAART era. In women, the ratios decreased from 11.6 to 5.7.
The study also showed a link between an increase in CD4 cell counts and a reduced risk for suicide — a finding researchers say suggests that HAART-related improvements are associated with a reduction in suicide rates over time.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715780)


nytimes

Lift weights to boost your brain

Researchers in British Columbia randomly assigned 155 women ages 65 to 75 either to strength training with dumbbells and weight machines once or twice a week, or to a comparison group doing balance and toning exercises. A year later, the women who did strength training had improved their performance on tests of so-called executive function by 10.9 percent to 12.6 percent, while those assigned to balance and toning exercises experienced a slight deterioration — 0.5 percent.

Full Text (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/health/research/26exer.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y)


upi

HIV cases increase in Czech Republic

New known cases of HIV in the Czech Republic rose from 148 in 2008 to 157 last year, federal health officials in Prague said.

Full Text (http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/01/26/HIV-cases-increase-in-Czech-Republic/UPI-91431264518220/)


hivandhepatitis

44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL 2009)

The HIV and Hepatitis.com Coverage of the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL 2009) - April 22 - 26, 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2009icr/easl/main.html)


losetheblues

Can a website improve your mood?

A new website, Lose the Blues (http://www.losetheblues.ie) has been launched at University College Cork (UCC) aimed at students experiencing depressive symptoms.  The website is designed specifically for 18- to 24-year-olds who may be experiencing "low mood to cope with their experiences." The website was developed by Aine Horgan, a PhD student and Psychiatric Nursing lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. The website is currently part of a research study being undertaken at UCC by Horgan and supported by Dr John Sweeney and Professor Geraldine McCarthy in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The aim of the research is to see if the website can help improve one’s mood.
Horgan explained: “With depression now the most common mental health problem worldwide, it was agreed that this forum offered the best means of communication for students who may be experiencing low mood to interact with each other.”

Full Text (http://www.losetheblues.ie/)


jci

VACCINE DESIGN: Three is better than two when boosting vaccine effectiveness

The team, led by Jay Berzofsky, found that when mice were immunized with an HIV peptide together with three molecules that bound different TLRs they mounted a more effective protective T cell response than did mice immunized with the HIV peptide together with any two of the ligands.

Full Text (http://www.jci.org/articles/view/39293?key=76e6b3aa09052df83883)


localtechwire

Can one pill a day keep HIV away? UNC-CH researchers see hope

A daily pill might help people at high risk for exposure to HIV prevent infection, according to research that University of North Carolina scientists conducted with mice.
Researchers transplanted human liver and thymus cells and bone marrow into the mice, giving them fully functioning human immune systems.
"The models that we have today permit us to do experiments that were, frankly, unthinkable just a few years ago," said UNC medicine professor Dr. Victor Garcia-Martinez.
(For more about Dr. Martinez and the search for the "Holy Grail" to combat HIV, click here.) (http://www.med.unc.edu/infdis/news/in-search-of-the-holy-grail-j-victor-garcia-martinez-arrives-at-unc-this-fall-201ctotally-optimistic201d-about-curing-aids)
In 2007, Dr. Garcia-Martinez ranked 11th among scientists with the largest number of grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Full Text (http://localtechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/news/blogpost/6884260)


sify

Improved, '60,000 times more potent' compound to effectively treat HIV

An American researcher is developing a new compound that could help provide a much-improved alternative strategy for the prevention of HIV Infection.
Stefan Sarafianos, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology in the University of Missouri School of Medicine and investigator in the Christopher Bond Life Sciences Center, said: "This new compound, EFdA, is 60,000 times more potent than any other drug that is currently being used to treat HIV.

Full Text (http://sify.com/news/improved-60-000-times-more-potent-compound-to-effectively-treat-hiv-news-international-kb0q4eaehbe.html)


yahoo

Merck reps banned from US AIDS clinics over drug costs

"We've banned representatives from Merck Pharmaceuticals from calling on our physicians in our clinics, which is a common marketing strategy. We are instituting this ban largely because of the egregious pricing policies for their key AIDS drug, Isentress," Ged Kinslea, communications director for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), told AFP.
"The drug is a good drug, it has fewer side effects... but it is the single most expensive first-line anti-retroviral treatment for AIDS available in the United States and the developing world," said Kinslea.
An annual course of Isentress costs in the region of 12,870 dollars in the United States, according to AHF.

Full Text (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100125/hl_afp/healthaidspharmacompanymerck_20100125201728)


sunstar

PHILS: Cebu City gets 1st HIV case for 2010

THE Cebu City Health Office has recorded the first case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for 2010 in the city.
Dr. Ilya Tac-an, head of the Cebu City HIV/Aids Detection Unit, said a 26-year-old man has tested positive of HIV. She said the man was diagnosed in the second week of January.

Full Text (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/cebu-city-gets-1st-hiv-case-2010)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: sensual1973 on January 27, 2010, 11:28:41 am
i find this quiet boring
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 27, 2010, 12:18:05 pm
sensual1973,

In any critics, there is something to learn. So will I probably.
Sorry to bother you. Also, don't forget you are free you read whatever you want, wherever you want.



No enough news on the net today.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 28, 2010, 02:01:35 pm
NEWS - January 28, 2010


prnewswire

World Cancer Day - 4th February 2010 to Focus on Link Between Infections and Cancer

"Of the 12 million people who are diagnosed with cancer each year around 20% of cases can be attributed to viral and bacterial infections that either directly cause or increase the risk of cancer," said Professor David Hill, UICC President.
Cancers caused by viral or bacterial infections can be prevented through strategies such as vaccination and by adopting lifestyle changes, safe behaviours and other control measures, all of which could be implemented worldwide.

Full Text (http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/uicc/40774/)


infectioncontroltoday

“Good” Bacteria Keep Immune System Primed to Fight Future Infections

Scientists have long pondered the seeming contradiction that taking broad-spectrum antibiotics over a long period of time can lead to severe secondary bacterial infections. Now researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine may have figured out why.
The investigators show that "good" bacteria in the gut keep the immune system primed to more effectively fight infection from invading pathogenic bacteria. Altering the intricate dynamic between resident and foreign bacteria – via antibiotics, for example – compromises an animal’s immune response, specifically, the function of white blood cells called neutrophils.

Full Text (http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/good-bacteria-fight-infections.html)


individual

Stopping Bacterial Infections Without Antibiotics

New research at the A. James Clark School of Engineering could prevent bacterial infections using tiny biochemical machines--nanofactories--that can confuse bacteria and stop them from spreading, without the use of antibiotics.

Full Text (http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=113648548)


medscape

Vitamin D Deficiency Tied to Tenofovir Hyperparathyroidism

In HIV-infected patients, 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency is independently associated with tenofovir-linked hyperparathyroidism, according to UK researchers.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715791)


natap

Diagnosis and management of vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D insufficiency now seems unequivocally linked to several other common and morbid conditions.
Vitamin D status is most reliably determined by assay of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD).
Individuals with symptomatic osteomalacia or rickets have serum 25-OHD concentrations of less than 25 nmol/l (10 µg/l), reflecting profound vitamin D deficiency.
A much larger proportion of the UK population (about 50% in spring) have vitamin D insufficiency, with serum 25-OHD concentrations between 25 nmol/l and 50 nmol/l (10-20 µg/l).
In adults, calciferol treatment, in a daily dose of 10 000 IU or a weekly dose of 60 000 IU, will lead to restoration of body stores of vitamin D over eight to 12 weeks. Thereafter, a maintenance dose of 1000-2000 IU calciferol daily or 10 000 IU weekly is adequate.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012810_02.htm)

Association between pre-diagnostic circulating vitamin D concentration and risk of colorectal cancer in European populations:a nested case-control study

The results of this study, which is the largest to date and one of the first based on European populations, show that, compared with a mid-range concentration of 50 to 75.0 nmol/l, circulating 25-(OH)D levels lower than 50.0 nmol/l are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Additionally, higher consumption of dietary calcium, but not dietary vitamin D, was found to be associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012810_01.htm)


Multiple Benefits Seen for Exercise in Seniors

Ability to walk and perform other daily tasks, avoidance of major chronic diseases, and overall good quality of life -- all were more common in people who exercised at least three times a week, according to four studies published in the Jan. 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/newsUpdates/012810_01.htm)

Novo Nordisk gets US approval for New Type2 Diabetes Drug Victoza but with warning

The US Food and Drug Administration has given the green light for Victoza (liraglutide), the first once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue for type 2 diabetes. It can now be sold as a monotherapy, as second-line treatment and in combination with other oral diabetes drugs.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/newsUpdates/012810_03.htm)

Achillion Pharma At A Glance: new HIV/HCV drugs

Achillion is currently seeking to enter a collaboration arrangement for Elvucitabine.
Elvucitabine, Achillion's lead HIV product candidate is being evaluated in phase II clinical trials to further explore its safety and efficacy in HIV-infected patients over 48 and 96-weeks of treatment, and the open-label extension of one trial remains ongoing through this year.
ACH-1625, a potent HCV inhibitor, is under phase I study. The preliminary results of a phase Ib study of ACH-1625 reported early this month showed that there is a dramatic reduction in viral load after 5 days of monotherapy and continued suppression of viral load after drug discontinuation.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/newsUpdates/012810_04.htm)

Key data from the 11th International Workshop on Adverse Drug Reactions and Co-Morbidities in HIV - Workshop report

Topics: Adipose tissue metabolism and lipodystrophy,Metabolic disorders, Cardiovascular disease, Bone metabolism, Mitochondrial dysfunction, Other toxicities and complications (Ageing, Renal toxicity, Sleep apnea, Cognitive impairment, Malignancies, Hepatitis C virus coinfection).

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/012810_04.htm)

aidsmap

Genetic marker may predict heart disease risk in people with HIV

A genetic marker associated with atherosclerosis and oxidative stress in mice and humans is strongly associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and poorer immune recovery in people with HIV, Spanish researchers report in the February 15th edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/9F678435-6E87-4925-9138-E681578B70FF.asp)

New criteria proposed for late HIV diagnosis

New definitions of both late HIV diagnosis and diagnosis with advanced HIV disease have been proposed by UK investigators.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/2B74706E-0ED7-4C3D-9F52-55043CBEBB92.asp)

Kidney dysfunction more frequent, increases risk of death of patients with HIV and hepatitis C co-infection

Hepatitis C co-infection is associated with an increased risk of kidney disease and death for HIV-positive individuals, US investigators report in the February 1st edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/92247261-1FB3-485C-B973-B1B8A7BF1335.asp)

Genetic marker predicts fat loss due to d4T in Thai patients

A genetic marker can predict with a high level of accuracy whether Thai patients receiving antiretroviral therapy that contains d4T (stavudine) will develop lipoatrophy (subcutaneous fat loss) as a result of treatment, researchers from Thailand and Japan report in Clinical Infectious Diseases this week.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/16223911-8EEA-4F03-89C5-DEC110E19EF5.asp)


imt

Genetic mutation may predispose to asthma

Mutations in the filaggrin gene among many Irish families predisposes them to develop eczema and this may progress later to asthma, revealed Prof Padraic Fallon, Science Foundation Ireland Stokes Professor of Translational Immunology at TCD’s Institute of Molecular Medicine.

Full Text (http://www.imt.ie/clinical/respiratory/genetic-mutation-may-predispos.html)


fool

The Virus-Killer's Killer Quarter

What do you get when you combine swine-flu-boosted royalties with drugs that patients can't stop taking, even in a recession? One profitable company.
Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) closed out 2009 with a solid 42% increase in revenue in the fourth quarter, thanks to its HIV drugs. Atripla, which is a combination of Gilead's Truvada and Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE: BMY) Sustiva, finally passed Truvada for the top spot after a 50% increase in sales. Sales of Truvada still held their own with a solid 19% year-over-year increase. Gilead's royalties from Tamiflu, which is sold by Roche, suddenly became the third-biggest revenue source for the quarter. With the swine flu waning, royalties at this level aren't likely to last, but for now they're boosting the top line substantially.

Full Text (http://msn.fool.com/investing/high-growth/2010/01/27/the-virus-killers-killer-quarter.aspx?logvisit=y&source=eedmsnlnk0010001&published=2010-01-27)


streetinsider

Highlights From GILD's Q4 Conference Call: Q4 Crossed $2 Billion Mark for First Time in Company History

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) reports Q4 EPS of $0.93, 8 cents better than the analyst estimate of $0.85. Revenue for the quarter was $2.03 billion, which compares to the estimate of $1.93 billion. Shares are up 6.80% today.

Full Text (http://www.streetinsider.com/Earnings/Highlights+From+GILD%27s+Q4+Conference+Call%3A+Q4+Crossed+%242+Billion+Mark+for+First+Time+in+Company+History/5280028.html)


newsobserver

HIV program caps enrollment

The state's drug assistance program for HIV patients has been capped at its current enrollment, with budget cuts hitting at the same time more people need help, state officials said Monday.
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program picks up the cost of life-saving anti-retroviral regimens and other drugs for low-income people infected with HIV.
About 4,400 people are using the drug assistance program, compared with 4,000 this time last year, Clymore said. As of Friday, no more people can be added, she said.

Full Text (http://www.newsobserver.com/news/health_science/story/304202.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StatelineorgRss-NorthCarolina+%28Stateline.org+RSS+-+North+Carolina%29)


miamiherald

Miami man gets 22 years for Medicare fraud

A Miami man who used his chain of Medicare clinics to commit fraud and exported the business to other Southern states was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to 22 years in prison.
The local organization run by Michel De Jesus Huarte -- which submitted about $100 million in bogus bills for HIV therapy and other services -- expanded to Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina by using empty storefronts and post office boxes, according to an indictment.
Huarte and his associates, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and other fraud charges last year, collected about $25 million from the federal healthcare program, the indictment says.

Full Text (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1450003.html)


news-medical

NIH to perform exploratory studies on ImmuneRegen BioSciences' Homspera

ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc.®, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR Biosciences Holdings Inc., today announced the execution of an agreement with the National Institute of Health (NIH) / National Cancer Institute (NCI) to commence studies utilizing ImmuneRegen's Homspera. Under the agreement, the NIH will perform exploratory studies on Homspera relating to mucosal immunity that might lead to subsequent evaluation in models of HIV infection.
The studies to be performed at NIH/NCI are designed to expand on that research and further define the mechanisms that make Homspera an effective vaccine adjuvant.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100128/NIH-to-perform-exploratory-studies-on-ImmuneRegen-BioSciences-Homspera.aspx)


springerlink

Predicting response to cognitive-behavioral therapy in a sample of HIV-positive patients with chronic pain

Multivariate regression analysis showed that higher baseline levels of pain–related anxiety were related to greater improvement in pain–related functioning at post–treatment, and non–Caucasian participants reported a greater response to treatment when compared to Caucasian participants. Attendance to CBT treatment sessions focused on progressive muscle relaxation and cognitive reconceptualization of pain were also related to treatment outcome. Non–Caucasian patients reporting higher levels of pain–related anxiety may respond particularly well to treatment. Treatment sessions focused on progressive muscle relaxation and cognitive reconceptualization of pain may be particularly helpful.

Full Text (http://www.springerlink.com/content/011620220h1u4541/)


ama-assn

High blood pressure? Try a low-carb diet - study shows reducing carbohydrates lowers blood pressure

A low-carb diet can have a significant effect on high blood pressure. Previous studies have shown that reducing carbohydrate intake provides faster weight loss and improved cholesterol, despite the common assumption that the low-carb diet must be unhealthy.

Full Text (http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/170/2/136) Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/x-29228-Health-Technology-Examiner~y2010m1d28-High-blood-pressure-Try-a-lowcarb-diet--study-shows-reducing-carbohydrates-lowers-blood-pressure)


myfoxny

How to beat normal weight obesity and naturally speed up metabolism

Can you be a normal weight and still be fat? The answer is ‘yes,’ according to a new report from the Mayo Clinic. They call it “normal weight obesity.” The researchers looked at more than 6,000 Americans who had a normal BMI or body mass index. Those with a high percentage body fat had a higher risk of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and future heart problems. So they say it's not enough to just be a normal weight—it’s important to build muscle and be lean also.

Warning
Not specific to HIV+. Please consult your health care provider for better information.

Full Text (http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/good_day_ny/100126-normal-weight-but-still-considered-fat)


eatg

Gates says malaria vaccine may be ready in three years

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has told the BBC that a vaccine for malaria could be just three years away.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/TB-Malaria/Gates-says-malaria-vaccine-may-be-ready-in-three-years)

Lab-grown liver cells provide model for hepatitis C infection

Researchers have developed a new method for growing human liver cells outside the body. Scientists can now study hepatitis C virus in the lab over a period of weeks – which may boost efforts to develop a vaccine or broadly effective treatment for the infection.

Full Text (http://)


medicalnewstoday

Minnesota HIV Statistics Point To Troubling Increase In Young Adults; Particularly In Young Gay/Bisexual Men

According to statistics released today by the Minnesota Department of Health, 368 confirmed new cases of HIV were reported in Minnesota during 2009.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177299.php)


news-medical

Particle Sciences to share responsibilities in developing anti-HIV microbicides

Particle Sciences, a leading drug development CRO, will share formulation, analytic and production responsibilities in an effort to develop a vaginally administered microbicide, a product specifically designed to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100128/Particle-Sciences-to-share-responsibilities-in-developing-anti-HIV-microbicides.aspx)


theaustralian

Migrants with HIV, cancer allowed to settle

CHRONICALLY ill foreign workers and their families, including those with HIV-AIDS, will be allowed to settle in Australia for the first time as the Immigration Department loosens its stringent health rules to alleviate the skills shortage.

Full Text (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/migrants-with-hiv-cancer-allowed-to-settle/story-e6frg6nf-1225824134006?from=public_rss)


jimmunol

Peripheral Blood CCR4+CCR6+ and CXCR3+CCR6+ CD4+ T Cells Are Highly Permissive to HIV-1 Infection

The authors have identified CCR4+CCR6+ and CXCR3+CCR6+ T cells as highly permissive to HIV replication, with potential to infiltrate and recruit more CCR6+ T cells into anatomic sites of viral replication. It is necessary that new therapeutic strategies against HIV interfere with viral replication/persistence in discrete CCR6+ T cell subsets.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/3/1604)


pnas

Detecting and understanding combinatorial mutation patterns responsible for HIV drug resistance 

The authors have demonstrated the usefulness of this systematic procedure on three HIV drugs, (Indinavir, Zidovudine, and Nevirapine), discovered unique interaction features between viral mutations induced by these drugs, and revealed the structural basis of such interactions.

Full Text (http://www.pnas.org/content/107/4/1321.short?rss=1)


sciencedirect

Elimination of helminth infection restores HIV-1C vaccine-specific T cell responses independent of helminth-induced IL-10

Restoration of HIV–1C vaccine–specific T cell responses following elimination of helminth infection was time dependent, but surprisingly independent of the levels of IL–4 and IL–10 induced by parasite antigens. The study shows that elimination of worms offers an affordable and a simple means to restore immune responsiveness to T cell based vaccines for HIV–1 and other infectious diseases in helminth endemic settings.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TD4-4XSDXBS-D&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F03%2F2010&_rdoc=25&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info%28%23toc%235188%232010%23999719994%231602136%23FLA%23display%23Volume%29&_cdi=5188&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=41&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0)


rsmjournals

Couples at risk for HIV infection in Southern India: characteristics of HIV-infected patients in concordant and discordant heterosexual relationships

The couples–based interventions and the provision of HAART could substantially decrease behavioural and clinical correlates of HIV transmission among discordant South Indian married couples. The spouses of HIV–infected index patients are at increased risk for HIV infection, and further preventive measures are needed.

Full Text (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/2/96)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on January 29, 2010, 02:20:33 pm
NEWS - January 29, 2010

catie

Caution urged when switching regimens

Merck and Company, Inc., the developer of raltegravir (known as Merck Sharp & Dohme, or MSD, outside of North America) has conducted two clinical trials in which some users of lopinavir-ritonavir-based regimens had this combination replaced with raltegravir. The studies were prematurely halted because of unexpectedly higher rates of virologic failure among some raltegravir users. The possible reasons for this unexpected finding and the implications for decision-making about switching therapies are discussed later in this report.

Full Text (http://www.catie.ca/catienews.nsf/00a48c8905294f0b8525717f00661eb8/1c7dba8992d2aae7852576b9005b683e!OpenDocument)


medicalnewstoday

New Vaccine Effective In Preventing TB In HIV-positive Patients

Results from clinical trials conducted in Tanzania show that a new vaccine against tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vaccae (MV), is effective in preventing tuberculosis in people with HIV infection.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177530.php)


hivandhepatitis

Elevated ALT Liver Enzymes in HIV Patients without Hepatitis B or C Are Linked to High Viral Load, Obesity, Alcohol, and Some NRTIs

"Our results confirm that the main causes of chronic liver disease in HIV-infected patients without hepatitis B and C coinfections are alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and antiretroviral drugs," the study authors wrote. High BMI is a risk factor for steatosis, or fatty liver.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/0126_2010_c.html)


sciencedaily

Immune Memory Formation Seen in Early Stages of Viral Infection

In an acute viral infection, most of the white blood cells known as T cells differentiate into cells that fight the virus and die off in the process. But a few of these "effector" T cells survive and become memory T cells, ensuring that the immune system can respond faster and stronger the next time around.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100128165848.htm)


medscape

Tetraspanins Regulate Cell-to-cell Transmission of HIV-1

Altogether, our results provide evidence for an active role of tetraspanins in cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1, a process that may be crucial for virus spread in vivo and one which is only beginning to be understood. Because individual tetraspanins are not essential for host cell survival, they may provide an avenue for therapeutic intervention with the virus life cycle.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715066)

Intensive Chemotherapy May Help in Poor-Risk, Localized Rectal Cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 2 agents — instead of just 1 — before standard treatment is feasible in poor-risk, potentially operable, localized rectal cancer, concludes a new phase 2 study of 105 patients published online January 26 in The Lancet Oncology.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716041?src=rss)


aidsmap

Progestogen-only hormonal contraception linked to metabolic problems in HIV-positive women

HIV-positive women using progestogen-only hormonal contraception may be at increased risk for negative metabolic outcomes, warned researchers in a recent article in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/A4F44912-64DC-44B5-AA55-95CDD5023BC2.asp)


ctv

Canada, Gates Foundation scrap HIV vaccine plant

The federal government and the Gates Foundation have agreed not to proceed with plans to fund construction in Canada of a facility to make pilot lots of experimental HIV vaccines, sources have told The Canadian Press.
The project, first announced in February 2007, was to cost nearly $90 million, with $28 million of that coming from the Gates Foundation. It was part of the larger Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative, a project for which Canada had earmarked $111 million.

Full Text (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100128/Canada_HIV_100128/20100128?hub=Health)


asm

A Single Amino Acid Difference in Human APOBEC3H Variants Determines HIV-1 Vif Sensitivity

In contrast to A3H_HapII, A3H_Haplotype I (HapI), which differs in only three amino acids from A3H_HapII, was resistant to HIV–1 Vif–mediated degradation. The authors also found that residue 121 was critical for determining A3H sensitivity and binding to HIV–1 Vif

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/4/1902)


bbc

Overweight elderly 'live longer'

Moderately overweight elderly people may live longer than those of normal weight, an Australian study suggest.

Warning
Not specific to HIV+. Please consult your health care provider for better information.


Full Text (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8483456.stm)

HIV woman challenges removal from Northern Ireland

An HIV-positive South African woman is challenging being removed from NI by immigration authorities.

Full Text (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8485996.stm)


nih

Durability of initial antiretroviral therapy in a resource-constrained setting and the potential need for Zidovudine weight-based dosing.

Lower baseline weight and lower CD4 values at ART initiation were associated with decreased regimen durability. Compared with didanosine/stavudine, AZT use initially increased, then subsequently (>120 days) lowered hazards for regimen discontinuation. Weight <60 kg was associated with an increased risk of toxicity-related AZT discontinuation. As ART use expands globally, further study into maximally durable, least toxic regimens, and the role of weight-based AZT dosing is imperative.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20104120?dopt=Abstract)

Incident depression symptoms are associated with poorer HAART adherence: a longitudinal analysis from the nutrition for healthy living study.

Incident depression symptoms were associated with subsequent suboptimal HAART adherence. Ongoing aggressive screening for, and treatment of, depression may improve HAART outcomes.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20104122?dopt=Abstract)

Hepatitis C and the Risk of Kidney Disease and Mortality in Veterans With HIV.

CKD is prevalent in HIV-infected veterans and associated with substantially higher mortality. Compared with their monoinfected counterparts, veterans coinfected with HCV have significantly higher rates of CKD and mortality.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20104121?dopt=Abstra)

IL-21 enhances NK cell functions and survival in healthy and HIV-infected patients with minimal stimulation of viral replication.

These data suggest that IL-21 may serve as a valuable therapeutic tool for enhancing NK cell responses and inhibiting viral replication in HIV-infected patients.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20103765?dopt=Abstract)


aidsportal

UK: Manchester researchers join international research project on HIV treatment

Researchers at The University of Manchester are to take part in an EU project which aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of support for HIV positive people in southern Africa.

Full Text (http://www.aidsportal.org/News_Details.aspx?ID=12344&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AIDSPortal_News+%28HIV+and+AIDS+news+from+AIDSPortal%29)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 01, 2010, 01:23:30 pm
NEWS - FEB 1, 2010


aegis

UNITED KINGDOM: Women Urged to Have Smear Tests

During UK Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (Jan. 24-30), health authorities have been reminding women of the importance of undergoing regular Pap tests to check for the disease.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100157)

SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS Ignorance in South Africa Is Down, Survey Says

Results from the Second National HIV and AIDS Communication Survey (NCS) 2009 show awareness and prevention efforts are influencing behaviors in South Africa.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100153)

GLOBAL: Report Criticizes PEPFAR Program

A new report issued by the Council for Global Equality and the Center for American Progress criticizes the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief as putting politics ahead of HIV prevention science.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100152)

MASSACHUSETTS: AIDS and the Challenges of Aging

Of the 250 HIV patients seen by Cape Cod Healthcare's Infectious Disease Clinical Services unit, approximately a dozen are age 70 or older, said Medical Director Alan Sugar.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100156)

We must make this the decade of vaccines

U.S. philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates say their foundation will spend a record $10 billion over 10 years to develop vaccines for AIDS and other diseases.
"We must make this the decade of vaccines," Bill Gates said Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Note
Thanks Bill and Melinda Gates ! From the heart.


Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=UP100116)


unaids

UNAIDS commends commitment by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advancing vaccine research and developmen

UNAIDS strongly applauds today’s announcement by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to invest USD 10 billion into research and development of vaccines over the next 10 years.
"The best hope for ending the AIDS epidemic lies in a developing a vaccine."

Full Text (http://data.unaids.org/pub/PressStatement/2010/20100129_ps_vaccineinvestments_en.pdf)


nature

Retroviral intasome assembly and inhibition of DNA strand transfer

Our findings define the structural basis of retroviral DNA integration, and will allow modelling of the HIV-1 intasome to aid in the development of antiretroviral drugs.

Note
This is the research studying the structure of retrovirus enzyme Integrase. Now published in Nature (advance online publication)

Full Text (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature08784.html)


business-standard

Drug patent regime has led to high prices: US Study

Other reasons include transfer of marketing rights to larger companies and mergers and acquisitions among drug companies.

Full Text (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/drug-patent-regime-has-led-to-high-prices-us-study/383772/)


pharmatimes

B-MS looking at acquisitions and definitely 'not for sale'

Sales of the Sustiva franchise rose 19% to $358 million, and Reyataz was up 18% to $388 million. Revenues from Baraclude for hepatitis B climbed 39% to $212 million.

Full Text (http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/article.aspx?id=17300)


news-medical

Findings could guide in developing more effective vaccines for HIV/AIDS and cancer

Scientists have identified a molecule that defines which cells are destined to become memory T cells just a few days after a viral infection begins. The finding could guide the development of more effective vaccines for challenging infections such as HIV/AIDS and also cancer.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100129/Findings-could-guide-in-developing-more-effective-vaccines-for-HIVAIDS-and-cancer.aspx)

New vaccine effective in preventing TB in HIV patients

The study found that MV immunization reduced the rate of definite tuberculosis by 39 percent among 2,000 HIV-infected patients in Tanzania.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100130/New-vaccine-effective-in-preventing-TB-in-HIV-patients.aspx)


conatuspharma

Conatus Pharmaceuticals initiates Phase II clinical trial in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C virus

Conatus Pharmaceuticals announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial evaluating CTS-1027 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in refractory HCV patients.

Full Text (http://www.conatuspharma.com/news/pr_012810.htm)


medscape

Maternal Antiretroviral Use Not Tied to Congenital Abnormalities

In women with HIV, antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy does not seem to cause congenital abnormalities, a Latin American study suggests.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716059)


aidsmap

Second-line ART in South Africa shows good results

High rates of increased CD4 cell counts and viral suppression, together with low mortality were seen in adults at a large HIV public-sector urban clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa after one year on second-line antiretroviral therapy, Matthew P. Fox and colleagues report in a study published online ahead of print in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/668304A1-24DA-4D24-A780-FDF65B5F1A93.asp)


yankton

New HIV, AIDS Cases Down In S.D.

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — The number of new HIV or AIDS cases in South Dakota in 2009 was the smallest in five years.

Full Text (http://yankton.net/articles/2010/02/01/news/doc4b6661e4699b3829876624.txt)


inquirer

PHILS: More HIV/AIDS cases linked to Internet boom

The Department of Health (DOH) has said Internet social networking sites have provided a venue for young people to find partners in risky sex that usually leads to cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the country.

Full Text (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20100201-250716/More-HIVAIDS-cases-linked-to-Internet-boom)


thelancet

Switch to a raltegravir-based regimen versus continuation of a lopinavir-ritonavir-based regimen in stable HIV-infected patients with suppressed viraemia (SWITCHMRK 1 and 2): two multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trials

Although switching to raltegravir was associated with greater reductions in serum lipid concentrations than was continuation of lopinavir–ritonavir, efficacy results did not establish non–inferiority of raltegravir to lopinavir–ritonavir.

Full Text (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609620419/abstract?rss=yes)


asm

Identification of the Cellular Prohibitin 1/Prohibitin 2 Heterodimer as an Interaction Partner of the C-Terminal Cytoplasmic Domain of the HIV-1 Glycoprotein

These results point to binding of the Phb1/Phb2 complex to the Env–CT as being of importance for replicative spread in nonpermissive cells, possibly by modulating critical Phb–dependent cellular process(es).

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/3/1355)


biomedcentral

Association of HIV infection with distribution and viral load of HPV types in Kenya: a survey with 820 female sex workers

HIV–infected sex workers had almost four–fold higher prevalence of high–risk HPV, raised viral load and more precancerous lesions. HPV 16 and HPV 18, preventable with current vaccines, were associated with cervical disease, though other high–risk types were commoner. HIV–infected sex workers likely contribute disproportionately to HPV transmission dynamics in the general population.

Full Text (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/10/18)


rsmjournals

An assessment of risk behaviours to HIV/AIDS vulnerability among young female garment workers in Bangladesh

Information through radio, through health service provider and drug abuse had significant odds in having sex with multiple sex partners, while information through health service provider, knowledge and multiple sex partners had significant odds in drug abuse. Thus, garment workers are at risk of HIV/AIDS due to low education, lack of knowledge, STIs/STDs and risky behaviour.

Full Text (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/2/133)

Decrease of initial CD4+ T-cell counts at the time of diagnosis of HIV infection in Korea; 1988-2006 

The results suggest that HIV diagnoses in recent years are being made in later stages of HIV infection and that it is imperative to develop more efficient programmes for early HIV diagnosis to prevent transmission.

Full Text (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/2/120)

HIV stigma, disclosure and psychosocial distress among Thai youth living with HIV

The 12–item Stigma Scale score was significantly associated with mental health problems. Public attitudes towards HIV were associated with poorer quality of life and mental health problems. The 12–item Stigma Scale was reliable for TYLH. Increasing public understanding and education could reduce stigma and improve mental health and quality of life in TYLH.

Full Text (http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/2/126)


outandaboutnewspaper

Overcoming the stigma of life with HIV

“It was scary. I didn’t want to put my status on my online profiles … Trying to figure out that type of timeline [of when to tell someone] got so burdensome,” he said. “[People assume] you were dirty or you were a whore or you were a drug user.”

Full Text (http://www.outandaboutnewspaper.com/article/3842)


nih

Current strategies and limitations of HIV vaccines

In this review, several of the key milestones achieved as a result of research efforts aimed at developing an effective HIV vaccine are identified, and future prospects are examined.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20112169?dopt=Abstract)

GSK-1349572, a novel integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV infection

GSK-1349572 (S/GSK-1349572), under development by ViiV Healthcare and Shionogi & Co Ltd, is the lead from a series of HIV integrase inhibitors, for the potential oral treatment of HIV infection. Initial evaluation of the drug in an in vitro integrase strand assay demonstrated specific inhibition of recombinant integrase. Inhibition of the integrase strand transfer reaction by GSK-1349572 was later confirmed in a cell-based assay, and the drug also displayed in vitro activity against integrase-resistant clinical isolates from patients experiencing virological failure while receiving raltegravir. The pharmacokinetic profile of GSK-1349572 supports once-daily dosing without the requirement for boosting with ritonavir. In phase I and II clinical trials, in healthy volunteers and in patients with HIV-1 infection, side effects of GSK-1349572 were generally similar to placebo; no consistent relationship was observed between the frequency of adverse events and either the dose or duration of treatment with GSK-1349572. At the time of publication, phase IIb trials of GSK-1349572 were ongoing in antiretroviral-naïve and -experienced patients. With the high demand for second-generation integrase inhibitors for antiretroviral-experienced patients and for once-daily drugs without ritonavir-boosting for treatment-naïve patients, this second-generation integrase inhibitor has the potential to become a highly valued product.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20112170?dopt=Abstract)

Mathematical models used in the study of infectious diseases

Of 617 possible articles, 162 were finally selected. The evolution of articles by years shows a rising trend since 2005. The most-common disease types were unespecified infectious diseases, HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Among mathematical models there was a predominance of stochastic models. The most-common country of the first author included the European countries, especially UK and USA. The most-widely used model of transmission was the SIR model (21 cases/45l). Of the 58 articles which identified a statistical technique, 12 (20.7%) used generalized linear models and 11 (19.0%) used Markov models. Conclusions: There is growing interest in the modelling of communicable diseases and substantial innovations may be expected in forthcoming years, above all if their use is extended and applied to "forgotten" communicable diseases or other health problems.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20111817?dopt=Abstract)

Parasitic diseases of the central nervous system

Besides differentiating parasitic diseases of the nervous system seen in migrants, tourists etc., it is very important to have in mind that disease-related (e.g. HIV) or iatrogenic immunosuppression has led to the increased occurrence of a wide variety of parasitic infections and infestations of the nervous system (e. g. babesiosis, Chagas disease, Strongyloides stercoralis infestation, toxoplasmosis, etc.).

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20111855?dopt=Abstract)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 02, 2010, 01:39:43 pm
NEWS - FEB 2, 2010 - PART I/II

aidsmap

Adherence: study shows protease inhibitors more forgiving of missed doses, even when treatment out of date

Less than perfect adherence to HIV treatment regimens significantly increases the risk of resistance developing to drugs in the NNRTI and NRTI classes, investigators report in the January 28th edition of AIDS

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/EE08553F-FB32-4328-A296-5EB35CF21708.asp)


asm

Influence of Alpha-1 Glycoprotein Acid Concentrations and Variants on Atazanavir Pharmacokinetics in HIV-Infected Patients Included in the ANRS 107 Trial  

The in vivo results indicate that atazanavir pharmacokinetics is moderately influenced by its protein binding, especially to AAG, without expected clinical consequences.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/614)

Resistance-Associated Mutations to Etravirine in Antiretroviral-Naive Patients Infected with Non-B HIV-1 Subtypes  

The prevalence of ETR RAMs in treatment–naive patients infected with non–B HIV–1 subtypes was 10 percent, in most cases this had no significant impact on ETR susceptibility. However, the transmission of drug–resistant viruses with Y

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/728)

Ex Vivo Comparison of Microbicide Efficacies for Preventing HIV-1 Genomic Integration in Intraepithelial Vaginal Cells

The results highlight the merit of the model for screening the mucosal efficacies of novel microbicides and their formulations and potentially rank ordering candidates for clinical evaluation.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/763)

TMC278, a Next-Generation Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, Active against Wild-Type and NNRTI-Resistant HIV-1

The rates of selection of TMC278–resistant strains were comparable among HIV–1 group M subtypes. NNRTI RAMs emerging in HIV–1 under selective pressure from TMC278 included combinations of V90I, L100I, K101E, V106A/I, V108I, E138G/K/Q/R, V179F/I, Y181C/I, V189I, G190E, H221Y, F227C, and M230I/L. E138R was identified as a new NNRTI RAM. These in vitro analyses demonstrate that TMC278 is a potent next–generation NNRTI, with a high genetic barrier to resistance development.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/718)

Epitope Switching as a Novel Escape Mechanism of HIV to CCR5 Monoclonal Antibodies

Using CCR5 receptor mutants, the authors show that MAb3952–resistant virus strains preferentially use the N terminus of CCR5, while the wild–type viruses preferentially use ECL–2. They propose this switch in the CCR5 binding site as a novel mechanism of HIV resistance.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/7)

ucla

Researchers find 'broad spectrum' antiviral that fights multitude of viruses

In a proof-of-principle study published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers have identified an antiviral small molecule that is effective against numerous viruses, including HIV-1, influenza A, filoviruses, poxviruses, arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, paramyxoviruses and flaviviruses. These viruses cause some of the world's deadliest diseases, such as AIDS, Nipah virus encephalitis, Ebola, hemorrhagic fever and Rift Valley fever.
Even better, the compound — a rhodanine derivative that the researchers have dubbed LJ001 — could be effective against new, yet-to-be discovered enveloped viruses.  The study is available in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/01/27/0909587107).

Full Text (http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/researchers-find-broad-spectrum-153297.aspx)


medicalnewstoday

Early Intervention Important To Decrease STDs, HIV, Pregnancy

A new study weighs in on the controversy over sex education, finding that an abstinence-only intervention for pre-teens was more successful in delaying the onset of sexual activity than a health-promotion control intervention. After two years, one-third of the abstinence-only group reported having sex, compared to one-half of the control group. The study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania appears in the February 1 edition of the Archives of Pediatrics & A

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177892.p)


aegis

Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

African-Americans continue to bear the largest and most disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=NI100201)

CALIFORNIA: HIV Scientific Report Back

On Feb. 4, the AIDS Policy Project and Project Inform will co- host a meeting presenting information reported at December's fourth International Workshop on HIV Persistence During Therapy. Speakers will include Romas Geleziunas, PhD, a Gilead director who attended the meeting; HIV specialist Dr. Rick Loftus; APP's Stephen LeBlanc; and Matt Sharp, PI's director of treatment and prevention advocacy. The forum will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 2800 Market St., San Francisco. To RSVP, e-mail info@aidspolicyproject.org.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100167)


sciencedaily

Onset of Sexual Activity in Tweens Delayed by Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Program

A new study weighs in on the controversy over sex education, finding that an abstinence-only intervention for pre-teens was more successful in delaying the onset of sexual activity than a health-promotion control intervention. After two years, one-third of the abstinence-only group reported having sex, compared to one-half of the control group. The study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania appears in the February 1 edition of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
"Abstinence-only interventions may have an important role in delaying sexual activity until a time later in life when the adolescent is more prepared to handle to consequences of sex. This can reduce undesirable consequences of sex, including pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS."

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100201171637.htm)


swissinfo

HIV cases fall among gay men

The rate of new infections of HIV, the virus that causes Aids, among homosexual men has dropped for the first time since 2001, according to the Federal Health Office.
Figures released on Monday showed there were almost 100 fewer cases in 2009 than the previous year, a decline of 25 per cent.

Full Text (http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/index/HIV_cases_fall_among_gay_men.html?cid=8210002)


belfasttelegraph

HIV-positive woman ‘used faked papers to work at care homes'

A HIV-positive South African woman allegedly confessed to using counterfeit documents to get work at care homes in Northern Ireland, the High Court in Belfast has heard.

Full Text (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/hivpositive-woman-lsquoused-faked-papers--to-work-at-care-homes-14662182.html)


wsj

White House Proposes 9% Increase in Global-Health Funding

The proposal was accompanied by the release of a set of ambitious targets to be achieved by 2014, including getting 1.6 million more people into drug treatment for HIV/AIDS, cutting the prevalence of malaria by 50%, and reducing the number of deaths of mothers and children under 5 years old.

Full Text (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204575040063950909540.html?mod=WSJ_HomeAndGarden_sections_BuyingAndSelling)


guardian

Fighting HIV in developing countries – with tobacco plants to create antibodies

(http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6297/professorjulianmawith00.th.jpg) (http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6297/professorjulianmawith00.jpg)

Tobacco plants may become an unlikely ally in the fight against HIV in developing countries.

Full Text (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/feb/02/tobacco-hiv-research-notes)


nih

Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient treated with imatinib mesylate for chronic myeloid leukemia

We present a case of a patient with CML who developed KS 12 months after starting treatment with imatinib 400 mg/d. The mechanism behind the development of the cutaneous lesions is unclear, and could have either a casual clinical association or be related to the study drug. According to the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, the development of KS in this case was probably associated with the imatinib treatment (score, 5-8).

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20110001?dopt=Abstract)

Use of novel antiretroviral agents in rescue regimens: A case of early virological failure to raltegravir

In patients with virological failure during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and drug resistance, guidelines recommend the achievement of maximal virological suppression by the use of a new regimen with at least 2 active drugs. We describe the clinical outcome of a heavily antiretroviral-experienced patient who experienced early failure to raltegravir.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20085429?dopt=Abstract)


examiner

Food for athletes and the olympian diet: Daily protein needs less than for sedentary people

Contrary to popular belief, an increasing amount of research suggests that athletes, olympians, and avid exercisers may need less protein than is thought to be required. Furthermore regarding food for athletes, daily protein needs for athletes may be less than those needed for sedentary people.
Research conducted by Rennie and Tipton (2000) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10940342?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=5), Butterfield and Calloway (1984) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6704368?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=2), and Phillips (2004) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15212752) suggests that protein metabolism may actually become more efficient with increased physical activity and as a result, athletes and avid exercisers do not require extra dietary protein. Excess protein in the diet is stored as adipose tissue (fat), which interferes with optimal performance and good health. Protein requirement for athletes is thought to be .65 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.

Full Text (http://www.examiner.com/x-672-Disease-Prevention-Examiner~y2010m2d2-Food-for-athletes-and-the-olympian-diet-Daily-protein-needs-less-than-for-sedentary-people)

EDIT:
Link
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 02, 2010, 01:43:08 pm
NEWS - FEB 2, 2010 - PART II/II
jaids

Trends in HIV Prevalence, Estimated HIV Incidence, and Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Bangkok, Thailand, 2003-2007

Our data suggest that after a strong increase from 2003 to 2005, the HIV prevalence among MSM in Bangkok may have begun to stabilize. Given the continuing high levels of risk behavior and the estimated high HIV incidence in young MSM, additional HIV preventive interventions are necessary.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Trends_in_HIV_Prevalence,_Estimated_HIV_Incidence,.12.aspx)

The Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Prevalent Cardiovascular Diseases Among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Men

Among HIV-infected men, hazardous drinking and alcohol abuse and dependence were associated with a higher prevalence of CVD compared with infrequent and moderate drinking even after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors, antiretroviral therapy, and CD4 count.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/The_Association_Between_Alcohol_Consumption_and.14.aspx)

Short-Term Bone Loss in HIV-Infected Premenopausal Women

In premenopausal HIV+ women, index BMD was lower than comparable HIV− women; however, rates of bone loss at the LS and FN were similar over 2.5 years of observation, irrespective of antiretroviral therapy.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Short_Term_Bone_Loss_in_HIV_Infected_Premenopausal.7.aspx)

Comparison of Early CD4 T-Cell Count in HIV-1 Seroconverters in Cote d'Ivoire and France: The ANRS PRIMO-CI and SEROCO Cohorts

CD4+ count and percentage were lower in CI than in France. These differences were already observed during early infection and remained similar after adjustment.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Comparison_of_Early_CD4_T_Cell_Count_in_HIV_1.16.aspx)

Hepatitis C and the Risk of Kidney Disease and Mortality in Veterans With HIV

CKD is prevalent in HIV-infected veterans and associated with substantially higher mortality. Compared with their monoinfected counterparts, veterans coinfected with HCV have significantly higher rates of CKD and mortality.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Hepatitis_C_and_the_Risk_of_Kidney_Disease_and.10.aspx)

Pooled Nucleic Acid Testing to Identify Antiretroviral Treatment Failure During HIV Infection

Virologic monitoring during antiretroviral therapy is not currently being performed in many resource-constrained settings largely because of costs. The presented pooling strategies may be used to significantly reduce the cost compared with individual testing, make such monitoring feasible, and limit the development and transmission of HIV drug resistance in resource-constrained settings. They may also be used to design efficient pooling strategies for other settings with quantitative screening measures.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Pooled_Nucleic_Acid_Testing_to_Identify.6.aspx)

Prediction of HIV Type 1 Subtype C Tropism by Genotypic Algorithms Built From Subtype B Viruses

The genotypic determinants of coreceptor usage for HIV-1 subtype C were mainly in V3 and were globally similar to those previously reported for subtype B viruses. The main genotypic algorithms built from subtype B viruses perfor

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Prediction_of_HIV_Type_1_Subtype_C_Tropism_by.3.aspx)

Sustainability of First-Line Antiretroviral Regimens: Findings From a Large HIV Treatment Program in Western Kenya

These data suggest a moderate incidence of cART changes and discontinuations among this large population of adults in western Kenya. Mostly occurring within 12 months of cART initiation, and primarily due to toxicity, older individuals, those with more advanced disease, and those using zidovudine are at higher risk of experiencing a change or a discontinuation in their cART.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Sustainability_of_First_Line_Antiretroviral.15.aspx)

Pairwise Comparison of Isogenic HIV-1 Viruses: R5 Phenotype Replicates More Efficiently Than X4 Phenotype in Primary CD4+ T Cells Expressing Physiological Levels of CXCR4

When CD4+ T cells express physiological levels of CXCR4 coreceptors, R5 virions are more fit for replication than X4 virions and in vivo that limited surface expression of CXCR4 on cell targets could contribute to the preponderance of R5 viruses.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Pairwise_Comparison_of_Isogenic_HIV_1_Viruses__R5.2.aspx)

Incident Depression Symptoms Are Associated With Poorer HAART Adherence: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Nutrition for Healthy Living Study

Incident depression symptoms were associated with subsequent suboptimal HAART adherence. Ongoing aggressive screening for, and treatment of, depression may improve HAART outcomes.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Incident_Depression_Symptoms_Are_Associated_With.17.aspx)

Insulin Sensitivity in Multiple Pathways Is Differently Affected During Zidovudine/Lamivudine-Containing Compared With NRTI-Sparing Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Treatment with ZDV/3TC/LPV/r versus NVP/LPV/r differentially affects glucose and lipid metabolism. The ZDV/3TC/LPV/r regimen induced peripheral insulin resistance, a transient increase in basal lipolysis and a transient decrease in insulin-mediated inhibition of lipolysis, whereas hepatic insulin sensitivity improved with the NVP/LPV/r regimen.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Insulin_Sensitivity_in_Multiple_Pathways_Is.5.aspx)

Durability of Initial Antiretroviral Therapy in a Resource-Constrained Setting and the Potential Need for Zidovudine Weight-Based Dosing

Lower baseline weight and lower CD4 values at ART initiation were associated with decreased regimen durability. Compared with didanosine/stavudine, AZT use initially increased, then subsequently (>120 days) lowered hazards for regimen discontinuation. Weight <60 kg was associated with an increased risk of toxicity-related AZT discontinuation. As ART use expands globally, further study into maximally durable, least toxic regimens, and the role of weight-based AZT dosing is imperative.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Durability_of_Initial_Antiretroviral_Therapy_in_a.9.aspx)

Pharmacokinetic Interaction of Ritonavir-Boosted Elvitegravir and Maraviroc

During elvitegravir/r plus maraviroc administration, no elvitegravir or ritonavir dose change and a reduced 150-mg dose of maraviroc are recommended.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Abstract/2010/02010/Pharmacokinetic_Interaction_of_Ritonavir_Boosted.8.aspx)


healthfinder

Study Suggests High HIV Rate Among African Teens

In a study that highlights the growing crisis of birth-acquired HIV in teens and young adults, new research has found that nearly 50 percent of youths aged 10 to 18 who were admitted to two public hospitals in Zimbabwe were infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docID=635562)


finanznachrichten

GeoVax Labs, Inc. to Present at the 12th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference

GeoVaxtoday announced that Robert McNally, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, will present a corporate update at the 12th Annual BIO CEO&Investor Conference.
The presentation will take place at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 9, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Full Text (http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2010-02/16041500-geovax-labs-inc-to-present-at-the-12th-annual-bio-ceo-investor-conference-008.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 03, 2010, 01:15:27 pm
NEWS - FEB 3, 2010

aidsmap

Tesamorelin safe and effective for fat accumulation in patients taking HIV treatment

Treatment with tesamorelin significantly improves visceral fat accumulation in patients with HIV, an international team of investigators report in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/EFDF965A-F602-4A12-8325-F95AA8A2575C.asp)

New heat-stable ritonavir tablet approved in Europe

The new heat-stable formulation of ritonavir (Norvir) has been approved in the European Union, manufacturer Abbott announced this week.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/FB13FDFC-88FD-4B2D-8EF8-73F24726269D.asp)


medscape

Efavirenz-Based HAART Most Effective First Treatment of Advanced HIV Infection

Efavirenz (EFV)-based therapy is more effective than lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based therapy in antiretroviral-naive HIV patients with "very advanced" infections, new research shows.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716279)


medicalnewstoday

New Vaccine Effective In Preventing TB In HIV-Positive Patients Phase III Trials Prove To Be A "Significant Milestone" In Vaccination Research

Results from clinical trials conducted in Tanzania show that a new vaccine against tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vaccae (MV), is effective in preventing tuberculosis in people with HIV infection. Findings from the trials, which were conducted by investigators from Dartmouth Medical School in the United States, will be published in the next issue of AIDS, the leading journal in the field of HIV and AIDS research. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177967.php)

Two Studies Find Artefill(R) To Be A Long-Term Treatment Option For Facial Lipoatrophy

Suneva Medical, a privately-held aesthetic medical device company, announced that two clinical studies suggest Artefill may be a safe, effective, long-term treatment option for age-related and HIV lipoatrophy patients. The studies were presented at the Advances in Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology's "Maui Derm 2010" Meeting in Maui, Hawaii January 23-27th and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology (AACS) Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida January 28-31st.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177976.php)


eatg

Kaletra package insert revision regarding drug-drug interaction information

FDA approved revisions to the Kaletra package insert to include drug-drug interaction information for concurrent Kaletra administration with inhaled medicines such as salmeterol or salmeterol in combination with fluticasone propionate (Serevent, Advair) and sildenafil (Revatio).

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Kaletra-package-insert-revision-regarding-drug-drug-interaction-information)

SAfrica's Aspen in $1 mln TB drugs deal with Eli Lilly

Aspen Pharmacare, Africa's biggest generic drugmaker, has signed a $1 million agreement with Eli Lilly to manufacture generic versions of the U.S. firm's tuberculosis medicines.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/TB-Malaria/SAfrica-s-Aspen-in-1-mln-TB-drugs-deal-with-Eli-Lilly)

G8 urged to incorporate child health in AIDS response

The International AIDS Society (IAS) has challenged the world’s wealthiest nations to incorporate child health activities in their response to AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/G8-urged-to-incorporate-child-health-in-AIDS-response)

300 branded drug prices slashed in Ireland

Research-based drugmakers in Ireland cut the prices of almost 300 of their most widely-prescribed medicines by 40% yesterday, in a move aimed at saving the state 94 million euros over the next full year.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/300-branded-drug-prices-slashed-in-Ireland)


asm

Antiviral Efficacy of the Novel Compound BIT225 against HIV-1 Release from Human Macrophages

The activity of BIT225 is post–virus integration, with no direct effects on the HIV–1 enzymes RT and protease. The findings of this study suggest that BIT225 is a late–phase inhibitor of the viral life cycle, targeting Vpu, and is a drug capable of significantly inhibiting HIV–1 release from both acute and chronically infected macrophages.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/835)

Blockade of X4-Tropic HIV-1 Cellular Entry by GSK812397, a Potent Noncompetitive CXCR4 Receptor Antagonist

GSK812397 is a potent entry inhibitor of X4–tropic strains of HIV–1, as demonstrated in multiple in vitro cellular assays and a viral human osteosarcoma assay. The data demonstrate that GSK812397 has antiviral activity against a broad range of X4–utilizing strains of HIV–1 via a noncompetitive antagonism of the CXCR4 receptor.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/817)

Development of an Allele-Specific PCR for Detection of the K65R Resistance Mutation in Patients Infected with Subtype C Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

The selection of drug–resistant variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is an impediment to the efficiency of antiretroviral therapy. The authors have developed an allele–specific real–time PCR assay to explore the presence of K65R minority species among treated HIV–1 subtype B and C infections. Thirty HIV–1 subtype C– and 26 subtype B–infected patients lacking K65R as determined by conventional sequencing methods were studied, and viral minority species were found in four HIV–1 subtype C samples.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/907)

Panel of Prototypical Raltegravir-Resistant Infectious Molecular Clones in a Novel Integrase-Deleted Cloning Vector

The authors created an HIV–1 cloning vector, pNL4.3IN, to generate recombinant infectious molecular clones for analysis of patient–derived HIV–1 integrase coding regions. Using this vector, they constructed a panel of clinically derived viruses with the canonical patterns of raltegravir resistance mutations and submitted the panel to the NIH AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program. Investigational integrase inhibitors with activity against these clones are likely to retain activity against the most clinically relevant raltegravir–resistant variants.

Full Text (http://://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/934)

Chloroquine Modulates HIV-1-Induced Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Alpha Interferon: Implication for T-Cell Activation

The results indicate that TLR stimulation and production of IFN–alpha by pDC contribute to immune activation and that blocking of these pathways using chloroquine may interfere with events contributing to HIV pathogenesis. The results suggests that a safe, well–tolerated drug such as chloroquine can be proposed as an adjuvant therapeutic candidate along with highly active antiretroviral therapy to control immune activation in HIV–1 infection.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/871)


informaworld

AIDS stigma as an obstacle to uptake of HIV testing: evidence from a Zimbabwean national population-based survey

Programmatic strategies aimed at increasing HIV testing uptake should consider reducing stigma toward people living with HIV/AIDS and also addressing the role of agency and structure in individual's decision to be tested for HIV.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918857599~db=all~jumptype=rss)


sciencedirect

AID-mediated somatic hypermutation for generation of viral envelope protein diversity in patient-specific therapeutic HIV vaccines based on induction of neutralizing antibodies

The article represents a vaccination against R5–X4 HIV–1 switching, might open possibilities for creation of patient–specific therapeutic HIV vaccines based on induction of neutralizing antibodies.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T75-4XPB6TD-1)

NK cell activation by KIR-binding antibody 1-7F9 and response to HIV-infected autologous cells in viremic and controller HIV-infected patients

The study shows the role of inhibitory HLA–C ligands in the capacity of NK cells to recognize autologous infected T cells. The authors measured NK cell degranulation in vitro in viremic patients, controllers with low viremia, and healthy donors. No difference in NK cell response to uninfected compared to HIV–1IIIB infected targets was observed. Activation of NK cells was regulated by KIRs, because NK cell degranulation was increased by 1–7F9, a human antibody that binds KIR2DL1/L2/L3 and KIR2DS1/S2, and this effect was most pronounced in KIR haplotype B individuals.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WCJ-4XKSY0F-1)

Immunologic activity and safety of autologous HIV RNA-electroporated dendritic cells in HIV-1 infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy

Mild adverse events included flu–like symptoms, fatigue, and injection site reactions. No evidence of autoimmunity, changes in viral load, or significant changes in absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were observed. This pilot study supports the further clinical investigation of AGS–004.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WCJ-4XM6NF4-1)

Granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease in common variable immunodeficiency

This review discusses in detail pathologic and clinical features of GLILD and its proposed pathogenesis with a particular attention to potential role of human herpesvirus 8. Therapeutic approach is discussed to generate novel treatment strategy to better care for a subgroup of CVID patients afflicted with this entity.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WCJ-4XN0SDD-1)


springerlink

Nd:YAG Laser-Assisted Liposuction for an HIV patient

The authors believe that lipolaser–assisted liposuction using the Smartlipo Deka–Mela neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Nd:YAG) 1,064–mm–long pulse is effective in reducing the cervicodorsal fat pad. The technique is performed using local anesthesia with low operative risks and minimal surgical trauma. The treated zone shows rapid healing, and the whole procedure requires a day–hospital recovery, thus reducing the costs.

Full Text (http://www.springerlink.com/content/v4j1k374586nr5x4/)


febsletters

Omega 3 DHA might prevent brain cell death and help you avoid Alzheimer's

People who suffer the effects of neuro-degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, may find new hope according to a recent study conducted at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
Professor Leigh Ackland, molecular biologist and project leader at Deakin University stated, "We found that when the level of (omega 3) DHA in neuronal (brain) cells drop, the level of zinc rises. The higher levels of zinc can be toxic, resulting in cell death. This type of cell death is a key feature of neuro-degenerative diseases."

Full Text (http://www.febsletters.org/article/S0014-5793%2809%2901059-X/abstract) - Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/x-24152-Healthy-Living-Examiner~y2010m2d3-Omega-3-DHA-might-prevent-brain-cell-death-and-help-you-avoid-Alzheimers)


ottawacitizen

Fewer HIV patients becoming drug-resistant: B.C. study

The study, published in the Jan. 1 edition of Clinical Infections Diseases, reports that from 1996-2008 there has been a 12-fold decrease in drug resistance.

Full Text (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/sexual-health/Fewer+patients+becoming+drug+resistant+study/2428525/story.html)


pharmacyeurope

Stress drugs 'must work with body'

Drugs which follow the body's 'natural rhythms' may have a better chance of fighting stress, researchers have found.

Full Text (http://www.pharmacyeurope.net/default.asp?title=Stressdrugs%27mustworkwithbody%27&page=article.display&article.id=20309&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PharmacyEurope+%28Pharmacy+Europe+latest+news%29)


aahivm

AAHIVM “Pleased, but Not Satisfied” with the President’s Recommended Budget for HIV Care

The country’s largest independent HIV provider organization, the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), praised President Obama’s proposed budget increases for HIV care, which stand in contrast to budget cuts and flat funding for most domestic programs.  However, AAHIVM warned that the numbers fall short to adequately care for the country’s HIV patient population and properly support HIV providers.

Full Text (http://aahivm.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=813&Itemid=144)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Inchlingblue on February 03, 2010, 03:19:29 pm


Efavirenz (EFV)-based therapy is more effective than lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based therapy in antiretroviral-naive HIV patients with "very advanced" infections, new research shows.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716279)

 

Just because it's more effective than lopinavir/ritonavir does not mean EFV-based therapy is the most effective of any HAART. Did this study look at other PIs or Integrase Inhibitors?
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 04, 2010, 12:51:06 pm
Hi Itchingblue

The study was comparing EFV based therapy against LPV/r based therapy in naive patients in a very advanced stage of the infection. In this context, this study say that EFV based therapy is more effective.

John
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 04, 2010, 12:56:44 pm
NEWS - FEB 4, 2010


asm

High Concentration of Raltegravir in Semen of HIV-Infected Men: Results from a Substudy of the EASIER-ANRS 138 Trial

Semen and plasma HIV–1 RNA levels were below 100 copies/ml and 50 copies/ml, respectively, in all samples. The median raltegravir concentrations in semen samples and in plasma samples drawn simultaneously were 345 ng/ml and 206 ng/ml, respectively. The median semen–to–plasma ratio of raltegravir concentration was 1.42, indicating good although variable levels of drug penetration of raltegravir in the seminal compartment.

Full Text (http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/937)


nejm

Acyclovir and Transmission of HIV-1 from Persons Infected with HIV-1 and HSV-2 

Daily acyclovir therapy did not reduce the risk of transmission of HIV–1, despite a reduction in plasma HIV–1 RNA of 0.25 log10 copies per milliliter and a 73% reduction in the occurrence of genital ulcers due to HSV–2.

Full Text (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/362/5/427)


informaworld

Is single-dose NVP relevant in the era of more efficacious PMTCT regimens? Lessons from Zambia 

Single–dose nevirapine has been proven to be a safe and effective drug for the prevention of mother–to–child transmission of HIV. Current systems for dispensing sdNVP may be used as a foundation for implementation of more efficacious PMTCT regimens. The sdNVP administered at first contact should be a safety net for women who are unable to receive more efficacious regimen.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918857528~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Improvements in physical wellbeing over the first two years on antiretroviral therapy in western Kenya 

Skin rash was rare at all times, though higher at two years than any other time. Initial improvements in physical wellbeing were sustained over two years, however, increased pain and skin rash at year two may indicate problems as treatment programs mature. These improvements in physical wellbeing will be important in sustaining the long–term success of HIV treatment programs.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918857960~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Mental health in HIV seronegative and seropositive IDUs in South Florida 

The data support systems enhancement to meet the various psychosocial and health care needs among IDUs and highlight the need for resource allocation to target community–based integrated mental health services in urban populations. The data underscore the need for primary and secondary HIV prevention interventions to address the drug–use risk behaviors among IDUs to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection and transmission in this population.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a913734849~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Promoting vulnerability or resilience to HIV - A qualitative study on polygamy in Maiduguri, Nigeria 

The ways in which these social relationships are negotiated and experienced are in turn shaped by religious traditions, gender roles and relations, education and socio–economic status. Within the religious environment of north–eastern Nigeria, where asymmetrical gender roles and relations and connotations of morality shape experiences of sexual interactions, windows of opportunity to promote behaviour–change strategies to support women and men's resilience to HIV need to be carefully created. Health practitioners and planners should develop partnerships with religious and community leaders and women's groups to construct and deliver behaviour–changes strategies.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918856732~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Pathways to sex-work in Nagaland, India: implications for HIV prevention and community mobilisation 

Women from each of these pathways were significantly different from each other in relation to a range of socio–cultural variables and HIV risk factors. This diversity has implications for HIV prevention strategies, including the willingness and capacity of sex–workers to mobilise as a community and NGO capacity to ensure that the interests of all sex–workers are adequately captured and represented.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918857492~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Symptoms of depression and anxiety among a sample of South African patients living with HIV 

The results suggest that a considerable proportion of the sample may be experiencing psychiatric difficulty, for which they may not be receiving treatment.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918857774~db=all~jumptype=rss)


medicalnewstoday

Anxiety Modulated By Functional Connection Between Hippocampus And Cortex

A new study demonstrates that cooperation between the hippocampus, best known for its critical role in learning and memory, and a principal downstream cortical target modulates anxiety-related behaviors in mice. The research, published by Cell Press in the January 28th issue of the journal Neuron, provides intriguing insight into how anxiety is processed in the brain and may help to explain what governs anxiety-related behaviors.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177414.php)

Wakeful Resting Linked To Improved Memory

New research from the US shows that resting while awake appears to strengthen memory, revealing new insights into how forms of rest other than sleep, affect the memory consolidation process. The findings suggest that even though it may not look like it, when we rest while awake, our brains are still working, something we may find hard to accept in an information technological world that is on the go 24/7.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177782.php)

Obama's FY 2011 Budget Gives Global Health Funding Boost

(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3425/obaman.th.jpg) (http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3425/obaman.jpg)
President Barack Obama's FY 2011 budget request for global health totals $9.6 billion and includes funding for global health activities within the State Department, USAID and HHS, the Wall Street Journal reports. "That compares with $8.8 billion enacted for fiscal 2010," according to the newspaper (McKay, 2/1).

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178027.php)


sciencedirect

Selection of escape mutation by Pol154-162-specific cytotoxic T cells among chronically HIV-1-infected HLA-B-5401-positive individuals 

The longitudinal sequence analysis of the FV9 epitope in two HLA–B–5401+ individuals revealed that the sequence had changed from the wild type to the FV9–7D during the clinical course. These results indicate that the FV9–7D escape mutant had been selected by FV9–specific CTLs among chronically HIV–1–infected HLA–B–5401+ individuals.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T3B-4XKXXM2-2&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info%28%23toc%234942%232010%23999289997%231620094%23FLA%23display%23Volume%29&_cdi=4942&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=18&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0)

Blood soluble human leukocyte antigen G levels are associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in Beninese commercial sex workers 

When adjustment was made for all significant variables, the reduced expression of sHLA–G in the plasma remained significantly associated with HIV–1 infection and the HLA–G 3'UTR 14–bp insertion homozygote genotype. This study demonstrates that low levels of plasma sHLA–G are associated with HIV–1 infection.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T3B-4XNW40X-2&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2010&_rdoc=11&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info%28%23toc%234942%232010%23999289997%231620094%23FLA%23display%23Volume%29&_cdi=4942&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=18&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0)


eatg

Tesamorelin safe and effective for fat accumulation in patients taking HIV treatment

Treatment with tesamorelin significantly improves visceral fat accumulation in patients with HIV, an international team of investigators report in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Tesamorelin-safe-and-effective-for-fat-accumulation-in-patients-taking-HIV-treatment)


eurekalert

Scripps Research scientists find two compounds that lay the foundation for a new class of AIDS drug

Novel therapies could improve potency of existing AIDS treatments, help to combat drug-resistant virus strains.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/sri-srs020310.php) sciencedaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100203172849.htm)


seekingalpha

Achillion Pharma Out-Licensed China Rights for HIV, Hepatitis Treatment

Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ: ACHN) out-licensed the China rights for elvucitabine, to GCA Therapeutics, Ltd. (GCAT) of Jersey City, New Jersey. Elvucitabine is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) for the treatment of both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). GCAT has a China JV with Tianjing Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, which will be responsible for developing and commercializing the drug in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Full Text (http://seekingalpha.com/article/186616-achillion-pharma-out-licensed-china-rights-for-hiv-hepatitis-treatment?source=feed)


reuters

Glaxo drops some drug research in efficiency drive

Dropping depression, pain research; rare diseases in focus * Shares up 1.7 percent.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L) is to cut more costs and abandon some areas of research -- including depression -- joining a growing band of big drugmakers taking a knife to previously sacrosanct drug discovery work.

Full Text (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6121B920100204?rpc=77)


irishtimes

Surgeon with HIV seeking damages

A SURGEON who claims he contracted the HIV virus during the course of his duties has brought a High Court action for damages.

Full Text (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0204/1224263734822.html)


sakaaltimes

Indian HIV Experts seeking additional resources for research

It is believed that around 2.3 million people in India are living with HIV. Of these, an estimated 39 per cent are females and 3.5 per cent are children. In this scenario, urgent need for HIV-AIDS vaccine becomes even more pertinent.
However, the efforts to develop a vaccine to cure HIV-AIDS can only bear better and more fruits with the availability of more scientific research and human clinical trials along with more manpower and funds for research in vaccine development, experts said in an international seminar on AIDS vaccine research.

Full Text (http://www.sakaaltimes.com/SakaalTimesBeta/20100202/4965971846728821524.htm)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 05, 2010, 01:51:27 pm
NEWS - FEB 5, 2010

natap

Protein in Urine Presages More Severe Problems

Patients with heavy proteinuria but without overtly abnormal eGFR appeared to have worse clinical outcomes than those with moderately reduced eGFR but without proteinuria.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020410_02.htm)


eatg

Stavudine in antiretroviral therapy: is this the end?

In 2006, zalcitabine was withdrawn from the market by its manufacturer after its use started to decline because other NRTIs proved to have a more favorable risk/benefit profile. It is time for stavudine to follow this example, either or not enforced by regulatory authorities.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Stavudine-in-antiretroviral-therapy-is-this-the-end) pdf (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/content/download/15991/125155/file/Stavudine%20in%20antiretroviral%20therapy%20-%20is%20this%20the%20end.pdf)

Republic of Korea still has HIV related entry restrictions!

Korea has several HIV-specific restrictions on entry and visa applications for residency, immigration and specific types of international employment. Korean government also requires people who apply for certain kinds of visa application such as international employment to indicate their HIV-free status.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/Republic-of-Korea-still-has-HIV-related-entry-restrictions) doc (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/content/download/15989/125143/file/Republic%20of%20Korea%20still%20has%20HIV%20related%20entry%20restrictions!.doc)

Fight against tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS under threat from success

Unless sufficient extra money can be raised, the eight-year-old fund may be forced for the first time to reject otherwise-solid new proposals from recipient countries, and trim others.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/Aid-fund-faces-cash-crunch)


medicalnewstoday

$4.25 Million For HIV Research In Geneva

The Mintaka Foundation for Medical Research in Geneva announced today that the Wellcome Trust, London, has awarded it approximately CHF 4,500,000 to meet the remaining costs of bringing its flagship product, an anti-HIV microbicide known as 5P12-RANTES, to a first safety trial in the clinic.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178333.php)


youtube

Alicia Keys In Africa, Journey To The Motherland

(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9693/aliciakeys.th.gif) (http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9693/aliciakeys.gif)

Alicia Keys goes to Africa on a journey that changes her life forever. The non-profit organization works on an issue close to the singer's heart -- providing medicine to families with HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enAV5sZY22c) - Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW1XjAkJUpY) - Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgHOlgjDdO0) - Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMCePyEgbY0) - Part 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OF48AGiYg0) - Part 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj6iEXzt_ts) - Part 6 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmtUyX-Rei4)

Youtube search (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Alicia+In+Africa%2C+Journey+To+The+Motherland&search_type=&aq=f)


asianewsnet

Steady rise in HIV cases noted in the Philippines

Since January 1984, when the first HIV-AIDS case in the Philippines was reported, more than 4,000 HIV-positive cases have been recorded in the country.
As of July 2009, there were 432 HIV/AIDS reported cases for the year alone. In the same month, 70 new cases were reported, or almost triple the average of 25 confirmed cases per month.

Full Text (http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=9930&sec=1)


cmu

Carnegie Mellon Physicist the First To Measure Energy Released From a Virus During Infection

"Understanding the energy profile for viral genome release provides information on how to interfere with the process. For example, developing ways to decrease the internal energy in viruses could prevent viruses from ejecting their genome and prevent infection," Evilevitch said.

Full Text (http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2010/February/feb5_virusenergymeasured.shtml)


eurekalert

For HIV-infected children, quality of caregiver relationship is crucial

The study found that the quality of the relationships between the children and their caregivers had a bigger impact on children's physical growth and cognitive performance than the presence of the HIV infection or the quality of the physical environment. In addition, the study found that for both children with and without HIV, family care, even when it was compromised, was better for children than institutional care

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/sfri-fhc012910.php)


medscape

More Than Half of Americans Use Internet for Health

More than half of Americans looked up health information on the Internet last year, U.S. government researchers reported on Tuesday.
But only 5% used email to communicate with their doctors, the survey by the National Center for Health Statistics found.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716427)


aegis

MONTANA: AIDS Medication Funds Stretched

Twenty low-income Montanans are on a waiting list to receive medicines through the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100187)

ILLINOIS: Northwestern University Professor Studies AIDS and Poor Women

From now through mid-summer, a team from Northwestern University will interview Chicago-area women with HIV/AIDS about how their economic life affects their health.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100191)


inpharm

GSK confirms job cuts but avoids specifics

(http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7986/witty3.th.jpg) (http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7986/witty3.jpg)
GlaxoSmithKline chief executive Andrew Witty

The cuts are part of a programme to save around £500 million in the next two years, and a consultation process is underway, Witty said.
Generics remained a threat to the company and during 2009 it lost more than £1.4 billion of sales to cheaper copies in the US market during the year, Witty said, with Avandia sales down 16% to £771 millon.
GSK’s HIV portfolio was also hit hard, but pharma sales in emerging markets grew 20%, representing 10% of group turnover.

Full Text (http://www.inpharm.com/news/gsk-confirms-job-cuts-avoids-specifics)


plusnews

ZIMBABWE: HIV-positive people want constitutional rights

AIDS activists in Zimbabwe have launched a major drive to ensure that the rights of people living with HIV are enshrined in the new constitution.

Full Text (http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87999)


pharmaceutical-technology

Avexa Announces Positive HIV Therapy Trials

Australia's Avexa has announced positive results from a Phase III study of apricitabine (ATC), a new therapy to treat patients with HIV.

The Phase III trial compared ATC to 3TC in drug-resistant HIV patients, showing ATC improved the overall clinical effectiveness of HIV therapy compared to the best-available standard of care.
Avexa chief scientific officer Dr Jonathan Coates said that these results highlight the ability of ATC to maintain suppression of patients' viral loads while increasing CD4+ cell numbers, resulting in a clear clinical benefit.

Full Text (http://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/news76189.html)


individual

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reported another strong quarter

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reported another strong quarter with earnings per share coming in at $0.90, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.82 and the year-ago quarter's earnings of $0.59. For the full year, the company reported a 31% growth in revenues.
We remain optimistic about growth of HIV/AIDS franchise drugs Truvada and Atripla. Earnings over the past few quarters have consistently been above expectations, specifically on strong sales of the HIV franchise products.

Full Text (http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=114209753)


reuters

INTERVIEW-Millions at risk if AIDS focus fades, says expert

Global attention is turning away from the AIDS epidemic at just the wrong time and means a fresh wave of the disease could infect millions of people in high-risk countries, a leading expert said on Friday.

Full Text (http://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFLDE6140GA20100205?feedType=RSS&feedName=southAfricaNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FAfricaSouthAfricaNews+%28News+%2F+Africa+%2F+South+Africa+News%29)


vancouversun

CANADA: $48-million pilot project seeks to find and treat most vulnerable HIV patients

The B.C. government announced a $48-million pilot project Thursday to find and treat sex trade workers and injection drug users who are undiagnosed or untreated for HIV in Prince George and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Full Text (http://www.vancouversun.com/news/million+pilot+project+seeks+find+treat+most+vulnerable+patients/2524743/story.html)


nih

Cytomegalovirus-Specific T Cells Persist at Very High Levels during Long-Term Antiretroviral Treatment of HIV Disease

Long-term successfully treated HIV infected patients have remarkably high levels of CMV-specific effector cells. These levels are similar to that observed in the elderly, but occur at much younger ages. Future studies should focus on defining the potential role of the CMV-specific inflammatory response in non-AIDS morbidity and mortality, including immunosenescence.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20126452?dopt=Abstract)

Treatment adherence: the experience of adolescents with HIV/AIDS

The organization of data focused on positive and negative aspects related to adherence. The results showed that adolescents have difficulties in medication adherence especially due to their side effects; they try to normalize their lives in such a way that stigma and discrimination do not compromise their quality of life and treatment adherence. Recommendations to encourage treatment adherence are presented.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20126851?dopt=Abstract)

HIV therapeutic possibilities of gold compounds

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in decreased mortality and morbidity from the acquired immune deficiency syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Drug resistance and toxicity of HAART has led to the search for novel inhibitors of HIV infection. Gold-based compounds have shown promising activity against a wide range of clinical conditions and microorganism infections including HIV-1. A typical example is auranofin which resulted in an elevated CD4+ T-cell count in an HIV patient being treated for psoriatic arthritis. In addition, reports exist on gold-based inhibitors of reverse transcriptase (RT), protease (PR) and viral entry of host cells. These and other characteristics of gold-based HIV drugs are reviewed here.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20127392?dopt=Abstract)

Impact of Epstein-Barr virus in the clinical evolution of patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma in Brazil

EBV was identified in 52.5% of the cases. Mixed cellularity (MC) subtype was more common in EBV-related tumours (25.5%) (p = 0.005). There was no difference on age, gender, stage and the presence of B symptoms between the two groups. The presence of EBV did not influence event free survival (EFS) (p = 0.38) or overall survival (OS) (p = 0.80) with a median follow-up of 80 months. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that the prevalence of EBV-related cHL in this Brazilian population is 52.5% and, that, the presence of EBV does not change the clinical evolution and OS of patients treated with similar chemotherapy protocols.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20128016?dopt=Abstract)

Pearls: Neurologic Complications of HIV/AIDS

Clinically apparent and frequently debilitating neurologic disease is common with infection by HIV type 1. Approximately one half of all HIV-infected patients will develop clinically significant neurologic disease, and the frequency with which neuropathologic abnormalities are detected at autopsy in some series exceeds 90%, suggesting that neurologic findings are often overlooked. Not surprisingly, careful neurologic examination, even in the absence of specific complaints by the HIV-infected patient, often reveals evidence of central or peripheral nervous system dysfunction. Although neurologic disease typically occurs with advanced disease and profound immunosuppression, it may also occur during early stages of the infection. In as many as 20% of individuals, neurologic disease is the harbinger of AIDS. The spectrum of neurologic disorders that complicate HIV infection is extremely broad; any part of the neuraxis may be affected. Additionally, the complexity of evaluating the HIV-infected person with neurologic disease is increased by the relatively high frequency with which more than one disease concurrently affects the nervous system.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20127584?dopt=Abstract)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: veritas on February 06, 2010, 06:12:11 am

John,

"Protein in Urine Presages More Severe Problems"

Timely post -------- Thanks

v

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 06, 2010, 07:06:15 am
Hi Veritas,

Over 5 years (2002 to 2007) and with heavy proteinuria, death were:

7.2   per 1,000 with eGFR > 60
10.4 per 1,000 with Low eGFR  

Risk of death in the worst case scenario: 1% over 5 years.

Others factor to take into account: albumin-creatinine ratio.

The researchers also indicated that the follow-up period may have been too short to fully evaluate risks of progression to kidney failure.

Compared to the average risk a member of the U.S. population would die from each of the following causes in a given year:

Cancer: 1/510
Motor vehicle accident: 1 / 6700

Source (http://www.hcra.harvard.edu/quiz.html)

Having heavy proteinuria with low eGFR have a comparable risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident.

As risk are cumulated, don't drive and you will have replace a risk by another. :)

Without joking this time, it is something you can monitor and hopefully prevent.

In any case, don't over stress. Your AGAP were like mine (4), and went back to 11 the week after.
In more, your eGRF is above 60, and your albumin and creatine are well in the std range.
Remain to investigate the reason why your protein in the urine is higher than the normal range and how you can work with the help of your ID doc to reduce this risk, still low IMHO.

John

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 06, 2010, 07:08:22 am
NOTE

Renal function: GFR calculator (http://www.cphiv.dk/TOOLS/tabid/282/Default.aspx)

You will find many calculator like this one on the net, as well as the std value.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Inchlingblue on February 06, 2010, 10:22:29 am
This is another good one:

http://nephron.com/cgi-bin/CGSI.cgi
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 08, 2010, 01:28:14 pm
NEWS - FEB 8, 2010
msn

GeoVax Labs, Inc. Begins Enrollment at Final Site for Preventative Vaccine; Next Step Is to Submit IND Application for Therapeutic Vaccine to FDA

Preventative Clinical Trials - Phase 2a
The Phase 2a preventative trial has started enrolling patients at the last 2 of its 13 sites. "We are making great headway at the Iquitos and Miraflores sites in Peru," commented Dr. McNally.

Therapeutic Clinical Trials - Preparing for Phase 1
To help serve those people who are already infected with HIV, the Company is testing its vaccine for the ability to supplant the need for drugs in HIV-positive individuals. Antiretroviral drugs, which have to be taken for life, have side effects and are expensive, costing on average $18,000 per year. GeoVax is currently preparing an Investigational New Drug application (IND) for its Phase 1 therapeutic trial for the FDA. Following receipt of the IND, the FDA has 30 days to respond. If there are no FDA concerns, the company can begin the trial.
This initial trial will be conducted in Atlanta and enroll individuals who began successful antiretroviral therapy within the first year of infection. The goal of this trial is to determine the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in patients with well-controlled infections who started on antiretroviral therapy drugs within six months of testing positive for HIV.

Full Text (http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=PR&date=20100208&id=11097489)


aidsmap

Less resistance with FTC than 3TC when combined with tenofovir

Amongst patients experiencing a rebound in viral load, those taking 3TC (lamivudine, Epivir) in combination with tenofovir (Viread) were more likely than those taking FTC (emtricitabine, Emtriva) and tenofovir to develop a number of key resistance mutations.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/3B103106-B13B-493B-91C4-D40B57AED51D.asp)

Vision loss affecting one in ten Ugandan people with HIV

The lack of routine eye care was the likely cause of the unrecognised but significant and preventable vision loss and eye disease among 11% of HIV-infected adults attending an HIV treatment site in Kampala, Uganda, report Juliet Otiti-Sengeri and colleagues in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/07740443-AA0D-4609-A4FA-55F845A388C1.asp)


natap

Neurologic Disease Despite Undetectable Viral Load & The Use of Drugs That Penetrate Well the CSF

The highest drug levels in the CSF were found for indinavir, nevirapine, abacavir, maraviroc, and lamivudine.
Physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute HIV-associated CNS disorders even in the presence of minor neurological complaints that should prompt a CSF evaluation with the determination of viral replication and genotypic resistance testing. There is a specific need for a better understanding of the dynamics of viral replication in the CNS compartment and its consequences on potential neurological dysfunctions

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020810_07.htm)

Effects of Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor, in HIV-Infected Patients With Abdominal Fat Accumulation

Tesamorelin reduces visceral fat by approximately 18% and improves body image distress in HIV-infected patients with central fat accumulation. These changes are achieved without significant side effects or perturbation of glucose.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020810_06.htm)

HIV Brain Impairment

NEUROLOGY Aug 4 2009
Neurocognitive disturbances continue to occur and may be continuing to evolve in the HAART era following ARV initiation. Rapid cognitive improvements occurred within the first 12 weeks, which continued more gradually throughout the 48-week study period. During this period metabolic changes are occurring in the brain, such as a reduction in cerebral inflammation that enables recovery to occur..
Despite clinically significant and apparently rapid cognitive improvements produced by HAART, treated patients continue to show brain metabolite and neuronal abnormalities.
Source (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/080509_03.htm)

NEUROLOGY May 200
These findings suggest that HIV might affect the functional integrity of medial temporal systems underlying verbal memory performance. HIV serostatus predicted significantly lower immediate and delayed verbal episodic memory, working memory, and visual memory. Verbal episodic memory deficits are evident in HIV+ women and may be associated with hippocampal dysfunction at both encoding and retrieval.
Source (http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/071009_01.htm)

http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020810_04.htmFull Text (http://)

C-reactive protein concentration and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality: an individual participant meta-analysis

CRP concentration has continuous associations with the risk of coronary heart disease, ischaemic stroke, vascular mortality, and death from several cancers and lung disease that are each of broadly similar size. The relevance of CRP to such a range of disorders is unclear. Associations with ischaemic vascular disease depend considerably on conventional risk factors and other markers of inflammation.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020810_03.htm)

C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk: more fuel to the fire

One of the prominent topics in this debate is CRP's role in guiding decision making for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020810_02.htm)

Addition of extended zidovudine to extended nevirapine prophylaxis reduces nevirapine resistance in infants who were HIV-infected in utero

In contrast, we hypothesized that NVP resistance mutations would accumulate in HIV-infected infants in the NVP+ZDV arm after prophylaxis was stopped because NVP has longer half-life than ZDV. In this case, ZDV would be cleared before NVP, leaving the infants exposed to NVP alone for a week or more. Although we did see an accumulation of NVP mutations in the extended NVP+ZDV arm after prophylaxis was stopped, this effect was not statistically significant, possibly due to the small number of infants analyzed.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/020810_01.htm)

Longer HAART (tenofovir) Use Predicts Hepatitis B Clearance

More prolonged use of HBV-active HAART was associated with clearance of both HBeAg and HBsAg.
For those who cleared the antigen, average time on the drugs was 4.25 years, compared with 1.676 for the others.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HBV/020410_01.htm)

Antiviral activity and safety of LB80380 in hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with lamivudine-resistant disease

the results of the present study suggest that LB80380 at doses of up to 240 mg is safe, well tolerated, and effective at reducing viral load in adult patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B for a period of 12 weeks. LB80380 showed promising results causing profound viral suppression after only 12 weeks of therapy. Further clinical investigation focusing on long-term treatment should be performed to verify the effects and safety of this compound for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B viral infection in both treatment-naïve and lamivudine-resistant patients.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HBV/012610_01.htm)

Efficacy of entecavir in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis B virus-related decompensated cirrhosis

One-year initial ETV therapy was similarly effective in both compensated and decompensated liver disease HBV patients. In addition, it improved underlying liver function in decompensated patients.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HBV/012110_01.htm)

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial of CTS-1027 in Combination With Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

"Our studies suggest that CTS-1027 treatment has the potential to amplify the effectiveness of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy. We believe that treating the most refractory patients will give us the best indication as to whether CTS-1027 can enhance the activity of existing therapy," said Steven J. Mento, President and CEO of Conatus. "The field is moving towards combinations of small molecules, and CTS-1027 represents a novel approach that we hope will benefit patients infected with HCV."

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HCV/020410_01.htm)


sciencedaily

Biofilms: Discovery of a New Mechanism of Virus Propagation

Researchers at the Institut Pasteur and CNRS have shown for the first time that certain viruses are capable of forming complex biofilm-like assemblies, similar to bacterial biofilms. These extracellular infectious structures may protect viruses from the immune system and enable them to spread efficiently from cell to cell. "Viral biofilms" would appear to be a major mechanism of propagation for certain viruses. They are therefore emerging as new and particularly attractive therapeutic targets.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100205115946.htm)


ecios

Operations about Hip in Human Immunodefi ciency Virus-Positive Patients 

There were no significant complications in HIV–infected patients after the operations around the hip joint when their preoperative immunity was optimal. In addition, the safety of medical personnel can be assured when the operation is performed in line with the guidelines of HIV infection control.

Full Text (http://www.ecios.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4055/cios.2010.2.1.22)


uchicago

A Phase 1/2 Study of a Multiclade HIV-1 DNA Plasmid Prime and Recombinant Adenovirus Serotype 5 Boost Vaccine in HIV-Uninfected East Africans (RV 172) 

The DNA/rAd5 vaccination regimen was safe and induced HIV type 1 multi-clade T cell responses, which were not significantly affected by titers of preexisting rAd5 neutralizing antibody.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650299)

HIV-1 Causes an Imbalance in the Production of Interleukin-18 and Its Natural Antagonist in HIV-Infected Individuals: Implications for Enhanced Viral Replication 

Production of IL-18 and its antagonist becomes imbalanced in HIV-1–infected persons. The infection and the cytokine milieu play a role in this decreased production. The increased biological activities of IL-18 may enhance viral replication in human CD4+ T cells.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650314)

Paraoxonase-1 Gene Haplotypes Are Associated with Metabolic Disturbances, Atherosclerosis, and Immunologic Outcome in HIV-Infected Patients

In HIV infected patients, haplotype H7 was associated with better CD4+ cell count recovery, higher levels of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I, lower levels of triglycerides, and lower rates of subclinical arteriosclerosis. PON1 haplotypes segregate with HIV infection, HDL metabolism, the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis, and CD4+ cell recovery after treatment.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650312)


drugdiscoverynews

Gene mutations reveal potential new targets for non-Hodgkin’s treatment

A group of researchers have discovered genetic mutations that may contribute to the development of an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
These findings provide insight into a mechanism that cancer cells may use to survive, thus identifying potential new targets for treatment of the disease. The study conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Human Genome Research Institute—all components of the National Institutes of Health—and colleagues appeared in January in Nature.

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3612)


nih

Youth Living With HIV and Problem Substance Use: Elevated Distress Is Associated With Nonadherence and Sexual Risk

A total of 87% of distressed YLH reported significantly more past-month ARV nonadherence (odds ratio [OR] = 7.15) and were more likely to have unprotected sex under the influence (OR = 5.14) than nondistressed youth. Conclusions: Distressed YLH with problem substance use may benefit from interventions to improve adherence and to decrease sexual risk, especially while under the influence of drugs.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20133498?dopt=Abstract)

Prevalence of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 Among Treatment-Experienced Individuals in Spain

Coreceptor usage was determined by viral tropism assays: 290 (68.9%) patients had CCR5-tropic HIV-1 virus, and 131 (31.1%) had dual-tropic/mixed or CXCR4 virus variants. Mean CD4+ cell counts in the R5 group (319.4 cells/mm3) were higher than in the non-R5 group (237.9 cells/mm3) (p = .0005). There was an inverse relationship between CD4+ cell counts and plasma viral load, but regression analyses on covariates associated with CCR5 tropism showed that only a higher CD4+ cell number was significantly associated with CCR5 coreceptor usage. Conclusions: The prevalence of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 among treatment-experienced patients in Spain is higher than previously found in other geographical settings. We did not find independent markers predictive of coreceptor usage other than a relationship with CD4+ levels.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20133270?dopt=Abstract)

Similar Safety and Efficacy of Once- and Twice-Daily Lopinavir/Ritonavir Tablets in Treatment-Experienced HIV-1-Infected Subjects at 48 Weeks.

LPV/r dosed QD resulted in increased treatment adherence and was as efficacious as BID LPV/r while providing similar safety, tolerability, and limited resistance evolution.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20134330?dopt=Abstract)

Engineering an artificial zymogen by alternate frame protein folding

Using the AFF mechanism, we were able to suppress k(cat)/K(M) by 250-fold in the proenzyme relative to wild-type barnase. HIV-1 protease cleavage subsequently increases k(cat)/K(M) by 130-fold. AFF is significant because it is general and can in principle be used to control activity of many enzymes, including those whose functions are not regulated by any existing mechanism.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20133757?dopt=Abstract)

Lens epithelium-derived growth factor fusion proteins redirect HIV-1 DNA integration

The ability to redirect HIV-1 DNA integration may help solve the problems associated with the activation of oncogenes when retroviruses are used in gene therapy.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20133638?dopt=Abstract)


forbes

Inovio Biomedical Cervical Cancer Therapeutic Vaccine Generates Dose-Related Immune Response

"While recent HPV preventive vaccines have been successful in protecting against infections that may lead to cervical cancer, Inovio's therapeutic vaccine targets the millions of women already infected with HPV and is intended to treat pre-cancerous cells and cervical cancer caused by this virus. Current vaccines do not serve this group of women."

Full Text (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/businesswire/2010/02/08/businesswire135111895.html)


monitor

An HIV positive widow’s struggle to survive against all odds

Joyce is HIV positive and looks after eight children. She spoke to Stella Nakakande about her ups and downs of life as a widow without a stable place to call home.

Full Text (http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Health%20&%20Living/-/689846/816886/-/3h40t0z/-/index.html)


irinnews

SOUTH AFRICA: Inequality not so black and white

The growing gulf between the haves and have-nots in the black population has given South Africa the dubious distinction of becoming one of the world's most unequal societies, according to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (http://www.oecd.org/home/0,3305,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html), an inter-government body.

Full Text (http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88038)


newsmax

Study: Gay Marriage Involves More Outside Relationships

A federally-funded study by San Francisco State University that followed 556 local male couples for three years found that half “have sex outside their relationships, with the knowledge and approval of their partners,” according to The New York Times.

Full Text (http://newsmax.com/US/gay-marriage-study-outside/2010/02/07/id/349205)


newsrx

Recent findings from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Health Science Center highlight research in herpes simplex virus

Scientists discuss in 'VEGF-A expression by HSV-1-infected cells drives corneal lymphangiogenesis' new findings in herpes simplex virus. "Inflammatory lymphangiogenesis plays a crucial role in the development of inflammation and transplant rejection. The mechanisms of inflammatory lymphangiogenesis during bacterial infection, toll-like receptor ligand administration, and wound healing are well characterized and depend on ligands for the vascular endothelial grow factor receptor (VEGFR) 3 that are produced by infiltrating macrophages," scientists in the United States report.

Full Text (http://www.newsrx.com/articles/1760621.html)


busrep

Freeze on HIV spending sparks concern in Africa 

A US decision to freeze spending on treatment for HIV in several African countries has prompted concern that some of the gains made against the AIDS epidemic since 2003 could be reversed.

Full Text (http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=552&fArticleId=5343785)


individual

HIV/Aids- Poor Feeding Shortens Life

FOOD insecurity may have no borders but its effects are far more consequential for those bound up in other predicaments. And for people living with HIV/AIDS, the effects of food insecurity are profound.

Full Text (http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=114307430)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 09, 2010, 02:10:37 pm
NEWS - FEB 9, 2010

eurekalert

Researchers reveal 3-D structure of bullet-shaped virus with potential to fight cancer, HIV

This research has shown that VSV has the potential to be genetically modified to serve as an anti-cancer agent, exercising high selectivity in killing cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, and as a potent vaccine against HIV.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/uoc--rr3020810.php)


hivandhepatitis

Kaiser Study Finds Link between First-line Tenofovir (Viread) Use and Kidney Impairmen

Tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada and Atripla combination pills) can cause kidney (renal) impairment with long-term use, especially in patients with decreased kidney function at baseline, according to a study reported in the January 2010 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. These findings underline the importance of monitoring kidney function before and during treatment.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/0209_2010_a.html)


uchicago

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Raltegravir Combined with Optimized Background Therapy in Treatment-Experienced Patients with Drug-Resistant HIV Infection 

BENCHMRK–1 and –2 are ongoing double-blind phase III studies of raltegravir in patients experiencing failure of antiretroviral therapy with triple-class drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus infection. At week 96, raltegravir plus optimized background therapy was generally well tolerated, with superior and durable antiretroviral and

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650002)

Transmission of HIV-1 Drug-Resistant Variants: Prevalence and Effect on Treatment Outcome

The authors found the prevalence of TDR in recently infected ART-naive patients to be higher than that estimated by ViroSeq genotyping alone. Follow-up of patients after treatment initiation showed a trend toward there being more clinical complications for patients carrying TDR, although a significant effect on treatment outcome could not be demonstrated. Therefore, the clinical relevance of low-abundance resistant quasispecies in early infection is still in question.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650001)


nih

Monotherapy with Lopinavir/Ritonavir as Maintenance After HIV-1 Viral Suppression: Results of a 96-Week Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label, Pilot Trial (KalMo Study).

Results: 60 patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. At Week 96, by intention-to-treat analysis, 24/30 (80.0%) subjects in monotherapy group and 26/30(86.6%) in the control group had a plasma viral load of <80 copies/mL. There was one virologic failure (defined as VL not greater-than 500 copies/mL) in each arm. Genotyping testing identified no resistance-associated mutations. The patient on the monotherapy arm was successfully resuppressed to <80 copies/mL after intensification with tenofovir and lamivudine. No statistically significant differences were found with regard to changes in CD4 counts. One subject in the monotherapy group discontinued due to diarrhea. Five subjects in the control group underwent regimen changes due to drug-related toxicities. Viral load from semen samples collected at the end of follow-up was undetectable on 14/15 patients randomized to monotherapy.
Conclusions: Switching from various HAART regimens to LPV/r monotherapy in patients who were virologically suppressed and without a history of previous virologic failure was effective, safe, and well tolerated through 96 weeks.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20133267?dopt=Abstract)


businessweek

Gilead Quad Pill Can Overtake Atripla, Milligan Says (Update1)

Gilead Sciences Inc., the world’s biggest maker of AIDS medicines, will begin three final-stage tests in 2010 for a four-drug combination pill against HIV that has the potential to generate $4 billion a year.
The “quad” can overtake sales of Atripla, Gilead’s three- drug pill, Chief Operating Officer John Milligan said today in an interview. “If patients are already on Atripla and they want to switch because they have side effects, this would be a good substitution,” Milligan said.

Full Text (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-09/gilead-s-aids-quad-pill-is-exciting-new-agent-coo-says.html)


plos

Antiretroviral therapy associated with increase in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa

A study conducted in a multi-country HIV treatment program in sub-Saharan Africa has found that pregnancy rates increase in HIV-infected women after they start antiretroviral therapy.
The rate of new pregnancies was significantly higher among women receiving ART (9.0/100 person-years) compared to women not on ART (6.5/100 person-years) (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–2.54).

Full Text (http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000229) pdf (http://wwww.plos.org/press/plme-07-02-myer.pdf)


drugdiscoverynews

MIT, Rockefeller researchers grow hepatitis C in healthy liver cells, creating way to test new treatments for disease

The estimated 200 million people worldwide who suffer from hepatitis C, an infectious disease affecting the liver, may soon benefit from new tests and treatments made possible by a recent discovery by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Rockefeller University.

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3613)


medscape

Resistance to Maturation Inhibitors—Will Bevirimat Find a Role?

Thirty-two percent of wild-type viruses have polymorphisms that diminish the activity of bevirimat, as do 45% of viruses from treatment-experienced patients with PI resistance.
Given the relatively high prevalence of bevirimat resistance among wild-type clade B viruses (>30%), bevirimat is unlikely to prove useful for many treatment-naive patients. Despite the fact that PI resistance is associated with diminished activity of bevirimat overall, there will clearly be patients for whom the drug retains activity despite PI (and other class) resistance. It is this population that may benefit most from availability of bevirimat, since access to new antiretroviral classes can be the key to viral suppression among highly treatment-experienced patients. The use of resistance testing that incorporates the gag region of the HIV genome will be an essential step in selecting appropriate patients for bevirimat.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715275)

Longer Needle May Be Preferred for HBV Vaccination of Obese Teens

Use of a longer needle results in significantly higher titers in response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine among obese adolescents, according to the results of a randomized study reported online in the February 8 issue of Pediatrics.
Compared with obese adolescents immunized with a 1-inch needle, those who were immunized with a 1.5-inch needle had significantly higher antibody titers to hepatitis B surface antigen (median titers 189.8 mIU/mL with the 1-inch needle; 345.4 mIU/mL with the 1.5-inch needle; P = .03).

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716605)

PML Risk Increases With Repeated Natalizumab Infusions: FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today notified healthcare professionals and patients that the risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) increases with the number of infusions in patients treated with natalizumab (Tysabri).

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716536)


yahoo

Clinton Foundation deploys SAS® in global HIV/AIDS fight

The struggle against HIV/AIDS and other scourges of developing nations shares unexpected concerns with large corporations: limited resources; too much data; too little useful information; and a challenging and changing environment.
“SAS lets us do complex math in real time or very quickly – calculations you can’t do on the back of an envelope. There are things SAS does in minutes that take hours using other technology.’’ CHAI tried using Microsoft Excel for complex simulations, but found that the spreadsheet was not up to the task.

Full Text (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Clinton-Foundation-deploys-bw-176184594.html?x=0&.v=1)


seattletimes

Starbucks' new heart cup reminds customers of its partnership with (Red) to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa

A new cup at Starbucks' U.S. stores features a heart and a reminder about the company's commitment to the (Red), an organization that partners with big companies like Nike, Gap and Starbucks to help people with HIV in Africa.

Full Text (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/coffeecity/2011016081_heart_on_new_starbucks_cups_is.html?syndication=rss)


aegis

AUSTRALIA: Rapid Decline in Presentations of Genital Warts After the Implementation of a National Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Program for Young Women

Australia has provided free quadrivalent HPV vaccine to 12- to 18-year-old girls through a school-based program since April 2007 and to women age 26 and younger through general medical practices since July 2007.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100206)

UNITED STATES: Truth About Sex: 60 Percent of Young Men, Teen Boys Lie About It

Results from an online survey of sex and relationships, including attitudes and sexual history, paint a complicated picture for young US men.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100204)


eatg

Price rises "will drive US drug spend to $457.8 billion by 2019"

US prescription drug spending is estimated to have grown 5.2% to $246.3 billion in 2009, a two percentage point rise over 2008 which was due to increased per person usage of medicines and higher price growth for brand-name drugs, say new government figure.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/Price-rises-will-drive-US-drug-spend-to-457.8-billion-by-2019)


aidsmap

Higher viral load during early pregnancy, poor adherence, associated with increased risk of HIV infection for infants

A higher viral load during the earlier stages of pregnancy is an important risk factor for mother-to-child transmission of HIV, even when a woman’s viral load is below 500 copies/ml at the time of delivery, French investigators report in the February 15th edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/09E2AEE6-C99B-424C-9FD1-13699EF1B1F1.asp)

HIV treatment responses in everyday care matching clinical trial levels

Patients receiving routine HIV care through a large US hospital had treatment responses that matched responses rates seen in recent clinical trials, indicating that very high rates of undetectable viral load are achievable in everyday clinical care, US investigators report in the February 15th edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/9486A04C-3698-4FE8-A316-D547182835E2.asp)

Vision loss affecting one in ten Ugandan people with HIV

The lack of routine eye care was the likely cause of the unrecognised but significant and preventable vision loss and eye disease among 11% of HIV-infected adults attending an HIV treatment site in Kampala, Uganda, report Juliet Otiti-Sengeri and colleagues in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/07740443-AA0D-4609-A4FA-55F845A388C1.asp)


wiley

Human immunodeficiency virus infection during pregnancy induces CD4 T-cell differentiation and modulates responses to Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine in HIV-uninfected infants

The authors observed a bimodal response that allowed infants to be classified as high or low responders and found that fewer infants born to HIV–positive mothers were able to mount a robust proliferative response, suggesting that their reduced CD4 counts and increased differentiation indicated a deficiency in their ability to develop immunological memory.

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123197948/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


jpedsurg

Effect of maternal human immunodeficiency virus status on the outcome of neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis

All patients with NEC requiring surgery between June 1998 and June 2008 were analyzed. Three groups were identified: those born to HIV–positive (HIV+) mothers, those born to HIV–negative mothers, and those with an unknown HIV status. Neonates with NEC born to HIV+ mothers have a higher mortality.

Full Text (http://www.jpedsurg.org/article/PIIS0022346809008677/abstract?rss=yes)


cdc

Emergence of Increased Resistance and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Despite Treatment Adherence, South Africa

The findings suggested that existing TB control measures were inadequate to control the spread of drug–resistant TB in this HIV co–infected population. Diagnosis delay and inappropriate therapy facilitated disease transmission and drug–resistance. These data call for improved infection control measures, implementation of rapid diagnostics, enhanced active screening strategies, and pharmacokinetic studies to determine optimal dosages and treatment regimens.

Full Text (http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/2/264.htm)


modernmedicine

Racial Disparities in Perinatal HIV Infections Decline Slightly

Racial disparities in perinatal HIV diagnoses have declined in recent years, although African-Americans and Hispanics still account for the majority of infections, according to research published in the Feb. 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Margaret A. Lampe, R.N., and colleagues at the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention in Atlanta analyzed 2004 to 2007 data from 34 states on perinatal

Full Text (http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Racial-Disparities-in-Perinatal-HIV-Infections-Dec/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/655890?contextCategoryId=40133&ref=25)


nytimes

H.I.V. and Herpes: Treating Herpes Doesn’t Reduce Chance That AIDS Virus Will Spread, Study Finds

Treating herpes in people who are also infected with H.I.V. does not reduce the chances that they will pass on the AIDS virus, according to a new study.

Full Text (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/health/09glob.html)


dnaindia

No headway on HIV vaccine after 20 years

“Efforts to produce a vaccine against HIV have not been succeeding due to unavailability of suitable animal species for clinical trials,’’ Dr Ramesh Paranjape, director, National Aids Research Institute (Nari) said. Polio and malaria are other diseases that took longer periods for vaccine development.
On the use of monkeys in clinical trials, Paranjape said monkeys are used in HIV vaccine trials as they get the infection simian immuno-deficiency virus, which is 60% identical to that of the HIV virus found in humans.

Full Text (http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_no-headway-on-hiv-vaccine-after-20-years_1345281)


fox23

Seniors Living With HIV

he Oklahoma Department of Health says in 2005 (latest statistics) there were 141 people over the age of 50 who were living with HIV/AIDS in Tulsa.

Full Text (http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Seniors-Living-With-HIV/o6Zce2gbEECPQ9NzyfvMlQ.cspx)


mb

PHILS: BPO sector asked to address HIV in workplace

Employers in business process outsourcing (BPO) sector were asked Tuesday to seriously tackle HIV/AIDS in the workplace after an increase in the number of positive HIV cases was noted among its workers.

Full Text (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/242625/bpo-sector-asked-address-hiv-workplace)


wfubmc

Laboratory-Grown Replacement of Penile Erectile Tissue In Animals Suggests Potential to Benefit Patients

While older men have plenty of treatment choices when it comes to losing erectile function, men born with a defective penis have few options available. The success of the rabbit study may lead to a new treatment for men born with dysfunctional erectile tissue, who have been diagnosed with penile cancer, suffered trauma, and in some instances, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction. And scientists weren’t the only ones expressing enthusiasm for the new treatment—the male rabbits given bioengineered organs rushed to copulate with a female within 60 seconds of introduction.

Full Text (http://www.wfubmc.edu/penile-erectile-tissue-replacement.htm)


individual

CANADA: PREZISTA(R)* Now Approved as Part of Combination Therapy for Pediatric Patients Six Years of Age and Older with HIV

Approval based on DELPHI study that demonstrated 74 per cent of pediatric patients taking PREZISTA(R) in combination with other antiretrovirals had at least a 90 per cent reduction in viral loads at 24 weeks.

Full Text (http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=114388318)

UGANDA: New Strategies Needed in Fight Against HIV Among Adolescents

According to statistics from Uganda's Ministry of Health and UNAIDS, about 110,000 children are living with HIV/Aids in the country. Of these, 50,000 children are in need of Anti retroviral treatment. With 135,000 new HIV infections annually of which over 19,000 are children, the number of children that requires treatment will continue to increase.

Full Text (http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=114401239)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 10, 2010, 01:27:23 pm
NEWS - FEB 10, 2010

healthfinder

Vaccine May Prevent TB in People With HIV

Clinical trial results mark 'significant milestone,' expert says.
Phase III trials of 2,000 HIV-infected people in Tanzania found that the mycobacterium vaccae (MV) vaccine reduced the rate of definite tuberculosis (TB) by 39 percent. The findings have been published online in the journal AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docID=635803)


aidsmap

Even very low levels of pre-existing resistance increase risk of efavirenz failure

Very small amounts of transmitted drug resistance can increase the risk of efavirenz treatment failure, US investigators report in the March 1st edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases (now online).

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/94D579D9-543E-40BE-A5E7-E30514980720.asp)

Higher viral load during early pregnancy, poor adherence, associated with increased risk of HIV infection for infants

A higher viral load during the earlier stages of pregnancy is an important risk factor for mother-to-child transmission of HIV, even when a woman’s viral load is below 500 copies/ml at the time of delivery, French investigators report in the February 15th edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/09E2AEE6-C99B-424C-9FD1-13699EF1B1F1.asp)

XDR TB emerging despite good adherence, due to sub-optimal treatment and bad infection control

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis is most likely emerging as a result of delays in diagnosis, sub-optimal treatment and poor infection control, not failures in patient adherence, a newly published study of XDR TB cases in a South African gold mine suggests.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D41DCB96-4856-4F88-B8E8-71512F289403.asp)


wiley

Safety and Efficacy in HIV-1-Infected Patients Treated with Ritonavir-Boosted Saquinavir Mesylate 

Treatment with the saquinavir 500 mg film–coated tablet resulted in few grade 3 or 4 AEs and was well tolerated and effective in a broad population of patients

Full Text (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123261878/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)


plos

Causes of Acute Hospitalization in Adolescence: Burden and Spectrum of HIV-Related Morbidity in a Country with an Early-Onset and Severe HIV Epidemic: A Prospective Survey 

HIV is the commonest cause of adolescent hospitalisation in Harare, mainly due to adult–spectrum opportunistic infections plus a high burden of chronic complications of paediatric HIV/AIDS. Low HSV–2 prevalence and high maternal orphanhood rates provide further evidence of long–term survival following mother–to–child transmission. Better recognition of this growing phenomenon is needed to promote earlier HIV diagnosis and care.

Full Text (http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000178)


oxfordjournals

Predictors of Optimal HIV Appointment Adherence in Minority Youth: A Prospective Study 

Interventions promoting motivation and self–efficacy, while addressing alcohol use and awareness of appointment adherence may be promising in improving optimal HIV appointment adherence in minority youth.

Full Text (http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jsq002)


jimmunol

HIV Protective KIR3DL1 and HLA-B Genotypes Influence NK Cell Function Following Stimulation with HLA-Devoid Cells 

The results support a link between KIR/HLA genotypes and NK cell function and could provide an explanation for the observation that some KIR/HLA combinations are associated protective phenotypes in the context of host–HIV interactions.

Full Text (http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/184/4/2057)


asm

Low Prevalence Rate of Indeterminate Serological Human Immunodeficiency Virus Results among Pregnant Women from Burkina Faso (West Africa) 

In clinical practice, pregnant women with such indeterminate results are now reassured during post–test counseling that they are very unlikely to be infected with HIV–1. As a consequence, such women with indeterminate results can reliably be considered negative when urgent clinical decisions need to be taken.

Full Text (http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/JCM.01734-09v1)


eatg

Dynavax initiates large-scale Phase 3 trial of HEPLISAV(TM)

Phase 3 trial is designed to demonstrate the lot-to-lot consistency of commercial vaccine and to complete the safety database for HEPLISAV; The secondary objectives include the safety of HEPLISAV as compared to Engerix-B.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Dynavax-initiates-large-scale-Phase-3-trial-of-HEPLISAV-TM)

Debiopharm Group™ grants an exclusive licence for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of Debio 02

A potent, first-in-class antiviral agent for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Debiopharm-Group-grants-an-exclusive-licence-for-the-development-manufacture-and-commercialisation-of-Debio-025)

Delhi High Court rejects Bayer’s appeal for patent linkage

If introduced, the patent linkage system would have seriously impacted the early entry of generic drugs into the market.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/Delhi-High-Court-rejects-Bayer-s-appeal-for-patent-linkage)


physorg

Soft drink consumption may increase risk of pancreatic cancer

Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly twofold compared to individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Full Text (http://www.physorg.com/news184828475.html)


pnas

Strike three for smokers: Third-hand smoke is identified as dangerous

Third-hand smoke is the smoke that clings to other surfaces, such as furniture, clothing, curtains and other fabric, as well as hard surfaces.
This study shows that residual nicotine from tobacco smoke sorbed to indoor surfaces reacts with ambient nitrous acid (HONO) to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Substantial levels of TSNAs were measured on surfaces inside a smoker’s vehicle. Laboratory experiments using cellulose as a model indoor material yielded a > 10-fold increase of surface-bound TSNAs when sorbed secondhand smoke was exposed to 60 ppbv HONO for 3 hours. In both cases we identified 1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal, a TSNA absent in freshly emitted tobacco smoke, as the major product. The potent carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone and N-nitroso nornicotine were also detected.

Full Text (http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/02/04/0912820107)


irishhealth

Many chronic patients fail to take meds properly

Four out of 10 patients being treated for chronic conditions do not take their medication as prescribed, making their treatment less effective and more expensive, new research indicates.

Full Text (http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=16853)


yahoo

Chinese doctors dismiss HIV-like mystery disease as prostitute guilt

A mystery illness with HIV-like symptoms has been reported by hundreds of Chinese, but doctors believe it is just "HIV phobia" caused by guilt from having sex with prostitutes.
Many patients suspect they are being lied to when their HIV tests come back negative, even those who have had as many as seven tests, News.com.au reports.

Full Text (http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100210/874/twl-chinese-doctors-dismiss-hiv-like-mys.html)

MAC AIDS Fund Survey Reveals 73 Percent of Women Unaware of their Current HIV Status - False Sense of Security Prevents Most Women from Taking Control

The MAC AIDS Fund (MAF) today launched its latest VIVA GLAM campaign, a women's initiative aimed at strengthening the service network and resources available to women living with and at risk of contracting HIV.

Full Text (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/MAC-AIDS-Fund-Survey-Reveals-prnews-4183918941.html?x=0&.v=1)


ptinews

INDIA: HIV-afflicted youth commits suicide

Ostracised by society and abandoned by family members, a young HIV patient allegedly committed suicide by setting himself afire in the district, police said here today.
The incident took place in Koskharatala Mahadevpura village of Koraon tehsil, about 65 kms from here, when the 25-year-old youth took the extreme step last night, police said.

Full Text (http://www.ptinews.com/news/510123_HIV-afflicted-youth-commits-suicide)


ibnlive

Hospital accused of infecting HIV to kids given clean chit

(http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3780/jodphur.th.gif) (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3780/jodphur.gif)
A report submitted to the Government on Tuesday on HIV infection of five Thalassemic children allegedly during blood transfusion at a hospital in Jodhpur has virtually given a clean chit to the facility, saying the infection might have happened from elsewhere.

Full Text (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hospital-accused-of-infecting-hiv-to-kids-given-clean-chit/109934-17.html)


pioneerlocal

Teens eager to 'do justice' to 'Laramie Project' story

"The Laramie Project" is a true story that takes a look at the 1998 killing of a gay college student through many prisms, but mostly through the eyes of the residents Laramie, Wyo., where the victim, Matthew Shepard, attended school.
Student Simone Sklan portrays the redemptive Reggie Fluty, a female police officer who discovers Matthew tied to the fence, unsure if what she's seeing is a human.
"She does feel a kind of connection to him," said Sklan, noting that Reggie lives with the worry that she contracted the victim's HIV in her attempts to save him. "It really affects her life, but she still stands behind what she did."

Full Text (http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/lifestyles/currents/2039253,evanston-laramie-021110-s1.article)


volanteonline

Gay men still banned from giving blood

Homosexual men are permanently banned from donating blood because of the higher likelihood of carrying HIV/AIDS. The Food and Drug Administration adopted this policy in 1983 in an effort to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease via blood transfusion.

Full Text (http://www.volanteonline.com/verve/gay-men-still-banned-from-giving-blood-1.2146337)


nih

A qualitative study of participant adherence in a randomized controlled trial of herpes suppressive therapy for HIV prevention in Tanzania

The trial found participants completed 72% of visits on treatment; 52-56% of women on treatment had >/=90% adherence by pill count estimate; and between six and nine months 30/86 (35%) of urine samples from acyclovir recipients tested acyclovir negative, and 7/86 (8%) from placebo recipients tested acyclovir positive.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20140794?dopt=Abstract)

Validation of the MOS-HIV as a measure of health-related quality of life in persons living with HIV and liver disease.

Management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with potent antiretroviral medication has transformed HIV into a chronic condition and has shifted much of the burden of disease to co-morbid conditions such as liver disease (LD). LD alone has been shown to have a significant effect on one's health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Clinical evidence suggests that the growing number of persons living with HIV + LD may have a poorer HRQOL than persons with HIV without LD. To date, the widely accepted instrument to assess HRQOL, Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), has not been evaluated for reliability and validity in a population of HIV-infected persons with LD.
Results. The psychometric properties of the MOS-HIV were supported by testing reliability and construct, convergent, discriminative, and predictive validity. The MOS-HIV discriminated between those persons living with HIV with and without LD on the basis of the physical function subscale scores (p=0.018).
Conclusion. This study found the MOS-HIV valid and reliable instrument in persons with HIV + LD.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20140792?dopt=Abstract)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 11, 2010, 02:34:51 pm
NEWS - FEB 11, 2010

eurekalert

Scientists discover origin of HIV transmission among male partners

(http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1557/smithj.th.jpg) (http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1557/smithj.jpg)
Davey Smith, M.D., M.A.S.

"Until now, it had not been established whether HIV RNA or DNA is transmitted during sex," said Smith.
"By analyzing the genetic differences between these two forms and the virus that was ultimately transmitted to newly infected individuals we found that it was the HIV RNA form present in seminal plasma that was transmitted."
Smith notes that because the study involved pairs of men who have sex with men, the findings do not comment directly on HIV transmission to women.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/uoc--sdo020810.php) sciencedaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100210141649.htm)

Burden of HIV/TB infections increasingly falling on Hispanic community

The results of an innovative study to understand what factors may influence who contracts tuberculosis (TB)/HIV co-infection in San Diego show a significant shift in the ethnic makeup of the disease, with the majority of cases now coming from the Hispanic community.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/uoc--boh021010.php)


eatg

HIV treatment might increase clearance of HPV infection in women

Women living with HIV who regularly take antiretroviral therapy may be more likely to clear human papillomavirus and cervical lesions than women who don’t consistently take their meds.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/HIV-STIs/HIV-treatment-might-increase-clearance-of-HPV-infection-in-women)

Uganda: Bill sets 10 yrs for spreading AIDS

A stringent bill on HIV/AIDS is expected to be presented before Parliament this month. Under the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill 2009, spreading the disease knowingly will become a criminal offence.
Anybody who willfully and intentionally transmit the disease faces a fine of sh4.8m or imprisonment of up to 10 years or both.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/World-Policy/Uganda-Bill-sets-10-yrs-for-spreading-AIDS)

Medicines shortage prompts Government summit

The shortage of medicines as unscrupulous dealers take advantage of cheap prices in Britain and then sell them abroad for profit has prompted ministers to call a summit.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/Medicines-shortage-prompts-Government-summit)




OctoPlus announces that Locteron interim Phase IIb data have been accepted for oral and poster presentations at International Liver Congress in April

"We are delighted that the interim data for Locteron have been one of few to be selected for an oral presentation at this prestigious conference. We look forward to seeing the data and believe that this is very good news for the future of Locteron."
Biolex will present interim results after 12 weeks of treatment from its two Phase IIb studies for Locteron versus PEG-Intron® at the International Liver Congress in April, organised by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/OctoPlus-announces-that-Locteron-interim-Phase-IIb-data-have-been-accepted-for-oral-and-poster-presentations-at-International-Liver-Congress-in-April) More (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Biolex-announces-Locteron-R-Phase-2b-interim-results-in-hepatitis-C-accepted-for-presentation-at-EASL-Conference)

Pharmasset reports smaller 1st-quarter loss after ending study of hepatitis B drug candidate

In April, Pharmasset ended development of a hepatitis drug candidate called clevudine, citing side effects like muscle weakness. Clevudine had been the company's most advanced drug candidate.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Hepatitis/Pharmasset-reports-smaller-1st-quarter-loss-after-ending-study-of-hepatitis-B-drug-candidate)


bbc

Genes behind stammering uncovered

Stammering affects about 1% of all adults worldwide.
Those affected repeat or prolong sounds, syllables or words, disrupting the normal flow of speech.
Two of these, GNPTAB and GNPTG, have already been linked to two serious metabolic diseases in which components of cells are not effectively recycled.
These disorders, known as lyposomal storage disorders, lead to a build-up of a potentially dangerous substance which can cause problems in almost every area of the body, including the brain.

Full Text (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8507086.stm)


aegis

Swaziland: Dating in a Time of HIV

Jabulile Dlamini* is sweet sixteen and has never been kissed. And she is not expecting to be kissed any time soon or to even receive any gifts this Valentine's Day.
While most of the girls in her class are excited about receiving presents from their boyfriends on February 14, Dlamini - who is HIV-positive - does not think she will get any.

Full Text (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=2689)

Africa: High hopes as new TB vaccine proves effective

"This is the first TB vaccine to show effectiveness in any clinical trial," Dartmouth's Dr Richard Waddell told IRIN/PlusNews. "It will re-energize the search for an even more effective TB vaccine, which is especially urgent in Africa."
According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV in Africa; globally, one in four TB deaths is HIV-related.

Full Text (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=2690)

Medi-Cal change raises concerns

A state program that helps people, including those living with HIV/AIDS, get access to health care is dropping patients because they already qualify for another program, leading some to fear they won't have adequate medical coverage.
The state's Health Insurance Premium Payment program pays private health insurance premiums for certain Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The program has notified more than 100 people living with HIV/AIDS that they're being dropped, effective February 28, because they are also eligible for Medicare.

Full Text (http://webboard.aegis.org/WB/threadview.aspx?fid=15&threadid=2691)


natap

FDA approves expanded rosuvastatin label, Includes CRP

The FDA has agreed to broader labeling for rosuvastatin (Crestor, AstraZeneca), the company announced late Monday [1]. Following recommendations that the agency's advisory panel made last December, the FDA has now approved the statin for reducing the risk of stroke, MI, and revascularization procedures in individuals who have normal LDL levels and no clinically evident coronary heart disease but who do have an increased risk based on age, CRP levels, and the presence of at least one additional CVD risk factor. As previously reported by heartwire, the FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 12 to 4 on December 15, 2009 to recommend an expansion of rosuvastatin labeling.
16 or 17 million people eligible for treatment based on the FDA indication.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/021010_01.htm)

Barriers To Retention in Care in HIV and HCV

Studies suggest that navigators and supportive services help the most vulnerable populations to stay in care. Keeping HIV-infected patients connected to care should be a major health care and public health priority.
Missed appointment rates are consistently 25%-35%.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/021010_02.htm)


news-medical

Oral hygiene: Insights

Oral health is often the window to your overall health. Evidence has supported the link between poor oral health and such conditions as stroke, premature birth and diabetes. Other conditions, such as HIV/AIDS and osteoporosis may show preliminary signs in your mouth, before other areas of the body are affected.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100211/Oral-hygiene-Insights.aspx)

HIV/AIDS seen as a gay man's disease, despite growing number of HIV infections in women

The MAC AIDS Fund (MAF) today launched its latest VIVA GLAM campaign, a women's initiative aimed at strengthening the service network and resources available to women living with and at risk of contracting HIV.

Full Text (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100211/HIVAIDS-seen-as-a-gay-mans-disease-despite-growing-number-of-HIV-infections-in-women.aspx)


lohud

Lord's Pantry loses funding: White Plains group feeds homebound AIDS/HIV patients

A White Plains-based organization that for 19 years has prepared and delivered meals to people with HIV and AIDS throughout Westchester County could be in jeopardy after losing the federal funding that makes up about 80 percent of its budget.

Full Text (http://www.lohud.com/article/20100211/NEWS02/2110314/1018/NEWS02/Lord-s-Pantry-loses-funding--White-Plains-group-feeds-homebound-AIDS/HIV-patients)


nih

Mode of antiviral action of silver nanoparticles against HIV-1

BACKGROUND: Silver nanoparticles have proven to exert antiviral activity against HIV-1 at non-cytotoxic concentrations, but the mechanism underlying their HIV-inhibitory activity has not been not fully elucidated. In this study, silver nanoparticles are evaluated to elucidate their mode of antiviral action against HIV-1 using a panel of different in vitro assays. RESULTS: Our data suggest that silver nanoparticles exert anti-HIV activity at an early stage of viral replication, most likely as a virucidal agent or as an inhibitor of viral entry. Silver nanoparticles bind to gp120 in a manner that prevents CD4-dependent virion binding, fusion, and infectivity, acting as an effective virucidal agent against cell-free virus (laboratory strains, clinical isolates, T and M tropic strains, and resistant strains) and cell-associated virus. Besides, silver nanoparticles inhibit post-entry stages of the HIV-1 life cycle. CONCLUSIONS: These properties make them a broad-spectrum agent not prone to inducing resistance that could be used preventively against a wide variety of circulating HIV-1 strains.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20145735?dopt=Abstract)

Coping strategies of adolescents living with HIV: disease-specific stressors and responses

This study examined disease-specific stressors and coping responses employed by youth with HIV. Data were analyzed from Adolescent Impact, a multi-site study of 166 adolescents infected with HIV in three major US cities. Participants identified HIV-related stressors during a face-to-face interview. Coping strategies were measured using the adolescent version of the Kidcope. Emotional and behavioral functioning were assessed with the Youth or Adult Self Report symptom checklists. Medication-related stressors were most common (30%) and reported more often by perinatally infected youth, whereas youth infected through risk behaviors reported more disclosure-related stressors. Passive emotional regulation was perceived as the most used and most helpful coping strategy overall. Youth reporting medication adherence-related stressors used resignation most frequently. A two-factor model (Passive and Active Coping) emerged. The Passive Coping factor included strategies that do not directly approach the problem, whereas Active Coping included strategies that involve an active approach. Youth with moderately advanced disease (CD4 200-500 cells/mm(3)) used a Passive Coping style more often than healthier youth (CD4 > 500 cells/mm(3)). Additionally, Passive Coping was associated with greater emotional and behavioral problems. Youth infected with HIV may benefit from interventions promoting adaptive coping responses to HIV-specific stressors, particularly medication adherence.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20146110?dopt=Abstract)




Testing a peer-based symptom management intervention for women living with HIV/AIDS

In urban-dwelling women living with HIV/AIDS, results suggest that a peer-based symptom management intervention may not decrease symptom intensity or increase medication adherence. There is positive evidence that suggests that the intervention may increase some important aspects of quality of life. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the effect of peer-based interventions in achieving positive self-management outcomes.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20146111?dopt=Abstract)


cbc

CANADA: Final arguments in appeal of HIV man convicted of sex assault

Manitoba's Court of Appeal heard oral arguments Wednesday in the case of an HIV-positive man serving a 14-year prison sentence for having sex with six girls and women from Winnipeg without disclosing his medical condition.
ato Mabior was sentenced in October 2008 after being convicted on six counts of aggravated sexual assault as well as invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference.

Full Text (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/02/10/man-mabior-appeal-hiv-disclosure.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: Inchlingblue on February 11, 2010, 05:32:51 pm

Mode of antiviral action of silver nanoparticles against HIV-1

BACKGROUND: Silver nanoparticles have proven to exert antiviral activity against HIV-1 at non-cytotoxic concentrations, but the mechanism underlying their HIV-inhibitory activity has not been not fully elucidated. In this study, silver nanoparticles are evaluated to elucidate their mode of antiviral action against HIV-1 using a panel of different in vitro assays. RESULTS: Our data suggest that silver nanoparticles exert anti-HIV activity at an early stage of viral replication, most likely as a virucidal agent or as an inhibitor of viral entry. Silver nanoparticles bind to gp120 in a manner that prevents CD4-dependent virion binding, fusion, and infectivity, acting as an effective virucidal agent against cell-free virus (laboratory strains, clinical isolates, T and M tropic strains, and resistant strains) and cell-associated virus. Besides, silver nanoparticles inhibit post-entry stages of the HIV-1 life cycle. CONCLUSIONS: These properties make them a broad-spectrum agent not prone to inducing resistance that could be used preventively against a wide variety of circulating HIV-1 strains.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20145735?dopt=Abstract)
 

I wonder why it is taking so long to do further studies on silver nanoparticles and HIV? I think it was reported about four or five years ago that silver nanoparticles are able to inhibit HIV. You would think the research would be further along by now.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 12, 2010, 02:12:12 am
Good questions Inchlingblue
Patents (http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5676977), economical reasons, or ?

Study 2010 (http://www.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/8/1/1)
Study 2005 (http://www.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/3/1/6)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 15, 2010, 01:39:09 pm
NEWS - FEB 15, 2010

HIV NEWS

fda

FDA approves new tablet formulation of Norvir (ritonavir) - Heat-stable ritonavir

See FDA link.

Full Text (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.Overview&DrugName=NORVIR&CFID=33013391&CFTOKEN=1e0ae175d62867a4-B9DBEFED-1372-5AE1-6AC80CA80262A9DE) medicalnewstoday (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179174.php)


aegis

HIV-positive German pop star charged: prosecutors

(http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3823/nadjabenaissapaphotol12.th.jpg) (http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3823/nadjabenaissapaphotol12.jpg)
Popular singer Nadja Benaissa charged after sex with men

German prosecutors said Friday they have charged a member of all-female pop group No Angels with causing bodily harm for failing to inform sexual partners that she was HIV positive.
Nadja Benaissa, 27, had sex on five occasions between 2000 and 2004 with three people and did not tell them she was infected, even though she had known since 1999, according to the charge sheet.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AF100203)

COLORADO: New Promise for Migrants with HIV

Colorado health care providers hope that the recent lifting of a federal ban on people with HIV/AIDS from traveling to the United States will help push more infected immigrants into care. Until the change, signed into law by President Obama last fall and effective beginning in January, testing positive for HIV was also grounds for denying permanent residency status.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100239)

CANADA: Cervarix to Guard Against HPV

A second vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) will be available to Canadians by the end of the month, pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline announced this week.
Health Canada has approved GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix for use in girls and young women, company spokesperson Sasha Kennedy said Tuesday. It joins Merck & Co.'s HPV vaccine Gardasil, which has been on the market in Canada for several years.

Full Text (http://www.aegis.org/channel/%5Cabstract.asp?a=1&b=AD100240)


medicalnewstoday

Treatment For Herpes Could Delay HIV Disease Progression In Patients Infected With Both Herpes And HIV

An article published Online First and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet reports that recent research indicates that aciclovir, used to treat HSV2, could delay HIV-1 disease progression in patients co-infected with both conditions. In most cases, people who are infected with HIV-1 are dually infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2). The article is the work of Dr Jairam Lingappa, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, and colleagues in Africa and internationally.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179087.php)


eatg

Syphilis does not worsen HIV disease progression

Concurrent infection with syphilis does not lead to accelerated HIV disease progression, even though it may be associated with temporary changes in CD4 cell count and HIV viral load, according to a study reported in the January 2010 International Journal of STD & AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/HIV-STIs/Syphilis-does-not-worsen-HIV-disease-progression)

Drug makers decry Indian patent law

Multinational drug companies have pushed big-time into India in recent years after the country agreed to respect intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical produ

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/Drug-makers-decry-Indian-patent-law)

Antiretroviral therapy increases fertility in HIV-positive women

HIV-positive women who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) are twice as likely to become pregnant as those not receiving ART.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Treatment/Antiretroviral-therapy-increases-fertility-in-HIV-positive-women)


japantimes

Cases of HIV/AIDS declined in '09

The number of people newly infected with HIV or who developed AIDS in 2009 came to 1,428, marking the first drop in seven years, the health ministry said Friday.

Full Text (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20100214a6.html)


uchicago

Discordance Between Cerebral Spinal Fluid and Plasma HIV Replication in Patients with Neurological Symptoms Who Are Receiving Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy

Despite successful suppression of plasma viremia with antiretroviral therapy, HIV may replicate in CSF, with development of CSF HIV resistance resulting in acute or subacute neurological manifestations.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650538)


journalofclinicalvirology

Factors predictive of successful darunavir/ritonavir-based therapy in highly antiretroviral-experienced HIV-1-infected patients (the DARWEST study)

In these highly antiretroviral–experienced patients with triple–class drug resistance, virologic success of DRV–containing regimens was mainly associated with the use of new drug classes and/or fully active drugs. Interestingly, previous tipranavir failure did not undermine the efficacy of DRV, confirming the low level of cross–resistance and, probably, distinct resistance profiles between DRV and tipranavir.

Full Text (http://www.journalofclinicalvirology.com/article/PIIS1386653210000065/abstract?rss=yes)


jneuroinflammation

Cerebral FDG-PET scanning abnormalities in optimally treated HIV patients

Compared to healthy subjects, the patients with abnormal FDG–PET scanning results had a shorter history of known HIV infection, fewer years on antiretroviral therapy and higher levels of circulating TNF alpha and IL–6. A large proportion of optimally treated HIV patients exhibit cerebral FDG–PET scanning abnormalities and elevated TNF alpha and IL–6 levels, which may indicate imminent neuronal damage. The neuroprotective effect of early ARV treatment should be considered in future prospective follow–up studies.

Full Text (http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/7/1/13)


informaworld

US Latina age of sexual debut: long-term associations and implications for HIV and drug abuse prevention

Time in the USA and having a mother who used drugs during the participants' childhood or adolescence were significantly related to age of sexual debut. In turn, younger ages of sexual debut were associated with drug abuse and more sexual risk behaviors. Implications for HIV/AIDS and drug abuse clinical services and future research with US Latina populations are discussed.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a919055738~db=all~jumptype=rss)

Prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in HIV-positive outpatients in rural Tanzania

Depression or mixed anxiety and depression was identified in 15.5 percent of subjects, with 4.5 percent suffering from other anxiety disorders. This suggests routine HIV care in sub–Saharan Africa should include assessment and treatment of mental health issues.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a919055798~db=all~jumptype=rss)


asm

Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Supertypes and HIV-1 Control in African Americans

Among the genotypic supertypes, B58s and its member allele B57 contributed disproportionately to the explainable VL variation. The study demonstrated the dominant role of HLA–B supertypes in HIV–1 clade B–infected African Americans and further dissected the contributions of individual class I alleles and their population frequencies to the supertype effects.

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/5/2610)

The Potent Anti-HIV Activity of CXCL12-gamma Correlates with Efficient CXCR4 Binding and Internalization

The B2, B3, and B23 mutants were associated with enhanced CXCR4 binding, receptor internalization, and restored chemotaxis. Internalization of CXCR4 was more potent with CXCL12 than with CXCL12 and was significantly reduced when the conserved BBXB domain was mutated. Thye authors conclude that the observed potent anti–HIV–1 activity of CXCL12 is due to increased affinity for CXCR4 and to efficient receptor internalization.

Full Text (http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/5/2563)


lww

Innovation in sexually transmitted disease and HIV prevention: Internet and mobile phone delivery vehicles for global diffusion

Information and communication technology is rapidly diffusing globally. Over the next 5–10 years smart–phones will be broadly disseminated, connecting billions of people to the Internet and enabling lower cost, highly engaging, and ubiquitous STD/HIV prevention and treatment support interventions.

Full Text (http://journals.lww.com/co-psychiatry/Abstract/2010/03000/Innovation_in_sexually_transmitted_disease_and_HIV.11.aspx)


sagepub

Increasing People's Knowledge about HIV/AIDS

The findings also showed that there is a statistically significant difference in the attitude of male and female subjects to HIV/AIDS and PLWHA after reading the story.

Full Text (http://jhm.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/11/3/473)


nih

A Mathematical Model of HIV Infection: Simulating T4, T8, Macrophages, Antibody, and Virus via Specific Anti-HIV Response in the Presence of Adaptation and Tropism.

A mathematical model of the host's immune response to HIV infection is proposed. The model represents the dynamics of 13 subsets of T cells (HIV-specific and nonspecific, healthy and infected, T4 and T8 cells), infected macrophages, neutralizing antibodies, and virus. The results of simulation are in agreement with published data regarding T4 cell concentration and viral load, and exhibit the typical features of HIV infection, i.e. double viral peaks in the acute stage, sero conversion, inverted T cell ratio, establishment of set points, steady state, and decline into AIDS. This result is achieved by taking into account thymic aging, viral and infected cell stimulation of specific immune cells, background nonspecific antigens, infected cell proliferation, viral production by infected macrophages and T cells, tropism, viral, and immune adaptation. Starting from this paradigm, changes in the parameter values simulate observed differences in individual outcomes, and predict different scenarios, which can suggest new directions in therapy. In particular, large parameter changes highlight the potentially critical role of both very vigorous and extremely damped specific immune response, and of the elimination of virus release by macrophages. Finally, the time courses of virus, antibody and T cells production and removal are systematically investigated, and a comparison of T4 and T8 cell dynamics in a healthy and in a HIV infected host is offered.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20151219?dopt=Abstract)

Over-expression of the HIV-1 Rev promotes death of nondividing eukaryotic ce

Expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev protein is essential for completion of the viral life cycle. Rev mediates nuclear export of partially spliced and unspliced viral transcripts and therefore bears a nuclear localization signal (NLS) as well as a nuclear export signal (NES), which allow its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Attempts to express the wild-type Rev protein in eukaryotic human cultured cells have encountered difficulties and so far have failed. Here we show that accumulation of Rev, which occurs in nondividing Rev-expressing cells or when such cells reach confluency, results in death of these cells. Cell death was also promoted by addition of a cell permeable peptide bearing the Rev-NES sequence, but not by the Rev-NLS peptide. Our results probably indicate that binding of excess amounts of the Rev protein or the NES peptide to the exportin receptor CRM1 results in cells' death.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20151187?dopt=Abstract)


HEALTH NEWS


telegraph

Chocolate 'can help prevent stroke'

As if people needed any more reason to eat chocolate - now scientists find a bar a week could stop you from having a stroke.

Full Text (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7213514/Chocolate-can-help-prevent-stroke.html)


physorg

Millions missing out on colon cancer screening

Nearly half the people who need potentially lifesaving checks for the nation's No. 2 cancer killer - colorectal cancer - miss them, despite years of public efforts to make colon screening as widespread as tests for breast and prostate can

Full Text (http://www.physorg.com/news185453103.html)

Bacteria-killing proteins cover blood type blind spot

A set of proteins found in our intestines can recognize and kill bacteria that have human blood type molecules on their surfaces, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered.

Full Text (http://www.physorg.com/news185374380.html)

Defective signaling pathway sheds light on cystic fibrosis

In a study that could lead to new therapeutic targets for patients with the cystic fibrosis, a research team from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has identified a defective signaling pathway that contributes to disease severity. In the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers report that defective signaling for a protein called the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) accounts for a portion of disease symptoms in cystic fibrosis, and that correction of the defective pathway reduces symptoms of the disease in mice.

Full Text (http://www.physorg.com/news185374080.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 16, 2010, 02:50:27 pm
NEWS - FEB 16, 2010 - PART I/II

HIV NEWS


aidsmap

Detectable viral load in CSF risk associated with neurological problems in patients taking HIV treatment

Detectable viral load in cerebrospinal fluid is associated with neurological symptoms in patients receiving HIV treatment who have an undetectable viral load in their blood, French investigators report in the March 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D6ABDE18-8B92-4956-9E78-E9271CB339D3.asp)

Gay men’s risk of acquiring HIV is similar to the pre-HAART era despite widespread use of HAART

Although the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy could be expected to make HIV-positive gay men less likely to pass on HIV during unprotected sex than in the early 1990s, the risk of transmission per-sexual-act is actually quite similar, Australian researchers report in AIDS.

Full Text (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/542A9F7C-510F-4B65-A3DF-BBE901207155.asp)


sciencedaily

HIV Drug Resistance Lasts About One Year in Women Treated With Nevirapine to Prevent Infant Infection, Study Suggests

A new study confirms that a single dose of nevirapine (sdNVP) can lead to HIV treatment failure in women who receive the drug to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus to their infants.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100215201559.htm)

The 'Secret Weapon' of Retroviruses That Cause Cancer

Oncogenic retroviruses are a particular family of viruses that can cause some types of cancer. Thierry Heidmann and his colleagues in the CNRS-Institut Gustave Roussy-Université Paris Sud 11 "Rétrovirus endogènes et éléments rétroïdes des eucaryotes supérieurs" Laboratory have studied these viruses. They have identified a "virulence factor" that inhibits the host immune response and allows the virus to spread throughout the body. This factor is a sequence of amino acids that is located in the envelope protein of the virus.

Full Text (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100215130341.htm)


hivandhepatitis

HIV Infection and Aging Independently Predict Impaired Brain Function

(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9794/brain1p.th.jpg) (http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9794/brain1p.jpg)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that people with HIV showed evidence of impaired brain function compared with HIV negative individuals, according to a study published in the February 1, 2010 Journal of Infectious Diseases. Increasing age was also associated with worsening brain function overall, but HIV positive people demonstrated brain blood flow similar to that of HIV negative people 15-20 years older.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/0212_2010_b.html)

Racial/Ethnic Disparities Persist among U.S. Children with Perinatal HIV Infection

While the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission in the U.S. has fallen by about 90% since the widespread adoption of testing during pregnancy and zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir) prophylaxis, marked racial/ethnic disparities remain, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in the February 5, 2010 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. During 2004-2007, nearly 70% of perinatal infections occurred among black children -- a rate of 12.3 per 100,000 compared with only 0.5 per 100,000 among whites.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2010/0212_2010_a.html)

First-line Antiretroviral Therapy for People with HIV Infection

The First-line Antiretroviral Therapy for People with HIV Infection is now available for download.

Full Text (http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/lipo/treatment_naive/Treatment_Naive_HIV_10.pdf)


iasociety

IAS Strategic Plan for 2010-2014

The IAS Strategic Plan for 2010-2014 is now available for download.

Download (pdf) (http://www.iasociety.org/Web/WebContent/File/IAS_Strategic%20Plan%202010-2014.pdf)


eatg

CROI: HIV in U.S. forgotten, not gone

The virus remains a major health threat in the U.S. with prevalences that, in some communities, rival those seen in the hardest-hit areas of Africa.

Full Text (http://www.eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Epidemiology/CROI-HIV-in-U.S.-forgotten-not-gone)


medscape

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in HIV-Infected Patients

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients, particularly from developing countries. This article summarizes current literature on cerebral toxoplasmosis. It focuses on: Toxoplasma gondii genetic diversity and its possible relationship with disease presentation; host responses to the parasite antigens; host immunosupression in HIV and cerebral toxoplasmosis as well as different diagnostic methods; clinical and radiological features; treatment; and the direction that studies on cerebral toxoplasmosis will likely take in the future.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714611)

HIV Outcomes in the Clinic: Now as Good as in Clinical Trials

Nearly 90% of HIV-infected patients receiving treatment in British Columbia are virologically suppressed.
During the study period, the incidence of newly detected drug resistance dropped dramatically — from 1.73 to 0.13 cases per 100 person-months of therapy. A similar trend was seen across all three major drug classes. Furthermore, the proportion of patients who achieved virologic suppression (viral load, < 50 copies/mL) increased each year — from 65% in 2000 (the first year that the assay with this lower limit of detection was available) to 87% in 2008.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715296)


medicalnewstoday

HIV-Associated Morbidity In Adolescents

Nearly half of adolescents admitted to two public hospitals in Zimbabwe were HIV positive according to a new paper by Rashida Ferrand and colleagues which is published in this weeks PLoS Medicine. This study, which examines the causes of otherwise unselected acute hospitalization in adolescents, serves to highlight the growing crisis of HIV acquired at birth in teenagers and young adults in the developing world.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179199.php)

Award Winners Take Steps Toward Better Teaching Tools, Improved DNA Analysis And Maybe Even A Lower-Cost HIV Drug

Three newly named beneficiaries of the Joshua E. Neimark Memorial Travel Assistance Endowment are investigating an unusual program to spark young children's interest in insects, an effort to fine-tune DNA analysis, and a strategy that might someday suggest a way to lower the cost of a key HIV medication.

Full Text (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179273.php)


nature

HIV-1 sexual transmission: early events of HIV-1 infection of human cervico-vaginal tissue in an optimized ex vivo model

Productive infection of R5 HIV–1 occurred preferentially in activated CD38+CD4 T cells and was followed by a similar activation of HIV–1–uninfected CD4 T cells that may amplify viral infection. These results provide new insights into the dependence of HIV–1 infection and dissemination on the activation/differentiation of cervico–vaginal lymphocytes.

Full Text (http://www.nature.com/mi/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/mi20102a.html)


informaworld

The benefits of using a mixed methods approach - quantitative with qualitative - to identify client satisfaction and unmet needs in an HIV healthcare centre

The study demonstrates the three advantages of using a mixed methods approach. Firstly, it increased the comprehensiveness of overall findings, by showing how qualitative data (Phase Two) provided explanations for statistical data (Phase One). Secondly, it expanded the dimensions of the research topic, as Phase Two enabled investigation of the determinants of satisfaction/dissatisfaction more broadly after assessing the client satisfaction levels in Phase One. Thirdly, it increased the methodological rigour as findings in both phases could be checked for consistency.

Full Text (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a919088181~db=all~jumptype=rss)


uchicago

Pre-existing Minority Drug-Resistant HIV-1 Variants, Adherence, and Risk of Antiretroviral Treatment Failure

Detection of minority Y181C mutants was associated with an increased risk of virologic failure in the setting of recent treatment adherence but not in nonadherent subjects. Of note, 70% of subjects with minority Y181C variants achieved long-term viral suppression. In adherent patients, pre-existing minority Y181C mutants more than tripled the risk of virologic failure of first?line efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650543)

Low Frequency Nonnucleoside Reverse-Transcriptase Inhibitor-Resistant Variants Contribute to Failure of Efavirenz-Containing Regimens in Treatment-Experienced Patients

Minor NNRTI-resistant variants were more prevalent in NNRTI-experienced patients and were associated with reduced virologic response to efavirenz–containing multidrug regimens.

Full Text (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650542)


journalofclinicalvirology

High prevalence of primary Enfuvirtide resistance-associated mutations in HIV-1-infected patients in Hong Kong

The high prevalence of ENF resistance–associated mutations in HARRT–experienced and ART–naive patients identified in this study highlights the importance of mutation screening before ENF therapy in Hong Kong. The findings from the ENF–treated patient showed that G36D mutation persisted as long as 6 months after ENF withdrawal. Phenotypic assays will be necessary to confirm the influence of this mutation to ENF susceptibility.

Full Text (http://www.journalofclinicalvirology.com/article/PIIS1386653210000107/abstract?rss=yes)


ingentaconnect

Body composition of HIV-positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study in Mwanza, Tanzania

Elevated serum ACT was found to be a negative predictor of BMI, AMA and AFA, partially explaining the effects of the PTB but not those of the HIV. There is need for a better understanding of the determinants and effects of loss of fat and lean body mass in HIV–positive tuberculosis.

Full Text (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/atmp/2010/00000104/00000001/art00008)


metapress

A Systematic Review of the Quality of Trials Evaluating Biomedical HIV Prevention Interventions Shows That Many Lack Power

Reporting of trials of biomedical HIV prevention interventions has improved over time. However, quality improvement is needed in several key areas that influence study power, including participant retention, adherence to interventions, and estimation of expected HIV incidence.

Full Text (http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/087701421rt10411/)


natap

Early Immune Senescence in HIV Disease

Activation and inflammation due to persistent infection such as HIV also provide a milieu for accelerated replicative senescence of T cells that progressively accumulate during the normal course of aging.
Whether HIV alone drives immunosenescence or if there are alternative pathways that contribute to early aging in HIV-infected individuals also remains to be examined.
More than 99% of HIV-1 particles detected in the circulation are not productively infectious virions

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HIV/021510_01.htm)


nih

Real Time Quantitative PCR in Cerebral Toxoplasmosis Diagnosis of Brazilian HIV-infected Patients

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is the most common cerebral mass lesion in AIDS patients in Brazil with high mortality and morbidity, despite free access to HAART. Molecular diagnosis based on conventional PCR (cnPCR) or Real-time quantitative PCR (qrtPCR) has been indispensable to definitive diagnosis. We report here the evaluation of qrtPCR in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from AIDS patients in Brazil. This prospective study was conducted for 2 years, analysing DNA samples extracted from 149 AIDS patients (98 blood and 51 CSF samples) with confirmed clinical and radiological diagnosis. The laboratory diagnosis included cnPCR (with B22/B23 primer set) and indirect immunofluorescence (IF). For qrtPCR, two primer sets were simultaneously designed from previously described genes using TaqMan MGB probe FAM dye-labeled. One was B1Tg that amplified a sequence from the B1 gene. The other was the RETg, which amplified a PCR product of the 529-bp sequence. The overall cnPCR and qrtPCR results were: Positive results were observed in 33.6% (50 patients). The sensitivities were 98% for cnPCR (B22/B23), 86% and 98% for qrtPCR (B1Tg and RETg, respectively). Negative reactions were 66.4%. The specificities were 97% for cnPCR and qrtPCR (B1Tg); and 88.8% for RETg.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20150319?dopt=Abstract)

Effect of reduced immunosuppression after kidney transplant failure on risk of cancer: population based retrospective cohort study

All cases of Kaposi's sarcoma occurred during transplant function. Standardised incidence ratios were significantly elevated during transplant function, but not during dialysis after transplant failure, for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, lip cancer, and melanoma. For each of these cancers, incidence was significantly lower during dialysis after transplant failure in multivariate analysis (incidence rate ratios 0.20 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.65) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 0.04 (0.01 to 0.31) for lip cancer, and 0.16 (0.04 to 0.64) for melanoma). In contrast, standardised incidence ratios during dialysis after transplant failure remained significantly elevated for leukaemia and lung cancer, and cancers related to end stage kidney disease (kidney, urinary tract, and thyroid cancers), with thyroid cancer incidence significantly higher during dialysis after transplant failure (incidence rate ratio 6.77 (2.64 to 17.39)). There was no significant difference in incidence by transplant function for other cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of immunosuppression on cancer risk is rapidly reversible for some, but not all, cancer types. Risk reversal was mainly observed for cancers with a confirmed infectious cause. Risk of other cancers, especially those related to end stage kidney disease, remained significantly increased after reduction of immunosuppression.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20150194?dopt=Abstract)


businessweek

Merck Profit Rises More Than Analysts Estimated (Update3)

Revenue from the HIV treatment Isentress increased 80 percent to $234 million. Isentress is the first in a new class of AIDS medicines that attack HIV by blocking an enzyme used to hijack healthy immune cells. Merck won U.S. approval in July to sell the drug as an initial treatment for HIV patients. It was previously marketed only to patients who had failed all other therapies.

Full Text (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-16/merck-profit-rises-more-than-analysts-estimated-update1-.html)


irin (plusnews)

SOUTH AFRICA: New treatment guidelines announced

New national treatment guidelines are set to make the world's largest antiretroviral (ARV) programme even bigger as South Africa extends treatment to more HIV-positive infants, pregnant women and people battling HIV-tuberculosis (TB) co-infection.

Full Text (http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88126)

Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 16, 2010, 02:52:49 pm
NEWS - FEB 16, 2010 - PART II/II

HEALTH NEWS


nih

Recurrent CMV retinitis in a non-HIV patient with drug-resistant CMV.

This case demonstrates that recurrent CMVR occurs in HIV-negative patients at CD4 cell counts thought to be protective in HIV patients, and suggests that an ineffective local immune response to retinal infection combined with CMV drug resistance may have been important factors leading to recurrent disease in this patient. Treatment producing high local concentrations of GCV may be effective therapy for CMV retinitis due to GCV-resistant virus.

Full Text (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20094728)


independent

Study raises doubts over stem cell research

A new study has raised doubts about the creation of "ethical" all-purpose stem cells for use in research and treatments.
Embryonic stem cells have the power to develop into any of the 220 cell types that make up the different tissues of the human body, but they are mired in controversy because they must be extracted from cannibalised early-stage human embryos.

Full Text (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/study-raises-doubts-over-stem-cell-research-1900954.html)


physorg

Tobacco use linked to worse outcomes in HPV-positive head and neck cancer

Patients with head and neck cancer linked to high risk human papillomavirus, or HPV, have worse outcomes if they are current or former tobacco users, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Full Text (http://www.physorg.com/news185435335.html)


washingtonpost

Hormone-infused nasal spray found to help people with autism

A nasal spray containing a hormone that is known to make women more maternal and men less shy apparently can help those with autism make eye contact and interact better with others, according to a provocative study released Monday.

Full Text (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/15/AR2010021501984.html?wprss=rss_health)


drugdiscoverynews

IBM Research collaborates with Australian Institutions to push boundaries of medical research

IBM announced in mid-February the establishment of a research collaboratory in Melbourne, Australia, where scientists from the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative (VLSCI) at the University of Melbourne and the IBM Research Computational Biology Center at the T.J. Watson Research Center will use high performance computing—including IBM’s Blue Gene supercomputer—to study human disease.

Full Text (http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/index.php?newsarticle=3619)


eurekalert

IU research team discovers TB disease mechanism and molecule to block

Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have identified a mechanism used by the tuberculosis bacterium to evade the body's immune system and have identified a compound that blocks the bacterium's ability to survive in the host, which could lead to new drugs to treat tuberculosis.
Zhong-Yin Zhang, Ph.D., Robert A. Harris Professor and chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and his colleagues revealed the biochemical processes that TB bacteria employ to subvert macrophages – key infection-fighting cells – in this week's online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They also described a compound they have synthesized – I-A09 – that blocked the TB bacterium's activity in laboratory tests.

Full Text (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/iuso-irt021110.php)


medscape

U.S. Sets Grants for Health Technology, Job Training

Members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet announced nearly $1 billion in grants Friday to increase the use of health information technology, pushing a key component of Obama's healthcare overhaul and job creation plans.
The money will be used to help make healthcare information technology available to over 100,000 hospitals and primary care physicians by 2014 and train thousands of people for careers in healthcare and information technology.
Sebelius announced more than $750 million in awards for states and healthcare providers.
Solis announced more than $225 million in Department of Labor grant awards that will be used to train 15,000 people in job skills needed to support careers in healthcare, information technology and other high growth fields.

Full Text (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716978)


natap

Retreatment Of Chronic Hepatitis C- Genotype 1-Infected Relapsers To Peginterferon/Ribavirin With Consensus Interferon/Ribavirin Or With Extended Duration Therapy Peginterferon/Ribavirin

pproximately half of genotype 1-infected relapsers to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin benefited from retreatment with consensus interferon/ribavirin or with extended duration therapy peginterferon alfa-2b/ribavirin. However, the extended therapy arm patients experienced higher rates of treatment discontinuations relative to those of the standard duration arms. The study is ongoing.

Full Text (http://www.natap.org/2010/HCV/021510_01.htm)


iol

Condoms - 'size matters'

Washington - Condoms that do not fit right could break and may reduce sexual pleasure for both partners, suggesting reasons why men and women often fail to use them, researchers reported on Monday.
The study has implications for countries trying to encourage people to use condoms to reduce the risk of Aids, other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy, the researchers reported in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. They surveyed 436 men aged 18 to 67 for their study. Nearly half - 45 percent - said they had used a badly fitting condom during the previous three months. These men were more than 2 1/2 times as likely to say the condom broke or slipped when they used it. They also often reported it was irritating to wear. The men who wore poorly fitting condoms were twice as likely to say that using one reduced sexual pleasure for themselves and their partners.

Full Text (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=117&art_id=nw20100216062120648C438048)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 23, 2010, 04:36:58 pm
CROI 2010 - Full Sessions Summaries (http://hivresearchnews.blogspot.com/2010/02/croi-2010-full-sessions-summaries.html)
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 23, 2010, 04:38:47 pm
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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 23, 2010, 04:39:52 pm
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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 23, 2010, 04:41:04 pm
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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on February 24, 2010, 01:11:51 pm
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Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 19, 2011, 05:38:54 am

November 18, 2011


healthnewsdigest

Yale Researchers Discover Promising Anti-HIV Agents (JLJ494, JLJ506) (http://goo.gl/VzGQ6)
These compounds could result in new, highly effective HIV treatments that are 10 to 2000 times more potent than HIV drugs now on the market.

medscape

No HIV Disease Progression in Transplant Recipients (http://goo.gl/WJaVl)
HIV does not progress in HIV-positive transplant recipients; But there is a much higher incidence of organ rejection, indicating a dysregulated immune system rather than an absence of immunity, investigators said.


November 17, 2011


jaids

Men Who Have Sex With Men Have a 140-Fold Higher Risk for Newly Diagnosed HIV and Syphilis Compared With Heterosexual Men in New York City (http://goo.gl/eDmzr)
The substantial population of sex with men (MSM) in NYC is at high risk for acquisition of STIs given high rates of newly diagnosed infections and ongoing risk behaviors.

medscape

HIV Not Linked To Lung Cancer (http://goo.gl/lm5NA) (but cigarette)
All lung cancer cases were among people who smoked only. Among HIV-positive participants, current or former smokers were more likely to have higher HIV viral loads and were more likely never to have received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Treatment considerations in painful hiv-related neuropathy (http://goo.gl/llusG)
Clinicians should consider all aspects of various therapeutic options, carefully weighing the risk/benefit ratios of each potential treatment before initiating opioids for painful HIV–related neuropathy.

Enhanced levels of CCL19 in patients with advanced AIDS (http://goo.gl/ptPqq)
The findings suggest the involvement of CCL19 in AIDS patients with advanced immunodeficiency, potentially mediating both adaptive and maladaptive responses.

asm

Plasma and Intracellular Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Tenofovir in HIV-1-Infected Patients (http://goo.gl/rWhNA)
The model links formation of tenofovir (TFV)–DP with plasma TFV concentrations and should facilitate more informed investigations of TFV clinical pharmacology.


November 15, 2011


jaids

Longitudinal Assessment of Interleukin 7 Plasma Levels in HIV-Infected Patients in the Absence of and Under Antiretroviral Therapy (http://goo.gl/2TGzs)
In HIV patients with low or moderate degree of immunodeficiency, CD4 counts and plasma interleukin 7 (IL–7) levels do not evolve in parallel, suggesting that other factors different from CD4 counts must be involved in the upregulation of IL–7 observed in HIV infection.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 21, 2011, 01:35:10 pm
unaids

HIV numbers hit new high as AIDS drugs save lives (http://goo.gl/XQtXb)
Aids-related deaths are at the lowest level since their 2005 peak, down 21%, figures from UNAids suggest.
In its annual report on the pandemic, UNAIDS said the number of people dying of the disease fell to 1.8 million in 2010, down from a peak of 2.2 million in the mid-2000s.
The UNAIDS report said 34 million people around the world had HIV in 2010, up from 33.3 million in 2009.

asm

Comparison of Drug Resistance Scores for Tipranavir in Protease Inhibitor-Naïve Patients Infected with HIV-1 B and Non-B Subtypes (http://goo.gl/t4X0A)
Current algorithms appear suboptimal for interpretation of resistance to tipranavir in non–B subtypes; increased scores might reflect algorithm bias rather than "natural resistance."

jaids

Improved Viral Suppression After Treatment Optimization in HIV-Infected Patients With Persistent Low-Level Viremia (http://goo.gl/2IVd9)
In the group receiving optimized treatment, undetectable viral loads were achieved in 73.2% at 6 months and at 90.2% at 1 year, indicating that treatment guided by genotyping of patients with low–level viremia is effective in achieving viral suppression.

Control of Medical Comorbidities in Individuals With HIV (http://goo.gl/PZlIa)
Suboptimal control of HIV, indicated by detectable viral load, correlates with suboptimal control of diabetes and hypertension, indicated by higher HbA1c and mean arterial pressure. Achieving control of multiple medical comorbidities and HIV simultaneously may require expansion of current adherence interventions focused primarily on antiretroviral therapy.

aidsbeacon

Foundation For AIDS Research Announces Additional $2.1 Million In Grants Towards AIDS Cure (http://goo.gl/vmGNS)
The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) has announced that it will distribute an additional $2.1 million in grants and fellowships to researchers working toward a cure for HIV. AmfAR states that 60 percent of its research grants now go toward research into finding a cure for HIV.

sciencedaily

Hope for More Options in Couples Where One Partner Is HIV Positive (http://goo.gl/GRkQn)
n sub-Saharan Africa, couples in long-term relationships where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative (HIV serodiscordant couples) could benefit from anti-AIDS drugs (antiretroviral therapy) given either as treatment or as a prevention measure (prophylaxis) to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. These findings, from a modelling study led by Timothy Hallett from Imperial College London and published in this week's PLoS Medicine, also show that this strategy could be cost-effective.

abc

Science to help HIV positive men conceive (http://goo.gl/Wke7h)
Melbourne researchers have made a significant breakthrough which will see men with HIV able to conceive children through artificial insemination, without infecting their partners and babies.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 22, 2011, 12:48:24 pm
Nov. 22, 2011


medicalnewstoday

Researchers Surprised To Find Fatty Liver Disease Poses No Excess Risk For Death (http://goo.gl/TtCle)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition associated with obesity and heart disease long thought to undermine health and longevity. But a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests the condition does not affect survival.

nih

Cholesterol levels elevated in toddlers taking anti-HIV drugs (http://goo.gl/QiRQw)
Toddlers receiving anti-HIV drugs have higher cholesterol levels, on average, than do their peers who do not have HIV, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

biomedcentral

Central Nervous System Antiretroviral Efficacy in HIV infection: A Qualitative and Quantitative Review and implications for future research (http://goo.gl/X6iOj)
Sixteen studies, all observational, were identified using a standard citation search.
After studies with at least three limitations were excluded in the qualitative phase, six studies remained. All six found a positive effect of neuroHAART on neurocognitive function or CSF HIV suppression. Of these six studies, only two had statistical power of at least 80%.

jaids

Comparative Outcomes of Tenofovir-Based and Zidovudine-Based Antiretroviral Therapy Regimens in Lusaka, Zambia (http://goo.gl/UAdIf)
Tenofovir (TDF) + lamivudine (XTC) + nevirapine (NVP) was associated with higher mortality when compared with zidovudine (ZDV) + 3TC + NVP but not consistently across sensitivity analyses. These findings may be explained in part by inherent limitations to the retrospective approach, including residual confounding. Further research is urgently needed to compare the effectiveness of ART regimens in use in resource–constrained settings.

Expectancy and Readiness-Based Predictors of Treatment Uptake Among the Urban Poor Living With HIV (http://goo.gl/x7pbo)
Most demographic/background characteristics did not differ between antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiators and noninitiators, but baseline beliefs of expectancies about treatment ease, efficacy, and readiness sensitively predicted ART initiation. Treatment–related stigma/social concerns did not. Results offer direction for interventions to optimize treatment among those most in need.

jimmunol

Characterization of a Human Cervical CD4+ T Cell Subset Coexpressing Multiple Markers of HIV Susceptibility (http://goo.gl/1Qkar)
A subset of Th17 CD4+ T cells in the cervical mucosa coexpresses multiple HIV susceptibility markers; their dramatic depletion after HIV infection suggests that these may serve as key target cells during HIV transmission.

bmj

Association between obstructive lung disease and markers of HIV infection in a high-risk cohort (http://goo.gl/IfKwF)
In a cohort at risk for obstructive lung disease and HIV infection, high viral load but not CD4 cell count was associated with an increased prevalence of spirometry–defined obstructive lung disease. These findings suggest that higher viral load may contribute mechanistically to the increased risk of obstructive lung disease in patients with HIV infection.

thieme-connect

Musculoskeletal Infection in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (http://goo.gl/ULUWM)
Infection can involve any anatomical compartments resulting in infectious arthritis, osteomyelitis, pyomyositis, and soft tissue and skin infection. Imaging plays an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment planning for these patients. This article reviews the clinical manifestations of musculoskeletal infection together with reported causative organisms.

disease markers

A longitudinal study of the effects of ART on plasma chemokine levels in Malaysian HIV patients (http://goo.gl/sGrpD)
Chemokines are differentially affected by antiretroviral therapy. CXCL10 and CCL5 may influence Immune Reconstitution Disease and CCL5 warrants further investigation for an effect in Sensory Neuropathy. These trends are not influenced by chemokine genotypes investigated here.

trends in immunology

Neutrophils in tuberculosis (http://goo.gl/2FbPh)
The interaction of neutrophils with macrophages, as well as the downstream effects on T cell activity, could result in a range of outcomes from early clearance of infection to dissemination of viable bacteria together with an attenuated acquired immune response. In established disease, neutrophils accumulate in situations of high pathogen load or immunological dysfunction, and are likely to contribute to pathology. These activities may have clinical importance in terms of new treatments, targeted interventions and vaccine strategies.

lww

The study of relationship between neutropenia and infection during treatment with peginterferon a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C (http://goo.gl/kvyRs)
Infections during treatment with peginterferon a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C are not associated with neutropenia. The independent factors associated with infection are age, diabetes, and cirrhosis.

The early on-treatment perihepatic lymph node response predicts sustained viral response of anti-hepatitis C virus therapy (http://goo.gl/1fgkB)
Results confirm the high prevalence of perihepatic lymphadenopathy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The use of the nodal width measurement in routine ultrasound follow–up may be a simpler early predictor of sustained virologic response during standard bi–therapy.


cmi

Development and Specificities of Anti-Interferon Neutralizing Antibodies in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Pegylated Interferon Alpha (http://goo.gl/F3fGo)
The study emphasises the importance of evaluating NAB development in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who become resistant to pegylated (PEG)–interferon (IFN)alpha treatment, and suggest management alternatives for patients who develop neutralizing antibodies (NAB).

oxfordjournals

Serum Hepatitis B Virus-DNA Levels Correlate With Long-term Adverse Outcomes in Spontaneous Hepatitis B e Antigen Seroconverters (http://goo.gl/Pf45A)
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion may not always confer favorable outcomes. Serum HBV–DNA levels =2000 IU/mL at 1 year post HBeAg seroconversion correlate with increased risk of HBeAg–negative hepatitis and hepatitis flare.

hepatology

Clinical relevance of detectable but not quantifiable hepatitis C virus RNA during boceprevir or telaprevir treatment (http://goo.gl/W3hFy)
During boceprevir– and telaprevir–based treatment, subjects with Detectable/BLOQ hepatitis C virus(HCV) RNA had a reduced virologic response compared to subjects with Undetectable HCV RNA. Eligibility for shortened treatment duration should be based on patients achieving Undetectable HCV RNA at RGT decision timepoints.

cjasn

Effect of Dialysis Modality on Survival of Hepatitis C-Infected ESRF Patients (http://goo.gl/W6j1Z)
The survival of Hepatitis C virus (HCV)–infected end–stage renal failure (ESRF) patients is comparable between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD).


Clinical Trials

dukehealth

Vitamin D and Calcium for Bone Health in HIV+ Individuals Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy (A5280) (http://goo.gl/rCdYt)
The purpose of A5280 is to see if taking vitamin D at higher doses along with calcium will help prevent the bone loss that is sometimes seen when people start HIV treatment.

Atorvastatin Study for HIV Infected Patients (A5275) (http://goo.gl/igpPa)
The main goal of this study is to see how taking atorvastatin affects inflammation biomarker blood tests in people infected with HIV that do not need to take medicine for high cholesterol.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 23, 2011, 04:13:47 pm

Nov 23, 2011


medicalnewstoday

HIV - The Importance Of A Healthy Diet (http://goo.gl/skCEV)
"Nutritional interventions for those living with HIV are so important to help maintain a strong and healthy body. I would strongly urge anyone who has been diagnosed with HIV to ask their treating doctor or nurse to refer them to a specialist Dietitian or to the excellent charity 'The Food Chain' if you live in London."

sfgate

Kaiser study: Cancers more likely for HIV-positive (http://goo.gl/7qpds)
People with HIV infections have a higher risk of developing certain cancers than those who aren't infected, and the sicker they are, the greater their risk, according to a large study of Kaiser Permanente members.
The study, results of which were published Tuesday, provides further evidence of the possible benefits of treating HIV-positive patients with antiretroviral therapy soon after they're diagnosed - while they're still symptom-free and before the virus has a chance to dramatically weaken their immune systems, HIV/AIDS experts said.

aidsbeacon

Lowering Viral Load Before Switching Treatment May Minimize Risk Of Developing Multi-Drug Resistant HIV (http://goo.gl/347SE)
Results from a recent computational study indicate that when a treatment fails, intermediate steps should be taken to temporarily reduce the viral load before switching to a new regimen. Starting treatment at a lower viral load was found to significantly lower the chances of developing resistance to the new regimen.

bmj

Recombination of hepatitis B virus DNA in patients with HIV (http://goo.gl/cMeaQ)
In coinfected patients, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA recombination events are frequent during antiviral therapy, corresponding to increased positive selection pressure on the HBV quasi–species and to conservation of antiviral resistance mutations. In this population and at the individual level, recombination is a significant source of HBV genetic variability.

biomedcentral

Oral Candida albicans isolates from HIV-positive individuals have similar in vitro biofilm-forming ability and pathogenicity as invasive Candida isolates (http://goo.gl/I93z1)
The authors found that on silicone pads as well as in the Galleria model, biofilm formation and virulence depends on the Candida species. Importantly, for C. albicans the pathogenicity of oral Candida isolates was similar to systemic Candida isolates, suggesting that Candida isolates have similar biofilm–forming ability and virulence regardless of the infection site from which it was isolated.

jaids

European Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups and Metabolic Disorders in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (http://goo.gl/i4zZa)
mtDNA haplogroups were associated with IR and atherogenic dyslipidemia; suggesting that mitochondrial genomics may play a significant role in metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases in HIV/hepatitis C virus–coinfected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Plasma and Intracellular Pharmacokinetics of Darunavir/Ritonavir Once Daily and Raltegravir Once and Twice Daily in HIV-Infected Individuals (http://goo.gl/G2g4D)
No remarkable interactions between darunavir/ritonavir and raltegravir in plasma or cells were seen. Raltegravir IC concentrations are higher than previously reported; the difference being due to modified cell isolation procedures that reduced drug loss caused by washing.

e-ijd

The immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (http://goo.gl/aTrQU)
A paradoxical clinical worsening of a known condition or the appearance of a new condition after initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV–infected patients is defined as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Because of wide variation in clinical presentation and the still increasing spectrum of symptoms and etiologies reported, diagnosis remains problematic.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 24, 2011, 02:50:08 pm
Nov 24, 2011


medicalxpress

Research finds HIV-killing compound (http://goo.gl/nJ4rX)
The ability of the synthetic compound known as “PD 404,182” to break apart the AIDS-causing virus before it can infect cells.

clinicaladvisor

Early antiretroviral therapy may reduce transmission in HIV-discordant hetersexual couples (http://goo.gl/XLmOn)
Observational studies have previously shown that antiretroviral therapy (ART) may reduce the transmission of HIV in serodiscordant couples. A new unblinded randomized trial suggests that early initiation of ART for the infected partner may reduce transmission more effectively than delaying ART until the CD4 count has fallen.

aidsmap

Older anti-HIV drugs associated with increased risk of diabetes (http://goo.gl/NSvRG)
New cases of diabetes in patients taking HIV therapy in France peaked between 1999 and 2000 but have since fallen sharply, investigators report in the online edition of AIDS. Treatment with older anti-HIV drugs such as indinavir (Crixivan), d4T (stavudine, Zerit) and ddI (didanosine, Videx) were associated with the development of diabetes. However, there was no evidence that this was the case for newer anti-HIV drugs.

medicalxpress

Researchers determine how antibody recognizes key sugars on HIV surface (http://goo.gl/aFuZa)
HIV is coated in sugars that usually hide the virus from the immune system. Newly published research reveals how one broadly neutralizing HIV antibody actually uses part of the sugary cloak to help bind to the virus.

nwherald

Pneumonia vaccine available through health department (http://goo.gl/n0bgS)
People aged 19 to 64 who smoke, have asthma or a chronic illness are considered high risk for pneumonia and its complications. The McHenry County Department of Health recommends that these people get the pneumonia vaccine before the holidays; others include those 65 and older who have never had the vaccine.  

thestar

HIV patients at the mercy of donors (http://goo.gl/YLSoq)
The world's biggest financier in the fight against three killer diseases says it has run out of money to pay for new grant programs for the next two years — a situation likely to hit poor AIDS patients around the world. Info (http://goo.gl/E0ojd)

telegraph

Government to lift ban on HIV doctors (http://goo.gl/D6rMf)
Doctors, dentists and health workers with HIV could soon be allowed to practise again under Government plans.


People


cosmopolitan

George Michael is responding 'well' to pneumonia treatment (http://goo.gl/5hKx8)
The 48-year-old singer - who was hospitalised on Monday (21.11.11) in Vienna, Austria - is being treated by medics in a private house in the Austrian capital city and is so far making good progress.

pinknews

20th anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s death (http://goo.gl/WrBLs)
Thursday marks exactly 20 years since the death of the legendry Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

ibtimes

'Gangsta of Love' Wrestler Andre Davis Convicted of Not Disclosing HIV Status With Partners (http://goo.gl/72W9y)
Former professional wrestler Andre Davis on Wednesday was convicted of 14 felonious assault counts after being accused of having sex with several women without telling them he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 24, 2011, 08:21:06 pm
news.com.au

Rare AIDS virus strain reported in Paris (http://goo.gl/W4Dpn)
A RARE strain of AIDS virus previously found only among a few people in Cameroon has most probably spread outside the West African country, according to a case reported by The Lancet today.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: leatherman on November 25, 2011, 04:23:32 pm
medicalxpress

Research finds HIV-killing compound (http://goo.gl/nJ4rX)
The ability of the synthetic compound known as “PD 404,182” to break apart the AIDS-causing virus before it can infect cells.
while not quite a vaccine, this could be an interesting discovery to keep an eye on. Plus it would be nice to see other research than just a "vaginal gel" for it's delivery system.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on November 28, 2011, 03:06:42 pm
Nov. 28, 2011


biospace

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Discontinues Tenofovir Vaginal Gel in 'Voice' HIV Prevention Study (http://goo.gl/nVDSS)
A large-scale clinical trial evaluating whether daily use of an antiretroviral-containing oral tablet or vaginal gel can prevent HIV infection in women is being modified because an interim review found that the gel, an investigational microbicide, was not effective among study participants.

rsmjournals

Emerging HIV-1 resistance to tipranavir and darunavir in patients with virological failure to first-generation protease inhibitors in Taiwan (http://goo.gl/kujG3)
The mutation scores for tipranavir (TPV/r) and darunavir (DRV/r), and the percentage of isolates with resistance to TPV or DRV, increased significantly from period 1 to period 3. The data revealed a significant increase in the levels of genotypic resistance to TPV and DRV over the past two years in patients with virological failure to first–generation protease inhibitors (PIs).

wiley

Efficacy of new antiretroviral drugs in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials (http://goo.gl/f76Cc)
The study confirmed the overall immunological and virological efficacy of new antiretroviral drugs in treatment–experienced patients, compared with placebo. The main predictive factor for efficacy was the number of fully active drugs. CCR5 inhibitors did not increase CD4 cell count to a greater extent than other new drugs.

asm

Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Procalcitonin-Guided Therapy in Respiratory Tract Infections (http://goo.gl/TiBde)
In conclusion, PCT–guided antibiotic therapy in patients with respiratory tract infections appears to reduce antibiotic use without affecting overall mortality or length of stay in the hospital.

lww

Association of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Colonization With High-Risk Sexual Behaviors in Persons Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (http://goo.gl/5hjux)
History of recent sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis and urethritis, was associated with Methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) carriage. These data suggest that high–risk sexual activities may play a role in MRSA transmission.

medicalxpress

Manipulating serotonin can promote healthy repair in chronic liver disease (http://goo.gl/Aba3S)
Publishing in the leading medical journal Nature Medicine, a team led by Newcastle University academics have identified serotonin receptors which can be targeted with drugs to enhance the natural healing properties of the liver.

ingentaconnect

Clinical features and risk factors of creatine kinase elevations and myopathy associated with telbivudine (http://goo.gl/bflN3)
Creatine kinase (CK) elevations are common adverse reactions associated with telbivudine therapy, while myopathy is rare. Male, younger age and HBeAg negativity might be risk factors of CK elevations.


Finance


independent

HIV treatment sales boost profit at Gilead (http://goo.gl/Z55M9)[/color]
The sales of a HIV treatment last year contributed to a sharp increase in pre-tax profits at the main Irish arm of pharma giant Gilead to $55.1m (€41.6m) after revenues topped $2.75bn, writes Gordon Deegan.

investorideas

Biotech Investor Alert for (OTC: AEMD), (Nasdaq:VRUS), (VRTX); Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Treatments (http://goo.gl/BWKPs)
www.InvestorIdeas.com issues a biotech investor alert for Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRUS), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) and Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB: AEMD), three stocks involved in the treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).

examiner

Durham NC HIV care big business (http://goo.gl/ZvQyt)
Durham NC is the leading area for HIV research and clinical trials. This has made many doctors and researchers successful in life. I do wonder if the constant search for a cure is for the benefit of the people living with the illness or the love of money which funds these projects and keeps people working.


Misc


nytimes

Obstacles Slow an Easy Way to Prevent H.I.V. in Men (http://goo.gl/tu8Ac)
Circumcision, which cuts men’s risk of infection by 60 percent or more, has been urged by health authorities since 2007. Their goal is to circumcise more than 20 million men, 80 percent of 15-to-49-year-olds, in 14 African countries, by 2015. 

southflorida

Florida tattoo industry to get cleaned up (http://goo.gl/u4CjI)
Video

montrealgazette

HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence - in rich countries (http://goo.gl/R0q38)
Article

trust

What is life like for a child who is born HIV positive? (http://goo.gl/ndTPj)
Sharifah Nabukenya is a citizen journalist with Key Correspondent , a global network supported by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, which enables people from communities most affected by HIV to document the realities they and those they know face.The opinions expressed are her own.

redcross

Young people still fear stigma of HIV (http://goo.gl/DyUtU)
As World AIDS Day (1 December) approaches, a new survey has shown one in three young people in the UK fears their parents would react negatively if told they were HIV positive.

avert

70,000 newborns get HIV a year (http://goo.gl/elpn2)
Despite campaigns to stop HIV transmission, more than 70,000 thousand newborn children still contract the virus from their mothers through delivery.

yahoo

HIV-positive men urge China Premier to end discrimination (http://goo.gl/SkXYN)
Three prospective school teachers have appealed to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to end discrimination against people with HIV after they said they were wrongly denied teaching jobs because their employers discovered they had the virus that causes AIDS.

chinadaily

Mother-to-child HIV infection plunges in China (http://goo.gl/5rAdM)
The rate of HIV/AIDS infection from mother-to-child in China dropped from 34.8 percent at the start of 2009 to 7.9 percent in 2010, according to a senior official with the Ministry of Health.

wlsam

West suburban cop bitten by HIV-positive man (http://goo.gl/FzlwL)
An Oak Park police officer is OK after being bitten by an HIV-positive prisoner during post-arrest processing.


Sport (non HIV specific)


adisonline

Antioxidant Supplementation during Exercise Training: Beneficial or Detrimental (http://goo.gl/huYXT)
The main findings of these studies are that, in certain situations, loading the cell with high doses of antioxidants leads to a blunting of the positive effects of exercise training and interferes with important reactive oxygen species (ROS)–mediated physiological processes, such as vasodilation and insulin signalling.

bjsm

Sudden cardiac death: mandatory exclusion of athletes at risk is a step too far (http://goo.gl/3OFcB)
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes is a distressing event and it is not surprising that some physicians working with sports people are proposing that preventive action should be taken. There is a push for a system similar to that established in some countries, which involves screening and mandatory exclusion of those at risk. The authors argue that while screening can provide useful information to at–risk athletes making decisions about their future athletic careers, mandatory exclusion of athletes is paternalistic and such decisions are not rightfully within the domain of medicine.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 14, 2011, 04:32:09 pm
Dynamics of cognitive change in HIV-infected individuals commencing three different initial antiretroviral regimens: a randomized, controlled study (http://goo.gl/iHYM6)
Improvements in neurocognitive (NC) function continue over the first year after initiating antiretroviral therapy in neuro–asymptomatic HIV–infected subjects.

HIV-Specific CD4 T Cell Responses to Different Viral Proteins Have Discordant Associations with Viral Load and Clinical Outcome (http://goo.gl/pp9Mv)
At the epitope level, targeting of three distinct Gag peptides was linked to spontaneous HIV control. Inclusion of these immunogenic proteins and peptides in future HIV vaccines may act as a critical cornerstone for enhancing protective T cell responses.

Metabolic abnormalities and viral replication are associated with biomarkers of vascular dysfunction in HIV-infected children (http://goo.gl/JZSQ0)
HIV–infected children have higher levels of biomarkers of vascular dysfunction than do HIV–exposed, uninfected (HEU) children. Risk factors associated with higher biomarkers include unfavourable lipid levels and active HIV replication.

Variables associated with decreasing pain among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus: a longitudinal follow-up study (http://goo.gl/EtnZL)
Authros found social and HIV–related variables associated with decreasing pain. Authors failed to show a positive association between analgesic use and decreasing pain.

Treatment limitations imposed by antiretroviral drug resistance mutations: implication for choices of first line regimens in resource-limited settings (http://goo.gl/GK0tG)
The use of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)–based first–line ART regimens may limit the options for second–line treatment when the number of available drugs is limited.

Presence of CXCR4-Using HIV-1 in Patients With Recently Diagnosed Infection: Correlates and Evidence for Transmission (http://goo.gl/lW6te)
The results confirmed the relation between CXCR4–use at diagnosis and low baseline CD4+ T cell counts. Significantly more CXCR4–use was predicted in 01 AE infections, which may impose constraints on the use of CCR5 antagonists in certain regions of the world. Observations from the transmission cluster analysis contradict the hypothesis that R5 viruses are selected at transmission, and support the idea that R5 or X4/DM infections result from a stochastic process.

Baseline Cellular HIV DNA Load Predicts HIV DNA Decline and Residual HIV Plasma Levels During Effective Antiretroviral Therapy (http://goo.gl/Y6JHr)
Early treatment facilitated the achievement of undetectable levels of plasma viraemia and cellular HIV DNA and a better recovery of CD4 lymphocytes. HIV DNA level before and during highly active antiretroviral therapy may be used as a new tool for monitoring treatment efficacy.

Valacyclovir Suppressive Therapy Reduces Plasma and Breast Milk HIV-1 RNA Levels During Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Randomized Trial (http://goo.gl/BHXfj)
Valacyclovir significantly decreased early breast milk and plasma HIV–1 RNA among women receiving prevention of mother–to–child transmission (PMTCT).

Chronic Hepatitis E as a cause for cryptogenic cirrhosis in HIV (http://goo.gl/2cNsc)
Chronic hepatitis E infection (HEV) infection should be considered in HIV patients as a cause for unexplained transaminitis and cryptogenic liver cirrhosis.

Gladstone Scientists Identify Human Proteins that May Fuel HIV/AIDS Transmission (http://goo.gl/15JJz)
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered new protein fragments in semen that enhance the ability of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to infect new cells—a discovery that one day could help curb the global spread of this deadly pathogen.

Aethlon (OTCBB: AEMD) Reports HIV Breakthrough (http://goo.gl/9Jl1B)
Aethlon Hemopurifier is able to capture particles known as Nef protein exosomes, which contribute to the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 15, 2011, 03:52:24 pm
Dec. 15, 2011


HIV Drug Reduces Graft-versus-Host Disease in Stem Cell Transplant Patients, Penn Study Shows (http://goo.gl/rHSwb)
Inhibition of Lymphocyte Trafficking Using a CCR5 Antagonist – Final Results of a Phase I/II Study.

Reyataz In Review: Part 1 – Simplified Reyataz-Based Regimens May Effectively Control HIV (http://goo.gl/i1gFg)
A review of Reyataz-related studies at a recent conference suggests that simplified two-drug regimens using Norvir-boosted Reyataz may be as effective as three-drug regimens in patients with well-controlled HIV infection.

Updated Two-Year Trial Results Indicate That Elvitegravir Is As Effective And Safe As Isentress (http://goo.gl/3Wytw)
Updated results from a 96-week Phase 3 clinical trial continue to indicate that the investigational integrase inhibitor elvitegravir is as effective and safe as Isentress in previously treated people with HIV.

Estimated Life Expectancy For HIV-Positive Men Is Greatest When HIV Is Diagnosed Early (http://goo.gl/TlWYv)
Results from a British study of HIV-positive men who have sex with men estimated a life expectancy of 75 years if HIV is diagnosed early, compared with 82 years for individuals without HIV. If HIV is diagnosed late, the researchers estimated life expectancy at 71.5 years.

Headaches May Plague Many With HIV/AIDS (http://goo.gl/6wMj0)
About 27.5 percent of the 200 HIV/AIDS patients in the study suffered "chronic migraine," a rare condition in which a person has migraine symptoms (with or without other headaches) for 15 or more days a month. This condition occurs in only 2 percent of the general population.

Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba amebic encephalitis with neurotoxoplasmosis co-infection in a patient with advanced HIV infection (http://goo.gl/z9eXb)
The patient is the first reported case of an HIV infected person with dual Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba amebic encephalitis with neurotoxoplasmosis co–infection.

A new real-time quantitative PCR for the diagnosis and monitoring of HIV-1 group O infection (http://goo.gl/IkmLX)
The new assay, INT–O, allows both specific diagnosis of HIV–O infection and the quantification of diverse HIV–O strains. Its detection limit is equivalent to that of commercial kits. This assay is cheap and suitable for use in areas in which HIV–1 groups M and O co–circulate.

Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in HIV infection despite highly active antiretroviral therapy (http://goo.gl/a7fSx)
The report highlights the importance of an effective immune recovery, despite fully suppressive HAART, along with anti–rhodococcal therapy, in order to clear rhodococcal infection.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of HIV-1 Isolates Obtained From Patients on Rilpivirine Therapy Experiencing Virologic Failure in the Phase 3 ECHO and THRIVE Studies: 48-Week Analysis (http://goo.gl/D2OrR)
Virologic failure (VF) and treatment–emergent reverse transcriptase resistance–associated mutations (RAMs) were similar at low baseline VL but more frequent at high baseline VL in rilpivirine–treated than in efavirenz–treated patients. The frequent emergence of E138K, especially in combination with M184I, in rilpivirine VFs is a unique finding of these trials.

Intermittent iron supplementation for reducing anaemia and its associated impairments in menstruating women (http://goo.gl/tgnIn)
Intermittent iron supplementation in menstruating women is a feasible intervention in settings where daily supplementation is likely to be unsuccessful or not possible.

More Transparency, Efficiency Needed to Improve Impact of HIV Funding in Developing Countries, RAND Study Finds (http://goo.gl/8SQgH)
Using publicly available information, RAND researchers tracked how PEPFAR and GF allocated resources to the delivery of services in recipient countries. The authors found that 30% of PEPFAR's $4.7 billion budget in 2010, for example, went to indirect services such as health system strengthening, administration and overhead -- more than was allocated for treatment (28%).

Virco Lab launches HIV/AIDS EHR technology (http://goo.gl/clQKf)
Virco Lab, Inc., the U.S. affiliate of Virco BVBA, today announced the launch of AVIGA™ and AVIGA REPORTER™. AVIGA™ is a web-based electronic health record (EHR) solution with HIV/AIDS disease-specific functionality and AVIGA REPORTER™ is a web-based, data-reporting module designed specifically for the purposes of conducting HIV/AIDS research and providing reporting capabilities.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 20, 2011, 03:55:56 pm
Dec. 20, 2011


globalnews

Human testing of experimental HIV vaccine approved by FDA (http://goo.gl/Q6dHm)
Canadian researchers have received approval to begin human testing of an experimental HIV vaccine.
Official Speech on Youtube (http://goo.gl/a1gu4)   ~   CTV Interview (http://goo.gl/y5bhi)

prweb

San Jose Medical Marijuana Doctor 420 Cannabis Evaluations Clinic Points to Study Showing Marijuana Increases Appetite in HIV Patients (http://goo.gl/fWgDB)
A recent medical cannabis study by the University of California, San Diego and the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research found inhaled marijuana stimulated appetite hormones in adult HIV patients.

dddmag

Gilead Submits Truvada sNDA to FDA (http://goo.gl/xKxHH)
Gilead Sciences Inc. announced that it has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of once-daily Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection among uninfected adults.

aidsbeacon

FDA Approves Liquid Formulation Of Prezista (http://goo.gl/jQL2y)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new, liquid formulation of Prezista.  The new formulation will be available for children aged three to six years old as well as children or adults who cannot swallow Prezista pills.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Efficacy and safety of once daily elvitegravir versus twice daily raltegravir in treatment-experienced patients with HIV-1 receiving a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor: randomised, double-blind, phase 3, non-inferiority study (http://goo.gl/BqmN2)
Elvitegravir used in combination with a ritonavir–boosted protease inhibitor in treatment–experienced patients has similar efficacy and safety to raltegravir. Since elvitegravir can be given once a day compared with twice a day for raltegravir, elvitegravir might improve patients' adherence.

HIV Clinical Trials

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Lopinavir in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients with Advanced Liver Disease (http://goo.gl/rnlSU)
The risk of lopinavir–associated hepatotoxicity in patients with very advanced liver disease is low. However, lopinavir plasma trough levels are increased, and there is a high interpatient variability.

Validity of Self-Report Measures in Assessing Antiretroviral Adherence of Newly Diagnosed, HAART-Naive, HIV Patients (http://goo.gl/LHNbY)
The visual analogue scale (VAS), Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG), and qualitative single–item measures correlated significantly with Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) and pharmacy data. The data support self–administration of the VAS, even in Spanish speakers.

Examination of noninferiority, safety, and tolerability of lopinavir/ritonavir and raltegravir compared with lopinavir/ritonavir and tenofovir/ emtricitabine in antiretroviral-naive subjects: the progress study, 48-week results (http://goo.gl/zg6pS)
The HIV treatment regimen of lopi–navir/ritonavir [LPV/r] + raltegravir [RAL] resulted in noninferior efficacy and comparable safety and tolerability compared with a traditional NRTI–containing regimen through 48 weeks of treatment. These results support further evaluation of the LPV/r + RAL regimen.

Journal of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

A Randomized, Pilot Trial to Evaluate Glomerular Filtration Rate by Creatinine or Cystatin C in Naive HIV-Infected Patients After Tenofovir/Emtricitabine in Combination With Atazanavir/Ritonavir or Efavirenz (http://goo.gl/OCMAi)
ATV/r plus tenofovir caused greater GFR decreases compared with EFV. The evaluation of eGFR by cystatin C confirmed this result, but this method seemed to be more stringent, probably precluding the possibility to detect a significant difference in the pattern of eGFR evolution between the two arms over time. More studies are needed to understand the clinical relevance of these alterations and whether cystatin C is a more appropriate method for monitoring GFR in clinical practice

AIDS and Behavior

Non-Disclosure of a Pregnant Womans HIV Status to Her Partner is Associated with Non-Optimal Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (http://goo.gl/T94iT)
Factors associated with non–disclosure reflect vulnerability and its association with non optimal prevention of HIV mother–to–child transmission (PMTCT) is a cause for concern although the impact on transmission was limited in this context of universal free access to care.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Use of hormonal contraceptives and risk of HIV-1 transmission: a prospective cohort study (http://goo.gl/jv4r2)
Women should be counselled about potentially increased risk of HIV–1 acquisition and transmission with hormonal contraception, especially injectable methods, and about the importance of dual protection with condoms to decrease HIV–1 risk. Non–hormonal or low–dose hormonal contraceptive methods should be considered for women with or at–risk for HIV–1.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Asthma diagnosis and airway bronchodilator response in HIV-infected patients (http://goo.gl/qci3H)
Asthma diagnosis and bronchodilator reversibility (BDR) are prevalent in an HIV–infected outpatient cohort, and associations with family history, obesity, allergic inflammation, prior infection, absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and increased HIV–stimulated cytokines suggest possible mechanisms of HIV–associated asthma.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

The Setpoint Study (ACTG A5217): Effect of Immediate Versus Deferred Antiretroviral Therapy on Virologic Set Point in Recently HIV-1–Infected Individuals (http://goo.gl/agiFk)
Progression to meeting criteria for antiretroviral initiation in the deferred treatment (DT) group occurred more frequently than anticipated, limiting the ability to evaluate virologic set point. Antiretrovirals during early HIV–1 infection modestly delayed the need for subsequent treatment.

mlive

Online petitioners condemn Great Expressions Dental for alleged harassment of HIV+ ex-employee (http://goo.gl/yj6CN)
More than 2000 people have signed a Change.org online petition demanding the Great Expressions Dental Centers apologize and pay restitution for allegedly harassing an HIV positive former employee.

saultstar

Hiding HIV/AIDS shouldn't be a crime, doctors argue (http://goo.gl/NqtY6)
Prosecuting HIV-positive people for not disclosing their status to their sexual partners stigmatizes those with HIV/ AIDS and those most at risk of contracting the virus and doesn't protect people from becoming infected, a respected Canadian doctor argues in an article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Title: Re: John2038's Research News
Post by: John2038 on December 21, 2011, 03:41:57 pm
Dec. 21, 2011


eurekalert

Hundreds of connections between viral and human proteins identified in UCSF-led study (work that may reveal new drug target) (http://goo.gl/Utlh1)
In perhaps the most comprehensive survey of the inner workings of HIV, an international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco has mapped every apparent physical interaction the virus makes with components of the human cells it infects—work that may reveal new ways to design future HIV/AIDS drugs.

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases

Tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: evolving evidence (http://goo.gl/ezWcA)
Topical tenofovir gel showed efficacy in African women and daily oral tenofovir disoproxyl fumarate (TDF) and FTC/TDF were efficacious in MSM, and African HIV–1 serodiscordant couples and young heterosexuals. The reasons for lack of efficacy of oral FTC/TDF and TDF in two studies in African women are being investigated. Longer–acting formulations, invtravaginal rings, and new candidate antiretrovirals are being evaluated for pre–exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Asian Journal of Psychiatry

Association of depression with social support and self-esteem among HIV positives (http://goo.gl/8qOXq)
The authors study shows a high prevalence of depression in HIV positive patients along with the importance of self–esteem.

Disability & Rehabilitation

Factors contributing to impaired self-awareness of cognitive functioning in an HIV positive and at-risk population (http://goo.gl/DFe45)
Overall, impaired awareness was associated with poorer test performance, suggesting a relationship between awareness and sustained complex attention and visual spatial processing. This research has implications for understanding factors contributing to poor awareness among individuals with cognitive impairment.

Infectious Diseases

From nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis in HIV-infected patients: diagnosis and management (http://goo.gl/nwXR2)
HIV–infected patients are at risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a silent disease that can progress to more severe liver injuries. An accurate screening of these patients should be considered to prevent harmful evolution.

International Journal of STD & AIDS

Malaria therapy in HIV: drug interactions between nevirapine and quinine (http://goo.gl/R1zMK)
The case highlights the importance of knowing the potential drug interactions with ART and the importance of checking for such interactions when prescribing new medications

nasdaq

FDA Approves Merck HIV Drug Isentress For Use In Children, Teens (http://goo.gl/S7Xjl)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday it has approved the use of Merck & Co.'s (MRK) HIV medication Isentress for children and adolescents.

HIV and Hepatitis

Obama Raises Domestic HIV Treatment Funding by $50 Million (http://goo.gl/x8a9H)
President Barack Obama recognized World Aids Day on December 1 by announcing a $50 million increase in funding for HIV care and treatment in the U.S.

Math Model Suggests PrEP plus ART Would Lower HIV Drug Resistance (http://)
An appropriate combination of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) could potentially reduce the prevalence of drug-resistant HIV in resource-limited countries, but the wrong balance could increase resistance and the need for second-line therapy, according to a mathematical model described in the December 7, 2011, Nature Scientific Reports.

Two New Nucleotide HCV Polymerase Inhibitors Enter Clinical Trials (http://goo.gl/4wLvt)
A pair of hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleotide analog NS5B polymerase inhibitors, ALS-2200 and ALS-2158, are now entering Phase 1 human trials, according to a recent announcement.