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• BREAKING RESEARCH FROM IAS 2007
Podcasts, Interviews, Summaries and More: TheBody.com Covers IAS 2007
When nearly 1,000 studies are presented at a major HIV conference, how can you possibly figure out which were the most important? We've got the answer: TheBody.com's team of HIV experts and
reporters has spent the past week in Sydney, Australia, covering the 4th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2007). Exclusive, daily podcast
summaries and one-on-one expert interviews are now available, and much more coverage will roll in over the days to come!
Next-Day Podcast Summaries: Listen in as Experts Review Conference Highlights
At IAS 2007, we proudly rolled out an exciting new feature of our respected conference coverage: next-day podcast summaries! Tune in as noted HIV physicians Daniel Berger, M.D., and Joel
Gallant, M.D., M.P.H., walk us through the highlights of each day's presented studies, from the latest on HIV meds in development to new findings exploring ways for mixed-status couples
to safely conceive a child. In addition to the 24-minute interviews, we've also got study slides, full transcripts and links to further study information. (U.S. physicians and
nurses can earn free CME/CE credit at The Body PRO for each of these summaries!) |
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• HIV TREATMENT
Your HIV Treatment Regimen: Can You Have It All?
Whether you're just beginning HIV meds or have already been on multiple regimens, finding the right combination of meds can seem confusing -- even impossible! That's why last month, TheBody.com hosted a live chat with Dr. Edwin DeJesus, one of the top HIV care providers in the United States. He answered questions submitted by our readers about how to choose an HIV treatment regimen that works best for them, taking into consideration factors such as side effects and drug interactions. Even if you missed the chat, you don't have to miss a single word: The full transcript is now online!
Held Up in U.S., First CCR5 Inhibitor Nears Approval in Europe
A medical advisory panel in Europe has given a thumbs-up to maraviroc (proposed brand name: Celsentri) -- the first in a new class of HIV meds known as CCR5 inhibitors. Now that it's cleared the panel, maraviroc could be officially approved for use in the European Union within the next few months. Maraviroc's approval in the United States was put on hold in June, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it still had questions about the drug. (Web highlight from aidsmap.com) |
• HEALTH COMPLICATIONS IN HIVERS
Protein Buildup May Be Linked to Fat Gain in HIVers on Protease Inhibitors, Researchers Say
Some HIV meds appear to cause body fat changes and related problems in people with HIV. But how do they do it? A new study may have brought us closer to an answer, at least when it comes to protease inhibitors. U.S. researchers have found that protease inhibitors seem to cause a buildup of a specific type of protein, which the researchers think may lead to a buildup of fat or cholesterol. The effect appears similar to a condition seen in people who have early-aging syndromes, the researchers noted.
Untreated Syphilis Nearly Costs HIVer His Vision
Ethan had been living with HIV for less than three years when his vision started to blur. It kept getting worse,
until he was almost completely blind. It turned out that Ethan had syphilis and never got tested for it, even though he was sexually active. His vision has improved somewhat since he started syphilis
treatment, but his story is a reminder that unprotected sex still has its dangers, regardless of whether you and the person you're sleeping with share the same HIV status. |
• HIV TRANSMISSION
Is HIV Really a Gay Disease?
We know that anyone can get HIV, but many people still pigeonhole it as a gay disease. Can both points of view be correct? What exactly do the statistics say about how "gay" HIV is? In this article, Enid Vázquez of Positively Aware takes a look at exactly how many HIVers in the United States are men who have sex with men.
Sex, Videotape and ... No Condoms?
How do you reach out to young porn actors so you can educate them about HIV? In this story, Keith Green recounts how he discovered that a Chicago-based porn Web site didn't offer any
HIV awareness or prevention tools to its employees, most of whom are minorities. Green explains what he -- and a group of dedicated activists and health care providers -- did to change things. "We were extremely conscious to ... not judge or look down upon the way these young men had chosen to earn their living," Keith recounts. "We understood that for many of them this wasn't a choice, really. This was a matter of economic survival."
Scientists Identify Genes That May Slow HIV Progression
How is it that some HIV-positive people seem to always have a low viral load even though they're not on treatment? Researchers have pinpointed three genes that may help find an answer. In addition to explaining why some people are able to naturally keep HIV at bay, the discovery casts new light on how the immune system can overcome HIV infection, which may help scientists hunting for an HIV vaccine or a new form of treatment. |
• MAKING A DIFFERENCE
College Program Brings Out the Creative Side of HIV Activism
Columbia College in Chicago isn't your run-of-the-mill arts and communications school. Its program, Critical Encounters, is trying to revolutionize the way students and staff members think about
the relationship between art and activism. In the 2006/2007 academic year, Critical Encounters focused on HIV; students came up with some impressively creative ways to bring the issue home to their
college campus. |
• HIV NEWS
Family of Refugee Who Died From Lactic Acidosis Awarded $4.5 Million
Although it may come as little consolation to the family of Jacqueline Makombe, a judge has ordered the U.S. government to pay them $4.5 million for what happened to her. Makombe, a 39-year-old
Congolese refugee, was infected with HIV when she was gang-raped by members of Congo's military. According to her family, Makombe repeatedly came to a federally funded clinic in Chicago complaining
of the symptoms of lactic acidosis, a rare but potentially fatal buildup of lactic acid that can be caused by some HIV meds. But the clinic failed to recognize the symptoms (which can include
frequent vomiting, rapid breathing, an enlarged liver, and hands or feet that turn blue) and she died from the complication. |
• HIV OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
British Justice System Recklessly Enforcing HIV Transmission Laws, Advocates Say
People with HIV are being oppressed by overly aggressive law enforcement in the United Kingdom, as the justice system takes a heavy-handed approach to HIV transmission laws, advocates say. Thirteen British HIVers have been convicted of transmitting HIV to others, but most of those are from guilty pleas rather than jury verdicts. Advocates warn that "inappropriate pursuits of non-cases" are having a chilling effect on the lives of HIV-positive people in the United Kingdom. (Web highlight from aidsmap.com)
Indonesia Tries Sex Education Through Text Messages
A flamboyant sex educator from Singapore who goes by the name of Dr. Love has launched a text messaging campaign in Indonesia. Indonesians can send questions about sex to a panel of local
doctors through their mobile phones, and a Web site with a virtual character will be built around the questions they submit. Dr. Love -- whose real name is Wei Siang Yu -- hopes the site
will be widely used by Indonesian youths, 57 percent of whom learn about sex from friends or pornographic movies, according to one survey. |
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