 |
|
New treatment model for HIV
July 13, 2007Treatment of HIV patients must balance the need to suppress viral replication against the harmful side effects and significant cost to the patient of antiretroviral therapy. This tradeoff has led to the development of various drug-sparing HIV-1 treatment strategies, which often results in the emergence of resistant viruses and overall treatment failure. This has prompted an interest in induction--maintenance (IM) treatment strategies, in which brief intensive therapy is used to reduce host viral levels, which is then followed by a simplified and more easily tolerated maintenance regimen.
IM approaches remain an unproven concept in HIV therapy. In a study publishing July 13, 2007 in PLoS Computational Biology, clinical responses to antiretroviral drug therapy are simulated for the first time, and the model is then applied to IM therapy. Marcel Curlin, Shyamala Iyer, and John Mittler, from the University of Washington, find that IM is expected to be successful beyond three years and that six to ten months of induction therapy should achieve durable suppression of HIV and maximize the possibility of eradicating viruses resistant to the maintenance regime. They also find the counter-intuitive result that for induction regimens of limited duration the optimal time to initiate induction therapy may be several days or weeks after the start of regular (maintenance) therapy.
These results are important not simply because they show how this particular, albeit important, therapy strategy may be optimized, but because they illustrate the more general potential for mathematical models to influence therapy decisions. "Our experience has been that clinicians and policy makers are often hesitant to consider, sometimes even hostile towards, mathematical modeling approaches. Instead, they rely on intuition or await the results of expensive, long-term clinical trials", says Mittler. By presenting a detailed model that makes concrete quantitative predictions and gives some interesting, counter-intuitive qualitative results, this paper may help to change attitudes concerning the value of dynamical modeling approaches.
Public Library of Science
Public Library of Science
Antiretroviral Current Events and Antiretroviral News RSSMany pregnant women avoid HIV screening in Africa
'Prevention is the best cure' is a common expression, but what happens if preventative measures are not used? A large proportion of pregnant Ugandan women are going out of their way not to be HIV tested, increasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.
Taking medicine for HIV proves hard to swallow for many people
Highly active antiretroviral therapy has increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with human immunodeficiency virus. But it requires strict adherence in taking the medicine, something that is extremely difficult for many individuals to do.
Feelings of stigmatization may discourage HIV patients from proper care
The feeling of stigmatization that people living with HIV often experience doesn't only exact a psychological toll -new UCLA research suggests it can also lead to quantifiably negative health outcomes.
Maternal HIV-1 treatment protects against transmission to newborns
Mothers receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV-1 infection are less likely than untreated mothers to transmit the virus to their newborns through breastfeeding.
Research shows treating HIV-AIDS with interleukin-2 is ineffective
An international research team has demonstrated that treating HIV-AIDS with interleukin-2 (IL-2) is ineffective. As a result, the researchers recommend that clinical trials on this compound be stopped.
Nurses safely and effectively prescribe antiretroviral drugs in pilot program
Given sufficient training and support, nurses can safely and effectively prescribe antiretroviral therapy (ART) to patients with HIV, according to a Rwandan study published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Study highlights HIV/AIDS challenge in American prison system
HIV/Aids is up to five times more prevalent in American prisons than in the general population. Adherence to treatment programs can be strictly monitored in prison.
Study finds nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease on the rise in the United States
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental organisms found in both water and soil that can cause severe pulmonary (lung) disease in humans. Pulmonary NTM is on the rise in the United States, according to a large study of people hospitalized with the condition.
HIV vaccine regimen demonstrates modest preventive effect in Thailand clinical study
In an encouraging development, an investigational vaccine regimen has been shown to be well-tolerated and to have a modest effect in preventing HIV infection in a clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult participants in Thailand.
Updated Guidelines Highlight Primary Care Needs of Those Living With HIV
With HIV patients living longer thanks to advances in treatment, the primary care needs of those living with HIV have never been more important.
More Antiretroviral Current Events and Antiretroviral News Articles
 |
Mortal Combat: AIDS Denialism and the Struggle for Antiretrovirals in South Africa by Nicoli Nattrass (Author) The AIDS pandemic and "denialism" is an international issue and South Africa is a flash point case study. "Mortal Combat" is a history of AIDS policy in South Africa. It exposes the strategy and tactics of AIDS denialists and focuses on the struggle for antiretrovirals to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to extend the lives of people living with AIDS. |
 |
Thing With No Name Starring: Danisile; Ntombeleni Directed By: Sarah Friedland Also With: Sarah Friedland (Producer), Sarah Friedland (Writer) |
 |
AIDS in Africa Also With: MacNeil / Lehrer Productions (Producer) The AIDS crisis in Africa is the subject of this 2001 NewsHour series. Correspondents report on the situation in three countries: Malawi, Botswana and Senegal. Also included is a discussion about the international community's role in combating the epidemic. A warning: segments in the series contain strong images and frank conversations about sexual habits. |
 |
Science Sold Out: Does HIV Really Cause AIDS? by Rebecca Culshaw (Author), Harvey Bialy (Foreword) There are many well-established scientific reasons that the HIV/AIDS hypothesis is highly doubtful. In Science Sold Out, Rebecca Culshaw describes her slow uncovering of these reasons over her years researching HIV for her work constructing mathematical models of its interaction with the immune system. It is rare that a researcher who has received funding to study HIV ever expresses any doubt in the paradigm, and an even rarer event still when she abandons the field altogether. This book focuses on the changing definition of AIDS and the flaws in all HIV testing. In a much broader sense, it explains how the current, government-based structure of scientific research has corrupted science as the search for truth. It offers not only scientific reasons for HIV/AIDS being untenable, but also... |
 |
From access to adherence: The challenges of antiretroviral treatment by A., et al., Davey, S., Gerrits, T., Hodgkin, C. Hardon (Author) As access to ARVs becomes assured, the world needs to place equal effort in ensuring that every ART patient receives adequate adherence support. The authors of this book report on the experiences from successful treatment programmes in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa at the forefront of the roll-out of ARVs. The voices of the patients, their families, community members and the health workers who care for them have been reported faithfully. They speak of the impact of ART on their daily lives and of the key challenges involved in sustaining the necessary high level of adherence to treatment. Their real life experience is valid and needs to be considered by health programme managers who are planning the expansion of ARV treatment programmes. |
|
Access to Treatment in the Private-Sector Workplace: The Provision of Antiretroviral Therapy by Three Companies in South Africa (A UNAIDS Publication) by UNAIDS (Author) Companies cannot ignore HIV; it is a business issue demanding a response now and influencing longer term strategic planning. HIV infection among employees poses a significant threat to operational stability and future profitability. This study outlines how three major companies operating in South Africa have recognized both the challenges HIV poses and their moral duty of care, and have implemented programs to treat and care for employees and their families. | |
|
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine: Antiretroviral drugs by Samuel D. Uretsky PharmD (Author) The article is excerpted from Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Consult the second edition of this authoritative, comprehensive, in-depth medical guide for information on more than 1,700 medical topics in language accessible to adult laypersons. Presented in a single alphabetical sequence, articles range in length from one or two paragraphs for minor topics, to several pages or more for major topics. Disease/disorder articles typically cover definition; description; causes and symptoms; diagnosis; treatments; prevention; and more. Test/treatment articles typically cover definition; purposes; precautions; preparation; risks; normal and abnormal results; and much more. This second edition includes more than 200 new entries, 300 updated entries, approximately 650 color... | |
 |
ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY FOR HIV INFECTION: A Public Health Approach by SIMON SENTUMBWE (Author) The estimated number of PLWHA worldwide in 2007 (UNAIDS/WHO) was 33.2 million and of these, more than 68% are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, over 5700 persons die from AIDS daily, due to inadequate access to treatment services. The objective of this book, in tandem with WHO?s public health approach to anti-retroviral therapy is to promote safe, effective, quality and rational use of antiretroviral drugs. This book articulates standard regimens for use of antiretroviral therapy for adults and adolescents; women of child-bearing potential or who are pregnant;infants and children; eligibility criteria as well as standards for monitoring and managing patients.The contents include: when to start ART; ARV regimens to start with; reasons for changing ART;regimens to use when... |
|
Antiretrovirals Quell Kaposi's in Most HIV-Infected Patients.: An article from: Family Practice News by Sherry Boschert (Author) This digital document is an article from Family Practice News, published by International Medical News Group on September 1, 1999. The length of the article is 550 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Antiretrovirals Quell Kaposi's in Most HIV-Infected Patients. Author: Sherry Boschert Publication: Family Practice News (Magazine/Journal) Date: September 1, 1999 Publisher: International Medical News Group Volume: 29 Issue: 17 Page: 22 Distributed by Thomson... | |
|
The imperative to treat: the South African State's Constitutional obligations to provide antiretroviral medicines.: An article from: Health Law Review by Lisa Forman (Author) This digital document is an article from Health Law Review, published by Health Law Institute on December 22, 2003. The length of the article is 5066 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: The imperative to treat: the South African State's Constitutional obligations to provide antiretroviral medicines. Author: Lisa Forman Publication: Health Law Review (Magazine/Journal) Date: December 22, 2003 Publisher: Health Law Institute Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Page: 9(7) Distributed by Thomson... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |