Researchers explore new pre-exposure prophylaxis strategies, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and innate antibacterial activity in relation to HIV acquisition. Advances in vaccine development and emerging clinical trial results offer promising near-term strategies for reducing HIV transmission.
Refined estimates suggest nearly three million AIDS deaths by 2010, highlighting the need for accurate reporting to monitor HIV control efforts. The study found that 93% of AIDS deaths were misattributed to other causes, hindering progress in South Africa.
Researchers found that children with mild to severe hearing loss have poorer language development than their peers, but provide well-fit hearing aids can help. Optimal early services enable hard of hearing children to catch up or close gaps with hearing peers.
A study of 137 older adults found that hearing loss was linked to accelerated cognitive decline. However, participants who used hearing aids showed reduced declines in cognitive function over a 25-year period compared to those without hearing aids.
A new study by Dr. Susitha Wanigaratne found that pregnant refugee women in Ontario had a higher prevalence of HIV than immigrants and Canadian-born women, with rates eight times higher for refugees than immigrants and 17 times higher than Canadian-born women. The study suggests that recent changes to Canadian immigration policy may ha...
Researchers at Scripps Florida Institute have been awarded $6 million to develop an innovative HIV/AIDS vaccine that has shown promise in animal models. The approach works by blocking key sites on the virus's surface, preventing it from attaching and invading human immune cells.
Researchers Ivona Pandrea and Cristian Apetrei are investigating the relation between accelerated aging characteristics linked to HIV infection and non-AIDS comorbidities. They aim to develop treatments tackling these processes, aiming to improve quality of life for people on HIV medications.
A simplified 'Test and Treat' intervention was associated with increased engagement in HIV/AIDS care and a 62% reduction in mortality among participants. The program improved diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment outcomes, with a significant increase in pre-ART CD4 testing and ART initiation.
The Third Coast Center for AIDS Research aims to slow and stop HIV in young gay men, a demographic group experiencing rising infections at 5% annually. The center will unite HIV researchers from different disciplines and provide services through five cores.
The amfAR report identifies key indicators and recommendations for policymakers and community stakeholders to improve HIV prevention and care outcomes in states. The report urges states to target resources to key populations, remove barriers to access, and modernize laws related to HIV exposure.
The Scripps Research Institute has been awarded $4.5 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support HIV vaccine development. The new funding will enable scientists to screen immunogens and vaccines with high likelihood of success.
New research finds that HIV treatment for illicit drug users promotes improved health, socio-economic stability, and quality of life. Consistent ART treatment reduces homelessness and involvement in activities like sex work or street-based income generation.
A new study found that starting antiretroviral therapy early reduces the risk of both serious AIDS-related events and serious non-AIDS-related events, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and death. The study shows a significant benefit of early treatment regardless of age, sex, or geographic region.
Researchers have found that altered cholesterol metabolism in certain immune cells may help some people with HIV naturally control disease progression. This discovery was made possible by using 30 years of data and biologic specimens collected through the NIH-funded Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.
A researcher at Georgia State University has received a grant to study an eye disease that causes vision loss and blindness in HIV-immunosuppressed patients. The goal is to understand the mechanisms of HCMV retinitis and find ways to prevent or treat the debilitating disease.
A sociologist has revealed significant traces of HIV in Montreal's urban landscape, including public spaces like Park of Hope and the Chapel of Hope. These urban vestiges reflect the history and presence of the gay community and the fight against AIDS.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded six researchers $300,000 per year for five years to support innovative studies on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. The Avenir Award Program supports creative individuals who wish to pursue research approaches for improved prevention and treatment.
The report highlights the urgent need to scale up AIDS efforts, get serious about HIV prevention, and continue expanding access to treatment in countries most affected by HIV. The Commission recommends increasing resources for HIV prevention, treatment, and research, as well as robust governance and accountability.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute successfully test an experimental HIV vaccine candidate in mice, producing antibody precursors necessary to recognize and block HIV infection. The findings provide key information for the development of an effective AIDS vaccine.
Over 30 years of data from San Francisco shows improved survival rates for AIDS patients, but a third still die within five years after initial opportunistic infection. Better prevention and treatment strategies are crucial to address lingering mortality risks.
Grand Challenges Canada and Google.org fund two Canadian organizations to develop diagnostic kits and screen people in need of high-quality hearing aids. The initiatives aim to improve the lives of over 360 million people with hearing loss worldwide.
A collaborative project between the University of Leeds and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aims to improve access to music for people using hearing aids. The research will explore how music listening experiences are affected by deafness, hearing impairments and the use of hearing aids.
A new study found that patients with AIDS have a four-fold increase in the risk of developing intermediate-stage age-related macular degeneration, compared to those without HIV. The study suggests that chronic immune activation and systemic inflammation may contribute to this increased risk.
The District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR) will provide significant pilot award funding opportunities and mentorship through its Developmental Core, promoting scientific research in DC on HIV cure and prevention. With this grant, the DC CFAR joins ranks of leading research institutions as a full CFAR.
Researchers at University of Strathclyde develop miniature directional microphone to tackle sound localization challenges in hearing aids. The new design aims to improve the quality of support for those affected by hearing loss.
Researchers have been focusing on long-term solutions, but Levy argues that new approaches are needed to prevent infection and disease. He highlights six questions that deserve more attention, including the role of innate immune response, CD8+ T cells, and strategies for an HIV vaccine and cure.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $8 million in grants to support research on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and related co-morbidities. The funding will support research conducted at eight South African institutions, linking scientists with U.S. researchers.
Researchers at UCLA find that HIV infection accelerates age-related epigenetic changes, leading to accelerated onset of diseases like cancer and osteoporosis. The study suggests that HIV itself may accelerate these aging-related changes by more than 14 years.
A new model for HIV progression finds that it spreads in a similar way to some computer worms, predicting early treatment is key to preventing AIDS. The model shows that cell-to-cell transfer is an important part of HIV spread and that completely blocking this mechanism could prevent progression to AIDS.
UT Arlington engineer Sungyong Jung is developing an efficient, low-power integrated circuit for directional hearing aids, mimicking the auditory system of a parasitic fly. The goal is to provide better, more defined hearing with improved sound quality and miniaturization.
Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry are working with Rheonix, Inc. on a Phase II grant to develop an affordable point-of-care test for HIV/AIDS detection in remote areas. The test aims to detect both antibodies and viral RNA in a single specimen within under one hour.
A new study published in the journal AIDS found that for most children with HIV and low immune cell counts, cells rebound after treatment. The researchers analyzed data from over 3,700 children infected with HIV before or during birth and found that 86% of children achieved normal CD4+ counts within one year of treatment.
Implementing video-based decision aids in urology led to fewer elective surgeries for benign prostatic hyperplasia and localized prostate cancer. Rates of surgical intervention declined by 32% for treated BPH patients and 27% for localized prostate cancer patients.
Scientists confirm that HIV-1 groups O and P originated in western lowland gorillas, according to a comprehensive survey of SIV infection in African gorillas. The study's findings have implications for understanding the genesis of emerging diseases and may provide insights into future human infection risks.
Researchers at KU Leuven's Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology have identified a recombinant form of HIV that targets the anchor point CXCR4 early after infection, shortening the healthy phase and triggering rapid progression to AIDS. The study found abnormally high doses of the virus and defensive molecule RANTES in i...
A new electronic model developed by McMaster University researchers aims to revolutionize shared decision-making in doctor's offices. The SHARE-IT decision aids provide simple formats for patients to review medical information and evidence, promoting meaningful conversations between patients and doctors.
The NIH's 2015 Avant-Garde Awards highlight five groundbreaking projects tackling prevention, immune system dysfunction, and drug use disorders. Researchers aim to develop novel therapies and strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in substance users.
The global AIDS community must adopt more specific and focused approaches to meet the 90-90-90 targets, which aim to eliminate AIDS by 2020. This involves identifying at-risk subpopulations, tailoring prevention tools to each population's risk profile, and developing innovative solutions.
Researchers developed an intervention to help individuals gradually increase their hearing-aid use and satisfaction. The study found that over half of participants increased their hearing-aid use from zero to four hours, and 60% reported being satisfied with their devices.
Research reveals that HIV/AIDS patients in the southern US have significantly lower survival rates compared to other regions. The study found that 15% of people diagnosed with HIV and 27% of those diagnosed with AIDS died within five years of diagnosis.
Researchers are exploring innovative approaches to combat HIV latency, including shock-and-kill strategies and monoclonal antibody-based drugs. These novel therapies aim to eradicate latent viral reservoirs, a key challenge in achieving an HIV cure.
The Women of Color HIV Initiative found that urban women faced more barriers to care, substance abuse, and sexual risk behaviors. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes were associated with activity limitation among study participants.
In a unique account, Timothy Ray Brown describes his experience as the first person cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant. He shares the details of the bold experiment that used a donor resistant to HIV infection. The 'Berlin patient' offers a rare glimpse into the human side of this groundbreaking treatment.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation will receive funding to improve early infant diagnosis of HIV, enabling a ten-fold increase in HIV treatment and universal access. The project aims to reach rural communities with limited access to testing and treatment services.
A new study from UCLA found that combining social media with behavioral psychology increased HIV testing rates among men who have sex with men in Peru. The Harnessing Online Peer Education intervention was more effective than traditional care through social media, suggesting a valuable tool in the fight against HIV.
A Tufts University study reveals large disparities in death rates across race and ethnicity in Massachusetts for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Hotspots of high mortality were found in communities with highest need for targeted public health and clinical responses.
Research suggests that HIV's rapid evolution is slowing its ability to cause AIDS, while access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) enables infected individuals to progress more slowly. The study found that HIV adaptation to the immune system comes at a cost, making the virus less virulent.
A study published in Science reports that HIV/AIDS drugs, such as NRTIs, can prevent retinal degeneration in a mouse model of dry AMD by blocking the innate immune pathway called inflammasome. This discovery offers hope for repurposing these inexpensive and safe drugs to treat untreatable conditions.
A novel method of altering a protein in milk has been discovered, enabling the delivery of an antiretroviral drug to infants with HIV/AIDS. This breakthrough could greatly improve treatment for the estimated 3.4 million children suffering from the disease.
A case study published in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses suggests that HIV transmission via shared manicure instruments is possible. Genetic analysis indicates a common viral ancestor between two patients, supporting the theory of transmission through infected equipment.
A CU-Boulder study suggests that modern hearing aids can distort music due to advanced processing designed for speech. Researchers found that simpler hearing aids with minimal processing allowed users to enjoy music more, despite reduced sound quality.
A UCSF study found that HIV-infected men who use stimulants experience difficulties accessing antiretroviral therapy due to concerns over adherence. However, the research shows that these patients can take their medications reliably with integrated care services.
A new study published in PLOS Pathogens shows that an irradiation plus transplantation combination approach can treat or even possibly cure HIV/AIDS in nonhuman primates. The treatment eliminated most of the animals' CD4-T cells, allowing their own virus-free hematopoietic stem cells to regenerate blood and immune cells.
Researchers tested a stem cell transplant approach on infected rhesus macaques, finding that it failed to eliminate the HIV-like virus and its reservoirs. The study's results suggest that myeloablative total body irradiation can decrease viral reservoirs in blood cells, but may not be sufficient for a cure.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is partnering with the Population Council on a five-year USAID-funded project to conduct operational HIV research. The Supporting Operational AIDS Research (SOAR) project will produce high-quality evidence to guide HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs worldwide.
A new licensing agreement between Medicines Patent Pool and Gilead Sciences could improve treatment options for children living with HIV. The deal will allow generic versions of the medication tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) to be developed in India and China for countries with over 92% of people living with HIV.
The number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria has decreased significantly worldwide since 2000. In sub-Saharan Africa, child deaths from malaria have dropped by 31.5% in the past decade. Researchers attribute the decline to improved access to antiretroviral therapy and treatment.
A large international study has found that overall death rates among HIV-positive adults have almost halved since 1999, while deaths due to AIDS-related causes and cardiovascular disease have declined significantly. Non-AIDS cancers remain a leading cause of non-AIDS deaths in people with HIV.
A new study by NYU researchers found that African Americans and Latinos with HIV/AIDS face significant barriers to care, including fear of stigma and distrust of the medical system. Peer-recruitment was found to be nearly twice as effective as in-clinic recruitment for locating and engaging this vulnerable population.
A study found that African American women with HIV struggle to manage age-related diseases, social responsibilities, and work-related changes. Researchers suggest increased prevalence of HIV among women of color is a growing concern by 2015.