Articles tagged with Antiretrovirals
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A novel, multipurpose pod-intravaginal ring (pod-IVR) delivers up to five different antiretroviral drugs and two hormonal contraceptives, showing promise in preventing HIV and unintended pregnancy. This innovative device could empower women in resource-poor areas to protect themselves from infections.
Scientists have discovered a critical clue about why some people can control HIV without taking antiviral drugs. These 'controllers' have an extra helping of the immune protein APOBEC3G, which blocks HIV from spreading within the body.
A new intravaginal ring has demonstrated a 100% success rate in protecting primates from HIV, offering hope for women in developing nations. The device utilizes a smaller dose of the anti-retroviral drug tenofovir, delivered through a unique polymer construction that increases drug release.
A substudy within the Partners PrEP Study shows that high adherence to antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples. With over 99% adherence rate, only 14 participants became HIV-positive during an average follow-up period.
A new study in PLOS Medicine suggests that CD4 counts are a suitable alternative to viral loads for monitoring treatment and determining when to switch antiretroviral therapy in adults with HIV. The study found that the two approaches had similar outcomes, providing reassurance for healthcare centers using CD4 counts alone.
A new intervention program in rural India has shown significant improvements in HIV/AIDS patients' lives by training lay women as social health activists. The program improved therapy adherence, immune-cell counts, and nutrition levels among patients.
Research suggests that improved training in communication and interpersonal skills may help improve health, immune function, and reduce the spread of HIV. Patients who feel respected by their physicians are more likely to keep scheduled appointments and adhere to medical regimens.
A study of 804 HIV-infected children found that those on nevirapine-based treatment had a longer time to virological failure compared to efavirenz-based treatment. The authors conclude that nevirapine may be a cost-effective option for pediatric antiretroviral treatment programs in resource-limited settings.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have discovered how the SAMHD1 protein regulates HIV-1 replication in white blood cells. Phosphorylation of SAMHD1 is essential to protect macrophages from HIV infection, and maintaining this state could prevent reservoirs of HIV-1 from forming.
A study published in Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that women with HIV have an elevated resting energy expenditure compared to healthy women. The study also showed that this effect persists even among those on effective antiretroviral therapy, suggesting a direct impact of HIV infection on metabolism.
A recent study found that people with HIV who start treatment before their CD4 count drops below 200 cells per microliter have life expectancies around 80% of the general population. Long-term treatment can manage HIV as a chronic illness, suggesting revised estimates for life insurance companies and epidemiological models.
A two-year-old child was treated with antiretroviral drugs from birth and later showed no detectable levels of virus or disease symptoms without treatment. Researchers are exploring the possibility of replicating this outcome in clinical trials involving other HIV-exposed children.
A 48-week course of antiretroviral medication can delay the need for lifelong treatment and reduce virus levels in the blood for up to sixty weeks after stopping. This study suggests that early treatment may slow immune system damage and reduce the risk of transmission.
Researchers found that starting antiretroviral therapy within four months of estimated HIV-1 infection significantly improves restoration of CD4+ T-cell counts. The study used data from 468 patients followed in the San Diego Primary Infection Cohort, and recovery rates were observed to be higher for those initiating therapy early.
Replacing branded antiretroviral drugs with generics could reduce healthcare costs by nearly $1 billion annually, but may diminish the effectiveness of HIV treatment. The switch could lead to a more complicated treatment regimen, increasing the risk of treatment failure and loss of antiretroviral effectiveness.
A generic HIV treatment strategy could save nearly $1 billion annually by replacing brand-name drugs with generics, but may diminish effectiveness. The switch would also increase the risk of treatment failure due to a more complicated regimen.
A new study by Tony Antoniou found that HIV hospitalizations in Ontario declined significantly since the introduction of combination antiretroviral drug therapy in 1996-97. However, women with HIV and low-income individuals continue to face higher rates of hospitalization compared to men and high-income patients.
A new study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that high-dose micronutrient supplementation has no effect on HIV disease progression in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. The study also showed that high doses of multivitamins increased the risk of liver problems and other serious conditions.
A new 90-day intravaginal ring delivers steady doses of antiretroviral drug tenofovir to prevent HIV transmission in women, promising improved adherence and cost-effectiveness.
A Johns Hopkins research suggests that the commonly prescribed anti-retroviral drug efavirenz attacks brain cells, contributing to cognitive impairment. The study found that 8-hydroxyefavirenz is 10 times more toxic to brain cells than the drug itself.
A study of 46,201 adults found that HIV-positive men on antiretroviral therapy were 31% more likely to die than women, despite similar treatment responses. The researchers suggest that the observed differences may be due to background differences in mortality between men and women in the South African population.
A study published in AIDS Patient Care and STDs found that HIV-specialized community pharmacies can significantly improve treatment adherence among patients. Users of these pharmacies had greater persistence with their antiviral drug regimens compared to those using traditional pharmacies.
A new study published in The Lancet shows that nurse-centred care of HIV patients can be just as safe and effective as care delivered by doctors. The research found significant improvements in detection of tuberculosis, white blood cell count, weight, and treatment adherence.
A meta-analysis of clinical trials found no statistically significant differences in viral load after 48 weeks between women and men with HIV. However, subgroup analyses revealed significant gender differences favoring males in certain outcomes.
A landmark HIV treatment-as-prevention study has found that providing antiretroviral treatment to HIV-infected individuals earlier, when their immune systems are healthier, delays AIDS-related health events such as chronic herpes simplex virus and tuberculosis. Earlier treatment is also cost-effective as it increases survival, prevents...
A clinical study in rural Uganda found that nearly all patients with high CD4+ T cell counts were eager to take antiretroviral drugs, citing health, work, and family reasons. The results suggest a significant demand for early HIV treatment among African patients.
A multifaceted global effort could lead to an AIDS-free generation by expanding testing, treatment, and prevention programs. Combination antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved health and longevity for individuals infected with HIV, saving an estimated 700,000 lives globally in 2010.
The Quad pill, combining elvitegravir with cobicistat, has been shown to be effective in suppressing viral loads to undetectable levels in 88% of patients, compared to 84% for the EFV/FTC/TDF regimen. The new treatment also showed improved patient satisfaction and reduced prescription errors.
A study published in PLoS Medicine found that a nevirapine-based treatment regimen was as effective as lopinavir/ritonavir in suppressing the HIV virus, but had a higher stop-treatment rate due to adverse health effects. The researchers emphasize the need for better-tolerated regimes and improved access to effective treatments.
A new study found significant decreases in hospital mortality rates among severely ill HIV-positive patients nationwide, primarily due to a decrease in opportunistic infections. However, the study also revealed an increase in chronic diseases and bloodstream infections among this population.
Researchers found that abacavir induces the creation of drug-induced immunogens that are attacked by the immune system, leading to severe hypersensitivity reactions. This autoimmune mechanism is similar to those causing diseases like lupus and type 1 diabetes.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that pre-birth exposure to tenofovir did not increase birth defects or growth abnormalities among infants born to African HIV-positive women. The researchers analyzed data from the DART trial and found no adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes or infant health.
A study of 2,000 U.S. infants born to HIV-positive mothers found that using the anti-HIV drug tenofovir during pregnancy did not result in smaller babies at birth, but those treated with the drug were slightly shorter and had smaller head circumference by age 1
Longer breastfeeding with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission and improve infant survival. The study found that continued breastfeeding with prophylaxis given for an extended period may be advantageous in improving infant survival.
A study proposes a triage tool to optimize lab capacity for patients with high CD4 failure likelihood. The model could help focus laboratory-based CD4 count testing on those who need it most.
Researchers introduce a new 'prediction-based classification' system to reduce the burden of monitoring patients on ART, potentially saving 54% of CD4 tests. The algorithm can prioritize patients who may need routine CD4 count tests, increasing capacity and resources for life-saving treatment.
A new biostatistical tool, prediction-based classification (PBC), can help allocate resources to patients who need them most by linking CD-4 T-cell levels to other patient data. The study found that PBC could reduce the number of CD-4 tests needed during the first year of ART by nearly 57 percent.
Research published in Neurology finds that people with HIV who have a larger waistline are more likely to experience impaired mental functions such as poor memory and concentration. The study also notes that certain anti-HIV drugs can cause weight gain in the center of the body, which may contribute to these issues.
A study found that implementing the World Health Organization's recommendations could reduce mother-to-child transmission rates in Zimbabwe from 18% to 6-7%. This would require increased access to effective medications, support for long-term medication adherence, and safer infant feeding options.
New guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology provide treatment recommendations for people with HIV/AIDS taking seizure drugs. The guidelines aim to prevent drug interactions that could make HIV drugs less effective or lead to a more virulent strain of the disease.
The HPTN 052 clinical trial found that HIV-infected individuals who start antiretroviral therapy when their immune systems are healthy have a 96% reduced risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected partners. This groundbreaking study demonstrates the effectiveness of treatment as prevention in reducing HIV transmission.
A new study suggests that immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) is more beneficial for recently infected HIV patients than deferred treatment. The study found that participants who received ART immediately had better outcomes and were protected from disease progression not only during treatment but also after treatment was stopped.
Scientists have developed new substances that first block the biological vacuum cleaner preventing anti-HIV drugs from reaching the brain and then revert to an active drug to treat HIV. This breakthrough allows medications to cross the blood-brain barrier, targeting brain diseases and potentially offering a cure for HIV.
Over the past decade, antiretroviral therapy has effectively managed HIV in adults with virological failure to all three original drug classes. Since 2000, nearly one in five patients achieved undetectable viral loads after treatment failure, increasing to nearly three in five by 2009.
Researchers found slower disease progression among patients starting treatment with CD4 counts between 350 and 499. The study suggests initiating therapy at this range may provide long-term benefits, but no benefit is seen for patients with CD4 counts above 500.
Rapid point-of-care CD4 testing has been shown to nearly double the number of patients starting HIV treatment, while reducing dropout rates by half. This improvement is attributed to faster patient staging on-site, allowing for earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy.
A cost-effectiveness study found that early antiretroviral treatment (ART) is cost-effective in resource-poor settings like Haiti. The study supports the implementation of the new WHO guidelines for early ART initiation, which recommend treatment for all HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts below 350 cells/mm3.
A study found that only about one third of patients with HIV test positive but are not yet eligible for treatment remain in care until they become eligible and start treatment. The researchers highlight the need for better health information systems to track patients between service delivery points.
A study found that transferring HIV patient care from doctors in hospitals to nurses in primary health clinics resulted in equivalent or better health outcomes for stable patients on antiretroviral therapy. The transfer strategy was also cost-effective, with a 11% lower cost than doctor-managed hospital-based outpatient treatment.
The International Forum emphasizes the need for improved global pharmacovigilance to monitor antiretroviral drug safety. Key stakeholders must overcome differing priorities and values to establish a sustainable system.
Researchers found that patients treated with antiretroviral drugs, particularly NRTIs, develop damaged mitochondria similar to those of aged individuals. This damage accelerates the accumulation of errors in mitochondrial DNA, leading to premature aging. The study highlights the need to repair or stall this damage and explores the pote...
The newest AIDS drug, Edurant, was developed by Rutgers scientists after 13-year collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica. The drug has shown exceptional potency against drug-resistant HIV, with 83% of trial participants having undetected HIV levels.
This observational cohort study found HAART markedly improves the survival of HIV-infected children in a severely resource-deprived country. The treatment's effectiveness was comparable to that seen in more affluent settings, addressing a significant need for information on its impact in low-income countries.
Researchers from IDIBAPS have conducted a study on HIV-infected patients with undetectable viral load, finding that they can induce a broad and strong humoral immune response. The percentage of treated and untreated patients generating broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies was very similar, suggesting a potential preventive vaccine ba...
A major randomized clinical trial found that treating an HIV-infected individual can significantly reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV to an uninfected partner. The study, known as HPTN 052, demonstrated a 96% reduction in transmission when antiretroviral therapy was initiated early.
Researchers discovered that anti-HIV inhibitors can kill Leishmania parasites by targeting the Ddi 1 protein. This finding suggests a potential new class of drugs for treating parasitic diseases like leishmaniasis and malaria, which could one day become lifesaving treatments.
Researchers have identified multiple molecular targets of the anti-HIV drug nelfinavir, which may explain its effectiveness as a cancer therapy. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, suggests that the collective effect of these weak interactions leads to the clinical efficacy of nelfinavir.
A study of European HIV-positive children reveals that 12% develop triple-class virological failure by 5 years after starting antiretroviral treatment, compared to adults. The high failure rate underlines the need for strategies to promote optimum drug adherence in children and young people.
A new study by the University of California, San Francisco suggests that treating HIV-infected adults as soon as they are diagnosed can significantly reduce the rate of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in San Francisco. This approach is expected to cut new infections by almost 60% over five years.
A study published in PLoS Medicine found that re-treatment TB regimens are failing in low- and middle-income settings, with up to one-fourth of patients experiencing relapse or death. Researchers emphasize the need for tailored treatments depending on HIV status and improved access to antiretroviral therapies.