Articles tagged with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Three clinical trials in Africa found that adult male circumcision reduced HIV transmission by 51-60%. However, the impact on US populations is uncertain due to differing modes of transmission and circumcision prevalence. The CDC suggests considering circumcision as an additional prevention measure for high-risk men.
A US anti-prostitution pledge restricts funding for HIV programs that support decriminalization or legalization of sex work, hindering global HIV control efforts. Empowering sex workers through organization and unionization can be an effective HIV prevention strategy.
A recent study suggests that adult male circumcision could help prevent HIV transmission in the US, particularly among heterosexual couples. However, the effectiveness of circumcision in reducing HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM) is uncertain due to limited data and potential biases.
Scientists studied SIVs in African green monkeys, finding a recent split that may have led to reduced virulence. This discovery sheds light on the potential course and timing of HIV evolution.
Researchers found that HIV protease inhibitors block an enzyme crucial for generating the structural scaffolding of the cell nucleus. This leads to an accumulation of prelamin A and causes disease phenotypes similar to those associated with genetic defects in ZMPSTE24.
Researchers have developed an induction-maintenance treatment strategy that balances viral suppression with minimal harm to patients. The model suggests six to ten months of induction therapy can achieve durable suppression of HIV, making it a promising approach for eradicating resistant viruses.
A new UCLA AIDS Institute study found that self-monitoring by HIV-positive patients is an effective strategy to reduce high-risk behavior. By answering questions about their sexual behavior, patients reflected on their own behavior and changed their actions.
Researchers analyze success of HIV entry inhibitors, highlighting need for new classes due to increasing resistance and toxicity concerns. The study concludes that blocking HIV entry by fusion inhibitors and coreceptor antagonists holds major promise for developing a new antiretroviral drug class.
Scientists have discovered how the HIV virus evades the human immune system, revealing a predictable pattern of mutations that can inform the design of an effective vaccine. The study's findings hold tremendous promise for global HIV efforts and could complement smaller functional studies with population-based approaches.
Penn researchers have developed a new method for screening drug-resistant forms of HIV that analyzes multiple HIV variants simultaneously, while also reducing time and costs. The technique uses DNA bar coding and pyrosequencing to quantify and characterize hundreds of thousands of HIV variants for drug resistance in a single test.
A new study found no correlation between conflict and increased HIV prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, contradicting a common belief. In fact, the prevalence of HIV infection decreased in urban areas affected by conflict, and refugees often had lower rates than their host communities.
In two Thai prisons, Médecins Sans Frontières successfully delivered HIV prevention and treatment programs, showing comparable clinical outcomes with other settings. Meanwhile, research highlights the need for increased surveillance and efforts to address escalating road traffic injuries in Africa.
amfAR is funding research projects to better understand the social and biological factors that influence HIV treatment. Studies will explore the potential benefits of maraviroc, a new antiretroviral drug, and examine how stigma affects healthcare quality for people with HIV.
A recent study found that treating hepatitis B patients with the drug entecavir can cause those co-infected with HIV to become resistant to two key anti-HIV drugs. Researchers identified a mutant strain of HIV that developed in one patient, rendering it resistant to lamivudine and emtricitabine.
A retrospective study identified rare drug-resistant HIV variants in blood samples from an earlier clinical trial using ultra-deep sequencing. The findings suggest that even low-level mutations can lead to early treatment failure, highlighting the need for improved resistance testing methods.
Researchers used genome sequencing to detect rare viral mutations and found that low-frequency resistant HIV strains can lead to premature therapy failure. The study aimed to determine if patients who fail treatment early were initially infected with drug-resistant strains.
A targeted approach to HIV testing and counseling is more effective in identifying people with HIV and preventing new infections. The study estimates that for the same cost, a targeted program could diagnose over three times as many people with HIV and prevent four times as many new infections compared to the CDC's mass testing plan.
Researchers at USU have developed a new HIV vaccine that induces broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies, capable of neutralizing all 48 tested strains. The study provides encouraging results for vaccine development, showing the feasibility of eliciting cross-reactive antibodies against multiple viral strains.
In conflict settings, HIV treatment can be effectively delivered with preparedness and contingency measures. A study from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports similar treatment outcomes to non-conflict settings, highlighting the importance of emergency drug supplies, stockpiling, and educating patients on consistent pill-taking. The ...
Researchers at University of Toronto have discovered how HIV works to counteract the natural defense against malaria in pregnant women. The study found that HIV-infected women lose protective antibodies, making them susceptible to severe anaemia and infant deaths.
A new study found that flash-heating breast milk can successfully inactivate HIV, providing a safe alternative for mothers in resource-poor communities. The technique involves heating the milk in a pan of water over a flame and retains most of its nutritional and antimicrobial properties.
A university-based ED implemented opt-out HIV screening, with 60% of patients agreeing to testing. The study resulted in a low cost per preliminary positive ($1,700) and confirmed cases of HIV infection ($4,900).
A recent Dutch study found that drug users are becoming more cautious when using needles, mainly due to the effective HAART therapy introduced in 1996. This increased caution has led to a significant decrease in HIV and hepatitis C infections among drug users.
Researchers found that HIV patients with regular medical care have better survival rates compared to those without. The study, conducted on 2,619 men with HIV, showed that patients who visited their healthcare provider at least once each quarter had significantly lower risk of dying.
A new study by UCLA and Rand Corp. reveals that more than half of children with an HIV-infected parent are not consistently in that parent's custody. This finding can help physicians better address the needs of families affected by HIV.
A new study by the Mailman School of PH found that marital sex is a single greatest risk for HIV infection among women worldwide. The study highlights the need for prevention programs that make extramarital sex safer rather than trying to eradicate it.
Researchers explore how religious leaders and congregations respond to HIV/AIDS, with a focus on the impact on black church communities. The study aims to identify existing support groups and reveal how social networks can increase self-worth and prolong lives.
A new mouse model of HIV-related dementia shows that green tea extract EGCG reduces neurotoxicity of proteins secreted by HIV. The study suggests a potential natural compound for preventing and treating the devastating disease.
The HIV Medicine Association strongly opposes The Gambia's use of an unproven herbal remedy for treating HIV/AIDS. The organization urges patients to resume taking their prescribed antiretroviral medications, which have been shown to save lives in Africa.
A community survey of gay men in London, Manchester, and Brighton found that nearly one-third of HIV-positive men reported having unprotected sex, while almost one-fifth of HIV-negative men also engaged in this behavior. The study highlights the need for renewed efforts to boost HIV diagnosis and curb risk behaviors.
A recent study monitored the reproductive health of adolescent girls perinatally infected with HIV, revealing a higher than expected rate of cervical abnormalities. Nearly half of the girls had abnormal cervical cells, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.
Researchers are exploring the effectiveness of telephone support groups for older adults with HIV. A new four-year study aims to test the benefits of this approach in treating depression and other mental health issues among seniors with HIV.
A natural ingredient in human blood has been identified as an effective blocker of HIV-1, the virus responsible for AIDS. The peptide, VIRIP, targets a conserved region in the viral envelope and remains effective against drug-resistant strains.
A new class of anti-HIV drugs has proven effective in a clinical trial by inhibiting the integrase enzyme, leading to a significant drop in HIV RNA levels and an increase in CD4 cells. The study suggests that this drug could become an important component of combination treatment regimens for heavily pretreated patients.
A new MUHC-led study reveals the oral fluid-based OraQuick HIV1/2 test to be 100% accurate and a patient-preferred choice for HIV testing in rural India. The test demonstrated higher accuracy than traditional blood tests, with minimal discomfort during sample collection.
A new antiretroviral drug darunavir has been shown to be highly effective in treating HIV when used in conjunction with a boosting dose of the existing drug ritonavir. The study found that 61% of patients taking the new drug achieved a ten-fold drop in HIV RNA levels, compared to just 15% of those on the control group.
A RAND Corporation study reveals that people with stronger religious ties are less likely to spread HIV. The study found that moral beliefs and faith community membership may play a crucial role in reducing high-risk behaviors.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that a weakened rabies virus can ferry HIV-related proteins into animals, vaccinating them against an AIDS-like disease. After two years of challenge with SIV/HIV viruses, vaccinated non-human primates showed protection from disease and high CD4 cell counts.
Research suggests that exclusive breastfeeding significantly lowers a baby's risk of postnatal infection with HIV. In contrast, introducing animal milks and solid foods before 14 weeks increases the risk. The study's findings warrant a revision of current infant-feeding guidelines.
A new study published in PLoS Medicine found that community-based peer education, free condom distribution, and clinic-based STI treatment services targeting high-risk individuals had no effect on HIV incidence in the wider community. However, these measures did reduce HIV-1 incidence among men who participated in the program.
A new study reveals that up to 1 in 10 infected infants may survive into late childhood or early adolescence without diagnosis or treatment. Late diagnosis can significantly affect their future health and long-term survival, emphasizing the need for accessible and sympathetic HIV testing and treatment services.
A new assay allows simultaneous detection of individual proteins and their interactions in living cells, enabling researchers to monitor protein expression and interaction networks. This breakthrough method has the potential to develop novel antiviral factors and therapies for infectious diseases and cancers.
A study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found that early HIV infections account for nearly half of all transmission occurrences. Early infection is characterized by a high viral load, making newly infected individuals highly infectious.
A study by UCLA researchers found that only 41% of primary care providers offered advice on sexually transmitted infections or safe sex, while 36% had offered more than 20 HIV tests. The study suggests that providers are testing patients who present with symptoms rather than proactively offering early detection.
A Johns Hopkins study reveals that entecavir can lead to cross-resistance with other antiviral drugs used to treat HIV. The findings have serious implications for co-infected patients who may not be aware of the risks.
Two trials found HIV acquisition rates to be 53% and 51% lower in circumcised men compared to uncircumcised men in Kenya and Uganda, respectively. The Lancet published the findings on adult male circumcision as a prevention strategy for HIV.
A clinical trial enrolling over 2,700 uncircumcised men found that circumcision reduced the risk of acquiring HIV by 53% compared to uncircumcised men. The study's results suggest that circumcision can be an effective addition to other prevention and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa.
Data collected from voluntary HIV counselling and testing clinics in Africa are biased and unreliable, making them unsuitable for HIV surveillance. A better approach would be to use community-based surveys like Demographic and Health Surveys that inquire about testing history and sexual behavior.
Researchers have generated an atomic-level picture of a stable HIV surface protein component that appears vulnerable to attack from the b12 antibody. This finding could help develop an HIV vaccine capable of eliciting a robust antibody response.
QUT scientists have developed advanced ceramic membranes for nanofiltration that can remove viruses from water, air, and blood. The technology has the potential to filter out HIV from blood, saving millions of lives.
A mathematical model created by researchers shows that South African migration played a major role in the spread of HIV, increasing high-risk sexual behavior among migrant men and their partners. Without migration, peak HIV prevalence would be less than 5 percent.
In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, patients smoking cannabis experienced a 34 percent reduction in intense foot pain associated with HIV—twice the rate experienced by patients who smoked placebo. This study provides evidence for the therapeutic value of cannabis in managing HIV-associated sensory neuropathy.
A study of 32 African adolescents reveals long-standing HIV infection leads to stunted growth, chronic ill health and organ damage. Early testing and care can prevent this, highlighting the need for reduced barriers.
A new compound, 2-5AN6B, has shown significant promise in inhibiting HIV replication in white blood cells from HIV-infected patients. The compound works by a different mechanism than current drugs, reducing the risk of mutation and improving treatment effectiveness.
A Johns Hopkins study found that 31% of HIV-positive patients in Uganda had HIV dementia, a rate that challenges Alzheimer's and stroke dementia globally. The condition is treatable and potentially reversible with antiretroviral medication.
A study found that selenium supplements increased blood selenium levels and suppressed HIV viral load in patients with HIV. The results suggest that selenium may be a safe and inexpensive adjunct therapy to conventional pharmacotherapy.
A review of government policy is needed to increase HIV testing uptake in the UK. Lucy Frith argues that new technologies, antiretroviral therapy, and patient autonomy make self-testing safer and more effective.
A new UCLA study warns that the World Health Organization's (WHO) plan to track transmitted HIV drug resistance in Botswana may not be effective due to a high detection threshold. The researchers suggest revising the threshold to around 3 percent to detect resistance earlier and provide more accurate information on the situation in Bot...
Researchers at Princeton University have found a specific genetic trigger that can deactivate the HIV virus, potentially leading to new treatments. The trigger, involving an enzyme called SirT1, can keep the virus in its dormant phase, reducing its ability to replicate.
Researchers found that starting HIV treatment at least six months after a single dose of nevirapine during labor improves response rates. Women who started treatment sooner had reduced effectiveness of ART, while those delayed had comparable outcomes to placebo group.