HIV / AIDS NEWS
By Mark Behar -
Part 1 of this report is abstracted from published reports from the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, August 3-8, 2008, and other sources. Part 2 in the next Quarterly. Questions?
"Chemical" circumcision may create "living condom" to help prevent HIV infection: Applying an estrogen cream to the inner foreskin and glans (head) of the penis in uncircumcised Australian men at high risk for HIV infection caused the superficial skin cells to undergo keratinization (cornification), a process called a chemical circumcision, that may protect against HIV as well as traditional circumcision.
HIV Medications-- When to start and what to start with: HIV infected people are now being encouraged to start treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) when CD4 counts are above 350 results. There are downsides of starting therapies earlier, such as increased toxicity & possible resistance to medications, among other things.
HIV Protective Antibodies:
According to the University of Texas Medical School, some long-term non-progressors have demonstrated "catalytic" antibodies against an HIV protein called gp120. These antibodies attack an area on the outer shell of HIV where the virus binds to immune system cells. People with the rheumatologic disorder known as Lupus rarely have developed HIV infection, and these antibodies are present in people with this condition. Research is underway to determine whether such catalytic antibodies could be effectively formulated as a topical microbicide.
Setbacks and Progress in the Fight:
Setbacks over the last year include unsuccessful trials of potential HIV prevention strategies as well as microbicides and vaccines. Treating patients with antiretrovirals to reduce their serum viral loads (VLs) could be a promising new prevention method (one must read between the lines: a person with undetectable VLs is less infectious during unprotected anal sex than someone who's VL is high). Pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission may be possible, but reflecting on similar high hopes for other STDs back in the 1970s and 1980s were not met with open arms by public health officials. Microbicides may be developed to effectively prevent the virus from reproducing before it enters the body. Finally, there are hopes to make HIV positive people less infectious.
Risk of Bone Fractures (Breaks) Greater in HIV Poz:
A recent study in Boston demonstrated that HIV positive people are at greater risk of bone density loss and subsequent fractures in bones of the vertebral column, hip, wrist, and combined fractures compare to non-HIV-infected patients.
Deficient Growth Hormone May be Associated with Fat Redistribution (Lipodystrophy):
Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland is responsible for normal growth and development in the body. Patients with visceral fat redistribution and metabolic complications as side-effects of HIV treatment are thought to be at risk of deficiencies in growth hormone production. This has resulted in growth hormone being tested as a treatment for body fat redistribution, along with other factors than can stimulate the body to increase its growth hormone production.
HIV Mental Disorders May be Due to Intestinal Bacteria, Infected Immune Cells:
A component of cell walls of intestinal bacteria helps HIV infect the brain, aided by immune cells known as monocytes, rather than individual HIV viruses actually crossing the blood-brain barrier. Antibiotics and other medications may be able to help improve resistance against HIV infection of the brain.
Customized Personalized Immunotherapy Suggested New Approach:
Rather than the typical approach to vaccination development, a new more individualized approach for vaccination immunotherapy is being considered for people already HIV infected. The approach helps to boost the immune system's response to the strains of virus the infected person already has. The approach is currently being tested in Canada, and is awaiting US FDA approval for trials here.
Pre-Exposure HIV Prophylaxis Trials Begin in 2009:
After hearing about certain unsuccessful HIV prevention methods, such as rectal microbicidal lubricants and HIV vaccines, many experts are suggesting that "pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)" may represent the most promising new prevention strategy. Up to 15,000 people from around the world, including MSM, and serodiscordant couples, are expected to enroll in trials in 2009 to determine whether it is safe for HIV negative people to take certain antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV transmission.
Contact: Mark Behar, 414-550-0026, mpbehar@wisc.edu
Posted: modified by:Del Korte Modify date:2008-11-17 06:00:34