AIDS Archives

Global meet on microbicides begins in India

Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is organising the 4-day biannual International Microbicides 2008 Conference. It was inaugurated yesterday by the Indian Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. – The 4-day biannual International Microbicides 2008 Conference was inaugurated yesterday by the Indian Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. Congratulating the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for organizing this important international event, the Minister particularly emphasized the need for an active participation and collaboration amongst all stakeholders in achieving the goal of developing a safe, effective, and accessible microbicide for a woman more than a man to deal with behavioral change.

Growth hormone enhances immunity in HIV patients

Growth hormone (GH) treatment was found to increase the immunity in HIV patients. It increased the thymic mass, and increased the number of immune cells HIV patients had circulating in their blood. – Growth hormone helps boost the immune system of HIV patients, revealed by researchers. Growth hormone (GH) treatment was associated with increased thymic mass, and increased the number of immune cells HIV patients had circulating in their blood.

Emerging infectious diseases are on the rise

Emerging infectious diseases such as HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus and Ebola are indeed on the rise. – A team of scientists has shown that emerging infectious diseases such as HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus and Ebola are indeed on the rise. The team ? including University of Georgia professor John Gittleman and scientists from the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, the Institute of Zoology (London) and Columbia University ? recently published their findings in leading scientific journal Nature.

GSK reduces HIV drugs prices for poor countries

Fifth time the GlaxoSmithKline company has made a price reduction for its HIV medicines offered on a not-for-profit basis to the world?s poorest countries. – GSK today announced significant new price reductions for its HIV medicines offered on a not-for-profit basis to the world’s poorest countries. This reduction is the fifth time the company has made a price reduction as part of its pioneering preferential pricing policy originally introduced in 1997.

Many maternal deaths worldwide are preventable

A study published in PLoS Medicine this week suggests that of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa, more may die from treatable infectious diseases than from conditions directly linked to pregnancy. – Women who die during pregnancy and childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa, more may die from treatable infectious diseases than from conditions directly linked to pregnancy, revealed by researchers.

Zydus Cadila introduces Nudoxa cancer drug

Zydus Cadila has introduced Nudoxa for the treatment of various cancers. One of the critical drugs used in chemotherapy, Nudoxa heralds a new approach in cancer therapy. – Zydus Cadila has introduced an NDDS product ‘Nudoxa’ for the treatment of various cancers. One of the critical drugs used in chemotherapy, Nudoxa heralds a new approach in cancer therapy.

Scientists identify new cellular receptor for HIV

NIAID Scientists identified new cellular receptor for HIV, and it may help further elucidate the complex mechanisms of the pathogenesis of HIV infection. – A cellular protein that helps guide immune cells to the gut has been newly identified as a target of HIV when the virus begins its assault on the body’s immune system, according to researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

HIV can be transmitted through pre-chewed food

AIDS virus can be spread by a mother pre-chewing her infant’s food. – HIV can be transmitted to infants through food that is pre-chewed by an HIV-positive parent or caregiver, CDC researchers said Wednesday at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, the New York Times reports. Specific findings from the study have not been released, the Times reports.

New hope for hepatitis C sufferers

Adelaide scientists will lead a $2 million five-year project to develop new vaccines and explore better treatment options for hepatitis C sufferers. – University of Adelaide virologists Dr Michael Beard and Dr Karla Helbig will work with colleagues from the University of NSW to develop new strategies to treat and prevent hepatitis C, which infects more than 170 million people around the world.

Breastfeeding safer for infants of HIV mothers with Nevirapine

First solid evidence that viral transmission through breast milk can be prevented by a drug Nevirapine HIV drug. – An antiretroviral drug already in widespread use in the developing world to prevent the transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their newborns during childbirth has also been found to substantially cut the risk of subsequent HIV transmission during breast-feeding.

HIV testing before marriage in India

Maharashtra has proposed the testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) be made compulsory before marriage in the state. – The Indian state Maharashtra government has proposed the testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) be made compulsory before marriage in the state. If the decision is made into law, Maharashtra would be the first state in the India to have such a scheme.

HIV is infecting men, women and children of all ages

Educating the public about the real risks is a better HIV prevention strategy, says Bradford McIntyre, aHIV+ since 1984, from Positively Positive, Vancouver, Canada. – Not everyone, who becomes infected with HIV, originates from a ‘High Risk’ group. The common usage of the words ‘high risk’, in reference to people, who are most likely to become infected with HIV, has led many to believe misguidedly that they are not at risk. Unfortunately, this belief couldn’t be further from the truth.