Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections).
Sustained action needed for ?Getting to Zero? — Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS-related deaths & Zero discrimination – India is on track to achieve the global targets of ?Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS-related deaths & Zero discrimination?. However, sustaining prevention focus and intensity in the areas where significant declines have been achieved, is highly critical to consolidate the gains, while effectively addressing the emerging epidemics.
More than half of young HIV-infected Americans are not aware of their status — Too many young people continue to become infected and few are tested for HIV – Young Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 represent more than a quarter of new HIV infections each year (26 percent) and most of these youth living with HIV (60 percent) are unaware they are infected. The most-affected young people are young gay and bisexual men and African-Americans.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may benefit HIV infected women – Women with HIV may benefit from a vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), despite having already been exposed to HPV, a study finds. Although many may have been exposed to less serious forms of HPV, more than 45 percent of sexually active young women who have acquired HIV appear never to have been exposed to the most common high-risk forms of HPV.
Design help for drug cocktails – Harvard researchers create a mathematical model that helps to design efficient multi-drug therapies – Pooling data from thousands of tests of the antiviral activity of more than 20 commonly used anti-HIV drugs, AIDS experts at Johns Hopkins and Harvard universities have developed what they say is the first accurate computer simulation to explain drug effects.
FDA approves new combination pill for HIV treatment for some patients – Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), a new once-a-day combination pill to treat HIV-1 infection in adults who have never been treated for HIV infection, is approved in US by FDA.
International AIDS Conference Opens in the U.S. for the First Time in 22 Years at Defining Moment in the History of the AIDS Epidemic – The huge scientific advances in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection over the past years have created unprecedented optimism that the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic can be won, but is being tempered by funding uncertainty amidst the ongoing global financial crisis, delegates heard today at the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) taking place in Washington, D.C. this week.
International AIDS Conference Opens in the U.S. for the First Time in 22 Years at Defining Moment in the History of the AIDS Epidemic – Under the theme Turning the Tide Together, more than 23,000 delegates from over 195 countries gathered in Washington, D.C. for the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) to begin the march toward the end of the AIDS epidemic.
Drug resistant HIV increasing in sub Saharan Africa — HIV medication Monitoring of patients helps in detecting drug resistance – Lancet reported in a new study that Drug-resistant HIV has been increasing in parts of sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade. Drug resistance could build up if people fail to stick to drug regimes.
FDA approves first drug for reducing the risk of sexually acquired HIV infection — Evidence-based approach enhances existing prevention strategies – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals who are at high risk of HIV infection and who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners.
FDA approves first over-the-counter home use HIV test kit – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, the first over-the-counter, self-administered HIV test kit to detect the presence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Erase Doubt Teams Up With Walgreens And Greater Than AIDS To Offer Free HIV Testing During HIV Testing Week 2012 – June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. In Los Angeles County, a whole week is dedicated to offering free HIV testing. During the week of June 25 – July 2, 2012 residents can find free HIV testing available throughout the county.
Natural HIV control may rely on sequence of T cell receptor protein — Protein on the surface of killer T cells appears to confer ability to suppress viral replication – The rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone appears to depend ? at least partially ? on specific qualities of the immune system’s killer T cells and not on how many of those cells are produced. Even among individuals sharing a protective version of an important immune system molecule ? the ability of HIV-specific killer T cells to control viral replication appears to depend on the particular sequence of the protein that recognizes HIV infected cells.
