May 24, 2009

HIV Research News

sciencedaily

New Contraceptive Device Is Designed To Prevent Sexual Transmission Of HIV

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College have published results showing that a new contraceptive device may also effectively block the transmission of the HIV virus. Findings show that the device prevents infection by the HIV virus in laboratory testing. The promising results are published in the most recent issue of the journal AIDS.


adelaidenow

Adelaide HIV carrier 'had sex with two children'

AN HIV-positive Adelaide man is being held in custody after he was yesterday charged with having sex with two children over a period of several years.


natap

Sustained release of microbicides by newly engineered vaginal rings - TMC120/tenofovir/AZT

Five combinations of microbicides were tested: TMC120 and PMPA (5 mg each), TMC120 (5 mg), and Boc-LBA (5 mg) alone were incorporated into Acacia gum rings; TMC120 and PMPA (10 mg each) and ZDV alone (10 mg) were incorporated into HEMA rings.


Interaction of Ginkgo biloba with efavirenz

Ginkgo biloba is one of the most widely used herbal drugs in the world. It is commonly used because of its assumed beneficial effects on concentration, memory, dementia and depressive disorders. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is made of Ginkgo leaves and is usually standardized to contain 24% flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin), 6% terpenoids (ginkgolides A, B, C, J, M and bilobalide) and not more than 5 ppm organic acids (ginkolic acids and alkylphenols)

Here, we report virological failure in a 47-year-old HIV-infected patient who received antiretroviral therapy for 10 years. He had always been very drug-compliant, never missing a single dose. He was using EFV for 2 years in combination with emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). At the end of 2007, a virological failure developed, and a K103N and M184V mutation in the reverse transcriptase gene was demonstrated. After directed questioning, the patient appeared to be using Ginkgo biloba for some months. No other comedication was used or discontinued in this timeframe. To explain the virological failure, plasma EFV concentration measurements were conducted on several plasma samples dating back 2 years. Concentrations of EFV decreased over time, coinciding with a n increase in viral load (Table 1). From March 2008, the patient was successfully switched to alternative antiretroviral therapy.


hivandhepatitis

How Effective Are Boosted Dual Protease Inhibitor Regimens with No Additional Drugs in Treatment-naive HIV Patients?

In the current study, published in the May 6, 2009 advance online issue of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, researchers evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a ritonavir-boosted dual protease inhibitor regimen, without any additional antiretroviral drugs, in treatment-naive patients.


GlaxoSmithKline Meta-analysis Does Not Show Elevated Cardiovascular Risk Associated with Use of Abacavir (Ziagen, Epzicom)

An analysis of more than 50 clinical trials conducted by abacavir manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) did not find an increase in heart attacks or other cardiovascular events.


First-line Therapy with Zidovudine/lamivudine plus Lopinavir/ritonavir Leads to Greater Bone Loss than Nevirapine plus Lopinavir/ritonavir

Bone loss (osteopenia and the more severe osteoporosis) can be a major problem for HIV patients using combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), but its causes are not fully understood. In the current study, published in the May 6, 2009 online edition of AIDS, researchers evaluated changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover after initiation of combination ART, in particular the contribution of zidovudine/lamivudine (AZT/3TC; Combivir fixed-dose combination pill).


HIV Positive Men with Prostate Cancer Have Similar Short-term Outcomes and Respond as Well to Radiation Therapy as HIV Negative Men

It remains unclear whether prostate cancer is more common in HIV positive men compared with their HIV negative counterparts, but it appears that HIV infection does not accelerate cancer progression or compromise the effectiveness of treatment, according to 2 recent journal reports.




HHS to Award $1.79 Billion to Help People Living with HIV/AIDS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the release of $1.79 billion to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS continue to have access to life-saving health care and medications. The grants are funded through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which helps more than 529,000 individuals every year obtain the care and services they need to live longer, healthier lives.