http://discusshiv.com Discuss living with HIV Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:01:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en SAN FRANCISCO, July 31 -- The elevated risk of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers in AIDS patients rises with the degree of immunosuppression, researchers found. The excess risk was at least 1.6-fold for invasive cancers and ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/immunosuppression-linked-to-hpv-related-cancers-in-aids-patients-cmece-with-audio/ The new antiretroviral raltegravir (Isentress) is an effective first treatment for HIV and suppresses HIV replication far more rapidly than efavirenz, with fewer adverse events according to a study funded by the manufacturer Explain to interested ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/new-antiretroviral-drug-effective-as-first-hiv-treatment-cmece/ Explain to interested patients that advances in HIV treatment have improved the prognosis for many patients but also present new challenges to the physician.Note that these guidelines reflect the primary care needs of HIV patients in an era of better treatment and longer life.Doctors caring for people with HIV need ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/new-hiv-guidelines-push-adherence-to-care-cmece/ WASHINGTON -- The FDA alerted healthcare professionals that the HIV medication etravirine (Intelence) may cause severe skin reactions and the manufacturer has updated the drug's label accordingly. The new language comes after postmarketing reports of a death from toxic skin necrolysis and cases of hypersensitivity reactions, some of which ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/fda-warns-of-increased-danger-with-hiv-drug/ The discovery of two antibodies that neutralize many strains of HIV may also have revealed a weak spot in the anti-immunity armor of the virus, researchers said. That weak spot -- a region of the viral glycoprotein gp120 that appears to remain unchanged as the virus mutates -- ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/hiv-antibodies-may-target-viral-achilles-heel-cmece-with-audio/ Explain to interested patients that drug-drug interactions can adversely affect how a medication performs.Note that this study found that smoking tobacco or marijuana lowered blood levels of a major anti-HIV drug -- but only in patients who abused another drug.Note that this study was published as an abstract ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/icaac-levels-of-hiv-drug-lowered-in-some-patients-who-smoke-cmece/ Explain to interested patients that guidelines for starting HIV therapy differ between the developing world and richer nations.Note that this randomized study in Haiti found that starting therapy earlier than guidelines suggests can save lives and prevent opportunistic disease, especially tuberculosis.Note that this study was published as an abstract and ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/icaac-early-hiv-therapy-saves-lives-cmece/ Explain to interested patients that HIV infection attacks various targets, including the gut, leading to immune decline and poor nutritional status.Note that this study suggests that a nutritional supplement may blunt that HIV effect on the gut, slowing the immune system's decline.Note that this study was published as an abstract ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/icaac-supplement-slows-hiv-immune-decline-cmece/ More than four million people in low- and middle-income countries were getting HIV treatment at the end of 2008, up from 2.97 million a year earlier, a new report says. The 36% one-year increase is an "incredible step forward," according to Paul De Lay, MD, of the Joint United Nations Programme ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/hiv-treatment-numbers-climb/ Explain to patients that this study showed that increased immunodeficiency, as defined by CD4 count, predicted an increased risk of certain cancers in HIV disease.The authors interpreted the findings to suggest that earlier diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy might delay the development of certain cancers.Note that ... http://discusshiv.com/2010/07/cd4-level-predicts-cancer-risk-in-hiv-cmece/