HIV Management
HIV Is Still Newsworthy in the Gay District of Montréal
9 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Management
Modern HIV treatments keep the disease out of the news for the most part. After all, regular treatment reduces the risk of transmission, and many patients have “undetectable” amounts of the diseases in their system. However, in Montreal’s Village district, called The Village, home to many gay and bisexual males, HIV news is still a prevalent concern.
One thing that sets the Village apart from the rest of the city is the presence of many more community groups and care facilities. On December 1st of each year, World AIDS Day, there is a vigil held in the Park of Hope. In the Chapel of Hope, a flame perpetually burns to remember AIDS victims, and this location is well known locally as a place for contemplation. Another supporter of AIDs victims is the FARHA Foundation, which has a walk each year in late September. This too mainly takes place in the Village. Outside of the Village, there are no public events related to AIDS.
Clearly, HIV and AIDS have had an impact on the lives of those living in this part of the city beyond what is mentioned in the news anymore. While HIV is not something most people think about on a day-to-day basis, it is truly a part of the daily life in the gay community of Montreal. Murals in neighborhood parks reflect local hopes for the AIDS scourge to be, one day, a thing of the past.
In the meantime, the LGBT community sees recent cinematic depictions as a way to collectively remember the community’s long fight against AIDS. There is a big difference, however, between nostalgia and current efforts. After all, what is depicted in movies does not often reflect real life challenges faced in such communities. And HIV news is still a growing concern in places like Montreal’s The Village district, which is why it plays such a large social role for the AIDS community.
Cocaine’s Effect on the Immune System and HIV Infection
9 years ago
Research out of UCLA links cocaine use to a weakened resistance to HIV. What was involved in the study? And what does it mean by at-risk individuals? Read on to learn how cocaine use increases your chances of HIV infection.
It is well documented that there are surprising similarities between the immune systems of mice and humans. That makes them the perfect test subject when it comes to studying infection and deadly diseases. Therefore, a study that had previously only been performed in a dish has now been tested with live subjects. What was the result? Let’s consider the process first.
In previous lab tests, it was determined that the use of cocaine over a period of just three days is enough to affect the immune system. The body starts out with cells that can put up quite a fight with HIV. These immune cells are called CD4 T cells. The cocaine exposure, however, blocks the normal working of these cells by stimulating two of the cell’s receptors.
For five days, mice were given injections. Half were given cocaine, and the other half was given a placebo with saline. Next, HIV was introduced via injections, and then the cocaine/placebo routine continued for another 14 days. At the end of the study, they not only discovered that the mice who were given cocaine had higher concentrations of the virus in their system but also that nearly half of the mice given a placebo had undetectable amounts of the disease.
The CD4 T cells, however, were not affected as suspected. On the contrary, it was the CD8 T cells that seemed to cease functioning. Either way, though, the fact remains that cocaine made it tougher for the immune system to defend itself against HIV.
This study continues to highlight the connection between illicit drug use and HIV infection. It reveals that anyone who uses cocaine is placing themselves at higher risk for infection. While ceasing drug use is the best option, frequent testing is important for one who pursues an at-risk lifestyle.
Research Shows Why HIV Progresses Faster in Some
9 years ago
A study was performed to determine why HIV is able to evade the efforts of current HIV treatments and persist in the body. This study will lead to improved HIV prevention. Let’s look at a breakdown of the HIV genetic code and what researchers found which may eventually lead to better treatments.
Researchers understand the way HIV spreads within the body. In order for HIV to enter a host cell, there is a sort of viral envelope. This envelope contains two glycoprotein molecules that have been named gp41 and gp120. The gp120 molecule has been further studied and broken down into sections that have been labelled with either a C or a V and the numbers 1 through 5.
In turn, this genetic code tells the virus to use the R5 receptor to enter a CD4 immune cell. This entry point is the focus of most HIV drugs. However, in about half of patients the virus will avoid using the R5 entry point and switch to the X4 receptor. This change results in a worsening of the disease and difficulty treating HIV with currently available medications.
Previous research made it seem that the gp120’s V3 region was the part that was solely responsible for this change and progression in how the disease spreads within the body. While the V3 region does clearly play a role, a minute genetic change in the gp120’s C2 region also comes into play. This genetic change, though slight, could prove to be an important discovery for researchers.
Now, it is up to researchers to figure out how to put this knowledge to use in combating HIV’s ability to progress despite treatment. It is hoped that the additional knowledge as to how the disease changes which receptor it focuses on will result in finding ways to predict progression and find a way to develop better means for HIV prevention and treatment.
HIV Outbreaks Spur Calls for Lifting Needle Exchange Ban
9 years ago
The drug scene in this country is changing and not for the better. Injection drug users are on the rise, just not where most expected. What was once contained and limited to larger, populated areas is now spreading to the most rural backdrops. Due to this surge, HIV outbreaks have been sprouting in what some would have considered, unlikely regions. Take for example a small agricultural county in Indiana.
This small county, bordering Kentucky, averaged just a few cases of HIV per year in the past. In the first half of this year, however, 169 new cases were reported – a drastic change. To add to that, 80% of those infected with HIV have been infected with Hepatitis C as well.
Experts long feared that this shift in demographic would bring about these tragic consequences. Drug abuse is now common among rural, predominantly white areas. Another alarming statistic shows that the number of male and female abusers are about equal. Along with injecting drugs comes the increased risk of spreading HIV. While proven methods in the past have effectively faced these challenges, one such method has a federal funding ban on it. Needle exchange programs worked well in the past to ensure that those who used needles would not pass them on to other users. A filled prescription for a needle could be refilled once the used needle was returned. It is a simple concept, but it worked and worked well.
The issue at hand is that there is currently a ban on federal funding for these programs. Without funding, the programs cease to run. Anyone with needle prescriptions can simply toss or pass along the used item. It is precisely these actions that have health officials worried that more HIV outbreaks in small communities will be making headlines. The call now is for a lift on this ban in hopes of stemming the changing tide.
As for the small Indiana community, the state governor has allowed funds to go into the needle exchange program for that county. The rest of the state will not be receiving the same benefits. The funding for each county is conditional: that is, based on need.
Vitamin D Helps with Resistance to HIV
9 years ago
When it comes to the poorest nations of the world, an inexpensive means of fighting the spread of HIV is vital. Researchers may have found just such an ally according to a recent study of how vitamin D affects the immune system response to HIV. What did they find?
The Test Subjects
The study was performed using 100 young individuals, half from the Cape area in Africa and the other half from the Xhosa indigenous tribe. Blood samples were taken from the healthy individuals during the sunny summer months when vitamin D levels are the highest and again during the winter when they are at a seasonal low due to less sun exposure. During the winter, both groups proved to be vitamin D deficient, and the women who were in the study suffered even more from the deficiency than men.
Exposure to HIV-1
Next, these blood samples were exposed to HIV-1. After giving the virus nine days to work, the samples were tested. The amazing result was that the vitamin D deficient winter samples were more prone to infection than the summer samples with normal vitamin D levels.
The deficient individuals were next given a six-week supply of vitamin D supplements to get their levels back to normal. Then their blood was taken and tested again. Infection rate was reduced back to what it had been for the summer samples. The results were clear – vitamin D was helping ward off the disease.
Implications
While there is no immunization for HIV, this study reveals that vitamin D can reduce the chances of infection. Since vitamin supplements are far less expensive than vaccinations, this is also a far more viable solution for reducing the risk of infection in developing countries. Also, additional health benefits associated with vitamin D would be achieved by combating deficiency. It’s a win-win for some of the underdeveloped countries that are the hardest hit by the spread of HIV.
