“It’s a double hit to the brain,” added collaborator Marcus Kaul, who is also of the Burnham Institute and UCSD. “The HIV protein both causes brain injury and prevents its repair.”
Physicians first recognized that HIV infection could lead to a profound form of dementia—most commonly in those with an advanced stage of the disease—early on. The success of antiretroviral therapies in keeping the “viral load” down has helped to reduce the severity of the dementia in recent years.
Nonetheless, the prevalence is rising as HIV-infected people are living longer. The anti-HIV drugs don’t infiltrate the brain well, allowing for a “secret reservoir” of virus, Lipton explained. Such persistent exposure of the central nervous system to HIV is a major risk factor for the development of HIV-associated dementia.
read more
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Kenya's HIV Prevalence Decreases
Alloys Orago, director of Kenya's National AIDS Control Council, on Monday at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, released new statistics that show a significant decline in HIV prevalence and new HIV cases, the East African Standard reports. Orago said that Kenya is one of three African nations that recently has made significant progress in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.
The country recorded 55,000 new HIV cases in 2006, compared with 60,000 in 2005 and 85,000 in 2004.HIV prevalence in urban areas is about 8.3%, compared with 4% in rural areas. In addition, deaths from AIDS-related causes decreased from 120,000 in 2003 to 85,000 in 2006.
Orago attributed the decrease in AIDS-related deaths to increased access to antiretroviral drugs, adding that antiretrovirals have prevented about 57,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses since 2001 (East African Standard, 8/14). read more
The country recorded 55,000 new HIV cases in 2006, compared with 60,000 in 2005 and 85,000 in 2004.HIV prevalence in urban areas is about 8.3%, compared with 4% in rural areas. In addition, deaths from AIDS-related causes decreased from 120,000 in 2003 to 85,000 in 2006.
Orago attributed the decrease in AIDS-related deaths to increased access to antiretroviral drugs, adding that antiretrovirals have prevented about 57,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses since 2001 (East African Standard, 8/14). read more
ITF and IMHA join to condemn HIV discrimination at sea
Through the statement and the position it lays out the ITF and IMHA aim to increase their su
pport for international and national commitments to protect the rights and dignity of seafarers and all people living with HIV/AIDS. The IMHA and ITF consider HIV as a workplace issue that should be treated like any other serious illness/condition on board a vessel.
We believe that HIV/AIDS should not be considered to be a condition that poses a threat to public health in relation to shipping because, although infectious, HIV cannot be transmitted by casual contact or the mere presence of a person with HIV. HIV is transmitted through specific behaviour which is almost always private. The occupational exposure risks of HIV infection at sea are slight and limited to the treatment of injuries and to procedures undertaken by the small number of healthcare staff working on large vessels. There are well established precautions to avoid these risks. Sexual or blood borne transmission are not likely routes for transmission of infection in the normal course of work at sea.
There should be no discrimination against seafarers on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. HIV infection is not a cause for termination of employment at sea and persons with HIV related illness should be able to work for as long as medically fit in an available, appropriate workplace. Any travel or work related restriction should only be imposed on the basis of an individual interview/examination.read more
pport for international and national commitments to protect the rights and dignity of seafarers and all people living with HIV/AIDS. The IMHA and ITF consider HIV as a workplace issue that should be treated like any other serious illness/condition on board a vessel.We believe that HIV/AIDS should not be considered to be a condition that poses a threat to public health in relation to shipping because, although infectious, HIV cannot be transmitted by casual contact or the mere presence of a person with HIV. HIV is transmitted through specific behaviour which is almost always private. The occupational exposure risks of HIV infection at sea are slight and limited to the treatment of injuries and to procedures undertaken by the small number of healthcare staff working on large vessels. There are well established precautions to avoid these risks. Sexual or blood borne transmission are not likely routes for transmission of infection in the normal course of work at sea.
There should be no discrimination against seafarers on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. HIV infection is not a cause for termination of employment at sea and persons with HIV related illness should be able to work for as long as medically fit in an available, appropriate workplace. Any travel or work related restriction should only be imposed on the basis of an individual interview/examination.read more
AIDS interferes with stem cells in brain
A prominent problem in AIDS is a form of dementia that robs one’s ability to concentrate and perform normal movements. Scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have discovered how HIV/AIDS disrupts the normal replication of stem cells in the adult brain, preventing new nerve cells from forming.
The Burnham team focused on the determining the effect of a protein associated with AIDS, called HIV/gp120, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AIDS dementia.
In initial work with cell cultures in Petri dishes, the researchers methodically ruled out the possibility that HIV/gp120 would be inducing the death of stem cells and determined instead that HIV/gp120 was acting by inhibiting stem cell proliferation. Next, they confirmed these results in a special mouse strain bred to express HIV/gp120 in its brain.
This mouse model for AIDS dementia mimics several features of the disease process found in humans. They observed a significant decrease in the number of proliferating stem cells in the brains of HIV/gp120-mice compared with similar tissue from normal, wild-type mice.read more
The Burnham team focused on the determining the effect of a protein associated with AIDS, called HIV/gp120, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AIDS dementia.
In initial work with cell cultures in Petri dishes, the researchers methodically ruled out the possibility that HIV/gp120 would be inducing the death of stem cells and determined instead that HIV/gp120 was acting by inhibiting stem cell proliferation. Next, they confirmed these results in a special mouse strain bred to express HIV/gp120 in its brain.
This mouse model for AIDS dementia mimics several features of the disease process found in humans. They observed a significant decrease in the number of proliferating stem cells in the brains of HIV/gp120-mice compared with similar tissue from normal, wild-type mice.read more
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Namibia: Haingura Calls for Concerted Effort in HIV/Aids Fight
A workshop aimed at strengthening good governance and leadership skills of Aids service organisations in Southern Africa was held yesterday in the capital.
Research data on HIV/Aids indicate that there has been no sign of overall decline in any of the Southern African Network of Aids Services Organisations (SANASO) member countries.
"For this to happen, we need to have good governance structures and management systems in place so that we can demonstrate an acceptable level of accountability for the funds we received to implement our programmes."
"The workshop will ensure meaningful engagement of civil society organsations (NGOs) that have the capacity to make meaningful contribution to the fight against HIV and Aids," she said.read more
Research data on HIV/Aids indicate that there has been no sign of overall decline in any of the Southern African Network of Aids Services Organisations (SANASO) member countries.
"For this to happen, we need to have good governance structures and management systems in place so that we can demonstrate an acceptable level of accountability for the funds we received to implement our programmes."
"The workshop will ensure meaningful engagement of civil society organsations (NGOs) that have the capacity to make meaningful contribution to the fight against HIV and Aids," she said.read more
Novavax Announces Publication of HIV/AIDS Vaccine Research in Journal of Virology
ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novavax, Inc. announced today the publication of research findings in the August 1, 2007 online issue of Journal of Virology demonstrating the potential of the company's proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) technology to create a vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS. The paper describes the discovery by Novavax scientists and colleagues from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Emory University and Duke University, with funding by the National Institutes of Health, that improved HIV-1 VLPs can be produced to create potential new AIDS vaccines.
In this paper, the authors describe a new way to maximize the incorporation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 into VLPs. HIV-1 gp160 is the major surface protein of the virus and a principal immunogenic target against HIV.
This research represents a very important step forward in our VLP-based vaccine program and an exciting development in our collaboration with leaders in the field of HIV vaccines," said Dr. Gale Smith, Vice President of vaccine development at Novavax "We have produced VLPs which bind to CD4 and chemokine receptors. These VLP's have certain 'conserved' HIV-1 gene sequences which do not change; therefore these neutralizing antibodies may be very effective -- all important characteristics for development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine."read more
In this paper, the authors describe a new way to maximize the incorporation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 into VLPs. HIV-1 gp160 is the major surface protein of the virus and a principal immunogenic target against HIV.
This research represents a very important step forward in our VLP-based vaccine program and an exciting development in our collaboration with leaders in the field of HIV vaccines," said Dr. Gale Smith, Vice President of vaccine development at Novavax "We have produced VLPs which bind to CD4 and chemokine receptors. These VLP's have certain 'conserved' HIV-1 gene sequences which do not change; therefore these neutralizing antibodies may be very effective -- all important characteristics for development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine."read more
World Bank: Maintaining Low HIV and AIDS Prevalence in Sri Lanka
August 13, 2007 - As host country of the 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), Sri Lanka is gearing up to welcome more than 3,500 delegates from over 60 countries.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr. Nimal Edirisinghe, Program Director for the World Bank-funded National HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, said this the first time the conference is taking place in a low-prevalence developing country.
The World Bank has supported it since 1998. From 1998 to 2002, the Bank provided about US$1 million of support each year to the HIV/STD program through the Health Services Project. In 2002, the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) provided a US$12.6 million grant to help finance the National HIV/AIDS Prevention Project.read more
Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr. Nimal Edirisinghe, Program Director for the World Bank-funded National HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, said this the first time the conference is taking place in a low-prevalence developing country.
The World Bank has supported it since 1998. From 1998 to 2002, the Bank provided about US$1 million of support each year to the HIV/STD program through the Health Services Project. In 2002, the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) provided a US$12.6 million grant to help finance the National HIV/AIDS Prevention Project.read more
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