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In April of 2011, an AIDS drug- Truvada- was pulled from clinical trials after several African women participants were getting infected with the virus. These participants were in relationships where their male partners were infected with the virus.
This week, however, scientists at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections showed that the results may not have come from a lack of efficacy on the drug's part. Blood samples taken from the participants revealed that only one in four women who had gotten infected during the trials had any trace of Truvada in their blood- suggesting the pills were never taken. This new information leaves researcher and physicians alike with conflicting feelings- on one hand, the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis may decrease one's probability of viral infectivity, on the other, even if the stated case is true, behavioral choices may prevent these forms of preventative care from working. The behavioral choices may be influenced by social norms and stigmas- the presence of AIDS medication in several African regions (as well as regions worldwide) have negative stigma associated with them.
In the United States, incidence rates have plateaued at approximately 50,000 annual cases with a good portion of these cases being identified as black women from lower socio-economic statuses. New efforts have been implemented aimed at proper screening and diagnostics for "at-risk" groups including the Center for Disease Control's new "Take Charge. Take the Test." initiative.
-Angela Ceseña
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/health/research/setback-on-aids-pill-is-re-evaluated.html?_r=1&ref=health
26 Eylül 2012 Çarşamba
Prospects of HIV - treatment, prevention, challenges
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One of the greatest hindrances in HIV treatment is the fact that these viruses remain in latent stages, making them hard to target by drugs. At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Dr. De Cock (director of the Center for Global Health at the CDC) stated the necessity of drugs to trigger viruses to come out of their latent state in order for treatments to be effective in killing the virus.
The article also talked about the difficulty of developing a HIV vaccine. In order for a vaccine to be effective, the body must recognize aspects of the vaccine and mount an immune system stimulating production of memory lymphocytes that would recognize the wild type virus. However, HIV is integrated into the host genome and avoid antibody response.
A new drug developed by Merck, Zolinza (vorinostat) can disrupt latent HIV infection and may aid in HIV treatment. However, it seems like we are far from curing HIV since only one provirus is needed to maintain infection.
I'm most interested in the development of HIV vaccine - it seems like the largest road block in developing a vaccine is the integration feature of HIV. If we use a integrase inhibitor in combination with vaccine, would that make the vaccine more effective? Wonder if anyone experimented with the use of prophylactic integrase inhibitor.
-Michelle Jin
-Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/354072/progress-no-big-breakthrough-hunt-hiv-cure
The article also talked about the difficulty of developing a HIV vaccine. In order for a vaccine to be effective, the body must recognize aspects of the vaccine and mount an immune system stimulating production of memory lymphocytes that would recognize the wild type virus. However, HIV is integrated into the host genome and avoid antibody response.
A new drug developed by Merck, Zolinza (vorinostat) can disrupt latent HIV infection and may aid in HIV treatment. However, it seems like we are far from curing HIV since only one provirus is needed to maintain infection.
I'm most interested in the development of HIV vaccine - it seems like the largest road block in developing a vaccine is the integration feature of HIV. If we use a integrase inhibitor in combination with vaccine, would that make the vaccine more effective? Wonder if anyone experimented with the use of prophylactic integrase inhibitor.
-Michelle Jin
-Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/354072/progress-no-big-breakthrough-hunt-hiv-cure
Clinical Trials for Dengue Vaccine
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Another Dengue vaccine is about to move from monkeys to humans! The vaccine, developed by the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center in Cuba (Centro de IngenierÃa Genética y BiotecnologÃa) and the Pasteur Institute, acts on all four serotypes. Clinical trials will begin later this year. Interestingly, the drive for a dengue vaccine in Cuba was lead by Fidel Castro after the 1981 outbreak that killed hundreds.
There are also at least five other vaccines in the pipeline, all of them tetravalent for reasons we all know. There's one by Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKlein, the NIH, Inviragen (CDC), and Merck. The Sanofi Pasteur vaccine is probably entering Phase III trials and can possibly be licensed as early as 2015; the others are entering Phase I or II. There are live attenuated chimeric and genetically modified vaccines, purified subunit vaccines, vaccina-recombinant vaccines, and even DNA vaccines. Reference.
Let's hope at least one of them can make it out and become a much-needed, internationally useful vaccine.
-Annelise
There are also at least five other vaccines in the pipeline, all of them tetravalent for reasons we all know. There's one by Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKlein, the NIH, Inviragen (CDC), and Merck. The Sanofi Pasteur vaccine is probably entering Phase III trials and can possibly be licensed as early as 2015; the others are entering Phase I or II. There are live attenuated chimeric and genetically modified vaccines, purified subunit vaccines, vaccina-recombinant vaccines, and even DNA vaccines. Reference.
Let's hope at least one of them can make it out and become a much-needed, internationally useful vaccine.
-Annelise
Tracing Rabies in Europe
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This article provides an exemplary account for en epidimiological tracing. While this is particularly about a rabies case in the Netherlands, this process and study can and should be applied to any sort of epidimiological investigation.
At the end of January, a rabid dog was imported from Morocco to the Netherlands. The puppy was acquired by a Dutch couple, who give an account for the progressive behavior change in the puppy. On February 14th, they contacted their local veterinary agency, explaining that they had both been bitten by the dog. A few days later, the puppy's behavior became uncontrollable, and it was euthanized by officials. Post-exposure prophylaxis was arranged for both of them, and all 43 contacts were informed and categorized into degree of exposure.
Why did this puppy manage to get imported, adopted, given a pet passport, etc. without any single person checking its rabies status? Illegal animal imports and bad veterinary practices continue to be the major cause for rabies showing up in Europe, where it is a common practice to adopt animals.
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20112
Pooja
At the end of January, a rabid dog was imported from Morocco to the Netherlands. The puppy was acquired by a Dutch couple, who give an account for the progressive behavior change in the puppy. On February 14th, they contacted their local veterinary agency, explaining that they had both been bitten by the dog. A few days later, the puppy's behavior became uncontrollable, and it was euthanized by officials. Post-exposure prophylaxis was arranged for both of them, and all 43 contacts were informed and categorized into degree of exposure.
Why did this puppy manage to get imported, adopted, given a pet passport, etc. without any single person checking its rabies status? Illegal animal imports and bad veterinary practices continue to be the major cause for rabies showing up in Europe, where it is a common practice to adopt animals.
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20112
Pooja
Less HPV Screening Recommended
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Based on data from the past 30 years, the United States Preventitive Agency has released new guidelines recommending pap smears to occur no more than every three years. The data indicate that no significantly greater amount of cervical cancer cases were discovered by pap smears, as explained by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. One reason for the recommendations was the reducing the number of false-positives, and therefore preventing unnecessary painful biopsies and pregnancy difficulties.
Many have accused the task force of altering their recommendations based on the cost of the tests, but they insist that this is not the case.
The relevant part of this is also the recommendation to avoid testing women under the age of 30 for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They say that even though women under 30 can get HPV, they can almost all clear the virus from the body themselves and need no treatment. It will not affect the rates of diagnosis, since so many positives are currently false positives.
http://news.yahoo.com/hpv-testing-recommended-women-over-30-223201980.html
Pooja
Many have accused the task force of altering their recommendations based on the cost of the tests, but they insist that this is not the case.
The relevant part of this is also the recommendation to avoid testing women under the age of 30 for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They say that even though women under 30 can get HPV, they can almost all clear the virus from the body themselves and need no treatment. It will not affect the rates of diagnosis, since so many positives are currently false positives.
http://news.yahoo.com/hpv-testing-recommended-women-over-30-223201980.html
Pooja
25 Eylül 2012 Salı
SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 HOMOCYSTEINE
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" Sit loosely in the saddle of life." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Do not be too serious in life. Life is too short. Enjoy every moment you have with yourself and loved ones.
What is homocysteine ? Homocyteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis and several neurodegenerative diseases., In diabetics, homocysteine adds a significant burden, especially in those with poorly controlled blood glucose. Homocysteine levels below 6 umol/L are to be ideal. and moderate risk begins when levels are between 9 - 13 umol/L/. Levels above 13 are associated with and may be seen in kidney diseases.
These are the factors causing Hyperhomocysteinemia:
1. increased age; 2. male gender ; 3. menopause
A diet low in consumption of fruits and vegetables, no consumption of multivitamins, low intake of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and a diet high in methionine containing proteins.
So you do not get panicked--there are diseases with higher homocysteine levels., These are diabetes, kidney diseases, certain malignancies, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, and enzxyme deficiencies as methionine synthetase.
I have mentioned methionine twice so there are metabolic pathways concerting homnocysteine to either cysteine and/ or methionine ( 2 other amino acids) It is straight forward in reducing homocysteine levels. You do this by increasing the intake of folates, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6
B12 is by far the most studied single ingredient to reduce homocysteine. I prefer to use a methylated folic acid as there is a very common enzyme deficiency (5 MTHFR) A methylated folic acid is more beneficial. If you cannot get a methylated folic acid, then you can use TMG ( trimethylglycine) as it is a methyl donor and an alternative substrate for converting homocysteine to methionine.
There are some drugs that can also increase homocysteine as metformin ( glucophage for diabetes) niacin, theophylline ( for asthma () and estrogens ( as in birth control) There are others but these are just a few.
Until tomorrrow...
Remember start eating greens...
" Sit loosely in the saddle of life." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Do not be too serious in life. Life is too short. Enjoy every moment you have with yourself and loved ones.
What is homocysteine ? Homocyteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis and several neurodegenerative diseases., In diabetics, homocysteine adds a significant burden, especially in those with poorly controlled blood glucose. Homocysteine levels below 6 umol/L are to be ideal. and moderate risk begins when levels are between 9 - 13 umol/L/. Levels above 13 are associated with and may be seen in kidney diseases.
These are the factors causing Hyperhomocysteinemia:
1. increased age; 2. male gender ; 3. menopause
A diet low in consumption of fruits and vegetables, no consumption of multivitamins, low intake of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and a diet high in methionine containing proteins.
So you do not get panicked--there are diseases with higher homocysteine levels., These are diabetes, kidney diseases, certain malignancies, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, and enzxyme deficiencies as methionine synthetase.
I have mentioned methionine twice so there are metabolic pathways concerting homnocysteine to either cysteine and/ or methionine ( 2 other amino acids) It is straight forward in reducing homocysteine levels. You do this by increasing the intake of folates, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6
B12 is by far the most studied single ingredient to reduce homocysteine. I prefer to use a methylated folic acid as there is a very common enzyme deficiency (5 MTHFR) A methylated folic acid is more beneficial. If you cannot get a methylated folic acid, then you can use TMG ( trimethylglycine) as it is a methyl donor and an alternative substrate for converting homocysteine to methionine.
There are some drugs that can also increase homocysteine as metformin ( glucophage for diabetes) niacin, theophylline ( for asthma () and estrogens ( as in birth control) There are others but these are just a few.
Until tomorrrow...
Remember start eating greens...
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 SUGAR CRAVINGS
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" When you give up your resistance to human limitations, only then will you have your full potential available to create and to build."
We are created human. We have some limitations. I as a doctor have human limitations. When I realize these character defects or personality traits and have the true ability to let go--then I will live to my fullest and greatest potential. This can take years, but it must be done. If not, you might be anxious, miserable and unhappy. The happiness , serenity and peace is found within.
Do you crave sugar ? What kind of sugar ? Is it candy, sweets, ice cream or do you crave carbohydrates?
For those that have sugar cravings you need to pay better attention with the Glycemic Index. This ranks carbohydrate rich foods for their effect on blood glucose levels. This is not the perfect way, and not infallible but it is a guide for the beginner to start understanding food choices
Foods to AVOID include those rich in easily digested starches or sugars. You know these foods, but let me give you some guidance
Foods to AVOID are:
1. White bread
2. Whole grain bread
3. Gluten free processed foods ( are high in sugar)
4. Standard pastas
5. Chips
6. Pancakes or waffles
7. White potatoes
8. Watermelon
9. Fruit juices
10. Most high sugar fruits
11. Pizza
12. Sugar in any form
There are hundreds of low glycemic index foods that await your palate. these are all berries, beans, non starchy vegetables, (kale,collards,bok choy, broccoli, squash, tomatoes) Nuts are also a great source. NO peanuts as these are legumes not tree nuts.
Everyone needs a little education on foods and food choices. This is just a start for beginners.
Be careful what you read. No diet can be followed by a book.
Remember
You Are What You Eat !
Until tomorrow...
" When you give up your resistance to human limitations, only then will you have your full potential available to create and to build."
We are created human. We have some limitations. I as a doctor have human limitations. When I realize these character defects or personality traits and have the true ability to let go--then I will live to my fullest and greatest potential. This can take years, but it must be done. If not, you might be anxious, miserable and unhappy. The happiness , serenity and peace is found within.
Do you crave sugar ? What kind of sugar ? Is it candy, sweets, ice cream or do you crave carbohydrates?
For those that have sugar cravings you need to pay better attention with the Glycemic Index. This ranks carbohydrate rich foods for their effect on blood glucose levels. This is not the perfect way, and not infallible but it is a guide for the beginner to start understanding food choices
Foods to AVOID include those rich in easily digested starches or sugars. You know these foods, but let me give you some guidance
Foods to AVOID are:
1. White bread
2. Whole grain bread
3. Gluten free processed foods ( are high in sugar)
4. Standard pastas
5. Chips
6. Pancakes or waffles
7. White potatoes
8. Watermelon
9. Fruit juices
10. Most high sugar fruits
11. Pizza
12. Sugar in any form
There are hundreds of low glycemic index foods that await your palate. these are all berries, beans, non starchy vegetables, (kale,collards,bok choy, broccoli, squash, tomatoes) Nuts are also a great source. NO peanuts as these are legumes not tree nuts.
Everyone needs a little education on foods and food choices. This is just a start for beginners.
Be careful what you read. No diet can be followed by a book.
Remember
You Are What You Eat !
Until tomorrow...
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