Category: News

(As taken from Science Daily posted December 1, 2014) The rapid evolution of HIV, which has allowed the virus to develop resistance to patients’ natural immunity, is at the same time slowing the virus’s ability to cause AIDS, according to new research. The study also indicates that people infected by HIV are likely to progress to AIDS more slowly — in other words the virus becomes less ‘virulent’ — because of widespread access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Read more:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141201163237.htm

(As reported by By James GallagherHealth editor, BBC News website) A team at Aarhaus University in Demark tried using a chemotherapy drug, romidepsin, which is used in lymphoma.  Six HIV patients with undetectable levels of the virus were enrolled into trial. They each received a reduced dose of romidepsin once a week for three weeks. There was a noticeable jump in viral levels in the blood in five of the patients. Read more:  http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28159515

As posted on MNT (Medical News Today) World Lung Foundation issued the following statement on the topic of World Aids Day. Peter Baldini, Chief Executive Officer, World Lung Foundation, said: “The dedication of so many governments, public health professionals, NGOs, researchers and scientists has led to massive progress in the global fight against AIDS. The fact that HIV infections in children under 15 have reduced by 58 percent since 2001 is a brilliant achievement. And the number of AIDS-related deaths has fallen by 35 percent since the peak in 2005. Yet while progress is being made, it remains slow among specific groups. Co-infection …

As posted on MNT (Medical News Today) These are some of the key points the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) make in their latest Vital Signs Report, which analyzes HIV data for 2011. There are more than 1.2 million people living with HIV in the US, and with new infections arising at a rate of around 50,000 a year, the virus continues to pose a threat to public health and well-being. Read more: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286053.php

As posted by MNT (Medical News Today) “Despite the good news, we should not take a victory lap yet. We’ve passed the tipping point in the AIDS fight at the global level, but not all countries are there yet, and the gains made can easily stall or unravel.” Read more: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286244.php

As posted at MNT (Medical News Today) The receptor CCR5, targeted by HIV drugs, is also key in driving prostate cancer metastases, suggesting that blocking this molecule could slow prostate cancer spread Although prostate cancer can be successfully treated in many men, when the disease metastasizes to the bone, it is eventually lethal. In a study published online in the journal Cancer Research, researchers show that the receptor CCR5 best known for its role in HIV therapy, may also be involved in driving the spread of prostate cancer to the bone. “Because this work shows we can dramatically reduce metastasis in pre-clinical models, and because …

NOTE:  Please be sure to join us for the 2015 AIDS WALK (16th Annual) scheduled for Sunday, October 11. (For a complete list of 2014 sponsors and information on how to become a 2015 SPONSOR, go to http://www.factbuckscounty.org/sponsors/)   What a great day for a WALK!  FACT Bucks County’s 15th New Hope & Lambertville AIDS WALK had a beautiful combination of sunny weather, team spirit and the best bunch of participants that we could hope for.  This past Sunday (Sept 21), individuals, teams, families, & pets joined FACT for the Annual WALK along the NJ and PA canal paths (approx 8 …