Light a Virtual Candle for a Cause

Our friends need our help. The National AIDS Fund have teamed up with Bristol-Myers Squibb, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the US to promote the Light to Unite campaign for the 2006 World AIDS Day.

Bristol-Myers Squibb will provide $1 (up to $100,000 worth of donations) per virtual candle that is lit up at www.LightToUnite.org to The National AIDS Fund.

Light your own cancle at www.LightToUnite.org and share its brightness until no one else is left in the dark. - LightToUnite

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Substance in Milk helps prevent HIV replication

It is interesting to read that a property in milk helps in combating infections among HIVs. Lactoferrin, a substance found in milk, was seen to combine to surfaces of Immune (CD4+) cells and block HIVs from attaching to them and cause damage to them.

Although I have not made a complete research on the net about this one, I was able to read some notes where Lactoferrin was noted to have some effect on how HIV infection progresses in the body of infected individuals. This is somehow difficult for lactoferrin should be made available in the blood unaltered for it disintegrates when it passes through the digestive system rendering it innefective when absorbed.

But just to give you some idea on the contents of the original article, please read Property Found In Dairy Products Could Thwart HIV. Start drinking your daily dose of milk today. :)

Masquara 2006: Angeles City's Campaign for HIV/AIDS Awareness

I am delighted to know that our city has finally set the stage to hosting public awareness celebrations regarding HIV/AIDS. This is initiated by the Angeles City Aids Council (ACAC), through the able leadership of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin and the city's head on Reproductive health and Wellness Center Dr. Teresita Esguerra

The said event will be hosted by the Angeles Clarkfield Tourist Association (ACTA) at the Fields Avenue parking lot in Balibago, Angeles City.

The event is also set to introduce the lucky candidates of the "Fields International Queen of Beauty 2006" which wil be held at the Century Resort Hotel and scheduled for awarding on November 30.

Information, education should be given to the general public and appropriate health support to those who are infected are needed in order to combat the proliferation of HIV/AIDS in the country. Research to cure and treatment for HIV/AIDS should also be looked into.

STOP AIDS. KEEP THE PROMISE! (World AIDS Day 2006 slogan)

Protect Yourself

My attention was catched with the commercial from YouTube about HIV/AIDS prevention. Funny, yes, but it reflects the truth of what is really happening in the world today about HIV/AIDS transmission.

Gay men are more particularly at risk for HIV/AIDS due to the kind of lifestyle they practiced as shown on the latest statistics on HIV/AIDS surveillance. This commercial provides everyone, not only gay men, the opportunity to see the real world and discuss ways on how we can make it a very safe place to live.

The video below is an adult video. Please be open-minded enough on what the video would like to suggest. Its a good video and helps open our hearts to the some issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. Let's watch and appreciate its message. Thank you.

GenePro HIV/AIDS Vaccine: Innovation by ImmunoGenetix

GenePro HIV/AIDS Vaccine: Innovation by ImmunoGenetix

We can now see that pharmaceuticals and various scientific laboratories left and right are developing effective ways to combat HIV/AIDS through the development of vaccines and other medicinal remedies for those who are already infected.

ImmunoGenetix, a biotechnology company in Lenexa, KS, is currently working on developing immunotherapies that specifically helps people who contracted HIV and those suffering from its long-term effect – AIDS.

The vaccine GenePro is currently completing its phase I clinical trial to establish vaccine effectiveness and safety and observe antibody activity among patients infected by HIV/AIDS.

Vaccines are specifically interesting for it limits the amount of antiviral drug cocktails that usually requires 15 to 20 tablets a day. Aside from the obnoxious side effects, the current antiviral medicines are expensive which in turn fails to reach all consumers of various economic statuses.

Recent attempts to create an effective vaccine are hampered by the virus’ ability to mutate. This apparent change makes it even difficult to create one type of vaccine that will protect an individual from the many strains and types of HIV.

For more information on ImmunoGenetix Therapeutics, please visit their site at ImmunoGenetix.com.

HIV vaccine MVA-BN starts Clinical Phase I/II Trial

It’s interesting to know that a lot of efforts are being put on the development of effective vaccine that will finally eradicate HIV/AIDS in the world. Despite of all this, it shows that we are way too far from reaching the point of success. Victory may be distant but shortcut is just around the corner!

Bavarian Nordic AS, one of the leading Europe-based pharmaceutical companies, is on its Clinical Phase I/II of its HIV vaccine. It is also developing effective vaccine against smallpox and other cancer including breast and prostate cancer.

The pharmaceutical company will provide feedback about the outcome of the research study by the second half of next year. The vaccine MVA-BN polytope is expected to provide protection against common or all types of HIV strains which exhibits common surface structure (protein coat).

For information regarding drugs and other vaccines developed by Bavarian Nordic AS, please visit the site.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise

The new theme and slogan is finally set for the upcoming World AIDS Day 2006 dubbed as, "ACCOUNTABILITY: Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise". This exciting theme was created as a response to the number of supporters clamoring for action from all governments around the globe to once and for all, take decisive action in making treatments available for everyone to use, pave the way for funding research for cures for HIV and people living with AIDS, and improving the quality of life of those who are affected through the creation of local and international laws that will ensure equal protection from the law such as work opportunity and right to education.

Accountability

Government officials around the world are mandated by law to create appropriate resolutions and laws that will help patients regarding treatment and protect from ostracism and other forms of discrimination.

Its a sad fact that discrimination is a rampant problem that authorities must deal with for HIV/AIDS patients also forms part of contributing population to every local economy across the globe. Accountability, as the World AIDS Day theme, speaks highly of all government official's responsibility to fulfill the promise of support among these groups and finally end the misery of our friends whose dreams shattered and lives wasted.

Yes for free treatment; Yes for Cure!

Antiretroviral Therapy for Patients with HIV-HBV Coinfection

It was shown that people who have Hepatitis B virus-HIV (HBV-HIV) coinfection have a greater chances of developing advanced liver disease than those who only have monoinfections. Also, it was shown that HIV patients who have acuted HBV infection have lesser chances of recovery, that is, removing the virus from the system.

In an excerpt from HIVandHepatitis.com , it reads:

HIV-infected adults with acute HBV infection are less likely to eliminate the virus compared with HIV negative adults (23% vs 4%). Without hepatitis B treatment, HIV-HBV coinfected patients have higher HBV DNA levels and a longer duration of viremia, but may have lower transaminase (liver enzyme) levels compared with HBV monoinfected patients. HIV-HBV coinfected individuals also have a higher rate of liver-related morbidity than persons with either virus alone.

What makes transaminase important in the determination of liver infection along with its health is discussed briefly in the article in Wikipedia below:

The biochemical hub of the body, the liver, has a variety of transaminases to synthesize and break down amino acids and to interconvert energy storage molecules. The concentrations of these in the serum (the non-cellular portion of blood) are normally low. However, if the liver is damaged, the hepatocyte cell membrane becomes more permeable and some of the enzymes leak out into the blood stream.

While it is very important that both infection should be treated accordingly, the type of treatment should be based on individual need and current health situation. Symptoms that are currently manifesting should be treated first before looking into other possible factors that as, I quote,

* the need for combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV
* severity of liver disease
* likelihood of treatment response, and
* potential adverse events

For more information, please click on the Post Title Link to lead you to the website source. Thank you.

I am African: A Cause for a Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is a worldwide pandemic that deserves attention and action from each and everyone of us. A concerted action using education and correcting behavior that may put you and your lovedones at risk of infection and a means (antiretroviral drugs for example) to fight and prevent the disease from spreading across nations is paramount.

What is HIV/AIDS?

Human Immunodeficiencey Virus (HIV) is a virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS only manifest in person with HIV if the immune system of such person completely collapsed to the point that even organisms that would normally not cause serious disease to healthy person may turn out to be life-threatening.

HIV attacks specific whiteblood cell (CD4 +T Cells) that plays a very important role in immunity. The continous death of CD4+ T cells is fast enough before the entire body can even start producing a newer batch of these cells. The special designation in CD4+ would mean that these types of cells contain special receptors to where the HIV virus attach, enters the cell and starts manipulating the cell's reprodutive machinery (taking control of its DNA reproduction process).

When the number of CD4 +T Cells falls to a specific level, the infected individual may start exhibiting some of the symptoms of AIDS.

Current Statistics

There are currently more than 40 million documented cases of people living with HIV/AIDS according to a 2006 Report on the global AIDS epidemic. The number is a rough estimate of the number of people who have previously been tested and marked positive for the existence of the infectious virus in their body.

Due to the stigma brought about by the media exposure of HIV/AIDS, more and more people refuses to get tested thus making the global fight for HIV/AIDS, not completely successful.

I am African

Keep a Child Alive foundation is a global fight to help Africa curb the increasing number of HIV/AIDS orphans and help fund the budget that would be needed for the production of enough Antiretroviral drugs to treat the population infected with HIV and people exhibiting AIDS symptoms.

Let's act together and be part of this cause! A cause for treatment and cure!

I am African: Keep A Child Alive
How does HIV cause AIDS?