For patients with HIV viral load is key in immune response to yellow fever vaccine
by Michael Carter, 2012-02-02 08:10
Viral load is the only factor associated with a poorer antibody response to the yellow fever vaccine in patients with HIV, according to a French study published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. For patients vaccinated after diagnosis with HIV, an undetectable viral load was the “unique determinant” of

Contraception in HIV prevention trials: injectable hormonal methods more effective?
by Carole Leach-Lemens, 2012-02-02 07:10
Women using injectable (hormonal) contraceptives had a significantly lower rate of pregnancy compared to those using oral contraception in a major HIV prevention study, researchers report in the advance online edition of AIDS. However the same study also found that women who used an injectable hormonal contraceptive method were at higher risk of

Men who have sex with men may now be the highest-risk group for HIV in Africa, IAVI study suggests
by Gus Cairns, 2012-02-01 11:30
Men who have sex with men may now be at considerably higher risk of acquiring HIV than other at-risk groups such as female sex workers or young people of either sex, if findings by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) of HIV incidence at two centres in Kenya can be generalised to other populations. The

HIV care providers in US struggling to cope with rising patient numbers
by Michael Carter, 2012-02-01 08:40
HIV doctors in the US are struggling to meet the demands of a rising patient caseload, according to the findings of a national survey. Two-thirds of HIV treatment providers reported an increase in patient numbers, and a third reported difficulties being reimbursed for the care they provided. The second annual HealthHIV State of Primary

Quarter of men resume sex before wounds from circumcision fully healed in Zambian study
by Michael Carter, 2012-01-31 09:00
Approximately a quarter of men undergoing circumcision resume sexual activity before their wounds have fully healed, Zambian research published in the online edition of AIDS shows. Most of the men reporting the early resumption of sexual activity engaged in unprotected sex, often with multiple partners. The investigators calculated that early resumption of sexual activity at this

Raltegravir/Truvada HIV PEP regimen well tolerated with no infections after its use
by Michael Carter, 2012-01-31 08:10
Raltegravir could have a “useful” role in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, according to investigators from the US writing in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Doctors in Boston, Massachusetts, prescribed a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen of raltegravir (Isentress) with tenofovir and FTC (Truvada) to 100 patients after possible sexual exposure to HIV.

For study participants, PrEP was an opportunity to save their relationship
by Roger Pebody, 2012-01-30 10:00
Seeking to understand why adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was extremely high in a study of serodiscordant couples, qualitative researchers have found that trial participants saw PrEP as a way they could preserve their relationship despite the pressures created by the knowledge of different HIV status and the risk of infection. In an article published

Majority of HIV-positive patients in US not receiving regular medical care
by Michael Carter, 2012-01-30 08:10
Only 45% of HIV-positive patients in the US are receiving regular medical monitoring, research published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes suggests. The study also showed that a third of patients were not being linked with specialist HIV care within the first year of their diagnosis with the