April 3, 2012

• HIV Care Today
• HIV News & Views

• HIV/STD Transmission & Education
• The Patient Perspective: Featured on TheBody.com

All HIV-Infected Individuals Should Be on HAART, Updated U.S. HIV Treatment Guidelines Say
Revised HIV antiretroviral therapy guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services feature new information on patient care and simplified guidance for treatment initiation.


Life Expectancy Increases for North Americans Living With HIV
A 20-year-old, HIV-infected individual on treatment who is living in the U.S. or Canada can reasonably expect to live into his or her early 70s, according to a recent study.


Coinfection With GBV-C May Yield Survival Benefits for HIV-Infected People
HIV-infected people coinfected with GB virus C (GBV-C) appear to have a lower mortality risk than HIV-infected people who are not coinfected, according to studies presented at CROI 2012.


Summary of HIV Cure Research Presented at CROI 2012
"The major message that emerged from data presentations on cure-related research was that a one-two punch may be needed to address HIV reservoirs," Richard Jefferys of Treatment Action Group reports.


More Confusion on Anal Cancer Screening
"Not to beat a dead horse here, but the fact remains that just because we can screen for pre-cancerous lesions, doesn't mean we should," writes Paul Sax, M.D.


More Headlines on HIV Care and Antiretroviral Therapy:

• May 11 FDA Advisory Committee Meeting on "Quad" Drug (From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Study Finds Past Sexual and Physical Abuse Can Impact Ability to Adhere to Medication (From TheBody.com)
• HIV Linked to Shorter Telomeres, a Sign of Aging (From TheBodyPRO.com)
• FDA Grants Priority Review for HIV-Associated Diarrhea Drug Crofelemer (From the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America)
• NIH-Funded Study Defines Treatment Window for HIV-Positive Children Infected at Birth (From the U.S. National Institutes of Health)

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What the Affordable Care Act Means for Women, Girls and Families
As another presidential election draws near in the U.S., the Women's Collective reminds us of important, recent gains in health care for people with HIV and their families.


HIV/AIDS Organization Spotlight: Long Island Association for AIDS Care
Can traditional services geared toward Americans with HIV survive in today's economic reality? Gail Barouh, Ph.D., explains how her organization strives to stay afloat on rough seas.


New ONAP Chief: A "Transformative Time" in HIV/AIDS
Grant Colfax, M.D., M.P.H., the newly appointed head of the U.S. Office of AIDS Policy, sets the stage for his upcoming tenure in this introductory message.


More News & Views Headlines:

• Mississippi May Lose $5 Million in Ryan White Funds (From Housing Works)
• An Open Letter to Zac Efron: "Get'cha Head in the Game" and Be a Safer Sex Advocate (From TheBody.com)
• Pictures From a Battlefield: The Men and Women Who Started ACT UP (From New York Magazine)
• Man Fights HIV-Positive Organ Donation Ban to Save Partner (From First Coast News)
• Brazil HIV Drug Patent Ruling Allows Generics, Sends Pipeline Process Into Doubt (From Intellectual Property Watch)
• HIVMA Praises Appointment of New Director of White House Office of National AIDS Policy (From the HIV Medicine Association)

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Updated U.S. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reveals Increase in New Infections Among Some Groups
HIV and AIDS rates held steady overall in the U.S. in 2010, but new HIV infections increased among people ages 15 to 24, men who have sex with men, and Native Americans.


Experts Discuss Recent Advances in HIV Prevention Research (Video)
A rush of new research has helped us get a better understanding for how "treatment-based HIV prevention" methods work -- and what obstacles may reduce their effectiveness.


More Headlines on HIV/STD Transmission:

• Origami Paper Device May Test for HIV and Malaria (From The Daily Texan)
• Inching Forward With HIV Vaccines: Digesting Envelope Decoys (From Treatment Action Group)
• HIV Prevention With Positives: Often Ignored, Yet Often Effective (From The Center for AIDS)

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Poetry Month at TheBody.com
April is National Poetry Month in the U.S., and throughout the month we'll be posting submissions of poetry about living with, or being affected by, HIV/AIDS. Any form of poetry is fair game! Find out more about how you or your clients/patients can get your poem featured on TheBody.com.


Khafre Abif: Dear HIV
"There have been many continuous struggles that I had to face and overcome. After I told on you, I didn't have to face those struggles alone. I recognized that you thrive, live and have power in fear and isolation."


Rae Lewis-Thornton: Celebration of Life
"I never thought that I would live to see 50 years old, but by the grace of God, in just under three months I will celebrate my 50th birthday. ... With AIDS, there's no middle ground: You decide how long you want to live, or how soon you want to die."


Reggie Smith: Love Times Love (New Blogger)
"As a heterosexual man of color living with AIDS and hep C, I am aware of the level of homophobia that exists in my community. I DO NOT subscribe to those fears in any way, and will continue to spread love and information in an attempt to dispel those fears, while promoting healing."

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