A roundup of HIV-related news from Australian and selected international media.
In this edition:
Australia
ABC News, 23 Feb
Tags: hiv criminal-law south-australia mcdonald,stuart conduct-endangering-life
An Adelaide man found guilty of infecting two men with HIV has been granted leave to appeal against his convictions in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Our Region
Phuket Gazette (Thailand), 24 Feb
Tags: hiv thailand ladyboys transgender
Increasing sexual activity among the youngest members of Phuket’s transgender community is leading to a worrying rise in HIV infection rates, public health officials say.
Gay NZ (New Zealand), 24 Feb
Tags: nz natural-disaster nzaf smythe,eamonn
The AIDS Foundation's premises in central Christchurch are still standing but are significantly damaged, and a senior staffer has been rushed from Auckland to support the staff.
Gay NZ (New Zealand), 25 Feb
Tags: hiv nz natural-disaster
A Christchurch HIV positive people's advocate is offering to assist those with medication access problems created by the turmoil of the disastrous earthquake.
International
Boston Globe (US)/AP, 24 Feb
Tags: hiv fraud germany
German prosecutors are investigating several companies on suspicion they illegally sold HIV drugs, including included subsidized medication intended for distribution in Africa.
CBC News (Canada), 24 Feb
Tags: hiv china test-and-treat montaner,julio
China will follow the example set by an agency in B.C. to set its national HIV/AIDS policy.
Asia One (Singapore), 22 Feb
Tags: hiv india women
A HIV-POSITIVE woman in Mumbai, India, had sexual relations with about 100 men "to take revenge" for her ailment, reported Malaysia Nanban.
HIV Treatments
San Francisco Chronicle (US), 23 Feb
Tags: hiv treatments cure reservoirs alfred-hospital melbourne deeks,steve disulfram wodak,alex sydney australia
A drug used commonly to treat alcohol abuse will be tested as a way of purging the last vestiges of HIV from patients, extending the hunt for an AIDS cure.
Aidsmap (UK), 23 Feb
Tags: hiv viral-load semen urethral-fluid urine testing prostate-massage
HIV can be successfully measured in urethral fluids and urine that are obtained after prostatic massage, an international team of investigators report in the online edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Aidsmap (UK), 21 Feb
Tags: hiv treatments statins immune-activation
High-dose statin therapy suppresses immune activation in antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV.-naïve HIV-positive patients, according to the results of a small clinical trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. published in March 15th edition of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Aidsmap (UK), 21 Feb
Tags: hiv treatments d4t emea treatment-guidelines lactic-acidosis peripheral-neuropathy lipoatrophy
The European Medicines Agency has issued new guidance on the use of d4T (stavudine, Zerit), saying that the drug should be used only when no other alternative option exists, due to its toxicity.
HIV Prevention
Aidsmap (UK), 22 Feb
Tags: hiv prevention testing mobile-phones sms stis
Text message reminders significantly increase re-testing rates in gay men for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Australian investigators report in the online edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Aidsmap (UK), 23 Feb
Tags: hiv testing prognosis
Frequent testing for HIV is associated with improved outcomes after diagnosis, Dutch investigators report in the online edition of AIDS. People who tested regularly for HIV but subsequently contracted the infection had half the risk of death when compared to people diagnosed at their first HIV test, the researchers found.
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