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Positive Living June 2009

Cover Story

20 years of one voice

Positive Living article — Friday, 5 June 2009

NAPWHA turned 20 the other day and we threw a party. I’m not usually big on parties but this one was different. It felt like everyone was having the birthday and unlike those just-for-the-sake-of-it once-a-year affairs we all really deserved a celebration . . . read more »

Tags: 20th anniversary, involvement of positive people

News

Breaking the ice

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

A report on research into the use of crystal methamphetamine (ice) by positive men. read more »

Sexual dysfunction common in positive gay men

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

Recent research has found that almost half the gay men with HIV in Australia report having multiple sexual problems. These range from difficulty getting an erection and ejaculating through to a loss of libido and performance anxiety. read more »

More ineligible for Medicare

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

There are a growing number of positive people legally living in Australia who do not have access to Medicare, including subsidised antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS). read more »

Lower dosing trial funded

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has granted AUD $12.4 million to the University of NSW to study whether lower doses of some commonly used antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. drugs are as effective as currently prescribed doses. read more »

SCULPTRA Update: PBS-subsidised lipo treatment a step closer

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

People with severe facial lipoatrophy caused by HIV treatments are closer to being able to access subsidised treatment with poly-lactic acid under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS). read more »

New trial to determine if better to start treatment earlier

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

An international trial that has just started enrollingThe act of signing up participants into a study. Generally this process involves evaluating a participant with respect to the eligibility criteria of the study and going through the informed consent process. in Australia aims to determine whether it is better to start treatment earlier, when T-cell counts are above 500, or when they drop to 350 as per the current recommendations. read more »

Govt to urge neighbours not to discriminate

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

The Rudd Government will encourage Australia’s Asia-Pacific neighbours to introduce laws that protect people with HIV and homosexually active men from discrimination. read more »

Bone health and HIV

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

Those of us with HIV are more likely to have conditions such as osteopenia (low bone mineral density) and osteoporosis (weakened bones) than our negative contemporaries. read more »

HAART on the heart

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

Starting Highly Active AntiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. Therapy can improve some of the things that lead to heart problems but not all of them, a recent study has revealed. Arteries which are already thickened or hardened do not improve on treatment. Metabolic complications, including increases in blood levels of lipids, are common in people on treatment and can also contribute to this condition. read more »

New non-nuke approved

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

A new Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorA type of anti-HIV drug which works by interfering with an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, that HIV needs to reproduce. – etravirine – will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS) from July 1. read more »

Feature

Uncovering the cure

Positive Living article • David Menadue • 7 June 2009

‘We're going to have a cure and it will happen on our lifetime.’ So wrote the pioneer of HIV treatment activism, Martin Delaney, only months before he passed away from liverA large organ, located in the upper right abdomen, which assists in digestion by metabolising carbohydrates, fats and proteins, stores vitamins and minerals, produces amino acids, bile and cholesterol, and removes toxins from the blood. cancer in January this year. David Menadue follows his dream. read more »

Black, gay and proud

Positive Living article • Wilo Muwadda • 5 June 2009

Black, gay and proud – this is Wilo Muwadda today. And it will be him tomorrow. But it was not always the case. read more »

Saving your arse

Positive Living article • Peter Watts • 5 June 2009

HIV is a sneaky bugger. As soon as we think we’ve got it cornered, other complications emerge. Now, it transpires that even on successful treatment we’re still more susceptible to particular cancers. PETER WATTS investigates. read more »

A cocktail for craziness

Positive Living article • Peter Canavan • 5 June 2009

Key findings from an Australian research project by the National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSRNational Centre in HIV Social Research. Located at the University of NSW in Sydney, NCHSR conducts research which describes and analyses the social understandings, meanings and practices of peoples, institutions and communities in relation to HIV, Hepatitis C and other communicable diseases.) have added considerably to what’s now known about the experience of HIV and depression in gay men. read more »

Regular

What's Your Problem?

What's Your Problem?

Positive Living article • Dr Louise Owen • 5 June 2009

Doctor Louise Owen answers readers’ questions. This month: starting antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. treatment and lipodystrophy. read more »

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Positive Living is NAPWHA's national HIV treatments publication, published four times a year.

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HIV Clinical Trials update

Recently updated entries from the NAPWHA Clinical Trials database.

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