NAPWA

A nation in need of a strategy

It has been almost a year since the last National Strategy expired but finally the formation of a new one is in the works. read more »

Time for national syphilis action

Since 2002, infectious syphilis has re-emerged among populations of gay and other homosexually active men in Australian capital cities, in particular among those who participate in highly sexually active subcultures.

A significant proportion of these syphilis infections are among HIV positive gay men. read more »

Planning for the longer term

For two days in June this year, HIV sector workers gathered in Sydney to showcase some of this country’s most innovative positive services. The Positive Services Forum placed emphasis on planning for the long-term and forms part of a much larger strategy which is responding to the changing needs of positive Australians. read more »

Fosamprenavir linked to cardio risk

A French case-control study has reported an association between exposure to fosamprenavir and an increased risk of heart attackA life-threatening emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die from lack of oxygen.. This may be related to the propensity for this drug classA group of anti-HIV drugs with the same target of action. Anti-HIV drug classes include nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, as well as several others. Combining drugs from three or more classes is the basis of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). to raise blood lipids. read more »

Stepped dosing lessens efavirenz side-effects

Efavirenz is currently one of the preferred options for people starting treatment. Used in combination with other antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV., it is a highly efficient therapy, however, it is also common for people to experience ‘trippy’ side effects on the drug, particularly within the first few weeks. read more »

Hepatitis B doesn’t affect response to HIV treatment

Co-infection with hepatitis B seems not to affect your response to HIV treatment. Nor does it influence your CD4 cell count after you start, American investigators report. read more »

Aussie eye scanner detects HIV

A WA-developed eye scanner that can detect HIV could become a major screening tool in resourcepoor countries.

The Lions Eye Institute director of the Centre for e-Medicine, Yogesan Kanagasingam, is working with international colleagues to isolate a distinctive pattern of changes in eye tissue, including the blood vessels in the retina, that occur in people with HIV. read more »

Positive change

True to the main argument in Alvin Toffler’s book, Future Shock, change is not slowing, it's accelerating. Neil McKellar-Stewart recalls how things have changed and prepares us for more to come. read more »

Treatments news from the IAS Conference

A roundup of HIV treatments developments from the IAS Conference in Cape Town. read more »

Give your vagina a choice

If you know nothing about them, you're not alone. At a recent leadership forum held in Sydney by UNIFEM Australia only five out of the 100 young women present had even heard of the female condom. Adrian Ogier finds out more. read more »