NAPWA

In December, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) issued a letter alerting clinicians to the potential association between use of their protease inhibitor fosamprenavir (Telzir) and dyslipidemia (abnormal blood fatA fat. levels) and myocardial infarction (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.). read more »

The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) has just happened in San Francisco. This meeting is held annually and focuses on the very latest in basic science and clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. research. Jo Watson was there and gives us an overview. read more »

The complications associated with HIV and syphilis can be extreme. Unfortunately, Alan Bartlett found this out the hard way. read more »

This Treataware fact sheet explains the issues for people with HIV/AIDS around coinfection with hepatitis A, B & C, including ways to minimise risk and treatment options. read more »

A course of topical trichloroacetic acid appears to provide a safe and effective treatment for anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) – the name given to pre-cancerous cell changes in the anus, US investigators report.

Higher rates of anal cancer are seen in gay men, especially those with HIV. The treatment, however, proved just as effective on both positive and negative men. read more »

Maintaining a CD4 cell count above 500 helps protect you from a range of AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining cancers, French investigators report.

Researchers followed over 50,000 positive people between 1998 and 2006 and found that the seven* most common cancers were found least in those whose counts stayed consistently above 500. read more »

It’s a normal day in the diabetes[Diabetes mellitus[Diabetes mellitus] A disorder in which sugars in the diet cannot be metabolised into energy due to a lack of the enzyme insulin. Late-onset diabetes mellitus may be a long-term side effect of some anti-HIV drugs.] A disorder in which sugars in the diet cannot be metabolised into energy due to a lack of the enzyme insulin. Late-onset diabetes mellitus may be a long-term side effectAn unwanted effect caused by the administration of drugs. Onset may be sudden or develop over time. of some anti-HIV drugs. clinic of St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. In the waiting room are three people waiting to see the specialist. One is a short, elderly woman of eastern European extraction. Another is an overweight man in his sixties. And the third is a lean, fitlooking man in his early forties who happens to be living with HIV. Neil McKellar-Stewart finds out why HIV puts us in the room. read more »

Despite having been linked to the kidneys, tenofovir (Viread and also in the combination pill Truvada) appears not to cause more problems than other NRTIA type of anti-HIV drug that works by inhibiting a stage of the HIV life cycle called reverse transcription. Non-nucleosides work in a similar way, but are chemically different. drugs, US investigators have reported. read more »

People who experience ongoing central nervous system (CNS) side effects from the treatment efavirenz will be pleased to know that they may soon be able to take a lower dose of the drug. read more »

The Commonwealth’s recent decision to list Sculptra on the PBS[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.] 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. is exciting news for Australia’s positive community. Anyone with HIV treatment­associated facial lipoatrophy is now subsidised to receive up to eight vials for their first treatment followed by top­ups of two vials every two years read more »