NAPWA

In the last issue we looked at how HIV treatment extends life, improves your quality of life, and reduces inflammation, depression and fatigue. Now, Neil McKellar-Stewart considers some of the more specific benefits that treatment can offer ... starting here with the central nervous system (CNS) and your brain. read more »

HIV brings changes to our lives and it challenges us, but it’s a virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell.; it is not who we are. There are many things you can do to help manage these challenges. Talking to a counsellor can help or there are organisations that offer courses to help you develop coping skills, including on-line courses. read more »

Survival after diagnosis with AIDS-related neurological illnesses has improved since the advent of HAARTHighly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy ??? aggressive treatment of HIV infection using several different drugs together., according to an abstract presented to the eleventh European AIDS Conference (EACS). Furthermore, patients on ARVA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. regimens containing a higher number of drugs that crossed the ‘blood-brain barrier’ and got into the central nervous system (CNS) had better survival rates. read more »

My concern started when an email with the monthly ‘HIV Newsclips’ arrived on my desktop. “People with 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. at greater risk of HIV-associated dementia,” it said, and proceeded to outline research at the University of Hawaii where a higher percentage of positive people who had developed diabetes after taking HAARTHighly Active AntiRetroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. Therapy ??? aggressive treatment of HIV infection using several different drugs together. were showing signs of cognitive impairment. read more »

It’s one of the scariest prospects facing HIV-positive people. The possibility of developing AIDS-related dementia or other brain and central nervous system diseases fills many of us with justifiable fear. Like mental illness, brain disease strikes at the very core of who we are. read more »

An Australian study has found that while people diagnosed with AIDS dementia complex (ADC) are surviving significantly longer due to improved antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. efficacy(Of a drug or treatment). The maximum ability of a drug or treatment to produce a result regardless of dosage. A drug passes efficacy trials if it is effective at the dose tested and against the illness for which it is prescribed. In the standard procedure, Phase IIA smaller clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective. Phase II studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition under study and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks. If there is evidence that the drug is effective, a Phase III study is undertaken, with a larger number of participaants, to confirm this. clinical trials gauge efficacy, and Phase IIIA large clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective and safe enough for widespread use. Phase III studies include expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials after preliminary evidence suggesting effectiveness of the drug has been obtained, and are intended to gather additional information to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide and adequate basis for physician labeling. trials confirm it., the prevalence of ADC has risen since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAARTHighly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy ??? aggressive treatment of HIV infection using several different drugs together.). read more »