Long-term Testosterone Therapy Is Safe and Improves Body Composition in Women with HIV

"These findings led the researchers to conclude, 'Long-term testosterone administration was well tolerated in HIV-infected women and resulted in significant improvements in body composition, bone mineral density, and quality of life indices.'"

Read more in HIVandHepatitis.com, July 3, 2009.

Evolution of SIV toward RANTES resistance in macaques rapidly progressing to AIDS upon coinfection with HHV-6A

"Conclusions: These results provide in vivo evidence of SIV evolution toward RANTES resistance in macaques rapidly progressing to AIDS. RANTES resistance may represent a common virulence factor allowing primate immunodeficiency retroviruses to evade a critical mechanism of host antiviral defense."

Read more in Retrovirology, July 2, 2009.

Youth Who Believe They Will Die Young More Likely To Be Diagnosed With HIV/AIDS, Study Finds

"Teenagers who believe that they will die at a young age are seven times more likely than optimistic teenagers to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in early adulthood, according to a study released on Monday and published in the July issue of Pediatrics, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports (AP/Los Angeles Times, 6/29)."

Read more in Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, July 1, 2009.

Politico Examines Retraction, Resubmission Of Proposed HIV Travel Ban Rule

"Politico's blog "Under the Radar" explores HHS' recent decision to revise documents submitted to the Federal Register regarding a change in HIV-related immigration policy. The blog looks at differences between the original document sent to the Federal Register on Monday compared to the version slated to be resubmitted by HHS Thursday, noting that while "the proposed rule was pulled from publication in Tuesday’s edition at the request of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius" late Monday because it was "'incomplete,' it was actually 12 pages longer than the replacement," with "different data than the original" that "could ease sticker shock." Politico compares the two proposals – one which estimates the number of immigrants living in the U.S. with HIV after five years; the other which estimates the number after 20 years."

Read more in Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, July 2, 2009.

Preventing HIV transmission with antiretrovirals

"Three of the most extraordinary events in global health over the past 30 years have been the emergence of the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) capable of arresting HIV progression and reducing mortality, and scale-up of therapy in low- and middle-income countries. By the end of 2007, approximately 3 million people were accessing ART in resource-constrained settings, an unimaginable achievement a few years previously, yet one whose expansion and sustainability are threatened by resource constraints and competing priorities. ...

"Their paper reported that in an HIV/AIDS epidemic of southern African severity, universal voluntary HIV testing on an annual basis followed by immediate ART could
reduce HIV incidence by about 95% within a decade..."

Read more in Bulletin of the World Health Organization, July, 2009. Also available in Chinese, French, and Russian.

HIV and ARV Therapy Accelerate Bone Loss

"Bone loss is common among people living with HIV before they begin antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, and it worsens upon starting treatment, especially if the regimen contains Combivir (zidovudine plus lamivudine), according to a new report published in the July 17 issue of AIDS. Though severe bone loss is associated with an increased risk of serious bone fractures, the Dutch study authors remind readers that this might be less of a concern among young people living with HIV. "

Read more in POZ, June 30, 2009.

Unexpected Finding: Penetration of ARVs Into Nervous System Doesn’t Protect the Brain

"While antiretroviral (ARV) drugs known to penetrate into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—and thus possibly the brain—do lower HIV levels in the brain, they do not appear to protect against detrimental changes in thinking, memory and physical coordination. This is the conclusion of a study published in the July 17 issue of AIDS."

Read more in Poz, July 1, 2009.

Menopause does not affect response to HIV treatment

"Menopausal status does not affect responses to HIV treatment, US investigators report in the August 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. In the largest ever study into the impact of menopause on the effectiveness of HIV treatment, the researchers found that CD4 cell counts and viral loads were comparable in pre- and post-menopausal women two years after initiating potent HIV therapy.

“Women respond equally well to antiretroviral therapy in the short and long term regardless of menopausal status,” comment the investigators."

Read more in Aidsmap, June 30, 2009.

Adherence to HIV treatment in US gay men differs by race and ethnicity

"Levels of adherence to HIV treatment differ significantly between racial groups, US investigators report in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. They also found that the factors affecting adherence differed between racial groups. Furthermore, different levels of adherence were seen within racial groups according to ethnicity."

Read more in Aidsmap, June 30, 2009.

WHO HIV boss warns against two-tier global system of treatment

"The world cannot allow a permanently two tiered system of global AIDS treatment with late initiation of outmoded drugs reserved for the South. Nor can we hide behind lack of knowledge or the attitude of 'let's wait and see', he told the meeting in a plenary address."

Read more in Aidsmap, June 30, 2009.