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Infectious Disease News lists top stories in HIV/AIDS
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Recent news and social media attention surrounding actor Charlie Sheen’s HIV status underscores the importance of effective treatment for the disease.
Numerous Twitter and Facebook users are using his public announcement as an opportunity to raise awareness for HIV prevention and to call for the elimination of HIV stigma, which may be keeping patients from seeking care, according to the CDC. The CDC estimated that 1.2 million people in the United States were living with HIV infection in 2011, 54% of whom were men who have sex with men. Only 40% of the HIV population, however, were engaged in care.
In light of the intensified focus on HIV/AIDS, Infectious Disease News has compiled a list of the 10 most viewed stories about the disease in the past year.
Switch to Genvoya maintains HIV suppression, increases BMD, renal function
Researchers found greater levels of viral suppression among patients with HIV who switched from a regimen containing Viread to one with recently FDA-approved Genvoya. Read more.
WHO early 2016 guidelines expand ART to all HIV-infected patients
WHO issued an early release of the organization’s 2016 guidelines, recommending that all patients with HIV immediately initiate ART regardless of their CD4 cell counts and that all patients at high risk for HIV receive daily pre-exposure prophylaxis. Read more.
Turing promises Daraprim repricing announcement before 2016
Public focus shifted to Turing Pharmaceuticals after the price of the recently acquired Daraprim jumped from $13.50 per tablet to $750 per tablet in August. Although the price of Daraprim remains unchanged since its increase, Turing has told the HIV Medicine Association and other groups that it will announce plans to reprice the treatment before the end of the year. Read more.
HIV replicates in brain, CNS shortly after infection
HIV may begin replicating within a patient’s brain and central nervous system as soon as 4 months after infection. Read more.
Deaths among youth with HIV less common; other complications emerge
Although opportunistic infections and death are less common among HIV-infected youth receiving ART, these patients are now experiencing higher rates of psychiatric, neurodevelopment, metabolic, inflammatory and genital tract diseases. Read more.
Elite controllers: A potential model for a functional HIV cure?
Infectious Disease News spoke with several experts about a small subgroup of HIV patients who can control virus replication without medication — and whether they hold the key to a cure. Read more.
VOICE trial shows low PrEP adherence, efficacy among women
The final results of the VOICE trial show a consistent pattern of nonadherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis among women dating back almost to the beginning of the trial. Read more.
Specialists highlight recent advances, obstacles in HIV functional cure
Recent breakthroughs in HIV have indicated that a cure is possible. Still, there are many obstacles to overcome. Infectious Diseases News asked four prominent scientists in HIV research to discuss their own methods and contributions toward the eradication of HIV as well as the challenges they continue to face. Read more.
New HIV cases in Florida increase after introduction of Craigslist
Recent data suggest the introduction of Craigslist may have resulted in 1,149 transmissions of HIV among Floridians over a 5-year period, costing an estimated $710 million in lifetime medical expenses. Read more.
Communitywide HIV interventions improve care among illicit drug users
A communitywide intervention program targeting illicit drug users with HIV appeared to have several long-term benefits, including increased viral suppression and reduced HIV drug resistance. Read more.