NAPWA

2011 WAD saw the Positive Women’snetwork heavily involved in awareness raising activities around the female condom. read more »

GeneThe most basic unit of genetic information. therapy that interferes with co-receptors on the surface of T-cells can protect these cells from HIV infection, and represents a potential first step toward a ‘functional cure’ for HIV. read more »

In his opening address at the conference, Graeme Brown, AFAO’s outgoing President, acknowledged the enormous challenges we are facing in Australia at the moment, midway through our Sixth National HIV Strategy. read more »

The 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention was held in Rome last week from 17-20 July. This meeting is held every two years and alternates with the much larger World AIDS Conferences also organised by the International AIDS Society (IAS). read more »

‘So, what’s the big deal about having HIV?’ This is what a friend asked David Menadue, recently.

‘You look okay. It’s a manageable condition, now,’ he said. ‘Sometimes I think you guys make too much fuss about it all.’ read more »

Melbourne university researchers have identified antibodies in a breakthrough that brings closer the hope of developing an effective vaccine.

A study of 100 people with HIV, recruitedThe act of signing up participants into a study. Generally this process involves evaluating a participant with respect to the eligibility criteria of the study and going through the informed consentThe process of learning the key facts about a clinical trial before deciding whether or not to participate. It is also a continuing process throughout the study to provide information for participants. To help someone decide whether or not to participate, the doctors and nurses involved in the trial explain the details of the study. process. from The Alfred Hospital and the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, has shown that antibodies were so successful in suppressing the virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell. that it had to mutate around them. read more »

We have known for some time that 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. reduces the likelihood of transmitting HIV, and the recent results from a large clinical trialA clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase IA clinical trial designed to establish whether an experimental drug is safe for humans to take. Phase I studies determine the metabolism and pharmacologic actions of drugs in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and look for early evidence of effectiveness; these studies may include either people with HIV, HIV-negative volunteers, or both tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; 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. expands the study to a larger group of people; 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. expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IVPost-marketing studies to delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. seem to confirm the fact . . . in heterosexual couples, at least. read more »

Today’s announcement that a clinical trialA clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase IA clinical trial designed to establish whether an experimental drug is safe for humans to take. Phase I studies determine the metabolism and pharmacologic actions of drugs in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and look for early evidence of effectiveness; these studies may include either people with HIV, HIV-negative volunteers, or both tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; 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. expands the study to a larger group of people; 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. expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IVPost-marketing studies to delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. has found that HIV antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. treatment significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission is welcome news, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWHA) has said. read more »

Doctor Louise answers readers' questions. In this issue she discusses Hepatitis C infection and unprotected sex. read more »

‘WRAPPED OR RAW’ looks at choices made by pos guys about using condoms in pos-pos sex and offers information and options to minimise risk (like STIs[Sexually Transmissible (or Transmitted) Infection] Infections spread by the transfer of organisms from person to person during sexual contact. Also called venereal disease (VD) (an older public health term) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). – sexually transmissible infections) and have great sex.

For further information, visit http://www.wrappedorraw.org.au/. watch video »