NAPWA

In this edition:

• HIV -- Region (4 items)
• HIV -- International (1 item)
• HIV -- Treatments (5 items)
• HIV -- Prevention (3 items)
• HIV Criminalisation (4 items)
• Health Policy (2 items)
• Welfare & Work (1 item)
• GLBTI News (2 items)

 

HIV -- Region

Gwaze trial miscarriage of justice - Solicitor-General

New Zealand Herald (NZ), 25 Feb

Tags: hiv nz criminal-law gwaze,george murder rape children sexual-abuse

George Gwaze's acquittal for the murder of his 10-year-old niece was a miscarriage of justice and a retrial should be held, the Solicitor-General told the Supreme Court today.

Continues: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10628470

Man jailed for spreading HIV

Manukau Courier (NZ), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv criminal-law deliberately-infected chakanyuka,artwell

Former sexual partners of a man found guilty of intentionally infecting his wife with HIV are being urged to contact health services or police.

Continues: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/3374458/Man-jailed-for-spreading-HIV

Gwaze conviction possible, says Crown

The Press (NZ), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv nz criminal-law gwaze,george murder rape children sexual-abuse

A guilty verdict at a retrial for George Gwaze on murder and rape charges is "distinctly possible", the Solicitor-General has told the Supreme Court.

Continues: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3376262/Gwaze-conviction-possible-...

Church starts HIV/AIDS campaign

Solomon Star (Solomon Islands), 27 Feb

Tags: hiv solomon-islands churches

THE Church of Melanesia HIV and AIDS department start its HIV and AIDS campaign this morning.

Continues: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/3369-church-starts-hivaids-...

HIV -- International

British women 'in denial' over growing HIV risk

The Observer (UK), 28 Feb

Tags: hiv uk women testing mac-aids-fund unprotected-sex tht

British women are putting themselves at increasing risk of HIV infection, according to experts, with a new survey revealing that almost three-quarters have never been tested for the virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell..

Continues: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/feb/28/british-women-regular...

HIV -- Treatments

Vitamin D Deficiency Common Among HIV Positive

AIDSmeds.com (US), 25 Feb

Tags: hiv vitamins vitamin-d bone-density

Vitamin D insufficiency is common among people living with HIV in the United States—although not necessarily more so compared with the general population—according to a study reported on Friday at CROI in San Francisco.

Continues: http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_bone_vitamin_D_1667_18067.shtml

HIV, tuberculosis should be treated together-study

Reuters, 25 Feb

Tags: hiv tb treatments safrica africa comorbidities coinfection resource-poor-countries

Treating tuberculosis and the AIDS virus simultaneously saves more than twice as many lives compared with attacking TB first, researchers reported on Wednesday.

Continues: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE61O03O20100225

CD4 counts declining more rapidly among recent seroconverters in US military cohort

Aidsmap (UK), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv cd4

In a study of over 1000 mostly male seroconverters in the United States military, CD4 cell counts appear to be declining more quickly in those who seroconverted in more recent years.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/61B2C053-9EB6-4810-B862-4B2384B19E90.asp

Higher risk of neurocognitive problems in patients with lower CD4 nadirs

Aidsmap (UK), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv cd4 nadir croi neurology cognitive-impairment

A large US study in people with HIV has found that neurocognitive problems such as memory loss, poor concentration and slowed reactions are more common in people who had very low CD4 counts prior to starting treatment.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/8AE2C68B-C8ED-470D-AEAB-0843B7E570F3.asp

Suppressive antiretroviral therapy slows progression of atherosclerosis

Aidsmap (UK), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv treatments atherosclerosis viral-load

Antiretroviral therapy that reduces viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. to an undetectable level was linked to slower progression of sub-clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. atherosclerosis, as indicated by carotid intima-media thickness, researchers reported last week at CROI.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/EF3C46BA-6ACC-482C-A023-038DFCEF69A1.asp

HIV -- Prevention

HIV drug resistance lasts about one year in women treated with nevirapine to prevent infant infection, study suggests

Science Daily (US), 25 Feb

Tags: hiv treatments prevention mtct nevirapine resistance resource-poor-countries

A new international study reported in PLoS Medicine confirms that a single dose of nevirapine can lead to HIV treatment failure in women who receive the drug to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus to their infants.

Continues: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100215201559.htm

A ‘test and treat’ approach to fighting HIV

Boston Globe (US), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv prevention test-and-treat botswana treatments-prevention infectivity viral-load

A PROMISING new way to prevent the spread of HIV is being tested in Botswana on a group of people who are being exposed to a particularly vicious strain[HIV strain] Any subgroup of the HIV species. Because HIV mutates very easily, there are many different strains (and may be multiple strains within a single person). of the virus. They are now being treated with strong antiretroviral drugs.

Continues: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/0...

Circumcision: Zimbabwe's latest anti-HIV weapon

BBC News (UK), 26 Feb

Tags: hiv prevention circumcision zimbabwe

Lovemore bravely looks on at the work of the doctor and nurse as they perform the circumcision. "It's numb, man, I can't feel a thing," he says.

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8483116.stm

HIV Criminalisation

'Thankfully I was not infected by evil partner'

BBC News (UK), 25 Feb

Tags: hiv criminal-law deliberately-infected devereaux,mark uk

One of the women who had a relationship with a man who did not reveal he was HIV positive has spoken of his "despicable" actions.

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8520310.stm

HIV infection: 'A complex issue'

Catherine Murphy/BBC News (UK), 25 Feb (OPINION)

Tags: hiv criminal-law deliberately-infected k&r uk op-ed murphy,catherine tht devereaux,mark media

A brief glance at headlines like 'Evil HIV Fiend' or 'AIDS Avenger' could lead some to assume that HIV prosecutions are a simple case of 'good' vs. 'evil'; that they act in the public interest as a deterrent against

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8536361.stm

Guilty plea made in AIDS crime case

UPI, 25 Feb

Tags: hiv criminal-law disclosure usa mandatory-disclosure-laws indiana attorneys-general

A 47-year-old man pleaded guilty in an Indiana court to charges he met women online and had sex with them without informing them he has AIDS.

Continues: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/02/25/Guilty-plea-made-in-AIDS-crime...

HIV man jailed for 'reckless sex'

BBC News (UK), 25 Feb

Tags: hiv devereaux,mark uk sentencing scotland disclosure sex-offenders

A man whose girlfriend found out he had infected her with HIV when she was pregnant has been jailed for 10 years.

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8519593.stm

Health Policy

Axe health subsidies for rich, Swan says

News.com.au/AAP, 21 Feb

Tags: swan,wayne medicare private-insurance taxation

TREASURER Wayne Swan says subsidies for well-off Australians should be scrapped as the coalition appears intent on blocking federal government plans to means test private health insurance rebates.

Continues: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/axe-health-subsidies-for-rich-swan-...

Senate sinks increase to Medicare levy surchage

SMH/AAP, 24 Feb

Tags: medicare politics medicare-levy

The Senate has rejected the federal government's plan to increase the Medicare levy surcharge.

Continues: http://www.smh.com.au/national/senate-sinks-increase-to-medicare-levy-su...

Welfare & Work

Welfare groups slam Abbott's plan

SMH/AAP, 24 Feb

Tags: welfare dsp abbott,tony work-for-the-dole politics acoss macklin,jenny national-seniors martin,claire

Tony Abbott's planned welfare crackdown will do nothing to help people get off support and into work, the welfare sector says.

Continues: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/welfare-groups-slam-abbott...

GLBTI News

Gay hate crimes to ‘increase’ during Sydney Mardi Gras

Central Sydney News, 24 Feb

Tags: glbt homophobia violence mardi-gras acon arcshs parkhill,nic

A leading Australian gay health group has warned that Mardis Gras revellers should prepare for an expected increase in homophobic violence accompanying the two-week event.

Continues: http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/hate-crimes-to-increa...

Senate votes down same-sex marriage bill

ABC News, 25 Feb

Tags: glbt same-sex-relationships marriage politics greens brandis,george fielding,steve xenophon,nick family-first

An attempt by the Greens to legalise same sex marriage has been voted down in the Senate.

Continues: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/25/2830454.htm?section=justin