In this edition:
HIV -- Australia
Sydney Star Observer, 3 Mar
Tags: hiv discrimination adt nsw
The Blacktown Arts and Crafts Centre has vehemently denied allegations of discrimination against a pottery class for HIV positive men.
Continues: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2010/03/03/blacktown-discrimination-...
Sydney Star Observer, 3 Mar
Tags: hiv testing rapid-testing acon queensland undiagnosed-hiv nchecr parkhill,nic
ACON has called on the federal Government to introduce rapid testing for HIV following disturbing survey results.
Continues: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2010/03/03/rapid-testing-a-must-to-f...
Sydney Star Observer, 3 Mar
Tags: hiv mardi-gras acon stis gay-men parkhill,nic syphilis gonorrhoea
People attending Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney this weekend are being urged to play safe and look after each other.
Continues: http://www.starobserver.com.au/community/2010/03/03/take-care-of-each-ot...
HIV -- Region
Jakarta Post (Indonesia), 3 Mar
Tags: hiv indonesia papua film
Nyanyian Lembah Baliem (Song of Baliem Valley) explores friendship, hopes and power of love, in an effort to provide impetus for those living with HIV/AIDS to rise from their throes and continue living a normal life.
Continues: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/03/02/nlb039-calls-attention-hiv...
Jakarta Post (Indonesia), 1 Mar
Tags: hiv indonesia sex-workers bali
I Nengah Mantra, a masseur in Denpasar says it is easy to conduct sexual transactions nowadays. "I just need to make a call on my mobile phone and pay Rp 150,000, then the prostitute will book the hotel," he said, laughing.
Continues: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/03/01/bali-faces-higher-hivaids-...
HIV -- Treatments
Aidsmap (UK), 1 Mar
Tags: hiv treatments kidney-dysfunction tenofovir renal
Kidney function does not always return to normal after treatment with tenofovir is discontinued because of renal toxicities, Australian investigators report in an advance online publication in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/42889A3A-D9FD-4E5D-AE29-250CEBD601B2.asp
Aidsmap (UK), 2 Mar
Tags: hiv treatments viral-load psychology
A high burden of physical and psychological symptoms is associated with an increased risk of viral load rebounding to detectable levels in patients taking HIV treatment, UK investigators report.
Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/8C60080A-C8F9-45EA-83B0-8BB3A4CE5189.asp
Science Daily (US), 28 Feb
Tags: hiv treatments stem-cells ccr5 basic-science
Researchers have successfully removed CCR5 – a cell receptor to which HIV-1One of two distinct HIV species, HIV-1 is the predominant type in Australia and around the world. binds for infection but which the human body does not need – from human cells. Individuals who naturally lack the CCR5 receptor have been found to be essentially resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant. to HIV.
Continues: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100225164859.htm
HIV -- Prevention
Science Daily (US), 26 Feb
Tags: hiv prevention vaccines dna
For the first time researchers from the U.S. and abroad have shown a single-dose HIV DNA vaccine can induce a long-lasting HIV-specific immune response in nonhuman primates, a discovery that could prove significant in the development of HIV vaccines.
Continues: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100224171854.htm
Health Policy
The Australian, 2 Mar
Tags: medicare healthcare-identifiers e-health privacy privacy-commissioner roxon,nicola
REVELATIONS that Medicare Australia has investigated 1058 employees for possible unauthorised access to client records in the past three years may rock a Senate inquiry into the controversial Healthcare Identifiers Bill.
Continues: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/medicare-privacy-breaches-...
SMH, 27 Feb
Tags: pbs pharma lobbyists pbac carnell,kate gp-network ahia australia-institute denniss,richard politics medicines-australia
When drugs maker Wyeth Australia wanted its arthritis drug Enbrel listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS) it hired political lobby group Parker & Partners to wheel out sick kids in its meetings with politicians.
Continues: http://www.smh.com.au/business/making-sure-pills-go-down-and-money-flows...
ABC News, 3 Mar
Tags: hospitals nhhrc rudd,kevin federal-state
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will today unveil his plan to fix Australian hospitals, an announcement that could mark the biggest change to healthcare since the introduction of Medicare in the 1970s.
Continues: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/03/2834814.htm
Welfare & Work
SMH, 1 Mar
Tags: welfare disability dsp arbib,mark work employment shorten,bill
EMPLOYERS will be offered subsidies of up to $3000 if they employ people with disabilities.
Continues: http://www.smh.com.au/national/pilot-scheme-helps-fund-support-pension-j...
David Penberthy/The Australian, 27 Feb (OPINION)
Tags: welfare op-ed abbott,tony latham,mark welfare-reform dsp
Mark Latham was pilloried for trying to raise a debate on welfare. Now it's Tony Abbott's turn.
Continues: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/opinion/hold-the-dole-put-refor...
Drugs
SMH/AAP, 1 Mar
Tags: hiv drugs idu nsp needle-exchange methadone opiod-substitution-therapy ndarc mathers,bradley
An Australian review of the world's clean needle and methadone programs has shown many countries aren't doing enough to halt the spread of HIV.
Continues: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/world-failing-to-curb-hiv-...
Radio Australia, 1 Mar (AUDIO)
Tags: hiv idu drugs australia nsp methadone mattick,richard
A new study shows Australia is ahead of the rest of the world in providing programs for reducing HIV infections among injecting drug users.
Continues: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/stories/201003/s2833656.htm
Hepatitis
Aidsmap (UK), 1 Mar
Tags: hepatitis hcv hiv coinfection il-28 il-28b genes interferon
Variations in the IL28B gene that have recently been linked to better treatment response among people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may also predict recovery in HIV/HCV-coinfected people, according to three studies presented at CROI.
Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/975B577E-9FAE-483A-8A95-AF46444F2F67.asp
AP, 26 Feb
Tags: hcv treatments regulus glaxosmithkline
Drugmaker Regulus Therapeutics LLC said Thursday it is expanding a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, and will begin researching new treatments for hepatitis C.
Continues: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5io9Z9QXstFpqzBFzU6n-DR...
Boston Globe (US)/Xconomy.com, 1 Mar
Tags: hcv treatments avila-therapeutics vertex
Avila Therapeutics can’t be accused of thinking small. The Waltham start-up is on a quest to show it has the scientific chops to build a better drug than one of Boston’s anchor biotechnology companies, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., can produce.
Continues: http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/03/01/avila_to_s...
BusinessWeek (US)/AP, 2 Mar
Tags: hcv treatments abt-450 abt-333 abt-072 telaprevir boceprivir
Abbott Laboratories and partner Enanta Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday said they will move potential hepatitis C treatments into midstage development.
Continues: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9E6J6M81.htm
AP, 25 Feb
Tags: hcv treatments ana-598
Development-stage drug developer Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. said late Wednesday its developing hepatitis C drug was only slightly more effective at treating the virus than placeboA dummy medical treatment, designed to have no pharmacological effect, administered to the control group of a clinical trial. in a midstage study.
Continues: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h0b38y5zraXJgEd4oDcy2b...
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