In this edition:
HIV -- Australia
SMH/AAP, 10 Aug
Tags: hiv politics racism sexism homophobia smith,stephen abbott,tony
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has shown a lack of judgment in failing to censure a Liberal candidate who made racist, sexist and homophobic comments when he was a student journalist, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says.
Continues: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/abbott-bad-judge-over-daws...
ABC TV "Lateline", 10 Aug
Tags: hiv politics racism sexism homophobia abbott,tony
The Opposition Leader's been forced to defend his candidate in the North Queensland seat of Dawson over racist, sexist and homophobic remarks made while at university, including a joke about gay men with AIDS.
Continues: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2979389.htm
ABC News, 11 Aug
Tags: hiv politics homophobia ace swift,rod
A gay and lesbian advocacy group says the Liberal National Party candidate for the north Queensland seat of Dawson should not be disendorsed for comments he published as a university student.
Continues: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/11/2979462.htm
HIV -- Region
Fiji Times (Fiji), 11 Aug
Tags: hiv fiji
HELPING young people realise and understand that HIV has no barrier is what 24-year-old Joeli Colati will focus on at the Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus Festival this year.
Continues: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=153361
HIV -- International
The Lancet (UK), 31 Jul
Tags: hiv ias gorna,robin governance napwa whittaker,bill cooper,david transparency iac harrington,mark tag
The International AIDS Society admits it has governance problems after the sudden departure of its Executive Director Robin Gorna.
Continues: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)61168-3/fulltext
HIV -- Treatments
Chicago Tribune (US), 10 Aug
Tags: hiv primary-care non-aids-illnesses iapac
HIV/AIDS patients need their doctors to pay more attention to their other health conditions that can be exacerbated by HIV or its treatments, especially now that people are living longer with HIV.
Continues: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-x-c-hiv-study-201008...
Reuters, 10 Aug
Tags: hiv treatments cd4-count probiotics cam bacillus-coagulans ahf
A new study looking at the role probiotics may play in increasing CD4 cell count in people with HIV infection is underway at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
Continues: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS147245+10-Aug-2010+PRN20100810
Aidsmap (UK), 9 Aug
Tags: hiv viral-load adherence diarrhoea mental-health
Physical and psychological symptoms can predict increases in viral load in patients taking antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. therapy who have an undetectable viral load, researchers from London report in the August 15th edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency S
Continues: http://www.aidsmap.com/page/1500763/
Aidsmap (UK), 9 Aug
Tags: hiv cvd aspirin
Almost a third of HIV-positive patients could benefit from aspirin treatment to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, Spanish investigators argue in the August 15th edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Continues: http://www.aidsmap.com/page/1500391/
Health Policy
The Australian, 10 Aug
Tags: diabetes ama doctor-patient medicare diabetes-australia politics roxon,nicola
THE country's biggest doctors' lobby is pressuring the federal government to amend, or drop, a $450 million diabetes care program.
Continues: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/doctors-targeting-alp-p...
SMH, 10 Aug
Tags: politics medicare survey ama medicare-rebates roxon,nicola
More than three in four voters want the main parties to guarantee before the election that they will not cut Medicare rebates, amid speculation that a review is likely to propose more cuts.
Continues: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/no-more-medicare-cuts-say-voters-...
SMH/AAP, 10 Aug
Tags: pbs politics medicines-australia shaw,brendan
Keeping medicines cheap and the local industry churning should be priorities for the next federal government, Medicines Australia says.
Continues: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/keep-pbs-working-govt-told...
Sexual Health
Melbourne Community Voice, 10 Aug
Tags: condoms fpv schools youth contraception stis abortion victoria
Family Planning Victoria (FPV) want to see contraceptives, including condoms, made available free to reduce the spread of STIs and unwanted pregnancy.
Continues: http://www.mcv.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/family-planning-calls-for-free...
The Australian, 9 Aug
Tags: abortion medicare abbott,tony politics ru-486
TONY Abbott has promised to make no changes to abortion laws, including banning Medicare funding for terminations.
Continues: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbott-pledges-to-...
6 Minutes, 9 Aug (BLOG)
Tags: stis chlamydia general-practice
Testing for chlamydia in general practice is still predominantly done in response to patients presenting with symptoms, rather than opportunistic screening, an Australian study suggests.
Continues: http://www.6minutes.com.au/articles/z1/view.asp?id=521722
Hepatitis
Los Angeles Times (US), 9 Aug
Tags: hcv treatments boceprivir clinical-trials protease-inhibitors
An experimental antiviral agent called boceprevir doubled the cure rate for hepatitis C in a small phase 2A 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. clinical trialA clinical 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 I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. designed to show efficacy(Of a drug or treatment). The maximum ability of a drug or treatment to produce a result regardless of dosage. A drug passes efficacy trials if it is effective at the dose tested and against the illness for which it is prescribed. In the standard procedure, Phase II clinical trials gauge efficacy, and Phase III trials confirm it., researchers reported Sunday. The drug will now be submitted to the larger Phase 3A 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. trial required for appro
Continues: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/09/news/la-heb-hepatitis-c-20100809
Aidsmap (UK), 10 Aug
Tags: hcv hiv coinfection blunted-response cd4-count
Ongoing hepatitis C replication inhibits improvements in the CD4 cell counts of HIV-positive patients taking antiretroviral therapy, Canadian investigators report in the July 31stedition of AIDS.
Continues: http://www.aidsmap.com/page/1501471/
Wall Street Journal (US)/Dow Jones, 10 Aug
Tags: hcv treatments telaprevir
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) reported the success of the second of three key late-stage studies of hepatitis-C treatment, telaprevir, essentially curing 72% of patients using the drug.
Continues: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100810-709797.html
Australian Life Scientist, 4 Aug
Tags: hcv vaccines hits-study prisons
Professor Andrew Lloyd of the University of New South Wales is one of the central figures in the HITS study (Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission Study) is a long-term prospective cohortIn epidemiology, a group of individuals with some characteristics in common. A cohort study is a special kind of clinical trial which looks at a treatment or treatment strategy in a cohort of people. study of eligible prison inmates in NSW.
Continues: http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/355721/feature_hunting_hepatitis...
GLBTI News
Townsville Bulletin (Qld), 10 Aug
Tags: glbt mardi-gras queensland homophobia
SEQUINS, stilettos, leather and latex ... Townsville's dancing queens are polishing their performances and preening themselves to perfection for the city first ever Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Festival.
Continues: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/townsville-to-host-gay-mardi-gras/s...
SMH, 10 Aug
Tags: gay-men internet grindr dating mobile-phones
A location-aware iPhone app has spawned a sexual revolution in Australia's gay community by providing what is effectively a meat market enabling people to meet other gay men who may be just metres away from them.
Continues: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/iphone-meat-market-sp...
Herald Sun (Melbourne), 9 Aug
Tags: glbt abbott,tony politics
HE doesn't believe in gay marriage, but Tony Abbott says he wouldn't mind if one of his daughters was gay.
Continues: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/gays-ok-if-the-girls-so...
SMH/AAP, 9 Aug
Tags: glbt same-sex-marriage family-first politics
Family First has disendorsed its candidate for the Victorian federal seat of La Trobe after he posted comments online supporting same-sex marriage.
Continues: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/party-sacks-candidate-for-...
ABC News, 10 Aug
Tags: glbt homophobia politics family-first vilification queensland
A mother in a lesbian relationship has lodged an anti-discrimination complaint after Family First Senate candidate Wendy Francis equated same-sex couples raising children with child abuse.
Continues: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/10/2979275.htm?section=justin
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