HIV Media Digest 24 Feb

In this edition:

• HIV -- Australia (2 items)
• HIV -- Region (5 items)
• HIV -- International (2 items)
• HIV -- Treatments (6 items)
• HIV -- Prevention (5 items)
• Health Policy (1 item)
• Welfare & Work (1 item)
• Sexual Health (1 item)
• Hepatitis (2 items)
• Science & Medicine (2 items)
• GLBTI News (2 items)

HIV -- Australia

HIV class forced out of centre [1]

Sydney Star Observer, 24 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] discrimination [3]

The Blacktown Outdoors Group will lodge a complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board after being ousted, under police escort, from the community arts centre it uses to hold pottery classes for HIV positive men.

Continues: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2010/02/24/hiv-class-forced-out-of-c... [4]

Australia urged to do more for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis [5]

Radio Australia 'Connect Asia', 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] aid [6] gfatm [7] kazatchkine,michel [8]

The head of the world's major funding source for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria treatments wants Australia to channel some of its promised increase in international aid through his organisation.

Continues: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201002/s2827878.htm [9]

HIV -- Region

Global health fund seeks PNG administrative help [10]

ABC Radio Australia, 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] png [11] gfatm [7] kazatchkine,michel [8] china [12]

Australia is being urged to to help Papua New Guinea make a credible application for HIV and AIDS funding.

Continues: http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201002/2828278.htm?desktop [13]

PNG refused further AIDS drugs [14]

The Australian, 24 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] gfatm [7] kazatchkine,michel [8] png [11] gates-foundation [15]

THE Global Fund, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates (sic), which provides the drugs keeping 7000 Papua New Guinean AIDS sufferers alive, has rejected the latest PNG request for funding.

Continues: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/png-refused-further-aids-drug... [16]

Gay, transvestite couple chosen as AIDS envoys [17]

Jakarta Post (Indonesia), 22 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] indonesia [18]

A gay man and a transvestite were chosen as envoys for AIDS treatment in Bali during a contest organized by Gaya Dewata Foundation on Saturday.

Continues: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/22/gay-transvestite-couple-ch... [19]

HIV offender identified [20]

New Zealand Herald (NZ), 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] nz [21] deliberately-infected [22] nzaf [23] chakanyuka,artwell [24] needlestick [25] smythe,eamonn [26]

HIV testing and counselling is being offered by the Aids Foundation after the naming today of a man who deliberately infected his wife with HIV.

Continues: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10628027 [27]

Man who infected wife with HIV named as Artwell Chakanyuka [28]

TVNZ (NZ), 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] nz [21] deliberately-infected [22]

A man who infected his wife with his own HIV blood so that she would resume having sex with him can now be named.

Continues: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/man-infected-wife-hiv-named-3379770 [29]

HIV -- International

S.F. man can sue feds for revealing HIV status [30]

San Francisco Chronicle (US), 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] confidentiality [31] disclosure [32] privacy [33] work [34]

A small-plane pilot from San Francisco, who hid his HIV-positive status for years out of fear of losing his license, can sue the government for disclosing his condition during a fraud investigation, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Continues: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/23/BAPH1C5D0J.D... [35]

HIV count in state misses thousands [36]

San Francisco Chronicle (US), 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] usa [37] california [38] surveillance [39] epidemiology [40]

California has missed tens of thousands of HIV-positive cases - at a cost of possibly tens of millions of dollars in federal funding - due to an outdated public health surveillance system for tracking patients, according to a report released Monday.

Continues: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/23/BAJM1C5HG6.D... [41]

HIV -- Treatments

FDA warns of heart risk with HIV drug combination [42]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (US)/AP, 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] treatments [43] interactions [44] fda [45] saquinavir [46] ritonavir [47]

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Tuesday about potential heart risks when combining two HIV drugs.

Continues: http://www.ajc.com/business/fda-warns-of-heart-323574.html [48]

Phase II HIV gene therapy trial has encouraging results [49]

Science Daily (US), 19 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] treatments [43] gene-therapy [50] lexgenleucel-t [51] croi [52]

Researchers presented the results from an ongoing Phase I [53]A 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/II clinical trial [54]A 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. of Lexgenleucel-T at CROI. Lexgenleucel-T is a cell and gene therapy product being investigated for the treatment of HIV infection.

Continues: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100218191736.htm [55]

Many patients diagnosed with HIV today will have normal life expectancies, European studies find [56]

Aidsmap (UK), 22 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] treatments [43] mortality [57] life-expectancy [58] croi [52]

Two studies presented at the CROI show that some groups of patients ? those diagnosed recently, or some of those with high CD4 counts when they begin treatment ? will have normal or near-normal life expectancies.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/507F3477-660B-4D89-8527-DD915A1B339D.asp [59]

Triglycerides linked to heart attack risk in D:A:D study [60]

Aidsmap (UK), 22 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] treatments [43] triglycerides [61] croi [52] dad-study [62] cvd [63] mi [64]

Higher triglyceride levels were independently associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction, or heart attack, in the large D:A:D study, according to a report at CROI.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/5064FAAB-EEB6-456F-B66B-FAB30564F313.asp [65]

HIV infection increases risk of bone fractures for men, but not for younger women [66]

Aidsmap (UK), 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] bone-density [67] fractures [68] croi [52]

A comparison of HIV-positive and HIV-negative male veterans in the United States found that HIV infection conferred an independent but "modest" risk of fragility fractures in the hip and spine, delegates at CROI heard on Thursday.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/E2C0EE61-B6FF-493D-83C7-C5DEDFD45FE3.asp [69]

Progression of atherosclerosis is linked to inflammation in people with HIV [70]

Aidsmap (UK), 23 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] atherosclerosis [71]

People with HIV experience more rapid progression of atherosclerosis than uninfected individuals, especially as measured in a specific part of the carotid artery [72]a blood vessel which carries oxygenated blood away from the heart. known as the bifurcation region, researchers reported last week at CROI.

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/DB7D81C9-8400-49C9-AAF7-02ADB3F18078.asp [73]

HIV -- Prevention

One HIV test, but two results [74]

Elizabeth Pisani/The Guardian (UK), 22 Feb (OPINION)

Tags: hiv [2] prevention [75] universal-treatment [76] test-and-treat [77] pisani,elizabeth [78] op-ed [79] modelling [80] infectivity [81] africa [82] gay-men [83] uk [84] eradication [85] treatments-prevention [86]

It's been a bad few months for HIV prevention. We've learned that our best candidates for vaccines and virus-killing microbicides don't work. Now we're ­clutching at another straw: maybe we can treat our way out of the HIV epidemic.

Continues: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/22/the-drugs-wont-work [87]

Analysis: this may be a great leap to stop spread of Aids [88]

The Times (UK), 22 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] prevention [75] universal-treatment [76] vaccines [89] test-and-treat [77]

The global extent of the HIV pandemic is one of the great failures of modern science. While the identity of the virus that causes Aids has been known since 1983, it has not yet proved possible to stop it from spreading.

Continues: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/medicine/article7035431.ec... [90]

Aids: is the end in sight? [91]

The Independent (UK), 22 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] eradication [85] prevention [75] universal-treatment [76] test-and-treat [77] sacema [92] safrica [93]

Mass prescription of anti-retroviral drugs could eradicate the disease within 40 years, scientist says.

Continues: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/aids-is-the-end-in-sight-19064... [94]

In absence of a vaccine, this is probably our best hope [95]

Steve Connor/The Independent (UK), 22 Feb (OPINION)

Tags: hiv [2] prevention [75] test-and-treat [77] universal-treatment [76] op-ed [79] infectivity [81]

The Aids virus, HIV, has a relatively short life cycle of less than a few days from when it first infects a cell to the moment it completes the assembly of its "offspring" viruses [96]A small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell..

Continues: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-connor-in-absenc... [97]

HIV: Increased HAART coverage associated with 50 percent drop in new infections [98]

Science Daily (US), 20 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] prevention [75] infectivity [81] idu [99] bc-center-for-excellence [100] canada [101] treatments-prevention [86]

A comprehensive population-based study, conducted by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS shows that expanded HAART coverage was associated with a 50% decrease in new yearly HIV infections among injection drug users.

Continues: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100218141811.htm [102]

Health Policy

Private health insurance to rise at double the inflation rate [103]

The Australian, 24 Feb

Tags: private-insurance [104] roxon,nicola [105]

PRIVATE health insurance fees are set to soar by close to 6 per cent this year, double the rate of inflation, Health Minister Nicola Roxon revealed yesterday.

Continues: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/private-health-insur... [106]

Welfare & Work

Abbott targets welfare payments [107]

SMH, 24 Feb

Tags: welfare [108] work-for-the-dole [109] dsp [110] pensioners [111] abbott,tony [112] politics [113]

Compulsory work for the dole and tougher tests for disability pensioners are the centrepiece of an $11 billion welfare crackdown developed by Tony Abbott.

Continues: http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-targets-welfare-payments-20100223-... [114]

Sexual Health

Rewriting the book on sex addiction [115]

Courier-Mail, 23 Feb

Tags: sex-addiction [116] celebrities [117] psychiatry [118] dsm [119]

PSYCHIATRISTS are taking another look at what is commonly referred to as sex addiction.

Continues: http://www.news.com.au/national/lets-talk-about-sex/story-e6frfkvr-12258... [120]

Hepatitis

Six year wait list for Hep C treatment [121]

Bay Journal (Moreton Bay, Qld), 23 Feb

Tags: hcv [122] treatments-access [123] queensland [124] politics [113]

Peter Dowling MP, LNP Member for Redlands is calling on the State Government to reveal information about waiting times for specialist outpatient services and act to reduce a 6 year wait for patients needing Hepatitis C treatment in Queensland hospitals.

Continues: http://bayjournal.com.au/joomla/bayislandsjournal/56/2354-six-year-wait-... [125]

Successful hepatitis C treatment reduces HIV disease progression and non-liver-related mortality [126]

Aidsmap (UK), 22 Feb

Tags: hiv [2] hcv [122] coinfection [127] mortality [57] svr [128]

HIV/HCV-co-infected people who achieve a sustained virological response to interferon-based therapy not only reduce their risk of death due to liver disease, but also experience less HIV disease progression and have a lower rate of non-liver-related death

Continues: http://www.aidsmap.org/en/news/E4C48D35-C51A-46E6-A725-B1CCAB3815B4.asp [129]

Science & Medicine

Sex hormone progesterone to get head injury trial [130]

BBC News (UK), 20 Feb

Tags: hormones [131] head-injury [132] neurology [133]

Natural progesterone, the sex hormone used in the first contraceptive pills, is to be tested on patients with severe head injuries.

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8525777.stm [134]

Paracetamol may prevent diseases [135]

SMH/AAP, 22 Feb

Tags: paracetamol [136] free-radicals [137]

It's been easing headaches for generations, and now Australian scientists say the humble paracetamol tablet could also be used to prevent a range of diseases.

Continues: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/paracetamol-may-prevent-di... [138]

GLBTI News

Religion, politics and Africa's homophobia [139]

BBC News (UK), 23 Feb

Tags: glbt [140] homophobia [141] africa [82] uganda [142] kenya [143] malawi [144]

Since a Ugandan MP proposed the death penalty for some gay people, homophobia has been on the rise in other parts of Africa.

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8528409.stm [145]

Register for gay couples in NSW [146]

ABC News, 23 Feb

Tags: glbt [140] relationship-registers [147] nsw [148] hatzistergos,john [149] glrl [150] mcdonald,kellie [151]

Gay and unmarried heterosexual couples will soon be able to sign up to a relationships register in New South Wales, designed to make it easier for them to access legal entitlements.

Continues: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/23/2827995.htm [152]