NAPWA

According to the Canadian Observational CohortIn epidemiologyThe branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population., a group of individuals with some characteristics in common. A cohort study is a special kind of 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. which looks at a treatment or treatment strategy in a cohort of people. collaboration, abacavir (ABC) or tenofovir (TDF) are equally effective in first-line treatment.

The authors found that in their group of treatment-naive patients starting treatment, there was no difference in time to suppression with ABC/3TC (Kivexa) versus TDF/FTC (Truvada). read more »

Compared to abacavir, tenofovir does increase bone mineral density (BMD) loss but not fracture risk, according to the results from the STEAL trial reported at the IAS Conference in Rome. read more »

A Canadian study has associated abacavir, efavirenz, lopinavir and ritonavir with an increased risk of heart attackA life-threatening emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die from lack of oxygen.. The research also showed that patients with HIV had twice the risk of heart attack compared to matched HIV
negative controls. read more »

It appears that the antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. NRTIA type of anti-HIV drug that works by inhibiting a stage of the HIV life cycle called reverse transcription. Non-nucleosides work in a similar way, but are chemically different. tenofovir (found in Viread, Truvada and Atripla) may also have a calming effect on the immune system and provide protection against infections other than HIV. Laboratory tests have found that tenofovir offered two types of protection. First, it suppressed the production of inflammatory messengers, such as Interleukin-8 (IL-8). read more »

The Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference was held in Sydney in October. Here are some of the treatment highlights: read more »

Adrian Ogier gives a round up of treatments news from the Vienna Conference. read more »

Melbourne-based biotech Avexa has announced the closure of its lead HIV program for apricitabine after failing to attract a licensing partner for the Phase IIIA large 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 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 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. 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. drug. read more »

A roundup of HIV treatments developments from the IAS Conference in Cape Town. read more »

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. and CD4 cell count results are two of the main tests used to inform treatment decisions about starting or changing treatments. Usually every time you have regular blood tests a whole range of other tests are done. Some of these are useful in monitoring for possible drug side effects and potential organ damage. read more »

Starting Highly Active AntiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. Therapy can improve some of the things that lead to heart problems but not all of them, a recent study has revealed. Arteries which are already thickened or hardened do not improve on treatment. Metabolic complications, including increases in blood levels of lipids, are common in people on treatment and can also contribute to this condition. read more »