NAPWA

A new study has found that people who start antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. therapy within the first four months of seroconverting have a far better CD4 t-cell recovery rate than those who don’t.

The study, co-authored by Monash University’s Associate Professor Edwina Wright, followed 468 PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS.. for four years. read more »

While there is evidence that the inflammation and metabolic changes associated with HIV do increase our risk of developing things like cardiovascular disease and cancers, another risk factor plays a much more significant role in shortening lives. read more »

There are numerous new HIV treatments currently in development. A few are already approved overseas and likely to arrive in Australia soon. Some are exciting prospects. Others look promising. All are quite hard to pronounce. read more »

Positive Life NSW have re-launched their campaign Wrapped or Raw which explores choices made by HIV-positive gay men – specifically about using condoms in pos-pos sex – while offering options to minimise risk, maximise pleasure, manage disclosure and have great sex. read more »

Do you have HIV but are currently not on treatment?

Researchers from the National Centre in HIV Social Research and NAPWHA are interested in your story and hearing your views on HIV treatment. read more »

Considering treatment? Peter Watts offers some advice. read more »

In the last issue we looked at how HIV treatment extends life, improves your quality of life, and reduces inflammation, depression and fatigue. Now, Neil McKellar-Stewart considers some of the more specific benefits that treatment can offer ... starting here with the central nervous system (CNS) and your brain. read more »

A review of HIV surveillance, clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. 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. and social research data suggests that many people living with HIV (PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS..) in Australia delay, cease or do not take up HIV antriretroviral therapy (ART) due to structural and psychological barriers.

This paper is a Poster presented at the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference, Melbourne, 2012 read more »

STATE OF MIND: the column where therapists recommend techniques we can employ to deal with the symptoms of anxiety or depression. In this issue, Kurt Andersson-Noorgard talks about managing your alcohol and other drug use. read more »

Although ART has many benefits, it does not entirely suppress the inflammation caused by chronic HIV infection.

Prolonged exposure to such inflammation could have an effect on many organ-systems, including the brain, particularly as people with HIV age. And a decline in neurocognitive abilities can affect the speed at which information is processed in the brain. read more »