About.com AIDS / HIV

The AMA Changes Views on Medical Marijuana

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:21:32 +0000

The American Medical Association (AMA) has reversed course regarding medical marijuana now urging the FDA to review marijuana's classification as a top tier controlled substance. While the AMA emphasizes that they are not endorsing state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product. They are urging the review to pave the way for more comprehensive studies of smoked marijuana of which on a few small trials now exist. The AMA's House of Delegates met in Houston and has adopted a policy that would call for more studies of the efficacy and use of smoked marijuana. The AMA is not the only physicians group calling for more research. In 2008, the American College of Physicians issued a position statement supporting research into the therapeutic role of the drug.

More Medical Marijuana Information

The AMA Changes Views on Medical Marijuana originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 22:21:32.

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Alledged Fort Hood Shooter Left Behind an Old Bottle of Combivir

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:42:14 +0000

In a shoe box filled with vitamins and prescription medications, the alledged Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Malik Hasan had a bottle of the HIV medication Combivir. The box of drugs, found in the laundry room of his Casa del Norte apartment near Fort Hood, gives authorities a peak into the life of the man believed to be responsible for the shooting tragedy at Fort Hood. The prescription was dated 2001 and was the only HIV medication in the box. Does this mean Major Hasan had HIV? There is no way to tell from just a that prescription. Combivir, a combination of the drugs Epivir (lamivudine) and Retrovir (AZT), is not prescribed as a sole drug in an HIV regimen however, Combivir was often given to healthcare workers who had been exposed to HIV through an accidental needle stick or exposure to infected bodily fluids. It's one of many possible explanations for the bottle of Combivir.

More Information About Combivir

Alledged Fort Hood Shooter Left Behind an Old Bottle of Combivir originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 20:42:14.

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HIV/AIDS Leading Cause of Death and Disease in Women

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:03:16 +0000

In a study of women's health around the world, HIV/AIDS has been found to be the leading cause of death and disease in women 15 to 44 years of age. Data shows that 1 in 5 deaths among women is due to HIV related to unsafe sex practices. Unsafe sex is the leading HIV risk factor in developing countries. In addition there is a lack of access to contraception, condoms, and safer sex education. "Women who do not know how to protect themselves from such infections, or who are unable to do so, face increased risks of death or illness," The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a 91-page report. WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan called the data evidence of a preventable tradgedy. As Chan said "We will not see a significant improvement in the health of women until they are no longer recognized as second-class citizens in many parts of the world," Chan told journalists in Geneva."

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HIV/AIDS Leading Cause of Death and Disease in Women originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 21:03:16.

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The Navy Has the Highest HIV Rate of All the Branches of the Military

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:28:16 +0000

In 2008, the United States Navy diagnosed 36 new cases of HIV after testing over 100,000 sailors. The number of new cases was double the infection rate in 1999. Navy officials are not sure why there was such a rise in the infection rate but do confirm that most of the new HIV infections were a result of unsafe sex practices not IV drug use. Unsafe sex is not unique to the Navy. Across all branches of the military, condom use runs about 50% according to the Pentagon. However, the Navy figures are more concerning. Among unmarried naval officers, condom use declined from 40% in 2002 to 30% in 2005, suggesting that the fear of HIV infection is not what it was ten years ago. And it doesn't seem like women sailors are any more fearful. Their condom use has declined at a rate similar to male sailors. Currently, the Navy estimates it has 560 of its sailors in HIV care with an annual cost between $7 million and $20 million.

More Safer Sex Information

The Navy Has the Highest HIV Rate of All the Branches of the Military originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 14:28:16.

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Researchers Do an About Face - N95 Masks Aren't any Better in Stopping H1N1

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:03:03 +0000

In a complete turn around from data released in September, researchers now say N95 masks are really offer no better protection against H1N1 flu than the typical disposable surgical mask. Back in September their story was different; stating that N95 masks offered the only true protection against the swine flu. Now after reanalysis, the story has changed; researchers believe N95 masks really offer little advantage over disposable masks. Why the change? Other studies contradicted the earlier findings of the study based in Sydney, Australia. In fact a Canadian study suggested there was no difference between the two types of mask. Looks like more confusion in the ongoing events surrounding the H1N1 flu.

Related H1N1 Information

Is there a Strain of H1N1 Flu Resistant to Tamiflu?

Researchers Do an About Face - N95 Masks Aren't any Better in Stopping H1N1 originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:03:03.

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Obama Lifts Ban on US Entry of People Living with HIV

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:08:46 +0000

While signing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Act extension, President Obama announced that he is lifting a 22 year ban on US entry of people living with HIV and AIDS. Siting the US leadership role in HIV care around the world, Obama said it was time for the US to start acting like a leader, being one of only a dozen countries that still had a travel ban in place. With this new ruling, the travel ban will be lifted shortly after the first of the year 2010.

Obama Signs Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009

The President has signed a bill reauthorizing the Ryan White Programs until 2013. By signing the reauthorization, important HIV care and support services will continue for the insured and uninsured alike. Sponsored originally in 1990 by Senator Ted Kennedy and others, Ryan White programs have since provided essential services for over 500,000 people living with HIV in the US and its territories.

What Do You Think?

Should the HIV travel ban be lifted? Should people living with HIV be allowed to enter the US? I would love to hear what you think.

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Obama Lifts Ban on US Entry of People Living with HIV originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 11:08:46.

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Do I Have Shingles?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:17:19 +0000

Each year more than one million people in the U.S. suffer an outbreak of shingles, a blistering rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. A viral infection that is characterized by tingling, itching, and fluid-filled blisters, shingles is common among people living with HIV. Needless to say, shingles symptoms are uncomfortable and can be horribly painful. What's more, shingles symptoms can mimic other conditions, from a drug rash to poison ivy. So are you having shingles symptoms? There are a few ways to tell, but first let me explain exactly what shingles is and who's at risk.

More About Opportunistic Infections

Do I Have Shingles? originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 14:17:19.

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President Obama Declares H1N1 a National Emergency

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:36:34 +0000

With over 1000 deaths attributed to H1N1 flu staring us all in the face and long lines for what little H1N1 flu vaccine that is available, President Obama has declared H1N1 flu a national emergency. A spokesman from the Obama Administration equates this declaration to local state of emergencies that are declared before a hurricane hits land. With the growing number and rate of infections, and the threat of H1N1 flu cases overwhelming the healthcare system in some communities, this declaration allows a more rapid response and movement of resources to areas that need them. While a little over 16 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine have been manufactured, experts say that number is nowhere near what was expected for this period in the pandemic. Forty-six states now report widespread H1N1 infections; analogous to the peak of a typical flu season. For the flu season to peak this early is very unusual experts caution, warning we have not yet seen the peak of the H1N1 pandemic.

What Do You Think?

With all you know about the swine flu and all you have heard about the potential for disaster, do you think the President made the right decision?

_{Photo courtesy of Getty Images}

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President Obama Declares H1N1 a National Emergency originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 17:36:34.

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FDA Panel Approves HPV Vaccine for Boys

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:53:57 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given its approval for boys age 9 to 26 to receive the HPV vaccine Gardasil. The vaccine has been in use with females 9 to 26 since 2006. HPV, also known as human papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer in women. In men HPV can lead to anal cancers and genital warts. While there are dozens of strains of HPV, Gardasil targets the 4 that most commonly cause cancers and rectal warts. Ideally, the vaccine is gotten before becoming sexually active since that is the way HPV is transmitted. Note that for now, Gardasil use in boys is only being considered in the prevention of rectal warts not cancers at this time.

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FDA Panel Approves HPV Vaccine for Boys originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 15:53:57.

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HIV Vaccine Trial Results are Not What they Appear

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:39:01 +0000

About a month ago, HIV researchers released data that suggested their HIV vaccine was safe and 31% effective in preventing HIV among the 16,000 participants of the study. The researchers admitted at the time that the data was less convincing then they would have liked. Now two separate publications, Science Magazine and The Wall Street Journal site anonymous researchers were given confidential briefings of the trial results and the results "may be weaker than the authors admitted". The anonymous researchers say the vaccine's effectiveness may be closer to 26%, not the 31% originally reported. However, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci defended the trial his organization funded, saying the analysis used in the trial was the "gold standard" but did admit that different analysis could produce weaker results.

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HIV Vaccine Trial Results are Not What they Appear originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 11:39:01.

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