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Daily reports from ATN - information on subscribing at the end. Very good summaries! Nice complement to the terrific work of NATAP and EATG. M. ***AIDS Treatment News - daily alertsLasting CD4 Increases With IL-2Posted: 12 Sep 2007 03:08 PM CDTPOZ September 12"Results from a new study justify scientists’ continuing interest in interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy for HIV. The French study, published in the September issue of AIDS, found that CD4 cell increases from the immune-based therapy were robust and long lasting, regardless of the potency of antiviral combination with which it was paired."Patent SensePosted: 12 Sep 2007 02:50 PM CDTNature September 13, 2007Defense of drug patents, by the head of corporate research for Novartis International.Comment: An intelligent defense of a bad system.Neglected DiseasesPosted: 12 Sep 2007 02:52 PM CDTNature September 13, 2007"'We have never had such a sophisticated arsenal of technologies for treating disease, yet the gaps in health outcomes keep getting wider. This is unacceptable.' This plea to close the gap between rich and poor nations was made last month by Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), in her first major address on primary health care. Few would disagree. The tragedy is that it joins a litany of similar unheeded appeals by WHO directors-general, stretching back almost 30 years."Neglected Diseases: The path to new medicinesPosted: 12 Sep 2007 02:51 PM CDTNature September 13, 2007"Over the next decade, it should be possible to produce a new generation of safe, effective and inexpensive medicines for many of the infectious diseases that afflict the poor. To achieve this, it will first be necessary to address the lack of viable commercial markets, to scale up the global capacity for research and development (R & D), and to build a more efficient and more open mechanism for the discovery of new drugs. Governments can provide the leadership necessary to align the increasingly political issue of global health with philanthropic funding, technological capability and the new opportunities stemming from scientific progress. These are all increasing steadily and now is the time for governments to act."Neglected Diseases: Lost in translationPosted: 12 Sep 2007 02:21 PM CDTNature September 13, 2007"In disease research, academia has traditionally restricted its role to basic research. Subsequent development is then left to the pharmaceutical industry. But when it comes to neglected diseases — those that disproportionally affect poor and marginalized populations — the drugs and vaccines have low returns, so commercial firms cannot fork out for the expensive development. As a result, there is a 'translational gap' in which promising research leads sit on the shelf, and potential drugs and vaccines go undeveloped."Neglected Diseases: At What Price?Posted: 12 Sep 2007 02:58 PM CDTNature September 13, 2007"Differential pricing could make global medicines affordable in developing countries. But drugs for diseases that have no market in the developed world will require additional subsidies, says M. Danzon."Neglected Diseases: A prescription for drug deliveryPosted: 12 Sep 2007 02:57 PM CDTNature September 13"Improvements in basic infrastructure are the key to saving millions of lives each year, say n Lob-Levyt and his colleagues. ...""Unlike the traditional approach to financing health systems, in which priorities are set externally and/or tied to the purchase of specified products and services, GAVI [http://www.gavialliance.org/] provides support that is not earmarked. This allows countries to assign their own priorities to funds. In general, countries supported by this scheme focus on training, management and improving infrastructure."This type of funding has resulted in swift changes. Fifteen million additional children have been vaccinated in the seven years since GAVI's launch. In eligible countries, the overall coverage of vaccination with DTP3 increased from 63% in 1999 to 71% in 2005 (see graphic, right). The figures are particularly impressive in the African region — DTP3 coverage increased from 44% in 1999 to 65% in 2005."Darunavir/r shows superiority over lopinavir/r at 48 weeks in TITAN trialPosted: 12 Sep 2007 03:00 PM CDTHIV Treatment Bulletin -> WebBoard August/September 2007"At 48 weeks, a significantly greater proportion of patients achieved undetectable viral load: <400 copies/mL (77% vs 67%, p=0.008) and <50 copies/mL (71% vs 60%, p=0.005), in the DRV/r vs LPV/r arms respectively, with mean changes in viral load of -1.95 (±1.24) and -1.72 (±1.34) log (p=0.046)."These results met the pre-defined difference to show non-inferiority and to statistically establish superiority for darunavir/r."Sex Workers OrganizingPosted: 12 Sep 2007 11:16 AM CDTSolidarity Project (CHAMP) September 2007"In This Issue:* Sex Workers Organizing: Workers in the sex industry fight discrimination, violence, and HIVAn introduction to the issue* Liberated Style: Sex workers in Washington, DC and Brazil develop creative strategies to fight stigma, violence, police repression, and HIV* Ideology Continues to Trump HIV Prevention: The Global Impact of the U.S. Anti-Prostitution Pledge* Kumjing’s Activist Passport: Migrant sex workers in Thailand become HIV prevention leaders, despite U.S. groups’ attempts to “rescue” them* Durbar Is Life, As Life Is Durbar: Policy Document on Positive Sex Workers* TAKE ACTION — WHAT YOU CAN DO* RESOURCESLinks to activist websites, policy documents, and research about sex worker rights and HIV prevention, in both English and Spanish.* Top Ten Positive Changes for Agency Staff"Personal Chaos in HIV Patients’ Lives May Be a Barrier to Regular Medical Care, UCLA Study ShowsPosted: 12 Sep 2007 03:01 PM CDTUCLA September 10, 2007"The findings suggest a possible new alternative to help ensure that low-income patients get the care they need, said the study's lead author, Dr. Wong, an assistant professor of general internal medicine and health services research at the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA."'Many people have barriers to care, such as problems with transportation, housing, child care and health insurance. Traditionally, we look to solve these problems with case managers who can help reduce these barriers'" Wong said. 'But there's a whole potential other mechanism which might be happening — that people are just having trouble managing and organizing their lives. I think many of us take for granted the support mechanisms that we have, but many people who are living in poverty don't have that support network. They don't have that buffer zone to cope with the unexpected things. Perhaps enhancing stability and organization in people's lives can also help them get the regular care that they need.'""Health information on the Internet and people living with HIV/AIDS: Information evaluation and coping styles": Erratum.Posted: 12 Sep 2007 09:59 AM CDTHealth Psychology September 2007"HIV-positive adults commonly used the Internet to find health information (66%) and to learn about clinical trials (25%); they also talked to their physicians about information found online (24%). In a multivariate analysis, assigning higher credibility to unfounded Internet information was predicted by lower incomes, less education, and avoidant coping styles. People who cope by avoiding health information may be vulnerable to misinformation and unfounded claims that are commonly encountered on the Internet."[Rosiglitazone] More Studies Cast Doubt on Safety of Diabetes DrugPosted: 12 Sep 2007 10:09 AM CDTNew York Times September 12One study found that Avandia, made by GlaxoKline, doubled the risks of heart failure and raised the risks of heart attack by 42 percent. A second study found that Actos, a similar drug made by Takeda, actually lowered the risks of heart attacks, strokes and death but, like Avandia, also raised risks of heart failure.Also see Avandia should be pulled, say authors of studies, USA Today, September 12.Note: The new studies are meta-analyses, not new data. Abstracts are at Long-term Risk of Cardiovascular Events With RosiglitazoneandPioglitazone and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes MellitusNew York City Records Increasing Number of HIV Cases Among MSM Younger Than Age 30Posted: 12 Sep 2007 10:06 AM CDTKaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report September 12"...new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men younger than age 30 has increased by 33% since 2001, the New York Times reports. The city in 2006 recorded 499 HIV cases among MSM younger than age 30, compared with 374 in 2001 (Kershaw, New York Times, 9/12)."New HIV cases among MSM ages 13 to 19 also increased from 41 cases in 2001 to 87 in 2006, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports. More than 90% of MSM under age 20 who were newly diagnosed with HIV were black or Hispanic (AP/Long Island Newsday, 9/12). In East and Central Harlem in Manhattan, there were 56 new HIV cases among MSM in 2006, up 115% from 26 in 2001. In addition, HIV cases in Manhattan's Chelsea and Clinton neighborhoods increased by 56% from 25 in 2001 to 39 in 2006, the New York Sun reports (New York Sun, 9/12). According to the Times, new HIV cases for MSM older than age 30 decreased by 22% (New York Times, 9/12)."Cognitive impairment common in people with HIV despite antiretroviral therapyPosted: 11 Sep 2007 07:48 PM CDTAIDS September 11, 2007Original abstract, The prevalence and incidence of neurocognitive impairment in the HAART era.This is a somewhat complex study result, and it is hard to see just how serious the problem is. There seems to be some long-term damage from advanced HIV disease, but some recovery as well.A Human Rights Approach to Routine Provider-Initiated HIV TestingPosted: 11 Sep 2007 07:48 PM CDTYale Medicine Digital Thesis Library"This paper argues in favor of routine provider-initiated testing. Specifically, I argue that the benefits of routine provider-initiated HIV testing both for individual patient as well as for the public health weigh heavily in favor of shifting to routine testing, provided that certain conditions are met. Routine testing must be coupled to a promise of antiretroviral treatment for those who test positive and meet the clinical criteria for treatment. Moreover, routine testing must also be coupled to a guarantee of confidentiality as well as a rigorous standard for informed consent. If these conditions are met, it is possible to design a fair, equitable and non-coercive testing regime that protects the human rights principles of autonomy, confidentiality and voluntariness." [Full text available: from the abstract, click on the link Rajkumar_HIV_Testing_Paper_Binding_Copy.pdfCase report: Interaction between lopinavir/ritonavir and warfarinPosted: 11 Sep 2007 07:46 PM CDTCanadian Medical Association Journal August 14, 2007Warfarin may have complex interactions with ritonavir and other protease inhibitors, requiring dosage adjustment.Grandmothers march on Hill to fight spread of HIV/AIDSPosted: 11 Sep 2007 07:44 PM CDTOttawa Citizen September 8"'We have buried our own children and we will not raise our grandchildren for the grave.' ..." , the former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, launched the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign in March 2006 to mobilize support for African women. "There are now more than 160 groups in Canada who have raised awareness and more than $1 million."You are subscribed to email updates from AIDS Treatment News Daily Alerts To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.Email Delivery powered by FeedBurnerIf you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: AIDS Treatment News Daily Alerts, c/o FeedBurner, 549 W Randolph, Chicago IL USA 60661