‘Test and Treat’– A double-edged sword
Posted by ERV on March 22, 2013 The News in HIV the past few weeks has been the same message: Get people tested. Get people antiretrovirals. It saves lives. YAY!!! KINDA! FOR NOW! Test and Treat in Los Angeles: A mathematical model of the effects of test-and-treat for the MSM population in LA County. This group of folks looked at a very…
HIV-1 and Antiretrovirals: The drugs work
Posted by ERV on March 20, 2013 In A Perfect World, everyone who was infected with HIV-1 would be tested and treated. 1– People with access to antiretrovirals live longer. Increases in Adult Life Expectancy in Rural South Africa: Valuing the Scale-Up of HIV Treatment I really like the introductory paragraph to this paper: For most of the 20th century, life expectancy…
May the odds be ever in your favor– A ‘functional cure’ for HIV-1
Posted by ERV on March 18, 2013 HIV– Its a terrible game of chance. Odds of HIV transmission are, superficially, rather low (its no measles). And, we can make the risk of transmission even lower various pro-active ways– antiretroviral use to keep viral loads down in HIV+ people (especially in pregnant women about to give birth), screening donated blood and organs, condom…
The Thinking Atheist and ERV!
Posted by ERV on March 15, 2013 A few weeks ago, The Thinking Atheist was in town– He gave us a sweet preview of the new video hes planning on officially unveiling at the American Atheists convention and signing copies of his new book “Deconverted“. Beforehand, he set up some camera equipment and did quick impromptu interviews with fellow OK Skeptics Caleb…
Skeptics of Oz 2013
Posted by ERV on March 12, 2013 Hey! Skeptics within driving radius of Wichita! This weekend is Skeptics of Oz 2013! Here is their Facebook page! Here is their schedule of speakers! And here is a list of speakers with brief bios written up by Skeptics of Oz speaker and fellow Oklahomian Caleb Lack!
The Pill for HIV: I told you this was a bad idea.
Posted by ERV on March 11, 2013 I really hate blogging on non-published information, but for the second time in as many weeks, we have had interesting information come out of CROI. This bit of news isnt as exciting. It pretty much confirms my annoyed Debbie Downer stance on using antiretrovirals in non-infected individuals as a means to prevent HIV infection (thats…
The sequester and HIV/AIDS
Posted by ERV on March 6, 2013 This year, we have had some educational moments in HIV/AIDS treatment. 1. A paper Ive been meaning to blog about demonstrated that the sooner an HIV+ individual starts antiretroviral therapy, the better. Ideally, <4 months after infection: Enhanced CD4+ T-Cell Recovery with Earlier HIV-1 Antiretroviral Therapy 2. A baby might have successfully cleared HIV-1 infection…
Wait…Did a kid just get cured of HIV?
Posted by ERV on March 3, 2013 Okay, I have a ‘reputation’ on the internet. You hear some wonderful news via Google alerts or on the MSN homepage about some FANTASTIC breakthrough with HIV… and then you come to ERV to come crashing back to reality. So, you might have heard about the kid who ‘got cured of HIV infection’… Debbie Downer…
GMO Newcastle Disease Virus vs Prostate Cancer
Posted by ERV on March 1, 2013 Another day, another disease treatment strategy based off a genetically modified virus! Prostate Specific Antigen Retargeted Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus for Prostate Cancer Virotherapy. This one is so clever, you guys. It is so freaking clever! Some of you might know that sometimes, when prostate cancer is present, there is an elevated level of ‘Prostate…
HIV and Islam: Cutting heads off the Hydra
Posted by ERV on February 26, 2013 A 12-year-old girl with sickle cell anemia in Saudi Arabia just got a blood transfusion that was tainted with HIV. In response, some politicians were fired/fined. Problem solved. *blink* Except the ‘problem’ of HIV in Islamic countries wasnt caused by some administrative oversight. There are no gay people in Iran. None at all. No one…