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December 30, 2008 |
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Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Year in Treatment News |
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Now more than 25 years since the 1983 discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS, research continues at a steady clip in pursuit of sound prevention strategies, better treatments and—with a little bit of luck—a cure. While 2008 wasn’t exactly a year of earth-shattering discoveries, there were advances, setbacks and a few telltale hints of interesting things to come in 2009. Here we review the top 10 treatment research developments that made us sit up straight during the past 12 months. |
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January 9, 2009 |
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Prominent AIDS Activist Arrested in Senegal |
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Nine men in Senegal, including the head of an AIDS service organization, were sentenced to eight years in prison on January 7 for criminal conspiracy and engaging in homosexual acts, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
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New Bill May End Ban on Federal Funding for Syringe Exchange Programs |
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Congressman José E. Serrano (DN.Y.) opened the 111th Congress on January 6 with a bill that would lift the ban on federally funded syringe exchange programs, according to the Harm Reduction Coalition. He is joined by 27 co-sponsors.
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Florida HIV Clinic Owner Admits to Health Care Fraud |
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Orlando Pascual Jr., the owner and operator of Medcore Group LLC and M&P Group of South Florida, pleaded guilty January 7 to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme, South Florida Business Journal reports.
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January 8, 2009 |
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Possible HIV Link to Papua New Guinean Burnt to Death |
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A young girl in Papua New Guinea was burnt to death in what officials believe may be the latest sorcery killing in the country’s lawless jungle highlands, a common punishment for women accused of sorcery, adultery or spreading HIV/AIDS, Times Online reports. The reason for her murder remains unknown.
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Cambodia Bolsters Mother-to-Child HIV Prevention |
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A young girl in Papua New Guinea was burnt to death in what officials believe may be the latest sorcery killing in the country’s lawless jungle highlands, a common punishment for women accused of sorcery, adultery or spreading HIV/AIDS, Times Online reports. The reason for her murder remains unknown.
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California Groups Hope to Unite Local Neuropathy Community |
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With 2 million California residents living with neuropathy—a nerve condition common in HIV-positive people—various chapters of the state’s Neuropathy Association hope to raise awareness about the disorder, the Mercury News reports.
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January 9, 2009 |
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IL-2 Doesn’t Increase Lymphoma Risk |
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A French study has concluded that Proleukin (Interleukin-2, IL-2) does not appear to increase the likelihood of developing either Hodgkin’s disease (HD) or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), debunking some concerns that this possible immune-based therapy may be associated with a greater risk of these life-threatening cancers. The encouraging data were published online January 7 in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
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January 8, 2009 |
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Missed Doctors Appointments Bad for Survival |
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Missed visits to the doctor in the first year of HIV care may double the risk of death, according to a study published in the January 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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January 7, 2009 |
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Starting HIV Treatment Early Restores Immune Cells to Normal Levels |
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Starting antiretroviral (ARV) treatment before CD4 counts drop to 350 or below results in the restoration of immune cell numbers to near normal levels in people with HIV, according to a study published online January 5 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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Recent scientific findings have spawned a renewed commitment to conducting biomedical research on primates. But the questions remain: Do chimps hold the secret to stopping AIDS? Or are we barking up the wrong tree and torturing our close relatives unnecessarily to find out?
Let's Talk About Sex (Ed)
Are you between the ages of 18-24 ? We want to know where you received most of your sex education (at school, through parents, friends, all of the above or elsewhere). Was your sex ed factual? Comprehensive? Completely off-base? Please e-mail your answers to news@poz.com with “Sex Ed” in the subject line.
Calling All Overachievers!
We want to celebrate the tireless efforts of people fighting to improve access to care, reduce stigma, increase funding and generally protect the well being of HIV-positive people.
Have you or someone you know made an impact on the HIV/AIDS community as an activist, organizer, leader or innovator? If so, send an e-mail with “HIV Overachievers” in the subject line to news@poz.com to be considered for an upcoming issue of POZ.
POZ.com's Most Talked About Stories of 2008
At POZ, we cover what we consider to be the most important stories for helping you have a long and healthy life with HIV. We highlight the issues affecting people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and around the world. We hope to inspire and empower you with tales of everyday heroes living with—and advocating on behalf of people living with—HIV.
However, your comments help us best understand whether our stories are hitting home, which is why we appreciate your feedback. Your candid, articulate and passionate responses give us valuable insight into what matters most to you. And it helps us become aware of new issues and trends.
Click here to check out the 10 most talked about stories of 2008 on POZ.com, ranked by the number of your comments. And don't forget to comment on which stories you liked best and why.
From the Blogs
Dave's POZ Blog
“When it comes to politics I’m the leftiest left: tax the rich, bigger government the better, no more states, etc. But when is comes to my health I transform into Dick Cheney, waterboarding the virus and leaving it sniffling in the corner. AIDS is always lurking, hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce, but that keep me on my feet, and alive and kicking.”
Peter's POZ Blog
“Following the inevitable death of AIDS denialist Christine Maggiore, which I blogged about last week, the Los Angeles Times ran an editorial on Saturday that's well worth reading.
They compare AIDS denialism to other notable anti-science movements in history, from the Catholic Church taking hundreds of years to acknowledge that the earth is round, to our equally blinded-by-religion contemporaries that reject the undeniable evidence of Darwin’s theory (now proven) of evolution.”
Click here to read the latest from all of our bloggers.
Your Thoughts
What do you think about Tommy Morrison's in-ring comeback? What’s your take on abstinence pledges failing to prevent teen sex? We want to know! E-mail 100–300 words on either topic to news@poz.com. (Your e-mail authorizes us to post your comments on poz.com.)
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January 1, 2009 |
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Your Money or Your Life |
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POZ asks Kevin Frost, CEO of the Foundation for AIDS Research, the $100,000 question that HIV-positive inquiring minds want to know: Does it pay to cure AIDS?
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The Sinus Monologues |
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Two thirds of people with HIV experience sinusitis. Ease the symptoms with these tips.
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Seeking Sisterhood |
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As AIDS disproportionately ravages women of color, it’s time the ladies ask: Where’s the women’s movement?
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