THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY—When Dr. Luc Montagnier painstakingly teased out the source of the new mysterious AIDS syndrome in a Paris laboratory 25 years ago, the very concept of the disease sparked panic in many people.
But people have become complacent and infections are on the rise even in many developed countries because they trust science will develop a vaccine or cure that, in reality, may be many years away, Montagnier said last week.
“It seems that the young generation has forgotten about prevention because they think there are cures for HIV, that it’s no big deal,” the Nobel Prize winner said after giving a talk in Calgary.
“But it is, because HIV treatment is very heavy, has to be kept for the rest of their lives, and if they are young this is really a burden.”
The rush for a cure, while important, should never overshadow the push for prevention, stressed Montagnier, who shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine with Francoise Barre-Sinoussi for identifying the virus that causes AIDS.
He disputes the idea that modern medicine makes AIDS a controllable disease.
While a cocktail of drugs can keep people alive for decades, the punishing side-effects can make life miserable, painful, or even cause death, he warned.
“In the long-term they may die not of AIDS, but of a side-effect: cardiovascular, obesity and hypertension, brain disease,” he said. “It’s still a very important disease, and it’s not a chronic disease.” This attitude even is showing up in Alberta, where, in a “baffling” trend, HIV infections have risen 20 percent over the past two years, said Amanda Chapman, communications analyst for AIDS Calgary.
Montagnier’s message of prevention is one the organization has continued to push, she said.
People should control their own actions because they can’t count on scientists making a breakthrough.
“Every single route they’ve taken has failed. Nothing has worked,” she noted.
“So it’s really risky to say, ‘Well, we think science is going to be able to find the answer for us’ when, really, all you have to do is put on a condom.”
Montagnier said it will be easier to find a cure for the disease rather than a preventative vaccine, but either option is still a long way off.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ex-stripper with AIDS fights ouster
A former stripper with advanced AIDS who faces deportation to her native Thailand is asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to reduce her prison sentence by even just one day, saying it could mean the difference between life and death.
"I'm really scared," said Suwalee Iamkhong, 39, who was convicted and sentenced to two years in a penitentiary in 2007 for transmitting HIV to her husband, Percy Whiteman, whom she met while dancing at Toronto's Zanzibar Tavern.
She was ordered deported on Dec. 16 but remains entangled in a complex web of legal proceedings, where timing is everything.
As long as Iamkhong's sentence remains two years or longer, she is considered, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to have been convicted of "serious criminality" with no right to appeal the deportation order.
Had her sentence been just 24 hours shorter – two years less a day in a provincial institution – she would have a right of appeal.
In an interview with the Star, Iamkhong, who has also been stripped of permanent residency status, said she's afraid she will not obtain specialized AIDS medication in Thailand and will be ostracized in her village.
Her lawyers are expecting a decision today from the Immigration and Refugee Board on whether she can be free until a date is set for her deportation
Iamkhong's appeal from her conviction and sentence is scheduled for March 24, but she could be removed from Canada as soon as citizenship documents are obtained from the Thai government, said her lawyer, Elizabeth Long.
Meanwhile, Whiteman is suing Iamkhong and the federal government for allowing her into Canada. The lawsuit may be in jeopardy if she's kicked out.
Before the appeals court, Philip Campbell, Iamkhong's criminal lawyer, is seeking either a stay of the charges, a new trial or a sentence reduction of at least one day. The trial judge, Todd Ducharme, engaged in "circular reasoning" and misunderstood the evidence, he argues in court documents.
Campbell's client, who arrived in Canada on a work visa in 1995, was skeptical of a test previously conducted in a "ramshackle" Hong Kong lab showing she was HIV positive and concluded she did not have HIV after undergoing blood tests in Canada for her visa renewal.
At the trial, Ducharme didn't believe Iamkhong thought she was HIV negative, saying anyone faced with conflicting results would have had more tests.
But Ducharme's conclusions about how a normal person would behave was based on his belief Iamkhong was in doubt about the results, when in fact she was confident she didn't have the virus, Campbell said.
"I'm really scared," said Suwalee Iamkhong, 39, who was convicted and sentenced to two years in a penitentiary in 2007 for transmitting HIV to her husband, Percy Whiteman, whom she met while dancing at Toronto's Zanzibar Tavern.
She was ordered deported on Dec. 16 but remains entangled in a complex web of legal proceedings, where timing is everything.
As long as Iamkhong's sentence remains two years or longer, she is considered, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to have been convicted of "serious criminality" with no right to appeal the deportation order.
Had her sentence been just 24 hours shorter – two years less a day in a provincial institution – she would have a right of appeal.
In an interview with the Star, Iamkhong, who has also been stripped of permanent residency status, said she's afraid she will not obtain specialized AIDS medication in Thailand and will be ostracized in her village.
Her lawyers are expecting a decision today from the Immigration and Refugee Board on whether she can be free until a date is set for her deportation
Iamkhong's appeal from her conviction and sentence is scheduled for March 24, but she could be removed from Canada as soon as citizenship documents are obtained from the Thai government, said her lawyer, Elizabeth Long.
Meanwhile, Whiteman is suing Iamkhong and the federal government for allowing her into Canada. The lawsuit may be in jeopardy if she's kicked out.
Before the appeals court, Philip Campbell, Iamkhong's criminal lawyer, is seeking either a stay of the charges, a new trial or a sentence reduction of at least one day. The trial judge, Todd Ducharme, engaged in "circular reasoning" and misunderstood the evidence, he argues in court documents.
Campbell's client, who arrived in Canada on a work visa in 1995, was skeptical of a test previously conducted in a "ramshackle" Hong Kong lab showing she was HIV positive and concluded she did not have HIV after undergoing blood tests in Canada for her visa renewal.
At the trial, Ducharme didn't believe Iamkhong thought she was HIV negative, saying anyone faced with conflicting results would have had more tests.
But Ducharme's conclusions about how a normal person would behave was based on his belief Iamkhong was in doubt about the results, when in fact she was confident she didn't have the virus, Campbell said.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The leader of U2 received the Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize awarded in Paris, U2 leader Bono Award "Man Of Peace" for establishing a fund to combat AIDS and malaria, and work actively to write off debts of African countries, reported AFP.
Prize to musician was given by the Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delane. At the awarding ceremony attended by former South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk, Polish politician Lech Walesa, Irish politician John Hume.
"For me this is a very important award because, let me be honest, it is very close to the Nobel Peace Prize" - Bono said.
In 2007, the prize of peace "Man Of Peace" was awarded to George Clooney and Don Chidlu.
Awards took place at the annual three-day summit of Nobel laureates. One of the organizers of the summit in favor of Mikhail Gorbachev Foundation. Gorbachev himself was unable to attend the awarding ceremony for health reasons.
British activists need to stop the deportation of people with HIV
Two major charitable AIDS Service Organizations Britain - AHPN and NAT - urged the Government to review the policy of deporting people who have been diagnosed with HIV.
Representatives of organizations in conjunction with its appeal to the World Human Rights Day, celebrated on 10 December. Activists believe that you'd like to prevent the deportation of people with HIV in those countries where they would be prohibitively treatment.
Britain, as a member of Group of Eight, has signed a promise to provide universal access to HIV treatment for all who need it by 2010. At the same time, the British government deports people living with HIV without assurances that the country of destination for them will be available treatment, which is contrary to this promise. For many people living with HIV, lifting or suspension of the treatment is life-threatening.
Titise Code, executive director of AHPN, explains: "At the international level, Britain has become a leader in support of universal access to treatment for all who need it. But that leadership does not occur at home, where the practice of deporting people to countries without access to treatment. This violates the rights of HIV-positive people and questioned the intentions of the Government in respect of human rights. "
Deborah Jack, executive director of NAT, believes that "Human Rights Day, the British Government should immediately review the process of deportation, which does not guarantee people that their therapy against HIV will not be disrupted in Britain and the destination country. Deportation people living with HIV without regard to their treatment The Government has ignored the right to health and putting their lives at risk. "
Organization launched a campaign, which demands that the Government deferred the deportation of people living with HIV in the UK until the treatment becomes more affordable in their home country.
Earlier this year, the organization released a report NAT "The Myth of HIV-tourism", which belies the stereotype that people often emigrate to the UK just to get a costly treatment, such as therapy against HIV.
Representatives of organizations in conjunction with its appeal to the World Human Rights Day, celebrated on 10 December. Activists believe that you'd like to prevent the deportation of people with HIV in those countries where they would be prohibitively treatment.
Britain, as a member of Group of Eight, has signed a promise to provide universal access to HIV treatment for all who need it by 2010. At the same time, the British government deports people living with HIV without assurances that the country of destination for them will be available treatment, which is contrary to this promise. For many people living with HIV, lifting or suspension of the treatment is life-threatening.
Titise Code, executive director of AHPN, explains: "At the international level, Britain has become a leader in support of universal access to treatment for all who need it. But that leadership does not occur at home, where the practice of deporting people to countries without access to treatment. This violates the rights of HIV-positive people and questioned the intentions of the Government in respect of human rights. "
Deborah Jack, executive director of NAT, believes that "Human Rights Day, the British Government should immediately review the process of deportation, which does not guarantee people that their therapy against HIV will not be disrupted in Britain and the destination country. Deportation people living with HIV without regard to their treatment The Government has ignored the right to health and putting their lives at risk. "
Organization launched a campaign, which demands that the Government deferred the deportation of people living with HIV in the UK until the treatment becomes more affordable in their home country.
Earlier this year, the organization released a report NAT "The Myth of HIV-tourism", which belies the stereotype that people often emigrate to the UK just to get a costly treatment, such as therapy against HIV.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The vaccine Gardasil can protect young men from cancer
Pharmaceutical company Merck, announced last week, that it's vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV), and it is effective for boys and young men.
Initially, the vaccine Gardasil, was tested only among girls and women as well as it's main objective - to protect women against cervical cancer, which can cause HPV. This is the first test of vaccine for men.
HPV infections related to HIV infection. Among men, the virus can lead to anal cancer, which most often occurs in HIV-positive people.
The study was conducted by the University of California, San Francisco, as reported UCSF Today. The study involved 4,065 men and boys aged 16 to 26 years. The vaccine protects against four types of HPV - 6, 11, 16 and 18, which most often leads to cancer. Among the half of the participants who received the vaccine were 15 cases of infection, one of the varieties of the virus. In the control group receiving a placebo, was recorded 101 cases of infection.
Gardasil approved in the U.S. and Europe, they often vaccinate girls from 9 years and older in school vaccination programs. Previously it was shown that Gardasil effective in preventing HPV strains 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine also reduces the risk of genital warts - warts, other effects of HPV - 90%.
Although the vaccine is little tested on men, in some countries, its application for boys and men have already endorsed. Now pharmacy campaign going to apply for approval of the vaccine in the U.S. for men from 9 to 26 years to prevent genital warts and precancerous entities.
HPV can potentially lead to cancer penis, but the disease is relatively rare. Mass vaccination to prevent genital warts and cancer of the penis can not be justified in terms of value. But scientists note that there are other reasons for the vaccination of men. If vaccinating both men and women, it would drastically reduce the incidence of HPV in the general population.
Another reason for vaccination - anal cancer, which is particularly common among homosexual men. Most HIV-positive men have chronic HPV infection. For people with HIV both sexes, there is an increased risk of anal cancer. In addition, HPV is a risk factor for certain types of cancer of the mouth, which often occur in men.
The preparation of antibodies can stop AIDS: only monkeys
The group of scientists said that they have developed the drug can protect monkeys from immunodeficiency caused by HIV monkeys (SIO).
The virus is the closest relative of HIV, which leads to AIDS in humans. Nine rhesus macaque infected VIO, and then they were treated to new medication, and all of them, thanks to him, survived.
A new method of treatment aimed at preventing the virus "deceive" the immune system, said the site drugs.com. While there is no guarantee that a similar drug will do the same effective for humans. However, if this proves true, people with HIV will be able to renounce permanent receiving drugs suppress the virus - the drug will protect them from development stage of AIDS by the end of life.
This was announced by Research Rama Rao Amara, professor at Emory University. "Imagine you had to drink medicine every day, and now you wake up and realize that you do not need to drink now, no pills - is a huge breakthrough in the treatment" - he said.
In addition, according to Amara modern medicines against HIV are very expensive and they have potential side effects. Of course, existing drugs are very effective - they allow people with HIV stay healthy and lead a normal life. Nevertheless, there is always a risk that the virus will become resistant to taking drugs. "The virus is changing, and after a while drugs can stop working," - said Amara.
In the new study, Amara and his colleagues have introduced nine monkeys antibody that blocks the signal virus, "saying" immune cells - "do not kill me." This message appears on the surface of cells infected with the ODS, and cell-killers think - this is not the enemy, this friend.
" However, if the signal is blocked, the cell-killers immune systems are starting to do their work and destroy the virus.
Researchers have introduced four injections of antibodies monkeys for 10 days and then watched what happened. Monkeys that were infected with the ODS for 21 months, were able to almost completely suppress the virus.
The level of virus in their blood were low, monkeys survived, while most monkeys usually die from VIO during the first four months. "It's just amazing how you can dramatically change these cells killers. Now they have a really good cells", - said Amara.
However, monkeys, which now hopes for a new HIV treatment is now waiting for the sad fate - they put to sleep because scientists do not have the means to continue to support them and monitor them.
If the same treatment developed for people, the cost will be about 2000 dollars per dose, however, said Amara, the total cost of treatment will be less than that of modern therapies against HIV. Dr. Mark Connors, a specialist in the field of AIDS research, believes that the study "a true and very interesting." "I am confident that it will cause more heated debate, and within the next year we'll talk about that matter the results," - he said.
Even skeptics agree that this method of treatment can reduce the level of virus in the body, said Connors, who heads the office of the HIV-specific immunity at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases USA.
Sam Connors said he was "cautiously optimistic" about what this drug can be applied to people, possibly in combination with other methods of treatment.
In the United States to register a new condom for women
As reported by Reuters, the Administration for food and medicines USA began its review of applications for the registration of a new, less expensive female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Female condom FC2 was designed by the "Female Health Co".
It is made of synthetic rubber, which is similar to the material for male condoms, which makes production less labor and reduces its value.
Throughout the world, known male condoms, a variety of brands which cost from 50 cents to $ 2 per piece. However, many people do not even know that there are not only male but female condoms. Mostly female condoms less to spread because of high costs - from 2.80 to 4 dollars.
Now the company is trying to approve a new version of the female condom. "The whole idea is to increase their accessibility," - said Mary Ann Liper, counselor and former president of the company. However, the Administration for food and medicines demanded that the company hold a special clinical trials that show how FC2 effective in protecting against pregnancy and infections.
The company said that it was not conducted tests, because condoms are made from new material, but in other respects they are the same as the old female condoms, which are sold in the U.S. market. The company insists that additional testing is needed. The administration will now consider the matter again.
Female condoms are composed of a plastic ring on the ground, which is attached a condom. Inside a condom is a second plastic ring, which is mounted on the cervix and outer ring remains outside the body of women. The company complains that have not been able to achieve successful marketing of products, but now she is looking for a partnership with another company - producer of male condoms or pharmacy company, which funds HIV prevention programs.
The women's version of a condom offers women the opportunity to control their own protection - a woman enters a condom before sexual intercourse. In many poor countries have already approved and circulated a new version of condoms for HIV prevention. Female condoms also have advantages over men.
They rarely break, cover female genitals from the outside, they are less reduces sensitivity during sex.
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