HIV Treatment: ALERTS! articles from July - September 2001

HIV Treatment: ALERTS! archives from July - September 2001

Emergencies in HIV-infected people.
July 1, 2001... Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with several diseases that may be life threatening and need quick intervention by health care workers. These emergencies could be related to complications from the use of anti-HIV medication or...

Welcome.(issue contents)
July 1, 2001... As if the stigma of infection wasn't bad enough, people with HIV/AIDS have to worry about complications caused by the virus, opportunistic infections, or even the medications used for treating HIV. This issue of HIV Treatment ALERTS! includes a...

Blood fat levels and anti-HIV drugs: now what?
July 1, 2001... In the 20 years since AIDS was first described, there have been many advances and disappointments. One of the greatest advancements has been the discovery and use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Unfortunately, we are now...

Run, spot, run!(physical fitness for HIV patients)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HIV-infected people who exercise regularly may be able to increase their endurance and improve their body fat composition, according to a report in the journal AIDS (15, p. 693, 2001). Past studies have shown aerobic exercise to improve patient...

Benefits of drug-resistant HIV?(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... For HIV-infected individuals with drug-resistant virus, piecing together a drug regimen that can suppress the virus is a major challenge. When HIV is drug-resistant, it carries changes that allow it to reproduce in the presence of drug....

List of AIDS-related cancers may be growing.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Three forms of cancer are currently considered as AIDS-defining diseases: cervical cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma (a form of skin cancer caused by a herpes-type virus). However, an analysis of more than 300,000 patients...

New Drug Application submitted for tenofovir.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... On May 1, 2001, Gilead Sciences announced the submittal of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF). This drug is an inhibitor of the HIV enzyme...

Breastfeeding dangers.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Anti-HIV drugs have played an important role in greatly reducing the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child (also called "vertical transmission"). However, transmission is also possible through breastfeeding, so HIV-infected mothers are...

Increased frequency of oral warts.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... A review of the records from 1280 patients with HIV seen at a clinic between 1990 and 1999 indicates that the frequency of oral warts is increasing, despite the use of anti-HIV therapy. While the incidence of several oral infections decreased...

Battling fatigue.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Fatigue can have many possible causes: anemia (low red blood cell counts or their ability to carry oxygen to cells), sleeping problems, poor nutrition, hormone imbalances, depression and anxiety, active infection (like HIV or hepatitis),...

Seen and heard. (Bottom Lines).(peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). These drugs include AZT (Retrovir), d4T (Zerit), ddl (Videx), 3TC (Epivir), ddC (Hivid), and abacavir (Ziagen). The "d" drugs (ddl, d4T, and...

Use caution with herbal supplements. (Bottom Lines).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Last year's headlines about interactions between the herb St. John's Wort (used to treat depression) and certain prescription drugs (including protease inhibitors) caught many people by surprise. Even a product that comes from plants or is "all...

Don't flip over blips. (Bottom Lines).(viral load)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... In a recent paper published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (286:2, p. 171, 2001), researchers analyzed the frequency of temporary, low-level increases in viral load ("blips") and whether such episodes could predict failure...

Sexual problems and HIV drugs. (Bottom Lines).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Two recent reports suggest that HIV-positive individuals experiencing symptoms of lipodystrophy (a broad term describing changes in body fat occurring because of HIV infection, anti-HIV drugs, or both) may also experience sexual problems. At...

Definitions.(Glossary)
July 1, 2001... Acidosis: excess production of acid in the body that usually produces symptoms of sweet breath, headache, nausea and vomiting, and vision problems. Acute: beginning suddenly or severely (as in a disease); progressing rapidly. Antigen:...

Useful resources.(Brief Article)(Directory)
July 1, 2001... The HIV and Hepatitis Education Prison Project. www.hivcorrections.org "How are you feeling? Positive?" is a publication for HIV-positive women. To request a copy of this booklet, or other free information, contact Project Inform....

SMART. (Clinical Trial Information).(Strategies for the Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... They call it SMART and it launches on Monday, October 15, 2001. SMART stands for Strategies for the Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy, and it will be the largest, most ambitious clinical trial in the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The...

Compliance study launches at Thomas Street Clinic. (Clinical Trial Information).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Even though HIV disease has become a "chronic" disease, it is unlike many other chronic disease states (such as hypertension and diabetes) because compliance in HIV care has unparalleled social and public health influences. Many factors...

Bering Dental Clinic: an important community resource. (Patient/Doctor Q & A).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... For individuals who cannot afford private dental care, the Bering Dental Clinic is a wonderful option. The Bering Dental Clinic is a nine-chair treatment facility dedicated to serving the oral health care needs of the HIV/AIDS population. The...

Calendar.
July 1, 2001... AUGUST 8 Journal Club Noon at The Center for AIDS 1407 Hawthorne Rsvp 713.527.8219 for lunch 14 Treatment Mixer 7:00 p.m. at The Center for AIDS 1407 Hawthorne 17 ...

United we stand.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Some of the nation's most prominent HIV treatment activists will gather in mid-August under the Texas sun. Meeting in Houston, the activists will attempt a historic first: organizing a nationwide community advisory board (CAB) for advocates in...

New director of education and outreach.(Center for AIDS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Center for AIDS (CFA) announces the hiring of Rich Arenschieldt as Director of Education and Outreach. Rich will be responsible for The CFA's new effort to get treatment and disease information out into the HIV-infected community through...

The People With AIDS Coalition, Houston, Inc. (PWA Coalition). (Community Spotlight).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The PWA Coalition (established in 1986) is an organization of, by, and for people with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) that promotes independence and self-reliance so that PWAs may live with dignity, self-esteem, and acceptance. The coalition provides...