News

by admin on Mar.03, 2009, under Bud Report, Laws, News

When Bayer introduced aspirin in 1899, cannabis was America’s number one painkiller. Until marijuana prohibition began in 1937, the US Pharmacopoeia listed cannabis as the primary medicine for over 100 diseases. Cannabis was such an effective analgesic that the American Medical Association (AMA) argued against prohibition on behalf of medical progress. Since the herb is extremely potent and essentially non-toxic, the AMA considered it a potential wonder drug.

Instead, the invention of aspirin gave birth to the modern pharmaceutical industry and Americans switched away from cannabis in the name of “progress.” But was it really progress? There can be no doubt that aspirin has a long history as the drug of choice for the self-treatment of migraines, arthritis, and other chronic pain. It is cheap and effective. But is it as safe as cannabis?

History:

Marijuana has been used for over 5,000 years.
No one has ever overdosed on marijuana.
Aspirin has been used for 108 years.
Approximately 500 people die every year by taking aspirin
The Law:

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, meaning the US government believes it is extremely dangerous, highly addictive, and of no medical value.
Aspirin is available for pennies and can be purchased by children at any drug, grocery, or convenience store. Often they are just handed out free by people with no medical education.
Marijuana side effects and dangers:

The dangers of marijuana include possible respiratory problems caused by the deposition of burnt plant material on the lungs. This danger can be eliminated with alternate forms of consumption such as eating or vaporizing the medicine.
For two to four hours, marijuana causes short-term memory loss, a slight reduction in reaction time, and a reduction in cognitive ability. (It makes you stupid for a little while.)These conditions DO NOT persist after the herb wears off.

Hunger
Paranoia
Depression
Laughter
Introspection
Creative Impulse
Euphoria
Tiredness
Forgetfulness
Aspirin side effects and dangers:

When taken with alcohol, aspirin can cause stomach bleeding.
Reye Syndrome in children: fat begins to develop around the liver and other organs of the child, eventually putting severe pressure on the brain. Death is common within a few days.
People with hemophilia can die.
People with hyperthyroidism suffer elevated T4 levels.
Stomach problems include dyspepsia, heartburn, upset stomach, stomach ulcers with gross bleeding, and internal bleeding leading to anemia.
Dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, vertigo, vision disturbances, and headaches.
Heavy sweating
Irreversible liver damage
Inflammation and gradual destruction of the kidneys
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
Hyperthermia
Dyspepsia: a gnawing or burning stomach pain accompanied by bloating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and burping.
Tachypnea: Abnormally fast breathing
Respiratory Alkalosis: a condition where the amount of carbon dioxide found in the blood drops to a level below normal range brought on by abnormally fast breathing.
Cerebral Edema: Water accumulates on the brain. Symptoms include headaches, decreased level of consciousness, loss of eyesight, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, memory loss and coma. If left untreated, it can lead to death.
Hallucinations, confusion, and seizure.
Prolonged bleeding after operations or post-trauma for up to 10 days after last aspirin.
Aspirin can interact with some other drugs, such as diabetes medication. Aspirin changes the way the body handles these drugs and can lead to a drug overdose and death.
If you think that cannabis is actually safer than aspirin, you are not alone. In October 2000, Dr. Leslie Iversen of the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology said the same thing.

In her book, ‘The Science of Marijuana,’ Dr. Iversen presents the scientific evidence that cannabis is, by-and-large, a safe drug. Dr. Iversen found cannabis had “an impressive record” when compared to tobacco, alcohol, or even aspirin.

“Tetrahydrocannabinol is a very safe drug,” she said. “Even such apparently innocuous medicines as aspirin and related steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds are not safe.”

So if safety is your concern, cannabis is clearly a much better choice than aspirin. If you eat it or vaporize it, it just might be the safest painkiller the world has ever known.

Author: Nunya

• Living With HIV
• Mixed-Status Couples
• HIV Treatment
• Health Issues & Side Effects

• You & Your Labs
• HIV Transmission
• Strange but True

LIVING WITH HIV

Once You’ve Been Diagnosed With AIDS, Will You Always Have AIDS?
In one of your recent answers, you said that an AIDS diagnosis is irreversible. Are you saying that if a healthy HIV-positive person had an opportunistic infection or a CD4 count under 200 at some point, then that person still has AIDS, even if he or she currently has an undetectable viral load and a CD4 count of 1,500? Please explain!
Anabolic Steroids and HIV/Hepatitis B Coinfection
I am a 30-year-old professional model and athlete. I was diagnosed with HIV five years ago and hepatitis B (hep B) a little less than two years ago. I am taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) and my HIV viral load is 125 copies while my hep B viral load is 10,000 copies. I would like to regain a few pounds as well as some muscle mass that I’ve lost since starting on Atripla. I did a cycle of Equipoise and Winstrol before I was diagnosed with hep B, and it worked great. Would doing another eight-week cycle of steroids — either Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) or Equipoise, along with Winstrol — affect my liver now that I have hep B?

Articles and podcasts continue to flood in from TheBody.com’s coverage of CROI 2009, the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Visit our CROI 2009 home page throughout the month as we add more highlights!

MIXED-STATUS COUPLES

Any Tips for a Mixed-Status Couple?
I was diagnosed in March of 2008. I am taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) and am proud to say that thus far I have been 100 percent compliant. My viral load recently dropped to undetectable levels, I feel great and my fiancée has been wonderful. We have a fairly active sex life consisting of protected vaginal and anal intercourse, as well as unprotected oral sex. My fiancée has been tested every three to four months since my diagnosis, and all her tests have come back negative. Is this enough? As a doctor who is also a member of a magnetic couple (one partner positive, the other negative), do you have any recommendations for us?

HIV TREATMENT

Should I Switch From Sustiva to Reyataz?
I have been on Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for the past four years with great results: My viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is 900. Lately, however, I have had chronic, persistent fatigue in the mornings and dizziness at night. I’m considering changing my Sustiva to Reyataz (atazanavir) boosted with Norvir (ritonavir), or possibly lowering my dose of Sustiva to reduce these unpleasant side effects. Would either of these make sense, or is it risky to change a regimen that is otherwise working great for me?
What Do You Think of a Regimen of Isentress + Intelence?
I’ve been positive for seven years and since starting treatment, my viral load has remained undetectable on several regimens. However, I have severe fat loss in my cheeks and body, and switching regimens has not helped me regain fat. I’m currently on Isentress (raltegravir), Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) and Viread (tenofovir) but I’m thinking of dropping Viread and Sustiva and just taking Intelence (etravirine) with the Isentress. Is a two-drug regimen unusual? Do you think this is too risky a move to make just to recover some fat?
Do I Have to Take Atripla on an Empty Stomach?
It’s recommended that Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) be taken on an empty stomach, but I like to eat at night. Will taking Atripla with food affect the way the drug works?

"Gay Pride Parade, NY," Luis Carle

Visit the February 2009 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month’s gallery, entitled "In the Flesh," is curated by Jo-ey Tang.

HEALTH ISSUES & SIDE EFFECTS

Which Side Effect Do I Want?
I started on Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) and Viramune (nevirapine) 18 months ago. One year into treatment, a bone density scan showed that I had moderate osteopenia (bone loss). Since the tenofovir in Truvada has been linked to bone problems, I planned to switch from Truvada to Ziagen (abacavir) — until I saw recent studies regarding Ziagen and cardiovascular problems. Do I have to choose between dealing with bone problems and risking a heart attack? What would you do?
What Will Help My Extreme Fatigue?
I am 34 years old and have been HIV positive for 18 years. My viral load is 759 and my CD4 count is 387. I am currently taking Isentress (raltegravir), Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) and Viread (tenofovir). The problem is that I have absolutely no energy. I sleep between 13 and 17 hours a day — energy-wise, I feel no better now than I did with a CD4 count of 6 and a viral load of 750,000. I have read that taking Provigil (modafinil) may help my fatigue. What do you think I should do?
Can Tamoxifen Affect My Lipoatrophy Treatments?
I began taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex) four months ago to reduce male breast enlargement (gynecomastia), most likely caused by taking Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) for my HIV along with Propecia (finasteride) for hair loss. The tamoxifen seems to be doing its job, but my dermatologist thinks it is causing my Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid, New-Fill) facial wasting treatments to wear off more quickly than usual. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Allergic to Sulfa Meds: Can I Still Take Prezista?
I am severely allergic to Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) and other sulfa-based meds. Is it safe for me to start taking Prezista (darunavir)?

Homophobic U.S. Preachers Denied Entry to the United Kingdom
(A recent post from the "Gay Men" board)
Hot off the presses: The UK government has just announced that Kansas-based preachers Rev. Fred Phelps and Shirley Phelps-Roper, whose slogan is "God Hates Fags," will be denied entry to the UK if they arrive tomorrow, as promised, to picket a play about the brutal 1998 homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming. Rev. Phelps and his followers picketed Matthew’s funeral with banners proclaiming such things as "Matt Shepard Rots in Hell," "AIDS Kills Fags Dead" and "God Hates Fags."
– Ruairi

The therapy aims to stop HIV re-producing

One of the first attempts to use gene therapy to treat HIV has produced promising results in clinical trials.

When the therapy was tested on 74 patients, it was shown to be safe and appeared to reduce the effect of the virus on the immune system.

In theory, one treatment should be enough to replace the need for a lifetime of antiretroviral therapy.

The study, by the University of California, Los Angeles, appears in the journal Nature Medicine.

The researchers have shown enough of an effect for us to be hopeful that a gene therapy approach to HIV treatment might eventually deliver effective treatments for the disease

Keith Alcorn
HIV information service NAM

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved the prognosis for people infected with HIV.

However, it must be taken on a daily basis, there is a risk of adverse reactions and the virus – which has an astonishing capacity to evolve rapidly – is starting to develop resistance to the drugs.

Therefore, new ways to combat the virus are badly needed.

Stem cells

The latest therapy involves giving patients blood stem cells modified to carry a molecule called OZ1, which is designed to stop HIV reproducing itself by targeting two key proteins.

The patients in the trial either received the therapy, or a dummy treatment.

After 48 weeks the researchers found there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of HIV circulating in the blood of the two groups of patients.

However, after 100 weeks the patients who received the gene therapy had higher levels of CD4+ cells – the key cells of the immune system which are specifically destroyed by HIV.

Lead researcher, Professor Ronald Mitsuyasu, said the research was the first to come through tightly controlled trials in which patients did not know whether they were getting the therapy or the placebo.

He said: "Gene therapy has the potential of needing only a one-time or infrequent administration of product and would allow the patients to control their own HIV internally without the need for continuous drug therapy.

"While this treatment is far from being perfected, it is not yet as effective or as complete as current antiretroviral therapy in controlling HIV, the study did show proof of concept that inserting and administering a single anti-HIV gene in the patients’ own blood stem cells and giving it back to them could reduce viral replication to some degree when anti-HIV medications are stopped."

However, Professor Mitsuyasu said long-term follow up was needed to ensure the therapy was safe.

‘Exciting’ area

Jo Robinson, of the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "Gene therapy is an exciting area which aims to create a one off treatment for HIV, avoiding the need for people to take daily medication.

"However, it’s a very complex area and early days in research terms so we’re a long way from something like this being on the market.

"This particular trial proved safe and has shown some promising results which definitely warrant further investigation.

"Some people find their HIV becomes resistant to current treatments over time so it’s essential that we invest in researching potential new approaches like this."

Keith Alcorn, of the HIV information service NAM, said: "The viral load responses in this study were very modest, and for any other sort of product would not justify going forward.

"However, the researchers have shown enough of an effect for us to be hopeful that a gene therapy approach to HIV treatment might eventually deliver effective treatments for the disease."

Highbrow destinations and lofty, cerebral cultural attractions are not for all of us. Sure, long days spent pouring over masterpieces might be all that some people desire to fill vacation days, but if there’s a drive-thru shaped like an oversize hot dog or a quirky museum dedicated to questionable medical devices (St. Paul, Minn.), neon art (Los Angeles) or lunch boxes (Columbus, Ga.) nearby, they will always top my to-do list.

Sadly, some of my favorite attractions, such as Lexington’s biblically themed mini-golf course (complete with elves and gnomes standing in for apostles), and Portland, Ore.’s 24-hour Church of Elvis, are no more, but there are still plenty of kitsch pit stops to be made. Read on for some of my favorite offbeat attractions around the country.

1. Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
www.dollywood.com
Dolly Parton’s Tennessee mountain home, a butterfly-adorned family fun park in the Smokies, offers a slew of Dolly-themed diversions, as well as rides including Beaver Creek, Piggy Parade, Rockin’ Roadway and Tennessee Tornado.

2. Las Vegas, Nev.
www.visitlasvegas.com
The motherlode of kitsch, Vegas offers a veritable overload of the splashiest, trashiest, campest sights in the country, from the Liberace Museum and Elvis impersonators by the score to the astounding heights of architectural kitsch that the casinos have reached.

3. The Donut Hole
Los Angeles
http://search.cityguide.aol.com/losangeles/restaurants/donut
-hole/v-138202
A donut drive-thru to beat all other drive-thrus, the Donut Hole in La Puente, about 12 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, is actually a tunnel between two chocolate-covered half donuts.

4. Shady Dell RV Park
Bisbee, Ariz.
www.theshadydell.com
This cache of vintage aluminum travel trailers in this former copper-mining town in the Mule Mountains is the perfect place to stay during Bisbee’s annual gay Pride celebrations (June; www.bisbeepride.com). Check into a 1949 Airstream, 1950 Spartanette or 1951 Royal Mansion, have yourself a little something to eat at Dot’s diner, then go back to your rig and turn up the cassettes of big-band music thoughtfully provided within.

5. Graceland
Memphis, Tenn.
www.elvis.com
The King of Kitsch’s home life is preserved in all its glittery, manically patterned shag-carpeted glory at his Memphis mansion. Join the determined flow of middle-aged Middle Americans as you trot through the ground floor and grounds.

6. Velveteria
Portland, Ore.
www.velveteria.com
Velvet paintings, from Yoda to Elizabeth Taylor to the Virgin of Guadelupe, as well as changing exhibitions, are on show in this purple shag-carpeted, pink-curtained and tiger-striped treasure trove of tack.

7. The Grand Guitar
Bristol, Tenn.
www.talentondisplay.com/grandguitar.html
Home to a guitar store, a museum and a radio station (country, of course), the world’s only three-story guitar-shaped building nestles on the border of Virginia and Tennessee, three miles outside Bristol.

8. The Museum of Bad Art
Dedham, Mass.
www.museumofbadart.org
Wonder at the marvels within at this Boston-area museum, the world’s only cultural institution "dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms."

9. Madonna Inn
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
www.madonnainn.com
Choose from uniquely quirky quarters at the Madonna Inn, an eclectic 109-room marvel with accommodations including the zebra-saturated Jungle Rock room or Caveman and Rock Bottom rooms, where boulders are big and Flintstones fantasies are plentiful.

10. Bob’s Java Jive
Tacoma, Wash.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/WATACjavajive.html
Although former residents Java and Jive, a duo of caffeine-fueled drummer chimps, are no longer in residence, Tacoma’s coffee-pot-shaped bar still manages to work up a ruckus, with live bands playing in the venerable venue most nights of the week.

• Fight Against HIV/AIDS Pandemic at “Frustrating Yet Tantalizing Turning Point,” Editorial Says (August 20, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• New York Times Reporter Analyzes Focus of XVII International AIDS Conference (August 19, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Science Examines HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment Strategies Discussed at Last Week’s Conference in Mexico City (August 15, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• About 1% of HIV-Positive People Worldwide Have Been Tested for TB, Report Says (August 12, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Sex Workers and Human Rights (August 12, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Reports, Initiatives From International AIDS Conference — Aug. 11 (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Delegates Call for End to Criminalization, Stigmatization of HIV/AIDS at Close of AIDS Conference (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Elite Controllers May Show Way to a Cure (August 11, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• Five Organizations Awarded Red Ribbons for HIV/AIDS Efforts (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• HIV/AIDS Experts at Conference Discuss Testing, Treatment Access for Children (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• India’s NACO to Increase HIV Prevention Efforts Among MSM (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Report Says Female Condoms Effective but Underused Because of Insufficient Marketing, Investment (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Studies Find Few Differences in Health Outcomes for HIV-Positive Patients Cared for by Nurses Versus Doctors (August 11, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• A Student Activist’s Take on the International AIDS Conference (August 10, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• New Data to Help Target HIV Prevention for Africans in England (August 10, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• C. Virginia Fields Uses Political Strategy to Combat HIV/AIDS Infections (August 9, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• Monkey Study Strengthens the Case for a Microbicide Combining Several Anti-HIV Drugs (August 9, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Sheryl Lee Ralph Creates Web Site to Encourage HIV Testing (August 9, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• The Pilgrimage (August 9, 2008)
  David Munar looks back on the “cacophony of languages, people, and perspectives from across the globe” that comprised the XVII International AIDS Conference.
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Highlights Editorials, Opinion Pieces Related to XVII International AIDS Conference, Other Topics (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Reports, Initiatives From International AIDS Conference — Aug. 8 (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• The Economist Examines Setbacks, Progress in Fight Against HIV/AIDS (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• About 40% of U.S. Adults Have Received HIV Tests, Study Finds (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Achieving Consensus Around the Definition of a Microbicide (August 8, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• Advocacy Group at Conference Discusses Rape of Women, Girls in Zimbabwe After Recent Election (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Antibodies Could Prevent HIV Transmission, Research Indicates (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Canadian Health Minister Clement Criticizes WHO’s Endorsement of Drug-Injection Facilities (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Caribbean: Homosexuality Must Be Legal to Beat Caribbean AIDS — Activists (August 8, 2008)
  In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Conference Addresses Universal Access to Antiretroviral Drugs, Health Systems (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Experts Call for Global Sex, HIV Education Programs to Expand Beyond Discussions of Safer Sex Practices (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Global Public Health Goals Thwarted by Human Rights Violations, Gender Inequality and Stigma (August 8, 2008)
  More than 24,000 Participants from 194 nations contribute to success of conference.
  From International AIDS Society

• HIV Prevention: What Have We Learned From Community Experiences in Concentrated Epidemics? (August 8, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• HIV/AIDS Experts at Conference Express Concern About HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Former Soviet Union States (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Housing Advocates Rock the IAC (August 8, 2008)
  IAC activists flunk the CDC; call for a national AIDS strategy.
  In Housing Works AIDS Issues Update, from Housing Works

• Mexico: Vulnerable to HIV, Resistant to Labels (August 8, 2008)
  In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Protective Effect of Circumcision Is Sustained for at Least 3.5 Years; Also Works Against HPV (August 8, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Report Released at Conference Calls for More Resources for Home-Based Care Activities in Zimbabwe (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Spanish, Latin American NGOs Sign Declaration Urging Governments to Prioritize Efforts to Fight HIV/AIDS (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Survey Finds Number of HIV-Positive People in China Have Become Resistant to at Least One HIV Drug (August 8, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Systematic Review Unable to Confirm or Deny Swiss Statement on Infection Risk With Undetectable Viral Load (August 8, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Transnational Solidarity: A New Power Paradigm (August 8, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• United States: Among Gays, Young Partiers Spread HIV — Study (August 8, 2008)
  In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• United States: Efforts to Stem AIDS Increase Get Failing Grade From Activists (August 8, 2008)
  In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Which Gay Men Should be the Target for Prevention Work? (August 8, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Reports, Initiatives From International AIDS Conference — Aug. 7 (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• A Housing Activist’s Take on AIDS 2008 (August 7, 2008)
  From The Body

• Advances in Antiretroviral Treatment and Access (August 7, 2008)
  AIDS 2008: plenary session, day 4.
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• AIDS 2008 Conference Highlights: An Interview With David Hardy, M.D. (August 7, 2008)
  From The Body

• AIDS 2008 Conference Highlights: An Interview With Paul Sax, M.D. (August 7, 2008)
  From The Body PRO

• Anal HPV, Pre-Cancerous Growths Are Common in HIV-Positive Men, Study Finds (August 7, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• Brigada Callejera, a Revolutionary Sex Worker Organization in Mexico City (August 7, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• CDC’s Alarming Underestimation of HIV/AIDS Infections Demands Swift Passage of AB 1894 (August 7, 2008)
  From AIDS Healthcare Foundation

• Criminal HIV Transmission and Exposure Laws Spreading Around the World “Like a Virus” (August 7, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Efforts to Fight HIV/AIDS Not Reaching Enough Children, Health Workers at Conference Say (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Fauci, Piot Discuss Progress in HIV/AIDS Treatments, Prevention (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• HIV Experts Underscore Natural Alliance Between the Response to AIDS and Efforts to Expand Primary Care, Strengthen Health Systems in Poor Countries (August 7, 2008)
  Plenary speakers also call for improved understanding of optimal treatment strategies and greater involvement of people living with HIV.
  From International AIDS Society

• Kaisernetwork.org Daily Video Round Up From XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 7 (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Living in the North, Learning from the South (August 7, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• Male Mexican Migrant Workers Have Increased Risk for HIV After Arrival in U.S. Because of Changes in Sex Habits, Study Finds (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Newspapers Examine Challenges in HIV Prevention Among MSM (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• No Explanation Yet for Higher MSM HIV Rates (August 7, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• People Living With HIV/AIDS in Canada Have Difficulty Obtaining Organ Transplants, Advocates Say at AIDS Conference (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• People with Disabilities Demand HIV Prevention & Treatment Worldwide (August 7, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• Renal Insufficiency Among HIV-Infected Patients in the SUN Study (August 7, 2008)
  An interview with Turner Overton, M.D.
  From The Body PRO

• Researchers Examine Use of Antiretrovirals as HIV Prevention Method (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Skills-Building Behavioral Interventions Advocated for Reducing Alcohol-Related HIV Risk in South Africa (August 7, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Teens Seek Ways to Reduce Rising HIV Rates (August 7, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• The Lady With the Dildoes Has Plenty of Sister Love (August 7, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• Tool Kit for HIV-Positive Children Released at International AIDS Conference (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Treatment as Prevention Tool: Enough Evidence to Say It Works, Says IAS President (August 7, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Two NNRTIs in Early Development Show Promising Results (August 7, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• U.N. Goal of “Universal Access” to Antiretrovirals Unlikely to Be Reached Worldwide (August 7, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Women Take to the Streets…and the Media Center (August 7, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• XVII International AIDS Conference Mexico City Notebook: Day Five (August 7, 2008)
  An interview with Science magazine correspondent Jon Cohen.
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Reports, Initiatives From International AIDS Conference — Aug. 6 (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Miami Herald Examines Research on Crack Users and HIV (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Addressing Stigma Key in Fight Against HIV/AIDS, U.N. Secretary-General Writes (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Advocates Discuss Travel Restrictions Around the World for People Living With HIV/AIDS (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Advocates, Experts Discussing Allegations of Inadequate Treatment of HIV-Positive Immigrants (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• AIDS 2008 Plenary Speakers Underscore Persistence of HIV as Central Challenge to a Cure, Urge Family-Centered Approach to Affected Children and Sex Workers’ Rights (August 6, 2008)
  From International AIDS Society

• AIDS in 2031: Where Will We Be? HIV’s Leaders Peer Into the Future (August 6, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Anti-Depressants Not Linked to Possibly Increasing the Risk of Cancer (August 6, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• Can Rectal Microbicides Be Fun? Jim Pickett Talks About Booty-Based HIV Prevention (August 6, 2008)
  From The Body

• Canada Commits $45 Million to Fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa, Health Minister Clement Says at AIDS Conference (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• CDC’s New Life-Saving Technology (August 6, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• Former African Leaders Launch Regional Campaign to Pressure Politicians on HIV/AIDS (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Governments Overlook Behavior Change in HIV Strategies, Experts Say at AIDS Conference (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• HIV Persistence in Patients on HAART: Re-Evaluating Prospects for Eradication (August 6, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• IAVI Releases Blueprint for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Research (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Intriguing IL2 Study Results May Offer Unique Solution (August 6, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• Milk Thistle May Help Improve Liver Health in People With HIV and Hepatitis C (August 6, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• MSM Remain at High Risk for HIV; Official Data Lacking, Report Finds (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Prevention: There Will Be No Magic Bullet, We Need “Combination Prevention,” Experts Say (August 6, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Reevaluating Prospects for HIV Eradication (August 6, 2008)
  Do current antiretrovirals completely stop replication? According to Robert Siliciano, M.D., Ph.D., the answer is yes.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body PRO

• Rising Food Prices Could Affect Those With HIV/AIDS, Increase Number of Women Entering Commercial Sex Trade, U.N. Officials Say (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Risk of HIV Transmission From Heterosexual Intercourse Could Be Underestimated, Study Finds (August 6, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Social Exclusion and Lack of HIV Prevention Programs for Men Who Have Sex With Men Escalating New HIV Infections in Major Cities of the Global South (August 6, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From International AIDS Society

• The AIDS Struggle Has a Friend in Rep. Barbara Lee (August 6, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• The Rough Journey to AIDS 2008: It’s Rougher for Some Than for Others (August 6, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• XVII International AIDS Conference Mexico City Notebook: Day Four (August 6, 2008)
  An interview with Science magazine correspondent Jon Cohen.
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Houston Chronicle Examines HIV/AIDS-Related Discrimination, Stigma in Mexico (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Reports, Initiatives From International AIDS Conference — Aug. 5 (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Battle Against HIV/AIDS Not Over; Improved Prevention, Treatment, Health Systems Needed, Clinton Says at AIDS Conference (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Earlier Treatment of HIV Could Help HIV-Positive People Avoid Long-Term Complications, Recommendations Say (August 5, 2008)
  A panel of the International AIDS Society-USA has issued new recommendations for when physicians should initiate HAART.
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Former Botswanan President Mogae Calls for New Vigor in Fight Against HIV/AIDS (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Genital Beading: A Risk Factor for HIV in Taiwanese Men (August 5, 2008)
  Tony Szu-Hsien Lee explains the practice of genital beading (inserting small beads underneath the skin of the penis shaft) among injection drug users in Taiwan, and how it may increase HIV risk.
  From The Body PRO

• High HIV Incidence Among Young Thai Men Who Have Sex With Men (August 5, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• HIV Vaccine Research Efforts Should Be Scaled Up, Experts Say at AIDS Conference (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• HIV-1 Subtype, Genital Ulcer Disease Influence Risk of HIV Transmission Among Heterosexual Couples (August 5, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Mexico to Allow Drug Companies to Make, Sell Generic Antiretrovirals in Country, President Calderon Announces (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Momentum Growing for Renewed Commitment to Multi-Pronged Approach to HIV Prevention (August 5, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from International AIDS Society

• Momentum Growing for Renewed Commitment to Multi-Pronged Approach to HIV Prevention (August 5, 2008)
  HIV experts urge that biological, structural and behavioral interventions be actively pursued and broadly implemented.
  From International AIDS Society

• PFLAG’s Work to End Homophobia Can Help Prevent HIV (August 5, 2008)
  From The Body

• President Mogae Launches “Champions for an HIV-free Generation” (August 5, 2008)
  African leaders call for redoubled efforts to prevent the spread of HIV.
  From World Bank

• Researcher Presents Vexing Information on Tibotec’s Rilpivirine (August 5, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• Shortage of Health Workers in Developing Countries Hindering Efforts to Fight HIV/AIDS, Experts Say at AIDS Conference (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Some Critical Questions For Us Activists (August 5, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• South African Men With Genital Ulcers Have Very High Incidence of HIV and Should be a Target of Prevention Interventions (August 5, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• Spain Announces $15.9 Million Donation to UNAIDS (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Swiss Statement That “Undetectable Equals Uninfectious” Creates More Controversy in Mexico City (August 5, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• The Sad Tale of Child Trafficking in Togo (August 5, 2008)
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body PRO

• Treatment as a Prevention Tool: Expansion of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Programmes Could Substantially Reduce New HIV Infections (August 5, 2008)
  HIV/AIDS experts gather at the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) to discuss the potential of HAART therapy as an aid to HIV prevention. Recent study shows that increasing HAART coverage from the current level of 50 percent of those medically eligible to 75 percent, could reduce new HIV infections by more than 30 percent.
  From International AIDS Society

• Tuberculosis Drug Interferes With HIV Treatment, JAMA Study Says (August 5, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Video & Podcast: Travel Restrictions on People Living with HIV: Going Against the Grain of Human Rights and Public Health (August 5, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Who Defines “Positive Prevention”? (August 5, 2008)
  From aidsmap.com

• XVII International AIDS Conference Mexico City Notebook: Day Three (August 5, 2008)
  An interview with Science magazine correspondent Jon Cohen.
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• “Prince Charming” Knocked Teen Off Her Throne (August 4, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• A Cause for Optimism: Microbicides Pipeline Shows Promise (August 4, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• AAHIVM Responds to Revised CDC HIV Incidence Estimates (August 4, 2008)
  From American Academy of HIV Medicine

• AIDS in Black America as Severe as in Africa (August 4, 2008)
  From Black AIDS Institute

• Castleman’s Disease: Incidence Is Rising Among HIV-Infected Patients (August 4, 2008)
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body PRO

• HIV Experts Measure Progress on Commitments, Underscore Challenges to Meeting 2010 Goal of Universal Access (August 4, 2008)
  From International AIDS Society

• Iran Detains Two Veteran HIV Physicians, Calling Them “National Security Threats” (August 4, 2008)
  Joseph Aman of Human Rights Watch explains the story of two prominent Iranian HIV doctors who have been detained by authorities since June.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• Is Religion a Barrier to HIV Prevention? (August 4, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• It’s Time to Demand Respect for Black People With HIV, Activist Declares (August 4, 2008)
  In an impassioned speech, Sheryl Lee Ralph implores the media to “do something different.”
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• Media Outlets Profile Attendees at HIV/AIDS Conferences in Mexico City (August 4, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• New Insights Into HIV Transmission and Pathogenesis (August 4, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Newsmaker Interviews: Gregg Gonsalves (August 4, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Pernessa Seele: How a Long-Time, African-American HIV Activist Keeps Up the Fight (August 4, 2008)
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• Sheryl Lee Ralph Throws Down the Gauntlet (August 4, 2008)
  Actress and long-time activist dares all to join her at Lincoln Memorial to stand against those who “don’t do a damn thing” about HIV among African Americans.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• Soria Announces the Addition of Lipoatrophy Repairing Treatment to the Common Services Portfolio of the National Health System (August 4, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From Ministerio de Sanidad Y Consumo

• Top African-American HIV Activist Calls for “National AIDS Strategy” in United States (August 4, 2008)
  Pernessa Seele asks: Why does the United States seem to care more about Africans than its own citizens?
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• Video & Podcast: Is Religion a Barrier to HIV Prevention? (August 4, 2008)
  Activists and researchers discuss the past, present and future roles that religion plays in the global fight against HIV.
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Video & Podcast: Panel Discussion on the State of the HIV Pandemic (August 4, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• XVII International AIDS Conference Mexico City Notebook: Day Two (August 4, 2008)
  An interview with Science magazine correspondent Jon Cohen.
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• XVII International AIDS Conference Opens Amid Calls for Universal Access to Treatment, Disappointing Vaccine, Microbicide Trials (August 4, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• U.S. Presidential Candidates Issue Statements on Domestic Epidemic in Wake of Incidence Announcement (August 3, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• CDC’s Kevin Fenton Discusses HIV Incidence in the United States (August 3, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• HIV Epidemics Now Ravaging Gay-MSM Populations in the Global South (August 3, 2008)
  National governments and global HIV response must transform their approach to avert disasters, says the Global Forum on MSM & HIV.
  From AIDS Project Los Angeles

• HIV Positive and Doing God’s Work (August 3, 2008)
  An interview with Christo Greyling, an HIV-Positive Minister
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• HIV Sexual Transmission Under HAART: Project Inform Comments on the 2008 Swiss Report (August 3, 2008)
  From Project Inform

• Newsmaker Interviews (August 3, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Opening Session (August 3, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Pedro Cahn, M.D., Ph.D., IAS Conference Co-Chair (August 3, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• The Debate Continues: Does “Undetectable” Mean “Uninfectious”? (August 3, 2008)
  Bernard Hirschel, M.D., recaps the major points of one of the most provocative sessions of AIDS 2008, which revisits the now-infamous “Swiss statement” on HIV transmission risk.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body PRO

• The HIV Community Sounds Off: Does “Undetectable” Mean “Uninfectious”? (August 3, 2008)
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body PRO

• The International AIDS Conference Comes to Latin America (August 3, 2008)
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Thembi Ngubane: Mother, Activist, South African … and Proof Positive That You Can Thrive With HIV (August 3, 2008)
  When she tested HIV positive in 2002 at the age of 16, Thembi Ngubane scarcely had an idea what HIV meant or what to do next. Now, there are few people on the planet who could tell such an inspiring story of growth, strength and redemption.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• New HIV Infection Figures From CDC Underscore Need for National AIDS Strategy for the U.S. (August 2, 2008)
  From AIDS Foundation of Chicago

• Fact Sheet: New Research From AIDS 2008 (August 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From International AIDS Society

• Head of UNAIDS Rails Against Homophobia Worldwide (August 1, 2008)
  “There’s something going on in the heads” of homophobes “that must mean that they are having a major problem with their own sexuality,” says UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot during a pre-conference summit on fighting gay stigma throughout the world. “We will get nowhere with our AIDS activities if the gay rights agenda is not progressing.”
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• In Lebanon, Fighting for a Better HIV-Positive Future (August 1, 2008)
  An interview with Margarita, an HIV-positive Lebanese woman.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• IRMA Releases New Publication — Menos Silencio, Más Ciencia (August 1, 2008)
  From IRMA

• Key Messages (August 1, 2008)
  From Living 2008: The Positive Leadership Summit

• Mexican Officials Promote Sex Education Among Young People (August 1, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Mexico: Many With HIV Hide Attendance at AIDS Conference (August 1, 2008)
  In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Newsmaker Interviews: Ceci Connolly (August 1, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Statement From the AIDS Foundation of Chicago Regarding New HIV Infection Figures From CDC Scheduled for Release Aug. 3 (August 1, 2008)
  From AIDS Foundation of Chicago

• What Are We Doing? CDC to Announce Increase of Estimate of Number of HIV-Infected in U.S. (August 1, 2008)
  From National AIDS Fund

• What Is It Like to Be HIV Positive in Egypt? (August 1, 2008)
  An interview with Ayman, an HIV-positive Egyptian.
  In The XVII International AIDS Conference, from The Body

• XVII International AIDS Conference Mexico City Notebook: Day One (August 1, 2008)
  An interview with Science magazine correspondent Jon Cohen.
  To read PDF, click here
  From kaisernetwork.org

• Catholics at XVII International AIDS Conference Tell Pope: End Ban on Condoms (July 31, 2008)
  From Catholics for Choice

• HIV/AIDS Advocates Protest Stigma, Discrimination Ahead of AIDS Conference (July 31, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Reaffirming Positive Leadership (July 31, 2008)
  From Living 2008: The Positive Leadership Summit

• ActionAid to Release Book About HIV Prevention, Youth at AIDS Conference (July 30, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• Young Honduran Activist and Editor Inspires Children Living With HIV (July 30, 2008)
  From UNICEF

• Latin American, Caribbean Health, Education Ministers to Attend Meeting Ahead of AIDS Conference in Mexico (July 29, 2008)
  In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

• U.S Presidential Candidates to Face Scrutiny During Int’l AIDS Conference As CDC Releases Figures Showing Higher HIV Rates (July 28, 2008)
  From Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project

• Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS In Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Globally (July 25, 2008)
  To read PDF, click here
  From International AIDS Society

• The Wrong Way to Fight AIDS (June 30, 2008)
  In International Herald Tribune

Five percent of HIV-positive men in a French study had detectable HIV in their semen even when no HIV was detectable in their blood, say the authors of a study published in the August 20 issue of AIDS. This result stands in contrast to a Swiss position paper earlier this year that declared it nearly impossible for an HIV positive person with no sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and an undetectable viral load in blood for at least six months to transmit HIV to an uninfected sex partner.

The authors of the Swiss paper stated at the time that they wanted to provide an accurate view of the HIV transmission risks for serodiscordant couples—where one partner has HIV and the other does not—who want to have children through natural conception. Currently, the only recommended method of conceiving a child for couples where the man is HIV positive and the woman is HIV negative is artificial insemination with semen that is proven free of HIV.

To determine the possible risk of HIV transmission for serodiscordant couples, Anne-Geneviève Marcelin, PharmD, PhD, from the Université Pierre & Marie Curie in Paris, and her colleagues examined paired blood and semen samples from 145 HIV-positive men who had used the services of an assisted reproductive agency in France. Some of the men gave multiple samples over time, so Marcelin’s group was able to compare 264 paired samples in all.

Marcelin’s team found that the amount of virus was almost always consistent between blood and semen samples. In 85 percent of the paired samples both the blood and the semen had undetectable levels of HIV. In 3 percent of the samples, both the blood and semen had HIV present. Seven of the 145 men, however, did have detectable virus in their semen, but none detectable in their blood sample. All of the men were on a stable antiretroviral (ARV) therapy regimen, and none had an STI. The men were also taking a wide variety of ARVs, including those known for getting into seminal fluid. All of them were also later able to provide a semen sample that was undetectable for HIV.

The authors point out that these men could have infected their female partners if they had attempted conception through unprotected sex when they had detectable virus in their semen, but not in blood. The researchers give several reasons for possible fluctuations in seminal HIV levels, including undetected STIs, adherence challenges and ARVs that fail to penetrate seminal fluid. Other reproductive specialists who work with serodiscordant couples have pointed out that prostate or urethra inflammation, which may not be due to any infection, could lead to increased HIV production, even in the presence of ARV drugs.

Search: Pregnancy, conception, viral load, semen, Anne-Genevieve Marcelin, Universite Pierre & Marie Curie