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Reporting viral load and CD4 counts is a critical first step in calculating community viral load. In August 2011, CDC released Guidance on Community Viral Load: Measures, Definitions, and Methods for Calculation to describe the concept of community viral load and provide definitions of and methods for calculating community viral load and related measures. The Guidance proposes common language for viral load (VL) measurements, which include four measures of viral load for an HIV-infected population.

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). The theme for this observance day, “I Am My Brother/Sister’s Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS!” holds much significance as we reflect on opportunities to bring an end to the spread of HIV in the United States.

Edward Mills of the University of Ottawa, Canada and colleagues argue in this week's PLoS Medicine that the HIV/AIDS response in Africa needs a more balanced approach to gender, so that both men and women are involved in HIV treatment and prevention...

e-HAP FYI—one of a series of new communication products that expands the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention’s (DHAP) ability to reach you with timely, targeted information critical to our collective prevention efforts.

Persons with HIV infection are disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis; about one-third of HIV-infected persons are coinfected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, which can cause long-term (chronic) illness and death. Viral hepatitis progresses faster among persons with HIV infection, and persons who are infected with both viruses experience greater liver-related health problems than those who do not have HIV infection.

President, Founder and CEO of Black AIDS Institute, Phill Wilson, released a letter in light of the 12th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, stating that the Institute will be releasing their 8th annual State of AIDS in Black America Report. He comments that "It will highlight a reality that would have been unthinkable not long ago...

The great paradox of global health efforts is that regions of the world most plagued by poverty, poor infrastructure and rampant disease are often the most difficult to deliver care to...

After multiple discussions and considerations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has elected to postpone the next HPLS until 2013. HPLS is an important meeting for HIV prevention in the United States. We appreciate your leadership and support for HPLS and your ongoing commitment to ending the HIV epidemic.

According to a new analysis of hundreds of recorded office visits, doctors and nurse practitioners typically issued orders and asked closed or leading questions when talking to their HIV-positive patients about adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Attempts at problem-solving with patients who had lapsed occurred in less than a quarter of visits. Take your medicine, Doctor's orders...

ONCOLOGY: Answers to age-old questions surrounding fat cell cancer Myxoid round cell liposarcoma (MRCLS) is a cancerous tumor that typically arises in deep fat tissues of the limbs or abdomen. It was shown almost 20 years ago to be characterized by a chromosomal change that generates a fusion protein known as TLS:CHOP...

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that retinoids (retinol-ROL or vitamin A, and its active metabolites, retinoic acids-RAs) play important pathogenic roles in HIV infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-related events. We previously reported that antiretrovirals alter RAs synthesis in vitro. We hypothesised that in vivo serum retinoid concentrations are affected by both cART and HIV infection. This might explain several clinical and laboratory abnormalities reported in HIV-infected patients receiving cART. Methods: The effects of optimal cART and chronic HIV on serum retinoids were firstly assessed longitudinally in 10 HIV-infected adults (group1=G1): twice while on optimal cART (first, during long-term and second, during short term cART) and twice during 2 cART interruptions when HIV viral load (VL) was detectable. Retinoid concentrations during optimal long term cART in G1 were compared with cross-sectional results from12 patients (G2) with suboptimal cART (detectable VL) and from 28 healthy adults (G3). Serum retinoids were measured by HPLC with ultraviolet detection. Retinoid concentrations were correlated with VL, CD4+ T- cell count and percentages, CD8+38+ fluorescence, triglycerides, cholesterol and C-peptide serum levels. Results: During optimal cART, G1 participants had drastically reduced RAs (0.5 +/- 0.3 micrograms/dL; P<0.01) but the highest ROL (82 +/-3.0 micrograms/dL) concentrations. During cART interruptions in these patients, RAs slightly increased whereas ROL levels diminished significantly (P<0.05). G3 had the highest RAs levels (7.2 +/-1.1 micrograms/dL) and serum ROL comparable to values in North Americans. Serum ROL was decreased in G2 (37.7 +/- 3.2 micrograms/dL; P<0.01). No correlations were noted between RA and ROL levels or between retinoid concentrations and CD4+ T- cell count, CD8+38+ fluorescence, VL. ROL correlated with triglycerides and cholesterol in G1 (rs =0.8; P=0.01). Conclusions: Serum RAs levels are significantly diminished by cART, whereas ROL concentrations significantly decreased during uncontrolled HIV infection but augmented with optimal cART. These alterations in retinoid concentrations may affect the expression of retinoid-responsive genes involved in metabolic, hormonal and immune processes and be responsible for some adverse events observed in HIV-infected persons treated with antiretrovirals. Further studies should assess concomitant serum and intracellular retinoid levels in different clinical situations in larger, homogenous populations.

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that retinoids (retinol-ROL or vitamin A, and its active metabolites, retinoic acids-RAs) play important pathogenic roles in HIV infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-related events. We previously reported that antiretrovirals alter RAs synthesis in vitro. We hypothesised that in vivo serum retinoid concentrations are affected by both cART and HIV infection. This might explain several clinical and laboratory abnormalities reported in HIV-infected patients receiving cART. Methods: The effects of optimal cART and chronic HIV on serum retinoids were firstly assessed longitudinally in 10 HIV-infected adults (group1=G1): twice while on optimal cART (first, during long-term and second, during short term cART) and twice during 2 cART interruptions when HIV viral load (VL) was detectable. Retinoid concentrations during optimal long term cART in G1 were compared with cross-sectional results from12 patients (G2) with suboptimal cART (detectable VL) and from 28 healthy adults (G3). Serum retinoids were measured by HPLC with ultraviolet detection. Retinoid concentrations were correlated with VL, CD4+ T- cell count and percentages, CD8+38+ fluorescence, triglycerides, cholesterol and C-peptide serum levels. Results: During optimal cART, G1 participants had drastically reduced RAs (0.5 +/- 0.3 micrograms/dL; P<0.01) but the highest ROL (82 +/-3.0 micrograms/dL) concentrations. During cART interruptions in these patients, RAs slightly increased whereas ROL levels diminished significantly (P<0.05). G3 had the highest RAs levels (7.2 +/-1.1 micrograms/dL) and serum ROL comparable to values in North Americans. Serum ROL was decreased in G2 (37.7 +/- 3.2 micrograms/dL; P<0.01). No correlations were noted between RA and ROL levels or between retinoid concentrations and CD4+ T- cell count, CD8+38+ fluorescence, VL. ROL correlated with triglycerides and cholesterol in G1 (rs =0.8; P=0.01). Conclusions: Serum RAs levels are significantly diminished by cART, whereas ROL concentrations significantly decreased during uncontrolled HIV infection but augmented with optimal cART. These alterations in retinoid concentrations may affect the expression of retinoid-responsive genes involved in metabolic, hormonal and immune processes and be responsible for some adverse events observed in HIV-infected persons treated with antiretrovirals. Further studies should assess concomitant serum and intracellular retinoid levels in different clinical situations in larger, homogenous populations.

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that retinoids (retinol-ROL or vitamin A, and its active metabolites, retinoic acids-RAs) play important pathogenic roles in HIV infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-related events. We previously reported that antiretrovirals alter RAs synthesis in vitro. We hypothesised that in vivo serum retinoid concentrations are affected by both cART and HIV infection. This might explain several clinical and laboratory abnormalities reported in HIV-infected patients receiving cART. Methods: The effects of optimal cART and chronic HIV on serum retinoids were firstly assessed longitudinally in 10 HIV-infected adults (group1=G1): twice while on optimal cART (first, during long-term and second, during short term cART) and twice during 2 cART interruptions when HIV viral load (VL) was detectable. Retinoid concentrations during optimal long term cART in G1 were compared with cross-sectional results from12 patients (G2) with suboptimal cART (detectable VL) and from 28 healthy adults (G3). Serum retinoids were measured by HPLC with ultraviolet detection. Retinoid concentrations were correlated with VL, CD4+ T- cell count and percentages, CD8+38+ fluorescence, triglycerides, cholesterol and C-peptide serum levels. Results: During optimal cART, G1 participants had drastically reduced RAs (0.5 +/- 0.3 micrograms/dL; P<0.01) but the highest ROL (82 +/-3.0 micrograms/dL) concentrations. During cART interruptions in these patients, RAs slightly increased whereas ROL levels diminished significantly (P<0.05). G3 had the highest RAs levels (7.2 +/-1.1 micrograms/dL) and serum ROL comparable to values in North Americans. Serum ROL was decreased in G2 (37.7 +/- 3.2 micrograms/dL; P<0.01). No correlations were noted between RA and ROL levels or between retinoid concentrations and CD4+ T- cell count, CD8+38+ fluorescence, VL. ROL correlated with triglycerides and cholesterol in G1 (rs =0.8; P=0.01). Conclusions: Serum RAs levels are significantly diminished by cART, whereas ROL concentrations significantly decreased during uncontrolled HIV infection but augmented with optimal cART. These alterations in retinoid concentrations may affect the expression of retinoid-responsive genes involved in metabolic, hormonal and immune processes and be responsible for some adverse events observed in HIV-infected persons treated with antiretrovirals. Further studies should assess concomitant serum and intracellular retinoid levels in different clinical situations in larger, homogenous populations.

Health authorities in South Africa have recalled more than a million condoms that were handed out in the lead up to the African National Congress centenary celebrations...

Using a combination of evolutionary biology and virology, scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have traced the birth of the ability of some HIV-related viruses to defeat a newly discovered cellular-defense system in primates. The research, led by Michael Emerman, Ph.D., a member of the Hutchinson Center's Human Biology and Basic Sciences Division, and Harmit Malik, Ph.D...

HIV-positive mothers can protected their babies from becoming infected with the virus if they take antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. However, even though these drugs prevent transmitting the disease to the child, they could potentially cause birth defects like cleft lip and palate...

Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy is less effective for patients with HIV when compared to the recurrence and overall survival rates in patients who do not have HIV, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM. Treating head and neck cancer in HIV-positive patients is a challenge for oncologists...

If there was no HIV/AIDS, South Africa would have 4.4 million more people than today, the size of a major city. This significant slow-down in population growth is causing a slow down in economic growth and resulting in social ills, researchers warn.

A saliva test used to diagnose the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test, according to a new study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University...

This is a brief summary of a consultation sponsored by DHAP in collaboration with the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB), sponsored a Consultation on Monitoring and Use of Laboratory Data Reported to HIV Surveillance, March 9-10, 2011, in Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of the consultation was to explore science, program, and ethical considerations for collection and use of laboratory indicators in HIV surveillance for public health action and monitoring.