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[Editor's note: The recent HPTN 052 study that showed such dramatic success from antiretroviral therapy (ART) being given early to help prevent HIV transmission among HIV discordant couples followed on the footsteps of early research that suggested such a trend. One such study was conducted in Uganda between 2003 and 2007. It followed ART-naïve, HIV-infected adults in an AIDS program that provided many standard prevention interventions, including annual counseling and testing for cohabiting partners, risk reduction plans, condom distribution, and prevention support. The HIV-infected partners were started on ART. The study found that despite a reported increase in sexual activity that was 41% at 36 months, consistent condom use was high with discordant partners, and estimated HIV transmission risk was reduced 91%. AIDS Alert asked two investigators with the Ugandan study to discuss their research findings, particularly in light of the recent announcement that HPTN 052 was halted early so all study participants could be offered early ART. Rebecca Bunnell, ScD, MED, associate director for public health practice at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, and Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, director of the division of HIV/AIDS prevention at the CDC, answered a few questions about their study and its implications in this email question-and-answer (Q&A) exchange.]
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GARDASIL (Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent [Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Vaccine, Recombinant) previously received FDA approval for prevention of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer and associated precancerous lesions and for prevention of genital warts in males and females 9-26 years of age.
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In a prospective observational study, investigators of the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration evaluated data from participating HIV clinics in Europe as well as in the U.S. Veterans Administration system to determine the optimal CD4+ T cell count at which combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) should be initiated.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance, "Financial Disclosure by Clinical Investigators, Guidance for Clinical Investigators, Industry, and FDA Staff." The document is now available from FDA's web site at the following link: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM256525.pdf
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Due to heightened surveillance of acute febrile illness in China, a severe illness associated with thrombocytopenia and multi-system organ involvement was recognized beginning in 2009.
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Coccidioidal infections are always unique the travel history often provides the right clue for the practitioner but first you have to think to ask the right question.
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In this issue: Two new drugs for treatment of hepatitis C; NSAIDs and myocardial infarction risk; AIM-HIGH clinical trial stopped; and FDA actions.
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Despite the recent gains achieved by multidisciplinary control programs, malaria still kills nearly 1 million people and causes almost 300 million symptomatic illnesses globally per year, with most of this burden borne by sub-Saharan Africa.
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A large cohort study in Denmark showed that patients with a previous myocardial infarction (MI) who took any NSAID had an increased risk of death or a recurrent MI. The greater the use of an NSAID, the greater the risk.
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Regular coffee consumption is associated with a prominent decrease in fatal or metastatic prostate cancer.
