Lactobacillus, a key regulator of the vaginal ecosystem, also significantly reduces HIV-1 load in the vaginal tract, either directly or by suppression of pathogenic bacteria, investigators reported at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections here this week. Reuters Health Information
Even when HIV-infected patients have profound immunosuppression and extensive viral resistance, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) still provides benefits, according to a report in Clinical Infectious Diseases for January 15th. Reuters Health Information
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly reduces pulmonary HIV viral load and returns alveolar cellular constituents to normal, according to a report in the January 1st issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Reuters Health Information
Hypersensitivity reactions can be reduced, and even eliminated, by clinical screening for the HLA-B*5701 allele, according to a double-blind, randomized study. Medscape Medical News
Initiating antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection once CD4 cell counts drop to 500 cells per microliter, rather than at lower thresholds recommended by current guidelines, could prolong survival by more than 2 years among patients in their 30s, results of a computer simulation suggest. Reuters Health Information
An unexpected rapid rise in the plasma HIV-1 viral load of untreated patients may indicate the presence of HIV-1 superinfection, albeit infrequently, according to a report in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes for January 1. Reuters Health Information
Two recent outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis show no signs of slowing down, according to a presentation at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infection. Many cases in these outbreaks in Eastern Europe and Africa are complicated by HIV infection, and call for "urgent" prevention measures. Reuters Health Information
Migration from Mexico to the U.S. appears to have a significant effect on increasing HIV high-risk behaviors among men, a study suggests. Reuters Health Information
Integrin alpha4-beta7, which functions as a gut mucosal homing receptor for peripheral T cells, also happens to be a receptor for HIV-1, new research indicates. Reuters Health Information
The infrared coagulator proves to be safe and effective for the treatment of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) in HIV-infected patients, investigators with the AIDS Malignancy Consortium report. Reuters Health Information
