Infectious Disease Frontier Archives - Page 24 of 35

IAS 2023 | South African study indicates that HIV male patients have a greater likelihood of achieving virological remission than females.

By Lisa Cui 2024.01.14

In the recent 12th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023), a research study from South Africa found that, despite seldom adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART), 5 male children who were born with HIV still maintained undetectable viral loads. Researchers believe that due to innate immunological gender differences, boys might have a better chance of achieving sustained virological remission than girls. In early case reports of children initiating combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), it was hypothesized that some children treated at an extremely early age could achieve viral control without requiring further interventions. To verify this hypothesis and identify potential controlling mechanisms, researchers conducted a longitudinal study in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, monitoring 281 mother-child pairs with in utero HIV infections post-delivery.

IAS 2023 | Short-course tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment does not affect the virologic efficacy of INSTIs in treating HIV

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

People Living With HIV (PLWH) are at high risk of active tuberculosis (TB). Guidelines both domestically and internationally suggest that PLWH with positive latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and those with a history of close contact with active TB should receive TB preventive treatment. However, commonly used preventive treatment regimens such as rifampin and rifapentine have potential drug interactions with HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART). A multi-center retrospective study from Taiwan, China, presented at the 12th International AIDS Society HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023) showed that ART based on integrase inhibitors (INSTIs) combined with rifapentine-based short-course TB preventive treatment does not affect the patient's sustained HIV virologic suppression rate.

IAS 2023 | RESPOND Study: INSTIs Might Indeed be “A Bit Sweet”

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are associated with weight gain, but this weight gain doesn't harm survival or increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. So, does the weight gain associated with INSTIs lead to a higher risk of diabetes? At the recent 12th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023), the renowned RESPOND cohort study from Europe and America indicated that INSTIs might increase the risk of diabetes onset. Even after adjustment, the onset risk remains statistically significant.

IAS 2023 | WHO Guidelines Update: The Risk of HIV Sexual Transmission with Low Viral Load is Nearly Zero

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

The 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023) began on July 23, 2023, in Brisbane, Australia. At the conference, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced important updates to the HIV guidelines, emphasizing the importance of "HIV viral suppression for improved individual health and reduced transmission." On the eve of the conference, The Lancet published a systematic review showing that the risk of HIV transmission with low-level viral load is almost zero.

IAS 2023 | Joining Hands to Eliminate AIDS Epidemic by 2030

By Peter W. PENG 2024.01.14

On July 23, 2023, the 12th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV Science Conference, referred to as IAS 2023, officially began in Brisbane, Australia. As one of the largest open academic conferences in the global HIV and AIDS field, the event attracted participation from experts, medical professionals, community groups, and medical enterprises worldwide. The conference emphasized the importance of science as the foundation of policy and practice, highlighting the close integration of science, policy, and activism to promote significant advancements in the HIV and AIDS sector. The theme of the conference is "End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics.", reflecting IAS's ultimate vision. The goal is to rally health experts globally towards the shared ambition of eradicating AIDS by 2030.

IAS 2023 | Thymosin α1 Therapy for HIV Immunological Non-responders: A Single-arm Clinical Study

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

As HIV treatment enters the post-ART era, drug side effects and complications have become significant factors affecting the quality of life for patients. Approximately 20% of patients, after 1-2 years of treatment, have viral loads below the detectable limit, but their CD4 cell count remains below normal levels, leading to poorer clinical outcomes. From 2021 to 2022, the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center conducted a clinical study on the use of thymosin α1 for the treatment of HIV immunological non-responders. The study results were presented as an e-poster at the IAS 2023 conference (Abstract No. 4511). A total of 20 participants were enrolled in the study, undergoing treatment and follow-up for a duration of six months (Registration No. NCT04963712).

Dr. Weiming Tang: Exploring Crowdsourced Partner Notification Services for High-Risk HIV Populations

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

In China, the transmission of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) primarily occurs through sexual transmission. [1] Partner notification services help those who are HIV-positive inform their sexual partners of their infection status and guide these partners to undergo HIV testing. [2] Thus, it is crucial for identifying newly infected individuals and preventing further HIV transmission. [3] Currently, the partner notification rate among key populations in China (e.g., men who have sex with men) is low. [4] To increase the acceptance of partner notification services (HIV PS) among men who have sex with men living with HIV (MLWH), the Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University collaborated with the China Program Office of the University of North Carolina to establish the Saith Project. This initiative aims to develop a crowdsourced intervention scheme through a series of crowdsourcing competitions in partnership with community organizations.

Dr. Steven Grinspoon: Statin Drugs Can Be Used for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in HIV-Infected Individuals

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

With the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HARRT), the life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals has significantly increased in recent years. The aging problem of HIV patients has become one of the main reasons affecting the quality of life and prognosis in the post-HARRT era. From July 23-26, 2023, the 12th International AIDS Society HIV Science Conference (IAS2023) was grandly held in Brisbane, Australia. At the conference, Dr. Grinspoon delivered an excellent report on primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases for PLWH. In this article, we have conducted an in-depth interview with Dr. Grinspoon. He shared insights on the metabolic and cardiovascular impacts related to PLWH treatments and the active role of statin drugs in preventing cardiovascular diseases in PLWH, especially as HIV treatment gradually shifts to chronic disease management.

Dr. Weiping Cai: Long-Acting Antiretroviral Drugs Usher in a New Chapter in AIDS Care

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

AIDS remains one of the most significant public health issues worldwide, with around 38 million people living with HIV (PLWH). In recent years, with the continuous advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), AIDS has gradually transformed into a manageable chronic disease. However, PLWH still face challenges like poor drug adherence and increased risk of resistance. Therefore, the development of innovative long-acting antiretroviral drugs has become a breakthrough to reduce the medication burden on patients and decrease the threat of the disease. From July 23 to 26, 2023, the 12th International AIDS Society HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023) was held in Brisbane, Australia. The latest research progress on long-acting HIV drugs became a major highlight of the conference. Infectious Disease Frontier specially invited Dr. Weiping Cai from the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China, to provide insightful comments on this hot research area.

Challenges in HIV Management: Enhancing the Quality of Life for Elderly PLWH, Policy Interventions are Imperative

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

IAS current President Sharon Lewin emphasized, "The past 40 years of HIV research tells us that our HIV prevention and treatment work will be effective only when science, policy, and activism come together." At this IAS conference, the concept of primary healthcare (PHC) for HIV, as highlighted in the World Health Organization (WHO) updated HIV management guidelines, was emphasized. The new guidelines suggest that the new HIV policy framework will help decision-makers optimize ongoing work and collaborations, advancing PHC and responses for specific disease groups, including elderly PLWH.