"Researchers Knock Out HIV"

[iroast]

ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2007) ? With the latest advances in treatment, doctors have discovered that they can successfully neutralise the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The so-called ?combination therapy? prevents HIV from mutating and spreading, allowing patients to rebuild their immune system to the same levels as the rest of the population.

To date, it represents the most significant treatment for patients suffering from HIV.

Professor Jens Lundgren from the University of Copenhagen, together with other members of the research group EuroSIDA, have conducted a study, which demonstrates that the immune system of all HIV-infected patients can be restored and normalised. The only stipulation is that patients begin and continue to follow their course of treatment.

HIV attacks the body?s ability to counteract viruses

Viruses are small organisms that have no independent metabolism. Consequently, when they enter the body they attack living cells and adopt their metabolism. The influenza virus occupies cells in the nose, throat and lungs; the mumps attaches itself to the salivary glands of the ear; while the Polio virus plays on the intestinal tract, blood and salivary glands. In all these instances, our immune system attacks and eliminates the invading virus.

HIV is so deadly because the virus attaches itself to a crucial part of the immune system itself: to the so-called CD4+T lymphocytes, which are white blood corpuscles that help the immune system to fight infections. The Hi-virus forms and invades new CD4+T-lymphocytes. Slowly but surely, the number of healthy CD4+T lymphocytes in the blood fall, while HIV relentlessly weakens the body?s ability to defend itself from infection. Finally, the immune system erodes to such an extent that the infected patient is diagnosed with AIDS. The Hi-virus mutates constantly as it forms and this is why, scientists face a constant battle to find a cure or a vaccine.

Combination therapy knocks out HIV

Combination therapy prevents the virus from forming and mutating in human beings. When the virus is halted in its progress, the number of healthy CD4+T cells begins to rise and patients, who would otherwise die from HIV, can now survive. The immune system is rejuvenated and is apparently able to normalise itself, providing that the combination therapy is maintained. The moment the immune system begins to improve, the HIV-infected patient can no longer be said to be suffering from an HIV infection or disease, already declining in strength.

Findings from the study are published in the medical journal The Lancet - Vol. 370, Issue 9585, 4 August 2007, Pages 407-413

Adapted from materials provided by University Of Copenhagen.

Source

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If that's for real, it's awesome.

 

[jme5343]

Good news... Historically, this is the most promising time to be afflicted in this world. From MS to Cancer and now AIDS, technology is giving hope to all of us. (And no, I don't have HIV )

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If that's for real, it's awesome.

Is there something you aren't telling us?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Good news... Historically, this is the most promising time to be afflicted in this world. From MS to Cancer and now AIDS, technology is giving hope to all of us. (And no, I don't have HIV )

Yes, it is a great time to have AIDS.

 

[iroast]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Good news... Historically, this is the most promising time to be afflicted in this world. From MS to Cancer and now AIDS, technology is giving hope to all of us. (And no, I don't have HIV )

Yes, it is a great time to have AIDS.

 

[child of wonder]

However, can the virus still be spread from one person to another?

And, if not, will the Christian Right complain that we are preventing God's divine judgement against the sexually promiscuous?

 

[HammerCurl]

Originally posted by: iroast

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Good news... Historically, this is the most promising time to be afflicted in this world. From MS to Cancer and now AIDS, technology is giving hope to all of us. (And no, I don't have HIV )

Yes, it is a great time to have AIDS.

Well they didn't answer the one pressing question:

Are the meds safe to mix with Viagra?

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

So exactly what is combination therapy anway?? You'd think if these researchers had really cured AIDS, there'd be more said about it in the article.

JR..

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
So exactly what is combination therapy anway?? You'd think if these researchers had really cured AIDS, there'd be more said about it in the article.

JR..

Without reading the medical journal this is pulled from I assume it is some new twist on anti-retroviral drug combinations. Maybe they developed a more effective combination or treatment regime.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: child of wonder
However, can the virus still be spread from one person to another?

And, if not, will the Christian Right complain that we are preventing God's divine judgement against the sexually promiscuous?

Its not the sexually promiscuous. Its the gays. Dont you know anything? only gay people have AIDS.......




(Sarcasm of course)

 

[Gibsons]

This isn't exactly news, similar studies have been done as early as '03. And it's exactly what you should predict if you think HIV causes AIDS, which most rational people do.

GR Kaufmann, L Perrin and G Pantaleo et al., CD4 T-lymphocyte recovery in individuals with advanced HIV-1 infection receiving potent antiretroviral therapy for 4 years, Arch Intern Med 163 (2003), pp. 2187?2195

 

[paulxcook]

If this is true, it's an amazing breakthrough. Tantamount to curing cancer.

Originally posted by: child of wonder
However, can the virus still be spread from one person to another?

And, if not, will the Christian Right complain that we are preventing God's divine judgement against the sexually promiscuous?

I can sleep better at night knowing that on the off-chance they do, you stand ready to scoff disgustedly at them. :roll:

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
So exactly what is combination therapy anway?? You'd think if these researchers had really cured AIDS, there'd be more said about it in the article.

JR..

It's not really a cure, it's an effective suppression of viral replication. The individuals still have an HIV infection and if they discontinue the therapy, HIV will resume replication and killing CD4 cells.

Combination therapy is the use of 3 or more drugs simultaneously to prevent the development of resistant mutants. If you use just one drug, resistant virus shows up almost immediately in someone with high viral loads.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
So exactly what is combination therapy anway?? You'd think if these researchers had really cured AIDS, there'd be more said about it in the article.

JR..

Without reading the medical journal this is pulled from I assume it is some new twist on anti-retroviral drug combinations. Maybe they developed a more effective combination or treatment regime.

I'm not in the AIDS drug cocktail up & up but haven't they been pretty successful already? I thought that these "cocktails" were the reason that Magic Johnson hasn't had any significant health issues since he was infected over 15 years ago.

 

[intogamer]

I saw this on CBS but it was a NYU hospital. If both couples have the same disease, then that gene can be removed from the embryo. They can also change gender too:Q

Building a Better baby

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
So exactly what is combination therapy anway?? You'd think if these researchers had really cured AIDS, there'd be more said about it in the article.

JR..

Without reading the medical journal this is pulled from I assume it is some new twist on anti-retroviral drug combinations. Maybe they developed a more effective combination or treatment regime.

I'm not in the AIDS drug cocktail up & up but haven't they been pretty successful already? I thought that these "cocktails" were the reason that Magic Johnson hasn't had any significant health issues since he was infected over 15 years ago.

Yes, HIV infection (while still bad) isn't anywhere the near death sentence that it was over 15 years ago thanks to the development of a number of antivirals and their use in combination. My understanding is that sticking to the scheduled drug regime without fail is one of the most important factors.

 

[Cuda1447]

Aye, Im pretty sure this is what Magic Johnson has been using for quite some time now. If I'm not mistaken though this type of treatment is VERY expensive.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
So exactly what is combination therapy anway?? You'd think if these researchers had really cured AIDS, there'd be more said about it in the article.

JR..

Without reading the medical journal this is pulled from I assume it is some new twist on anti-retroviral drug combinations. Maybe they developed a more effective combination or treatment regime.

I'm not in the AIDS drug cocktail up & up but haven't they been pretty successful already? I thought that these "cocktails" were the reason that Magic Johnson hasn't had any significant health issues since he was infected over 15 years ago.

OK, just on the off-chance, My old college user ID for ProQuest still works and I've got the entire article from the medical journal they referenced (The Lancet) pulled up right now...

The whole thing is 7 pages long. Too much to post here, but here is the abstract:

Normalisation of CD4 counts in patients with HIV-1 infection and maximum virological suppression who are taking combination antiretroviral therapy: an observational cohort study

A Mocroft, A N Phillips, J Gatell, B Ledergerber, et al.
The Lancet. London: Aug 4-Aug 10, 2007. Vol. 370, Iss. 9585; pg. 407, 7 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with HIV. As viral replication falls, the CD4 count increases, but whether the CD4 count returns to the level seen in HIV-negative people is unknown. We aimed to assess whether the CD4 count for patients with maximum virological suppression (viral load <50 copies per mL) continues to increase with long-term cART to reach levels seen in HIV-negative populations. We compared increases in CD4 counts in 1835 antiretroviral-naive patients who started cART from EuroSIDA, a pan-European observational cohort study. Rate of increase in CD4 count (per year) occurring between pairs of consecutive viral loads below 50 copies per mL was estimated using generalised linear models, accounting for multiple measurements for individual patients. The median CD4 count at starting cART was 204 cells per µL (IQR 85-330). The greatest mean yearly increase in CD4 count of 100 cells per µL was seen in the year after starting cART. Significant, but lower, yearly increases in CD4 count, around 50 cells per µL, were seen even at 5 years after starting cART in patients whose current CD4 count was less than 500 cells per µL. The only groups without significant increases in CD4 count were those where cART had been taken for more than 5 years with a current CD4 count of more than 500 cells per µL, (current mean CD4 count 774 cells per µL; 95% CI 764-783). Patients starting cART with low CD4 counts (<200 cells per µL) had significant rises in CD4 counts even after 5 years of cART. Normalisation of CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients for all infected individuals might be achievable if viral suppression with cART can be maintained for a sufficiently long period of time.

If anyone want's the full article, PM me and I'll give you the cut-n-paste, all 7 pages.
JR..

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: child of wonder
However, can the virus still be spread from one person to another?

And, if not, will the Christian Right complain that we are preventing God's divine judgement against the sexually promiscuous?

Its not the sexually promiscuous. Its the gays. Dont you know anything? only gay people have AIDS.......




(Sarcasm of course)

yeah.. i still remember back in the late 80's when I was ~13 that a friend's mom told us that it was God's punishment to the gays... even then I couldn't believe a person was that stupid and intolerant.

on a side note: Thanks mom for being a whole hell of a lot more enlightened than your surroundings.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If that's for real, it's awesome.

Is there something you aren't telling us?

Yeah, I won't have to use a condom when I...

...nah, the "your mom" jokes are getting old.

...just like your mom.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: intogamer
I saw this on CBS but it was a NYU hospital. If both couples have the same disease, then that gene can be removed from the embryo. They can also change gender too:Q

Building a Better baby

You've misinterpreted things tremendously. It's a way to select embryos, not remove a gene or change the gender of a given embryo.

 

[Slick5150]

Uh oh, they'll have to update the song in Lease: The Musical!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=piChUkmYjVI

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: child of wonder
However, can the virus still be spread from one person to another?

And, if not, will the Christian Right complain that we are preventing God's divine judgement against the sexually promiscuous?

Are you smoking crack? What makes you think that a couple of wackos speak for over a billion Christians on the planet?

Tell me please, that you are in fact NOT THAT STUPID.

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: child of wonder
However, can the virus still be spread from one person to another?

And, if not, will the Christian Right complain that we are preventing God's divine judgement against the sexually promiscuous?

Are you smoking crack? What makes you think that a couple of wackos speak for over a billion Christians on the planet?

Tell me please, that you are in fact NOT THAT STUPID.

To wonder child's credit, he said Christian Right, not Christians in general!