New Angle on HIV / AIDS

New Angle on HIV / AIDS

Scientists are now trying to work around direct attacks on AIDS that don't seem to be working and focusing on a new method of inserting a gene into the muscle that can cause it to produce protective antibodies against HIV / AIDS. The new method has worked in ice and now has also proven successful in monkeys. The Nature Medicine Journals online edition has a story on this same possible breakthrough. There is a team of researchers at a Children's Hospital in Philadelphia that consider this a real possibility, although they agree that much testing is still applicable before a product is ready for human use.

Every angle possible should be utilized for eradicating this disease and this new research may well be the light at the end of the tunnel for millions waiting for and hoping for help. There are over 33 million people living with HIV today, with 56,000 new cases reported annually just in the United States.

Most efforts at blocking AIDS have sought to stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies that fight the disease. This approach has worked for diseases like measles and smallpox, however it hasn't done well with HIV / AIDS.

This team however took a different approach. They used what they cal a leapfrog strategy, bypassing the natural immune system response that was the target of all previous HIV and SIV vaccine candidates. The closely related Simian virus, or SIV, affects monkeys. The researchers knew there wer proteins that could neutralize the HIV virus, so they began thinking about whether they could use them to fight the disease.

In a ten year long effort the team developed immunoadhesins, antibody like proteins designed to attach to SIV and block it from infecting cells.

Read more at Johnson Research Laboratory...

Wheat Extract May Fight Alzheimer’s

Wheat Extract May Fight Alzheimer’s

Wheat, the staff of life, also may be used to fight Alzheimer’s disease.
Korean scientists believe that an extract of wheat could be used to develop treatments to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.

Water extract of wheat suppresses beta amyloid in the brain, said researcher Lee Jong-Wong of Daegu Catholic University. Beta amyloid is the main component of the amyloid plaques in the brains of victims of Alzheimer’s.

In addition to treating and preventing Alzheimer’s, Lee believes the wheat extract could be pivotal in developing treatments to improve dementia and common forgetfulness.
“Aricept and a number of other drugs produce short-time improvements in memory loss and cognition in Alzheimer’s patients, but side effects were an obvious problem,” Lee told Korea Times.

“Drugs like Aricept focus on improving memory assessment through brain cells that are alive, while wheat extract works by preventing brain cells from dying, which would make them complementary to existing treatments and drugs and provide a synergy effect.”

Animal tests showed that the wheat extract can treat damaged cells as well as prevent Alzheimer’s and speculates that as little as five grams daily could prevent the disease, Lee said.

Colon Cancer Connected to Gut Reaction

A medical doctor at the University of Pittsburgh has compiled evidence confirming that what people eat provides the link between diet and colon cancer.

The research learned it's because diet has a direct effect on the diversity of microbes in the gut.That may not be surprising to most people. After all, the typical Western diet, rich in meats and fats and low in fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, has been recognized for years as a risk factor for colon cancer.

Healthy diets with lots of complex carbohydrates provide the gut with significant numbers of micro-organisms called firmicutes. Those organisms use starches and proteins to manufacture short-chain fatty acids and vitamins such as folate and biotin to maintain a healthy colon. But the microbes in the gut also produce toxic products from food residues.

Diets heavy in meats produce sulfur, which decreases the actions of “good” bacteria and increases the production of other possible carcinogens. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in adults in Westernized communities. The research results suggest that a diet that maintains the health of the colon wall is also one that maintains general body health and reduces heart disease.

A diet rich in fiber and resistant starch encourages the growth of good bacteria and increases production of short-chain fatty acids, which lessen the risk of cancer, while a high meat and fat diet reduces the numbers of these good bacteria. Colons host more than 800 bacterial species and 7,000 different strains that could be key to treating diseases.

Walnuts May Prevent Breast Cancer

Walnuts May Prevent Breast Cancer

Walnut consumption may provide the body with essential omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols that reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 100th Annual Meeting 2009.

While the study was done with laboratory animals rather than humans, people should heed the recommendation to eat more walnuts.

Walnuts are better than cookies, french fries or potato chips when you need a snack,” researchers say. We all know a healthy diet overall prevents all manner of chronic diseases.
The researchers studied mice that were fed a diet that they estimated was the human equivalent of two ounces of walnuts per day. A separate group of mice were fed a control diet.

Standard testing showed that walnut consumption significantly decreased breast tumor incidence, the number of glands with a tumor and tumor size.

The researchers found that laboratory mice typically have 100 percent tumor incidence at five months; walnut consumption delayed those tumors by at least three weeks.

Molecular analysis showed that increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids contributed to the decline in tumor incidence, but other parts of the walnut contributed as well.

Researchers stated that with dietary interventions one can see multiple mechanisms when working with the whole food and that it is clear walnuts contribute to a healthy diet that can reduce breast cancer.

XLPharmacy

Avoid Pistachios

FDA Warns: Avoid Pistachios

In another food scare sure to rattle consumers still reeling from the national salmonella outbreak in peanuts, federal food officials now are warning people not to eat any food containing pistachios, which could carry contamination from the same bacteria. Central California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., the nation's second-largest pistachio processor, is voluntarily recalling more than 2 million pounds of its roasted nuts shipped since last fall, the Food and Drug Administration said. The advice to consumers is that we avoid eating pistachio products, and that we hold on to those products.

The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers. Two people called the FDA complaining of gastrointestinal illness that could be associated with the nuts, but the link hasn't been confirmed. Still, the plant decided to shut down late last week, officials said.

We have a staffer who spent 3 weeks in gastro pain after eating a bulk bag of pistachios over the course of 3-4 days from a California plant. Two trips to the doctor, one to the ER, and blood tests and ultrasounds, yet still no one could say "why". Does it always seem these news stories hit the shelf weeks after the incidence of eating these tainted products? Are we all going to have to give up eating anything off the shelves...existing on what we can grow ourselves?

The recalled nuts represent a small fraction of the 55 million pounds of pistachios that the company's plant processed last year and an even smaller portion of the 278 million pounds produced in the state in the 2008 season, according to the Fresno-based Administrative Committee for Pistachios. The FDA learned about the problem March 24, when Kraft Foods Inc. notified the agency that it had detected salmonella in roasted pistachios through routine product testing. Kraft and the Georgia Nut Co. recalled their Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix the next day. The FDA contacted Setton Pistachio and California health officials shortly afterward.

By Friday, grocery operator Kroger Co. recalled one of its lines of bagged pistachios because of possible salmonella contamination, saying the California plant also supplied its nuts. Those nuts were sold in 31 states. Fabia D'Arienzo, a spokeswoman for Tulare County-based Setton Pistachio, said the company was recalling only certain bulk roasted in-shell and roasted shelled pistachios that were shipped on or after Sept. 1. Because Setton Pistachio shipped tote bags of nuts weighing up to 2,000 pounds to 36 wholesalers across the country, it will take weeks to figure out how many products could be affected, the Food and Drug Branch of the California Department of Public Health states.

It will be safe to assume based on the volume that this will be an ingredient in a lot of different products, and that may possibly include things like ice cream and cake mixes. Nothing seems to be safe for us to consume now days.

Alarm Warns of Heart Attack

Modern medicine finally has developed a gadget the late comic George Carlin would have loved: a real version of his “2-minute warning.” The AngelMed Guardian lets you know you’re about to have a type of heart attack that often kills its victims before they can reach the hospital.
The device, which is about the size of a matchbox, vibrates when changes in the heart’s electrical pattern signal an imminent heart attack and also sends a message to a pager which sounds a warning. It could warn patients hours, or even days, ahead of a heart attack, allowing them time to get emergency help.
The majority of heart attacks occur when a clot cuts blood supply to the heart and disrupts normal electrical signals. About a third of those who have heart attacks due to clots die before they get to the hospital. Often the delay is because the patient delayed getting help, ignoring warning signs such as pain in the chest, shoulder, back or jaw. A British study found that 42 percent of people with pains indicating a possible heart attack took a “wait and see” attitude. Other patients delayed getting help because they weren’t able to interpret the warnings correctly.
One million heart attacks occur in the United States each year, and approximately 460,000 are fatal. The AngelMed Guardian will allow patients to get to the hospital in time for clot-busting drugs to be administered, cutting death rates as well as reducing heart damage in those who survive.
The AngelMed Guardian, like current pacemakers, is implanted in the chest underneath the left collarbone. A wire with an electrode connects to the heart’s right ventricle, and constantly checks rhythm patterns in the heart. In addition to signaling an imminent heart attack, the data collected by the device can be examined by the doctor at any time via a wireless computer program.
Although not yet approved by the FDA, the AngelMed Guardian has successfully completed a phase one clinical trial and additional trials are beginning. The device is already approved for use in some countries, including Brazil.
XLPharmacy

Type of Exercise Affects the Food You Crave

We have learned that the type of exercise you engage in affects how hungry you are afterwards as well as the types of foods you crave. Instead of helping you fight the battle of the bulge, some workouts can actually leave you ravenous and craving high-fat, high calorie, and sweet foods.
Those who want to lose weight should stick to running. Some runners don’t feel hungry after exercising because their activity suppresses the ghrelin hormone that stimulates appetite. Swimming creates a craving for fatty foods, such as cookies and chocolate while weight-lifters crave potatoes and pasta.
While some high-intensity exercise, such as running in hot conditions, suppresses the ghrelin hormone, which stimulate appetite, other high-intensity exercise, such as swimming in cold water, actually increases the hormone which, in turn, increases hunger.
The body tends to respond to exercise so it can do it more efficiently in future. The lighter you are, the better for long-distance running, so your body will crave watery foods that lower your body temperature by rehydration while not piling on the pounds. But if you are lifting weights, then you will crave carb- and protein-rich foods that will bulk up your muscles. Also, if you are regularly swimming in cold water, your body benefits if your brain guides you towards foods that will give you a layer of protective fat. Runners appetites continued even after they had recovered from their exercise.
People don’t seem to overcompensate for missed meals when their body returns to its rest state. So if you run for 90 minutes, you will burn around 1,300 calories but will not increase your food intake in the 24 hours after that exercise. In short, you burn all those calories but you don’t get hungrier than you would have had you not exercised at all. Interesting!

No Backyard? Making Room for a Vegetable Garden

No Backyard? No Problem. Reap the Rewards of a Vegetable Garden

(ARA)

During World War II, Americans were encouraged to convert their backyards into Victory Gardens to contribute to the war effort. The gardens also saved families money, something that was not abundant to most at the time. With the current economic downturn affecting many families’ budgets and in light of produce scares in 2008, starting a backyard vegetable garden is a great way to help reduce grocery bills during the summer months while keeping your family supplied with healthy foods. Even if you don't have a lot of space -- maybe only a balcony -- you can still produce plump red tomatoes, fresh lettuce, spicy peppers and more before the end of summer.

Here are some simple tips for gardening in small spaces for big results:

Mix Vegetables with Your Flowers

If you already have an established flower bed, but no more land available for a vegetable patch, work some of your vegetables in between perennials. Carrots and onions don't need a lot of root space, and their foliage above ground can bring variety to the overall look of your landscape. Just make sure your vegetables will have plenty of sunshine and are protected from hungry wildlife.

Start a Container Garden

Balconies and porches are perfect locations for container gardens. Start easy with lettuce seeds or onions set in a deep window box. Or use a larger pot for peppers or tomatoes. To kick off the growing season for your tomatoes and peppers, use a Season Starter like the one from Dalen Products, Inc. in your container. This innovative insulating system helps protect seedlings from frost conditions and extends the growing season. Once established, growing plants can benefit from many products that help contribute to larger yields and vegetation protection. Buying a Tomato Tray that is designed to channel water directly to a vining plant’s root system – critical for establishing healthy tomato plants in the early season. Also, items like Better Reds Mulch Film and Harvest Guard work to ensure that throughout the growing and harvesting season your plants are protected from weeds, drought conditions and early frosts.

Some helpful tips for container gardening are:

* Find containers that are large enough for the fully-grown plant to prevent root binding.

* Make sure containers have adequate drainage holes and are not plugged with soil or rocks.

* Avoid container materials that contain products toxic or harmful to plants.

* Don't use regular garden soil. Instead, use potting soil or a mix of garden soil with compost or perlite for enhanced drainage.

* Water plants frequently as plants in containers are more likely to dry out due to sun and wind exposure.

Grow Tall Gardens

Cucumbers, squash and melon plants take up plenty of space when they're sprawling across your ground. But getting them off the ground is an ideal solution for maximizing your harvest in a minimum amount of area. Installing a trellis next to plants allows you to direct vine plants' growth upward, while protecting fruit and vegetables from ground rot and pests. Using nylon netting, like Trellis Netting, around your container pots, a porch railing or your garden beds is a great and durable way to encourage climbing vines. With good management, you will have beautiful fruits and vegetables available this summer for cooking, canning and snacking - saving you money at the grocery store and giving your family safe and healthy food options.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Stroke: Recognizing the five signs

(ARA) - When a stroke strikes, every minute counts in saving the person's life and ensuring they will regain their health. Speedy treatment depends on the person afflicted or someone near them recognizing the five signs that a stroke is occurring and getting emergency help fast. You can remember the five signs of stroke with these five words: walk, talk, reach, see, and feel.
Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. About 5.3 million Americans suffer from strokes annually, which means you or someone you care about could be affected.
Dr. Diana Fite, an emergency physician from Houston, experienced a stroke in 2006 while driving her car. She was 53 at the time. Thanks to her quick reaction and prompt medical attention, she made a full recovery.
"Because I am an emergency physician, I knew to call 9-1-1 to get help immediately, which is why I recovered quickly," Fite says. "But I know from my experience as a doctor that too many people ignore stroke symptoms or wait for them to go away, with tragic results."
Fite is the spokesperson for "Give Me 5 for Stroke: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel," a campaign aimed at educating Americans about the five warning signs of a stroke. The campaign is made up of three organizations: the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Stroke Association. The group came up with five words to help people remember the warning symptoms of stroke more easily: walk, talk, reach, see and feel. By paying attention to how a person walks, talks, reaches, sees and feels, individuals and family members can recognize when a stroke is happening and react immediately.
"Walk" is to recognize if a person's balance is off-kilter, "talk" identifies if a person's speech is slurred or their face is droopy, "reach" points out if the person feels numb on one side, "see" pin points if the person has partially or completely lost their vision and "feel" discovers if the person has a severe headache. If any of these stroke symptoms occur suddenly, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Actress Morgan Fairchild, who recently played Sophia Blakely in “Fashion House” and is remembered as Jordan Roberts in the ‘80s TV drama “Falcon Crest,” has teamed up with the organizations in promoting "Give Me 5 for Stroke."
"I witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of stroke on my mother," says Fairchild, the primary caregiver for her mother, who suffered a series of debilitating strokes until her death in 1999. "Stroke is a killer, but for too many people, it doesn't need to be. If you know the warning signs and get medical help right away, you have an excellent chance of making a good recovery.
“Women especially need to know the warning signs, because they account for over 60 percent of the deaths from stroke,” Fairchild adds. “We are also the health information keepers for our families and must spread the word to our siblings, spouses, parents and friends about how to recognize a stroke."
For additional information about "Give Me 5 for Stroke: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel" and resources about strokes, visit http://www.giveme5forstroke.org/

- or call the toll free number (888) 4STROKE.
Courtesy of ARAcontent

Coffee Cuts Risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia by 65%

A Finnish study found that drinking coffee during midlife can slash your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that those who drank coffee during midlife had a lower risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later in life than those who drank no coffee at all. Those who drank three to five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk by a whopping 65 percent.

The lead researcher Miia Kivipelto stated, “We aimed to study the association between coffee and tea consumption at midlife and dementia/AD risk in late-life, because the long-term impact of caffeine on the central nervous system was still unknown, and as the pathologic processes leading to Alzheimer’s disease may start decades before the clinical manifestation of the disease."

Coffee drinking was categorized into three groups: low (0 to 2 cups daily), moderate (3 to 5 cups) and high (more than 5 cups). Tea-drinking was categorized into two groups: those not drinking tea and those who drank at least one cup daily. While all coffee drinkers had a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than non-drinkers, those who drank moderate amounts of coffee lowered their risk by a surprising 65 percent. Drinking tea had no impact on the risk of developing dementia.

The study results have important implications in the delay or prevention of demenita/AD as there is a large amount of coffee consumption globally. The Finnish study still needs to be confirmed by other studies, but it opens the possibility that dietary interventions could modify the risk of dementia/AD. The Finnish researcher also stated,“the identification of mechanisms of how coffee exerts its protection against dementia/AD might help in the development of new therapies for these diseases.”

XLPharmacy discusses Endometriosis

What is it?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrial stroma and glands, which should only be located inside the uterus) is found elsewhere in the body. Endometriosis lesions can be found anywhere in the pelvic cavity: on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and on the pelvic sidewall. Other common sites include the uterosacral ligaments, the cul-de-sac, the Pouch of Douglas, and in the rectal-vaginal septum. In addition, it can be found in caecarian-section scars, laparoscopy or laparotomy scars, and on the bladder, bowel, intestines, colon, appendix, and rectum. But these locations are not so common. In even more rare cases, endometriosis has been found inside the vagina, inside the bladder, on the skin, even in the lung, spine, and brain.

What are the Symptoms?

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. The pain often correlates to the menstrual cycle, but a woman with endometriosis may also experience pain that doesn’t correlate to her cycle. For many women, the pain of endometriosis is so severe and debilitating that it impacts their lives in significant ways.

What does it do?

Endometriosis can also cause scar tissue and adhesions to develop that can distort a woman’s internal anatomy. In advanced stages, internal organs may fuse together, causing a condition known as a "frozen pelvis." It is estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis may not be able to have children (if you suspect you suffer from infertility, please see our section on endometriosis and infertility)

What can I do about it?

If you or someone you care about has endometriosis, it is important to research the disease as much as possible. Many myths and misconceptions about endometriosis still persist, even in medical literature. For many women, management of this disease may be a long-term process. Therefore, it is important to educate yourself, take the time to find a good doctor, and consider joining a local support group.

More on AIDS for AIDS Awareness month

How does HIV evolve?

HIV evolution in the body does not occur at a constant rate. Rather, the virus's rate of change suddenly slows when the level of crucial immune cells known as CD4+ T-cells falls in a patient.There are several possible reasons for why HIV slows its evolution later in the disease process. One is that there are simply fewer immune cells left for the virus to infect. Another possibility is that since the immune system is no longer as effective targeting the virus, the virus no longer feels the "selective pressure" of the immune system, and the virus slows its evolution in response.

Huh?

Picture a criminal on the lam. When the police are out in force, the criminal must change his disguise more and more to survive, but when fewer police are present, the criminal can change his disguise less often. In the case of HIV, the virus actually eliminates the "police officers" – CD4+ T-cells patrolling the body. As time goes on and fewer immune cells are present to flag HIV, the virus no longer has the need to evolve as rapidly as it did when the cells were out in force.

But I Have a Strong Immune System

In a person with a strong immune system, the virus is constantly on the run – it has to change to survive, but even in a person who has lived with HIV for a decade or more, in most cases, at some point, the immune system weakens. The virus notices and evolves accordingly. It's a very dynamic process.

What's the Research?

While the research shows that the virus is creating fewer new versions of itself late in the disease process, the researchers say the clinical implications of the research are unclear. Since the virus's ability to evolve is at the heart of the drug-resistance capability that makes HIV so deadly, the work could help scientists who are trying to figure out new ways to stop the virus.It's possible that this work would have some implications for their understanding of drug resistance late in the disease process.

When HIV is evolving more slowly in a patient, that patient is less likely to develop resistance to treatment so quickly.

How Does HIV Progress?

Scientists have debated the pace of change of HIV in the body. Some studies have suggested that the virus evolves slowly in people who live many years with HIV before developing AIDS, while other studies showed that the virus evolves quickly in those patients.To address the issue, a team of researchers developed a mathematical and computational model of how HIV evolves in the body.

They tested the model by analyzing the blood from 15 HIV patients whose blood was sampled every few months for anywhere from three to 12 years. The data came from the HIV Sequence Database at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which holds more than 250,000 genetic sequences of HIV from patients around the globe.

What Did the Test Show?

The team found that the when the immune system is relatively healthy, the HIV virus evolves at a constant and rapid rate, but when a patient's CD4+ cells decrease, HIV's rate of evolution slows. The shift occurs long before a patient is considered to have AIDS, which is indicated when the CD4+ level drops to 200 cells per microliter of blood. The finding was true of 13 of 15 of the patients.The team focused its attention on 600 nucleotides of the RNA that make up HIV's env gene, which codes for the protein's outer envelope that the virus uses to bind onto the cells of the host. In the team's study, on average, slightly less than one mutation per month occurred per patient in this swath of the HIV genome during the time when CD4+ levels were relatively high and the rate of change was constant.

And That Means?

That's a very rapid rate of change for one small portion of a virus, especially one so prolific: Every day, the HIV virus population in an infected person – up to 10 billion viral particles – copies itself and recreates 95 percent of its particles. With all that reproducing, and without a high regard for accuracy, one change leads to another, and the results are astounding: Most patients have literally many thousands of different types of HIV virus in their bodies."

Every single person on Earth who is infected with HIV has his or her own unique HIV population," said Leitner (who was involved in the research).As the virus mutates, giving birth to viral offspring called quasispecies, it presents an ever-changing face to the immune system, which is continually adapting itself to keep up with the onslaught. The immune system does a remarkable job fending off the assault, killing most of the viral particles every day. Even so, some of the virus is able to elude the body's defenses and ultimately devastates the immune system in most patients.

HIV / AIDS FAQ - World AIDS Day 2008

How does a person get HIV/AIDS?

Many of the myths about HIV/AIDS include how you get it.

In general, the spread of HIV/AIDS involves an exchange of bodily fluids between an infected and an uninfected person. How does this happen? Accidental needle sticks or splashes of blood can result in HIV/AIDS infection. This is why you see doctors, dentists, nurses, emergency medical personnel, hospital staff and athletic trainers taking precautions against spreading the virus. Precautions include wearing surgical masks and gloves.But, for the most part, the spread of HIV/AIDS results from the kind of high-risk behaviors described in the section:

What are the risk factors for HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS may be transmitted by:Having unprotected sex (sex without a latex condom) with a person who is HIV-positive. The virus can be in an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal fluids and can enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum or mouth. Sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs, or sharing drug equipment used in preparing those drugs with someone who has HIV. Receiving HIV-infected blood or blood products before 1985. Since 1985, all blood used for transfusions in the United States has been tested for HIV and is generally considered safe. Carrying, giving birth to or breast-feeding a child while HIV positive.

You cannot get HIV:

From dry kisses (closed-mouthed kisses) or hugs
From donating blood
By working with or being around someone who has HIV
From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet seats, or having a meal together
From insect bites or stings

How do I know I have HIV/AIDS? What are the symptoms?

The only way to know for sure whether you are infected is to be tested. This involves a blood test.You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether you are infected with HIV. About half the people who are infected have flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of having been exposed to HIV. However, just as many people infected by HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years.Over time, as the immune system weakens, maybe over months or years, symptoms begin to develop.

The following may be warning signs of HIV infection:

rapid weight loss
dry cough
fevers or night sweats
extreme tiredness
swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
pelvic inflammatory disease in women that does not respond to treatment
pneumonia
persistent skin rashes or flaky skin
short-term memory loss

Do not assume you are infected if you have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses. The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection.

HIV tests do not actually test for the virus, but test for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies are made by the body's white blood cells to fight infection. If these antibodies are present in your blood, you are HIV-positive and need treatment.If you think you have been exposed to HIV, it is important to be tested as soon as possible, whether you have symptoms or not. The sooner you can get treatment, the less your immune system will be damaged. Unfortunately, the antibodies to the virus don't appear right away. It can take eight to twelve weeks for the antibodies to show up in a test.

AIDS look for opportunistic infections

What are some of the “opportunistic infections” and side effects linked to HIV/AIDS?

AIDS-Related Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
Anemia
Bacterial Pneumonia
Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
Vaginal Candidiasis
Cervical Cancer
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Herpes virus
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)
Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)
Menstrual Problems
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
Toxoplasmosis (Toxo)
Tuberculosis (TB)

HIV/AIDS: Questions to Ask the Doctor (Health A to Z)

This site lists questions to ask doctors if you have just tested positive or been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Treatment & care: Questions to ask your doctor (British HIV Association and International HIV/AIDS Alliance)

Treatments: Questions to ask your doctor covers basic information about AIDS medications. What to expect, what the drug looks like, how to take it, side effects, and relief of side effects are discussed. Answers tell you how and where to get more information.

Office Visit Checklist (Mdchoice.com)

Office Visit Checklist is a checklist for your regular appointments. Use it to help you remember what to ask your doctor about on your next visit.

The Nine (9) Serious STDS

The latest estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are approximately 19 million new STD infections each year, with almost half of those occurring in teens and young adults ages 15 to 24. Almost half of women have a sexual problem of some sort, according to a report today from HealthDay. Since sexually transmitted diseases often are announced only by nonspecific signs (like abdominal pain and fever), they may easily be mistaken for other illnesses—and that means the number of cases may actually be much higher.

That's not good, say experts: Certain STDs, undiagnosed and untreated, can wreak havoc, bringing serious and even life-threatening consequences.

Here's a list of nine serious STDs—and one that's just a nuisance:

1. Chlamydia. Nicknamed the "silent disease," chlamydia often does its damage unnoticed; indeed, it produces virtually no symptoms in about half the men and three quarters of the women who get it, according to the CDC. But that can mean trouble, especially for women: Infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease,and dangerous ectopic pregnancies can result if the infection isn't stopped with antibiotics. While men rarely experience complications, the infection can spread to the tube that shuttles sperm, leading to pain, fever, and a remote chance of sterility. Once a woman has been infected with chlamydia, she is up to five times more likely to contract HIV if exposed to the virus. To avoid serious problems, the CDC urges—at a minimum— annual screening tests for all sexually active women ages 25 and under, as well as tests for all pregnant women. A mother's untreated chlamydia infections can invade a newborn's eyes and respiratory tract, which is why it's the leading cause of pink eye and pneumonia in infants, according to the CDC.

2. Syphilis. Once thought to be nearly eradicated in the United States, syphilis has staged a comeback in the past decade. It is most common among men with same-sex partners, although women, too, can become infected. Syphilis typically unfolds in stages, the first of which is marked by a small, often painless sore that may heal on its own (it is through direct contact with syphilis sores that the bacterial infection is spread.) If untreated, a rash of red-brown spots may pock the palms of hands and soles of feet, a sign that the infection has progressed to its second stage. Fever, swollen glands, a sore throat, hair loss, headaches, and other symptoms of this stage may emerge and resolve on their own. Without treatment, however, late-stage syphilis will develop. This can take up to 20 years, but it can involve such extensive damage to vital organs like the brain, heart, blood vessels, nerves, liver, bones, and joints that a person can't survive.

3. Genital Human Papillomavirus. It's a common complaint but should not be taken lightly: Although 90 percent of cases will be resolved by a person's own immune system within two years, some of the 40-plus HPV strains that infect the genitals boost the risk of certain cancers, according to the CDC. Cervical cancer, for one, can be especially dangerous because it tends not to produce symptoms until it's quite advanced. More rarely, HPV infections can lead to vulvar, vaginal, anal, or penile cancer. Since the infection is caused by a virus, there is no treatment (although warts can be removed by medications or physicians). Regular Pap tests and exams are recommended to flag signs of cancer before it can develop. Gardasil, a vaccine that can protect women against some of the strains linked to cervical cancer, is recommended for some women.

4. Gonorrhea. Like chlamydia, this common bacterial STD can progress silently, leaving people with intractable health problems. Symptoms such as discolored penile discharge or signs that mimic those of a bladder or vaginal infection may occur. Unnoticed and untreated, gonorrhea can cause infertility in both men and women. It is also a common culprit behind pelvic inflammatory disease. Once treated with antibiotics, people can be re-infected by untreated partners.

5. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when the uterus, fallopian tubes, or other female reproductive organs become invaded by infection-causing bacteria. Two common culprits are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Each year, more than 100,000 women are left infertile by an untreated case of PID, which can be cured with antibiotics, according to the CDC. PID can lead to lifelong pelvic pain and pus-filled internal abscesses and can raise the odds of ectopic pregnancies. Suspicious vaginal discharge, painful sex or urination, and bleeding between periods may all be signs that something is awry.

6. Trichomoniasis. A one-celled parasite causes this STD, and a frothy, odorous, greenish-yellow discharge can be a sign that a woman has it. Infected men don't usually show signs, though some may experience abnormal penile discharge or pain after urinating or ejaculating. Trichomoniasis can make women more likely to contract HIV if exposed and may increase the likelihood that an HIV-infected woman will transmit HIV to her partner. Trichomoniasis is curable with medications.

7. Genital Herpes. Some victims have bouts of painful genital sores, but many who are infected with genital herpes are unaware because symptoms may be absent or confused with the flu. Caused by two types of the herpes simplex virus, genital herpes has no cure, though antiviral medications may help manage the severity of outbreaks. Because it's a chronic infection, genital herpes can be psychologically distressing for those infected and can cause potentially deadly infections in babies if transmitted from a mother. Transmission from mother to baby is rare, but freshly acquired genital herpes late in pregnancy can boost the risk, says the CDC.

8. HIV. The virus that causes AIDS can lie dormant with no signs for over a decade, though
symptoms include extreme fatigue, swollen lymph glands, persistent diarrhea, dry cough, rapid weight loss, pneumonia, night sweats, and a recurring fever. While any of these symptoms alone may not be cause for alarm, since they could be caused by a slew of other illnesses, the only way to be sure is to be tested, advises the CDC. Untreated, HIV can cripple the immune system. The infection may not ever advance to AIDS, but if it does, it can be deadly. While drugs can halt the progression of the virus, no cure exists. Click here to learn more about the prevalence of HIV infections among black women or here to read about one young woman's battle with HIV.

9. Chancroid. This bacterial infection is quite common in Africa and Asia and is also infecting Americans. Chancroid can cause ulcer-like genital sores that are often accompanied by swollen lymph nodes around the groin. Like many STDs, untreated chancroid makes it easier to acquire and spread HIV.

10. Crabs. Days after sex or intimate contact, the intense itching may start—a sign that these blood-sucking parasites may have chosen an unfortunate place to call home. The tiny lice typically spread by moving from one person's pubic hair to a partner's, although it is possible to acquire crabs from clothing, furniture, or bedding. The critters can survive without a human host for about 24 hours.

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Erection FAQs

What causes an erection?

Well, whatever turns you on basically but the hard science is this:

Erections occur when the small muscles in your peni*, which are usually tightly contracted, relax and let blood start flowing in.

The spongy tissue in the peni* fills with blood and expands, pushing against the veins and closing them so the blood cannot drain out again.

Well, you did ask.

Why can't I get an erection?

There are two things that men complain about in the erection department – not getting one when you want one and getting one when you don’t want one.

Not getting an erection when you want one is usually called erectile dysfunction (ED) or sometimes impotence. ED is a better description because the problem can usually be solved. In fact, nearly all men suffer from ED from time to time. The official estimate is that impotence affects about one in ten men at any one time. (Incidence increases from about one in 13 in men under 30 to one in two in men over 70.) But some surveys have put it as high as one in four.

It’s no big deal. It’s one of the things about being a flesh and blood human rather than a robot. Blokes who expect their peni* to work like machines have not learned that yet. Don’t worry about it but don't ignore it either. If it keeps happening, see a doctor.

Why see a doctor about a bit of brewer's droop?

Simply because ED can be an early warning of some serious health problems including:

heart disease;
narrow arteries;
high blood pressure;
diabetes;
Peyronie’s Disease;
multiple sclerosis;
an injury to the pelvis or spinal cord;
heavy drinking or smoking;
drugs - either the side effects of prescribed drugs (for example, some antidepressants and drugs for hypertension) or the abuse of non-prescribed drugs.
Low testosterone levels are seldom the cause of ED.
Research suggests that men don’t seek help with ED because they don’t think it can be treated. This is not true. There are many causes of ED, some physical, some psychological. You can read all about them here.

There is usually a physical cause for ED – it is only purely psychological in about 25% cases - but whatever the cause worrying about sexual performance can make it worse. Anxiety contracts the muscles preventing blood entering the peni*.

If you get erections at night or when masturbating but have problems with your partner, it’s almost certainly not a physical problem so just relax. Chances are you’ll live to at least 80 so there’s plenty of time.

And, as usual, smoking is a no-no. Nicotine interferes with the flow of blood to the peni* making an erection less likely. Smokers are 50-80% more likely to become impotent than non-smokers.

I’ve got an erection all the time.

Getting erections all the time may not sound like a problem but it can be. Young men can get sexually excited very easily so have a lot of erections. This can be embarrassing but it’s not a problem and when you’re older you’ll probably remember the days fondly.

However, if your penis becomes hard for long periods or when you’re not sexually excited you may have a condition called priapism. The condition is painful, and requires prompt treatment to avoid the risk of permanent damage to the penis and ED in the future. (As a guide, any man whose erection continues for four hours or more, should see a doctor.) More on priapism.

Where can I find out more about drugs like Cialis and Viagra that help you get an erection?

That's easy. XLPharmacy has got those medications. But as with all drugs some can be dangerous and have side-effects, please don't self-prescribe, talk to your doctor first. Then come back and find the lowest price FDA approved erectile dysfunction medications online right here if that is what he or she prescribes.

Red Wine Lowers Lung Cancer Risk

Enjoying a glass or two of red wine daily may slash your risk of developing lung cancer by 60 percent if you’re a smoker. A study published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, found that moderate consumption of red wine lowered the risk of lung cancer in men.

“An antioxidant compound in red wine may be protective of lung cancer, particularly among smokers,” said Chun Chao, Ph.D., a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, California.

The study collected information on over 84,000 men aged 45 to 69 years old in California’s health care system. Scientists measured the effects of beer, white wine, red wine and liquor on the risk of developing lung cancer. Factors such as race, education, body mass index, and smoking history were also considered.

The researchers found that for every glass of red wine consumed each month, the risk of developing lung cancer dropped by two percent. The biggest reduction was seen in smokers who drank one or two glasses of red wine daily. Their risk was reduced by 60 percent. Beer, white wine and liquor had no measureable effect.

“Red wine is known to contain high levels of antioxidants,” said Chao. “Red wine is known to contain high levels of antioxidants. There is a compound called resveratrol that is very rich in red wine because it is derived from the grape skin. This compound has shown significant health benefits in preclinical studies.”

Researchers warn that their findings shouldn’t encourage heavy drinking and also noted that even smokers who drank red wine had a higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers.

Lindberg - Woman’s Food Guide to Great Sex

We just read an article that made a lot of sense and wanted to share it with you.

Marrena Lindberg, author of Orgasmic Sex states that eating the right food can help women achieve full sexual satisfaction. (Cold it be this easy?)

Lindberg claims a healthy diet supplemented by high-grade fish oil can increase women’s enjoyment of sex in as little as two weeks. In addition to fish oil, she suggests supplements of magnesium, iron, multivitamins, and even a piece of dark chocolate every day.

She says that a balanced diet will contribute to healthy serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, and says fish oil boosts dopamine and improves overall circulation. She suggests eating a moderate amount of foods containing saturated fat because she thinks they help maintain a woman’s testosterone level. As she put it, “Quite simply, free testosterone puts a tiger in your tank.”

She also recommended strengthening exercises for the pubococcygeus muscle, which is the muscle that controls urine flow and contracts during sex. She says many women know these exercises as “Kegels.”

She says to avoid caffeine, herbal stimulants, foods high in sugars and starches, hormonal birth control, soy, antidepressants, and omega-6 fatty acids. She recommends consulting a physician before starting the diet because fish oil can act like a blood thinner in the amounts she suggests, which for a woman weighing 130 pounds is a daily dose 1700 mg of EPA and 1300 of DHA.

This makes all the sense in the world, and it's so easy that it's definitly worth the little effort it would take to find out.

Honey Kills Bacteria That Cause Sinusitis

Honey is very effective in killing bacteria in all its forms, especially the drug-resistant biofilms that make treating chronic rhinosinusitis difficult. A recent study, by Canadian researchers found that honey was significantly more effective in killing both planktonic and biofilm-grown forms of the bacteria, compared with the rate of bactericide by antibiotics commonly used against the bacteria.
Given the historical uses of honey in some cultures as a homeopathic treatment for bad wound infections, the researchers concluded that this new information may hold important clinical implications in the treatment of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, with topical treatment a possibility.
Chronic rhinosinusitis affects approximately 31 million people each year in the United States alone, costing over $4 billion in direct health expenditures and lost workplace productivity. It is among the three most common chronic diseases in all of North America.

Meditation Slows AIDS Progression

They tested a stress-lowering program called mindfulness meditation, defined as practicing an open and receptive awareness of the present moment, avoiding thinking of the past or worrying about the future. The more often the volunteers meditated, the higher their CD4 T-cell counts — a standard measure of how well the immune system is fighting the AIDS virus. The CD4 counts were measured before and after the two-month program. "This study provides the first indication that mindfulness meditation stress-management training can have a direct impact on slowing HIV disease progression," David Creswell, who led the study, said in a statement. His team tested 67 HIV-positive adults from the Los Angeles area, 48 of whom did some or all of the meditation. Most were likely to have highly stressful lives, Creswell said. "The average participant in the study was male, African American, homosexual, unemployed and not on ARV (antiretroviral) medication," they wrote in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. The meditation classes included eight weekly two-hour sessions, a day-long retreat and daily home practice. "The people that were in this class really responded and just really enjoyed the program," Creswell said. "The mindfulness program is a group-based and low-cost treatment, and if this initial finding is replicated in larger samples, it's possible that such training can be used as a powerful complementary treatment for HIV disease, alongside medications," he added. "One of the main side-effects of this particular treatment was an increase in their quality of life," Creswell said.

Read more at XLPharmacy-Canada or XLPharmacyBlog

Better way to perform a mammogram

Radiologists have devised a better way to perform a mammogram, called digital tomosynthesis. An X-ray tube moves in an arc around the breast, capturing several images. The information is then sent to a computer, which produces clear, highly focused 3-dimensional images of the breast.One out of seven women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Up until now, a mammogram has been the best hope for early detection. But mammograms can be uncomfortable and difficult to read. Now, new technology may change all that.
The radiologists can look at it like pages of a book, looking at one area of the breast in isolation. Traditional mammograms only take two angles of the breast. Depending on breast size, tomosynthesis takes at least 11 different angles. Another bonus -- tomosynthesis uses less compression than traditional mammograms and that means less pain for the patient. Doctors are awaiting FDA approval. The cost of the test is expected to be about the same as a traditional mammogram.
The technique is currently being reviewed by the FDA and should be commercialized within the year. It is easy to implement in any centers that currently provide mammography, with no necessary extra training for technicians to interpret results.
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Cited: The American Association of Physicists in Medicine