HIV Ireland
NewsDesk Weekly
1 July 2016
HIV
HPSC - Weekly HIV & STIs Report - Week 25, 2016
Latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show a total of 16 new cases for week 25 - 2016, bringing the total to 270 HIV new notifications for 2016 to date.
Chemsex: How Ireland can get ahead of the curve
The Irish Times, 28 June 2016
Adam Shanley, director of Gay Switchboard Ireland, talks about the rise of the chemsex scene in Dubllin.
Lifting of blood ban welcome - but system will still discriminate against gay men in relationships
The Journal, 27 June 2016
Ireland’s total ban on MSM donating blood will be lifted, but with a one year deferral period after last sexual contact.
Canada’s limitations on gay blood donations ‘ridiculous’: HIV researchers
Global News, 28 June 2016
Canada’s current limitations on blood donations from MSM don’t match the science, according to some HIV researchers. Currently, Canadian gay men can donate blood if they have not had sex with a man for at least five years. On next August, that waiting period will be reduced to one year.
UK HIV charities make history in campaign for PrEP at Pride in London
Gay Star news, 25 June 2016
The biggest HIV and LGBTI sexual health charities - including Terrence Higgins Trust, National AIDS Trust, GMFA, and 56 Dean Street – have marched together at the Gay Pride in London demanding the NHS to implement PrEP in the UK.
Why We Should Pay for the Pill to Stop You Getting HIV
The Huffington post, 27 June 2016
Gus Cairns, HIV prevention campaigner explains why the UK National Health Service should fund to implement PrEP.
At Sex Parties, PrEP Takes HIV Disclosure Off the Table
Beta Blog, 27 June 2016
PrEP is changing the landscape of sex parties and other group sex events, helping to break down barriers between people who are positive and negative and helping people who are HIV-negative stay that way.
Free home HIV tests offered to gay men and black Africans in ‘groundbreaking’ pilot scheme
THT, 27 June 2016
Terrence Higgins Trust has linked up with BioSure to launch a new pilot scheme, releasing 4,500 free HIV tests which are available to people at high risk of HIV, including MSM and Africans.
This interactive map shows where people with HIV live in the US — and it points to some distressing trends
Business Insider, 23 June 2016
AIDSVu – a project presented by the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in partnership with Gilead Sciences - has launched new maps visualising changes in the US HIV epidemic.
When and How to Treat Depression -- and How to Make It Easier
The Body, Summer 2016
Guidelines for healthcare providers on when and how to start treating depressive symptoms in people living with HIV and when to refer these patients to a specialist. The article also examines non-drug therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological treatments.
Antiretrovirals: A Success Story. Celebrating 20 years of effective HIV treatment
Poz, 24 June 2016
Evolution of the ART treatment, from the devastating side effects caused by the first generation drugs to safer and more manageable new medications.
See also:
Which First-Line HIV Treatment Regimen Is Least Toxic? An HIV Doc Responds
The Body, 27 June 2016
The HIV Treatment Pipeline
Poz, 24 June 2016
Review of established and new HIV treatments available, not only for the virus itself, but also for co-morbidities.
Five Exciting HIV Prevention Studies We’re Paying Attention To
Beta Blog, 1 July 2016
Here are some clinical trials which might the next breakthrough for HIV prevention and treatment: long-acting PrEP injections, vaccines, vaginal rings, and antibodies.
Scientists stabilize HIV structure, design potential AIDS vaccine candidates
Medical Xpress, 28 June 2016
Study on the shape-shifting ability which allows the HIV virus to infect new cells, and on nanoparticles – already used for other vaccines - that could mimic HIV causing the body to produce antibodies for long-term protection against the real virus.
ART use averting huge numbers of opportunistic infections among children living with HIV in lower-income countries
Aidsmap, 27 June 2016
A new meta-analysis shows that - thanks to antiretroviral therapy - there has been a decrease in cases of many opportunistic infections among children living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries.
Could mimicking infants' immune response produce a faster-acting HIV vaccine?
Medical News Today, 27 June 2016
Various studies now focus on infants antibodies, on how they differ from adults antibodies in producing a neutralising response, and how this could be used to produce a fast-acting HIV vaccine.
PRO-140 antibody injections maintain viral suppression in phase 2 study
Aidsmap, 28 June 2016
According to a recent study, subcutaneous injections of PRO 140 (a monoclonal antibody that blocks HIV entry into cells) have been well tolerated and have maintained undetectable viral load for more than a year after stopping ART in people with viral suppression.
Hepatitis
Joined-up service delivery is key for Hep C care
Irish Medical Times, 29 June 2016
An Irish-led collaborative initiative involving four EU countries is aiming to improve the efficacy of hepatitis C treatment by bringing point-of-care testing to ‘at-risk’ groups and supporting them through their treatment.
Vaccination could have important role in control of UK HCV epidemic among people who inject drugs
Info Hep, 29 June 2016
A model study shows that vaccination could reduce the incidence and prevalence of hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs.
STIs
NUI Galway students' union secures on campus STIs clinic
Campus, 27 June 2016
From September, NUI Galway students will be able to get tested for STI’s for free at the clinic which will operate from the Student Health Unit.
