Early HIV treatment lowers risk for babies Nov 20, 2008
When doctors withheld therapy until there were symptoms of AIDS, or until immune system cells called CD4 T-cells dropped to low levels, the death rate was 16 percent, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. But among babies that began receiving treatment right away, typically around 7 weeks of age, only 4 percent died after about 40 weeks of care. (Boston Globe)
Rapid care 'cuts baby's HIV risk' Nov 20, 2008
In comparison, the risk of death for those whose treatment was delayed until their levels of key immune system CD4 cells began to fall, or other symptoms emerged, was 16 ... Lead researcher Dr Avy Violari, from the Comprehensive International Program of Research on Aids (CIPRA-SA) said: "Our results reinforce the view that there are no reliable predictors for small infants as to how their disease is progressing. "CD4 counts do not tell us with enough accuracy if babies under a year of age are... (BBC News)
Chemical From Medicinal Plants May Be Used To Fight HIV Nov 18, 2008
They then took blood samples from HIV-infected individuals and separated out the CD8 T-cells and the CD4 T-cells those infected with HIV. They treated the CD8 T-cells with TAT2 and combined them with the CD4 T-cells in the dish-and found that the treated CD8 cells inhibited production of HIV by the CD4 cells ... (July 14, 2008) Recent studies have shown that HIV causes a vigorous and prolonged immune response that eventually leads to the exhaustion of key immune system cells -- CD4+ and CD8+... (Science Daily)
Protein Identified That Turns Off HIV-fighting T Cells Nov 14, 2008
(July 14, 2008) Recent studies have shown that HIV causes a vigorous and prolonged immune response that eventually leads to the exhaustion of key immune system cells -- CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells -- that target HIV.. (May 24, 2004) Researchers at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and UCSF have discovered that an important protein normally secreted by macrophages, the scavenger cells of the immune system, is. (Science Daily)
Long-term study evaluates boosted PREZISTA* vs. lopinavir/ritonavir as part of HIV combination therapy in treatment-naive adults Nov 12, 2008
Patient randomization was stratified based on viral load and CD4+ cell count ... PREZISTA was granted approval under Health Canada's Notice of Compliance with Conditions (NOC/c) policy in July of 2006, based on studies that established its efficacy in significantly reducing viral load and increasing CD4 counts in treatment-experienced patients, compared with patients taking an investigator-selected PI. The most common side effects reported during treatment with PREZISTA in these studies were... (Canada Newswire)
Refractive Surgical Practices In HIV-Positive Persons Nov 12, 2008
While this was feared to destroy, perhaps irreversibly, patient HIV-specific CD4+ T. . (Science Daily)
Engineered Killer T Cell Recognizes HIV-1's Lethal Molecular Disguises Nov 11, 2008
While this was feared to destroy, perhaps irreversibly, patient HIV-specific CD4+ T. (Nov. (Science Daily)
Souped-up cells catch even disguised HIV Nov 11, 2008
HIV is even more insidious, attacking immune system cells called CD4 T cells, which help mount a defence. It can also disguise itself to escape CD8 killer cells, also known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes or CTLs. (Globe and Mail)
Medicinal plant may harbour HIV cure Nov 11, 2008
They then took blood samples from HIV-infected individuals and separated out the CD8 T-cells and the CD4 T-cells - those infected with HIV.. They treated the CD8 T-cells with TAT2 and combined them with the CD4 T-cells in the dish-and found that the treated CD8 cells inhibited production of HIV by the CD4 cells. (Times of India)
Modifiedcellsspot disguised HIV Nov 10, 2008
Escape and evadeHIV is even more insidious, attacking immune system cells called CD4 T cells, which help mount a defense. It can also disguise itself to escape CD8 killer cells, also known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes or CTLs. (Huntington WSAZ-TV, WV)
Protein-printing Technique Gives Snapshots Of Immune System Defense Nov 9, 2008
(July 14, 2008) Recent studies have shown that HIV causes a vigorous and prolonged immune response that eventually leads to the exhaustion of key immune system cells -- CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells -- that target HIV.. (Nov. (Science Daily)
Virus Infection and Respiratory Disease Nov 6, 2008
According to the prevailing paradigm, major-histocompatibility-complex (MHC) class II dependent CD4. . (New England Journal of Medicine)
Transplantation: 'Molecular Miscegenation' Blurs The Boundary Between Self And Non-self Nov 3, 2008
26, 1998) Organ transplant rejection caused by CD4 T cells could be stopped in the future using a new hybrid antibody developed at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. . (Science Daily)
HIV-infected Patients Should Start HAART Sooner, Study Suggests Oct 31, 2008
30, 2008) Under current treatment guidelines, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) should be considered for HIV-infected patients when their CD4+ T-cell counts fall below 350 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3) ... HIV ravages CD4+ T-cells, one of the human immune system's primary weapons for fighting off infection ... As virus levels increase in the blood, HIV-infected patients experience a decrease in CD4+ T-cells and declining health. (Science Daily)
Earlier HIV Treatment May Be Better, Study Finds Oct 29, 2008
It has not been entirely clear when patients should start taking them, though, and most doctors wait until there is some evidence of damage, measured by counting the number of immune cells called CD4 T-cells. Current treatment guidelines call for patients to start highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART, when they have fewer than 350 CD4 cells per milliliter of blood ... They compared the records of 8,374 healthy HIV patients with CD4 counts of 351 to 500 who had never taken HAART.. (MEDLINEplus)
HIV treatment should begin earlier Oct 28, 2008
The study, led by Mari Kitahata of the University of Washington-Seattle, looked at 8,374 patients whose CD4+ T-cells -- key "helper" cells in the body's immune system -- were between 351 and 500 cells per square millimeter in blood. Thirty percent of subjects in the study began taking HAART right away, while 70 percent waited until their T-cell count dropped below 350, when the immune system is considered seriously compromised. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Earlier HIV Treatment Boosts Survival Oct 28, 2008
The guidelines now call for initiating antiviral therapy in any person who develops or whose CD4 T-cell count -- a measure of how much damage HIV has done to the immune system -- drops to less than 350 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. But in a study of more than 8,000 patients, those without symptoms who started therapy when their CD4 count was between 351 and 500 cells per cubic millimeter of blood were less likely to die than those who waited until the count was lower, says Mari Kitahata,... (WebMD)
Long-Term Study Evaluates Boosted PREZISTA(R) Vs. Lopinavir/Ritonavir as Part of HIV Combination Therapy in Treatment-Naive Adults Oct 27, 2008
Patient randomization was stratified based on viral load and CD4+ cell count. The main objective of the study was to demonstrate non-inferiority of PREZISTA/r versus lopinavir/r in proportion of patients achieving virologic response, defined as confirmed HIV RNA or = 2 percent) reported of at least moderate to severe intensity (> or = Grade 2) were diarrhea (6 percent), headache (5 percent), abdominal pain (4 percent), nausea (3 percent), vomiting (2 percent), and rash (2 percent). (PR Newswire)
Analysis of Long-Term Vicriviroc Data Provides Evidence of Sustained Viral Suppression, Increased CD4 Cell Counts and Tolerability in Treatment-Experienced HIV-Infected Patients Oct 27, 2008
Data Analysis of Up to Four Years of Treatment Presented at ICAAC/IDSA 2008 Annual Meeting WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: ) today reported a data analysis showing that vicriviroc, its investigational CCR5 receptor antagonist, demonstrated sustained viral suppression and increased CD4 cell counts and was well tolerated through up to four years of therapy in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients ... Vicriviroc, currently in Phase III... (PR Newswire)
Newer drugs more easily tolerated? Oct 27, 2008
The company said the drug showed sustained effect in suppressing the HIV virus and improving counts of crucial CD4 immune cells, and less than 5 percent developed infections. But 14 patients developed AIDS complications and 13 developed various types of cancer. (MSNBC -- Health)
New anti-Aids drugs Oct 27, 2008
A separate study presented at the ICAAC conference showed anti-retroviral treatment was more effective if begun earlier: patients treated when CD4 cell count was at 500 had a 71 percent greater risk of dying than those treated when CD4 levels reached 350. According to the World Health Organisation, 33 million people around the world are infected with the Aids virus, mostly in the sub-Sahara Africa. (iAfrica.com)
Study: AIDS treatment should begin earlier Oct 27, 2008
Current guidelines say that patients should begin treatment only when their levels of a type of white blood cell called CD4 T-cells fall below 350 per cubic millimeter ... The new research found that patients fare better when they begin treatment when their CD4 counts are much higher, between 350 and 500 cells per cubic millimeter. (USA Today)
Non-AIDS Deaths In People With HIV Linked To Inflammation And Coagulation, Study Suggests Oct 22, 2008
For the drug conservation strategy, ART was stopped until a patient's CD4 cell count, an indicator of immune system function, dropped below 250 cells per microliter (about a quarter of the normal adult level). At that time ART was re-initiated until the CD4 cell count returned to more than 350 cells. (Science Daily)
Markers of inflammation and blood-clotting tied to hazards of intermittent HIV treatment Oct 22, 2008
SMART, which ended in 2006, compared the standard practice of continuous ART to suppress HIV in infected individuals with episodic ART based on CD4+ T-cell counts. The goal was to determine whether reducing exposure to antiretroviral drugs, which may have toxic side effects and can engender drug resistance, would be equally or more beneficial than suppressing HIV continuously. (EurekAlert!)
Innovative HIV-AIDS Treatment ISENTRESS(TM) now available to Canadian First Nations Oct 7, 2008
Used in combination with other antiretroviral agents, raltegravir has been shown to be effective at both reducing viral load to undetectable levels and raising CD4 cell count in people living with HIV-AIDS who were previously treated with other antiretroviral agents. Raltegravir is administered as a single 400 mg tablet taken twice daily with or without food with other HIV medications. (Canada Newswire)
Pipex Pharmaceuticals' Oral Flupirtine Receives IRB Approval to Initiate Phase II Clinical Trial for Fibromyalgia Oct 7, 2008
We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully develop or commercialize products based on our technologies, including, dnaJP1, TRIMESTA, Zinthionein, oral flupirtine, SOLOVAX, oral TTM, or CD4 inhibitors, particularly in light of the significant uncertainty inherent in developing, manufacturing and conducting preclinical and clinical trials of new pharmaceuticals, and obtaining regulatory approvals, that our technologies will prove to be safe and effective, that our cash expenditures... (Primezone Releases)
Subgroup Analyses of Maraviroc in Previously Treated R5 HIV-1 Infection Oct 3, 2008
Methods We analyzed pooled data from week 48 from the two studies according to sex, race or ethnic group, clade, CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) delta32 genotype, viral load at the time of screening, the use or nonuse of enfuvirtide in optimized background therapy (OBT), the baseline CD4 cell count, the number of active antiretroviral drugs coadministered, the first use of selected background agents, and tropism at baseline. Changes in viral tropism and the CD4 count at treatment failure were... (New England Journal of Medicine)
Maraviroc for Previously Treated Patients with R5 HIV-1 Infection Oct 3, 2008
Results A total of 1049 patients received the randomly assigned study drug; the mean baseline HIV-1 RNA level was 72,400 copies per milliliter, and the median CD4 cell count was 169 per cubic millimeter ... The change from baseline in CD4 counts was also greater with maraviroc once or twice daily than with placebo (increases of 113 and 122 per cubic millimeter, respectively, vs. 54 in MOTIVATE 1; increases of 122 and 128 per cubic millimeter, respectively, vs. 69 in MOTIVATE 2; P<0 ...... (New England Journal of Medicine)
New Vaccine Element Could Generate Better Protection From Avian Influenza Sep 25, 2008
In the study, subsets of immune cells known as memory CD4+ and memory CD8+ T cells from individuals from the United Kingdom and Viet Nam were found to respond to fragments of proteins from both a seasonal influenza A strain and a strain of H5N1 ... The authors therefore suggest that adding fragments of influenza proteins to current vaccines for influenza might boost memory CD4+ and memory CD8+ T cell responses towards both seasonal and avian influenza viruses, providing broad protection. (Science Daily)
What is Multiple Myeloma? Sep 23, 2008
When a B cell recognizes a foreign pathogen, it consumes the invader, digests it, and then presents fragments of the pathogen to another type of lymphocyte called a CD4+T helper cell. With the assistance of the CD4 cell, the immature B cell differentiates into a plasma cell capable of producing an antibody specifically directed against the pathogen. (Suite101.com)
JJ Hospital bias lands Naco, Centre in soup Sep 19, 2008
He has a low CD4 count a crucial medical parameter to determine the health of Aids patients. The Bihar hospital told him early this year that the first line of ARV drugs used to treat patients in the initial stage of Aids was not working for him as the human immunodeficiency virus that causes Aids had developed resistance to it. (Daily News & Analysis)
Why Some SIV-Infected Primates Don't Get AIDS Sep 17, 2008
11, 2007) Three related articles provide key new insights into the complexity of HIV/AIDS. The articles show that CD4 T-cell depletion, a critical symptom of AIDS, is likely a part of a multifaceted scenario. (Apr. (Science Daily)
Natural History of HIV Sep 14, 2008
HIV targets cells of the immune system called lymphocytes that specifically possess the CD4 marker. The virus replicates and destroys these CD4 lymphocytes, interrupting the body's process of cell-mediated immunity ... Given this pathophysiological process, clinicians rely on the CD4 count as a measure of a patient's immune function and the degree of disease progression. (Suite101.com)
New 'Trick' Allows HIV To Overcome A Barrier To Infection Sep 9, 2008
Earlier studies had shown that HIV relies on two CD4 coreceptors on the surface of T cells, CCR5 and CXCR4 ... " This is the first time we've been aware of cofilin's activity in HIV infection of resting CD4 T cells," Wu said. (Science Daily)
Scientists Spot New Twist in HIV Infection Sep 5, 2008
"The emergence of CXCR4 [type virus] usually is late in the disease, and it's usually associated with a relatively severe decline in CD4 T-cells. So, it's not a good sign," Marsh said. Will this discovery inevitably lead to new, effective AIDS drugs. (Health-Finder)
Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa :correlation with the expression of Ki67 and histologic grading. Sep 3, 2008
Results: The T lymphocytes made up most of this inflammatory infiltrate, and among these cells, there was a predominance of T CD8 lymphocytes relative to the T CD4 lymphocytes. The B lymhocytes were the second most visualized leucocyte cell type followed by macrophages and neutrophils. (BioMed Central)
Potential Diabetes Treatment Selectively Kills Autoimmune Cells From Human Patients Aug 27, 2008
First the researchers found that treatment with TNF killed CD8 T cells, the immune system's "killer" cells, from diabetic patients but not CD4 "helper" T cells. TNF treatment also induced the death of CD8 T cells from other autoimmune disease patients but had no negative effect on cells from healthy controls. (Science Daily)
Early trigger for type-1 diabetes found in mice, Stanford scientists report Aug 27, 2008
Prior studies in diabetic mice showed a pathogenic role for immune cells called CD4+ T cells ... The scientists used silicon gene-chip technology to measure which genes are revved up in the CD4+ T cells just before they assault the pancreas. (EurekAlert!)
Correlation between CD4 counts of HIV patients and enteric protozoan in different seasons - An experience of a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India). Aug 20, 2008
Correlation between CD4 counts of HIV patients and enteric protozoan in different seasons - An experience of a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India) ... Thus, the present study has been aimed to elucidate the associations between diarrhoea and CD4 counts and to study the effect of HAART along with management of diarrhoea in HIV positive patients ... Simultaneously, CD4 counts were recorded to assess the status of HIV infection vis-a-vis parasitic infection. (BioMed Central)
Ashwagandha, milk boost immunity! Aug 17, 2008
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell and come in four forms: (1) Natural Killer cells, which are a major component of the immune system and best known for their ability to respond to virally-infected cells and tumors; (2) B-cells, which make antibodies that bind to a virus or microorganism and then destroy it; (3) CD4+ T cells (also known as helper cells), which coordinate the immune systems response; and (4) CD8+ T cells, which kill cells that become infected ... Also, there was a... (India Times, India)
HIV Expert Says 1 Step Down, 2 More To Go In Quest To Cure AIDS Aug 8, 2008
Indeed, it was Siliciano's team at Hopkins in 1995 that confirmed the existence of these reservoirs in immune system CD4 memory T-cells - those left behind, after an initial infection, to fight recurrences. The CD4s concentrate in the lymph nodes and spleen. (Science Daily)
Remarkably effective drugs must reach all, AIDS conference told Aug 8, 2008
Currently, patients tend to begin treatment with ARVs when their CD4 count falls below 200. (CD4 cells control the body's immune response against infections and are a key measure of how the disease is progressing ... But under the new guidelines, published by the International AIDS Society earlier this week, it is recommended that anyone with a CD4 count of 350 or lower begin treatment with ARVs. (Globe and Mail -- International)
Revolutionary Technique Could Reduce Lifelong Drugs For Transplant Patients Aug 7, 2008
26, 1998) Organ transplant rejection caused by CD4 T cells could be stopped in the future using a new hybrid antibody developed at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. (May 19, 1999) A kidney transplant offers people with kidney failure a new chance at a normal, active life. (Science Daily)
Preventing Friendly Fire: A Role For The Thymic Cortex In Stopping Your Body From Attacking Itself Aug 7, 2008
Ahn S, Lee G, Yang SJ, Lee D, Lee S, et al. TSCOT+ Thymic Epithelial Cell-Mediated Sensitive CD4 Tolerance by Direct Presentation. PLoS Biol, 2008; 6(8): e191 DOI. (Science Daily)
HIV Drug Can Persist In Mothers' Milk, Increasing Risk To Them And Their Babies Aug 7, 2008
The mothers who were most likely to develop resistant virus were those whose disease was more advanced as indicated by lower CD4 cell counts, the immune cells targeted by HIV, Kassaye said ... (May 1, 2007) New evidence shows that drug-resistant virus passed from mother-to-child can quickly establish itself in infants' CD4+ T cells where it can hide for years, likely limiting their options for future. (Science Daily)
Enrollment of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Commenced for Combination Therapy Trial to Include Generex Biotechnology's Novel Immunotherapeutic Vaccine Aug 7, 2008
Antigen Express has pioneered the development of novel immunotherapeutic vaccines using proprietary technology to increase the antigen-specific stimulation of CD4+ T helper cells. Both pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown the importance of activation of this cell type for successful cancer immunotherapy. (Primezone Releases)
HIV vaccine 'allows drug breaks' Aug 5, 2008
" However, he stressed the vaccine was still at a very early stage of development. Immune response The vaccine works by stimulating an immune system response, in contrast to standard HIV drugs, which block replication of the virus. It has already been tested in two small trials on 11 and 38 HIV patients with promising results. The majority of patients were able to refrain from taking their usual antiretroviral therapy (ART) for an average period of 31 months. During this time their level of key... (BBC News -- UK)
Ethiopia: Tapping in to Herbal Medicine Potential Aug 5, 2008
Dr. Iyasu insists that Artimisia is not a cure for HIV/AIDS but that they have found out that HIV/AIDS patients who began taking it will have an improved CD4 count and viral load within six months. The case is still being clinically studied. (allAfrica.com)
Summary for Patients Aug 5, 2008
These tests included a serum enzyme-linked immunoassay, a single serum Western blot test, CD4 count, and plasma HIV-1 RNA measurement. Results of the confirmatory tests were not available the day of the emergency department visit. (Annals of Internal Medicine)
Global fight against AIDS gets tough Aug 5, 2008
The threshold varies, but the typical recommendation now is to start drugs when there are fewer than 200 to 250 CD4 cells - key immune cells that are ravaged by the virus - per ml of blood because it will minimize the drugs' toxic side effects and gain time. Officials in the U.S. said the new AIDS figures represent improved assessments and are not evidence that infection rates are going up. (Xinhua)
New HIV/AIDS Guidelines Suggest Earlier Treatment Aug 4, 2008
The new guidelines were written by the International AIDS Society-USA Panel, and recommend starting therapy before immune-system CD4 cell counts decline to less than 350 cells per microliter. Additional factors should be considered when starting therapy at higher CD4 levels. (U.S. News & World Report)
No Difference In Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Between HIV ... Aug 4, 2008
No Difference In Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Between HIV-infected Injection Drug Users And Non-users. " Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Survival in HIV-Infected Injection Drug Users Evan Wood; Robert S. Hogg; Viviane Dias Lima; Thomas Kerr; Benita Yip; Brandon D. L. Marshall; Julio S. G. Montaner JAMA(2008). 300[5]: pp. 550 -554. Written by: Peter M Crosta Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today Please rate this article:... (Medical News Today)
Highly active antiretroviral therapy of similar benefit for HIV-infected injection drug users Aug 4, 2008
Further analysis also indicated similar rates of death for both groups, after adjustment for age, sex, baseline AIDS diagnosis, baseline CD4 cell count, adherence and physician experience. "Although our findings cannot be generalized outside of [this] cohort, as efforts to improve use of HAART among IDUs expand, the fact that survival patterns were not significantly different between IDUs and non-IDUs should help to challenge the increasingly prevalent belief that IDUs may be markedly less... (EurekAlert!)
International panel updates treatment guidelines for HIV infection Aug 4, 2008
New data and considerations support initiating therapy before CD4 cell count declines to less than 350/ L. In patients with 350 CD4 cells/L or more, patient readiness, drug interactions, adherence challenges, toxicities and cost should be considered when determining whether to initiate therapy. Rapid decline in CD4 cell count (i ... g., active hepatitis B or C virus co-infection and HIV-associated nephropathy [a disease affecting the kidneys]) should be considered in deciding whether to... (EurekAlert!)
Sierra Vista mayor: Veterans needing support Aug 3, 2008
CD4 in Virginia with, 15,850. Source: U.S. Rep. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
New Therapy For HIV Treatment Jul 31, 2008
The results were based on analyses of viral load reductions and CD4 cell count increases. A high CD4 cell count is crucial for a healthy immune system ... While this was feared to destroy, perhaps irreversibly, patient HIV-specific CD4+ T. (Science Daily)
Sensitive Testing Reveals Drug-resistant HIV With Possible Consequences For Treatment Jul 31, 2008
(May 1, 2007) New evidence shows that drug-resistant virus passed from mother-to-child can quickly establish itself in infants' CD4+ T cells where it can hide for years, likely limiting their options for future. (Sep. (Science Daily)
AIDS widows honoured for fighting it out Jul 30, 2008
Another survivor related how her CD4 count (an indicator of a person's immunity) had gone up from 39 in 2004 to an encouraging 748 today. Explaining how tough the journey is for those like Koregaonkar , Dr Deshpande said women faced several hurdles while continuing their treatment. (Times of India)
Study Disproves Belief That Hepatitis C Blunts HIV Drugs Jul 29, 2008
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center focused on levels of CD4 cells -- the immune cells that are attacked by HIV -- and whether CD4 cells can rebuild after HAART is used to suppress HIV infection ... "We've been observing that in some patients that are co-infected with hepatitis C, we were treating their HIV with HAART but didn't always get very good restoration of CD4," lead researcher Dr. Marina Nunez, an assistant professor of infectious diseases, said in a Wake Forest... (MEDLINEplus)
Practice meditation, control AIDS: Study Jul 29, 2008
A team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles has found that meditation can decelerate the damaging of CD4 T cells. The CD4 T cells are considered to be the brains of the immune system and assist it in battling against the pernicious attacks ... But the researchers led by David Creswell did notice that practising meditation daily slow down the decaying of CD4 T cells also known as CD4+T lymphocytes. (Newstrack India)
Meditation slows AIDS progression: study Jul 25, 2008
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 ... It may directly boost CD4 T-cell levels, or suppress the virus, he said. (Scientific American)
Mindfulness meditation slows progression of HIV, study shows Jul 25, 2008
CD4+ T lymphocytes, or simply CD4 T cells, are the "brains" of the immune system, coordinating its activity when the body comes under attack ... The virus slowly eats away at CD4 T cells, weakening the immune system ... But the immune systems of HIV/AIDS patients face another enemy as well stress, which can accelerate CD4 T cell declines. (EurekAlert!)
Researchers disprove long-standing belief about HIV treatment Jul 25, 2008
The research focused on levels of CD4 cells, the specific type of immune cell that is attacked by the HIV virus, and their ability to rebuild after HIV is suppressed. "We've been observing that in some patients that are co-infected with hepatitis C, we were treating their HIV with HAART but didn't always get very good restoration of CD4," said Marina Nunez, M.D., lead researcher and an assistant professor of infectious diseases ... "From a clinical standpoint, although these findings will not... (EurekAlert!)
Novel Computational Model Describes The Speed At Which HIV Escapes The Immune Response Jul 22, 2008
(July 14, 2008) Recent studies have shown that HIV causes a vigorous and prolonged immune response that eventually leads to the exhaustion of key immune system cells -- CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells -- that target HIV.. . (Science Daily)
HIV conquers immune system faster than previously realized Jul 19, 2008
Until now, scientists believed that the window of opportunity to intervene in the process of HIV-1 infection lay in the three to four weeks between transmission and the development of an established pool of infected CD4 T cells. HIV-1 cripples the immune system by invading and killing CD4 T cells, key infection-fighters in the body ... In measuring the levels of four products of CD4 T cell death during this period in these samples, they were able to track and establish a timetable of the virus's... (EurekAlert!)
