[procaare] AIDS Conference, Mexico: August 7, 2008

["ProCAARE" <procaare@healthnet.org>]

XVII International AIDS Conference, Mexico 
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Conference News August 7, 2008
http://www.aidsmap.com/


Skills-building behavioral interventions advocated for reducing alcohol-related HIV risk in South Africa 

Gus Cairns & Kelly Safreed-Harmon, Thursday, August 07, 2008   

Findings from a South African study presented on Wednesday at the XVII International AIDS Conference suggest that people whose alcohol consumption puts them at higher risk of HIV infection may benefit from skills-building risk reduction interventions. 

The study was a successful transfer of a community based alcohol-related risk intervention from the USA, adapted for local needs in South Africa. A previous study from the same team using a single 60-minute counselling session produced a 25% increase in condom use and a 65% reduction in unsafe sex sustained over six months for participants. 

The present study used a three hour group workshop. This produced a two-thirds (67%) decline in unsafe sex sustained over three months compared with a one-sixth (17%) decline in a control group in lighter drinkers. However in heavier drinkers the effect was less marked, producing only a 25% decline in unsafe sex, which was similar to the control group. At six months the effect of the intervention in lighter drinkers had somewhat dissipated, though they were still having less unsafe sex than at baseline. The study had an 89% retention rate...Read full report at aidsmap site http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/372F541A-3B00-4FC8-B1ED-CA091722611C.asp

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New TB/HIV guidelines released to improve care and treatment of drug users 

Theo Smart, Thursday, August 07, 2008 

Global experts called on health and justice officials throughout the world to provide TB and HIV care and treatment for drug users during a press conference at the AIDS 2008 Conference in Mexico City this week. 

?Increasingly, the HIV epidemic and its effects, and TB, are being localised to vulnerable groups, in this case drug users, of whom only a small percentage are accessing the services they need,? said Dr Paul Nunn, who coordinates TB and HIV activities of the Stop TB Department at the World Health Organisation. 

Drug users, especially injecting drug users (IDUs) are marginalised, facing discrimination, homelessness, imprisonment and other barriers when trying to access care. 

To help make sure that drug users, including those in prison, can receive TB/HIV care, the WHO, UNAIDS and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have developed the new Policy Guidelines for Collaborative TB and HIV Services for Injecting and Other Drug Users ­ An Integrated Approach ...Read full report at aidsmap site
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/530E1D95-4DF8-48E9-BA96-22DACA98493E.asp

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Urine biomarkers may predict cardiovascular disease in people taking antiretroviral therapy 

Liz Highleyman & Kelly Safreed-Harmon, Thursday, August 07, 2008 

Certain urine biomarkers related to inflammation and oxidant stress correlate with established predictors of cardiovascular disease and may help assess risk for heart problems among HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy according to a small pilot study presented on Wednesday at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) among HIV-positive patients is a growing concern as people with HIV are living longer. Several studies have found an association between heart attacks and antiretroviral therapy, and the <http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/B4E30823-A691-45B9-9980-84FA9D49E32C.asp>large SMART treatment interruption trial showed that ongoing HIV replication itself appears to increase the risk of serious heart, liver, and kidney disease. 

Inflammation, oxidant stress and endothelial (blood vessel) dysfunction contribute to atherosclerosis­hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes­and HIV infection or its treatment may influence these factors...Read full report at aidsmap site
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/5A879218-2847-4530-9EFF-03FCA67E7117.asp

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Prevention ? there will be no magic bullet, we need ?combination prevention? 

Roger Pebody & Gus Cairns, Wednesday, August 06, 2008 

Whether described as ?combination prevention? or ?highly active HIV prevention?, the emphasis at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City has been on the need for multi-pronged prevention programmes. This was especially the case at a special session convened by The Lancet on August 5th, where some of the world?s leading researchers called for HIV prevention efforts to be redoubled, in a manner equivalent to the campaign to provide universal access to HIV treatment. 

Jeff O?Malley of the United Nations Development Programme said that the history of HIV prevention had been a history of failed single solutions. Even if many speakers were optimistic that a successful microbicide or pre-exposure prophylaxis product will be developed, they said that new prevention technologies like these will not make behaviour change work obsolete, just require it to be more sophisticated. 

Thomas Coates of the University of California said that relying on one or two prevention strategies was like using ineffective monotherapy to treat HIV...Read full report at aidsmap site http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/851AA401-037F-44E8-8115-6320059C02D7.asp