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AHF lauds WHO for its crucial HIV treatment recommendations

On the eve of World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) praised the World Health Organization (WHO) for its new HIV treatment recommendations which include starting lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) earlier (at a t-cell count of <350 cells/mm3 instead of <200) for all HIV-positive adults and adolescents and earlier treatment initiation for HIV-positive pregnant women who should now begin treatment at 14 weeks into pregnancy, rather than 28 weeks as previously recommended, and continue until the end of breastfeeding.

1 Dec 2009

New research highlights need for national strategy on HIV prevention education

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that well over one million people in the United States are infected with HIV/AIDS. New research from North Carolina State University shows that many of those infected are minorities and do not have health insurance, and highlights the need for a national strategy to facilitate education and prevention efforts in minority and low-income populations.

1 Dec 2009

New analysis suggests physicians should change their diagnosis and treatment for sore throat

New analysis from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) suggests that physicians need to re-think their diagnosis and treatment of sore throat, or pharyngitis, in adolescents and young adults to consider a more newly identified and potentially dangerous culprit as the source of that infection.

1 Dec 2009

Department of Health reminds Pennsylvanians to be tested regularly for HIV

In recognition of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, Department of Health Secretary Everette James today reminded Pennsylvanians to be tested regularly for HIV - the virus that causes AIDS.

1 Dec 2009

Global community once again recognizes World AIDS Day

On December 1, the global community once again recognizes World AIDS Day and the 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. This is also a time to renew our commitment to work together to fight against this epidemic and pay homage to the millions of people who have lost their lives because of it.

1 Dec 2009

Mechanism blocking HIV-1 from entering cells identified

Publishing in PLoS Pathogens, researchers at from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have found a novel mechanism by which drugs block HIV-1 from entering host cells.

1 Dec 2009

GAA urges Obama to reflect on AIDS epidemic

On World AIDS Day 2009 the Global AIDS Alliance (GAA) calls on President Obama and his advisors to reflect on two recent alarming reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) showing that the AIDS pandemic continues to be of catastrophic proportion, affecting shockingly high numbers of people around the globe.

1 Dec 2009

Members of priority groups to receive H1N1 vaccines from Department of Health

The Department of Health reminded Pennsylvanians they can begin making appointments today to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus.

1 Dec 2009

Avioq receives premarket approval from FDA for Avioq HIV-1 Microelisa System

Avioq, Inc. announced it has received premarket approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Avioq HIV-1 Microelisa System.

1 Dec 2009

WHO issues new HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines

The WHO on Monday issued new recommendations that patients living with HIV/AIDS begin receiving antiretrovirals (ARVs) earlier than current HIV treatment advice suggests, the Associated Press reports

1 Dec 2009

News outlets examine global response to HIV/AIDS ahead of World AIDS Day

The Associated Press explores how PEPFAR funds are being used to help connect patients living with the disease to treatment, provide support for families and educate the public about the disease in Vietnam.

1 Dec 2009

Reductionist model provides new insights on HIV infection

A major obstacle to HIV research is the virus's exquisite specialisation for its human host - meaning that scientists' traditional tools, like the humble lab mouse, can deliver only limited information. Now, a team of researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Journal of Biology have made an ingenious assault on this problem by creating a mouse that has key features of HIV infection without being infected with HIV.

1 Dec 2009

News outlets examine cholera in Zimbabwe, Kenya

TIME examines growing concerns about increasing risks of a cholera outbreak among the people of Zimbabwe, after an outbreak last year claimed "close to 5,000 lives in the country of 12 million."

1 Dec 2009

World AIDS Day observance to be held at National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park

The 16th annual World AIDS Day observance will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. “Renewing Our Commitment” is the theme of this year’s commemoration. The observance will be held, rain or shine, under the tent in The Meadow of the National AIDS Memorial.

30 Nov 2009

Tripep completes phase I clinical study of its ChronVac-C hepatitis C virus DNA vaccine

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that its partner Tripep AB of Sweden has completed its phase I clinical study of its ChronVac-C hepatitis C virus DNA vaccine delivered using Inovio’s electroporation technology.

30 Nov 2009

NOVAVAX completes patient enrollment in its trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine Phase II study

Novavax, Inc. announced today it has completed enrollment in the Phase II clinical study of its trivalent seasonal influenza (2008/2009 recommended strains) VLP vaccine candidate in healthy adults 60 years of age or older (older adults). This randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study is comparing the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of two different doses (15 mcg and 60 mcg) of Novavax's trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine to a commercially available trivalent inactivated vaccine, TIV (Fluzone®).

30 Nov 2009

Bavarian Nordic to file a NDS for IMVAMUNE with Health Canada

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today that the company expects to file a New Drug Submission (NDS) for its third-generation smallpox vaccine, IMVAMUNE(R) with the Canadian Authorities, Health Canada in 2010. If successful, this would be the first marketing approval of IMVAMUNE(R).

30 Nov 2009

Free HIV testing marathon at Miami

To commemorate World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host a 12-hour free HIV testing marathon at its newest “Out of the Closet” Thrift Store in Miami at 2900 N. Biscayne Blvd. Tuesday, December 1st, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

30 Nov 2009

WHITIA launches digital medical X-ray device for screening infectious diseases in developing countries

The World Health Imaging, Telemedicine and Informatics Alliance (WHITIA) today unveiled Remi-d, a new product concept that is intended to provide remote-operated X-ray capabilities for use in screening across areas of the developing world experiencing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) co-epidemic, high incidences of Black Lung disease, or outbreaks of other infectious respiratory diseases.

30 Nov 2009

AIDS Healthcare Foundation to hold free rapid HIV testing to mark World AIDS Day

In observation of World AIDS Day this year, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS group and which currently provides more than 15,000 free HIV and STD tests annually in California via its community-based testing programs, is hosting an extended day—and evening—of free rapid HIV testing this Saturday, November 28th, starting at 10 am, going until 2 am Sunday at its ‘Out of the Closet’ Hollywood thrift store and testing location (6210 Sunset). The HIV testing marathon is being held as part of AHF’s ‘Testing Millions’ campaign, a worldwide initiative to test more than three million people in conjunction with the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day, Tuesday, December 1st. In an effort to raise awareness about the event and HIV testing, LA’s KIIS radio station (102.7 FM) will have its mobile van broadcasting live from the testing event from 8 pm to 10 pm Saturday.

28 Nov 2009