HIV is the virus. It's not a cure for HIV. It's a cure for the condition of AIDS, which used to be a certain outcome of contracting HIV.

20 years too late for my brother. :(

MS? :hmmm:

So... are you saying that the old Chris Rock joke is actually going to come true?

The journal article came out 2-1/2 months ago. If this was as big a deal as presented in the science daily link, it would have gotten more play in the popular press. It could play out to be worthwhile, but I think it's too early to declare victory.

That's one, Mr. LOCOChief. There are quite a number of them.

Obviously, because this subject has little to do with the potentially harmful environmental impact of free range chicken poop, it's an area in which I have little or no knowledge. However, a lot of researchers specializing in auto-immune disorders believe that they are caused by the effect certain micro-organisms have on the white blood cells. Basically, the immune system is "tricked" into believing that "good" cells are "bad" and the immune system goes haywire and starts running around killing off the "good" stuff.

If, in fact, they are able to isolate HIV as or before it affects the white blood cells, it sounds as though this approach could hold some promise by also isolating the other micro-organisms which, in the case of auto-immune, are confusing the immune system. It's a thought, anyhow.

FAX

Good, now they need to get started on that bastard cancer.

Pretty close. The disease I have, chronic lymphocitic thyroiditis, aka Hashimoto's encephalopathy, is caused by my thyroid malfunctioning and causing my immune system to attack my brain. It damn near did me in about 1 1/2 years ago. It's a rare desease so it took a while for it to be diagnosed, meanwhile I was a babbling idiot in the hospital attacking everything that moved (did I mention it made me a tad aggressive?), once the figured out what the problem was I got steroid therapy which suppressed my immune system and allows me to function pretty much normally. I do have occasional relapses and I'm very succeptable to colds, rashes, and pretty much anything else.
I think MS is treated in pretty much the same manner. When I have a relapse I usually get steroid infusions alongside MS patients getting the same thing (solumedrol).

not funny. especially if you've known someone die like that.

It will be, if they create a vaccine. Is this the logical path of this 'cure'?

I also hear the immortal words of Dennis Miller: "Imagine the day they cure AIDS. If you can't get laid on that day, give it up."

GoChiefs, pay attention.

By AIDS or by sticking themselves with needles?

Man, oh man. I'm very sorry to hear about this, Mr. JohninGpt. Very sorry, indeed.

The treatment makes sense given what they know about auto-immune, though. They're shutting down the immune system which is reacting incorrectly to some influence. It would be wonderful if they could turn that around, identify the cause that is affecting the immune system, and address that instead. There's always hope, though, and advances like this might open the door to a true cure.

Meanwhile, here's to your health, my friend.

FAX

ok now that we have been diverted for 20+ years.
can we get back to Cancer, MS, autism, etc.

Sometimes, I post without thinking first. I need to work on that.

But honestly, Mr. QuikSsurfer, I have mixed feelings about a person who uses a dirty needle.

FAX

both.