Researchers Cure AIDS... not a joke.

[jAZ]

If I understand this correctly, they've basically cured AIDS by allowing HIV positive people to have full immune systems.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1020103343.htm

Researchers Knock Out HIV

ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2007) — With the latest advances in treatment, doctors have discovered that they can successfully neutralise the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The so-called ‘combination therapy’ prevents HIV from mutating and spreading, allowing patients to rebuild their immune system to the same levels as the rest of the population.

To date, it represents the most significant treatment for patients suffering from HIV.

Professor Jens Lundgren from the University of Copenhagen, together with other members of the research group EuroSIDA, have conducted a study, which demonstrates that the immune system of all HIV-infected patients can be restored and normalised. The only stipulation is that patients begin and continue to follow their course of treatment.

HIV attacks the body’s ability to counteract viruses

Viruses are small organisms that have no independent metabolism. Consequently, when they enter the body they attack living cells and adopt their metabolism. The influenza virus occupies cells in the nose, throat and lungs; the mumps attaches itself to the salivary glands of the ear; while the Polio virus plays on the intestinal tract, blood and salivary glands. In all these instances, our immune system attacks and eliminates the invading virus.

HIV is so deadly because the virus attaches itself to a crucial part of the immune system itself: to the so-called CD4+T lymphocytes, which are white blood corpuscles that help the immune system to fight infections. The Hi-virus forms and invades new CD4+T-lymphocytes. Slowly but surely, the number of healthy CD4+T lymphocytes in the blood fall, while HIV relentlessly weakens the body’s ability to defend itself from infection. Finally, the immune system erodes to such an extent that the infected patient is diagnosed with AIDS. The Hi-virus mutates constantly as it forms and this is why, scientists face a constant battle to find a cure or a vaccine.

Combination therapy knocks out HIV

Combination therapy prevents the virus from forming and mutating in human beings. When the virus is halted in its progress, the number of healthy CD4+T cells begins to rise and patients, who would otherwise die from HIV, can now survive. The immune system is rejuvenated and is apparently able to normalise itself, providing that the combination therapy is maintained. The moment the immune system begins to improve, the HIV-infected patient can no longer be said to be suffering from an HIV infection or disease, already declining in strength.

Findings from the study are published in the medical journal The Lancet - Vol. 370, Issue 9585, 4 August 2007, Pages 407-413

Adapted from materials provided by University Of Copenhagen.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

I wasn't crying for it.

Good.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Donger

Good.

[JohninGpt]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

My brother died of AIDS 20 years ago after getting a blood transfusion. He needed one when his GF at the time stabbed him 38 times in his sleep. Well... I am sure only the first few were in his sleep but that is beside the point.

They did not test the blood back then as well as now and he got AIDS.

He was 6'1 and ripped beyond belief. He weighed 210 and was solid muscle.... when he died he weighed less than 90.

Never stuck needles in his arm... or anywhere else for that matter. People that do get little to no sympathy from me though.

Holy cow, that's horrible, all of it.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

That was pretty much my reaction in the late 1980s, when everyone was calling AIDS 'an epidemic.'

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Donger

That was pretty much my reaction in the late 1980s, when everyone was calling AIDS 'an epidemic.'

I can't roll my eyes to a disease that has led to millions of deaths.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

I can't roll my eyes to a disease that has led to millions of deaths.

Well, I can. At least those who rolled the dice, and lost. I feel all the sympathy in the world for those who contracted the virus through no fault of their own, however.

[KCChiefsMan]

will it be so expensive that most can't afford it?

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsMan

will it be so expensive that most can't afford it?

Of course! When it comes to medicine, over charging is the American Way!

[Simply Red]

Print em`

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

They've had combination drug treatments that render the HIV viral load undetectable for years. Which in turn allows the immune system to "recover" to normal levels, thus "curing" AIDS.

I thought the current drug therapy basically either, a) introduces screwed up DNA so the virus can't perform, b) attempts to prevent the virus from attaching to a host cell, or c) alters the building blocks used by the virus to replicate, Mr. Bob Dole. At least, I think that's right. I do know that the current drugs come pre-packaged with some bad-ass side effects. It's the ability of the virus to mutate that's been one of the biggest problems as I understand it.

If they can actually prevent the virus from mutating, give the immune system time to rebuild, and "teach" the immune system to attack the virus as an invader, that's a huge step forward.

FAX

[mcan]

Originally Posted by Donger

Well, I can. At least those who rolled the dice, and lost. I feel all the sympathy in the world for those who contracted the virus through no fault of their own, however.

People get AIDS from more than just heroin needles bro. It's a sexually transmitted disease. If you're going to not have sympathy for people who have sex, then you're living on a cold and lonely island indeed.

And how the hell is getting AIDS a just desert for people even if they DID do drugs?!! Let me ask you this: Would you rather have AIDS or get your dick bitten off by a polar bear? Easy to say AIDS, until the day comes when you're given the choice. You'll find me a unich pretty damned quick if my alternative is death. Now, I'm sure that even YOU would say that meeting the business end of a BEAR is cruel and unusual punishment... That nobody deserves that except the HITLERS and DAHMERS and CHILD RAPISTS. So how come some teenage dropout who gets hooked on drugs deserves worse than that?

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Donger

Well, I can. At least those who rolled the dice, and lost. I feel all the sympathy in the world for those who contracted the virus through no fault of their own, however.

rolled the dice? there are a number of ways to contract

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by cdcox

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.

the problem is that this isn't the first 'cure' for AIDS. this is about the fourth or fifth 'cure' to AIDS that I can recall from the last ten years or so that I've been actively interested (and subsequently going to school for) public health/epidemiology, with a strong dose of genetics, chemistry, and virology) in viruses and bacteria.

the issue is that, as the article alluded to, AIDS is one agile little bug. every time they believe they have it cornered, it mutates. that's the beauty of genetics and 'natural selection,' really. we humans are lucky if we get a new generational flush every twenty years (from birth to having our own kids), yet there are certain viruses that reproduce and go from generation to generation in literally 20 minutes. in that twenty minutes, the viruses and bacteria that aren't successful are weeded out, and the ones that can resist treatment and otherwise succeed go on (after a fashion).

is this an aids cure? I hope so. there's literally only one virus on planet earth that I can think of that we have effectively 'cured.' smallpox. that's it. otherwise, bupkis. and the problem isn't getting any easier, as we throw 'antibiotics' at viruses all the time (got a cold? take this antibiotic!). which obviously is a huge issue, as VIRUSES ARE NOT BACTERIA. ANTIBIOTICS ONLY TREAT BACTERIA!... so now we have strains of drug resistant staph, strep, even TB. (anyway, I digress).

the point is, this is good news, hopefully. otherwise, the hidden war with our environment goes on. we've come a long way in regards to modern medicine, but we have a long way to go in the treatment of viruses and bacteria in human populations.

[StcChief]

for the most part (exceptions noted pr_capone) tainted blood... AIDS is a self induced disease. Sex/needles.
and was the wacked out African that F'ed the monkey to start it.....

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by scott free

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

eh, they can already treat certain kinds of cancer. however, the thing that makes us unique (our bodies are wonderful machines with complexity that none of us can truly even fathom) are part of what does us in. cancer is caused by rogue cells. the older we get, generally, the more our cells have gone through mitosis, therefore more open to genetic mutations piling up. we'll likely never truly cure cancer, just hopefully find more treatment options (that don't make patients wish they were dead--chemo and radiation were horrible when my grandpa had lung cancer) and find better ways to treat and diagnose it earlier.