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.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by StcChief

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

all very worthy causes, all being researched and funded out the wazoo. unfortunately, there's never enough research dollars to go around.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

They really didn't test the blood before? How old was he when he died?
that's very, very sad.

go watch 'and the band played on'

good look at AIDS in the late 80's to early 90's from a social standpoint.

[ChiefaRoo]

Originally Posted by FAX

Actually, if true, this could be a very important step forward in the treatment of any number of auto-immune disorders.

FAX

and viral illnesses as well. Good news. Medicine is going to make tremendous advances in the next two decades and beyond.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by H5N1

go watch 'and the band played on'

good look at AIDS in the late 80's to early 90's from a social standpoint.

i'll check it out

[Ebolapox]

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.

yep. interestingly enough, I read an article somewhere (can't recall--it might have been discover or science journal) that mentioned a group of young to middle aged men who are HIV+ and have been for more than their allotted time (traditionally, if you have HIV for more than seven to ten years, you develop AIDS and die). they traced their genetics back via mitochondrial RNA (passed on from mother to son) all the way back to dark-age europe (~1300 CE). what do they have in common? they're all descendents of people who survived (bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic) plague.

fascinating stuff.

[FAX]

Not to appear argumentative or completely ignorant, Mr. H5N1, but isn't almost everyone of European descent from a line that survived the plague?

FAX

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Donger

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

crap, I was still playing with GI joes in the late 80's. racking up a 250 dollar phone bill calling the he-man 800 number (sorry mom and dad!)

however, one would be hard pressed not to call AIDS an epidemic. it doesn't meet the classical definition (like hemorrhagic fevers do), but it comes pretty damned close for being so unconventional

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

ep·i·dem·ic /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ep-i-dem-ik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. Also, ep·i·dem·i·cal. (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by FAX

Not to appear argumentative or completely ignorant, Mr. H5N1, but isn't almost everyone of European descent from a line that survived the plague?

FAX

not as much as you'd expect. not everyone in europe got plague in the first place, and the men who are 'surviving' AIDS are all descended from a certain area (recall, travel wasn't as fast and groups got more isolated in plague-europe)

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by FAX

Not to appear argumentative or completely ignorant, Mr. H5N1, but isn't almost everyone of European descent from a line that survived the plague?

FAX

AIDS infected of European decent survive because of the plague

[Donger]

Originally Posted by mcan

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?

Yes, thank you. I'm intimately familiar with the causes. Risk versus reward. Other than being born with it or contracting the virus through a transfusion, you have to seek it out.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

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

Yes, there are. But, for example, if you engaged in 'non-safe' sex, you were rolling the dice. If you shot up junk with a needle you didn't know, you rolled the dice.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by StcChief

AIDS infected of European decent survive because of the plague

I can't recall what they believe the exact reason for survival is (if they had the body all figured out, cancer and viruses would have no effect on us), but they believe it may be a frame-shift mutation on part of the mitochondrial RNA, which slightly changes the shape of some nameless protein that halts virus synthesis once AIDS reaches a certain point within the body. (I could be wrong, it's been a while since I read the article)

[FAX]

Originally Posted by H5N1

not as much as you'd expect. not everyone in europe got plague in the first place, and the men who are 'surviving' AIDS are all descended from a certain area (recall, travel wasn't as fast and groups got more isolated in plague-europe)

That makes sense, I suppose, Mr. H5N1. I probably have it wrong ... just recalled reading that, in certain portions of Europe, the plague was estimated to have eliminated up to 70% of the population. Probably a mistake on my part.

FAX

[Donger]

Originally Posted by H5N1

crap, I was still playing with GI joes in the late 80's. racking up a 250 dollar phone bill calling the he-man 800 number (sorry mom and dad!)

however, one would be hard pressed not to call AIDS an epidemic. it doesn't meet the classical definition (like hemorrhagic fevers do), but it comes pretty damned close for being so unconventional

Yes, I know the definitions. However, AIDS is now classified as a pandemic, unless I'm mistaken. The third criteria is something like, "Spreads easily and sustainably between humans." That's highly subjective. HIV apparently spreads easily and sustainably between humans when they act with blatant stupidity and disregard for their own health, so do a lot of other things.

Part of me has always felt that the definitions of 'epidemic' and 'pandemic' should include a disclaimer: "Oh, and has to be relatively easy to catch." Last I checked, no one ever got AIDS by going to the movie theater and getting coughed upon.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, there are. But, for example, if you engaged in 'non-safe' sex, you were rolling the dice. If you shot up junk with a needle you didn't know, you rolled the dice.

I totally agree with you. we, as Homo sapiens tend to be risk seekers.

however, one of the fatal flaws of human beings is that we're incredible stupid, and not perfect. regardless of how one contracts AIDS, it's a tragedy (no human life should end that way). a cure would be wonderful, and perhaps lead the sinners to the zen-like state that you're obviously in, correct?