Human growth hormone to the treatment of the wasting syndrome of HIV/AIDS

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a naturally occurring polypeptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and is essential for body growth. Daily secretion of HGH increases throughout childhood, peaking during adolescence, and steadily declining thereafter. In 1985, synthetic HGH was developed and approved by the FDA for specific uses. However, it is commonly abused by athletes, bodybuilders, and aging adults for its ability increase muscle mass and decrease body fat, as well as its purported potential to improve athletic performance and reverse the effects of aging.

Several FDA-approved injectable HGH preparations are available by prescription from a supervising physician for clearly and narrowly defined indications. In children, HGH is approved for the treatment of poor growth due to Turner’s syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and chronic renal insufficiency, HGH insufficiency/deficiency, for children born small for gestational age, and for idiopathic short stature. Accepted medical uses in adults include but are not limited to the treatment of the wasting syndrome of HIV/AIDS and HGH deficiency. Dependent on the clinical presentation, pediatric dosages range from 24-100 microgram/kilogram/day and adult dosages from 0.9-25 microgram/kilogram/day, dependent on product. The FDA-approved injectable formulations are available as liquid preparations, or as powder with a diluent for reconstitution.

Using recombinant DNA technology, two forms of synthetic HGH were developed, Somatropin and Somatrem. Somatropin is identical to the endogenous pituitary-derived HGH, whereas Somatrem has an extra amino acid on the N-terminus. Both synthetic forms have similar biological actions and potencies as the endogenous HGH polypeptide. Synthetic HGH also is chemically indistinguishable from the naturally occurring hormone in blood and urine tests.

HGH binds to growth hormone receptors present on cells throughout the body. HGH functions to regulate body composition, fluid homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, skeletal muscle and bone growth, and possibly cardiac functioning. Sleep, exercise, and stress all increase the secretion of HGH.

The use of HGH is associated with several adverse effects including edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain, muscle pain, and abnormal skin sensations (e.g., numbness and tingling). It may also increase the growth of preexisting malignant cells, and increase the possibility of developing diabetes.

HGH is administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. The circulating half-life of HGH is relatively short half-life (20-30 minutes), while its biological half-life is much longer (9-17 hours) due to its indirect effects.

Human growth hormone is illicitly used as an anti-aging agent, to improve athletic performance, and for bodybuilding purposes. It is marketed, distributed, and illegally prescribed off-label to aging adults to replenish declining hGH levels and reverse age-related bodily deterioration. It is also abused for its ability to alter body composition by reducing body fat and increasing skeletal muscle mass. It is often used in combination with other performance enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids. Athletes also use it to improve their athletic performance, although the ability of HGH to increase athletic performance is debatable.

Athletes, bodybuilders, and aging adults are the primary abusers of HGH. Because the illicit use of synthetic HGH is difficult to detect, its use in sports is believed to be widespread. Over the past few years, numerous professional athletes have admitted to using HGH. Bodybuilders, as well as celebrities also purportedly use it for its ability to alter body composition. Aging adults looking to reverse the effects of aging are increasingly using synthetic HGH.

Screening Tests for HIV Diagnosis and Treatment

If you're worried that you might have been exposed to human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV),  the virus that causes AIDS - it's important to get tested as soon as possible. Although the prospect of being diagnosed with the disease can be scary, today you can live a long and full life with HIV, especially if you start treatment early. Knowing you are infected can also help you take precautions so that you don't pass the virus to other people.

Several different tests are used to diagnose HIV infection. Other tests are used to select and monitor treatments in people who are living with HIV. This article covers both types of HIV tests.

You are at risk for HIV infection and should be tested for it if:
    You’ve had several sexual partners.
    You had unprotected sex with someone who is or could be HIV-positive.
    You have used injected drugs or steroids or shared needles or other equipment during drug use.
    You have had any sexually transmitted disease, including herpes, hepatitis, or TB.
    You have had sex for drugs or money.
    You’ve had sex with someone who has a history of any of the above - or with someone whose sexual history you don’t know.

There are several types of tests that screen blood (and sometimes saliva)  to see if you are infected with HIV.

Newer tests can detect the presence of HIV antigen, a protein, up to 20 days earlier than standard tests. This helps prevent spread of the virus to others and means an earlier start for treatment. It is done with a pinprick to the finger.

Here's a look at available HIV tests:

Standard tests. These blood tests check for HIV antibodies. Your body makes antibodies in response to the HIV infection. These tests can't detect HIV in the blood soon after infection because it takes time for your body to make these antibodies. It generally takes two to 8 weeks for your body to produce antibodies, but in some cases it can take up to six months.

In standard tests, a small sample of your blood is drawn and sent to a lab for testing. Some of the standard tests use urine or fluids that are collected from the mouth to screen for antibodies.

Rapid antibody tests. Most of these are blood tests for HIV antibodies. Some can detect antibodies in saliva. Results are available in under 30 minutes and are as accurate as standard tests.

Antibody/antigen tests. These tests are recommended by the CDC and can detect HIV up to 20 days earlier than standard tests. They check for HIV antigen, a part of the virus that shows up 2-4 weeks after infection. These tests can also detect HIV antibodies. A positive result for the antigen allows treatment to begin earlier and the patient to avoid infecting others. These are blood tests only.
 Rapid antibody/antigen test. One antibody/antigen tests delivers results in 20 minutes.

In-home test kits. These kits there are two available in the U.S. screen blood and saliva for HIV antibodies. You can buy them at your local store. The Home Access HIV-1 Test System requires a small blood sample that is collected at home and sent to a lab. The user, who may remain anonymous, can get results by phone in three business days. The Ora Quick In-Home HIV Test can detect HIV antibodies in saliva, if the antibodies are present (which can take up to 6 months). The user swabs the upper and lower gums of their mouths, places the sample in a developer vial, and can get results in 20-40 minutes. A follow-up test should be done if the result is positive.

HIV Screening Tests After Diagnosis:

While being treated for HIV, your doctor will perform several tests to monitor your health, determine when you need to start treatment, and check how well treatment is working. These include:

CD4 count. CD4 is a protein that lives on the surface of infection-fighting white blood cells called T-helper cells. HIV targets these immune cells.

To monitor the health of your immune system, your doctor will check your CD4 count -- the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. You should have your CD4 count tested every three to six months during treatment.

A normal CD4 count is more than 500 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3) of blood. The lower the CD4 count, the less your immune system is functioning, and the more likely you are to get infections. Your doctor will probably start treatment by the time a CD4 count is under 500 cells/mm3. If your CD4 count drops to below 200/mm3, you are said to have full-blown AIDS.

Viral load test. A viral load test measures how much of the HIV virus is in the blood. You want to have a low viral load because it means treatment is helping to control the virus. If your treatment is working effectively, the viral load should drop to an undetectable level in your blood.

You'll have your viral load tested two to four weeks after starting treatment, then every four to eight weeks until the viral load is no longer detectable. An undetectable viral load doesn't mean you're not infected just that the amount of HIV in the blood is too low for the test to pick up.

Risk of invasive pneumococcal disease remains high for people living with HIV

The risk of cancer is increased twofold for people with HIV compared to individuals in the general population, Danish investigators report in the online edition of AIDS. But the increased risk was almost entirely due to higher incidence of smoking-related cancers and also malignancies caused by viral infections. The risk of other cancers did not differ between the people with HIV and people who did not have HIV.

“In the present study we found that the increased risk of non-AIDS cancer was largely confined to cancers associated with smoking and viral infections,” write the authors. “The risk of cancers that are not considered strongly related to smoking or viral infections did not differ between the HIV-infected and the background population, and the impact of immune deficiency was limited.”

Non-AIDS-related cancers are an increasingly important cause of serious illness and death among people with HIV. The exact causes are uncertain. However, possible explanations include high rates of smoking, a high burden of viral co-infections such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human papillomavirus and immune suppression caused by HIV.

Investigators from Denmark wanted to establish the proportions of cancers in people living with HIV attributable to smoking, viral infections, and HIV-related immune suppression.

They therefore compared the incidence of cancer between people with HIV and matched controls in the general population. Results were stratified according to smoking status and immune deficiency. Cancers were categorised as smoking-related, virus-related or 'other'.

The HIV-positive population consisted of 3503 individuals who received care between 1995 and 2011. Their average CD4 count at baseline was 450 cells/mm3. At the time of inclusion in the study, 77% were taking HIV therapy and, for 92% of follow-up time, the people with HIV were taking antiretroviral therapy.

The control population consisted of 12,979 individuals. There were 157 cancer diagnoses among the people living with HIV compared to 255 diagnoses among the controls. The overall incidence of cancer was twice as high in people with HIV compared to the controls (IRR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.5).

The incidence of cancers related to viral infections was almost twelvefold higher in the HIV-positive population than in the HIV-negative controls (IRR = 11.5; 95% CI, 6.5-20.5). Incidence of smoking-related cancers was almost threefold higher among people with HIV (IRR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6-4.9). The risk of other cancers did not differ between the people living with HIV and the HIV-negative controls.

Incidence of smoking-related cancers associated with current smoking was significantly higher among the people living with HIV (IRR = 21.35; 95% CI, 2.88-158.5) than the controls (IRR = 4.12; 95% CI, 1.74-9.78). For the people with HIV, a lowest-ever (nadir) CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 was associated with a more than threefold increase in the risk of lung cancer (IRR = 3.54; 95% CI, 1.00-12.59). No patients with a nadir CD4 count above 200 cells/mm3 developed a smoking-related cancer.

Smoking-related and virus-associated malignancies accounted for 23% and 43% of cancers diagnosed in the HIV-positive population. Virological cancers were rare in the controls. The fractions of all cancers in the HIV-positive population attributable to smoking and viral infections were 27% and 49%, respectively.

For cancer types considered associated with smoking, the proportion attributed to smoking was 91%. The proportion of virus-related cancers attributed to having HIV was also 91%.

For cancers not strongly related to smoking or viral infections, the proportion attributable to being HIV positive and immune deficiency were 0%.

Effects of nutrition on HIV Disease progression

The links between HIV and nutritional status run both ways. It has long been known that weight loss strongly predicts illness or death among people with HIV. More recently it has been found that this applies even to people taking antiretroviral treatment. Losing as little as 3-5% of body weight significantly increases the risk of death, losing more than 10% is associated with a four- to six-fold greater risk. A Zambian study involving nearly 30,000 patients has shown that failure to gain weight six months after the start of antiretroviral treatment increases the chance of death ten fold when compared with those who gain over 10 kilograms.

Various micro nutrients have been linked to changes in the rate at which HIV infection progresses to AIDS. Low levels of vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin E and selenium seem to accelerate progression. The effects of other micro nutrients, however, are more controversial. One such example is zinc. Although zinc is essential for a healthy immune system, it has been shown to play a role in HIV’s replication cycle. 12 On the other hand, some scientists claim zinc delays HIV disease progression.
There is strong evidence that malnourished people are less likely to benefit from antiretroviral treatment. One study in Malawi found that patients with mild malnutrition (a low body weight for their height) were twice as likely to die in the first three months of treatment. For those with severe malnutrition the risk was six times greater than for those of healthy body weight. Researchers in Singapore have reported similar findings. A study in Zambia showed death rates in the first three months of starting antiretroviral treatment were highest (95%) among the most severely malnourished. This is not just an issue for developing countries for example a study of people receiving antiretroviral treatment in Sydney, Australia found that one in three did not have access to nutritious food, and one in five said they regularly went hungry.

Without food or the right nutrition, taking antiretroviral drugs can be so painful that people simply don’t. In a choice between taking pills with no immediate or obvious effect, and eating food to survive, food will almost certainly take priority every time. A health worker in Zimbabwe, where malnutrition is widespread, explained that taking antiretroviral drugs on an empty stomach is like digesting razor blades. The result is that many simply do not take them. In resource-poor countries, treatment in children is made more difficult because many children with HIV are severely malnourished. Very little is known about how best to treat such children and in particular whether it is best to start antiretroviral treatment before or after nutritional rehabilitation. The World Health Organisation recommends treating the malnutrition first, but stresses that “further research on these matters is urgently needed.”

The ways in which the body digests, absorbs and makes use of drugs are very similar to the ways in which it treats food, providing many opportunities for food-drug interactions. As explained later in this article, a number of foods and supplements are known to alter the effects of antiretroviral drugs. It is also possible that some micro nutrient deficiencies may make the drugs less effective, or may worsen side effects.
The chance of someone transmitting HIV is linked to the amount of virus in their bodily fluids, which is known as the viral load. In theory, micro nutrient deficiencies may increase viral load by enabling HIV to replicate faster, or by weakening the immune system. Similarly, someone whose immune system has been weakened by micro nutrient deficiencies may be more likely to acquire HIV. Research in this area has, however, been largely inconclusive. The strongest evidence links low levels of retinol (the animal form of vitamin A) in women’s blood with increased rates of mother-to-child transmission.

Poor nutrition may also affect the spread of HIV in a very different way: by altering sexual behavior. One study of two thousand people in Botswana and Swaziland found that women lacking enough food to eat were less likely to use condoms and more likely to engage in risky activities, such as exchanging sex for money or resources.

Dietary advice should be tailored to individual circumstances. However, in general the recommendations for people living with asymptomatic HIV infection are much the same as for everyone else, meaning a healthy, balanced diet. Only three differences are worth noting:

- Because people with untreated HIV tend to burn more energy, the total number of calories should be around 10% higher than the usual guideline amounts, and up to 30% higher during recovery from illness. The balance of fat, protein and carbohydrates should remain the same.
- Many experts recommend a daily multivitamin (usually without iron, except in menstruating women or people with iron deficiency).
- The World Health Organisation recommends vitamin A supplements every 4-6 months for young children living with HIV in resource-poor settings.

HIV positive people suffering loss of appetite may need to make an extra effort to ensure they are eating enough. Helpful suggestions include eating several small meals per day, taking exercise to stimulate appetite, possibly mashing or liquidizing food to ease swallowing, and seeking advice from a health provider or dietician.

If other approaches have failed to reverse wasting then doctors may recommend a liquid food supplement, an appetite stimulant, or resistance exercise to build muscle. Other possibilities include steroids and hormone treatments, though these can be expensive and have serious side effects.

Drug for reduction of abdominal fat in HIV patients may also reduce fatty liver disease

The only drug to receive FDA approval for reduction of the abdominal fat deposits that develop in some patients receiving antiviral therapy for HIV infection may also reduce the incidence of fatty liver disease in such patients. The International AIDS Conference - Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators report that daily injections of Tesamorelin significantly reduced fat in the liver without affecting glucose metabolism.

"Tesamorelin's ability to reduce liver fat in conjunction with the reduction of abdominal fat may be clinically important for patients with HIV infection who have fatty liver disease along with increased abdominal fat," says Steven Grinspoon of the MGH Neuroendocrine Unit and Program in Nutrition Metabolism, the study's senior author. "While some patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have a benign course, others may develop a more serious condition involving liver inflammation, cellular damage and fibrosis, which can progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease or to liver cancer."

Between 30 and 40 percent of HIV-infected patients develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), often but not always in conjunction with lipodystrophy, the abnormal abdominal fat accumulation that develops in 20 to 30 percent of patients receiving antiretroviral drugs. Tesamorelin stimulates the body's release of growth hormone, which is reduced in HIV lipodystrophy and several studies by Grinspoon's team and others led to the 2010 approval of the drug to treat the lipodystrophy.

In designing the current study, the MGH team originally planned to further investigate tesamorelin's effects on abdominal fat with a secondary focus on fat in the liver and muscle, and on markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk. But since several studies suggested a significant incidence of NAFLD in HIV-infected patients, the study's goals were broadened to focus on Tesamorelin's ability to reduce fatty deposits in the liver as well as abdominal fat in general. The study enrolled 48 adult patients who were receiving antiretroviral treatment for HIV and had developed excessive abdominal fat deposits. Participants were first randomized to receive daily injections of either Tesamorelin or a placebo. In addition, since growth hormone treatment can lead to increased blood sugar levels and reduced insulin sensitivity, half of those in each group also had a procedure that analyzes insulin secretion and resistance at the study's outset and at assessment sessions conducted at three months and at the end of the six-month study. The assessments also included comprehensive measures of factors related to HIV infection, lipid and glucose metabolism, along with analysis of abdominal fat by CT scan and of liver fat by MR spectroscopy.

At the end of the study period, participants receiving Tesamorelin had a significant, modestly sized decrease in liver fat along with the expected reduction in overall abdominal fat. Those receiving placebo treatment had increases in both measures. Although Tesamorelin treatment did appear to have reduced insulin sensitivity and raised blood sugar levels at the three-month assessment, by six months both measures had returned to levels observed at the study's outset, implying that the drug's impact on glucose metabolism was only temporary.

"Tesamorelin's neutral long-term effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose are important, since HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation may have underlying insulin resistance, so it's important to know that won't be worsened by this treatment," says Grinspoon, a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Since we know that liver fat is associated with inflammation in the liver, reducing it may result in less inflammation. Indeed levels of AST, a marker of liver inflammation, were reduced in response to tesamorelin in our study.

HIV and nutrition are intimately linked

HIV infection can lead to malnutrition, while poor diet can in turn speed the infection’s progress. As HIV treatment becomes increasingly available in the poorest parts of the world, critical questions are emerging about how well the drugs work in people if they are short of food. Uncertainty also surrounds the role of vitamins and other supplements. And for those already receiving treatment, side effects such as body fat changes are a daily concern.

Understandably, HIV positive people and those who care for them are interested in whatever might benefit their health. This article looks at what is known about the relationships between HIV and nutrition.  HIV and AIDS is well known for causing severe weight loss known as wasting. In Africa, the illness was at first called “slim” because sufferers became like skeletons. Yet body changes are not only seen during AIDS less dramatic changes often occur in earlier stages of HIV infection. Whereas starving people tend to lose fat first, the weight lost during HIV infection tends to be in the form of lean tissue, such as muscle. This means there may be changes in the makeup of the body even if the overall weight stays the same.

In children, HIV is frequently linked to growth failure. One large European study found that children with HIV were on average around 7 kg (15 lbs) lighter and 7.5 cm (3 inches) shorter than uninfected children at ten years old. One factor behind HIV-related weight loss is increased energy expenditure. Though no one knows quite why, many studies have found that people with HIV tend to burn around 10% more calories while resting, compared to those who are uninfected. People with advanced infection or AIDS (particularly children) may expend far more energy.

But faster metabolism is not the only problem. In normal circumstances, a small rise in energy expenditure may be offset by eating slightly more food 4 or taking less exercise. There are two other important reasons why people with HIV may lose weight or suffer childhood growth failure.

The first factor is decreased energy intake or, to put it simply, eating less food. Once HIV has weakened the immune system, various infections can take hold, some of which can affect appetite and ability to eat. For example, sores in the mouth or throat may cause pain when swallowing, while diarrhea or nausea may disturb normal eating patterns. Someone who is ill may be less able to earn money, shop for food or prepare meals. Stress and psychological issues may also contribute.

Secondly, weight loss or growth failure can occur when the body is less able to absorb nutrients – particularly fat – from food, because HIV or another infection (such as cryptosporidium) has damaged the lining of the gut. Diarrhea is a common symptom of such malabsorption. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that the body needs to maintain good health. Researchers have found that people with HIV are more likely to show signs of micro nutrient deficiencies, compared to uninfected people. Specifically they have found low levels of vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, carotids, selenium, zinc and iron in the blood of various populations.

Nevertheless, it must be noted that the evidence is not entirely conclusive. It is possible that HIV might affect the markers used to measure micro nutrient levels more than it affects the actual amounts of micro-nutrients available in the body.  Some studies suggest that antiviral treatment improves micro nutrient status.

AIDS victims and bodybuilders problems

However there are other reasons of the occurrence of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).If AIDS affected mother breast feeds her infant, maybe her newly born child can If the injection syringe is used to administer shots into the AIDS infected patients, this over-used syringe can be deadly and capable of pushing the germs of AIDS into the blood of the receivers.   That’s why, before blood transmission, one should go to doctor for checking up the cadaver and blood as well to avoid the danger in the large run.Compact bodybuilding programs come handy to assist AIDS affected bodybuilders and other persons to improve resistance power for overpowering the physical discomfiture.

Body will be printed with red rings, dents, patches and small pimple like spots. Body builders are not out of danger of being attacked by AIDS. Though their bodies are well built with powerful resistance power, they can also be damaged and destructed due to the onset of STD, HIV and AIDS. For this reason, they must be more attentive while taking care of their bodies. They have to face physical deformity along with long lasting HIV related diseases.Besides, body builders are easily threatened by STD due to massive physical involvement with numerous women.  This type of sexual relationship is detrimental to their health.

However, bodybuilding programs have been tailored to help body builders for increasing their life expectancy. AIDS affected people will not be totally cured as there is no medication to eliminate this germ totally.
However proper guidance, food intake, medication, exercises and shot administrations can elongate the life of a person who is under the high risk of AIDS. To keep in mind, the bodybuilding programs have been launched to facilitate the healthy body builders for taking precautionary measures from AIDS.  Doctors demand that a healthy weight lifter and a wrestler must try to lead a happy lifestyle.

He should be competent and well nourished so that he can resist any type of infection.  That guy must opt for well researched bodybuilding programs which are user-friendly and beneficial to those who like to steer clear of and other deadly diseases.
At a seminar a group of health care consultants have pointed out that  everybody can fall victim to  HIV viral infection if she or he encourages herself/himself to have  wild sex without protection.  People must be taught how to have fair sexual affair without being injured. Bodybuilding programs have put main focus on certain effective physical exercises, proper nutritious food intake, consumption of health drinks and abstinence from steroids, alcohol and other intoxicated elements.

A body builder must take extra preventive measures prior to have sexual intercourse with partners.Researchers have analyzed that many athletes and sportsmen believe that condom is the barrier to get maximum libido.   It is not right.  A body builder must wear good condom to shrug off the danger of AIDS.
They must take extra vitamins,nutrients and proteins if they experience lack of stamina, vitality and vigor.They will have to bring normalcy to the blood circulation inside the body. Blood transmission is another major drawback which must be handled properly. If you find that the donor is affected by HIV virus, you should not allow your doctor to pump his blood into your body. It doesn’t matter how much   you have power and strength to check the disease. AIDS will eat into your body.
If you log at authorized sites,you will have an excellent scope to read e-books and medical research stuff which give different tips to keep the body intact by overtaking AIDS. Finally, you will have to learn steps to rebuild body steadily.  AIDS gifts humans nothing but death penalty. Bodybuilders should try their level best to lead their lives peacefully without suffering from mental trauma and stress. In this connection, a person should do a comparison study to choose beneficial bodybuilding programs which guide people to improve the immune system for the prevention of lethal physical disorders like AIDS. Finally, you can contact any professional training school, health care center and clinic for gathering information about the newly launched bodybuilding programs which can help  AIDS affected guys to live several years more comfortably.

AIDS Wasting

AIDS wasting syndrome is a condition associated with advanced HIV disease. It involves overall weight loss, but more importantly, the loss of lean cadaver mass, or muscle, which sometimes may be replaced by fat. Weight loss results from a number of factors, alone or in combination, including lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, oral problems that build eating difficult, and problems related to intestinal absorption and use of nutrients. The condition was much more prevalent in the developed planet before combination antiviral remedy became available.

A correct diagnosis and the proper intervention for each individual are as important in treating AIDS wasting as they are for any other medical difficulty. Early intervention is often most successful, and a variety of effective and relatively inexpensive tools (such as nutritional supplements, appetite stimulants, and exercise) can be used. HGH is not a universal treatment for treating AIDS wasting. While it can have a dramatically beneficial effect in some individuals (presumably those with a deficiency of natural HGH), the majority may see no good.

The current hGH regimen for AIDS wasting consists of a daily injection administered at bedtime to mimic the natural cycle of growth hormone release into the bloodstream. The dose is 4-6 mg, based upon body weight. HGH alone is likely to effect in weight gain that is primarily fat, while adding a regimen of resistance exercise, such as weight training, can help construct lean cadaver mass. The average cost of HGH remedy for AIDS wasting is approximately $250 per day.

Risks and Side Effects:
Because hGH is a protein that would be destroyed in the stomach and intestines by digestive enzymes, it cannot be taken as a pill and must be injected subcutaneously (under the skin). HGH should not be taken by people with acute critical illness due to complications of open heart or abdominal surgery, multiple accidental trauma, or acute respiratory failure. HGH may stimulate the growth of active tumors and should not be used by people who have cancers that are not under control. HGH also may affect blood triglyceride levels and may increase the risk of developing diabetes in those who are already at risk, particularly people who are obese. Individuals taking insulin may need to have their doses adjusted. In spite of Dr. Kotler's findings, there may be increased cardiovascular risk with long-term HGH use, perhaps related to insulin resistance. Studies of growth hormone have not been conducted in pregnant women.

Up to 50% of all people experience mild to moderate musculature discomfort when starting hGH, and about 25% experience some fluid retention and swelling of the hands and feet. While both generally decrease as the body becomes accustomed to the drug, a significant number of people must stop taking HGH due to these side effects. Some people develop carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS, a condition characterized by numbness, pain, or tingling in the wrists or hands) while taking HGH, CTS typically resolves when the drug is discontinued. Other possible side effects include nausea, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, and chest pain; only rarely are these severe enough to require discontinuation of treatment.

Risk of AIDS among athletes who use anabolic steroids

Sometimes, athletes who use anabolic steroids may share the needles, syringes or other equipment they use to introduce these drugs. By sharing needles, syringes or other equipage, a individual becomes a great danger for HIV transmission. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

If a person shares needles, syringes and other equipment to inject steroids into the vein (IV), in the muscles or under the skin, small amounts of blood from the individual infected with HIV may be injected into the bloodstream of the next person to use the equipment. HIV attacks the body's defense system, making the body less able to fight off infections and cancers. There's no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS. People who may have been exposed to HIV should be tested. If they find out they have the virus, they can start treatment early. You can't tell just be looking at someone if he or she has HIV. And, since someone can be infected with HIV for many years without having any symptoms, some people may not know they have HIV. Anyone who has ever shared a needle to shoot any drugs even once could become infected with HIV and should be tested.

The importance of exercise has become a mantra for many people, those trying to stay healthy and those with a chronic sickness - HIV included. But when you have HIV, exercise becomes an significant part of disease management. Regular exercise can help you cope with many of the common side effects caused by the ailment and the drugs you must take, says Nelson Vergel, founder of the Cadaver Positive Wellness Clinic in Houston. Exercise not only increases lean muscle mass and heart and lung function, but it also helps you "improve your self-image and mental outlook," says Vergel, co-author of Built to Survive, which examines the importance of diet and exercise in people who are HIV-certain.

Ergogenic aids are substances that some athletes use to better strength and stamina. Anabolic steroids are one class of ergogenic aid that many adults and even adolescents often employ in their efforts to improve their athletic performance and advent. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, individuals who are experienced in weight lifting and employ the use of anabolic steroids will experience increases in strength and muscle significantly beyond those from training alone. It is this need to win and get a competitive edge that drives athletes to seek a variety of ergogenic aids.

Effects of anabolic steroids:
Anabolic steroids, favourite among athletes and corpse-builders, increase muscle mass. A variety of types are combined in a procedure called "stacking," which athletes use to gain the best attributes from each particular medication. "Blood doping" increases red blood cell content, which improves muscular stamina. Red blood cells transport oxygen to the working muscles. Obtaining a higher percentage of transport vehicles allows the muscles to work harder and for a longer duration without weariness. Some pharmacological drugs such as beta blockers can be used to reduce anxiety and tremors. This is useful for individuals competing in sports that require smooth, focused movements, such as archery or shooting.

Muscle mass and AIDS

Anabolic steroids do increase muscle mass. While this may seem desirable at first, these drugs have very serious side effects. Anabolic steroids fool the body into thinking that testosterone is being produced in large quantities. Excessive use causes a harmful disturbance of the body's normal hormone levels and body chemistry. Cardiovascular side effects are the most common. They include increased heart rate (tachycardia), heart attack (myocardial infarction) even in young athletes, high blood pressure (hypertension), an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol that increases the risk of stroke. Other negative side effects may include liver damage, liver tumors (usually not cancerous), and a decrease in blood clotting factors. Young people may develop severe acne. Males may experience shrinking testes, falling sperm count, increased risk of infertility, enlarged breasts, and an enlarged prostate gland and baldness. In addition, the ends of long bones fuse together and stop growing, resulting in permanently stunted growth and short stature. Women frequently show signs of masculinity including the development of facial hair, lower voice, and male-type musculature. They may stop menstruating, may be at higher risk for certain types of cancer and have an increased risk of birth defects in their children.
Anabolic steroids also affect mental health. Their use can cause drastic mood swings, inability to sleep, depression and feelings of hostility. There is some evidence that young men may become more volatile and violent when taking these drugs, a condition know "roid rage." Steroids also may be psychologically and physically addictive to some users. Withdrawal symptoms may include insomnia, fatigue, restlessness, reduced sex drive, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
In addition to these physical and mental side effects, steroid abuse brings other risks, some of which are connected to the way some steroids are manufactured and distributed. The drugs are often made in motel rooms, bathrooms, and warehouses in developing countries and then smuggled into the United States. The potency, purity, and strength of the steroids produced this way are not regulated; therefore, users cannot know how much they are taking. Some users of injectable steroids share needles, increasing the risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis.
Most data on the long-term effects of anabolic steroids on humans come from case reports rather than formal scientific studies. From the case reports, the incidence of life-threatening side effects appears to be low, but serious adverse effects may be under-recognized or under-reported. Data from animal studies seem to support this possibility. One study found that exposing male mice for one-fifth of their lifespan to steroid doses comparable to those taken by human athletes caused a high percentage of premature deaths. Most effects of anabolic steroid use are reversible if the abuser stops taking the drugs, but some, such as short stature, can be permanent.

Symptoms of originally HIV infection

Symptoms of HIV infection advance in 50 to 90 percent of people who are infected, usually beginning two to four weeks after exposure to HIV. The beginning group of signs and symptoms is referred to as primary or acute HIV infection. Because the signs and symptoms of primary HIV may be similar to other common illnesses such as the flu, most people do not initially realize that they have HIV. However, HIV infection is greatly contagious at this early stage because there are great amounts of the virus in the blood and other bodily fluids. Recognizing symptoms early, being tested for HIV, and starting HIV treatment as soon as possible can help to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to another person.
 The most common cadaver-wide signs and symptoms of primary HIV include fever (temperature above 100.4ºF or 38ºC), sore throat, headache, and muscle and joint discomfort. These flu-like symptoms last approaching two weeks. During the second week of the illness, most people also have painless swelling of certain lymph nodes, including those in the armpits and in the neck. Although the lymph nodes decrease in size after the first few weeks, enlargement can linger. Skin, mouth, genital symptoms. A characteristic feature of primary HIV infection is open sores or ulcers. These sores or ulcers can develop in the mouth, the esophagus (the tube that extends from the mouth to the stomach), the anus, or the penis. The ulcers are usually painful. Many people also develop a rash of the epidermis about two to three days after fever. The rash usually affects the face, neck, and upper chest or may be more widespread. The rash usually lasts approximately 5 to 8 days. Many doctors recommend Retrovir. Retrovir  (Zidovudine) injection is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Retrovir  (Zidovudine) is also given during pregnancy to prevent an HIV-infected woman from passing the virus to her baby.  Retrovir  (Zidovudine) is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Many people with first HIV infection develop nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and mass privation. A dry cough is usually the only respiratory indication associated with prime HIV infection.

HGH and human immunodeficiency virus

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The HIV retrovirus may be passed from one individual to another when infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions or other bodily fluids come in contact with an uninfected person's broken skin or mucous membranes. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection and are fit and well. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a end result of their HIV infection. Growth hormone is a popular bodybuilding and performance enhancing aid, and the use of recombinant human growth hormone (HGH, or simply GH) to treat various conditions in HIV infection has been debated with excitement for years. Indeed it is licensed for the treatment of wasting syndrome in advanced stages of AIDS.
Other than in the treatment of wasting malady, results from the studies using rHGH to treat cadaver changes associated with HIV and/or drugs used to treat HIV have been very favourable. One which has been studied extensively is the use of rHGH in reducing HIV-associated adipose redistribution syndrome (HARS). However, the positive effects of HGH treatment in HIV may be more direct. Several studies have proposed that rHGH may bolster the immune structure in ways that might better clinical outcomes in HIV.