Discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Viruses

The identification of HIV-1 as the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) just 3 years after the clinical syndrome initially was described represents a remarkable scientific achievement that had its roots in earlier discoveries of animal and human retroviruses. The selective loss of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes in patients with the disease implicated an agent with T-lymphocyte cell tropism. As expected for an etiologic agent, HIV-1 was shown to be uniformly present in subjects with AIDS and to reproduce the hallmark of disease, destruction of T lymphocytes, in tissue culture.

General Biologic Properties of HIV-1:
Soon after its discovery, HIV-1 was shown to be biologically, structurally, and genetically distinct from human T-lymphotrophic virus I (HTLV-I) and HTLV-II and more like members of the lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses.

Unlike the leukemia viruses, which lead to immortalization of lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo, HIV-1 exhibits pronounced cytopathic properties for lymphocytes, causing syncytia formation and cell death. Morphologically, HIV-1 differs from HTLV-I and other type C oncogenic retroviruses in exhibiting a dense, cylindrical core surrounded by a lipid envelope typical of lentiviruses.

Like all retroviruses, HIV-1 is a single-stranded plus-sense RNA virus. The RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, or reverse transcriptase, is packaged within the virion core and is responsible for replicating the single-stranded RNA genome through a double-stranded DNA intermediate, which in turn serves as the precursor molecule for proviral integration within the host cell genome. The major structural core proteins of HIV-1 are the p24 capsid protein and the p18 matrix protein, as shown. Surrounding the viral core protein structures is a bilayered lipid envelope that is derived from the outer limiting membrane of the host cell as the virus buds from the cell surface during replication. Studding this outer viral membrane are the envelope glycoproteins, gp120 and gp41, which are encoded by viral-specific genes and are responsible for cell attachment and entry.

Features of this life cycle distinguish retroviruses from all other viruses. The cell-free virion first attaches to the target cell through a specific interaction between the viral envelope and the host cell membrane. The specificity of this interaction between virus and cell has been shown to be due to a high-affinity specific interaction between the viral gp120 envelope glycoprotein and the target cell-associated CD4 molecule. Following virus adsorption, the viral and cellular membranes fuse, resulting in internalization of the nucleoprotein viral complex. Reverse transcription catalyzed by the viral reverse transcriptase generates a double-stranded DNA copy of the viral RNA within the nucleoprotein complex, and this migrates to the nucleus where covalent integration of viral DNA into the host chromosomes leads to formation of the provirus. Subsequent expression of viral DNA is controlled by a combination of viral and host cellular proteins that interact with viral DNA and RNA regulatory elements.

Transcribed viral mRNA is translated into viral proteins, and new virions are assembled at the cell surface where genomic-length viral RNA, reverse transcription, structural and regulatory proteins, and envelope glycoproteins are assembled. Because the HIV-1 pro-virus is covalently integrated within the host cell chromosome, it represents a stable component of the host genome and is replicated and transmitted to daughter cells in synchrony with cellular DNA. Relevant to subsequent discussions of viral pathogenesis, the integrated provirus is thus permanently incorporated into the host cell genome and may remain transcription ally latent or may exhibit high levels of gene expression with explosive production of progeny virus.

HIV Positive - This Bodybuilder is Positive about Life

As Schwarzenegger wannabes pit muscle against muscle to win India’s top bodybuilding prize, among these combatants will be one individual who is competing against life itself. This is an inspiring story of the can-do spirit. He is HIV+ but he is also positive about life. If you meet Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh you might feel a tinge of sympathy about a man who might soon come to the end of the road. But for Khundrakpam the journey is just beginning. Even today there might not be a cure for the dreaded virus but this inspiring individual busts the myth that HIV+ means a date with mortality and despair. Pradipkumar, tested positive for HIV seven years ago. Today, seven years down the line he is a bodybuilder and one of the contenders for the Mr. India title. "I was into drugs and that is how I contracted the virus. There was pain, anguish and a deep sense of guilt. That is when I decided to channelize all my emotions into body building and maintaining a fitness level."He began bodybuilding in 2003 and along with retroviral therapy he turned to the gym. He won the state title in the 60kg category. Medals and title came his way and soon he was competing at the national level. A runner-up at the Senior Mr. India Challenge Cup provided him further motivation to look at the bigger horizon. For the ultimate national title in the sport, he has had to mortgage his sister’s gold jewelry to make the trip to Kolkata.
Khundrakpam summarizes his gung-ho spirit by saying,"I want to prove that HIV is not the end of the world. I want to be a role model for such patients and tell the world that WE CAN."His motivational journey has been recognized by his state government which made him the face of their AIDS campaigns as a brand ambassador. Despite being a household name in his state of Manipur, financial help has been difficult to come by. Though that has hindered his diet and preparations, it hasn’t blocked his vision and attitude.
Even as he has his sights set on winning the national crown he dreams of contributing to society one day.

Things about HIV/AIDS you didn’t know:
2.3 million people were HIV positive in India. The disease was found to be most prevalent in southern and northern states with Andra Pradesh and Manipur having the highest number of cases. HIV was more prevalent men than in women and was seen in people between 15-49 years of age. The good news here is that the survey found that the number of people infected with HIV has decreased by 50% in 2011. This World AIDS day, the theme is ‘Getting to Zero’ – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. So in order to help us all move towards that goal here are eleven things about HIV/AIDS that you might not have known. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. A person is termed to be HIV positive when they are found to be infected by this virus. As the disease progresses it eventually eats away at the immune system of the patient, causing a number of opportunistic infections to take hold along the way.  AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease is a host of conditions that are associated with the loss of one’s immune system – according to the CDC when a person’s CD4 count is below 200 cells/mm3.  This is the most severe stage of the infection. HIV and AIDS are different and a person who is HIV positive does not necessarily have AIDS.

You probably knew that HIV originated in monkeys. But did you know that there are actually two types of HIV strains? Labeled as HIV 1 and HIV 2, these two strains have been found in chimpanzees and small African monkeys. HIV 1 is the more potent of the two strains and is what most commonly causes HIV infection.

Once a person is infected with HIV it takes at least 10 years for it to progress into AIDS. AIDS is the final or most severe stage of the disease when the immune system of the patient’s body has been compromised greatly. 

The symptoms of HIV/AIDS very often mimic the symptoms of other very common diseases like the common cold or flu. While a person infected with the virus may experience symptoms within 2-3 weeks of being infected it may take up to three months. There are also some people who may be absolutely asymptomatic. The common symptoms of the condition are fever, rash, chills, sore throat, rash, night sweats, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and ulcers in the mouth.

The test for HIV involves either testing your blood or your saliva for the presence of the antigen against HIV. The problem with this test was that it could not pick up the presence of the antigen you a patient’s body until he/she started producing antibodies to the virus, which usually takes about 12 weeks.  Recently a new test has been devised that tests for the presence of antibodies against the virus. This is far more accurate and one can get the test done as soon as they think they have been infected. All you have to do is go to a nearby testing center and check if you have been infected by giving a simple blood test. The test is not painful and is completed in about 10 minutes. Many people believe that if an HIV positive person cooks for them or somehow their blood is ingested they can contract the disease. This is not possible, because the HIV virus – for all the havoc it creates in our body – is extremely fragile and cannot survive outside a host. More importantly it is essential that blood containing the virus enter a person’s blood stream, this requires a deep injection directly into the blood vessels. Another fact to consider is the HIV virus cannot stand excessive heat. Even the heat generated by the sun damages it, so if one were to bleed into your food and cook it, you are highly unlikely to contract HIV. And finally everybody has a mucosal lining on the inside of our mouth and nose. So when we eat the HIV virus will not be able to infect a person.

Anabolic steroids for the treatment of weight loss in HIV-infected people

Individuals with HIV infection often lose weight during the course of their disease. Furthermore, low serum concentrations of testosterone are common in individuals with HIV infection, particularly those with weight loss. Treatment of weight loss with anabolic steroids in HIV-infected individuals may be beneficial. Randomized controlled trials that compared the use of an anabolic steroid to placebo to treat weight loss in adults with HIV were included. Randomized controlled trials that compared the use of anabolic steroids to placebo for the treatment of weight loss in adults with HIV were selected. Change from baseline in lean body mass or in body weight was reported as on outcome measure.

Two reviewers independently assessed the trials for quality of randomization, blinding, withdrawals and adequacy of allocation concealment. For continuous data, weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated. For dichotomous outcomes, risk differences, were calculated. Because of uncertainty as to whether consistent true effects exist in such different populations and treatments, the authors decided a priori to use random effects models for all outcomes.

Thirteen trials met the inclusion criteria. Two hundred ninety-four individuals randomized to anabolic steroid therapy and 238 individuals randomized to placebo were included in the analysis of efficacy for change from baseline in lean body mass. Three hundred forty-three individuals randomized to anabolic steroid and 286 randomized to placebo were included in the analysis of efficacy for change from baseline in body weight. The mean methodological quality of the included studies was 4.1, of a maximum 5 points. Although significant heterogeneity was present for both outcomes, the average change in lean body mass was 1.3 kg (95% CI: 0.6, 2.0), while the average change in total body weight was 1.1 kg (95% CI: 0.3, 2.0). A total of eight deaths occurred during the treatment period; four in the anabolic steroid treatment groups and four in the placebo-treatment groups (risk difference 0.00, 95% CI -0.03, 0.03). The risk difference for withdrawals or discontinuations of study medication due to adverse events was 0.00 (95% CI: -0.02, 0.03).

Although the results of the trials were heterogeneous, on average, the administration of anabolic steroids appeared to result in a small increase in both lean body mass and body weight as compared with placebo. While these results suggest that anabolic steroids may be useful in the treatment of weight loss in HIV infected individuals, due to limitations, treatment recommendations cannot be made. Further information is required regarding the long-term benefit and adverse effects of anabolic steroid use, the specific populations for which anabolic steroid therapy may be most beneficial and the optimal regime. In addition, the correlation of improvement in lean body mass with more clinically relevant endpoints, such as physical functioning and survival, needs to be determined. Testosterone has been demonstrated to increase muscle mass and lean body mass in testosterone-deficient but otherwise healthy men.
Individuals with HIV infection often lose weight and have low blood levels of testosterone; thus, the use of anabolic steroids in the treatment of weight loss in individuals with HIV infection may be beneficial.

The purpose of this review was to evaluate anabolic steroids as a means of treatment of weight loss in individuals with HIV infection.
However, the results were not consistent among individual trials and the average increase was small and may not be clinically relevant.
Furthermore, the results need to be interpreted with caution as this meta-analysis was limited due to small sample sizes, short duration of treatment and of follow-up; and heterogeneity of the study populations, the anabolic interventions, and concomitant therapies.
Furthermore, low serum concentrations of testosterone are common in individuals with HIV infection, particularly those with weight loss. Our objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of anabolic steroids for the treatment of weight loss in adults with HIV infection. Androgen deficiency is a common endocrine abnormality among men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Low testosterone concentrations are associated with lower CD4 cell count, advanced stage of illness, medication use, and weight loss. Signs and symptoms may be nonspecific. The most useful laboratory indicator is the serum bio available (free) testosterone concentration. A number of different testosterone preparations for treatment of androgen deficiency in HIV-infected men now exist. Administration of testosterone significantly increases weight and lean body mass, energy, quality of life, and depression scores in HIV-infected men with low testosterone levels. Newer trans dermal and gel preparations provide more-consistent steady-state dosing but are not as well tested, and sufficient testosterone concentrations may not be achieved with their use. Androgen deficiency is also common among HIV-infected women. Preliminary studies suggest that use of physiological testosterone administration, to achieve testosterone levels within the normal range, is of benefit in HIV-infected women, but further studies are necessary to define the therapeutic role of androgen therapy in this population.

Treatment with testosterone

There has been much argument about the part of testosterone levels in AIDS wasting. Testosterone is the man hormone which promotes muscle growth. Following the inspection of low levels of serum testosterone in many men with AIDS wasting, a stipulation known as hypogonadism, some treatment advocates and doctors have argued that correcting the testosterone deficiency may reverse wasting.

However, the relationship between HIV infection, testosterone production and AIDS wasting is still unclear. One recent study found no relationship between wasting and hypogonadism, but a review of patients in the Multi center AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), a large United States cohort followed since 1985, found that testosterone levels fell before the onset of wasting. A study of testosterone levels in women with AIDS wasting found that more than half the women had low levels of testosterone. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency comprise fatigue, reduced sex make, infertility, depression and deprivation of appetite.

These symptoms are common in advanced HIV disease, and may be associated with many other illnesses and malnutrition. Testosterone levels are reduced in chronic illnesses as an adaptive measure to conserve vitality. Even when effective antiretroviral treatment reduces HIV levels and clears up opportunistic infections, some experts suggest that testosterone levels will not return to standard on their own. Opportunistic infections can also lead to hypogonadism.
Testosterone injections or derma patches that deliver testosterone on a daily basis are being investigated as a way of maintaining testosterone levels, and some controlled studies have investigated the effectiveness of various testosterone preparations in encouraging the replacement of lean muscle tissue. A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of testosterone injections establish that men who received testosterone gained muscle and weight, and reported feeling better in comparison to men who received placebo. However, benefits seem to be restricted to men with hypogonadism.

Training for bodybuilder with HIV

Does a bodybuilder with HIV have it harder than a bodybuilder that doesn’t have the disorder? Is there a specific trainer that a bodybuilder with HIV need to go to? The answer is yes. As per a bodybuilder I interviewed today at a gym in Miami, which does not want his identity revealed to the public. He advised me that a bodybuilder that does have the disease needs a special trainer to help him gain muscle. There is a specific program that he says he is on that keeps him in shape for shows. He said a majority of trainers need to add a HIV program to handle bodybuilders with the affliction only because they knowledge different things when they are training which hurts them more than help. There needs to be a design program with special needs for someone with HIV with a different level of fitness. A bodybuilder going through HIV treatment that exercises can play fair or bad long term side effects which could lead to uplifted blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and etc. The significant possession is to come to terms with the disease and produce a plan that will help you as a bodybuilder and still achieve your goals.

Here is the key lucky training for a bodybuilder with HIV:
- Opposition Training
- Cardiovascular Training
- Pliability Training
- Balance Training and Intellect-Cadaver Training
Even though you may get depressed, weariness and chronic pain at times, If you are going through these symptoms, stop and take a rest. Don’t push yourself too hardened to get over that hump, just work to what is allowed. If you have HIV and you are a bodybuilder, consult your doctor first before starting your training. 

HCV antibody

All patients who analysis categorical for HCV antibody should have HCV RNA testing performed. As noted above, if patients have refusing results on HCV antibody tests but persistently abnormal transmigrates or suspected acute or persistent infection, HCV RNA testing should be performed. The delimitation of chronic HCV infection is the presence of HCV RNA 6 months after the estimated time of infection. If a patient is HCV antibody definite but HCV RNA negative, the patient has cleared the HCV and does not have persistent HCV infection. Augmentin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic which destroy bacteria. It is active against many aerobic.
There are quantitative RNA tests and qualitative RNA tests. Although both types of RNA tests are greatly sensitive and specific, the qualitative tests can detect reduce levels of viremia than the quantitative tests. The choice of RNA exam can be significant. The quantitative RNA tests will be reported as a value, with a measured numeral of universal units per milliliter (IU/mL). Quantitative tests are useful for determining the prognosis of HCV treatment and then monitoring while on HCV treatment. Qualitative RNA tests will be reported as a present-day or away value, but without a numerical value. They are useful for serial testing during suspected acute infection and for determining whether spontaneous viral clearance has occurred, a sustained virological response has occurred during treatment, or a relapse has occurred after treatment.

Hormones and HIV infection

While both men and women involvement many of the same symptoms, women regularly must contend with some distinctively female signs of HIV infection such as:
    Persisting or strict vaginal infections particularly vaginal yeast infections.
    Pap smears that indicate cervical dysplasia or other abnormal changes.
    Pelvic infections such as pelvic inflaming infection (PID.)
Although women with HIV frequently experience these women’s health conditions, women without HIV also experience vaginal infections, deviant Pap smears, and pelvic infections.

Other signs and symptoms that may indicate HIV infection contain:
    Genital warts
    Genital ulcers
    Severe mucosal herpes infections
Regularly, within a few weeks of infection, both men and women experience flu-like symptoms. Others do not experience signs or symptoms of HIV or AIDS until several years later. This makes HIV testing required for those with current or previous high risk behaviors.
An insulin-like growth element (IGF) is a polypeptide that has a molecular structure similar to insulin. There are two types of IGF: IGF-1 is made and secreted primarily in your liver, and helps modify the cycle of cell growth, division and death. IGF-1 is critical to fetal development and growth during childhood. IGF-2 is secreted by your brain, kidneys, pancreas, and muscles, and is most dynamic in a baby's growth in the womb. IGFs are interesting because the receptor for these hormones are expressed on many types of cancer cells and new biologic therapies targeting these receptors are in advanced clinical trial development. Several hormones play a critical role in exercise in popular and strength training in particular. Testosterone, cultivation hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) provide strength and muscle growth stimulus; cortisol, epinephrine and nor epinephrine and glucagon command access to fat and glucose fuels by manipulating the release of stored fuel when needed in addition to other important functions; and insulin provides the storage impetus for the fuels derived from the food we eat. Getting these hormones to work so that you can maximize muscle and strength is one of the secrets of natural mass training.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most everyday cause of long-lasting liver affliction worldwide. Chronic HBV can cause necro inflammation and over period can cause hepatic fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, end-position liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is estimated that 350 million people have inveterate HBV infection, with approximately 1.25 million of them in the United States. HBV is a DNA virus that is spread through exposure to infected blood and corpse fluids. It typically is transmitted by parenteral, sex, and vertical exposures, but may be transmitted through person-to-individual contacts among household members, especially because HBV can survive outside the body for large periods of time. Because HIV and HBV share transfer routes, up to 90% of HIV-Infected patients have evidence of HBV baring. In the United States, chronic HBV infection has been identified in 6-15% of HIV-infected persons.
The epidemiology of HBV infection varies by geographic area. In Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, HBV is highly prevailing and almost all infections occur perinatally or during early childhood. In the United States and Western Europe, most infections occur through sexual exposure or tall-danger injection medicament use behavior.

What are the symptoms of HIV in women?

Symptoms that could attend to as advice signals of HIV infection may go ignored because many women do not perceive themselves at danger. Symptoms include recurrent yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis), pelvic inflaming disease, abnormal changes or dyspepsia (growth and presence of precancerous cells) in cervical tissue, genital ulcers, genital warts, and severe mucosa herpes infections may also accompany HIV infection in women.

It is possible for a personally infected with HIV to show no signs of infection. For women, the most common symptoms of exposure to the HIV virus are frequent or severe vaginal infections, abnormal PAP smears or pelvic infections (PID) that are hard to manage.

Within a few weeks of having been infected, many people have flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, symptoms do not show for many years. As the infection progresses, some symptoms can include: swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm, or groin area, recurrent fever including "night sweats," rapid weight loss for no apparent reason, constant tiredness, diarrhea and decreased appetite, snowy spots or untypical blemishes in the way out.

What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS in women?

Symptoms that could serve as caution signals of HIV infection may go ignored because many women do not identify themselves at danger. Symptoms include recurrent yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis), pelvic inflammatory disease, abnormal changes or dyspepsia (evolution and proximity of precancerous cells) in cervical combination, genital ulcers, genital warts, and strict mucosa herpes infections may also accompany HIV infection in women.
It is possible for a individual infected with HIV to display no signs of infection. For women, the most common symptoms of uncovering to the HIV virus are recurrent or severe vaginal infections, deviant PAP smears, or pelvic infections (PID) that are hard to manage.
Within a few weeks of having been infected, many people have flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, symptoms do not present for many years. As the infection progresses, some symptoms can include:
1) swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm, or groin space
2) recurrent fever including "night sweats"
3) fast heaviness deprivation for no apparent reason
4) resolute tiredness
5) diarrhea and decreased disposition
6) snow-white spots or exceptional blemishes in the lips.

How antiretroviral drugs travail

HIV is a virus which attacks the vaccinated structure – the body’s protection combination against infection and disorder. If you have HIV, you can take drugs to reduce the plane of HIV in your cadaver. By attractive these drugs, you can laggard down or anticipate impairment to your vaccinated organization. These drugs are not a remedy, but they can help you remain well and conduct a longer and healthier living.  Anti-HIV drugs are known as antiviral drugs.

HIV mainly infects cells in the immune structure called CD4 cells. Over many years of HIV infection, the numeral of CD4 cells drops inch meal but continually and the vaccinated organization is weakened. It becomes unqualified to confound infections and a qualification called AIDS (acquired vaccinated deficiency syndrome) follows. Antiviral drugs occupation by interrupting this proceeding.

Cocaine Abusers at Danger for HIV and Hepatitis

Cocaine abusers, especially those who introduce, are at increased danger for contracting such infectious diseases as mortal immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) and hepatitis. In reality, use and misuse of illicit drugs, including break cocaine, have become the influential danger factors for new cases of HIV.

Medication pervert-associated spread of HIV can end result from manage transfer of the virus through the sharing of contaminated needles and accessories between injecting medication users. It can also outcome from circuitous transfer, such as an HIV-infected mother transmitting the virus perinatal to her child. This is particularly alarming, given that more than 60 percent of new AIDS cases are women.

Investigation has also shown that medication use can meddle with judgment about danger-attractive behavior and can potentially conduct to reduced precautions about having sex, the sharing of needles and injection apparatus, and the trading of sex for drugs, by both men and women.
Additionally, hepatitis C is spreading quickly among injection medication users; contemporary estimates indicate infection rates of 65 to 90 percent in this residents. At current, there is no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus, and the only treatment is costly, often unfortunate, and may have serious side effects.

The function of corticosteroids

Assists in hemophiliacs is clearly cognate to the function of corticosteroids moreover different unimpressive advocates secondhand to e stop the growth of antibodies to constituents VIII plus IX, plus to negotiate constant illnesses. In hellos textbook, Dr Fauci also hellos co-poets mark that hemophiliac meeks routinely retain unimpressive stimulants as region of their usage. Forbearing beside bitter hemophilia enjoy serious continuing elbow enigmas resulting from bleeding interior the mutual. This is always treated along steroids. Serves in persons receiving stock further or tissue is analogous to the benefit of glucocorticoids to preclude the harmful replays caused by transfusion plus tissue denial. Further, it is classic treatment to provide such meek steroids.

Serves in baby's moreover children is presumably a consequence of their revelation to avenue opiates or steroids in uteri further, beyond dawn, to steroids worn to delight their incurable illnesses. For occasion, matriarchs prospective to have a unseasonable lineage are routinely treated along steroids - a model method ago the 1970s. In untimely babies, steroids are worn to auxiliary elaborate the lungs further to lessen the incidence of necrotic enterocolitis (swelling also ulceration of the bowel associated along offend, unsound stock continuity or antibiotic therapy).

Potential Benefits of Treatment During Early HIV Infection

Preliminary data indicate that treatment of early HIV infection with combination ART improves laboratory markers of disease progression. The data, though limited, indicate that treatment of early HIV infection may also decrease the severity of acute disease; lower the viral set point,18-20 which can affect disease progression rates in the event therapy is stopped reduce the size of the viral reservoir and decrease the rate of viral mutation by suppressing viral replication and preserving immune function. Because early HIV infection often is associated with high viral loads and increased infectiousness and ART use by HIV-infected individuals reduces transmission to discordant sexual partners, treatment during this stage of infection is expected to substantially reduce the risk of HIV transmission. In addition, although data are limited and the clinical relevance unclear, the profound loss of gastrointestinal lymphoid tissue that occurs during the first weeks of infection may be mitigated by initiating ART during early HIV infection. Many of the potential benefits described above may be more likely to occur with treatment of acute infection, but they also may occur if treatment is initiated during recent HIV infection.

HIV treatment

Most people with HIV turn up at sex condition clinics or expert HIV clinics that have doctors and other condition professionals trained in HIV care. Even if you do not need to start HIV treatment at this stage, regular blood tests will tell you about the condition of your inoculated organized whole and indicate when you should think about starting.

Before you start alluring anti-HIV drugs, or if you need to twitch to a new conjunction, you should have a numeral of blood tests. Viral weight and CD4 tests will tell you if your HIV is progressing and about the healthfulness of your immune organization. When you start or alteration a stimulant consortium, a viral burden will be done within the first month, to repress that the drugs are working. After this, testing is usually performed every three to four months, although some doctors may complete tests more often to start out with and less regularly once you are established on treatment and doing well.
Once you are on HIV treatment, you will have tests to capacity liver and kidney occupation and the levels of fat (cholesterol) and sugar in your blood, to assess any effects of the drugs on these systems.

The Symptoms of HIV/AIDS - the First Position

HIV infection comes in three stages. The first position is called sharp infection or seroconversion, and it typically happens within two to six weeks after baring or becoming infected. This is when the body's immune organization puts up a contend with against HIV. The symptoms of sharp infection look like to those of other viral illnesses and are often compared to those of the flu. The symptoms may last a week or two and then entirely go away as the virus goes into a non-symptomatic position.

The primary symptoms of narrow HIV infection may comprise:
    Migraine
    Diarrhea
    Nausea and vomiting
    Weariness
    Aching muscles
    Painful throat
    Red foolhardy that doesn't tickle, usually on the torso.
    Feve

After the first seroconversion interval, the immune system loses the fight with HIV and symptoms go away. HIV infection goes into its second position, which can be a extensive duration without symptoms, called the asymptomatic time. This is when people may not know they are infected and can pass HIV on to others. This interval can last 10 or more years.

During this interval without symptoms, HIV is slowly murder the CD4 T-cells and destroying the immune system. Blood tests during this period can expose the numeral of these CD4 T-cells. Normally, a individual has a CD4 T-cell regard between 450 and 1,400 cells per microliter. This horde changes constantly, depending on a person's conditions of health. For an HIV-infected human being, the numeral of CD4 T-cells steadily drops, making them defenceless to other infections - and in risk of developing AIDS.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic is on the increase with the highest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008 to assess the knowledge, self-perception of risk of contracting HIV infection and risky sexual practices among patients attending some out-patient clinics at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The knowledge on the modes of transmission and methods of prevention of HIV was high. Although, 53.0% of the study participants perceived themselves not to be at risk of contracting HIV infection, 80.6% were engaged in risky sexual practices within a year preceding the study. Premarital sex is often associated with high risk sexual behaviour such as early age of initiation, multiple partners and inconsistent condom use. Evidence shows that such sexual behaviour pre-disposes to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.

Objectives: This paper tried to investigate the correlates of premarital sexual behavior among male and female business process outsourcing (BPO) employees to highlight the gender differences that exist in relation to it. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 526 unmarried BPO employees during behavioural surveillance survey in Chennai, in the year 2009.
Results: The results showed that about one-third of respondents (males - 39.6%, females - 26.1%) had experienced premarital sex. Men reported having had their first sexual intercourse at 12 years and women at 16 years of age. While the prevalence of premarital sex was found to be high, the percentage using a condom during last sex was also high, especially, among the female employees (82.4%). Logistic regression showed that monthly individual income, work in shifts, migration, peer influence and friends with previous sexual experience were significant predictors of premarital sex among the male BPO employees.

The risk of HIV transmission

The risk of HIV transmission during anal intercourse may be around 18 times greater than during vaginal intercourse, according to the results of a meta-analysis published online ahead of print in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Moreover, as well as this empirical work, the researchers from Imperial College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine carried out a modelling exercise to estimate the impact that HIV treatment has on infectiousness during anal intercourse. They estimate that the risk of transmission from a man with suppressed viral load may be reduced by as much as 99.9%.

Anal intercourse drives the HIV epidemic amongst gay and bisexual men. Moreover a substantial proportion of heterosexuals have anal sex but tend to use condoms less frequently than for vaginal sex, and this may contribute to heterosexual epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.

Rebecca Baggaley and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (an analysis of all the medical research that meets predefined requirements) of the risk of HIV transmission during unprotected anal intercourse. The same authors have already conducted similar reviews of the transmission risk during vaginal sex and oral sex.

Central Nervous System Lymphomas

The initial symptoms of an HIV infection are not considered to be AIDS. AIDS is not typically diagnosed until the immune cells of an HIV infected individual have dropped below a threshold number or the person has developed opportunistic infections.

Many AIDS patients experience severe weight loss, also referred to as chronic wasting, as a result of the infection. This can be the result of a loss of appetite that commonly accompanies the disease or as a complication of other infections that AIDS sufferers are susceptible to. Sometimes nutritional counselling and dietary supplements can help mitigate the effects of chronic wasting in AIDS patients.

Neurological Symptoms:
The brain can be affected by AIDS and patients frequently exhibit signs of dementia or memory loss. This may be the result of swelling of the brain that occurs in some AIDS patients. In these people, chronic swelling causes injury to the tissues of the brain, leading to permanent brain damage.

Central Nervous System Lymphomas:
Central nervous system lymphomas are malignant tumours that affect the brain and are symptomatic of advanced AIDS. These are usually associated with the herpes-related Epstein-Barr virus, according to the San Francisco AIDS foundation. Central nervous system lymphoma symptoms include headaches, seizures, speech and vision problems, paralysis and dementia.

Immunodeficiency syndrome

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention writes that much has been discovered about the nature of HIV and AIDS since the 1980s when it was first identified. However, there remain a great many misconceptions about the basic facts regarding HIV and AIDS. A proper understanding of the disease should help patients cope with the struggles AIDS will present.

HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the virus that can lead to the condition known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. HIV damages the body's immune system by targeting and destroying blood cells called CD4+ T cells, which are primarily responsible for fighting disease. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection. By the time AIDS develops, the body's immune system is so severely damaged, it vulnerable to various infections and certain kinds of cancers.
What Are The Symptoms of HIV And AIDS?
Upon initial HIV infection, some people may develop flu-like symptoms that last a week or two, writes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However others may not develop any symptoms to indicate infection. In fact, people who are infected with HIV may live for several years appearing to be in perfect health.