Viral load is the only factor associated with a poorer antibody response to the yellow fever vaccine in patients with HIV, according to a French study published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. For patients vaccinated after diagnosis with HIV, an undetectable viral load was the “unique determinant” of

Women using injectable (hormonal) contraceptives had a significantly lower rate of pregnancy compared to those using oral contraception in a major HIV prevention study, researchers report in the advance online edition of AIDS. However, the same study also found that women who used an injectable hormonal contraceptive method were at higher risk of

Men who have sex with men may now be at considerably higher risk of acquiring HIV than other at-risk groups such as female sex workers or young people of either sex, if findings by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) of HIV incidence at two centres in Kenya can be generalised to other populations. The

HIV doctors in the US are struggling to meet the demands of a rising patient caseload, according to the findings of a national survey. Two-thirds of HIV treatment providers reported an increase in patient numbers, and a third reported difficulties being reimbursed for the care they provided. The second annual HealthHIV State of Primary

Approximately a quarter of men undergoing circumcision resume sexual activity before their wounds have fully healed, Zambian research published in the online edition of AIDS shows. Most of the men reporting the early resumption of sexual activity engaged in unprotected sex, often with multiple partners. The investigators calculated that early resumption of sexual activity at this

Raltegravir could have a “useful” role in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, according to investigators from the US writing in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Doctors in Boston, Massachusetts, prescribed a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen of raltegravir (Isentress) with tenofovir and FTC (Truvada) to 100 patients after possible sexual exposure to HIV.

Seeking to understand why adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was extremely high in a study of serodiscordant couples, qualitative researchers have found that trial participants saw PrEP as a way they could preserve their relationship despite the pressures created by the knowledge of different HIV status and the risk of infection. In an article published

Only 45% of HIV-positive patients in the US are receiving regular medical monitoring, research published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes suggests. The study also showed that a third of patients were not being linked with specialist HIV care within the first year of their diagnosis with the

During a study of 5567 South African women, looking at the effect of hormonal contraception on HIV acquisition, 270 women became HIV-infected. The researchers report that use of hormonal contraception did not increase the risk, overall, of becoming HIV positive, compared to non-hormonal contraception, in the advance online edition of AIDS. There

Of the 270 South African women from a cohort of 5567 who became HIV-infected, use of hormonal contraception did not increase their risk, overall, of getting HIV compared to non-hormonal contraception, researchers report in the advance online edition of AIDS. There was a modest but non-significant trend towards an increased risk of getting

The performance of OraQuick, a widely used rapid point-of-care test for HIV diagnosis, is slightly poorer when testing oral fluid samples than when testing blood samples, according to a meta-analysis published in the online edition of Lancet Infectious Diseases this week.The authors also found that if the test is used in low-prevalence settings with oral

The performance of OraQuick, a widely used rapid point-of-care test for HIV diagnosis, is slightly poorer when testing oral fluid samples than when testing blood samples, according to a meta-analysis, published in the online edition of Lancet Infectious Diseases this week.The authors also found that if the test is used in low prevalence settings with

Vitamin D supplementation is associated with an improvement in a key marker of bone health in HIV-positive young adults treated with tenofovir, US research published in Clinical Infectious Diseases shows. Treatment with vitamin D3 lead to a significant fall in parathyroid hormone levels, an important regulator of calcium which has a significant role in bone metabolism.

The provision of smoking cessation counselling and therapy during routine HIV care increases the chances that patients will quit smoking and stay stopped, according to Swiss research published in HIV Medicine. Physicians at the Zurich HIV clinic received training about smoking cessation counselling and the use of medication to help those wanting to quit. Compared to

The Department of Health this week announced the 66 ‘indicators’ with which the performance of the new public health system will be measured. To the relief of HIV campaigners, these include a measure of late HIV diagnosis. From 2013, management of the public health system in England will move from NHS primary care trusts to

The Department of Health this week announced the 66 ‘indicators’ with which the performance of the new public health system will be measured. To the relief of HIV campaigners, these include a measure of late HIV diagnosis. From 2013, management of the public health system in England will move from NHS primary care trusts to

The majority of US adults at risk of hepatitis B remain unvaccinated against this potentially life-threatening infection, according to research published in advance of print in the online edition of Infection. The research highlighted missed opportunities for vaccination, especially for individuals who had received health care while in prison. The authors express concern that vaccination

In a bid to reduce the risk of nevirapine resistance after the use of single-dose nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, several research groups are now experimenting with the use of drugs that can speed up the clearance of nevirapine from the mother’s bloodstream after giving birth. For example, adding single dose-carbamazepine, a cheap, readily available anti-convulsant

In a bid to reduce the risk of nevirapine resistance after the use of single-dose nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, several research groups are now experimenting with the use of drugs that can speed up the clearance of nevirapine from the mother’s bloodstream after giving birth. For example, adding single dose-carbamazepine, a cheap, readily available anti-convulsant

The addition of the protease inhibitors telaprevir or boceprevir to hepatitis C treatment regimens increases the risk of anaemia, according to a review article published in Liver International. The author also found that telaprevir treatment was associated with an increased risk of rash and itching as well as some anorectal symptoms. However, these side-effects were