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AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands (AFP) – Scientists yesterday reported setbacks in the search for a cure for AIDS and highlighted concerns over inconclusive evidence linking a promising new drug against HIV / AIDS. HIV to congenital anomalies. in Amsterdam, four cases of neural tube defects were recorded among the pregnancies of 426 HIV-positive women in Botswana who took dolutegravir before conception.
Neural tube defects lead to severe malformations of the brain and spine Cases represent a close ratio of one defect per 100 pregnancies, compared to the rate in the general population of about one for 1000, researcher Rebecca Zash from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
The anomalies were observed between August 2014 and May of this year.
There were no new reports among 170 dolutegravir moni pregnancies "
Four congenital anomalies in 596 pregnancies were" still seven times higher than other groups and statistically significant ", she adds. 19659008] Dolutegravir is a relatively new antiretroviral drug that has fewer side effects and is less likely to trigger drug resistance in patients.
Countries targeted by US aid fund PEPFAR against AIDS were on the verge of becoming the first antiretroviral President Botswana was the first country to introduce dolutegravir as first-line antiretroviral drug for all those who need it, including pregnant women. Bekker said, adding that the organizers of the conference "have moved on" to hold last-minute sessions to discuss the implications of the Botswana results.
Meanwhile clarificat Global health agencies have advised HIV-positive women who are considering a family to use other antiretrovirals instead.
"I wish so much that this (data) signal disappears" with more research, said Zash AFP
Meanwhile, "it's hard, but I think we just have to wait "for more information
On the forefront of healing, there was also bad news.
An attempt to test a new strategy "chasing" the AIDS virus from its hiding place in human cells and then "killing" gave a disappointing result.
Researchers tested the effects of several drugs on standard ART in a test of 60 HIV-positive men
Volunteers received two vaccines designed to help the body's immune system recognize HIV, and another drug to "wake up" the cells of the reservoir hiding the virus, allowing it to be attacked by the body's defenses. 19659003] But trial participants who received these drugs had no different results "Sarah Fidler, professor of HIV medicine at Imperial College London, who participated in the research
" Of course, the overall effect was not what we were hoping for, but it was definitive, "she told reporters in the Dutch capital
" All results advance knowledge, even if they are somewhat disappointing. "
For scientists," cure "means to weaken HIV to such an extent that it does not harm the infected person and can not be passed on to others – allowing people to become infected. stop treatment safely.
"A cure remains a scientific priority," said Sharon Lewin researcher at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Toronto. University of Melbourne However, "what we have learned, I think in the last decade: this is going to be a very difficult scientific challenge."
In another potential failure, a Thai study found that a type of "feminization" hormone "used by transgender Women seem to reduce the concentration of tenofovir in the blood.
This does not necessarily mean that hormone therapy makes the anti-virus drug less effective, said Akarin Hiransuthikul of the Thai Red Cross. Center
But further research is needed to unlock the potential repercussions.
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