HIV & The Future...

 

The field of HIV research is decades old & huge steps have been made in the fight against the virus.  However, we haven't found a cure.  We're back to admitting prevention is currently our best option.  While there have been advancements in treatment, there's still no silver bullet. 

Some are admitting the difficulty of this pursuit & altering course.  Alongside long acting treatment & PrEP that can greatly limit transmission, researchers are looking at options not found in pill bottles.  Some are researching the areas of gene therapy and broadly neutralizing antibodies.  

I've discussed these topics before.  It's a shift from a wide net approach meant for the masses to a personalized effort for individuals.  This could be the path forward, but it's still early days on this matter.

That's all for now, take care.

C=ya...

 

The 5th...

 

There'll still be lingering fireworks for a bit, but the holiday has passed.  It wasn't all that great either.  Each year the fireworks get smellier, smokier & do less.  When we 1st moved to this house, we could sit on the porch & watch the show.  It'd easily clear the treetops by 2 - 3 times.   There'd a loud rumble boom & then the lights.  Then unfortunately, the smoke.  Each year, the lights in the sky got lower & the treetops obscured more of the show.  Last night, unless I looked at a very specific angle, the fireworks were completely concealed by the trees.  The booms were louders & the air was filled with more smoke & odors, but the lights were hidden.

Just like with everything else, the show has gotten more expensive.  While the event happened, the pyrotechnics were much lower quality.  They paid as much or more for the show & got less each passing year.  In a few years, it'll just be sparklers on a podium.

All the 4th brought us was noise, litter & smoke.  My head is dealing with the aftermath this morning.  My eyes, nose & throat are hating it.  Glad this only happens once a year.

On to other news, this article, actually an abstract from the National Library of Medicine of the NIH.  Deals with the idea that even if a cure for HIV were found, it wouldn't solve everything for those living with the virus.   This is something I've personally thought & worried about.  They made 4 points.  1) a cure for HIV would not deal with health damage already incurred from or exacerbated by the virus.  2) you'd still have to deal with the stigma of being the person who had HIV.  This could make reentering "normal"  life difficult or impossible; try finding a job after a decade with no work experience due to being HIV+.  3) People who were cured could lose all public assistance leaving them more economically vulnerable.  4) There's no guarantee a cure would be available to everyone.  Without the means to aid people who've been living with HIV for years of decades, a cure could be more problematic than the virus.

That's it for now.  Hope you had a good holiday.  Give the article a read.  Take care.

Cya...

Maybe More...

 

This article is about 2 more people that may have been cured of HIV.  The piece is rather brief, so there isn't much I can offer here.  The method was similar, the introduction of stem cells from HIV resistant donors.    

It'll take time to see if this is a cure for them.  Even if it is, these cases are exceedingly rare.  There's much more to be learned about the process & the long range outcome.

Give it a read & take care.

Cya...

This Is Why Not...

 

By now, most of us have heard of people with various ailments like leukemia & HIV being cured by transplants from someone whose blood has a natural resistance to HIV.  There have been 7 cases to date.  It's probable many have asked if it worked for them, then why not use the method to cure others of HIV?  

This article is about 12 year old boy who underwent such a treatment.  It seemed to have succeeded in dealing with both the HIV & leukemia.  However his body began rejecting the new cells.  This is always a risk with any transplant.  In the end, they couldn't do anything to save him.

While remarkable & to some they may even seem routine, transplants are serious procedures with sometimes deadly consequences.  Any surgery can inadvertently lead to death for a host of reasons.  The more invasive, novel, experimental the procedure; the higher the potential for unknowns & risks.

While the transplant procedure to cure HIV may yield a great wealth of info in the fight against the virus, it isn't a magic bullet.  It probably isn't the path to ending HIV on a large scale.  Still the concept is curious. 

Cya.

2 Days Out & Again...

 

I got through yesterday still a little off stomach wise & tired from the colonoscopy.  Apparently, that's to be expected, the process is depleting.  Luckily both nights since have been cooler & I slept better.   Maybe that'll be enough to get things back to more my "normal".  Still not wanting to push a lot today though.

Another patient has apparently been cured of HIV via  stem-cell transplant.  I'm only going to post a link to this article.  This would be the 7th patient, but the process is still deemed questionable & dangerous.   Maybe they will eventually glean enough from these flukes for a helpful application for the majority of people living with HIV.

Take care.

Cya...

Probably Not...

 

It's been decades since the 1st case of HIV/AIDS.  So, when's there going to be an end to this, a cure, a vaccine?   IMO, most likely that day will never come. 

There are too many malignant people out there that don't believe in handling HIV because it isn't about them.  Or they like having something they can ridicule or shame people about.  They will never deal with HIV until they test +.

There's too much profit in HIV.  Drug companies make billions off the meds.   They'd lose that if there was ever a cure.  Another form of profit is social.  The kind conservatives like.  The people who think that any one who contracts the virus was a bad person who deserved it.  Unless of course it was them or someone in their circle.  Then it was an attack by some abomination. 

Between horrible people, greedy corps & conservatives the possibility of a cure is fairly low.  That doesn't even take into account those who are + & won't/can't take care themselves.   I think HIV is just here.  If it is cured, it'll probably be after I'm gone.

Just my thoughts on the matter.  Take care.

Cya...

Possibly Another...

 

According to this article there might be another patient cured of HIV via the use of stem cells.  He's nearing 2 years with no signs of the virus.  This time was slightly different than the others, give it a read.  The cells weren't carrying the specific genes that made them combative to HIV.  This may not be a cure, but it could point the way.

It was hot again yesterday & will be again today.   We're supposed to get a bit of a reprieve this weekend.  That'll be nice.  Even with the heat, it's hazy this morning.  It's 2023, the year that hated sunshine in Oklahoma.

Take care.

Cya...

Problematic Pieces...

 

The article I found this morning is a bit troublesome.  The title is, "Gene Therapy Can Effectively Eliminate HIV Infection."   The article covers the same info I did for a recent post.  It discussed deactivating the CCR5 mutation & snipping the virus from the cell.  The concept CRISPR has been around a bit.  The method has been studied for a while, still it isn't a proven strategy.  Thus far, it's been used in humanized mice.

Even though the title infers there's a cure for HIV via gene therapy, there isn't at this time.   Maybe this can be made to work in mice 100% of the time.  That doesn't mean it will automatically translate to any other animals or humans. 

Still the title remains & many people will read that & think they can be cured tomorrow.  Articles like this can do far more harm than they will inform of future possibilities.  Before you write, know your audience.  Albeit there was some serious jargon in this article, it was written to lean towards lay people, not medical professionals.  Even though the title is technically accurate, it's click bait & a false promise.  This type of writing is misleading, harmful & quite frankly disgusting.

Cya...

Another CRISPR ...

 

This article is a bit wordy, but worth it.  It's about reasearch using a dual CRISPR approach to cure humanized mice of HIV.   Some points;  this is research, CRISPR is gene editing, humanized mice carry human genes, cells or tissues.  

While on a long acting HIV medication, this dual approach would directly attack & remove HIV from infected cells.  Then it would inactivate the CCR5 mutations in these cells.  This similar to what happens to humans who have been cured via transplant.

This is still in the research phase & these are mice, even if humanized.  Even if this does work, they will have to ensure to impact every aspect in the body.  If not, the dormant HIV would eventually return.

This may sound like the rantings of a mad scientist in a horror movie, but the science is grounded.  Despite the mixed species aprroach, this may lead to a possible cure not involving some one getting a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. 

Something to keep an eye on.  Take cae.

Cya...

Appointments & Temps & Stems...

 

I have a dental cleaning appointment today.  I need to get around before then & get trash to the curb.  We'll grab something to eat over there & maybe look at a new store.

Apparently I'm never happy.  I was complaining about the cold, dark days.  It's not exactly bright but the temps jumped about 20 degrees & the pollen hiked as well.  My throat isn't happy about any of that.  I may finally be getting ready to stow covers away for the season.  We'll see, this might be yet another false Spring.

According to this article another person has been cured of HIV vis stem cells.   He was another leukemia patient.   As of yet this method is still too risky for non-cancer patients.

Cya...

Another Cured...

 

According to these article A & B, another person has been cured of HIV.  The articles are well written & stand on their own.  While the pieces can't agree on whether it's the 3rd or 5th, I'm thinking 5th.  The process again involved replacing bone marrow with that from a donor that was HIV resistant.  Even, though this is another occurrence, that doesn't mean that this method is a viable cure for the masses.

On the me front.  I'm still not doing that great with the lack of light.  The temps are jumping up & down.  The tree pollen is soaring & while the electric company is chopping at trees.  My breathing & eyes are shot.   Hopefully, this will get better in a little while.  

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Another One...

 

This will be a short post.  Today's  topic is important to note, but I think I've said about as much as I can in past posts.  This article announces the 4th patient cured of HIV.  Like the predecessors, it involved a transplant.   It's an important read & will add more to reearch efforts.

Take care, stay safe.   Maybe this damned  heat will calm down soon.  Not waking to  hot mornings would be nice.   

Cya...

Hope Basket...

 

2 days ago, I posted on a new form of genetic editing to white blood cells to fight HIV.  Gene modification & CRISPR aren't new, but they're still novel.  These researchers are touting an injection that would be the final treatment for the virus.  

Since that, almost every article I've seen has been over this topic.  Would this be great?  That depends on a lot of things, like affordability & possible reactions.  But more so, is that this is still not certain.

Research brings new ideas to the table fairly often. Many of them, if not most, don't pan out.  They may add to the knowledge base, but they aren't the silver bullet people sought.  Will this be?  I don't know.  I doubt anyone does at this time.  

What I'm saying is, while this looks promising, it might not be.  Don't pin your hopes of this, it could fail.   This is just 1 basket & you don't have that many eggs to lose.

Cya...

Science Won't...

 

I've come across a few articles lately, that while aggravating, are accurate.  Science won't end COVID, it  hasn't & won't end HIV.  HIV may be incurable, but we've had the means to test, treat & contain it for decades.   Hasn't meant a damn thing in ending  HIV.  It's lowered the fatality rates, but the virus continues to be spread even now.

The same is true with COVID.   We've had the means  to lessen the spread & impact of this virus for a bit now.  It isn't ending this outbreak.

Yes,  science will impact the spread of these illnesses.  But, not enough.  It takes money, a lot of money.  Even with the funds, it takes the willingness of the population.  The group has to be willing to listen, learn & face the problem in a logical manner.  Little of this was accomplished with HIV.  Even less headway has been made with COVID.  Violent, angry indulged ignorance has been the chosen path for many when facing COVID & those trying to fight it.   These people choose violence, hate,  idiocy & conspiracy theories over the facts.  Again, they have made a virus an ideological matter.  A thing of religion & politics. 

Science can't & won't end HIV or COVID.  There are too many stupid, violent indulgent people in the world.  Do your best to keep yourself safe, no one  else will.  Take care.

Cya...

Not RIght...

 

A few days ago, I posted about the 3rd case of a HIV being cured due a transplant.  This had been the 1st woman & 1st person of color.   But in only 3 cases that makes it different, not unique.  

There are articles out this morning asking HIV+ people if this makes them feel hopeful.   Some of these pieces are even pushing for the reader to get their hopes up.  There is no call for that.   This may have been the 3rd case, but it's still a fluke.  It's not seen as a controllable or safely repeatable method.  

This is a great thing for this woman.  It may help in the fight against HIV.  It won't provide a cure enmasse.   It shouldn't being touted as such.  IMO, these articles are cruel & reckless.  Maybe something will come of this someday.  For now, it's just a case of someone getting a bit of luck in a bad situation.  That's all.  

Cya...

Another Case...

 

This article & many others provided details about a woman who has become the 3rd person to be cured of HIV.  It had to do with a transplant due to leukemia.  The articles are basically the same with different levels of jargon.  This is still early, so it's going to be in the news for some time.  

I have a dental cleaning appointment, so I need  to  get about.  Take care.

Cya...

Maybe Possibly...

 

This article is only the 1st of a flood to come on this matter.  

A woman in Argentina has become only the second documented person whose own immune system may have cured her of HIV.

The rest of the article details this phenomenon.  The details are still sketchy.  This women will have to be monitored to study the permanency of the "cure".   

This is big, strange news.  Albeit, it was what the researchers wanted.  They probably saw this is their unicorn in the distance, a goal they'd never meet.   It's uncertain what any of this will mean for HIV treatment or medicine in general.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Defined...

 

I want to talk about a man & I won't give you his name.  Google him if you feel the need.  12 years ago there was a man now known as the Berlin Patient.  Thought to be the 1st person cured of HIV.  It was via a transplant he received to fight cancer.  This process led to his cure & his life was defined.  Over a decade later another person was cured in the same manner.  Since then a few more have followed.  

This man pushed for the action to be researched.  He wanted others cured.  But he was defined.  Now his cancer has returned & his definition has been amended.   

He is the Gay, former Washingtonian, international student who studied in Germany.  He was HIV+ & developed cancer.  He had treatment that handled his cancer & cured his HIV.  He was dubbed the Berlin Patient.   He was the cured man who pushed for research.  He was the 1st.  His cancer returned & it's terminal.  He is now a resident of a California hospice.  Final points, will be added soon.

To many, that's all this man is or ever will be.   Many of us have been defined by surface details & things beyond our control.  This man is my age.  I've had others react to me over cursory definitions.  Often, those things were wrong.  Often  they were reflections of my situation at the time.  Often, they were a tiny detail of my life made to be significant.  I've interacted with so many people in my life, but so few of them ever bothered to know me.  Even those, I thought of as friends.  Even those who I was related to. 

This man, you, me & everyone else... we are all more the best or worst moments of our lives.  Life happens & things come before us, they may alter us, even change our course.  But, they don't get to be our definition.  Even if you look up the Berlin Patient.  It's not easy to find much more about him than what I've posted.  

He was a real, human person that was so much more than these points.  He's on his journey through life.  So are we.  Be kind.

Cya...

PS - My appointment went well.

Alleged...

According to this article, an HIV+ man in Sao Paulo, Brazil was cured.  It wasn't a transplant this time.  It was supposedly a novel drug approach.   The article isn't short, but it doesn't offer much info on the how's of the matter.   I'm not sure if this is real or just something people in Brazil hope to be genuine.   I guess we'll see if it's repeatable.  Even if it is, what will be after affects of this treatment?  There are still a lot of questions, including whether it's even real of not.

Cya...

Genderfied...

It's Thursday & the trashmen have hauled off the garbage.  It's supposed to be 20 degrees cooler than yesterday.  Over the next few days there could have lows in the 30s.  Not happy about that.  I'm never going to get the Winter blankets washed.

This piece suggests any cure for HIV may have to be tailored by biological sex.  Estrogen has an effect on HIV latency & therefore how to be rid of the virus.  Less than 20 of research subjects are female.  Recently was there an all female study.   It appears estrogen causes enough difference, a single approach may never work.  Who knows what this means for people taking hormones.  Give it a read.

Cya...