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Journal of the History of Medicine and... Jul 2023The visual archive of AIDS and fetish activism is a rich resource for studying interlinkages between art and science, activism and public health, politics and medicine,...
The visual archive of AIDS and fetish activism is a rich resource for studying interlinkages between art and science, activism and public health, politics and medicine, pleasure and sexual health prevention. This article explores AIDS and fetish activism imagery from the first two decades of the Norwegian AIDS crisis. Interrogating the materiality and visual context of images - photographs, posters, flyers, and safer sex instructions - it maps out visualization practices in leather, BDSM and AIDS activism. AIDS and fetish imagery made some bodies, pleasures, and political goals visible - and rendered others unseen. The article explores the materiality of images and their visual, social, and historical context of production, and traces their social biographies and afterlives. Fetish images were vehicles for change and actors co-producing history. They took part in destigmatizing BDSM, challenging psychiatric classification, and creating infrastructure and networks between subcultures, communities, and authorities. The visualization of fetish activism was as much about communication strategies as it was about aesthetic, style, and motive. The politics of visibility in Norwegian fetish activism point to the vulnerable project of fighting for acceptance through "respectability," while preserving the individuality and "otherness" of leather and fetish culture.
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Pleasure; Safe Sex; Public Health; Fetishism, Psychiatric; Politics
PubMed: 37011106
DOI: 10.1093/jhmas/jrad012 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023The two oncogenic human gammaherpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) cause significant disease burden, particularly in... (Review)
Review
The two oncogenic human gammaherpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) cause significant disease burden, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals. Both viruses display latent and lytic phases of their life cycle with different outcomes for their associated pathologies. The high prevalence of infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and more recently, COVID-19, as well as their associated inflammatory responses, could potentially impact either virus' infectious course. However, acute or lytically active EBV and/or KSHV infections often present with symptoms mimicking these predominant diseases leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of oncogenic herpesvirus-associated pathologies. EBV and/or KSHV infections are generally acquired early in life and remain latent until lytic reactivation is triggered by various stimuli. This review summarizes known associations between infectious agents prevalent in SSA and underlying EBV and/or KSHV infection. While presenting an overview of both viruses' biphasic life cycles, this review aims to highlight the importance of co-infections in the correct identification of risk factors for and diagnoses of EBV- and/or KSHV-associated pathologies, particularly in SSA, where both oncogenic herpesviruses as well as other infectious agents are highly pervasive and can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality.
Topics: Humans; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Coinfection; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; COVID-19; Gammaherpesvirinae; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
PubMed: 37685871
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713066 -
Mathematical Biosciences and... Jan 2024In this study, we proposed two, symptom-dependent, HIV/AIDS models to investigate the dynamical properties of HIV/AIDS in the Fujian Province. The basic reproduction...
In this study, we proposed two, symptom-dependent, HIV/AIDS models to investigate the dynamical properties of HIV/AIDS in the Fujian Province. The basic reproduction number was obtained, and the local and global stabilities of the disease-free and endemic equilibrium points were verified to the deterministic HIV/AIDS model. Moreover, the indicators $ R_0^s $ and $ R_0^e $ were derived for the stochastic HIV/AIDS model, and the conditions for stationary distribution and stochastic extinction were investigated. By using the surveillance data from the Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, some numerical simulations and future predictions on the scale of HIV/AIDS infections in the Fujian Province were conducted.
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; Basic Reproduction Number; Entropy; Models, Biological
PubMed: 38454662
DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2024079 -
African Journal of Primary Health Care... Jul 2023The youth is at a heightened risk of immunodeficiency virus and/or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV and/or AIDS) infection because of risk-taking behaviour. There...
BACKGROUND
The youth is at a heightened risk of immunodeficiency virus and/or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV and/or AIDS) infection because of risk-taking behaviour. There remains a gap in understanding young men's knowledge of HIV and/or AIDS and HIV testing services (HTS) in hard-to-reach communities in South Africa.
AIM
This article aimed to explore young men's knowledge of HIV and/or AIDS, including HTS in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
SETTING
Rural and peri-urban areas around the town of Ladysmith.
METHODS
Employing a qualitative descriptive research design, 17 young men aged between 18 and 30 years were purposively and conveniently sampled and interviewed using WhatsApp and landline audio calls to collect their data, which was thematically analysed.
RESULTS
Young men had good knowledge of HIV and/or AIDS but lacked knowledge about HTS and HIV self-testing (HIVST). They obtained their information about HIV and/or AIDS and HTS from various sources and were aware of where to access HTS. They were generally unaware and supportive of HIVST.
CONCLUSION
Male-targeted HIV and/or AIDS knowledge and testing interventions are needed to encourage and support young men to test for HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus self-testing should be explored as an alternative to clinic-based service to encourage young men to know their status, specifically those with limited access to or are reluctant to attend clinics. Strengthening HIV and/or AIDS education could facilitate better decision-making towards HIV testing among young men.Contribution: This study contributes to an understanding of young adult men's knowledge of HIV and/or AIDS and HTS in underserved settings in South Africa.
Topics: Young Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Male; Adult; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; South Africa; HIV Testing; Delivery of Health Care
PubMed: 37526557
DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3796 -
Viruses Sep 2023AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To date, thousands of people... (Review)
Review
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To date, thousands of people have lost their lives annually due to HIV infection, and it continues to be a big public health issue globally. Since the discovery of the first drug, Zidovudine (AZT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), to date, 30 drugs have been approved by the FDA, primarily targeting reverse transcriptase, integrase, and/or protease enzymes. The majority of these drugs target the catalytic and allosteric sites of the HIV enzyme reverse transcriptase. Compared to the NRTI family of drugs, the diverse chemical class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) has special anti-HIV activity with high specificity and low toxicity. However, current clinical usage of NRTI and NNRTI drugs has limited therapeutic value due to their adverse drug reactions and the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. To overcome drug resistance and efficacy issues, combination therapy is widely prescribed for HIV patients. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) includes more than one antiretroviral agent targeting two or more enzymes in the life cycle of the virus. Medicinal chemistry researchers apply different optimization strategies including structure- and fragment-based drug design, prodrug approach, scaffold hopping, molecular/fragment hybridization, bioisosterism, high-throughput screening, covalent-binding, targeting highly hydrophobic channel, targeting dual site, and multi-target-directed ligand to identify and develop novel NNRTIs with high antiviral activity against wild-type (WT) and mutant strains. The formulation experts design various delivery systems with single or combination therapies and long-acting regimens of NNRTIs to improve pharmacokinetic profiles and provide sustained therapeutic effects.
Topics: Humans; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Zidovudine; HIV Reverse Transcriptase; Anti-HIV Agents
PubMed: 37896769
DOI: 10.3390/v15101992 -
AIDS and Behavior Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Sexual Behavior; HIV Infections; Risk-Taking
PubMed: 38662278
DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04346-7 -
BMJ Global Health Oct 2023International donors and UN agencies emphasise the importance of human rights as a key determinant of HIV vulnerability and of access, uptake and retention in HIV...
UNLABELLED
International donors and UN agencies emphasise the importance of human rights as a key determinant of HIV vulnerability and of access, uptake and retention in HIV prevention and treatment services. Yet, the extent to which HIV researchers are incorporating rights into their research, the specific rights being examined and the frequency of research assessing rights-based approaches, is unknown.
METHODS
We examined all articles published in the five highest impact-factor HIV journals: (1) Lancet HIV; (2) AIDS and Behavior; (3) AIDS; (4) Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS); and (5) Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS), between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2022, for reference to 'human right(s)' or 'right(s)'. We analysed articles to assess: (1) what populations were identified in relation to specific human rights concerns; (2) what specific rights were mentioned; (3) whether researchers cited specific legal frameworks; and (4) if and what types of rights-based interventions were examined.
RESULTS
Overall, 2.8% (n=224) of the 8080 articles reviewed included a mention of 'human right(s)' or 'right(s)'. Forty-two per cent of these (n=94) were original research articles. The most common key population discussed was men who have sex with men (33 articles), followed by sex workers (21 articles) and transgender people (14 articles). Of the 94 articles, 11 mentioned the right to health and nine referenced reproductive rights. Few articles identified a specific authority-whether in national, regional or international law-for the basis of the rights cited. Fourteen articles discussed rights-based interventions.
CONCLUSION
Despite global recognition of the importance of human rights to HIV outcomes, few HIV researchers publishing in the top five cited HIV journals include attention to human rights, or rights-based interventions, in their research. When rights are mentioned, it is often without specificity or recognition of the legal basis for human rights.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; Homosexuality, Male; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Reproductive Rights
PubMed: 37827727
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013571 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2023Tanzania Commission for AIDS and UNAIDS reports 1.7 million Tanzanians are HIV-positive. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS set 95%, 95% 95% targets to be...
INTRODUCTION
Tanzania Commission for AIDS and UNAIDS reports 1.7 million Tanzanians are HIV-positive. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS set 95%, 95% 95% targets to be achieved by 2025. An assessment was done to understand the region's position, which found the underperformance of critical HIV and AIDS indicators. This prompted the region to accelerate HIV interventions by providing frontline healthcare providers with skills and knowledge, essential equipment, and other infrastructure, after which the assessment of the indicators was conducted to document the outcome of interventions.
METHODS
we conducted a descriptive study in Kigoma region in June 2022 by comparing HIV and AIDS indicators performance in the pre-intervention and post interventions arms. High-volume CTCs were purposefully selected. We used a pre-tested checklist to assess new HIV-positive on antiretroviral (ARV), pregnant women living with HIV on ARV, and people living with HIV offered multi-month dispensing. We further assessed HIV viral load (HVL) specimen collection, HIV suppression status, and HVL test results turnaround time. We cleaned the information using an MS Excel sheet and tabulated results using STATA software version 13.
RESULTS
we assessed 27 care and clinics. The proportion gain in the index client elicitation was 13%. Sexual partners mentioned during index client elicitation had an increase of 145 individuals. The yield among consented sexual partners gained by 14%. The ARV initiation among new HIV -positive and pregnant women living with HIV gained a proportion of 2%. Multi-month dispencing was found to have an 8% increase. The turnaround time for HVL test results decreased by 21 days, and the viral load suppression status increased by 4%.
CONCLUSION
the assessment demonstrated the accelerated HIV and AIDS service delivery due to implementing a comprehensive package of HIV and AIDS management. We recommend in-service capacity building regarding training, basic equipment, and infrastructure.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; Tanzania; Sexual Partners; Anti-Retroviral Agents
PubMed: 37538364
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2023.45.1.39597 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected global health, leading to the suspension of numerous routine healthcare services and posing challenges in efforts to control...
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected global health, leading to the suspension of numerous routine healthcare services and posing challenges in efforts to control other diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV/AIDS diagnoses and mortality rates in Brazil during 2020 and 2021. The percentage change was calculated to determine whether there was an increase or decrease in HIV/AIDS diagnoses and mortality, considering the average numbers from the last 5 years. Additionally, a Joinpoint regression model and an interrupted time series analysis were applied to assess time trends before and after the onset of the pandemic. Lastly, choropleth maps were prepared. We observed a reduction of 22.4% (2020) and 9.8% (2021) in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in Brazil. Conversely, there was a significant increase in the percentage change of late diagnosis of AIDS deaths in 2020 (6.9%) and 2021 (13.9%), with some states showing an increase of over 87%. Decreasing time trends in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS were identified before the pandemic in Brazil, especially in the Southeast and South regions, and then time trends stabilized after including the pandemic years. Along with the dissemination of COVID-19, there was a reduction in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and an increase in late diagnosis AIDS deaths, signaling a serious impact of the pandemic on HIV/AIDS control strategies in Brazil. Therefore, we highlight the need for continuous efforts to control both diseases, that is, maintaining regular health services even in crisis situations.
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Pandemics; Delayed Diagnosis; Brazil; COVID-19; HIV Infections; COVID-19 Testing
PubMed: 38155227
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50359-y -
The Journal of the Association of...
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; Synapses
PubMed: 37815849
DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000435