NIH experts call for accelerated research

Health

NIH experts call for accelerated research to address concurrent HIV and COVID-19 pandemics

Red ribbon, the international symbol for AIDS awareness.Red ribbon, the international symbol for AIDS awareness.

What

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people with or at risk for HIV both indirectly, by interfering with HIV treatment and prevention services, and directly, by threatening individual health. An effective response to these dual pandemics requires unprecedented collaboration to accelerate basic and clinical research, as well as implementation science to expeditiously introduce evidence-based strategies into real-world settings. This message comes from a review article co-authored by Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

By disrupting critical health care services, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens the substantial progress made in reducing the global burden of HIV. The authors note that the toll of COVID-19 on the HIV pandemic could be mitigated by increasing access to HIV treatment, for example, by prescribing multiple months of medication, and ensuring that HIV testing and prevention services are maintained.

Many questions remain as to whether people with HIV are more at risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and for developing severe COVID-19, as evidence to date is mixed. Rates of infection with SARS-CoV-2 are similar in people with and without HIV. However, populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV—including Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx populations—also are at increased risk for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and for developing severe COVID-19. Multiple factors contribute to the burden on these populations, including systemic health disparities, socio-economic inequalities and a higher prevalence of comorbidities.

While HIV infection itself does not appear to increase risk for severe COVID-19, mounting evidence indicates that specific comorbidities in people with HIV are linked to greater COVID-19 severity. Even when HIV is well-controlled with treatment, people with HIV bear a significant burden of numerous comorbidities, many of which have also emerged as risk factors for severe COVID-19. These comorbidities include certain cancers, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Accelerated development and clinical testing of prevention and treatment strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the juxtaposition of the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics, the authors conclude. This includes basic research on the interactions between HIV and SARS-CoV-2 at both the cellular and molecular levels, as well as clinical studies to evaluate outcomes for people with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections, including the impact of comorbidities.

Article

RW Eisinger, AM Lerner and AS Fauci. HIV/AIDS in the era of COVID-19: a juxtaposition of two pandemics(link is external). Journal of Infectious Diseases DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab114 (2021).

Who

NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., is available for comment.

NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

Comments

World’s ‘best’ vaccines could soon come to poor countries

Health World’s ‘best’ vaccines could soon come to poor countries -By Vishnu /11/5/21 In the 6 months since Covid vaccines became available, those based on mRNA technology have scored top marks. So far, there are only two – made by Pfizer and Moderna – and both show 95% efficacy. Other types of vaccines are usually 80% or less efficacious. This difference affects not only the protection you get as an individual but also the protection available to the ‘herd’ or society. With a better vaccine a country can reach ‘herd immunity’ faster by vaccinating fewer people. But mRNA vaccines are still confined to the rich world. This is partly because supply is limited and those countries placed their orders first. Another reason is these vaccines get spoilt if they are not stored at extremely cold temperatures. The Pfizer shot initially required storage at -80°C. Poor countries couldn’t afford to buy specialised freezers for it in bulk. A fragile molecule Why do mRNA vaccines need ultra-cold stora

WORLD ASTHMA DAY 2021

Health WORLD ASTHMA DAY 2021 Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions World Asthma Day (WAD) (May 5, 2021) is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma, (GINA) ( www.ginasthma.org ), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993. WAD is held each May to raise awareness of Asthma worldwide. WHO recognizes that asthma is of major public health importance. According to WHO, it was estimated that more than 339 million people had Asthma globally (1) and there were 417,918 deaths due to asthma at the global level in 2016. (3, 4) Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes or exacerbations. 1 This year’s World Asthma Day theme is “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”. The theme provides a call to action to address common widely held myths and misconceptions concerning asthma that prevent persons with asthma from enjoying optimal benefit from the major advances in the management of this condition

Nutrition Facts

What Is Dragon Fruit and Does It Have Health Benefits Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Though people primarily enjoy it for its unique look and taste, evidence suggests it may provide health benefits as well. This article takes a look at dragon fruit, including its nutrition, benefits, and how to eat it. Share on Pintere What Is Dragon Fruit? Dragon fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, also known as the Honolulu queen, whose flowers only open at night. The plant is native to southern Mexico and Central America. Today, it is grown all over the world. It goes by many names, including pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pear. The two most common types have bright red skin with green scales that resemble a dragon — hence the name. The most widely available variety has white pulp with black seeds, though a less common type with red pulp and black seeds exists as well. Another variety — referred to as yellow dragon fruit — has yellow sk

Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep

Health Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep Anatomy of Sleep Sleep Stages Sleep mechanisms How Much Sleep Do You Need? Dreaming The Role of Genes and Neurotransmitters Tracking Sleep Through Smart Technology Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep Hope Through Research Where can I get more information? Introduction Sleep is an important part of your daily routine—you spend about one-third of your time doing it. Quality sleep – and getting enough of it at the right times -- is as essential to survival as food and water. Without sleep you can’t form or maintain the pathways in your brain that let you learn and create new memories, and it’s harder to concentrate and respond quickly. Sleep is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain tha

Fungal diseases

Health Fungal diseases About fungal diseases . Fungi are everywhere. Sometimes, they are too small to see with the naked eye. Fungi live: Outdoors, for example, in soil and on plants Indoors, on surfaces and in the air On people’s skin and inside the body There are millions of fungal species, but only a few hundred of them can make people sick. Molds, yeasts, and mushrooms are all types of fungi. Fungi can cause many different types of illnesses, including: Asthma or allergies. Learn more about mold and how it can affect your health. Rashes or infections on the skin and nails Lung infections (pneumonia), with symptoms similar to the flu or tuberculosis Bloodstream infections Meningitis Most common fungal diseases Fungal nail infections Common infections of the fingernails or toenails. Vaginal candidiasis Caused by the yeast Candida , also called a “vaginal yeast infection.” Ringworm A common fungal skin infection that often looks like a circular rash. Candida infections of the mo

Brain’s waste removal system

Health Brain’s waste removal system may offer path to better outcomes in Alzheimer’s therapy NIH-funded study in mice suggests lymphatic boost could help reduce amyloid buildup. Study of mouse brain shows the meningeal lymphatics system (purple and pink) could help reduce amyloid. Sandro Da Mesquita, Ph.D. Enhancing the brain’s lymphatic system when administering immunotherapies may lead to better clinical outcomes for Alzheimer’s disease patients, according to a new study in mice. Results published April 28 in Nature suggest that treatments such as the immunotherapies BAN2401 or aducanumab might be more effective when the brain’s lymphatic system can better drain the amyloid-beta protein that accumulates in the brains of those living with Alzheimer’s. Major funding for the research was provided by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, and all study data is now freely available to the broader scientific community. “A broad ra

Health info / news/

Vexplorehealth Health Information News Helpful Tips for Managing Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious condition affecting 37 million U.S. adults and is often overlooked until symptoms appear. As we continue to observe National Kidney Month this March, learn how adopting a healthy lifestyle can help manage and slow the progression of CKD and its complications. Watch this video for tips to help people with CKD take charge of their kidney health.

Spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy Two-Month-Old Baby Battling Rare Disease To Receive World’s Most Expensive Injection Suffering from genetic spinal muscular atrophy, the baby is undergoing gene theray and will require an injection that costs Rs 16 Crores An eight-week-old baby in Britain will receive an injection that costs about Rs. 16 Crores, reports claimed. Suffering from genetic spinal muscular atrophy, Edward will have to be administered one type of gene therapy—Zolgensma to fight the rare disease. Since Britain imports the doses from the US and Europe, the injection costs a whooping a 1.7 million pounds. A disease unique to children, genetic spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), occurs due to lack of the SMN-1 gene. Symptoms of the disease include weakening of chest muscles which eventually leads to a difficulty in breathing. Interestingly, until 2017 there was no cure for the disease. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Download our Spinal Muscular Atrophy Fact Sheet Learn about MDA’s COVID-19 response W

Women crying: is it emotionally beneficial?

Do you know women will cry 4,680 times over in their adult life which is more than twice as much as men? Crying is a common human activity, and it can be triggered by many different emotions. But what do you think women crying is emotionally beneficial? According to the psychologist women are stereotypically associated with crying. It has benefit for both your mind and body. Check out all the health benefits of crying. Why do women crying have health benefits? It is said the women crying have benefit for both body and their mind. These crying benefits begin at birth with a baby’s first cry. Keep reading and learn more about the benefits of women crying. 1. Detoxifies body There are three different types of tears: Reflex tears Continuous tears Emotion tears Reflex tears are 98% water which clear debris like smoke and dust from your eyes. Emotional tears also contain stress hormones and toxins, while continuous tears also contain 98 per cent of water. When you cry, you are effectively d

Search This Blog