6 Promising Routes to HIV Prevention

The report, released here at the XVI International AIDS Conference, surveyed the state of research on six promising approaches for the prevention of HIV: male circumcision; cervical barriers such as diaphragms; HIV "prevention pills"; suppression of herpes, which raises the risk of contracting HIV threefold; topical microbicides; and HIV vaccines.

1. Male Circumcision

A trial of over 3,000 young men showed that those who are circumcised are about 60% less likely to be infected with HIV, compared with those who are not circumcised, says Gita Ramjee, PhD, of the HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South Africa Medical Research Unit.

And another study predicted that widespread implementation of male circumcision could avert 2 million new infections in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

But circumcisions must be safely performed by trained health providers -- something that is lacking in many developing countries, the report notes.

2. Microbicides

Gels and creams applied to the vagina or rectum to reduce HIV transmission, microbicides are a hot area of research, Ramjee says.

They can combat HIV on a variety of fronts: disabling the virus, interfering with the process by which the virus enters and takes hold in cells, and even strengthening the body's defenses against infection.

As of mid-2006, there were over 25 products in various stages of development, with five in late-stage studies of effectiveness. Results could be available by late 2007, Ramjee says.

Blocking the AIDS Virus

3. Diaphragms and Other Cervical Barriers

"Diaphragms physically block the virus from reaching the cervix, where there is good reason to believe most infections occur," says Nancy Padion, PhD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Results of a trial of over 5,000 women comparing use of the diaphragm plus condoms with condoms alone are expected in 2007.Future research will look at using the diaphragm in conjunction with a microbicide for dual protection, Ramjee says.

4. HIV 'Prevention Pills'

Testing of an AIDS "prevention pill" on about 860 high-risk women in Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria suggest that the approach is safe and feasible, according to research presented at the conference.

While the numbers were too small to prove effectiveness, the research is encouraging enough to "suggest it is good for HIV prevention," Ramjee says. "Now we need further study to figure out how it should be given."

5. Herpes Treatment

Genital herpes increases the risk of HIV infection threefold, and herpes can be treated with drugs. "The hope is that by decreasing herpes infections, we can reduce the risk of HIV transmissions," Ramjee says.

Two clinical trials evaluating the strategy are underway.

6. HIV Vaccines

There is renewed hope for a vaccine, thanks to 16 grants totaling $287 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

But a vaccine, widely considered to be the best way to control the epidemic, is probably still years away.

"We are fully confident we have a vaccine, but we've stopped predicting when: It could be five years, 10 years, or more," Gayle says.

Beyond the ABCs of HIV Prevention

The bottom line "is that we have to go beyond the ABCs of prevention," Ramjee says, referring to the widely used acronym for abstinence, being faithful to one sexual partner, and using condoms.

"I have described a new acronym that goes right up to I," she says.

"We have an additional C for circumcision, D for diaphragm for HIV prevention, E for exposure prophylaxis -- both pre and post, F for female-controlled microbicides, G for genital tract infection, H for HSV-2 (herpes) suppressive therapy, and I for immunization through vaccine."

LOVE

Keep a syringe or needle in your home to do this...
It's amazing and an unconventional way of recovering from stroke, read it through it can help somebody one day.
 
This is amazing. Please keep this very handy.
 Excellent tips. Do take a minute to read this. You'll never know, ones life may depend on you.
 
My father was paralyzed and later died from the result of a stroke. I wish I knew about this first aid before. When stroke
 strikes, the capillaries in the brain will gradually burst." (Irene Liu)
 
When a stroke occurs, stay calm. No matter where the victim is, do not move him/her. Because, if moved, the capillaries will burst.
Help the victim to sit up where he/she is to prevent him/her from falling over again and then the blood letting can begin. If you have in your home an injection syringe that would be the best. Otherwise, a sewing needle or a straight pin will do.
 1. Place the needle/pin over fire to sterilize it and then use it to prick the tip of all 10 fingers.
 2. There are no specific acupuncture points, just prick about ten mm from the fingernail.
 3. Prick till blood comes out.
 4. If blood does not start to drip, then squeeze with your fingers.
 5. When all 10 digits is bleeding, wait a few minutes then the victim will regain consciousness.
 6. If the victim's mouth is crooked, then pull on his ears until they are red.
 7. Then prick each earlobe twice until two drops of blood comes from each earlobe. After a few minutes the victim should regain consciousness.
 8. Wait till the victim regain his normal state without any abnormal symptoms then take him to the hospital. Otherwise, if he was taken in the ambulance in a hurry to the hospital, the bumpy trip will cause all the capillaries in his brain to burst. If he could save his life, barely managing to walk, then it is by the grace of his ancestors.
 
"I learned about letting blood to save life from Chinese traditional doctor, Ha Bu Ting, who lives in Sun Juke. Furthermore, I had practical experience with it. Therefore, I can say this method is 100% effective.
In 1979, I was teaching in Fung Gaap College in Tai Chung. One afternoon, I was teaching a class when another teacher came running to my classroom and said in panting, "Ms Liu, come quick, our supervisor has had a stroke!"
I immediately went to the 3rd floor. When I saw our supervisor, Mr. Chen Fu Tien, his color was off, his speech was slurred, his mouth was crooked - all the symptoms of a stroke. I immediately asked one of the practicum students to go to the pharmacy outside the school to buy a syringe, which I used to prick Mr.Chen's 10 fingers tips. When all 10 fingers were bleeding (each with a pea sized drop of blood), after a few minutes, Mr. Chen's face regained it's color and his eyes' spirit returned, too. But his mouth was still crooked. So I pulled on his ears to fill them with blood. When his ears became red, I pricked his right earlobe twice to let out two drops of blood. When both earlobes had two drops of blood each, a miracle happened. Within 3-5 minutes the shape of his mouth returned to normal and his speech became clear. We let him rest for a while and have a cup of hot tea, then we helped him go down the stairs, drove him to Wei Wah Hospital . He rested one night and was released the next day to return to school to teach.

Everything worked normally. There were no ill after effects. On the other hand, the usual stroke victim usually suffers irreparable bursting of the brain capillaries on the way to the hospital. As a result, these victims never recover."
 (Irene Liu)

Therefore, stroke is the second cause of death. The lucky ones will stay alive but can remain paralyzed for life. It is such a horrible thing to happen in ones life. If we can all remember this blood letting method and start the life saving process immediately, in a short time, the victim will be revived and regain 100% normality.

Letter from Banta Singh to Bill Gates

These are really very powerful, Implement whenever you can.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to. 
   Try to get enough sleep.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to____ today." 
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy. 
   Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2006. 
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
6. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. 
   Dream more while you are awake. 
7. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 
8. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. 
9. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 
10. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life. 
11. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 
13. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. 
14. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away. 
15. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 
16. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 
17. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 
18. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 
19. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 
20. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
21. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets, Don't save it for a special occasion.
22. Today is special. 
23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 
24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, wills this matter?" 
25. Forgive everyone for everything. 
26. What other people think of you is none of your business. 
27. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time. 
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 
29. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. 
30. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 
31. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 
32. The best is yet to come. 
33. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 
34. Do the right thing! 
35. Call your family often. 
36. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for ___." Today I accomplished ____. 
37. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. 
38. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

    On men, a square jaw, large nose and small eyes are more likely to betray the look of lust than of love. On women, the give-away features tend to be wide eyes and large lips, a la Angelina Jolie. The Durham University-led research said women found men with softer features more likely to opt for commitment.

    But while men can judge whether a woman is footloose-and-fancy-free, there was no common facial detail to explain it.

    About 700 heterosexuals took part in the survey carried out by Durham, St. Andrews and Aberdeen universities.

    In one study, 72 percent of the 153 participants correctly identified the sexual attitudes of a group of men and women in their 20s after being shown photographs or facial images.