Stem Cell Transplant Cures HIV

[MartyrX]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1..._n_796521.html

On the heels of World AIDS Day comes a stunning medical breakthrough: Doctors believe an HIV-positive man who underwent a stem cell transplant has been cured as a result of the procedure.

Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the "Berlin Patient," received the transplant in 2007 as part of a lengthy treatment course for leukemia. His doctors recently published a report in the journal Blood affirming that the results of extensive testing "strongly suggest that cure of HIV infection has been achieved."

Brown's case paves a path for constructing a permanent cure for HIV through genetically-engineered stem cells.

Last week, Time named another AIDS-related discovery to its list of the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010. Recent studies show that healthy individuals who take antiretrovirals, medicine commonly prescribed for treating HIV, can reduce their risk of contracting the disease by up to 73 percent.

While these developments by no means prove a cure for the virus has been found, they can certainly provide hope for the more than 33 million people living with HIV worldwide. Alongside such findings, global efforts to combat the epidemic have accelerated as of late, with new initiatives emerging in the Philippines and South Africa this week.

[Detritavore]

Wow. This is real interesting. Funnily enough I was just looking into regenerative medicine.

Thanks for sharing :]

[CosmicPathos]

Pretty interesting. But keep in mind that anti-retrovirals have increased lifespan of HIV+ patients by upto 40-50 years .... of course there are side effects of these drugs and also their + status means they can further spread the virus ... but they live pretty "healthy" lives.

This gay hiv+ dude invited to give us a seminar on how his life has been for the last decade after being diagnosed with HIV etc, he still engages in high risk sexual behavior and "enjoys it." I just felt disgusted that man keeps on enjoying the same activities which brought him to this stage and then my prof has to interject "homosexual sex by itself is not "bad," its just that too many lymphoid follicles with T-cells close to the epidermis are found in the rectum compared to vagina and hence the higher HIV transmission." blah blah

[Detritavore]

I just felt disgusted that man keeps on enjoying the same activities which brought him to this stage and then my prof has to interject "homosexual sex by itself is not "bad," its just that too many lymphoid follicles with T-cells close to the epidermis are found in the rectum compared to vagina and hence the higher HIV transmission." blah blah

Pretty sure the correct term is sodomy?

Ew, yuck, why do I even care. No ignore me haha.

[CosmicPathos]

Pretty sure the correct term is sodomy?

Ew, yuck, why do I even care. No ignore me haha.

hmm ...... ok.