Chimpanzees and HIV/AIDS Research

A large population of HIV-infected chimpanzees exists in the U.S. today due to their prior proposed use in HIV/AIDS experiments. An exact number is difficult to determine. According to a 1997 report prepared by NIH, “Although HIV infection of chimpanzees has not been an ideal model of disease, at least 198 chimpanzees have been used to date in HIV-related studies.” (7)

Eleven years after the launch of the chimpanzee breeding program to produce chimpanzees for AIDS research, NIH formally acknowledged the chimpanzee model of AIDS had been of limited success. In his testimony in 2000 before Congress, John Strandberg of NIH said:

Chimpanzees are the only animal, other than man, that can be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For this reason, it was hoped that they could provide information on the progression from HIV infection to AIDS and in the development of treatments and vaccines. However, despite the fact that chimpanzees become persistently infected with HIV, we found that the development of clinical AIDS occurs in chimpanzees late or not at all. (8)

hiv / aids infection

It is not possible to become infected with HIV through sharing crockery and cutlery, insect/animal bites, touching, hugging or shaking hands, eating food prepared by someone with HIV, or toilet seats.

Unfortunately, around the world there are a number of myths and wrong beliefs about HIV/AIDS. Some people are for instance of the belief that only gay men or black people become infected with HIV, or that once infected, sex with a virgin is the cure. Such false notions do not benefit the fight against the disease. Here knowledge and information sharing becomes key. AIDS is best prevented by halting the spread of HIV, and a global as well as local effort is required.

Outreach

Epidemiologist Roger Detels and four doctors from Southeast Asia discuss the status of the disease and control programs in key countries of the region.
By Leslie Evans
[HIV and AIDS remain at critical epidemic levels in some of the world's most populous countries, five specialists told a UCLA audience. But despite a general inability to supply patients with the kinds of drugs generally available in the United States, infection rates are going down rather than up in three of the four countries discussed. All four of the countries in the discussion below use HIV sentinel surveillance, periodic spot checking of a fixed size sample of selected risk groups in the population.
[UCLA epidemiologist Roger Detels and four of his graduate students, all doctors in their own right with experience in the HIV/AIDS control programs in their home countries, addressed a well-attended colloquium sponsored by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies in Bunche Hall April 23. The presenters, in addition to Dr. Detels, were Dr. Aye Myat Soe of Myanmar, Dr. Nhu To Nguyen of Vietnam, Dr. Chhorvann Chhea of Cambodia, and Dr. Warunee Punpanich of Thailand.

AIDS and PLANETARY HEALING

As we progress into this time period you call "The Transformation" or the "End Times," it seems very appropriate now for us to share with you a new level of seeing---a gradual realignment of viewpoint which will become a conduit from the focused, narrowly defined "Reality Box" you chose for yourselves when you entered the Earth Plane of existence.
In a very real way, the shift from what you call "Three Dimensional Thinking" to what is called "Multidimensional Thinking" IS that Transformation. In your Biblical literature, this change is described as occurring "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." My Dear Friends, the "twinkling" being referred to there is the SHIFT that occurs when your perspective of who and what you are changes from the fragmented, lonely minute being you once thought you were to a clear comprehension of your true Self and your relation to all existence Everywhere. And the only change that occurs is one of VIEWPOINT.

Columbia celebrates World AIDS Day

COLUMBIA — In some of the coldest weather so far this winter, dozens of Columbia community members participated in World AIDS Day, walking down College Avenue with fistfuls of helium-filled balloons Monday evening. Illuminated by blinking lights, the 235 red balloons represented the lives of the 235 North Central Missouri residents who have died of AIDS during the past 27 years.
As of 2007, there were 202 people living with HIV in Boone County; 11 cases were diagnosed in 2007 alone, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Are AIDS, Chronic Fatigue The Same Thing?

I received a thought provoking email this morning from (name withheld), who was diagnosed with both CFIDS or Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome and HIV-Negative AIDS. While her case may be something extremely rare, it might also be more common than we believe. Indeed, Karen believes that there is a connection between her suffering and all those cases of AIDS sufferers who are HIV negative.

Predicting the Spread of AIDS

We use differential equations to predict the spread of diseases through a population. The growth of AIDS is an example that follows the curve of the logistic equation, derived from solving a differential equation. We will see how to solve differential equations later in this chapter.
The HIV Virus invades a white blood cell...Image source.
Populations usually grow in an exponential fashion at first:
However, populations do not continue to grow forever, because food, water and other resources get used up over time. Differential equations are used to predict populations of people, animals, bacteria and viruses that are being affected by external events.