Taking a Pill for HIV Prevention: a great explanation of the science and its impacts

via AIDS Treatment News, by John S. James

This is an excellent description of the iPrEx study that showed daily Truvada could protect against HIV, and the implications for gay men.


Excerpt:

No one we know thinks that all gay men should take Truvada.

But using this new prevention option in a targeted way should help a lot to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Remember that in any epidemic, if each person infected infects fewer than one other person on the average, and this can be maintained, then the epidemic will end.

And it turns out that a disproportionate amount of transmission takes place very early in someone's HIV infection -- when viral load is extremely high, but people do not know and seldom even suspect that they are infected, so they are much less careful about risk to others, than if they did know their status.

Read the rest.

We can't stand up for our country if we are too sick to stand

Silence Still Equals Death
via Huffington Post, by Jim Pickett

As a gay man living with HIV, I am feeling really conflicted during this month of LGBT Pride. I know I am supposed to be awash in warm, fuzzy feelings of pride and joy, and that I should have lots of parties and the big parade on my agenda.

But you know what? Not so much. 

Read the rest.

Peter, how do I find an HIV-friendly dentist?

[Peter Pointers is here 4 YOU, as a service to LifeLube readers - whatever question you may have regarding sexual health, physical health, mental/emotional and spiritual health - ask him. He will find the answers you are looking 4. helped by a team of experts. Below is a recent Q&A you may be interested to read.]

Question:  Hi Pete -  had a question about HIV Dentist friendly offices. I've been HIV since 1987. I've hesistated visiting the dentist in years, since my dentist moved away some years back. Thus far, I've attempted to find a new dental office, but once I mention I'm HIV. They give me a cocked eye, excuse why they can't treat me or just don't return my calls. I have dental insurance, so I don't understand what's up.

Answer: Thank you so much for your question.  I am so sorry that you have had such negative experiences with dentists in the past.  Let's see what we can do to help you out for the future.

Thank you so much for your question.  I am so sorry that you have had such negative experiences with dentist in the past.  Let's see what we can do to help you out for the future.

After talking with some of my colleagues, I have gathered a small (and sure not to be exhaustive) list of HIV-friendly dentists around Chicago.

To begin, Chicago Pride magazine lists the "Spang Center for Oral Health" as the Midwest's only dental center for people with HIV, AIDS or TB that provides care based on ability to pay.  More information can be found here.

Also suggested by some of Howard Brown Health Center's Case Managers are:

Dental Profile at 4445 N Pulaski. Telephone: (773) 279-9977

Dr Glenn Ulfers at 3759 North Southport Avenue. Telephone: (773) 525-2606. Check out his website.

Lastly, a personal recommendation from an HIV-positive friend who loves his dentist is:

- Dr. Ramin Medhat.

55 East Washington Ste 3200

(312) 726-5205, website.

Dr. Medhat is located downtown and the Northwest side, involved in the community, and said to be "totally cool."

Be well,
Peter Pointers

Evidence of serosorting after diagnosis with acute HIV infection

Individuals with acute HIV infection employ a number of strategies in the weeks after their diagnosis to reduce the risk of passing on HIV to their sexual partners, according to a study presented to the US National HIV Prevention Conference on December 5^th. Investigators from the University of California, San Francisco found individuals with acute infection reduced their number of partners, abstained from sex, increased their use of condoms and deliberately selected new sexual partners who were perceived to be HIV-positive.

HIV-positive individuals are most infectious in the months soon after they are infected with HIV. This period is often called acute or primary HIV infection and research suggests that up to 50% of HIV transmissions are attributable to individuals with acute infection (although other investigators contest this finding).

Read the rest on aidsmap.

Atlantans march for HIV

by Bob Roehr

for the Bay Area Reporter

Hundreds of demonstrators took to Atlanta's main drag, Peachtree Street, in the twilight of December 4 in an HIV prevention rally and march. The event coincided with the 2007 National HIV Prevention conference, which many were attending.

Prevention Justice Mobilization, a new national coalition of individuals and organizations, organized the march, and hopes to reinvigorate advocacy for HIV prevention.

"CDC, can't you see how to stop HIV," people chanted at the rally in Woodruff Park.

"We are here because we know there is no plan to save our lives," said Philadelphia's Waheedah Shabazz-El. "We know that HIV prevention is more than just a condom. HIV is not just a virus, it is a product of social injustice."

Atlanta AIDS advocate Jeff Graham criticized "public health officials who are afraid to speak the truth about how to prevent HIV out of fear of reprisals from politicians. And service providers, myself included, who are afraid of ruffling the feathers of either those public health officials, or those politicians out of fear that our already tenuous funding will be cut if we speak the truth."

Read the rest.

And see photos of the march/rally courtesy of LifeLube here.

The civil rights movement was not funded by the Feds

[LifeLube is coming to you live from the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta. Below is Jim Pickett's post for the Prevention Justice Mobilization blog...]

Despite a rather, ummmm, not so exciting or descriptive title - "Impact on Communities of Color" - Monday morning's plenary session here at the NHPC was anything but dull or the same ole same ole.

I am used to the first major session of conferences like these being one big PowerPoint data dump and was relieved and delighted to realize it was to be a panel discussion with the likes of Robert Fullilove, Valerie Stone, Rafael Diaz, Cynthia Gomez, ManChui Leung and Bonnie Duran. The moderator, Jocelyn Dorsey from WSB-TV here in Atlanta, was essentially clueless and annoying but it didn't really matter - the panel rocked and didn't need her bad, trite, uniformed questions to engage in a meaningful, and for me, inspiring dialogue.

Everyone I talked to throughout the day experienced the same excitement and euphoria, though several folks rightly pointed out that what was lacking was the HOW... Ah yes, small matter, the HOW.... read more »

Viral Marketing

Check out Sexual Health Xchange's David Munar's first blog post for the Prevention Justice Mobilization below. ThePJM is in full force at the National HIV Prevention Conference currently underway in Atlanta. Click their blog regularly for full, ongoing commentary and analysis of the proceedings... in other words, for all the dirt. If you are in Atlanta, check out the LifeLube post on the march/rally that will be "shining a light" tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6 beginning right across from the Hyatt where the conference is happening.

by David Munar

Resolute in its decision to delay the release of alarming new HIV infection estimates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) kicked off the National HIV Prevention Conference amid widespread anger and concern that the nation may be losing ground in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

With speculation mounting about the motives and content of CDC's unreleased data, official speeches of compassion and urgency received polite applause from the hundreds of assembled participants who seemed either unmoved or unconvinced.

Remarks from the openly HIV-positive co-chair of the HIV Advisory Committee for CDC and HRSA electrified an otherwise sedated opening plenary. Acknowledging a need to voice what might otherwise not be said, Jesse Milan Jr. (right) told the audience the time had come for the U.S. to develop a national strategy against HIV/AIDS-something federal contracts require of developing nations that accept U.S. taxpayer money for AIDS relief.

Read more.

Shining a Light on Gaps in HIV Prevention - March & Rally for Prevention Justice!

[Click image to enlarge. Visit the blog.]

HIV is not just a disease.
It's proof positive of injustice!
Please Unite with Us to March & Rally for Prevention Justice!

Tuesday, December 4
4:30 - 6:00 PM

Shining a Light on Gaps in HIV Prevention


March & Rally for Prevention Justice

Gather across the street from the Hyatt Hotel (corner of Baker St & Peachtree St NE) at Hardy Ivy Park for a peaceful march and spirited rally.



7:00 - 9:00 PM

Prevention Justice Dinner & Strategy Session
After the March & Rally, join us for a dinner and session at St. Luke's Church,
435 Peachtree St., NE, 2 1/2 blocks from the Hyatt Hotel

Groups band together for HIV ‘prevention justice’

Activists ask CDC to open doors, expand prevention techniques

By RYAN LEE in Southern Voice NOV. 9, 2007

[pictured - Jeff Graham is one of the Georgia organizers of the Prevention Justice Mobilization.]

After being boiled down to three basic strategies — abstain from sex, wear a condom and avoid sharing needles — HIV prevention in America is in urgent need of an expanded approach, according to a nationwide coalition of AIDS organizations known as the Prevention Justice Mobilization.

Traditional HIV-prevention messages tend to focus on personal responsibility and reducing individual risk factors while ignoring broader issues like poverty, homophobia and homelessness that may increase a person’s risk no matter what steps they take to remain uninfected, said Kenyon Farrow, a spokesperson for the Prevention Justice Mobilization.

“There are also the sort of structural risk factors, so that sometimes it’s not about what you do, but who you are,” Farrow said.

More than 250 AIDS organizations across the country have endorsed the Prevention Justice Mobilization’s goals, and are using their World AIDS Day events to draw attention to everything from the unavailability of condoms in New York prisons, to the need for public funding of a needle-exchange program in Fulton County.

The Prevention Justice Mobilization’s activities culminate in a Dec. 4 march and rally in Atlanta, designed to inject new ideas into the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s National HIV Prevention Conference, which takes place Dec. 2-5 in Atlanta.


Read the rest.

Learn more about the Prevention Justice Mobilization.

2007 National HIV Prevention Conference

December 2 - 5, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia