Studies Find That Vitamin A Increases The Amount Of HIV In Breast Milk – Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health have found that vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements are not safe in HIV-positive women who are breastfeeding because they may increase the amount of HIV in breast milk, raising the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby. The researchers think the supplements may increase the risk of breast inflammation, which can allow small amounts of blood to leak into the milk. Breastfeeding is not recommended for women with HIV in the United States, but is recommended in places where clean drinking water is scarce as long as women are receiving antiretroviral therapy. For more information, please visit the University of Michigan website.

Coalition For A National AIDS Strategy To Host Webinars On The National HIV/AIDS Strategy – The Coalition for a National AIDS Strategy will host two identical webinars to provide more details about implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which was introduced by President Obama on July 13. The presenters will cover the important aspects of the Strategy, current efforts in implementation, and the need for community advocacy. The 90 minute webinars will be held on Thursday, September 2 at 1 p.m. EST and Tuesday, September 7 at 6 p.m. EST. For more information, please visit the AIDS.gov website.

Website Launched For 2010 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day – A new website has been launched for the 2010 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). The website contains information on community events, HIV testing, and care for Latino/Hispanic-Americans. Resources are available in both Spanish and English. NLAAD will occur this year on October 15. For more information, please see the NLAAD website.

Black AIDS Institute And Merck Create New Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network – The Black AIDS Institute and the pharmaceutical company Merck have announced the establishment of the Black Treatment Advocates Network (BTAN). The goals of BTAN include improving HIV care and treatment for the African-American community, strengthening leadership and advocacy, and educating African-American communities about HIV and AIDS. The Network will sponsor regional training for advocates and will have an educational website. BTAN’s first action will be to set up pilot advocacy communities in Jackson, MS; Philadelphia; and Houston. For more information, please see the Black AIDS Institute and Merck websites.

Survey Finds Gaps In Communication Between HIV/AIDS Patients And Doctors – An AIDS Treatment for Life International Survey of over 2,000 HIV-positive patients worldwide found that although two-thirds of people with HIV also have other conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, communication with their doctors about these conditions is limited. Only half of the patients surveyed had discussed past medical conditions with their doctor; a quarter of patients had never told their doctors about drug side effects they were experiencing. The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), which conducted the study, urged doctors to more thoroughly discuss their patients’ other health concerns at medical visits. For more information, please see the IAPAC (pdf) press release.

Clinical Trial Tests Efficacy Of Probiotics On Immune Function In HIV-Positive Adults – A new clinical trial at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is testing whether a strain of the probiotic bacteria Bacillus coagulans can help increase CD4 (white blood cell) counts in people with HIV. The three month study is based on results in Africa showing that probiotic yogurt increased CD4 counts; however, it is not known if the results will also hold for Americans, who have better access to a nutritious diet. Researchers hope the probiotics will work indirectly to boost the immune system by reducing leakage of harmful bacteria from the intestines. For more information, please visit the Sustenex website.

Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Submits New Drug Application For Rilpivirine To Treat HIV – Tibotec Pharmaceuticals has submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rilpivirine (TMC278), a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Rilpivirine is being studied for once-daily use with other antiretroviral drugs in treatment-naive HIV-positive adults. The application is based on the results of two Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating rilpivirine plus Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) versus Sustiva (efavirenz). Tibotec has also agreed to collaborate with Gilead Sciences to develop a once-daily combination pill of rilpivirine and Truvada. For more information, please see the Tibotec Pharmaceuticals website and press release.

FDA Warns Consumers Of Serious Harm From Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution – The FDA is warning consumers not to drink Miracle Mineral Solution, also known as Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS). MMS is sold online and falsely claims to treat multiple diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. The supplement contains an industrial bleach that can cause serious illness or injury, including severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening low blood pressure caused by dehydration. The FDA has warned consumers who have MMS to stop using it immediately and throw it away. For more information, please see the FDA website.

Some Dietary Supplements For People With HIV May Be Contaminated And Unsafe – The September issue of Consumer Reports identifies 12 dietary supplements that consumers should avoid because of possible health risks to the heart, liver, and kidneys. The list includes supplements such as colloidal silver (also known as ionic silver, native silver, or silver in suspending agent) and germanium (also known as Ge, Ge-132, or germanium-132) that are commonly used by people with HIV. Supplement manufacturers are not required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of their products, which can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, or prescription drugs. Consumer Reports developed the harmful ingredient list with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an organization that researches and evaluates the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements. For more information, please see the Consumer Reports website.

New Jersey Tightens Eligibility Requirements For AIDS Drug Distribution Program – As part of its budget cutbacks, New Jersey has tightened eligibility requirements for its AIDS Drug Distribution Program (ADDP). ADDP provides antiretroviral medications for low-income, uninsured individuals with HIV. Previously, New Jersey’s ADDP covered individuals with incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level, or $54,150 per year. As of August 1, the program will only cover individuals with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $32,490 per year. For more information, please see the NorthJersey.com website or the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services website.

North Carolina Announces Limited Reopening Of Its AIDS Drug Assistance Program – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced July 11 that $14 million will go toward reopening the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which had closed to new participants in January. With the new funds, the program will add 627 patients who have been on the waiting list. Current eligibility requirements restrict the program to individuals living at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, or $13,538 per year. Individuals with incomes between 125 and 300 percent of the federal poverty level will continue to be waitlisted. For more information, please see the WRAL.com website or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website.

Georgia Implements A Waiting List For Its State ADAP Program – Georgia has closed its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to new enrollment and has started a waiting list, joining 11 other states that have already created such lists. As of July 1, there were an estimated 2,090 people with HIV on ADAP waiting lists nationwide. ADAPs are programs that provide antiretroviral medications to low-income individuals with HIV. Due to the economic recession and increased HIV testing measures, ADAPs are facing major budget problems and cutbacks nationwide (see related AIDS Beacon news). Georgia said it would need an additional $11 million in funding to eliminate its waiting list. For more information, please see the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Presidential Advisory Council Recommends Increased ADAP Funding – The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) passed a resolution this week calling for emergency funding for ADAPs, more funding for the Ryan White program, and increased access to Medicaid for people with HIV. The three programs provide financial and medical assistance to low-income people with HIV and have been hard-hit by the economic recession. The resolution urges Congress, the President, and Health and Human Services to provide additional funding to the programs until provisions in the new health care bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, come into effect in 2014. PACHA will hold a conference call on July 2 from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. EST to address the resolution. The conference is open to the public. For more information on the resolution and the conference call, please see the PACHA website.

Mylan Gets Approval For Generic Version Of Videx EC HIV Treatment – Early last week, Mylan Inc. announced that it had received approval from the United States Food and Drug Agency for its generic version of Videx EC (didanosine). Videx EC, manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibbs, is an anti-HIV drug that stalls replication of the HIV virus when taken in combination with at least two other drugs. Approval was obtained under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Mylan Pharmaceuticals plans to start marketing the drug in the U.S. in the current quarter. For more information, please see the Mylan website.

Fall And Spring Cruises For HIV-Positive Gay Men – Carnival Cruise lines will run cruises from May 2 to May 9 and October 23 to October 31 for gay HIV-positive men. The cruises, which travel throughout the Caribbean and Mexico, include social events, games, informative lectures, spiritual workshops, and Q&A sessions with HIV experts. Participants may go on both cruises, and eligibility is unaffected by age, disease stage, or previous experience on a cruise ship. A portion of the proceeds are donated to HIV organizations and charities. For more information, please see the Gay Men’s HIV Retreat website.

For a more detailed listing of HIV/AIDS related events, please check the AIDS Beacon Events Calendar.

ONAP Releases Community Recommendations Report For National HIV/AIDS Strategy – The Office of National AIDS Policy recently released a report of major HIV/AIDS policy recommendations following feedback from the HIV-positive community in the United States. Recommendations include increased HIV prevention and education for high-risk groups, an extension of support services for people living with HIV/AIDS, and effective coordination and evaluation of HIV prevention and treatment activities across the Federal government. The report also noted that the stigma associated with HIV diagnosis often prevents testing and enrollment in care. The recommendations will be used by federal, state, and local agencies as a resource and planning tool. For more information, please see the ONAP website.

Workshop On How To Discuss Your HIV Status With Others – Positive Impact is running a five day workshop that teaches African-American gay men skills for discussing HIV status with family, friends, and sexual partners. “Brutha, Can We Talk: A Healthy Relationships Program” is a 5-session workshop that will be held 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on April 26 through April 30 in Atlanta, GA. For more information, please see the Positive Impact website.

For a more detailed listing of HIV/AIDS related events, please check the AIDS Beacon Events Calendar.

Documentary Raises Awareness About HIV Among Latina Women – This past summer, a junior at the University of Houston, Erica Fletcher, spent one month researching and filming her documentary “Marianismo.” In her documentary, she attempts to capture the cultural factors that may explain the disproportionate number of Latina women who live with HIV. The 20-minute final version of “Marianismo” centers around Fletcher’s interviews with three HIV-positive Latina women in the Houston area. For more information about Fletcher’s “Marianismo,” please see the article by The Daily Cougar, a University of Houston student newspaper.

AIDS Activists From Haiti Participate In Panel – A public panel and discussion titled “Keith D. Cylar Activist Awards and Panel: Addressing AIDS In Haiti After the Earthquake” will focus on post-earthquake efforts and will feature five Haiti-based AIDS activists affiliated with Haiti’s national AIDS coalition PHAP+. The event will be held on April 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m at Lang Cafe at the New School in New York City. For more information about the panel and the activists, please see the Housing Works press release.

For a more detailed listing of HIV/AIDS related events, please check the AIDS Beacon Events Calendar.

New Specially Padded Shorts Provide Support For Cancer And HIV Patients – Lipowear LLC has introduced a new type of shorts, called SitRelief Shorts, that are specially padded to help provide support for cancer and HIV patients who experience lipoatrophy, a condition in which the body fat and muscle wears away. Designed by Terry Delonas, a long time HIV/AIDS survivor, these shorts are padded to provide extra support in the sitting area. This allows the wearer to sit comfortably for longer periods of time. The current product is designed for men; however, a similar female product is under development. For more information, please see the article in The Orange County Register or the Lipowear Web site.

Study Finds An Increased Risk Of Genital Ulcer Disease In Women During The First Month Of Antiretroviral Therapy – A recent study in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS) finds that women have an increased risk of Genital Ulcer Disease (GUD) in the first month after beginning antiretroviral therapy (ART), especially if they have low CD4 counts or a history of GUD. To determine the risk, the study monitored 134 women at the beginning of ART and one month after. For more information, please see the study in JAIDS (abstract).