Researchers at the University of Michigan have data that suggests a chemical found in bananas, a lectin called Banlec, can block HIV from attaching to CD4 cells in the human body. Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that attach to the sugar rich gp120 protein on the HIV envelope. By doing this, the lectins block HIV from attaching to the CD4 cell meaning HIV can't use the CD4 cell to make more viral copies. According to lead researcher Michael D. Swanson of the University of Michigan Medical School lectins could prove to be an exciting new component in vaginal microbicides and HIV medications. Because lectins can bind to many different spots on the HIV envelope, it would take multiple mutations to render such a lectin based medication ineffective. Current HIV medications often are render...
Soon after the advent of HIV medications, it became obvious that taking your medicines exactly as prescribed was essential for an effective drug regimen. It also became apparent that factors affecting medication adherence are plentiful. If a person is to adhere to their medication, the medical provider must first identify factors that affect medication adherence, or the likelihood that that patient will take his medication as prescribed. Assessing adherence before prescribing a regimen will help ensure a patient stays on an effective treatment plan. To better understand what's needed for an effective HIV medication regimen, let's take a look at those factors affecting medication adherence.
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Both on a global level and in your own community, raising AIDS awareness lifts the veil of mystery and ignorance from a disease that can be prevented. All people have to do is be willing to learn about HIV. If that happens, prevention is a natural next step. The resources assembled here are perfect places to start.
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It has been proven time and time again that for HIV treatment to be effective, the person taking the treatment must understand the medications they are taking. Each time an HIV provider decides to start a new HIV treatment, they first should assess the patient's understanding of that treatment. Here is a collection of HIV treatment questions that every patient should ask their HIV doctor before starting any treatment regimen.
Related Medication Information
There are two diseases that strike fear in most everyone; "cancer," and "AIDS." And that fear is completely rational and understandable. But in the matter of AIDS, what happens if that fear takes control of your life? What if you fear the possibility of being infected with HIV so much you are unable to go on with your day to day life? When you fear the potential of infection or fear that you have already been infected even in the face of a handful of negative HIV tests, you may be suffering from a real condition called AIDS phobia. After 14 years of caring for people living with HIV and counseling those who think they have been infected, I've seen that AIDS phobia is real and have also seen how people can better manage their fears.
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People live with HIV; they live full and healthy lives. People have families, have careers, have dreams and ambitions all while living with HIV. People no longer have to view HIV as a death sentence; people live with HIV. One of the reasons people are living healthier lives with HIV is the fact that they are learning more and more about their disease. Understanding HIV is one of the keys to a long healthy life. This new feature is a huge collection of just the information you need to know to get yourself on the way to understanding HIV.
