QUICKFLASH: HIV HIDES IN BONE MARROW

New research shows that HIV can hide in the bone marrow, where it can avoid drugs and treatment, and then later awaken to cause illness. Last month, Dr. Kathleen Collins of the University of Michigan reported in the Nature Medicine journal that HIV can hide in long-lived marrow cells that will eventually convert to blood cells.

Dr. Collins states that the virus itself is dormant in the bone marrow cells, but when those cells convert to blood cells, the virus can be reactivated and cause renewed infection. Once reactivated, the virus kills the blood cells and then moves on to infect other cells.

TREAT: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU'RE HIV POSITIVE

First things first, get your emotions out! It's your life, so it's ok to be scared, nervous upset, disappointed, or downright angry. If you need to cry, scream, shout, or throw things, do it. It's only AFTER you've done all those things that you'll be able to "clearly" think about your next steps.

Remember, you are no obligation to deal with your result the same way as someone else; everyone reacts differently. You can choose to do nothing about it, if that's what works best for you. However, the HIV will not just go away if you ignore the diagnosis. Also, if you choose not to do anything, and you are sexually active, your risk of transmitting the virus is higher than if you were being treated. But no one can force you to act. If taking control of the situation seems like it's NOT the option for you, you can just carry on with your life.

On the other hand, you can make the decision to take action. You can get information about the virus, how it affects the body, and what kind of treatment is available for you. The sooner you begin treatment, the better affect it will have in prolonging your lifespan. Once you come to grips with the disease and realize that it doesn't define who you are, you will be able to become more confident in yourself and make more informed choices for your future.

If you choose to take action, there are a few things that are essential:

1) Make sure to seek out a physician who is knowledgeable about and specifically trained in HIV care. This will ensure that you are prescribed the right kind of medication for your unique condition and receive accurate information regarding virus progression and treatment.
2) Seek out all forms of information regarding HIV - Speak with other who are infected and READ! The Internet and other media forms provide a plethora of educational resources for you to learn all you can. Soak it all in so that each of your next steps going forward will be well-informed.
3) Remember you are not ALONE. The Internet is filled with thousands of stories of individuals who have contracted the virus and the way they have been able to cope. You can also join support groups to surround yourself with individuals who will be able to identify with your situation and can provide useful advice.
4) ASK QUESTIONS! If you are unsure about the effects of the virus or the medication, seek professional help. It's your life, you have the right to all the answers you need.
5) A Positive HIV result is NOT a death sentence. As mentioned in earlier posts, your life with HIV will be what you make it. If you make the decision to get treatment, adopt a healthier lifestyle and keep a positive outlook, there is no reason why you can't live a rich, long life.

No matter which path you choose after receiving your positive results, remember it's YOUR path to choose. No one can pressure or force you to take or not to take action. Take your time, and think about what you believe is best for your. It's your life, you choose.

NEWSFLASH: HIV Can Penetrate a Woman's Healthy Genital Skin

In a recent article in HealthDay News, U.S. researchers explained that they have identified a new route of male-to-female transmission of HIV - a route in which HIV can travel through the healthy genital skin of a female to reach immune cells in just four hours.

Prior to this discovery, it had been believed that the normal lining of the vaginal tract was an effective barrier to HIV during sex, due to the idea that the large virus could not penetrate the tissue. Unfortunately however, researchers at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University found that HIV can penetrate normal, healthy genital tissue to a point where it can get to immune cells and infect them.

In their experiment, the researchers were able to track the viruses, using flourescent tags, as they penetrated the outermost lining of the female genital tract in female human tissue obtained through hysterectomy and in animal models.

This finding highlights even further the need for consistent latex condom usage, given that healthy, unbroken genital tissue is not a true barrier to the virus. The good news is, if this finding is confirmed in future studies and research, it could help in the development of new microbicides and vaccines to protect women against HIV. Given that women now make up approximately 50% of all persons living around the world with HIV, finding more methods of prevention have become more critical than ever.

Source: Yahoo! News