Risk Reduction and HIV Testing Messages Sent Through Social Networking Media Can Be Effective

Sean Young, PhD, MS Department of Family Medicine UCLA

This is part of an internal email mailed to a Gay Youth group:

...The machine is part of a small ‘pilot’ research study being conducted by a UCLA researcher named Sean Young (at the UCLA Center for HIV Intervention, Prevention, and Treatment Services). Pilots are small projects that are designed to establish the feasibility of answering a specific research question. If the results are promising, then the investigator can apply for funding for a full scale study.
 
This particular study is designed to assess whether risk reduction and HIV testing messages sent through social networking media can be effective in motivating someone to obtain an HIV home test kit from a vending machine. So the study is looking at both social network ‘diffusion’ of risk reduction information as well as acceptability of use of vending machines to obtain test kits.

How Accurate is the HIV Confirmation Test?

Early trial suggests rectal microbicide is safe, could significantly reduce HIV transmission

By Enrique Rivero November 07, 2011 UCLA NEWROOM

A topically applied microbicide gel containing a potent anti-HIV drug has been found to significantly reduce infection when applied to rectal tissue that was subsequently exposed to HIV in the laboratory, according to a new study by the UCLA AIDS Institute. The gel was also found to be safe and acceptable to users.

The first-ever phase 1 clinical trial of the rectal HIV-prevention drug known as UC781, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is described in the current edition of the online journalPLoS ONE.

The trial represents the first use of this novel approach to obtain early insights into the drug's potential to prevent real-life infections during sexual exposure. In addition, it represents an important contribution to efforts aimed at strategically preventing HIV transmission during receptive anal intercourse.

While anal-receptive intercourse is known to be the main route for new HIV infections in men who have sex with men, far more women than men worldwide practice anal intercourse. The risk of HIV infection, per sex act, is anywhere from 20 to 2,000 times greater with receptive anal sex than receptive vaginal sex — particularly if there are other infections present, such as herpes, gonorrhea or chlamydia, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Peter Anton, a professor of medicine in the division of digestive diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dr. Nancy Padian 10-year study on HIV transmission 

AIDS Breakthrough: Astragalus Root Could Replace HIV Drugs

Thursday, November 13, 2008 by: Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor

(NaturalNews) Could an herbal therapy that's been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to strengthen the immune system hold the key to an effective treatment for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, better known as AIDS? A new study by scientists at the UCLA AIDS Institute says that's possible.

The research, set to be published in the Journal of Immunology November 15th, concludes astragalus root contains a substance that could make it a powerful weapon in the fight against the HIV virus that causes AIDS. "This has the potential to be either added to or possibly even replace the HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), which is not tolerated well by some patients and is also costly," co-author Rita Effros, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA AIDS Institute, said in a press statement.