Aurora magazine

HIV infection is not synonymous with Aids. In fact, the disease is only the late consequence of untreated infection. By the time, the infection causes immunodeficiency and reduces the body's ability to respond to pathogens. Long-term condition leads to serious illness and death.

There is no cure for HIV infection today. In case of contagion, the only thing to do is periodic checks. Antiretroviral therapy will slow down the action of the virus, but it must be continued throughout life. If followed correctly, it allows you to live almost normal and not to infect any sexual partners. Unfortunately, many people do not know they are infected and this prevents them from acting promptly against the virus.
If not treated, the virus crosses three phases. The last one is AIDS, the real manifestation of the disease.

1. Infection and latency phase. The virus has been reproducing rapidly since the first weeks and is easily transmitted. It is associated with symptoms similar to those of a normal flu: tiredness, headaches, fever and skin rashes. Symptoms that go unnoticed and not immediately linked to the virus.
After a few weeks of infection, the symptoms disappear due to the action of the immune system. The virus remains latent and this situation can go on for several years. However, it works silently and damages the immune system.

2. First symptoms. The progressive weakening of the immune system makes it incapable of defending the body. There are signs of immunodeficiency such as swollen lymph nodes and night sweats.

3. Aids. Damage to the immune system is now consolidated, so that the body is no longer able to avoid the disease. Aids patients may also experience very serious, if not lethal, illness. The set of some of some of these diseases define the third stage of infection. Among the diseases there are tumors, pneumonia, fungi.

A person with Aids blamed and untreated has a life expectancy ranging from a few months to three years.

Source: aids.ch

The HIV virus alters the host cell genome to carve a safe haven and survive. In particular, it alters some cells of the immune system so that it can act in its favor. The discovery is the result of the collaboration of several research teams. Researchers at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Genital Therapy (SR-Tiget), the AIDS Immunopathogenesis Unit and the Infectious Diseases Unit of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital co-operated.

The HIV virus spreads into the body by attacking the immune system cells. Removes the original DNA and implants your own, so you can reproduce it. Scientists have unveiled some new details related to this phenomenon. The virus infects T regulator lymphocytes and inserts its own genome alongside the STAT5B and BACH2 genes, activating them. The genes regulate the proliferation of T lymphocytes.

T lymphocytes regulate the immune response of the body, turning it on and off as needed. According to researchers, the HIV virus could modify them to protect it. This would prevent other lymphocytes from attacking and blocking the action.

Source: healthdesk.it

Scientists from Yale, Oregon, and California have discovered new markers for the most serious forms of multiple sclerosis. There are two linked cytokines, which may explain why some people develop the most violent form of the disease. If intuition turned out to be accurate, it could improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Cytokine called "macrophage migration inhibitor factor" is associated with D-DT protein. These cytokines increase inflammation in the central nervous system, stimulating the progression of the disease. The researchers found that they are related to the expression of MIF, a frequent genetic variation in those who suffer from the most severe forms of multiple sclerosis.

According to the study, a genetic screening would allow to identify the genetic MIF variant. In this way it would be possible to identify the most vulnerable subjects, with all the advantages of early diagnosis. The discovery also opens the doors to more targeted treatments, designed to act specifically on those who suffer from the most acute forms of sclerosis. It would simply be a simple genetic test to optimize the treatment with ad hoc drugs, saving time and money.

Scientists have to find out about clinical observations on patients with multiple sclerosis. These have been accompanied by immunological and genetic analysis of tissue samples taken from them. They also used data to support the efficacy of a previously developed drug that had only been tested on animal models.

Source: yale.edu

The US city of Flint has very low fertility rates since 2014. According to Daniel Grossman and David Slusky, the cause lies in the river water that crosses the city. In 2014, in fact, the city began to get out of the river to save on public water. The decision has, however, translated into a birthright.

The city's dwellings have immediately been perplexed about the quality of the water. According to residents, the water had a strange odor and look. However, the authorities insisted that the water was safe to drink and use. Allegations of contradictions with the events that have started to occur since 2014.

The decline in fertility at Flint was primarily due to an increase in fetal mortality. Between November 2013 and March 2015, there would be about 198-276 spontaneous abortions more than in previous years. According to the authors of the study, they would all be connected to the use of Flint River water. In addition, the number of children with high levels of lead in the blood increased.

In October 2015, the city came back to get in the waters of Lake Huron. However, the consequences continue today. Lead in the blood caused cognitive deficits, anti-social behaviors, brain problems, liver and kidneys. It has had devastating consequences on fertility rates, which have remained very low until the end of 2015.

Grossman and Slusky have compared Flint's birth rates to those of other cities affected by lead poisoning. Equal economic socio-economic conditions have shown a general decline in fertility rate. According to the authors of the study, poisoned water would have increased 58% of fetal deaths

Source: independent.co.uk