Greetings,

We are pleased to send you this week's update from The Body. For
our online version of this update, click on the following link.
http://www.thebody.com/mrd.php?mrd=1&mtrk=4863426

Regards,

Bonnie Goldman
Editorial Director, The Body
http://www.thebody.com/mrd.php?mrd=2&mtrk=4863426
bgoldman@...



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Dispelling Myths About HIV, HIV Meds and Body Fat
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Which HIV meds are most to blame for body fat changes in HIVers? If
your tummy expands while you're on HIV meds, will your arms and legs
shrink? Can sit-ups reduce belly fat? There are a lot of myths and
misunderstandings when it comes to HIV meds and body fat. Even many
HIV health care providers don't know the most recent research!
Thankfully, we've got experts like Dr. David Wohl to dispel the
rumors.In this down-to-earth explanation, Dr. Wohl walks us through
some of the most common misconceptions about metabolic complications
in HIVers.
http://www.thebody.com/content/treat/art44122.html?mtrk=4863426


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As HIVers Grow Older, New Challenges Arise
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The best side effect of modern HIV treatment is that, in countries
where HIV meds are widely available, HIVers are living longer than
ever before. However, this aging trend among people with HIV is
changing our sense of how HIV health care should work. Questions
abound: How does HIV affect age-related illnesses such as heart
disease and diabetes? How can we make sure that older people with HIV
get the support they need? Read this article for an overview of the
ways that the graying of HIV could redefine what it means to have HIV
in the United States.
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44596.html?mtrk=4863426


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Needle Exchange Ban Finally Lifted in Washington, D.C.
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After eight long years, Washington, D.C.'s ban on needle exchange
programs may finally be at an end. President George W. Bush has
signed a government spending bill that allows the United States'
capital city to use public funds for needle exchange programs, a
practice that has been shown to help reduce HIV risk among
injection-drug users but which was banned in 1999 by a
Republican-controlled Congress. "For too long, Congress has unfairly
imposed on the citizens of D.C. by trying out their social experiments
there," said a Democratic congressman. "The consensus is clear that
[needle exchange] programs save lives."
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44570.html?mtrk=4863426


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HIV Rates Rise Among Young New York City Men Who Have Sex With Men,
but Drop Overall
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There's disturbing news on HIV rates in New York City: Although the
number of people diagnosed with HIV in the city has dropped over the
last five years, rates are up by 32 percent among men younger than 30
who have sex with men. HIV rates are also up among black and Hispanic
men who have sex with men. It's a scary trend, and it shows a growing
generational gap when it comes to HIV prevention: Among New York City
men older than 30 who have sex with men, HIV rates have dropped by 22
percent.
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44573.html?mtrk=4863426


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Some New HIV Meds Not Listed on Medicare Web Site, but Still Covered
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HIV-positive people may not be able to find newly approved HIV
medications through Medicare's online drug plan finder, according to
California HIV advocates. The Web site is not always current, so new
HIV drugs such as Isentress (raltegravir) might not show up, the
advocates say. Fortunately, these medications should still be covered
by prescription drug plans, even if they don't appear in the plan
finder. If you have questions about your coverage, talk to a benefits
counselor.
http://www.thebody.com/content/news/art44530.html?mtrk=4863426


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New Jersey to Require HIV Tests for Pregnant Women, Some Newborns
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Beginning in six months, all pregnant women and some infants in New
Jersey will have to be tested for HIV unless women refuse the test in
writing. Previous state law only required health care providers to
offer HIV tests to pregnant women. The new law requires pregnant women
to be tested for HIV as early as possible in their pregnancy and again
during the third trimester, unless they opt out. The law also requires
infants to be tested for HIV if the mother is HIV positive or if her
HIV status is unknown when the baby is born.
http://www.thebody.com/content/news/art44585.html?mtrk=4863426


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Making Liver-Smart Choices When You're Living With Hepatitis C
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There's strong evidence that people who are coinfected with HIV and
hepatitis C can reduce the harm to their liver by making smart
lifestyle choices. Cutting down on alcohol -- or avoiding it entirely
-- may be the most straightforward way to reduce the risk of
developing serious liver disease, but quitting smoking, eating better,
exercising regularly and getting enough rest can also help your body
stop hep C from progressing. Read this article to learn how people
with HIV and hep C can make sure their everyday choices are liver
friendly.
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44403.html?mtrk=4863426


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Side Effects of HIV Medications: Drug-by-Drug Overview
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Looking for a detailed rundown of the most common side effects
associated with HIV medications? Take a look at this drug-by-drug
overview from HIV InSite, an online resource for health care
professionals. Though it's written for doctors and nurses, it can be a
helpful resource for anybody seeking more info on the potential risks
of the HIV medications they're taking or considering. (Web highlight
from HIV InSite)
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44601.html?mtrk=4863426


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If a Drug Made You Sick, the FDA Wants to Know
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If you live in the United States and have had a severe reaction to an
HIV-related medication, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants
to know about it. All prescription drugs in the United States must be
proven safe and effective before people can use them, but as many of
us know all too well, unexpected problems can turn up after a drug has
been approved. By asking HIVers and their doctors to report reactions
that were life-threatening, required hospitalization or resulted in
permanent health damage, the FDA hopes to catch problems they missed
during initial testing of the drug. (Web highlight from the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration)
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44581.html?mtrk=4863426


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New Findings Deepen Mystery of How Race Ties Into HIV Treatment
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You already know how important it is that you take your HIV meds on
time as often as possible. But could it be even more important if
you're African American? U.S. researchers have found evidence that, if
an African-American HIVer and a white HIVer both fail to take their
HIV meds properly, the African-American HIVer may be more likely to
see his or her viral load go up. Is it genetics? Is the study itself
flawed? Right now, there are many more questions than answers. (Web
highlight from aidsmap.com)
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44602.html?mtrk=4863426

To see an abstract of this study, which appears in the Dec. 15 issue
of the journal JAIDS, follow the link below.
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44603.html?mtrk=4863426


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In Lesotho, Hope for a New Generation Depends on Access to HIV Meds
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"My baby is very healthy," an HIV-positive woman in Lesotho says, as
her daughter burbles in the background. "She's HIV negative. She's
fat.She's strong. She's a beautiful baby." Mathakane was lucky enough
to have access to antiretrovirals, which can drastically reduce the
risk of transmitting HIV from mother to child. Unfortunately, she's
an exception: Only one in five mothers with HIV in Lesotho can get
the drugs they need to protect their children. By following three
HIV-positive women in Lesotho, this online report shows, in sound and
pictures, how a single dose of an antiretroviral -- or the lack of it
-- can change lives. (Web highlight from MSNBC.com)
http://www.thebody.com/content/art44605.html?mtrk=4863426


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Veteran HIV Specialist Warns Against Paying Too Much Attention to HIV
in Africa
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Could the United States be spending too much of its money and
attention on fighting HIV in developing countries? The idea might
sound preposterous, but Daniel Halperin, one of the world's leading
HIV experts, warns that many people have tunnel vision when it comes
to HIV. Although HIV funding in developing nations remains vital, he
says, millions die each year of less "headline-grabbing" illnesses
that desperately need attention. "If one were to ask the people of
virtually any African village (outside some 10 countries devastated
by AIDS) what their greatest concerns are, the answer would
undoubtedly be the less sensational but more ubiquitous ravages of
hunger, dirty water and environmental devastation," Halperin says.
(Web highlight from The New York Times)
http://www.thebody.com/content/artart44606.html?mtrk=4863426


________ALSO WORTH NOTING_________


Visual AIDS: Art From HIV-Positive Artists

Visit the brand new January 2008 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our
latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's
gallery, entitled "Re-Imagined Boundaries," is curated by the New
York University Tisch High School Photography Program.
http://www.thebody.com/mrd.php?mrd=6&mtrk=4863426


__________________________________


Connect With Others at The Body's Bulletin Boards

"Positive at 23"
(A recent post from the "I Just Tested Positive" board)

"I'm 23 and just found out three days ago that I was HIV positive. I
haven't broken down yet. I have only told four people the news and
they are all very supportive, but they don't know what I am going
through. They try, and I love them for it, but I need people who are
going through the same thing as me to talk to. ... My mind is moving a
mile a minute, it seems. I'm afraid that I won't get to do everything
in life that I want to do. I think I will be completely alone for the
rest of my life. I guess I'm just coming on here to reassure myself
that I am not alone in how I am feeling right now. I know that this
disease is not a death sentence anymore, but in a way, it is. It might
not kill us physically, but it sure is a dream shatterer. ... It
would be nice to make friends that I could talk to and vent, and also
be there to listen to."

-- udboi84

Follow the link below to join this discussion thread, or to start your
own!
http://www.thebody.com/mrd.php?mrd=9&mtrk=4863426


__________________________________


Women Recently Diagnosed With HIV: Give a Phone Interview and Earn $50

Are you a woman with HIV? Want to help further HIV research without
leaving your home?

Researchers at the University of Minnesota are conducting a
telephone-based study to understand the treatment, prevention and
sexual health needs of people newly diagnosed. Currently they're
looking for recently diagnosed HIV-positive women, living in the
United States, to take part in one-on-one phone interviews.

Interested? E-mail the research staff at pints@..., or call
toll-free at 1-866-692-0188. You'll be asked to take a quick 5-minute
survey to determine if you're eligible to participate.

If eligible, your interview can be scheduled at your convenience on
weekdays or weekends. Interviews take between 60 and 90 minutes;
you'll receive $50 for your time and assistance. Follow the link below
to visit the official Web site.
http://www.thebody.com/mrd.php?mrd=10&mtrk=4863426


__________________________________


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