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By Matías A. Loewy Although 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean now have pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programs against the human immunodeficiency virus, and the number of users belonging to "key" vulnerable populations, such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, and sex workers, tripled between 2020 and 2022, progress…

By Liz Highleyman. Herpes simplex refers to conditions caused by two related viruses that result in painful blisters. Herpes is difficult to prevent, treat, and cure, but scientists are working on vaccines and better medications. Oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters), which affects the lips and mouth, is usually caused by…

By Aude Lecrubier. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem. Few new molecules are being developed, but a new antibiotic called clovibactin offers hope. This drug, isolated from bacteria that have not been studied until now, appears to be able to combat multidrug-resistant “superbugs” thanks to unusual mechanisms of action. The drug was…

Lifestyle can ward off depression and even counteract a genetic predisposition to the disease, according to a study of 290,000 people. By Sonia Moreno. Lifestyle guidelines that reduce the risk of depression include maintaining a healthy diet (moderate alcohol consumption and not smoking), regular physical activity, and getting enough sleep.

Damian McNamara, MA The FDA today authorized the newest COVID-19 vaccine, the first that doesn't target the original or "ancestral" strain of the virus. Last year, the FDA authorized a bivalent vaccine targeting both the old and new strains. This time, it's a "monovalent" or single-strain vaccine with…

By Pedro Serrano. FOMO comes from an English acronym, 'Fear Of Missing Out', which translates to the fear of missing out on something. That feeling of wanting to do or be somewhere different from where we are. Deep down, it comes from the sense of belonging that we all have. The fear of being excluded from the group. Belonging to something. Being part of…

By Viviana Sofía Flores Rivera, Yale University. The FDA has approved lenacapavir injection for the treatment of multidrug-resistant HIV. HIV is not yet curable, but it can be successfully treated throughout a person's life. "And that's why, in the field, we want to make sure that the treatments we have, which for…

News and Perspectives > Medscape Medical News > ACC LATAM 2023 Dr. Natalia Martínez Medina The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week, to prevent cardiovascular disease. How well do physicians prescribe exercise and how…

Brian Owens The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is expanding its recommendations for antiretroviral drugs for HIV now that more options are available. “With these new options, we could extend pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to a broader population,” says James Stevermer, MD, a member of the task force…

Furthermore, one in five men worldwide is affected by one of the 12 variants considered high-risk. The highest prevalence is in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly one in three men over the age of 15 worldwide is infected with at least one variant of the genital human papillomavirus (HPV)...

Last Monday, July 24, 2023, thirty-three adult men were arrested for allegedly "having group sex in a private establishment." But this is not a matter of recounting the events, because it is more than clear that this arrest represents a flagrant violation of individual rights, since…

By John Parkinson. The twice-yearly injection proved beneficial in conjunction with an optimized background regimen. People with multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV have limited therapy options, which can make managing their disease very challenging. And there are only a couple of treatment options for these patients…

Sex differences in viral loads in newborns point to the crucial role of interferon during infection. Gus Cairns. Antiretroviral drugs taken by pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission are very effective. But what about the minority of babies who still contract HIV? A South African study…

Keith Alcorn - A combination of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor doravirine and the experimental antiretroviral islatravir proved as effective as the combination of bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (Biktarvy) in suppressing HIV in previously untreated individuals after 48 weeks of treatment, reported Professor Jürgen Rockstroh of the University…

July 23, 2023 Press Release Brisbane The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new scientific and policy guidance on HIV at the 12th IAS (International AIDS Society) International Conference on HIV Science. The new WHO guidance and an accompanying Lancet systematic review published today outline the role of suppression…

The Pasteur Institute (France) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (Switzerland) will present a new case of HIV "cure" following a bone marrow transplant. This is the sixth patient cured of the virus, known as the "Geneva patient." This new milestone will be presented at the IAS International Conference. Details of a third case were published in February in the scientific journal "Nature Medicine"...