HIV vaccine trial in Thailand shows success

September 25, 2009

All hope seemed lost for the science community. They doubted the possibility of ever finding a vaccine against AIDS, after the unexplained failure of a Merck vaccine testing in 2007. Last year, Roche had even announced that they would only concentrate their efforts on existing treatments. The results of a study conducted in Thailand, presented Thursday, have partly reassured researchers. The tests succeeded in reducing the risk of infection by almost one third.


Laura Darcel, communications officer for the U.S. Army, in charge of the project alongside the Thai Ministry of Health, does not want to raise false hopes. Meanwhile a UN report has indicated that the HIV virus, since its discovery in the 1980s, has killed 25 million people, further revealing that it will take “many years of research” before a vaccine is found. The UN’s announcement defies another statement made by Robert Gallo, a renowned American researcher, in the journal Midi Libre on Tuesday. He expressed his belief in the possibility of the discovery of a vaccine in the next “6 to 10 years”. Gallo is involved in one of 18 other vaccine research projects primarily funded by the Bill Gates Foundation.

For the first time since the discovery of the virus, scientists have statistical evidence of the effectiveness of a preventive vaccine. The WHO and UNAIDS are cautiously pleased with the results of the three-year study, conducted in Thailand. 16 000 HIV negative persons aged between18 and 30 years, were divided into two test groups. The first received a dose of vaccine every six months. The second was injected with a placebo at the same time interval. At the end of the experiment, the vaccinated group registered 31.1% less HIV positive cases vis-à-vis the placebo group, that is 51 infections in the first group against 74 in the second.

The research team’s main worry is that the vaccine has no effect on the level of HIV in the blood. The drugs effect is only preventive, for now. Another worrying issue is the transferability of the vaccine outside of Asia, particularly in what concerns the African strain of the virus. Despite the headway made so far in the search for a vaccine against HIV/AIDS, questions remain over plunging funds from the international community. The volume of international funding for research fell from $ 930 million in 2007 to 870 million in 2008.

July this year, South African Council for Medical Research (South African Medical Research Council - MRC) launched of Phase I of the first testing from a South African vaccine research to ascertain that the vaccine is safe for human use and also to measure the level of response from the immune system. The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) in collaboration with the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) from the MRC was to conduct the testing.

In the meantimes, experts have said that positive results from the Thai trial would augur well for the South African vaccine due to the similarities in both method and drugs used. This South African challenge, if achieved, will be attributed to Africa, a continent widely accused as being the author of HIV.

Sex - An Eternal Truth

September 22, 2009

Sex is the first activity that Adam and Eve did together and started multiplication of the human race. The primary function of the sex is the replication of the progeny to increase its race. Everything changed from the Hadean Era Cenozoic era but the sage of sex continues to be same. Sex performed the function of growth of the race in every era. Sex is the main factor, which lead to the evolution of the mankind from one era to another era. Sex is the only thing that was common in each and every era. Some animals became extinct, some animals changed in shapes, and some new species of animals developed, but the sex remained same and played a vital role in the life of an every living creature.

Sex is the eternal truth in the world. The history of sex is as old as the history of mankind. It is axiomatic that sex is the divine path that leads humans to the utmost happiness and satisfaction in the world.Sexual intercourse is the important activity during the love making session that includes the insertion of the male genital organs inside the female genitals. Sex was almost a taboo till the Second World War. Women were considered as the only means of the sexual ecstasy and were treated as the sex slaves. During the 1960s many old ideas were swept away by what we now call the “Sexual Revolution”.Sex is the path to reach the god, as said the by the famous saint, Rajneesh Osho. Sex is the passion that with the compassion makes you one with the almighty. Sex is sometimes considered as a sin to keep away the individual from its addiction because sex is very addictive and influential, but in reality sex is an act of worship and celebration. During the ancient time, Romans use to worship the sex and that was known as Pagans. Due to the over exploitation of the word sex, it is considered as the sin. But, you should always remember that sex is never a sin; particularly with a one partner is the blessing of the god.

The commercialization of the sex has given it’s a bad publicity. The prostitution has made sex a dreadful activity that is just enjoyed with the multiple partners to take the pleasure. Sex within marriage was tolerated for reproductive purposes only and contraception banned because of its associations with pleasure. Your sex life is considered to be very important factor in considering your longevity. Every day sex makes you live satisfying and longer life. Actually scientific reasons behind the sex were know during the ancient era, but it was difficult for the people to explain it scientifically. Thus, the religious importance of the sex was mentioned by the pagans. The Kama Sutra is the oldest book that explains the importance of the sex in your life and explains the various positions in which sex can be practiced.

During the olden age the sexual sculptures were made on the walls of the temples in order to promote sex through the religious means because no one was able to understand the scientific reasons behind it. To improve the understanding about the sex, even now the sexual education is made as part of curriculum for the schools. Sex if understood properly then many sex transmitted diseases and AIDS can be prevented. The sage of sex is not complete here because it will continue and still we are unable to explore the overall importance of the sex. Hence, follow sex in your daily routine and be a healthy part of the sage of sex.

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