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) Vitamin C inhibits replication of HIV
They found that calcium ascorbate has the same magnitude of effect at reducing extracellular HIV reverse transcriptase as ascorbic acid or vitamin C does. But chronic exposure to ascorbate was necessary for HIV suppression. NAC, but not glutathione caused less than twofold inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase and rendered a synergistic effect (about 8-fold inhibition) when tested together with vitamin C. Later in 1994, the researchers published another study in the June 1994 issue of Chem Biol Interact saying that "the activity of an HIV LTR-directed reporter protein made in ascorbate-treated cells was reduced to approximately 11% relative to that of untreated control," indicating that vitamin C "exerts a posttranslational inhibitory effect on HIV by causing impairment of enzymatic activity." In 1995, Harakeh and Jariwalla reported in the Sep-Oct issue of Nutrition that "exposure to 300 micrograms/ml ascorbate (vitamin C in the form of salt) resulted in approximately 5- to 10-fold lowering of the extra-cellular RT (reverse transcriptase) titer. More>> - (
) Plett couple help HIV patients to wash away their troubles
Mzi September and his wife Yandi, both HIV-positive, who established the Wash for Joy laundry in KwaNokuthula to fund their work with HIV patients, say they have seen their charity work grow into what is now the Joy Community Development (JCD) project.Yandi said under the auspices of the JCD, which involves a number of other selfless community members, a vegetable garden, community soup kitchen, job-creation sewing project, creche and rest house for HIV patients had been established.
Yandi, who worked in Port Elizabeth with HIV patients, and Mzi, of Plettenberg Bay, met at an Anglican church camp for HIV patients in Cape Town and soon afterwards Mzi surprised Yandi with a traditional wedding. Last year their miracle baby, Zukisane, was born HIV-free.
The laundry makes R2000 to R3000 month, from which salaries are paid to the seven JCD members including Asanda Hote, Andiswa Made and Xola Gayi. More>>
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) Andrew Clark: I voted 'yes' on Prop 8
A marriage fee of about $40 and a blood test for HIV are required. There is no mention that this law does not apply to homosexuals or that it only applies to heterosexuals. So theoretically, a gay person and I have the exact same right under California law: We can marry someone of the opposite sex who is older than 16 if we pay 40 bucks and get tested for HIV. That gay person can't marry a man, but I can't do it either. So am I being discriminated against? Is he?Yes, I realize that this is odd back-door logic, but you see my point. The gay marriage movement wants to frame this issue as an oppressive struggle for freedom and equality and an end to discrimination, particularly that there is a fundamental human right to marriage. That's simply not true. If it is, it's the first fundamental right I've heard of that requires a $40 fee and a blood test. More>>
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) HIV/AIDS set to soar in West Papua
West Papua has the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate outside Africa: 3% of the population are now infected with the virus, and experts fear that by 2025 that figure will rise to 7%. Of every four people who are infected, three are indigenous, even though almost half of those now living in the province are outsiders.The mining and logging industries have brought environmental destruction and social catastrophe to West Papua’s tribal people. They have also brought the military, which supports many of the businesses, and provides protection for others. The armed forces have an appalling reputation for human rights violations against the tribes.
This industrial development is now also responsible for the spread of the deadly HIV virus. Most of the cases of HIV/AIDS in West Papua can be traced back to the commercial sex industry, which has sprung up around logging and mining projects. More>>