HIV and intestinal mucosa

Researchers have discovered a new method of slow viral replication in the gastrointestinal tract of HIV patients.
This can leads to a new therapeutic method of HIV treatment, Antiretroviral Therapy ART improves the control of viral replication in HIV-infected persons and preventing complications associated with chronic infection.

The use of antiretroviral decreases viral loads to undetectable blood levels, and is effective in preventing evolution of the infection towards acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In spite of the effectiveness of antivirals, HIV hides in the CD4 T cells, which harbour the virus and form viral reservoirs in various peripheral tissues, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.

Some viral organisms continue to replicate in the reservoir, causing harmful inflammation in the gut. The new method of treatment will modify CD4 T cells that will move from the blood to the gut. Molecule that stimulates HIV replication in CD4 T cells are located in the gut, researchers used drug to block this replication and decrease inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.

Using biopsies of the sigmoid colon and blood of HIV-infected persons on ART therapy, researchers discovered that in the colon, the CD4 T cells which express the CCR6 postal code also contain a large amount of another molecule called mTOR, an important regulator of metabolic mechanisms.

The mTOR molecule is responsible for the high vulnerability to HIV of the CD4 T lymphocytes expressing CCR6 and residing in the gut. Interfering with mTOR activity during in-vitro experiments with existing medications, researchers have been able to significantly reduce HIV replication in the cells of HIV-infected patients whose viral load was undetectable.
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Early Antiretroviral therapy linked with bone loss

A new study has discovered that early antiretroviral drugs ART causes bone loss compared with deferring ART.
Researchers examined HIV patients that used ART early and those that delayed treatment.

They discovered that early ART prevents HIV transmission but causes bone loss. Early treatment is also associated with increased bone loss of about 2-4%, this rate of bone loss will slow down after two years of treatment.

Antiretroviral drugs may cause broken bones as you get older, you can reduce the risk by engaging in simple exercise like walking and running.

Presently their is no cure for HIV, if you stop taking your drugs because of side effects of ART, your viral load will be high and the virus may become resistance to drug, you can manage the condition by taking calcium and vitamin D supplement to prevent osteoporosis.

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Neurocognitive decline and HIV virus

Neurocognitive changes like memory loss, loss of verbal fluency, poor concentration and inability to absorb new information or make complex decisions are associated with aging.

 HIV patients are at the risk of neurocognitive decline, even when they are taking effective antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load.

 Researchers examined 191 HIV-positive adults, all with a controlled viral load.
They were monitored for three years, at six month intervals for neurocognitive function test.

The result shows different stages of neurocognitive functions
Normal- Normal mental function.
Subclinical- Minimal symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.
Mild- Evidence of functional intellectual.
Moderate- Cannot work or maintain the more demanding aspects of daily life.
Severe- Major intellectual incapacity.
End Stage- Nearly vegetative.

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