Has BYU prof found AIDS cure

Has BYU prof found AIDS cure?
Compound could be long-sought breakthrough

Salt Lake Tribune - 2/06/2006
Researchers, including a BYU scientist, believe they have found a new compound that could finally kill the HIV/AIDS virus, not just slow it down as current treatments do.
Unlike the expensive, drug cocktails 25 years of research have produced for those with the deadly virus, the compound invented by Paul D. Savage of Brigham Young University appears to hunt down and kill HIV.
Although so far limited to early test tube studies, CSA-54, one of a family of compounds called Ceragenins (or CSAs), mimics the disease-fighting characteristics of anti-microbial and anti-viral agents produced naturally by a healthy human immune system. Under a study sponsored by Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals, Savage and his colleagues developed and synthesized the compound for Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine. In his Nashville, Tenn., laboratories, Derya Unutmaz, an associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology, tested several CSAs for their ability to kill HIV. While issuing a cautious caveat about his early results, Unutmaz acknowledged Monday that CSAs could be the breakthrough HIV/AIDS researchers have sought for so long.
"We received these agents [from BYU] in early October and our initial results began to culminate by November 2005. We have since reproduced all our results many times," he said. "We have some preliminary but very exciting results [but] we would like to formally show this before making any claims that would cause unwanted hype." What studies to date show is a compound that attacks HIV at its molecular membrane level, disrupting the virus from interacting with their primary targets, the "T-helper" class white blood cells that comprise and direct the human immune system. Further, CSAs appear to be deadly to all known strains of HIV.
That would be a welcome development for the estimated 40.3 million people now living with HIV/AIDS globally, including nearly 5 million newly infected in the past year alone.
"We have devoted considerable resources to understand the mechanism of these compounds. We think this knowledge will enable us in collaboration with Dr. Savage to design even better compounds," Unutmaz said.
In addition to being a potential checkmate to HIV, the compounds show indications of being just as effective against other diseases plaguing humankind - among them influenza, possibly even the dread bird flu, along with smallpox and herpes.
Savage said he and his BYU research team had been studying CSAs for eight years, noting the compounds' value against microbial and bacteria infections. It was only a year ago they saw that CSAs killed viruses, too.
"They kill viruses very effectively and in a way paralleling our own, natural defenses," Savage said, noting that beyond the obvious use as a weapon against the AIDS pandemic, CSAs could help many others with non-HIV immune deficiencies.
Further, the compounds appear to have few limits on how they are delivered to patients. Although early indications are for application of CSAs with an ointment or cream, pills or injections may also be developed - if the compound gets to market.
BYU and Vanderbilt have jointly filed a patent on CSA technology, which has been licensed exclusively to Ceragenix. Ceragenix CEO and Chairman Steven Porter said only further research will tell, but he was optimistic about the application of CSAs in the war on HIV/AIDS. There are indications that it could help battle antibiotic- and antiviral-resistance strains of disease as they manifest themselves.
"We are encouraged . . . that CSAs may provide a completely unique family of anti-infectives, potentially active against a wide range of viral, fungal and bacterial targets, including those resistant to current therapies," he said.
Assuming continued positive test results in animal and eventual human trials, Porter estimates it could be three to seven years before the compound is available by prescription. That transition could be accelerated, however, if the Food and Drug Administration should decide to fast-track the drug.
That day is still a long way off, though. First, researchers plan to publish their results in scientific journals, seeking peer review and independent confirmation of their findings. Assuming no flaws are found, several rounds of testing would follow.
Most of the nation's leading AIDS experts were attending the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Denver on Monday. The event's policies prohibits on-site news conferences or releases during the conference, and efforts to reach scientists there were not successful.
Of the few AIDS research luminaries reached, all said they preferred not to comment on the Vanderbilt tests until full results are published.
bmims@sltrib.com

Republished with permission by www.CSA54.info
About the Author
Bob Mims is a writer for the Salt Lake Tribune and can be reached at bmims@sltrib.com. This article is brought to you by www.CSA54.info.

Several Ways to Cure a Genital Wart

The following paragraphs summarize the work of genital warts experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of genital warts. Heed their advice to avoid any genital warts surprises.
Genital warts, also called venereal warts, condylomata acuminata is the infection that results from the human papilloma virus (PHV). It's one of the most contagious sexually transmitted diseases. Over 5 million Americans have been reported to be affected by genital wart infections every year.
Genital warts are most often acquired through: anal, genital, and oral sex with individuals infected with PHV .
A person who's had contact with an infected person can acquire genital warts within 3 months after they've been exposed. Although, in some cases it may take years before genital warts develop and appear.
Once a person has acquired the virus (PHV) , it will never be gotten rid of, even after he or she has undergone treatment. This is why there's always a chance that genital warts may reappear.
Some of the signs that a person may have genital warts are as follows:
* * severe itching or burning of the genital area
* * small pinkish lumps that grow in a short amount of time
* * several bumps that are close together that resemble a cauliflower
* * pain or bleeding during intercourse
There are several ways to treat genital warts, depending on the size, location, and severity of the infections. There are cases when genital warts disappear by themselves, but there are also times when genital warts worsen in condition when left untreated. This is why it is best to seek out medical attention to get a diagnosis.
Now that we've covered those aspects of genital warts, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.
Doctors may prescribe medicated creams to cure genital warts that are fairly manageable. These creams can then be regularly applied to areas which are infected until the genital warts disappear.
But more serious cases of genital warts require more medical attention. Some of the treatments that have been applied in curing genital warts are :
Cryotherapy- This is a removal process that is done by freezing small genital warts with the aid of liquid nitrogen. This is a great treatment because it is known to have a high response rate.
Electrocautery - This is a method of removal that is accomplished by burning the genital warts.
Electrodesiccation- This is a procedure that employs the use of an electric current to get rid of the warts.
Laser treatment- This method is used for more serious genital warts. Different types of anaesthesia accompany this procedure, depending on the level of pain the patient is experiencing. This procedure can get very expensive. Also, patients who have gone through laser treatment may take some time to heal. There are also some cases where scarring has been reported as a result of this treatment.
There are some cases when severe genital warts refuse to respond to treatments, in which case surgical removal would then have to be performed. Surgical treatment has been known to have the highest success rate when it comes to genital warts removal. Also, it has the lowest reoccurrence rate, as compared to all of the other treatments.
For some reoccurring genital warts, injected drugs can be used. Although, these type of drugs can get a bit expensive.
If an individual feels that he or she is exhibiting these symptoms, they should immediately consult a doctor. A doctor would be able to make a diagnosis or identify the genital warts. Some genital warts on suspected areas may appear invisible, and require the use of a magnifying device to be detected.
It is no doubt that the best cure for genital warts is prevention. But this may not be always possible. Fortunately, for those individuals who are affected with genital wart infections there are a variety of treatments that they can take advantage of to help cure genital warts.
As your knowledge about genital warts continues to grow, you will begin to see how genital warts fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.
About the Author
Please visit Myhealth-info.com for information on cures for genital warts.

Genital Warts Natural and Alternative Treatment Remedies

Have you been diagnosed with genital warts caused by the HPV virus? If so, your physician has probably advised you of the more conventional treatments available such as pharmaceutical ointments, cryosurgery (freezing), electrocautery (burning) or laser treatment. While many people undergo these types of treatments, some opt for a less invasive natural solution by visiting a Naturopathic doctor. While there is no cure for the hpv virus, there are specific natural treatments that may help reduce and eliminate the warts over time.

TOPICAL TREATMENTS

Before resorting to medically invasive treatments many people are choosing to try alternative treatments that may naturally help reduce or eliminate genital warts. Many holistic treatment resources advise that different remedies will work for different individuals so it may take a little trial and error to find one suited to your needs. Experiment with applying the following directly to the infected wart areas:

Goldenseal: considered to have natural antibiotic properties and may destroy many types of viral infections.

Tea Tree Oil: strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial aromatherapy essential oil.

Aloe Vera: healing and soothing properties.

Garlic Oil: or even raw garlic is believed to promote white blood cells ability to fight infection.

Sour Apple Juice: it is believed the beneficial effect is from the magnesium in the apple

Most of these topical treatments have not been clinically proven as an effective treatment for genital warts, but have shown to have positive benefits is related studies or in fighting other types of viral infections. Other notable mentions for natural topical remedies also include; cabbage juice, banana skin, chickweed, dandelion juice, rubber plant, and pineapple juice.

HERBAL IMMUNE BOOSTING SUPPLEMENTS

Antiviral herbal remedies taken internally to boost the body's natural ability to fight viral infections include the following supplements:

Echinacea: known for its ability to boost the immune system, is important in the treatment of genital warts.

Astragalus: used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years, Astragalus is known to improve the body's ability to fight off viral and bacterial infections, such as the Human Papilloma Virus, by boosting the body's immune system. Astragalus has been taken as a supplement by people undergoing chemotherapy to help restore their tired immune systems.

Garlic powder tablets: Once used in 1550 BC by Egyptians as an external treatment for tumors, garlic has long since been recognized for it's medicinal values. Of the many benefits garlic has on the human body, it promotes the ability of white blood cells to fight infection. A natural antibiotic, garlic is effective in countering bacteria, fungus and viral conditions.

Vitamins: Supplementation with high doses of vitamin A, B complex, vitamin C, E, zinc, lactobacillus acidophilus and the amino acid L-cysteine have shown to have immune boosting benefits.

In addition, other noted antiviral herbal supplements include dandelion, greater celandine (cheilidonium), mullein, thuja, houseleek, goldenseal, calendula, lomatium, pau d'arco and wintergreen.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE

It is also suggested that you take a proactive approach in improving your health through lifestyle. By reducing sugars and refined foods, reducing red meat, increasing vegetables and fruit, taking the necessary vitamins and minerals, drinking plenty of water, regular exercise and getting proper rest, you will boost your immune system which will help in fighting off the virus.

EMOTIONAL STRESS

Because genital warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease, diagnosis will often have an emotional impact on the sufferer. Many people will experience a whole gamut of feelings including guilt, fear, rage, isolation and helplessness. HPV is one of the most common viruses in the world with an estimated 20 million sufferers, so as you can see you are not alone. It is believed that emotional health has a direct impact on your physical health. Therefore it is important to work through these feelings. Contact your local STD clinic for a list of support groups available in your area, or there are countless support groups and message boards available on the internet. Through seeing other people's experiences, you will see HPV is a very manageable virus.

Since most of these natural remedies are considered reasonably safe, they may be worth investigating before turning to invasive and costly medical treatments. Ensure to discuss any alternative treatment strategies with your health care practitioner before starting them. To learn more about conventional treatments for genital warts that have shown to be effective you can visit: http://www.genitalwartsherpes.com/genital-warts-treatment.htm


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