This blog feed provides the latest Herpes and HPV news for your information.

Oct 08, Smart technology could lead to improved herpes treatment
8 Oct 2012 at 11:41am

A scientific research team from John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) has come up with a very smart way of delivering herpes and other treatments topically. Certain surfaces of the body, like the eyes, the lungs and the genital tract are protected by a mucous layer which is nature’s way of keeping out many infections. But the downside of this natural protection is that when medicines are administered topically to mucosal surfaces, the layer of mucous also prevents the drug from penetrating adequately. Nanoparticles within a conventional topically applied vaginal gel, for example, will adhere to the mucous coating of the vaginal walls and although some of the active ingredient may work, the mucous is constantly replaced, so that most of the drug is effectively “washed away” and therefore ineffective. The John Hopkins Team has developed mucous penetrating (nano) particles (MPPs) which mimic the effect of viruses such as HSV-2, which can penetrate the mucous walls easily. Laboratory tests using this innovative technology were carried out on herpes infected mice. Researcher and director of John Hopkins Center for Nanomedecine, Justin Hanes explained that as the means of delivering drugs through the mucous membranes is so effective, a ten-fold weaker drug dose was able to “continue to supply drug for at least a day and provide nearly 100 percent coverage of the mucosal surface of the vagina and ectocervix” in the mice. Fellow researcher Laura Ensign commented: “We’ve shown that mucus-penetrating particles are safe for vaginal administration in mice. Our next move will be to show that they are safe … in humans.” She added that the technology could lead to a once-daily treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, contraception and the treatment of cervo-vaginal disorders.


Sep 03, Herpes Drugs: GSK Subjected to the Largest Fine Ever
3 Sep 2012 at 4:44am

British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), manufacturer of herpes drugs Zovirax and Valtrex has been subjected to the largest fine ever imposed on a drugs company. Among GSK’s many products are Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant and Avandia, used in the treatment of diabetes. In a lawsuit involving ten of the company’s drugs, GSK admitted withholding important safety information about Avandia from the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA). Earlier, severe concerns had been expressed about the drug both in the United States and in Europe, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended its withdrawal from the market as long ago as 2010. GSK further admitted bribing physicians to prescribe Wellbutrin for unauthorized use, including the treatment of children. Attorney Carmin Ortiz explained GSK’s conduct in stark terms: "The sales force bribed physicians to prescribe GSK products using every imaginable form of high-priced entertainment, from Hawaiian vacations [to] paying doctors millions of dollars to go on speaking tours, to tickets to Madonna concerts." We’ll never know how much harm was done by withholding information about the risks involved in prescribing Avandia to certain vulnerable patients. We’ll never know if prescribing a potent ant-depressant to children will cause lifelong psychiatric and psychological damage. We do know that the company was fined a record $3bn. In February 2012, GSK announced that its profits for 2011 amounted to nearly $9bn. Worldwide, pharmaceuticals are one of the fastest growing and most profitable areas of business. A fine, albeit of record proportions, will have minimal impact. What is needed is real justice for the people damaged by the criminal behavior of those responsible. If you or I were to purposefully or recklessly cause death or psychological damage to a child or a vulnerable person, we would go to prison. When will the US justice system catch up with the facts?


Aug 21, Homeopathy Could Be an Effective Herpes Treatment
21 Aug 2012 at 10:03am

Regular readers of my blog will know that I am sometimes critical of the power wielded by pharmaceutical companies when it comes to the selective funding of research projects.  The simple truth is that promoting a particular company’s drug will increase the value of shares in that company and produce greater profit.  That’s the way the market works, and relevant and much-needed research sometimes has to take a back seat to big bucks. Two of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical companies (by revenue, March 2010) are based in Switzerland.  You could be forgiven, therefore, for assuming that a Swiss government report into homeopathic medicines, published at the end of 2011 and now available in English*, would come down heavily on the side of conventional medicines. The report, the most extensive and comprehensive ever produced by a government, concludes that homeopathic treatments are both effective and cost-effective and that the costs of such treatments, where appropriate, should be reimbursed by the Swiss national health insurance program. Well, as a personal advocate and very strong believer in the power of homeopathic medicine, I say three loud cheers for the Swiss government for finally taking homeopathy seriously and making this very important, forward-looking move. I hope other governments in other countries will look at this very seriously. So far as herpes is concerned, Herpes Antidote gives you clear and precise information on how to use homeopathy to treat herpes and keep it at bay. * Bornhoft, Gudrun, and Matthiessen, Peter F. Homeopathy in Healthcare: Effectiveness, Appropriateness, Safety, Costs. Goslar, Germany: Springer, 2011 I have used homeopathy for herpes quite successfully using a program called Herpes Antidote. It has helped me remain symptoms free for more than 8 years now


Jul 20, Herpes vaccine: Genocea moves to clinical trial stage
20 Jul 2012 at 11:06am

Less than a year after announcing the acceleration of its program, Genocea Biosciences has announced it is ready for clinical trials of its T-cell herpes vaccine. The trial, starting in the third quarter of 2012, will involve 150 people with HSV-2 infection, but otherwise in good health. Primarily aimed at measuring safety and immune response, the trial will also examine shedding and the presence duration and severity of lesions. The move to first stage human trial represents five years of research into T cell technology, in conjunction with the University of California at Berkeley and the Harvard Medical School’s program ATLAS (AnTigen Lead Acquisition System). Genocea CEO Chip Clark said: “…we now have five vaccines in the pipeline, and that is a lot for a small company. We created these to show the versatility of the platform, and we have two vaccines against HSV-2, and vaccines against bacteria (Chlamydia trachomatis and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and protozoa (Plasmodium falciparum; malaria) …we feel that ATLAS gives us a comparative advantage." According to Genocea’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Seth Hetherington, data from this trial should be available during the first quarter of 2013.


Jul 06, Herpes and Other Stds: Controversial approval for HIV preventive drug
6 Jul 2012 at 8:43am

Unpleasant and often dangerous side-effects of drugs used in the treatment of serious diseases are well-documented. Patients and clinicians often have the tremendously difficult task of weighing the side-effects of a drug against its efficiency before deciding whether or not to pursue a course of treatment. So would you recommend prescribing a drug whose known side-effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, appetite loss, diarrhea, liver and kidney toxicity to a patient who was perfectly healthy? That is the controversial decision taken by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the case of the HIV drug Truvada. The drug, already approved for the treatment of AIDS in conjunction with other drugs, does not rid the body of HIV but rather inhibits its replication in the body. Now the FDA has approved the drug as a preventive measure for uninfected men who have sex with men, for an uninfected person whose sexual partner is HIV positive and (most controversially) for individuals who engage in “risky sexual behavior” which could result in HIV infection. The 22-strong FDA committee heard representations from over 40 healthcare professionals, AIDS advocates and patients, most of whom advised strongly against the drug’s approval. But after assessing data from studies conducted inBotswanaandKenya, they came down on the side of approval, though not unanimously. Supporters of the decision included Kirk Myers, CEO of Abounding Prosperity Inc and himself HIV-positive, who said: “People need to be given the option to choose. This drug is wanted.” But Robert Elliott, a registered nurse, stated: “There is no question that, if efforts on using [Truvada] are widespread, condom use and other means of preventing HIV infection will decrease.” Michael Weinstein, president and founder of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation described Truvada’s approval as a preventive measure a “reckless act”. AIDS activist Miki Jackson said: “To knowingly recommend a drug as powerful as Truvada with such serious side-effects and given to people who are perfectly healthy is frightening.” adding that giving the drug approval was “akin to issuing an engraved invitation for lawsuits.”


Jun 21, Herpes Remedies: Vinegar for health & herpes
21 Jun 2012 at 3:39am

Ever wondered how vinegar came about? The clue is in the name. In French it’s a compound of two words, “vin” and “aigre”, meaning “sour wine.” About a thousand years ago someone somewhere forgot some wine and let it go sour. The resultant liquid was found to be good as a preservative or seasoning and over the centuries it’s been found to have health benefits, too. Although vinegar was initially produced from wine, it can be produced by letting air get to just about anything containing a combination of alcohol and sugar. Today’s vinegars can be made from wine, fruits, and grains and can even be produced synthetically from petrochemicals. But the vinegar I want to talk about today is very specific. It’s organic apple cider vinegar, produced from naturally grown apples. Many people recommend this taken orally (just two teaspoonfuls each day) to help weight loss and a variety of ailments. For me it is an essential part of keeping herpes symptoms at bay and one of the most important pieces of equipment in my “herpes toolbox”. Not only can you take cider vinegar orally but if you do have herpes blisters, you can apply it (diluted because it can be harsh on the skin) as regularly as you can to help ease the pain and discomfort as well as speeding up the healing process. You can try applying cider vinegar neat to a blister for about five minutes, but you should never apply it without dilution to an open sore. If you take cider vinegar orally, you can dilute two teaspoons in a glass of water to take away the harshness of the taste. Please remember that this advice applies to ORGANIC CIDER VINEGAR. Other vinegars do not have the same effect, and synthetic vinegars can be positively harmful to your health.


Jun 14, Women with Herpes: Underarm Deodorant and Women’s Hormonal Balance
14 Jun 2012 at 4:08am

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="American deodorant! (Photo credit: modernangel)"][/caption] Time and again I have seen women battling against herpes in the days before and during menstruation. That is why I firmly believe that a healthy hormonal balance is a key factor in herpes prevention. I remember reading a forum post where someone said that using deodorant can make herpes worse for women but I didn't really pay attention to it. Even thought I have no concrete evidence and I don't know if they are related, I do think that in general deodorants can adversely impact on overall health and well being. As an example, I want to summarize an article I read recently suggesting that deodorants may be responsible for cases of breast cancer. The article reported on a study that was carried out on the levels of parabens in breast tissue. The published findings turned up some alarming statistics. The first thing to remember is that preservatives that imitate certain hormones can be found in any number of readily available hygiene and beauty products which we use every day. These include shampoos, moisturisers, toothpaste and shaving gel. The same scientists took samples from the mastectomies of women being treated for breast cancer and they found the following disturbing results: Parabens in the breast tissue in ester form had arrived there through the skin, most probably from using underarm deodorants and beauty products. The concentration of paraben residue was up to a million times more than the levels of estrogen usually found in breast tissue. Parabens are known to mimic estrogen, a hormone which is a proven factor in cases of breast cancer. The highest concentration of popylparaben was found in the axilla or underarm zone – this is of course where deodorants are used most and where the prevalence of breast cancer was highest. Other cosmetic products may also be implicated because some of the women participating in the study had never used underarm deodorants. If cosmetic products can cause cancer just imagine what they can do to hormonal balance. Estrogen prevalence reaches both men and women and seems to become a World wide issue. All things considered, I think that it is best to use underarm deodorant sparingly and to find other, more natural ways to reduce bodily odours. One great product which can be taken daily and is known to reduce unpleasant smells is spirulina. Spirulina has the added advantage of boosting the immune system.


Jun 12, Herpes Research: Development in treatment of ocular herpes
12 Jun 2012 at 4:54am

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc, of Tustin, CA has announced what it describes as “promising” pre-clinical data in respect of its PS-targeting antibodies, PGN632 and PGN635 for the treatment of ocular herpes infections and age-related macular disease respectively. In modeling using rabbits, PGN632 was found to be at least as effective as current therapy in the treatment of herpes infection of the eye, with no sign of toxicity. Cyril Empig, associate director at Peregrine said: “This is the first time our antibodies have been tested against HSV-1 in an established animal model.” “We are pleased to see the high level of interest … in this … application … and look forward to continuing collaborations … to further assess PGN632 in this … as well as other diseases caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2." According to the National Eye Institute herpes simplex keratitis is a leading cause of corneal disease in the United States with about 46,000 cases of HSV eye infection being reported annually.


Jun 06, British Herpes Drug Receives Limited FDA Approval
6 Jun 2012 at 5:21am

Foscavir (foscarnet sodium injection), which inhibits the replication of HSV1 and HSV2 herpes virus in vitro, has been given limited approval by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). Approval for the drug is restricted to the treatment of immuno-compromised patients with HIV and acyclovir-resistant mucocutaneous HSV infections as an emergency measure. The drug comes with a warning of kidney toxicity, with renal function monitoring and hydration a necessity. There is a long list of common side-effects with this drug treatment. It should be stressed that this drug is only for use in the case of patients who are severely ill and under constant medical supervision. British owned Clinigen acquired the rights to Foscarnet sodium from AstroZeneca in March 2011. US distribution rights belong to Illinois based Hospira.


May 07, Herpes Foods: it’s even worse than we thought
7 May 2012 at 6:48am

I have read several cases where people with herpes believed artificial sweeteners, especially Aspartame make their symptoms worse. In a recent internet article, Dr Mercola argues that the artificial sweetener Neotame may be even more harmful than aspartame. That's a powerful claim. Aspartame has been associated with harmful neurological effects from dizziness and unsteadiness right up to epilepsy and severe tremors. My advice about aspartame, like Dr Mercola's is this. Leave it alone! So what about Neotame? It's been approved by the FDA, and its makers, Nutrasweet, a subsidiary of Monsanto, claim that because it is up to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar the tiny amount needed to sweeten products means that any toxicity is reduced to an absolute minimum The FDA gave this product approval as long ago as 2002, even though the European Union, Norway, India and Israel played safe and did not approve it until eight years later. Mercola sites an apparently unhealthy relationship between the FDA and ex Monsanto executives casting doubt on the impartiality of the former over the latter So is Neotame a safe and effective substitute for sugar and harmful sweeteners - or just a money-spinning Monsanto alternative? : "Over 100 scientific studies were done to establish the safety on neotame. A comprehensive battery of safety studies in animals and humans demonstrated no adverse effects from neotame." Mercola claims: "Neotame is like aspartame on steroids.." I say that so long as there are genuine organic alternatives to sugar, why take any risks? I recommend you give all artificial sweeteners a wide berth if you want to be sure of avoiding any nasty incidental side-effects. Dr Mercola often recommends Stevia extracts instead. Natural stevia extract may have a bitter taste if you use too much of it but it's usually much better than artificial sweeteners. Also, I like to drink licorice tea. It just tastes naturally sweet and does not contain any form of sugar. What's more, it contains an acid that is known to fight herpes.


Apr 26, Herpes Diet: Coffee, Stress – and a Little Red Bug
26 Apr 2012 at 7:53am

There's something "bugging" the vegetarian and vegan coffee drinking community right now... My advice to anyone who is unfortunate enough to suffer regular herpes outbreaks has always been to cut coffee out of their diet. Caffeine in coffee drives up stress levels, or at least when combined with everyday work stress, throws the body's stress-related hormones into overdrive producing the same effect as extreme stress. In a 1999 Duke University Medical Center (Durham NC) survey, Prof. James Lane explained: "Moderate caffeine consumption makes a person react like he/she is having a very stressful day. If you combine the effects of real stress with the artificial boost in stress hormones that comes from caffeine, then you have compounded the effects considerably." As if that weren't enough reason for you to at least re-consider your daily coffee allowance, Starbucks recently raised stress levels in the vegan community into the stratosphere when it was revealed that the red coloring in its Strawberries and Créme Frappucino, made with soya milk and boldly advertised as "vegan friendly" is none other than cochineal - a product extracted from an insect found in South and Central America! Co-founder of thisdishisvegetarian.com, Daelyn Fortney is urging Starbucks to revert to a natural red coloring such as beetroot and Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) sardonically suggests that they could consider using strawberries as natural coloring. On March 30, Starbucks issued a statement saying they were: "reviewing alternative natural ingredients" and later CEO Howard Schulz confirmed: "We probably will reformulate [the beverage]. We're going to make the right decision." My final word? Vegetarian, Vegan or not, if you're suffering regular herpes outbreaks - just give all coffee a wide berth, especially if you're prone to stress. To learn more about which foods to eat to prevent herpes, please read my article on herpes diet


Apr 23, Vaginal Herpes: What Women Should Know about Genital Herpes?
23 Apr 2012 at 8:07am

Vaginal herpes causes unpleasant symptoms like itchiness, blisters and sores. It can be very mild or quite debilitating. Genital herpes becomes a concern when it affects the vagina during pregnancy Permalink -- click for full blog post "Vaginal Herpes: What Women Should Know about Genital Herpes?"


Apr 10, Herpes virus and the decline of coral
10 Apr 2012 at 5:34am

We know that herpes can and does affect our lives in many ways. From an unwelcome but controlled condition to a waking nightmare, it's something we cannot ignore. But we don't really take much account of the herpes virus in relation to the rest of the living world. Now science is telling us that perhaps we should. It has been known for several years that the world's coral resources are diminishing fast. In the Caribbean Sea, the presence of coral has fallen by around 80 percent in the past three to four decades, while in the rest of the world around a third of all coral is under threat of extinction. Many factors, including human abuse and neglect of coral reefs, have been pinpointed as a cause for this rapid decline, but in recent years, research has centered on diseases which could be killing the coral. Now Rebecca Vega-Thurber, assistant professor of microbiology at Oregon State University has discovered that a type of herpes virus is present in a large amount of coral. It seems that herpes-like viral sequences occurred in coral after episodes of stress. A review of Prof. Vega-Thurber's findings is published in The Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. The findings suggest that viral infections, notably herpes, may be responsible in part for the decline of coral reserves worldwide. But the professor qualifies her research, explaining: "Just because you harbor a virus doesn't mean you are getting sick from it. This is part of what we have to pin down with further research."


Apr 05, Herpes Diet: Spirulina – The latest "Superfood"?
5 Apr 2012 at 9:43am

In case you've not heard of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), it's a blue/green algae found in fresh water sources and it thrives in sunny, pesticide free environments. It is a highly effective antioxidant, providing protein, iron and magnesium. Research from 1993 by the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University in Japan found that Spirulina also had selective inhibiting effects on herpes simplex HSV-1 in infected hamsters. The AARP (American Association for Retired Persons) ranks Spirulina as the number one "super food" for extending lifespan and the United Nations recognises it as a significant weapon in the fight against malnutrition. But perhaps the most interesting and significant research into Spirulina has been in the treatment of radiation sickness. Both Chinese and Belarusian research (following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster) indicated that Spirulina was an effective treatment for children with radiation sickness. Paradoxically, a major source of Spirulina is Japan, which itself suffered a nuclear meltdown in 2011 at the power plant in Okuma, following the devastating Tsunami. As Spirulina is, like any food, subject to contamination, it is vitally important to know the source of Spirulina if you are considering using it as a dietary supplement. You can find out more of the benefits of Spirulina in a recent article by Dr. Mercola. To learn more about which foods can protect you against herpes, please read my article on herpes diet


Apr 02, Herpes Transmission: What You Must Know
2 Apr 2012 at 5:30am

Herpes transmission is often the biggest concern for people with herpes. Most people get confused on how one can transmit herpes. Learn how you could give or catch herpes here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Herpes Transmission: What You Must Know"


Mar 30, Genital Herpes Vaccine: Allied Healthcare Accelerates Herpes Research
30 Mar 2012 at 3:06am

Allied Healthcare Group (Australia) has announced a revenue generating share issue of up to $AUS 6.36 million ($US 6.58 million) to advance some of its most promising research projects. The Group has a major shareholding in Coridon, which successfully completed pre-clinical efficacy trials of an HSV-2 vaccine in October 2011. Additional funding raised by the company will enable continued trials as well as accelerating progress of Coridon's next generation HPV vaccine - potentially a huge earner for Allied Healthcare. Group CEO Lee Rodne said, "This will allow us to take [trials] to the next phase of development and also help in generating shareholder returns in the immediate future." This certainly looks like good news for herpes research as well as for investors in a slow-moving economic recovery phase.


Mar 27, Herpes Research: new drug may provide alternative HSV-2 herpes treatment
27 Mar 2012 at 4:36am

While valacyclovir has proved efficacious in the treatment of herpes symptoms for many people, for some it has proved ineffective. Drugs such as valacyclovir are in a class known as nucleoside analogues - attacking the virus in a particular way. Dr Rachel Gordon of the Center for Clinical Studies, University of Texas, Houston, says: "[some] HSV strains have dysfunctional thymidine kinase that are immune to oral nucleoside analogues. We know that sexual transmission does occur during suppressive therapy." In other words, there are strains of HSV-2 genital herpes which appear to be effectively immune to treatment with valacyclovir. Dr Gordon and her research team have just completed clinical trials of a new approach to tackling HSV-2, known in its development stage as ASP2151. The trials involved 695 adults with recurrent symptoms of genital herpes. Participants were taken off any existing medication and had to experience at least four episodes of genital herpes in the year prior to the commencement of the trial, at least the last of which had to be untreated with any suppressive therapy. They were then randomly treated with either a placebo, valacyclovir 500mg twice daily or ASP2151 in doses of 100mg, 200mg, 400mg or 1,200mg. Genital swabs were obtained within six hours of the recurrence of lesions, after which suppressive therapy (or placebo) was administered. Viral testing and blood sampling was then performed at regular intervals. Sample patients were 70% female and with an average age of 40 years. Half of participants were positive for HSV-2 alone and half for both HSV-2 and HSV-1. In terms of healing times, both valacyclovir and ASP2151 were more effective than the placebo and high dose (1,200mg) ASP2151 produced marginally faster median healing time than valacyclovir. Overall results showed a similar efficacy between the two treatments. There were no significant side-effects reported with ASP2151; minor effects reported were headache, nausea and dizziness. It seems that although the effectiveness of ASP2151 and valacyclovir are much the same, they provide different methods of attacking the same problem, so that if a strain of HSV-2 appears resistant to valacyclovir then there could be (depending on final trials) an alternative weapon in the pharmaceutical armory.


Mar 21, Genital Herpes Transmission: How is the Virus Transmitted and how you can Preven
21 Mar 2012 at 1:35pm

Learn how to prevent genital herpes transmission whether you're the one with herpes or the one afraid of catching herpes Permalink -- click for full blog post "Genital Herpes Transmission: How is the Virus Transmitted and how you can Preven"


Mar 15, Herpes Transmission LA Porn Studios told – use condoms or we close you down!
15 Mar 2012 at 10:19am

The mayor of Los Angeles has passed into law a requirement for performers in the pornographic film industry to make use of condoms on set. The law represents a victory for LA based Aids Healthcare Foundation, which has been fighting porn producers over the issue for the past six years. Diane Duke, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) which champions freedom from censorship says: "We are in favor of choice and against government regulating sexual behavior between consenting adults. The public is tired of the government intruding in their lives and their bedrooms, real or fantasy." The FSC currently endorses a self-regulating regime of testing performers for sexually transmitted infections every thirty days, but although performers with gonorrhea, Chlamydia and certain other diseases are disqualified from working until they are clear, the scheme does not test for HSV-2 genital herpes. Former porn actor Derrick Burts, who is HIV positive, says: "Herpes comes with the job. Everyone gets it." He claims: "Testing is a broken system. It does not protect the performer; it only notifies the performer of what they have." The Aids Healthcare Foundation claims that since 2004, the porn industry has produced ten cases of HIV and more than four thousand cases of gonorrhea and Chlamydia. AHF President, Michael Weinstein told The Independent newspaper: "We don't want Nike shoes made by child labor or workers dying on construction sites, so why would we want to sacrifice adult performers on the altar of the porn industry?" Burts says that porn actors feel powerless and are confronted with film producers who will simply refuse to employ actors who wish to use condoms. Porn producers, in turn, fear their sales will dip if condom use is mandated as the public, according to producer/director Stevie Glasser, is "condom-phobic". Glasser believes that adult movie makers will quit Los Angeles in the wake of this legislation, heading for a location where the use of condoms is not compulsory. But as of right now any Los Angeles studio failing to comply with the law will be closed down and their license revoked.


Mar 07, Herpes Transmission: New Findings about HSV-2 Herpes Shedding
7 Mar 2012 at 8:35am

For some time now successive clinical trials involving both standard and high dose treatment with acyclovir and valacyclovir have shown promising results in the treatment of herpes HSV-2 infection. But now research headed by Dr Christine Johnston of the Department of Medicine, University of Washington has thrown up a question which is yet to be answered. Even when acyclovir and valacyclovir are administered at high dose, asymptomatic shedding of the virus is not prevented. What this means is that although patients treated with the antiviral therapy show markedly less sign of lesions, they may still be shedding the virus, accounting for continuing high infection levels. This doesn't mean that the use of acyclovir and valacyclovir is of no use. The drugs are highly effective at alleviating symptoms and the risk of cross-infection is reduced by approximately 48% as against patients not using the drug. But this is still regarded as a disappointment in the battle against HSV-2 and the continuing spread of the disease. The study's authors comment: "The discrepancy between potent suppression of clinical symptoms and failure of antiviral agents to fully prevent HSV transmission is not well understood." The trial comprised 90 patients who were HSV-2 positive but HIV negative. Different sections of this group were administered either: Acyclovir 400mg twice daily (standard dose) Valacyclovir 500mg daily (standard dose) with acyclovir 800mg three times daily (high dose) No medication All three sections experienced all three treatments over periods of four to seven weeks with a one week "washout" period in between each, so that over the period of the trial, all participants had received identical treatment. Genital swabs were collected four times daily from each participant. Interpretation of the test results showed that short bursts of genital HSV-2 viral shedding were present in all patients, including those on high-dose medication. Commenting on the results of Dr Johnston's study, Dr Philippe Van de Perre and Dr Nicolas Nagot of the University of Montpellier (France) said that these findings: "should encourage patients to use condoms and adopt safe sex practices, especially since increase of the treatment dose would not further reduce the risk of transmission to patients' partners."


Mar 02, A New Herpes Vaccine Soon? Vaxfectin expected to move to Clinical Trial phase
2 Mar 2012 at 10:04am

There is excitement surrounding Vaxfectin, an innovative HSV-2 inhibiting vaccine under development by Vical Incorporated of San Diego CA. Earlier this month, Vical's President and CEO, Vijay Samant announced that in pre-clinical trials of the vaccine, Vaxfectin was shown to provide: "complete protection in guinea pigs against both primary and recurrent HSV-2 disease." Describing Vaxfectin as one of Vical's "most exciting developments", Mr Samant went on to announce that the company was ready to embark on a Phase 1/2 "proof of concept" clinical trial at the earliest opportunity. Such a trial, if approved, would involve a relatively small number of HSV-2 positive volunteers with a history of recurring genital lesions. The timing and severity of herpes outbreaks would be carefully monitored over a set period of time before Vaxfectin or a placebo were administered. After administration of Vaxfectin or placebo, each patient would continue to be monitored over another defined period, thus providing their own control. Mr Samant envisages that this initial trial will commence during 2012 and, if successful, will lead into a large safety and efficacy study with a large degree of confidence. He said: "An effective therapeutic vaccine for Herpes Simplex 2 will serve a large and highly motivated market and could generate peak annual sales of more than a billion dollars."


Feb 24, Living with Herpes: Health Benefits of Yoga
24 Feb 2012 at 7:12am

Did you ever utter the expression "This job/relationship/situation is killing me!"? Well if you're anything like me I would be very surprised if you hadn't said it or something very like it at some stage in your life. But just how true could that even be? We all tend to exaggerate from time to time and of course all of life's little ups and downs aren't going to be the end of us. But it is true that stress, in its extreme form, can be very harmful physically. So is there anything we can do about this without reaching for the meds cabinet? Sure there is. It's simple, it's been around for centuries and Eastern civilizations swear by its efficacy. It's called yoga. Apart from a documented ability to reduce stress, health benefits of yoga listed by Meredith Walker in nursingdegree.net include: Lower blood pressure, improved circulation, higher pain tolerance and a better controlled metabolism, making it easier to lose weight and control hunger. I found an interesting article about yoga by Kathy Smith here. You may want to take a look. If Yoga doesn't appeal to you, you can still get some of its benefit by starting a daily meditation routine. I have used meditation and visualization to both improve my health and lower my stress levels with great success. I also love using some other stress relieving techniques like EFT which is featured in Herpes Antidote, the program I have used to remain outbreak free for 9 years now.


Feb 17, Herpes Diet: What are the dangers of fruit juice?
17 Feb 2012 at 9:19am

When you're trying to combat herpes symptoms you will know by now that I advise that you never take sweet soda drinks and that you try to avoid all kinds of sugar, including fructose. For a long time it's been known that sweet, sugary drinks are a contributory factor in obesity, heart disease, diabetes and a host of other complaints. Even if you're herpes-free it's just a really good idea to avoid these drinks. So what about fruit juices? Aren't we told that eating five portions of fruit or vegetables each day is good practice? And isn't a glass of fruit juice equivalent to one of those portions? Well my advice about herpes stands. All fruit juices contain fructose, a naturally occurring sugar. Sugar consumption and herpes symptoms just don't go well together, the first tending to "feed" the second. But what about fruit juices in general? The jury is out... A recent article by Dr.Mercola leans on the fact that even the purest of fruit juices contain a large amount of sugar and suggests that this can be damaging in a number of ways. Indeed, research in 1997 published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American academy of pediatrics, concluded that consumption of 12 fluid ounces or more of fruit juice by young children was associated with short stature and obesity. A more recent study (2007) led by Theresa Nicklas, pediatrician from the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX found that children who drank 100% fruit juice tended to eat more whole fruit and consume less fats and sugars than children who did not. But the study also underlines the need for portion control, a 4oz portion (about half a cup) being a healthy option at breakfast. Dr Bob Issenman of the Canadian Pediatric Society makes the point that: "While 100 per cent fruit juice is a healthy food source, especially when consumed with a balanced breakfast, it is also high in sugar and vivid in colour, making it enticing to children as an all-day drink - and leading them to drink more than the children did in the study." My advice in short: Don't drink fruit juices while on a herpes diet. When it comes to normal consumption of juices - make sure they really ARE fruit juices (many commercial brands appearing to be fruit juice contain just 10% of natural juice and are full of sugars and colourings) and limit yours or your children's intake.


Feb 14, Herpes Drugs – Can You Trust All Doctors?
14 Feb 2012 at 8:50am

You'll often read on these pages about various investments into drug research by giant drug companies like GlaxoSmithKline, StarPharma, Pfizer or Novartis (the list is by no means exhaustive). Make no mistake, I'm totally in favor of investment when it comes to finding new or better cures for miserable conditions like herpes. Investment into herpes drug trials alone amounts to many millions of dollars each year, but are the pharmaceutical giants in the business of altruism? No they are not. They are in the business of profit making. It may surprise you to know that for every million dollars spent on drug research programs, nearly two million dollars is spent on promotional publicity. For many years, drug companies have targeted medical practitioners in large and small ways. Notice that smart pen your physician uses to write prescriptions. Isn't that the name of a drug company embossed on the side? What about that notepad - isn't that carrying advertising for one drug or another? Like any other business, drug companies are prepared to invest money to ensure that their name is prominent in your doctor's surgery - and that when he writes you that prescription it is for their product. If that means paying for a golfing holiday or a luxury weekend then so be it. According to propublica.org, in the year 2009 alone, drug companies paid out over $761 million to physicians and other healthcare professionals. Recently, however, there have been concerns voiced about the hold pharmaceutical companies have over teaching hospitals and universities. Many medical professionals are beginning to be wary of entering into a cozy relationship with one or other drug company. So have the pharmaceutical companies decided to step back? Well yes and no ... ...You may be familiar with the name James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch and Chief Executive of News Corporation. You may not know however that Murdoch Jr. is also a member of GlaxoSmithKline's Corporate Responsibility (sic) Committee. The respected British Medical Journal recently reported that The Australian, News Corporation's flagship Australian newspaper: "has accepted an undisclosed amount of sponsorship money from the drug industry for a series of articles on health policy." You may think that represents a conflict of interest, but (in the words of a famous fictitious British Prime Minister) I could not possibly comment.


Feb 06, Herpes Pain: Tylenol – Understanding the Risks
6 Feb 2012 at 12:07pm

What do you reach for when the pain from a herpes outbreak or headache becomes too much to bear? Do you go for the pack marked Tylenol? Tylenol is a branded drug sold in the U.S. whose primary ingredient is acetaminophen, known as paracetamol throughout Europe and much of the world. There is evidence to suggest that acetominophen/paracetamol is an effective drug in the management of fever and minor aches and pains. And if you sense a 'but' coming up, then you're absolutely right... ... An overdose of this potent drug can KILL. The recommended dosage laid out on the pack is not for fun. It's been known for a long time that an acute overdose is often lethal, but new research from the University of Edinburgh suggests that even a minor overdose of this stuff over a prolonged period can cause liver failure and that is exacerbated if combined with alcohol. You may think this drug should be kept under lock and key and prescribed carefully, but in fact you can buy it over the counter in European pharmacies and in some countries, including Britain and the US, you can even buy it in your local supermarket. I am not telling you that taking this drug is dangerous in itself, though there are alternative painkillers, both chemical and natural. But if you choose to take it, please be aware of the dangers of taking more than the prescribed dose. acetominophen/paracetamol is the largest cause of acute liver failure both in the US and the UK. You should also be aware that this substance is present in other medicines, including some sold over the counter. It is additionally sold in Europe under the brand names Doliprane and Efferalgan and in India under the name Crocin. In China,Korea and elsewhere it is sold under local brand names. If traveling, be sure to check the ingredients of any unfamiliar analgesic by looking for its chemical name which will be shown either as acetaminophen or paracetamol.


Feb 02, Herpes Zoster and UV radiation linked
2 Feb 2012 at 3:56am

Could the country you live in determine your risk of contracting chickenpox (herpes zoster)? According to research virologist Dr. Phil Rice of St. George's, University of London, it almost certainly can. In temperate climatic zones, chickenpox peaks in the cooler seasons of winter and spring. In many tropical areas, however, the incidence of chickenpox is much lower than, for example, in northern and central Europe. In the past, scientists have attributed this disparity to factors such as mean temperature, humidity and population density. This theory, however, could not explain the fact that chickenpox outbreaks in India and Sri Lanka peak in the hot, dry sunny season. Now Dr. Rice has compared data on chickenpox with UV radiation levels for 25 countries. It seems there is a correlation between the UV level and the likelihood of cross-infection with chickenpox. The apparent anomalies of India and Sri Lanka stem from the fact that during the hottest and driest time of the year, UV rays are reflected back into space by low-level air pollution (ozone layer) before they reach earth. Conversely in the humid, monsoon seasons, the UV radiation is able to penetrate the earth's atmosphere more freely. Dr Rice says: "No one had considered UV as a factor before, but when I looked at the epidemiological studies, they showed a good correlation between global latitude and the presence of the virus." Dr Rice believes his discovery explains why there are two types of chickenpox virus in existence - one temperate and one tropical. The current chickenpox vaccine was developed in the 1970s when only one type of virus was known and Dr Rice believes that his research may help future development of vaccines, cautioning that further studies are required to determine more fully the effect of UV rays on the virus. Reference: Philip S Rice. Ultra-violet radiation is responsible for the differences in global epidemiology of chickenpox and the evolution of varicella-zoster virus as man migrated out of Africa. Virology Journal, 2011; 8 (1): 189 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-189


Jan 26, Herpes Transmission: circumcision reduces herpes risk – but only in men
26 Jan 2012 at 5:02am

Male circumcision reduces herpes risk - but only in men. Clinical trials in Rakai, Uganda, were set up to test the hypothesis that heterosexual HSV-2 genital herpes infection was less likely when the male partner had been circumcised. It had already been established that circumcision lessened the risk of infection with HIV in men. In the Rakai experiment, 740 males were enrolled, 368 of whom were randomly selected for circumcision. The female partners of all the men in the experiment were tested HIV and HSV-2 negative. Over a study period of two years it was found that the incidence of HSV-2 infection among the men who had been circumcised was significantly lower. By contrast however, the HSV-2 infection rate among their female partners was unchanged. Considering that women are four times more likely to catch herpes than men, circumcision seems to be a healthy choice for discordant couples where the male partner is infected. However, circumcision when performed in adulthood seem to diminish sexual pleasure in some men. You can read more about this on Wikipedia


Jan 19, Herpes treatment: Weeping Fig extract inhibits herpes viruses
19 Jan 2012 at 6:11am

It's been believed for some time that the weeping fig tree (Ficus benjamina) has held healing properties for herpes zoster (shingles) but until recently there has been little scientific evidence to back up the claim. Now scientists at Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have taken ethanol extracts from the leaf of the tree and successfully demonstrated that not only is the extract effective in combating the herpes zoster virus, but also shows good potential in inhibiting HSV-1 and HSV-2 herpes viruses. Let's hope this new research leads on to greater things in the future.


Jan 14, Herpes Treatment Research: Nonoviricides Inc. receives new funding
14 Jan 2012 at 9:37am

Connecticut based Nanoviricides Inc has succeeded in raising an additional $5 million in funding from Seaside88, a Florida based investment company which has previously provided Nanoviricides with $15 of funding. Nanoviricides Inc. is pioneering a novel approach to antiviral treatment targeting multiple points of virus particles. It is currently researching this technology in tackling various viruses including herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2, Hepatitis C and influenza. Company President, Dr. Anil Diwan said "We are pleased with this...financing. [It] comes at a crucial time ... [and]... will help us...to move forward with all of the drug programs in our broad pipeline."


Jan 10, Herpes Transmission: Tenofovir gel study dropped!
10 Jan 2012 at 4:39am

Last November, one of the vaginal gels being studied for the prevention of HIV and herpes HSV transmission was dropped. It seems that one study after the other either gets dropped or return negative results. The quest for a gel that would prevent STD and herpes transmission during intercourse seems to be ridden with obstacles. Very few of such gels are still in the pipelines. Here is a herpes article that gives more information about what is currently happening in the microbicide gel world


Jan 06, Herpes and autoimmune disease
6 Jan 2012 at 10:43am

Recent research at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Syria sought to establish whether there was a causal link between herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2 and autoimmune thyroid disease. Viral infections have been suspected of being a trigger to autoimmune disease. The hypothesis was unproven, but remains open to future research on a more diverse scale.


Jan 03, STD Research: Major breakthrough in hepatitis C treatment
3 Jan 2012 at 6:26am

What were the highlights of 2011 in the medical world? Well here's a treatment breakthrough hailed recently by Dr Marvin Bittner of Creighton University (Omaha NE) as "one of the biggest advances in medicine this [2011] year." Dr Bittner is referring to the use of two new drugs, Incivek (known as Incivo in Europe) and Victrelis in the fight against Hepatitis C, a debilitating liver disease which is responsible for more than 40% of liver transplants in the United States. Whereas herpes and HIV viruses can only be treated and controlled, Hepatitis C can sometimes be eliminated, although up to now this has only been possible with treatment with the drugs interferon and ribavirin and has successfully eradicated the disease in only about 40% of patients. According to research, Incivek can help cure Hepatitis C faster, reducing the timescale from 48 weeks to 24 weeks in 75 percent of patients. This is a major improvement. Patients taking either of these new drugs must simultaneously continue with a combined interferon and ribavirin regime, but this new multi-pronged treatment appears to eliminate Hepatitis C in 75 percent of patients when data is extracted from clinical trials. Treatment with either Incivek or Victrelis is highly expensive, at between $25.000 and $50,000 per patient treatment, excluding the cost of interferon and ribavirin, but most US health insurance policies cover the costs, with financial assistance also offered by both manufacturing companies and Incivek manufacturer Vertex offering the drug free to any uninsured patient whose income is less than $100,000. The treatment regime is harsh, with side effects including diarrhea, nausea, headache, rash and severe fatigue and, according to hepatitis expert Dr Mark Mailliard of the University of Nebraska, up to twenty percent of patients will not be able to tolerate the new therapy, which is unsuitable for patients with severe liver scarring or certain other medical complications. Such an improvement in the treatment of Hepatitis C gives me hope for future medical breakthroughs related to herpes treatment. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies keep coming up with very expensive and potentially harmful drugs that only a few can afford.


Dec 30, Herpes Transmission: Tenofovir gel could soon be available in South Africa
30 Dec 2011 at 5:24am

After two decades of painstaking research, the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for the roll out of tenofovir vaginal anti-retroviral gel. Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, project director at Vulindlela Rural Research Site, Caprisa (Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa) has been involved with the program from the outset. She told Durban Daily News: "Twenty years might sound a long time, but this sort of science requires painstaking input from every member of the research team. We have had to ensure that every avenue - from concept to proof - has been covered. Now that we can prove that tenofovir gel works, we are looking forward to implementing the next step." Tenofovir gel has been found to be effective against both HIV and HSV-2 herpes infections. An ongoing Caprisa trial seeks to confirm the very positive results of previous testing and subject to approval by the Medicine Controls Council, provision of the gel could soon be incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal's family planning clinics. The breakthrough has been described by the World Health Organization as one of the most significant in the fight against AIDS.


Dec 27, Would you Like to End this Year Herpes Outbreak Free?
27 Dec 2011 at 5:41am

Christmas parties, New Year's eve and other celebrations during Holiday Season can bring their loads of stress to the immune system. Drinking, sweets, bakeries, pasteries, late nights all combined are likely to trigger a herpes outbreak. If you want to prevent herpes from causing any trouble or symptoms this Holiday Season, I invite you to read one of my articles on the subject here


Dec 23, Could herpes virus treat breast cancer?
23 Dec 2011 at 4:45am

When you have herpes, you think of it only as a curse, but new research indicates it may actually prove to be a blessing in disguise for women. Research involving mice carried out at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York City) showed that a genetically modified herpes virus (known as NV1066) could have the potential to treat aggressive breast cancer. Scientists infected breast cancer cells with the modified virus and then injected the cancer cells into mice. They discovered that 90% of the cancer cells were destroyed within one week. It must be stressed that this is merely preliminary research and further tests will be needed to see if the treatment is safe and effective in humans. Similar research has been carried out into other forms of cancer but this is the first such study involving breast cancer.


Dec 20, STD Transmission: research trials of anal microbicide are promising
20 Dec 2011 at 6:10am

A study of a microbicide vaginal gel has shown it to be effective in the reduction of HIV infection when applied anally. Whereas it is known that anal intercourse is the main route for HIV infection among men who have sex with men, it is also true that many more women than men practice anal sex. This finding is therefore highly significant in the worldwide fight against HIV infection among both men and women. The risk of contracting HIV is between 20 and 2,000 times higher with receptive anal sex than with receptive vaginal sex, particularly when other infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or herpes are present according to the study's principal author, Dr. Peter Anton of the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. In the first part of this phase one clinical trial of the microbicide, known as UC781, a single application of the gel was applied to rectal tissue which was subsequently exposed to HIV in the laboratory. Tissue samples were taken 30 minutes after application. In the second part of the trial, participants were invited to self-administer the gel once daily for a week before returning to the clinic for another tissue sample collection. This trial involved 36 male and female subjects who were not infected with HIV. Half were given a placebo and half a concentration of UC781. While the trial used gel formulated for vaginal use, further trials of a gel specifically designed for anal use are due to take place in the New Year. Dr Anton commented: "...it is very gratifying that the results were so impressive. This approach reflects the kind of intensive analyses these dedicated participants ... are willing to tolerate to help us evaluate a drug's potential..." Hopefully, these results will also be encouraging for herpes transmission in further studies.


Dec 15, Herpes Zoster – to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?
15 Dec 2011 at 10:50am

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) currently recommends vaccination against herpes zoster (shingles) for all persons aged 60 or over as a precautionary measure against the onset of the disease. The virus causes chicken pox, largely in children, and after chickenpox symptoms have subsided, as with other herpes forms, the virus lies dormant in the body and can re-emerge as shingles in later life. People over 50 years of age are more vulnerable to shingles outbreaks and half of people living to the age of 85 will experience an episode of shingles. So are there risks associated with the vaccine? And do the benefits of inoculation outweigh the risks of side-effects? The CDC issues its own information sheet, in which it admits that the vaccine is only 50% effective, though there is evidence that even people who go on to contract shingles after vaccination suffer less post-herpetic neuralgia - an often excruciating pain which can last long after the visible shingles rash has disappeared. Other known side-effects, according to CDC can include redness and swelling around the site of the injection and sometimes headache, though headache and sometimes severe headache is a common symptom of the disease itself. The biggest single long-term risk to health associated with the herpes zoster virus is corneal damage. In the United States, shingles is a major factor in corneal blindness when it affects the eye, and although most cases of shingles do not affect the eye, this is always a possibility. As with most vaccines, there are specific incidences in which it should not be administered, these include people suffering with certain other medical conditions or having a known allergy to certain substances. These are clearly set out in the CDC guidelines and should be carefully read before any decision on vaccination is made.


Dec 09, Herpes & STDs: Alarming rises in STI infections
9 Dec 2011 at 12:59pm

A report from the US Center for Disease Control(CDC) summarizes the story in stark terms: "STDs are one of the most critical health challenges facing the nation today." Awareness of the dangers of tobacco use has resulted in a significant decline in the incidence of lung cancer; diagnostic techniques and an understanding of diet have resulted in a decline in the rate of colorectal cancer... but have well-publicized HIV Herpes and Chlamydia campaigns had a significant effect on the increase in STDs? No, they have not. Reported cases of Chlamydia in the United States have increased year on year for the past twenty years, reaching a staggering 1.3 million in 2010. CDC emphasizes that a major factor in this statistic is improved diagnosis, yet half of all Chlamydia cases remain undiagnosed and less than half of sexually active women take advantage of the recommended annual screening. While treatment for many STDs improves, there is evidence that gonorrhea may be developing resistance to the only effective antibiotic; herpes infection remains at an unacceptably high level and still incurable and although the incidence of syphilis fell overall between 2009 and 2010, the incidence of the disease in black males rose by over one hundred percent. Disparity between white, black and Hispanic communities continues, with income and social status a major factor in the incidence of sexual disease. CDC and others work with health authorities to target the most "at risk" communities, but until there are meaningful federal programs for help and prevention in this area I fear this is going to be a continuing theme of this blog for months and years to come.


Nov 30, Herpes Research: Genetic Predisposition to Herpes Infection
30 Nov 2011 at 2:22pm

Researchers from the Universities of Utah and Massachusetts have successfully identified a gene which appears to regulate the frequency of HSV-1 herpes cold sore outbreaks. The research, by Dr John D. Kriesel and colleagues, elaborated on previous research on a group of 43 large Utah families which had identified a group of six genes within chromosome 21 which were associated with HSV-1 herpes. The precise role of the gene remains unclear, but its discovery paves the way for more widespread research across a wider spectrum of the population. The implications of this research are that future drugs may be more accurately formulated and targeted. Future studies may also determine whether this or another related gene has an association with HSV-2 genital herpes. The propensity of genes to determine the likelihood of pediatric infectious diseases, including herpes simplex encephalitis, was initially discovered by Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova. His research findings have revolutionized medical and immunological research. In 1999, with Dr. Laurent Abel, Prof. Casanova co-founded the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases. This year, Prof. Casanova received the Inbev-Baillet Latour Health Prize for his pioneering work in the field, together with a research grant of 250,000 Euros.


Nov 28, Could herpes hold key to cancer cure?
28 Nov 2011 at 12:26pm

Could the herpes virus HSV-1 hold the key to a cancer cure? That is the unlikely possibility which has been thrown up by research in Ohio. The research team used the virus to develop an oncolytic virus named 34.5ENVE. This engineered virus was injected into mice infected with glioblastoma, a virulent type of brain cancer in humans. Against a control sample of infected mice injected with an older oncolytic virus, the mice treated with the altered herpes virus were tumour free after 80 days, while the control sample survived for only between 20 and 53 days. The oncolytic virus is designed to replicate in cells with high levels of nestin, which is a protein present not only in glioblastoma, but also prostate, pancreatic and breast cancer. Much research is still needed before it is established if the virus is safe for human trials.


Nov 23, Herpes transmission: update on tenofovir vaginal gel
23 Nov 2011 at 10:12am

Back in June of this year, Herpes News reported the accidental discovery in South Africathat a vaginal gel of 1% tenofovir, designed to inhibit HIV infection, produced a 51% reduction in HSV-2 herpes infection. Now another joint study by Gilead Sciences Inc, (manufacturer of tenofovir), the University of Rome and the Leuven Catholic University of Belgium has produced very similar results. Quite apart from the fact that this gel could dramatically reduce HSV-2 and HIV infections, it gives power to women to take control in situations where men have been and often continue to be reluctant to take responsibility for infection control by the use of condoms. It remains the case that women are particularly prone to HSV-2 infection and that black women are particularly vulnerable. Online black community magazine, BET.com reported: "not all women feel comfortable or safe demanding their male partners to use condoms. Albeit being in an abusive relationship, being economically dependent on your partner, or not feeling empowered to talk about condom use, this power dynamic definitely plays a factor in the HIV rates among Black women. The good news is that microbicides can offer women discreet protection that they control in order to protect them from HIV and herpes." It is not clear when tenofovir vaginal gel will be approved by the FDA for use in the United States.


Nov 15, Herpes diet: Why Organic food is so important to your health
15 Nov 2011 at 11:52am

Ever an advocate of what is fresh and natural in the world of nutrition; I always advocate the use of organic fruit and vegetables whenever that is possible. Today I want to explain why I believe that is so important to your health. Between the years 2000 and 2009, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) carried out tests on 53 popular varieties of fruit and vegetables in the United States with a view to discovering the presence and quantity of toxins in non-organic produce available on sale. Among the alarming facts revealed was that in a sample of 700 apples, 98% contained traces of pesticides, with most containing a minimum of two types of pesticide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms that no less than 36 varieties of pesticide are commonly used in the commercial production of apples. The story doesn't begin and end with apples. Among the top ten polluted fruits and vegetables were blueberries (in spite of all the publicity about how good this fruit is for you, it came second in the top ten of polluted produce!), celery, grapes and spinach. So why are these popular and wholesome fruit and vegetables treated with toxins? The simple answer is so that they can be mass-produced as cheaply as possible. By treating crops with pesticide there is less wastage and more produce per acre. In the twenty first century we have been conditioned into believing that most foods are cheap and plentiful. The truth is that modern farming methods can produce cheaper fruit and vegetables but that this comes at a price which you may consider too high to pay. That price is not in dollars and cents. It is in terms of your continuing good health. You can scrub inorganic fruit and vegetables to remove some toxins. You can remove the peel - but because much goodness is found in the peel of most fruits and vegetables that is a little self-defeating. And even washed, scrubbed and peeled produce, particularly soft fruits, will have absorbed some of those toxins into their flesh. Pesticides are designed specifically to kill living organisms - they simply cannot be healthy to ingest, and are suspected of causing cancers, hormonal imbalance and nervous system problems in humans. I can't and won't pretend that organic produce isn't dearer to buy - though you can seriously consider growing your own - but if the extra price gives you the security of knowing that your body isn't taking in unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals, then I say it is a price worth paying.


Nov 08, Herpes Products: Vitamin supplements. Are they doing more harm than good?
8 Nov 2011 at 5:31pm

Sayer Ji, founder of the website GreenMedInfo.com claims that many proprietary brands of selenium and multi-vitamin supplements are making use of an inorganic and potentially dangerous form of selenium. Pointing out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified both sodium selenite and selenate as dangerous and toxic, he argues that their presence in vitamin supplement tablets on general sale to the public is harmful and that their continued use is permitted only to appease pharmaceutical giants who produce these supplements, such as Wyeth's Centrum, singled out for criticism by Ji. Ji claims: "The selenium that is found in foods like Brazil nuts, mustard seeds, and fresh produce grown in selenium-rich soil is infinitely different from the biologically inert forms being put in some multivitamins. In fact, i.e., sodium selenite/selenate can cause cancer, whereas the selenium found within food, or laboratory chelated forms like selenomethionine have all been shown to prevent and combat cancer." Centrum's own website contains the statement: "Centrum vitamins are derived from synthetic source ingredients. Vitamin and mineral supplements can be "synthetic", derived through chemical processes or "natural", derived directly from plants or other materials. There is no evidence that the body absorbs vitamins and minerals derived from natural sources more effectively than "synthetic" vitamins and minerals." I always advocate the use of organic foods and supplements wherever possible. You can choose to believe what the pharmaceutical companies say or you can take the view that their wallets have more influence than their ethics.


Oct 28, Herpes Drugs: Novartis settles generic Famvir® dispute with Macleod
28 Oct 2011 at 10:06am

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has settled a long-running dispute with Indian generic drug manufacturer Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd, over an alleged infringement of the former's patent on herpes treatment Famvir®. Judge James E. Boasberg signed a dismissal order after both sides in the dispute testified that they had come to an agreement. Details of the agreement are not currently in the public domain. The implication is that Macleod may now produce its generic herpes drug, permitting a more affordable version of famciclovir, the generic version of Famvir® to reach a wider audience within the Indian sub-continent. Famciclovir is indicated in the treatment and suppression of recurrent HSV-2 genital herpes as well as acute herpes zoster (shingles).


Oct 25, "Herpes? Send Him Down!"
25 Oct 2011 at 2:22pm

As British interest in sentencing for crimes of violence and criminal damage is heightened by the recent riots in London,Manchesterand elsewhere, 28-year-old traffic patrol officer David Golding of the UK Highways Agency, was recently jailed last August for 14 months after admitting causing his former girlfriend Grievous Bodily Harm. Did Golding beat her? Did he attack her with some weapon? No. Golding's crime was to infect Cara Scott (24) with genital herpes. Within two months of the start of their relationship, Scott was diagnosed with HSV-2 and confronted Golding, who denied responsibility, claiming he had been tested negative by a clinic where he had undergone a herpes test. This, he later admitted, was untrue. A spokesman for Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, which oversees all criminal prosecutions in the UK said the case was in line with its policy regarding "intentional or reckless transmission of infection" policy. But spokesman for the Herpes Viruses Association, Nigel Scott, called the sentence "outrageous", likening it to the prosecution of children for passing chicken pox to their friends. Dr Colm O'Mahoney of the Chester Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine commented: "Being sent to prison for passing on herpes simplex is like being sent down for ten years for a parking offence. I'm appalled." It is notoriously difficult to ascertain exactly how any individual contracts genital herpes without concrete evidence of dates of sexual encounters and comprehensive blood testing, so even though Golding pleaded guilty in court I'm not sure (although I have not seen all the evidence) that the case was even adequately proven. Of course I don't think it's right for anyone not to disclose genital herpes to a sexual partner, but I do agree that a prison sentence like this is disproportionate to the offence, if indeed the offence was really committed. I wonder if we'll be seeing an appeal any time soon.


Oct 21, HIV/AIDS – Thirty Years On…and Why You Should Care
21 Oct 2011 at 8:59am

Thirty years ago, it was reported that five gay men in Los Angeles were infected with a rare type of pneumonia, peculiar to patients with compromised immune systems. The world wasn't quite ready for the epidemic that was to follow. In the intervening decades, some 750,000 Americans have lost their lives to AIDS and more than 1.1 million are known to be living with HIV. In August 2011, the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) released data showing that the number of HIV infections in the US had been relatively stable between 2006 and 2009 but that the incidence of infection among gay men had increased. In its recent report, the CDC admits that while recent scientific research has equipped medicine with an unprecedented number of infection-preventing methodologies, the challenges presented by HIV infection remain "daunting" with approximately 50,000 people becoming infected with AIDS each year in the United States alone. Factors in the spread of HIV include a range of social, economic and demographic factors and the CDC's HIV prevention strategy aims to target the most resources to the neediest communities. Currently the highest risk groups include gay and bisexual men, African Americans and Hispanics, which is not to say that heterosexual men and women of all races are not at risk, particularly intravenous drug users. It has also been established that people infected with HSV genital herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases can be more at risk of contracting HIV because their other condition(s) compromise their immune system making them more susceptible to the HIV virus. A part of the CDC strategy therefore consists of the testing of more people in high risk communities for other sexually transmitted diseases. By targeting and prioritizing the largest "at risk" groups in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, CDC aims to maximize the effectiveness of its strategy, stating: "To make a substantial difference in new infections, priority should be placed on interventions that are practical to implement on a large scale, at reasonable cost. More time and resource-intensive interventions....should be reserved for people at the very highest risk of transmitting or becoming infected with HIV."


Oct 14, Herpes, The Menopause and Valerian
14 Oct 2011 at 8:28am

Today I want to talk about a hardy, summer-flowering, sweet-scented plant called Valerian. Why would I want to diversify into botany? Well although the plant can be beautiful in itself, its root can be processed into a dietary supplement known to have sedative effects. Many women write to me saying that although they haven't experienced a herpes outbreak for years, as they get older they once again seem to suffer regular outbreaks every couple of weeks or so. As I've often emphasized before, stress can be a major factor in herpes outbreaks, but so can lack of sleep, and it's no coincidence that with the menopause comes hormonal change - often the cause of both stress and insomnia. A recent study by the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Universityof Medical Sciences,Tehran took a sample of 100 post menopausal women aged between 50 and 60 years who were experiencing lack of sleep. Divided randomly, half the sample was administered 530mg of concentrated valerian extract twice daily. The remaining half was delivered a placebo. Almost one third of the women given valerian (30%) reported improved patterns of sleep, giving credence to this supplement's efficacy in aiding sleep. If you're affected by sleeplessness you could consider trying a valerian supplement. Just a warning, though, of some possible side-effects you may experience. An earlier study (1991) of valerian found it could cause vivid dreams in some patients. Additionally for a very few people, valerian seems to work as a stimulant rather than an aid to sleep. Other reported side-effects of valerian use include headache, dry mouth and morning drowsiness. If you find that valerian affects you adversely then clearly you should cease using it and in the unlikely event of more serious side-effects you should consult your physician. In my twenties, I used valerian to help me sleep. I found it most useful when combined with hops. Hops seemed to do little on their own, but enhanced the sedative effect when combined with valerian . I find this combination most effective to prevent insomnia. Sleep deprivation will increase your chances of experiencing herpes recurrences. That's why I believe the temporary use of these herbs could be most useful to help you prevent herpes if you tend to suffer from mild or occasional insomnia.


Oct 04, Herpes Research: New Hope for EBV sufferers
4 Oct 2011 at 11:23am

Although the Epstein-Barr herpes virus infects about 95% of the population, it normally lies dormant for life and causes no ill effects whatsoever. But in patients with a weakened immune system, the story can be very different, and EB can lead on to cancer and other autoimmune diseases. In spite of some dubious sites you may see on the internet offering miracle cures, as with other varieties of herpes virus, there is no cure for EB. Its symptoms may be alleviated by rest and many holistic remedies are thought to be useful. But once you have the virus, you have the virus. Now researchers at the University of Copenhagen believe they have discovered a means of regulating one of the body's receptors which seems to play a part in the spread of EB infection. It has been observed that when the EB virus has penetrated, an excess of a receptor known as EB12 suddenly sprouts from the surface of B cells. So far, nobody has figured out why this happens, but whatever the reason it seems to be a part of the process of spreading the EB herpes virus. The Danish team developed a tiny molecule that they believe is capable of binding to the EB12 receptor and inhibiting the disease-spreading process. Lead report author, Tau Benned-Jensen says: "In time this block may be able to help transplant patients. If we can restrain EB virus reproduction when the immune system is being medically suppressed, we may well be able to avoid cancer."


Sep 28, Herpes vaccine research: Iscovena and Genocea strengthen vaccine co-operation
28 Sep 2011 at 11:33am

Vaccine adjuvant company Isconova AB and vaccine developer Genocea Biosciences have recently announced the expansion of a collaboration to develop vaccines for six infectious diseases, including HSV-2 herpes, and Chlamydia. The lead program will be that for herpes. The new collaboration agreement allows Genocea to use Iscovena's Matrix M TM additionally in vaccines targeting malaria and gonorrhea. Genocea CEO Chip Clark said: "A safe and effective adjuvant that elicits strong B and T cell immune response is essential to our aim to prevent or treat the world's most intractable infectious diseases. For that reason we are delighted to expand our collaboration with Isconova for Matrix M." Iscovena CEO Lena Söderström commented: "We are pleased that ...Genocea has selected Isconova's Matrix M TM for use in two additional diseases, thus confirming the strengths of our products. All the targeted diseases of the collaboration have high unmet medical needs and therefore significant commercial potential."


Sep 20, Herpes Foods: Hungarian Government says no to GM Maize Crops
20 Sep 2011 at 5:40am

Hungary is one of the few European countries to have banned genetically modified food crops in their entirety. So when it was discovered that some maize had been accidentally planted using GM seed, the Hungarian government ordered one thousand acres of it to be ploughed back into the land before its pollen could spread and potentially contaminate other crops. Genetically modified food crops have been causing controversy world wide since the introduction by the giant American agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto of seed trials in the US,UK and elsewhere back in the 1990s. Since then there has been conflicting and contradictory evidence about adverse health effects on humans. By means of extensive lobbying and political pressure by Monsanto and others, many crops both in North America and Europe are grown from genetically modified seed, producing yields resistant to the most widely used herbicide, "Roundup" which is manufactured by - yes you guessed - Monsanto. But the unwanted side effects of these GM crops are not just limited to any known or unknown consequences to human health as a result of their consumption. There is evidence that many weeds are now resistant to Monsanto's "Roundup", possibly because of cross contamination from GM food crops. So the enforced experiment may finally be backfiring on those who set it up. I advocate a diet containing as much natural, organic produce as possible and "Roundup" treated crops certainly don't fit that profile. I don't believe that GM crops of any kind do either. You can find arguments for and against GM crops but ultimately I believe there has to be some kind of payback for messing with nature to this extent. It could be harmful health effects or it could be the choking of perfectly good food crops by "super weeds." Either way, I'm with Hungary on this one.


Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and promoter methylation in cervical oncogenic lesions and cancer
27 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and MTHFR methylation pattern in cervical lesions development among women from Romania, a country with high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical infections. To achieve this goal, blood samples and cervical cytology specimens (n = 77)/tumour tissue specimens (n = 23) were investigated. As control, blood and negative cytological smears (n = 50) were used. A statistically significant association was found between T allele of C677T polymorphism and cervical lesions, heterozygote women presenting a threefold increased risk (normal/cervical lesions and tumours: wild homozygote 34/41 (0.68/0.41), heterozygote 14/51 (0.28/0.51), mutant homozygote 2/8 (0.04/0.08...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Australian boys become first male guinea pigs in global Gardasil genocide
26 Feb 2013 at 11:00pm

Nearly one million teenage boys living in Australia are set to be vaccinated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil in the coming months and years, according to new reports. The first country in the world to give an official green light to the vaccine's... (Source: NaturalNews.com)


Comparison of HPV DNA testing in cervical exfoliated cells and tissue biopsies among HIV‐positive women in Kenya
26 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

In conclusion, testing HPV on biopsies instead of cells results in decreased detection but not elimination of multiple infections in HIV‐positive women. The proportion of CIN2/3 attributable to HPV16 and/or 18 among HIV‐positive women, which already appeared to be lower than that in HIV‐negative, would then further decrease. The meaning of HPV detection in cells and random biopsy from HIV‐positive women with no cervical abnormalities remains unclear. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: International Journal of Cancer)


Survey of human papillomavirus types and their vertical transmission in pregnant women
26 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Background: The prevalence, genotypes, and vertical transmission characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) among pregnant women from Nanjing, China was investigated. Methods: Cervical cells were collected from healthy pregnant women (n = 3139; stage of gestation, 24.6 +/- 2.1 weeks) for cytological evaluation and determination of HPV infection status. Exfoliated oral and genital cells were collected from neonates ( (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)


Human papillomavirus and oral disease – emerging evidence: a review
26 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

(Source: Australian Dental Journal)


Effect of glacial acetic acid treatment of cervical ThinPrep specimens on HPV DNA detection with the cobas 4800 HPV test
26 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

ConclusionsGlacial acetic acid (GAA) treatment of cervical ThinPrep specimens does not have significant adverse affects on HPV detection with the cobas 4800 HPV Test. (Source: Cytopathology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Study Documents Head And Neck Cancer Molecular Tumor Subtypes
26 Feb 2013 at 1:00am

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most common form of cancer in the United States, but other than an association with the human papillomavirus, no validated molecular profile of the disease has been established. By analyzing data from DNA microarrays, a UNC-led team has completed a study that confirms the presence of four molecular classes of the disease and extends previous results by suggesting that there may be an underlying connection between the molecular classes and observed genomic events, some of which affect known cancer genes... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)


HMP recommends approval of extension to Cervarix® human papillomavirus vaccine therapeutic indication
24 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Source: European Medicines Agency Area: News The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has recommended the approval of an extension to the therapeutic indication for the Cervarix® human papillomavirus vaccine.   The full proposed indication would be as follows (with the changes in bold):   "Cervarix is a vaccine for use from the age of 9 years for the prevention of premalignant genital (cervical, vulvar and vaginal) lesions and cervical cancer causally related to certain oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types."   Detailed recommendations for the use of this product will be described in the updated Summary of Product Characteristics, which will be available after the variation to the marketing authorisation h...


Cervical cytokines and clearance of incident human papillomavirus infection: Hawaii hpv cohort study
21 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Abstract Mechanisms for the control and resolution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the cervix include the local production of cytokines which control recruitment and function of cells integral to pathogen control. We established a cohort of women for long‐term follow‐up to examine the mucosal expression of antiviral (IFN‐α2), type‐1 (IFN‐γ, IL‐12), regulatory (IL‐10), and proinflammatory (IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, MIP‐1α, TNF) cytokines in association with the clearance of incident cervical HPV infection. Interviews and specimens for HPV DNA analysis and cytokine protein measurement were obtained at baseline and at 4‐month intervals. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to study the relationship between clearance of 107 high‐risk and 111 low...


The estimated direct medical cost of selected sexually transmitted infections in the United States, 2008.
19 Feb 2013 at 11:20pm

CONCLUSIONS: Sexually transmitted infections continue to impose a substantial cost burden on the payers of medical care in the United States. The burden of STIs would be even greater in the absence of STI prevention and control efforts. PMID: 23403600 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Herpes)


Sexually Transmitted Infections Among US Women and Men: Prevalence and Incidence Estimates, 2008.
19 Feb 2013 at 11:20pm

CONCLUSIONS: Sexually transmitted infections are common in the United States, with a disproportionate burden among young adolescents and adults. Public health efforts to address STIs should focus on prevention among at-risk populations to reduce the number and impact of STIs. PMID: 23403598 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Herpes)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Unexpected High Prevalence of HPV 90 Infection in an Underserved Population: Is It Really a Low-Risk Genotype?
19 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions.-We demonstrated an unexpected, high infection rate of HPV 90 in an underserved population in the United States, with 9.4% having concurrent cytologic abnormalities. In the absence of other detectable HPV genotypes by DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, and in situ hybridization, we suspect HPV 90 may be a causative agent responsible for the concurrent cervical lesions. Because of potential shifts in HPV infection patterns in the postvaccine era, monitoring the emergence of previously underrecognized HPV genotypes is becoming increasingly important. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize HPV 90 infection in an underserved, North American population. PMID: 23425019 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Me...


[Correspondence] Cross protection against HPV might prevent type replacement
19 Feb 2013 at 12:17pm

Duration of efficacy of the two prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines Cervarix and Gardasil is the most important question for population control of HPV infection, and if the duration exceeds 15 years, the control of cervical cancer. The phase 2 randomised controlled trials were designed to show 5 year efficacy for Gardasil, and 9·4 year efficacy for Cervarix; both phase 3 trials were ended before 4 years. HPV16 and HPV18, the most aggressive oncogenic HPV types, are the main vaccine targets, and have 17% and 11% cumulative incidences of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or greater (CIN3+) over a 10 year period, respectively. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)


Synchronous cancers in patients with head and neck cancer
18 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

CONCLUSIONS:The current data are consistent with the etiologic shift of oropharyngeal HNSCC, from a primarily tobacco‐associated malignancy associated with significant field cancerization of the upper aerodigestive mucosa, to a malignancy primarily caused by oncogenic human papillomavirus. Cancer 2013;. © 2013 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)


Human Papillomavirus Types Distribution in Eastern Sicilian Females with cervical lesions. A Correlation with Colposcopic and Histological Findings.
18 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: Le Donne M, Giuffrè G, Caruso C, Nicotina PA, Alibrandi A, Scalisi R, Simone A, Chiofalo B, Triolo O Abstract To determine human papillomavirus (HPV) types distribution in cervical lesions in a Southern Italian female population in Messina and their relationship between HPV type and grade of colposcopic and histopathological abnormality, a total of 253 women aged 17-68 years, with previous cytological abnormalities, were included in this study. HPV-DNA testing, colposcopy and biopsy were performed. For each sample, cervical cells were collected by centrifugation and DNA was extracted, followed by a PCR-based HPV-DNA assay and reverse dot blot genotyping. HPV-16 was found the most common type (46.6 %) followed by HPV-31 (26.9 %), -6 (18.6 %), -58 (8.8 %), -18 (6.7 %)...


Can clinical tests help monitor human papillomavirus vaccine impact?
18 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

ABSTRACT As immunization programs for human papillomavirus (HPV) are implemented more widely around the world, interest is increasing in measuring their impact. One early measurable impact of HPV vaccine is on the prevalence of specific HPV types in a population. In low‐resource settings, a potentially attractive strategy would be to monitor HPV prevalence using clinical cervical screening test results to triage specimens for HPV typing. We assessed this approach in a nationally representative population of U.S. females aged 14–59 years. Using self‐collected cervico‐vaginal swab specimens from 4150 women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2003–2006, we evaluated type‐specific HPV prevalence detected by the Roche Linear Array (LA) resear...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Liberation of functional p53 by proteasome inhibition in human papilloma virus-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells promotes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.
18 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: Li C, Johnson DE Abstract Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection represents an emerging risk factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In contrast to HPV-negative HNSCC, most cases of HPV-positive HNSCC encode wild-type p53, although the p53 protein in these cells is rapidly degraded via HPV E6-mediated ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. This unique feature of HPV-positive HNSCC has raised hope that liberation of wild-type p53 from the E6 protein may have therapeutic benefit in this disease. Indeed, suppression of E6 expression promotes apoptosis in HPV-positive HNSCC cell lines. However, the role of p53 in mediating this cell death has not been determined. Here, we demonstrate that siRNAs targeting the E6/E7 RNA, or treatment with the pro...


Herd immunity effect of the HPV vaccination program in Australia under different assumptions regarding natural immunity against re-infection.
18 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: Korostil IA, Peters GW, Law MG, Regan DG Abstract Deterministic dynamic compartmental models (DDCMs) of human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission have been used in a number of studies to estimate the potential impact of HPV vaccination programs. In most cases, the models were built under the assumption that an individual who cleared HPV infection develops (life-long) natural immunity against re-infection with the same HPV type (this is known as SIR scenario). This assumption was also made by two Australian modelling studies evaluating the impact of the National HPV Vaccination Program to assist in the health-economic assessment of male vaccination. An alternative view denying natural immunity after clearance (SIS scenario) was only presented in one study, although neither sc...


Medical Notes
18 Feb 2013 at 5:35pm

Smoking risk:Research has shown that women who smoke are at greater risk of picking up a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the main cause of cervical cancer. (Source: The Irish Times - Health)


High-risk human papillomavirus prevalence is associated with HIV infection among heterosexual men in Rakai, Uganda
17 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusion The burden of HR-HPV infection is high among heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa and most pronounced among the HIV-infected individuals. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)


The pictorial atlas of common genito-urinary medicine
17 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

The words ‘Pictorial Atlas’ in this book's title had me eagerly anticipating its arrival and it does indeed feature pictures on almost every page. The author built up a collection of photographs during his 30 years of working in genitourinary medicine (GUM) in the UK and Saudi Arabia and describes the book as a ‘pictorial supplement’ to standard works on GUM. The first chapter summarises the anatomy and function of the genitalia and reproductive organs. Although generally concise and clear, a little more 'applied' anatomy might have been helpful such as the landmarks for a bimanual examination. There follow self-contained chapters on syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas vaginalis, pelvic inflammatory disease, prostatitis, orchitis/epididymo-orchitis, ca...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Sexual behaviour and less frequent bathing are associated with higher human papillomavirus incidence in a cohort study of uncircumcised Kenyan men
17 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions HPV IRs were notably high in this cohort of high-risk, uncircumcised men from Kisumu, Kenya, with the number of sexual partners and bathing frequency being the strongest risk factors. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)


Laboratory Management of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Proposing a New Paradigm
15 Feb 2013 at 3:17am

Since the discovery of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 in early 80s, the link between HPV and cervical cancer has been established with certainty, a function of the discovery and cloning of a range of HPV types associated with both cancer precursors (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or CIN) and carcinomas and extensive epidemiologic, clinical, pathologic, and experimental data. These accumulated results have culminated in new paradigms of cancer prevention through screening and triage. Despite this, the management of women with CIN is still suboptimal and the overtreatment of these conditions still occurs, largely due to the lack of clarity regarding which precancerous lesions are most likely to progress in grade. Recently, a discrete population of cuboidal cells was discovered at the...


STDs Are An Epidemic In The U.S., CDC Warns
15 Feb 2013 at 1:00am

In step with Valentine's Day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the U.S. has around 110 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs or STIs), amounting to 20 million new infections each year, and it is only getting worse. The announcement followed two new studies just released by the CDC. They revealed the following STDs as the most common: human papilloma virus (HPV) chlamydia gonorrhea syphilis herpes hepatitis b trichomoniasis HIV Over half of these infections are in the young adult population, those aged 15 to 24 years... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)


Attitudes Toward HPV Vaccination Among Low-Income and Minority Parents of Sons: A Qualitative Analysis
14 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions. Low-income and minority parents/guardians were generally receptive toward vaccinating their sons against HPV; racial/ethnic differences emerged regarding school-entry mandates. (Source: Clinical Pediatrics)


Zambia: Cervical Cancer and HIV in Women
14 Feb 2013 at 8:49am

[CSIS]Cervical cancer kills an estimated 275,000 women every year, 85 percent of whom are in developing countries. The link between HIV and cervical cancer is direct and deadly; HIV-infected women who are also infected with specific types of human papilloma virus (HPV) are 4-5 times more susceptible to cervical cancer than HIV-negative women. This has important implications for HIV programs, especially in countries with significant HIV epidemics. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Australia launches national scheme to vaccinate boys against HPV
13 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Source: BMJ Area: News According to a BMJ news report, Australia has started to vaccinate boys against human papillomavirus (HPV), making it the first country in the world to publicly fund HPV vaccination of this group, in a bid to protect against genital warts and anal, penile, and throat cancers. Starting in February, they will receive three doses of the quadrivalent vaccine Gardasil at ages 12-13, as part of a national, federally funded school based programme. A catch-up scheme will also run for 14-15 year old boys until the end of the school year in 2014. It will cost the federal government £13.8m over four years, including an information campaign, vaccine register, and adverse event monitoring. (Source: NeLM - News)


Cervical Cancer Screening Preferences among African American Women in the Mississippi Delta.
13 Feb 2013 at 9:50am

This study examined women's preferences for cervical cancer screening methods. Interviewer-administered questionnaires regarding cervical cancer screening preferences were completed by 524 African American women in the Mississippi Delta. Statistically significant differences were observed for age, employment status, and number of children across recruitment groups. Regardless of how women were recruited, the majority preferred self-sampling for HPV testing method to clinician-collection. Among women who preferred self-collected sampling for HPV testing, the most frequent reasons given were convenience, privacy, and comfort. Alternative strategies must be considered when targeting the under-screened to reduce the burden of cervical cancer. PMID: 23377716 [PubMed - ...


Prediction of outcome in patients with low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of human papillomavirus, TERC, and MYC
12 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

CONCLUSIONSThe detection of HPV by FISH analysis is feasible in liquid‐based cytology and is significantly correlated with HPV analysis by PCR. The analysis of TERC gene copy number may be useful for risk stratification in patients with LSIL. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer Cytopathology)


Radiation‐induced loss of cell surface CD47 enhances immune‐mediated clearance of human papillomavirus‐positive cancer
11 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

The increasing incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSSC) demands development of novel therapies. Despite presenting at a more advanced stage, HPV(+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have a better prognosis than their HPV(−) counterparts. We have previously demonstrated that clearance of HPV(+) OSCC during treatment with radiation and chemotherapy requires an immune response which is likely responsible for the improved clinical outcomes. To further elucidate the mechanism of immune‐mediated clearance, we asked whether radiation therapy induces tumor cell changes that allow the body to recognize and aid in tumor clearance. Here, we describe a radiation‐induced change in tumor surface protein expression that is critical for ...


Validation of Decisional Balance and Self-Efficacy Measures for HPV Vaccination in College Women.
11 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusion. Findings support the internal and external validity of these measures and their use in Transtheoretical Model-tailored interventions. Stage-construct relationships suggest that reducing the Cons of vaccination may be more important for HPV than for behaviors with a true Maintenance stage. PMID: 23402229 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Comparison of the Abbott RealTime High Risk HPV with Genomica HPV Clinical Array for the detection of human papillomavirus DNA
10 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the major cause of cervical cancer worldwide and HPV DNA testing is recommended in primary cervical cancer screening. Several molecular tests for detection/typing of HPV DNA with different sensitivity and specificity are commercially available. The present study compared the performance of the Abbott RealTime High Risk HPV assay and the Genomica HPV Clinical Array CLART2 in 78 specimens (63 cervical smears and 15 rectal/urethral swabs).The typing results of the Genomica assay were in absolute agreement with each of the four possible result categories of the Abbott assay (HPV16, HPV18, Other HR HPV, not detected) in 87.2% (68/78) of the samples, with a Cohen' kappa agreement coefficient for every HR type of 0.62 (95% CI: 0.39–0.85), higher...


Association of KIR genes and HLA‐C alleles with HPV‐related uterine cervical disease in Korean women
9 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

This study investigated whether killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor (KIR) genes and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐C alleles, receptors and ligands of natural killer cells are associated with the development of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related cervical disease in Korean women. Blood samples from 132 women with HPV‐related cervical disease and 159 women without HPV infection were collected for genotyping of KIR genes and HLA‐C alleles. Although no relationship was found between KIR genes and HPV‐related cervical disease, a significant relationship was found between HLA‐C alleles as ligands of KIR and HPV‐related cervical disease. Women with HPV‐related cervical disease were found to be significantly more likely to carry HLA‐C*0303, particularly those with HPV 16 ...


Novel E6 and E7 oncogenes variants of Human Papillomavirus Type 31 in Brazilian Women with Abnormal Cervical Cytology.
8 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

We describe new HPV-31 variants in Brazil, contributing to better understand the genomic diversity of these viruses. PMID: 23403356 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution)


Applying a gender lens on human papillomavirus infection: cervical cancer screening, HPV DNA testing, and HPV vaccination
7 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: Both male and female controlled preventive methods and treatment measures should be developed in order to tackle HPV infection and different strategies are needed for different subgroups. A substantial discussion and research on alternative methods of prevention was and is lacking. In future research, sex and gender aspects of HPV-related diseases of boys and men as well as subgroup differences in HPV risk need to be addressed. (Source: International Journal for Equity in Health)


Controversies in Treatment Deintensification of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinomas: Should We, How Should We, and for Whom? [EDITORIALS]
7 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Deintensification Candidate Subgroups in Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer According to Minimal Risk of Distant Metastasis [Head and Neck Cancer]
7 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusion HPV-positive T1-3N0-2c patients have a low DM risk, but N2c patients from this group have a reduced DC when treated with RT alone and seem less suited for deintensification strategies that omit chemotherapy. (Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)


Male circumcision decreases high‐risk human papillomavirus viral load in female partners: A randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda
7 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Abstract Male circumcision (MC) reduces high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infection in female partners. We evaluated the intensity of HR‐HPV viral DNA load in HIV‐negative, HR‐HPV‐positive female partners of circumcised and uncircumcised men. HIV‐negative men and their female partners were enrolled in randomized trials of MC in Rakai, Uganda. Vaginal swabs were tested for HR‐HPV genotypes by Roche HPV Linear Array which provides a semi‐quantitative measure of HPV DNA by the intensity of genotype‐specific bands (graded:1‐4). We assessed the effects of MC on female HR‐HPV DNA load by comparing high intensity linear array bands (3‐4) to low intensity bands (1‐2) using an intention‐to‐treat analysis. Prevalence risk ratios (PPR) of high intensity bands in ...


Prognostic impact of human papilloma virus (HPV) genotyping and HPV- 16 subtyping in vaginal carcinoma.
7 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

CONCLUSIONS: HPV- status is of prognostic importance in vaginal carcinoma and varies with viral genotype. In this era of HPV-vaccination, genotypes other than those included in the vaccination program could still lead to vaginal carcinoma with unfavorable prognosis. PMID: 23402906 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Gynecologic Oncology)


Targeting HPV
7 Feb 2013 at 12:47pm

Papillomaviruses infect mammalian epithelial cells and induce cancers, including cervical cancer in humans. Vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) can prevent, but not cure, infection. A key viral oncoprotein, E6, acts … [Read more] (Source: This Week in Science)


[Report] Structural Basis for Hijacking of Cellular LxxLL Motifs by Papillomavirus E6 Oncoproteins
7 Feb 2013 at 12:46pm

Crystal structures show how a key oncoprotein in human papillomavirus binds host proteins.Authors: Katia Zanier, Sebastian Charbonnier, Abdellahi Ould M'hamed Ould Sidi, Alastair G. McEwen, Maria Giovanna Ferrario, Pierre Poussin-Courmontagne, Vincent Cura, Nicole Brimer, Khaled Ould Babah, Tina Ansari, Isabelle Muller, Roland H. Stote, Jean Cavarelli, Scott Vande Pol, Gilles Travé (Source: Science: Current Issue)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Rome consensus conference - statement; Human Papilloma Virus diseases in males
6 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: The Jury made Recommendations based on the scientific evidence presented by the Scientific Committee. Accordingly, for prevention purposes and social fairness and equality, as both sexes are affected by the disease, the vaccination of 12-year-old males against HPV should be recommended in order to guaranty protection to everyone. Aspects related to healthcare policy and economic sustainability, are to be discussed by respective public system representatives. More campaigns to raise awareness through all institutional channels are needed, not only regarding anogenital warts, but for HPV-related diseases in general in males in accordance to new scientific evidences. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)


Inclusion of the benefits of enhanced cross-protection against cervical cancer and prevention of genital warts in the cost-effectiveness analysis of human papillomavirus vaccination in the Netherlands
6 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: Clearly, HPV vaccination has been implemented for the prevention of cervical cancer. From this perspective, use of the bivalent HPV vaccine appears to be most effective and cost-effective. Including the benefits of prevention against genital warts, the ICER of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine was found to be slightly more favourable. However, current decision-making on the introduction of HPV is driven by the primary cervical cancer outcome. New vaccine tenders could consider the benefits of cross-protection and the benefits of genital warts, which requires more balanced decision-making. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)


A cross-sectional study to estimate high-risk human papillomavirus prevalence and type distribution in Italian women aged 18--26 years
6 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusion: HR-HPV prevalence in Italian women aged 18--26 years was 19%, higher than what detected for older women, by other studies using the same molecular method and laboratory network; this result supports the choice of electing girls before the sexual debut as the primary target of HPV vaccination. The HPV type distribution found in this study may represent a baseline picture; an accurate post-vaccine surveillance is necessary to early detect a possible genotype replacement. The high prevalence of viral types other than vaccine-HPV types supports the necessity to guarantee the progression of CC screening programmes in vaccinated women. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)


A cross-sectional study to estimate high-risk human papillomavirus prevalence and type distribution in Italian women aged 18¿26¿years
6 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusion: HR-HPV prevalence in Italian women aged 18--26 years was 19%, higher than what detected for older women, by other studies using the same molecular method and laboratory network; this result supports the choice of electing girls before the sexual debut as the primary target of HPV vaccination. The HPV type distribution found in this study may represent a baseline picture; an accurate post-vaccine surveillance is necessary to early detect a possible genotype replacement. The high prevalence of viral types other than vaccine-HPV types supports the necessity to guarantee the progression of CC screening programmes in vaccinated women. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)


Africa: Alliance Gives At-Risk Girls Vaccine Against Cancer-Causing Virus
6 Feb 2013 at 7:23am

[State Department]An international alliance to broaden the availability of immunizations announced a plan February 4 to distribute vaccine to protect girls from human papillomavirus (HPV) in eight developing world nations. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Only Half of Young Women Complete Three-Part HPV Vaccine
6 Feb 2013 at 1:45am

12/11/2012, Journal of Adolescent Health, Of young women who start the three-part series of the highly effective human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, only half get all the necessary doses, according to new research in the Journal of Adolescent Health. (Source: Health Behavior News Service)


HPV Vaccine Does Not Appear to Encourage Risky Sexual Behavior
6 Feb 2013 at 1:45am

12/13/2011, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Young women who receive recommended vaccinations to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and associated cancers do not engage in more sexually risky behavior, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. (Source: Health Behavior News Service)


Black, Hispanic, Poor Young Women Less Likely to Complete HPV Vaccinations
6 Feb 2013 at 1:45am

08/30/2011, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Barriers that hinder young African-American, Hispanic and poor women from completing a series of three vaccinations to prevent human papillomavirus infection (HPV) also leave them at higher risk for cervical cancer and death. (Source: Health Behavior News Service)


Determinants of HPV vaccination intentions among Dutch girls and their mothers: a cross-sectional study
5 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: Because of the large contribution of social-psychological variables to the explained variance of HPV vaccination intentions among the mothers and daughters, future communication strategies targeting HPV vaccination uptake should address attitudes, beliefs, subjective norms and habit strength. There is a need for longitudinal research to confirm the causality of the association between these determinants and HPV vaccination behavior indicated by this study. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)


Differences in patterns of high-risk human papillomavirus infection between urban and rural low-resource settings: cross-sectional findings from Mali
5 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Background: The burden of cervical cancer is disproportionately high in low-resource settings. With limited implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines on the horizon in the developing world, reliable data on the epidemiology of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection in distinct geographic populations is essential to planners of vaccination programs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether urban patterns of HR-HPV occurrence can be generalized to rural areas of the same developing country, using data from Mali, West Africa, as an example. Methods: Urban and rural women in Mali participated in a structured interview and clinician exam, with collection of cervical samples for HPV DNA testing, to determine HR-HPV prevalence and correlates of infection. Correlates were assessed ...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Inequalities in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers: Implications for the Success of HPV Vaccination
4 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

(Source: JNCI)


Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2009, Featuring the Burden and Trends in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers and HPV Vaccination Coverage Levels
4 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions The overall trends in declining cancer death rates continue. However, increases in incidence rates for some HPV-associated cancers and low vaccination coverage among adolescents underscore the need for additional prevention efforts for HPV-associated cancers, including efforts to increase vaccination coverage. (Source: JNCI)


Combined treatment of the experimental human papilloma virus-16-positive cervical and head and neck cancers with cisplatin and radioimmunotherapy targeting viral E6 oncoprotein
4 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: M Harris, X G Wang, Z Jiang, R Phaeton, W Koba, G L Goldberg, A Casadevall & E Dadachova (Source: British Journal of Cancer AOP)


Effect of glacial acetic acid pre‐treatment of cervical liquid‐based cytology specimens on the molecular detection of human papillomavirus
4 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

ConclusionsGAA pre‐treatment of cervical ThinPrep Preservcyt LBC specimens had little effect on the two commercial HPV tests used in this study. The impact of GAA treatment on HPV testing should, however, be validated for all HPV tests and all LBC collection media used in each particular diagnostic setting. (Source: Cytopathology)


Vaccination Rates Still Too Low in Adults, Says CDC
4 Feb 2013 at 1:45pm

Except for modest increases in tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccination overall and in human papillomavirus vaccination among women, 2011 noninfluenza adult vaccination coverage in the United States showed little improvement compared with 2010 coverage, according to the CDC's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (Source: AAFP Health of the Public)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Africa: Gavi Funds Vaccines to Protect Girls Against Cervical Cancer
4 Feb 2013 at 8:14am

[GAVI]Geneva -More than 180,000 girls in eight developing countries are set to receive protection against the leading cause of cervical cancer thanks to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines funded by the GAVI Alliance. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)


NHS Choices 'Behind the Headline' assessment of reports that a charity has called for boys to get HPV jab
3 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

Source: NHS Choices Area: News The 'Behind the Headlines' service from NHS Choices has produced an assessment of recent press reports that boys as well as girls should receive the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, according to experts. These reports were based on recommendations made by the Throat Cancer Foundation that the HPV vaccination programme be extended to boys to give a "gender neutral vaccination". However the Department of Health currently has no plans to extend the vaccination programme, based on consideration of the currently available evidence.   The assessment looks at the following: . What is HPV and what diseases can it cause? . How does the current NHS HPV vaccination programme work? . What evidence is there that vaccinating boys would reduce...


Role of infectious agents in the carcinogenesis of brain and head and neck cancers
1 Feb 2013 at 10:00pm

This review concentrates on tumours that are anatomically localised in head and neck regions. Brain cancers and head and neck cancers together account for more than 873,000 cases annually worldwide, with an increasing incidence each year. With poor survival rates at late stages, brain and head and neck cancers represent serious conditions. Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process and the role of infectious agents in this progression has not been fully identified. A major problem with such research is that the role of many infectious agents may be underestimated due to the lack of or inconsistency in experimental data obtained globally. In the case of brain cancer, no infection has been accepted as directly oncogenic, although a number of viruses and parasites are associated with the malignan...


Medical Experts Urge Vaccine For Boys To Prevent Throat Cancer Epidemic
1 Feb 2013 at 9:00am

New charity Throat Cancer Foundation launched today highlights 'ticking timebomb' of HPV which affects over 3,000 people per year in the UK. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) causes 5% of cancers globally and throat cancer is the fastest growing male cancer [1]. A new charity launched today calls for the introduction of a vaccine for boys to prevent an epidemic of throat cancer. The Throat Cancer Foundation will give a voice to those affected by the disease and introduce a 'Gold Standard' of patient care... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)


Attitudes Toward HPV Vaccination For Boys
1 Feb 2013 at 1:00am

A new Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) study has found that low-income and minority parents/guardians were receptive toward vaccinating boys against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). However, racial/ethnic differences emerged in attitudes regarding school-entry mandates. The findings appear online in the journal Clinical Pediatrics... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


HPV vaccines and cancer prevention, science versus activism
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

The rationale behind current worldwide human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programs starts from two basic premises, 1) that HPV vaccines will prevent cervical cancers and save lives and, 2) have no risk of serious side effects. Therefore, efforts should be made to get as many pre-adolescent girls vaccinated in order to decrease the burden of cervical cancer. Careful analysis of HPV vaccine pre- and post-licensure data shows however that both of these premises are at odds with factual evidence and are largely derived from significant misinterpretation of available data. (Source: Infectious Agents and Cancer)


Transoral robotic surgery and adjuvant therapy for oropharyngeal carcinomas and the influence of p16INK4a on treatment outcomes
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusionsp16INK4a was not prognostic in resectable OPSCC when treated with an initial TORS approach. Level of Evidence2b Laryngoscope, 2013 (Source: The Laryngoscope)


Factors That Influence Parental Vaccination Decisions for Adolescents, 13 to 17 Years Old: National Immunization Survey-Teen, 2010
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions. Many factors influence parental decisions to vaccinate their adolescents; one of the most important factors is the provider recommendation. Missed opportunities for vaccination persist when strong vaccination recommendations are not given or are delayed. (Source: Clinical Pediatrics)


Charity calls for universal HPV vaccination
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Source: BBC Health News Area: News Schoolboys in the UK should receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect against throat cancer, a charity has urged.   The jab was introduced in 2008 for girls, to immunise them against the virus that causes cervical cancer. The Throat Cancer Foundation says the vaccine protects against other cancers and has urged the government to extend the programme to all 12-year-olds.   A Department of Health representative said: "There are currently no plans to extend HPV vaccination to males, based on an assessment of available scientific evidence.   (Source: NeLM - News)


Clinical significance of serum anti-human papillomavirus 16 and 18 antibodies in cervical neoplasia.
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

CONCLUSION: : Serum anti-HPV 16 antibodies can distinguish cervical neoplasia from a normal control and has the advantage of identifying high-grade CIN. Moreover, in cervical cancer, HPV 16 seropositivity may be associated with a more favorable prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : II. PMID: 23344282 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Noninfluenza vaccination coverage among adults - United States, 2011.
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

This report summarizes the results of that analysis for pneumococcal vaccine, tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines (including tetanus and diphtheria toxoid [Td] with acellular pertussis vaccine [Tdap]), and hepatitis A, hepatitis B, herpes zoster (shingles), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, by selected characteristics (age, race/ethnicity,† and vaccination target criteria). Influenza vaccination coverage estimates for the 2011-12 influenza season have been published separately. Compared with 2010, the data indicate modest increases in Tdap vaccination among persons aged 19-64 years and HPV vaccination among women, but only little improvement in coverage for the other vaccines among adults in the United States. Coverage for tetanus vaccination (with any tetanus toxoid-containing vac...


Country-level correlates of cervical cancer mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean.
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that continuing socioeconomic improvements in LAC countries will be associated with further reductions in CC mortality even in the absence of organised population-based screening and vaccination programmes. PMID: 23370254 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Salud Publica de Mexico)


Monitoring and Ordering Practices for Human Papillomavirus in Cervical Cytology: Findings From the College of American Pathologists Gynecologic Cytopathology Quality Consensus Conference Working Group 5.
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions.-It is not appropriate for laboratories to offer low-risk human papillomavirus testing for any clinical circumstance in gynecologic cytology. Laboratories should not order human papillomavirus testing to resolve diagnostic discrepancies. It is a valuable broad measure of laboratory quality to monitor the human papillomavirus-positive rates in Papanicolaou tests with atypical squamous cells. PMID: 23368863 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)


Prospective and Retrospective Review of Gynecologic Cytopathology: Findings From the College of American Pathologists Gynecologic Cytopathology Quality Consensus Conference Working Group 2.
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions.-The number of Pap tests from high-risk patients should be maximized in prospective and retrospective rescreening. Unsatisfactory Pap tests should also be included. All readily identifiable high-risk human papillomavirus-positive cases with an interpretation of negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy should be prospectively rescreened. Cervical biopsy results with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse (CIN 2+) should trigger retrospective rescreening. Regular feedback should be provided to cytotechnologists and cytopathologists. Upgraded diagnoses from negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy to atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, should be monitored. PMID: 23368859 [PubMed - as supplied by ...


College of american pathologists gynecologic cytopathology quality consensus conference on good laboratory practices in gynecologic cytology: background, rationale, and organization.
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions.-This paper describes the rationale, background, process, and strengths and limitations of a series of papers that summarize good laboratory practice statements in quality assurance in gynecologic cytopathology. PMID: 23368857 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Acquired Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis: A Comprehensive Review and a Proposal for Treatment
31 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

ConclusionData from the literature show that a standardized approach to this condition is lacking; the combination treatment chosen in our case may be proposed because it led to an excellent clinical outcome and a long‐lasting remission. (Source: Dermatologic Surgery)


Comparing the performance of six human papillomavirus tests in a screening population
30 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: J Cuzick, L Cadman, D Mesher, J Austin, L Ashdown-Barr, L Ho, G Terry, S Liddle, C Wright, D Lyons & A Szarewski (Source: British Journal of Cancer AOP)


Prevalence and relationship of human papilloma virus type 16 and type 18 with oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral leukoplakia in fresh scrappings: A PCR study
29 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions:HPV type 16, 18, and co-infection of both types showed high prevalence in oral squamous cell carcinoma.The prevalence of HPV type 18 was found to be higher than HPV type 16 and co-infection in oral leukoplakia. It was observed that the tongue and palate lesions in the oral squamous cell carcinoma patients showed high prevalence of HPV type 16, type 18, and co-infection compared with other sites. (Source: Indian Journal of Medical Sciences)


Economic analyses to support decisions about HPV vaccination in low- and middle-income countries: a consensus report and guide for analysts
29 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

An expert group from the World Health Organization provides advice on economic issues associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), recommending that analyses are thorough, but not overly complex. (Source: BMC Medicine)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Effectiveness of HPV 16 viral load and the E2/E6 ratio for the prediction of cervical cancer risk among Chinese women
29 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Abstract The effectiveness of the E2/E6 ratio, the state of viral genome integration and the viral load of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV 16) in predicting the risk of cervical cancer among Chinese women was investigated. Quantitative PCRs for the E2/E6 ratio and the viral load were performed on 85 cervical cancer samples and 55 HPV 16 positive healthy controls. The integrated form of the viral genome was found in 10.9% control samples and in 26.4% cervical cancer samples (P = 0.02). The majority of the cervical cancer (63.2%) and control samples (60%) were mixed forms. The E2/E6 ratio was associated with a high risk of cervical cancer (OR = 7.29, P = 9.55E−6). The integrated form (OR = 6.54, P = 0.005) and mixed form (OR = 2.93, P = 0.042) increased the risk of...


Periungual Bowenoid Papulosis Due to Human Papillomavirus Type 42.
29 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: Gómez Vázquez M, Navarra Amayuelas R PMID: 23375694 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas)


[Comment] Triage of HPV-positive women in cervical cancer screening
28 Jan 2013 at 10:06pm

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is the first step in a carcinogenic process that can take decades. A negative result from a sensitive HPV test provides sufficient reassurance that cervical cancer will not develop in the next decade; screening intervals can be extended to at least 3–5 years for women with a negative HPV result. Therefore, HPV testing has been incorporated into cervical-cancer screening programmes in several countries. However, how best to manage HPV-positive women is unclear, because most HPV infections resolve in a few months or years. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)


BUSM study highlights attitudes toward HPV vaccination for boys
28 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

(Boston University Medical Center) A new Boston University School of Medicine study has found that low-income and minority parents/guardians were receptive toward vaccinating boys against Human Papilloma Virus. However, racial/ethnic differences emerged in attitudes regarding school-entry mandates. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)


Cancer-Causing Virus A Potential New Target For Treating Common Form Of Childhood Epilepsy
28 Jan 2013 at 2:00am

Researchers at Shriner's Hospital Pediatric Research Center at the Temple University School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania have evidence linking the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) - the most common cause of cervical cancer - to a common form of childhood epilepsy... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


High‐risk human papillomaviruses in two different primary tumors in the same patient
27 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Abstract:  Two cases of patients with high‐risk human papillomavirus‐related squamous cell carcinomas of the penis are reported. In both patients, a second high‐risk human papillomavirus‐related squamous cell carcinoma, of the same type (genotype 16), was detected: a carcinoma of the oropharynx 2 years after treatment of the squamous cell carcinomas of the penis in the first patient, and a carcinoma of the esophagus 1 year after the treatment of the squamous cell carcinomas of the penis in the second patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that multiple human papillomavirus‐related tumors in the same patient are reported. It is suggested that a careful clinical investigation is necessary in patients with tumors attributable to high‐risk human papillomavi...


Is CDX2 immunostaining useful for delineating anorectal from penile/vulvar squamous cancer in the setting of squamous cell carcinoma with clinically unknown primary site presenting with histologically confirmed inguinal lymph node metastasis?
27 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions CDX2 might be valuable in terms of narrowing the possible sites of origin to be considered in the setting of SCC with unknown primary presenting with inguinal lymph node metastasis. However, despite its favourable specificity, the diagnostic benefit achieved by this observation is limited by the low sensitivity. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)


Human papillomavirus and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in the South-East of France: prevalence, viral expression, and prognostic implications.
27 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusion: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially by HPV 16, is frequently detected in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The expression of viral oncoproteins in tumoral tissues of OSCCs suggests the implication of HPV in tumorogenesis. It should now be systematically detected and considered in each patient's treatment and outcome. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of HPV infection, the oncogenic role of HPV in patients from the South-East of France with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and the resulting clinical implications. Methods: Biopsy samples from 200 patients with HNSCC were analyzed. For each patient, one or two biopsies of tumoral tissue were analyzed simultaneously with a biopsy of healthy tissue. Fresh frozen tissues were tested by m...


Human papillomavirus vaccine: Subacromial bursitis following misinjection: case report
27 Jan 2013 at 8:48pm

(Source: Reactions)


Longitudinal study of seroprevalence and serostability of 34 human papillomavirus types in European organ transplant recipients.
27 Jan 2013 at 2:00pm

Authors: Antonsson A, Waterboer T, Bouwes Bavinck JN, Abeni D, de Koning M, Euvrard S, Feltkamp MC, Green AC, Harwood CA, Naldi L, Nindl I, Pfister HJ, Proby CM, Quint WG, Stockfleth E, Weissenborn SJ, Pawlita M, Neale RE, The EPI-HPV-UV-CA group Abstract Organ transplant recipients (OTR) are at increased risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, which may be related to reactivation of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Measurement of change in HPV antibodies after transplantation would help to explore this hypothesis. We measured antibodies to 34 HPV types on up to six occasions over 18 months in 441 OTRs from five European countries. At baseline (mean 24 days after transplantation), 80% of all OTRs were seropositive to at least one HPV type. The beta HPV genus had the highes...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Cervical Cancer-Causing Virus Found In The Brain, Shows Potential Connection To Epilepsy
25 Jan 2013 at 3:00am

The virus becomes a potential new target for treating a common form of childhood epilepsy Researchers at Shriner's Hospital Pediatric Research Center at the Temple University School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania have evidence linking the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) - the most common cause of cervical cancer - to a common form of childhood epilepsy... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)


Systematic review of the incidence and prevalence of genital warts
24 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: The literature suggests that AGWs are widespread and the prevalence depends on study methodology as suggested by higher rates reported from routine genital examinations versus those from treatment records. However, there remains a need for more population-based studies from certain regions including Africa, Latin America and Southern Asia to further elucidate the global epidemiology of this disease. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)


p16 Expression in carcinoma of unknown primary: Diagnostic indicator and prognostic marker
24 Jan 2013 at 12:31pm

ConclusionIn patients presenting with CUP syndrome, p16 immunohistochemistry can serve to locate the primary cancer in the oropharynx. It is a positive prognostic indicator in patients with those heterogeneous cancers. Head Neck, 2013 (Source: Head and Neck)


Hologic cuts Gen-Probe CEO loose as merger speeds ahead
23 Jan 2013 at 1:34pm

Hologic Inc. (Nasdaq: HOLX) said its integration of Gen-Probe is moving along faster than planned, so the company is shaking up its executive team ahead of schedule. The Bedford, Mass.-based women’s health diagnostics and device firm acquired San Diego-based diagnostics company Gen-Probe for $3.9 billion this summer. Hologic’s diagnostics division includes pre-natal tests, as well as pap test and human papillomavirus testing (HPV), which can identify patients at risk for cervical cancer. Gen-Probe… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)


Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 variants in France and risk of viral persistence
22 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: No strong differences were observed in the risk of viral persistence for the HPV 16 variants that predominate in France. (Source: Infectious Agents and Cancer)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Association of human papillomavirus type 16 long control region mutation and cervical cancer
22 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

The Human Papilloma Virus long control region was sequenced from 82 HPV16-positive cervical cancer specimens from Thai women, identifying novel mutations that enhanced transcriptional activity of the viral oncogene. (Source: Virology Journal)


A Patient-Centered Approach to Counseling Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Human Papillomavirus Testing: A Clinician's Guide.
22 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Authors: Chu A, Genden E, Posner M, Sikora A Abstract The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Cancer Institute have acknowledged human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 as an independent risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC) is a sexually transmitted entity that is on the rise; within the next 10 years, the annual number of HPV-associated OPC cases is projected to exceed the annual number of cervical cancer cases in the United States. Recognition of HPV status in OPC has broad implications beyond the traditional oncological concerns of timely diagnosis, accurate staging, and appropriate treatment of cancer patients. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends testing the tumor site for HPV-status during OPC ma...


The sexual health consultation as a moral occasion
21 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

This article analyses women’s accounts of interactions with clinicians, subsequent to a diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus or human papilloma virus. Women conceptualised consultations as a ‘moral event,’ different from other consultations. This moral component is highlighted drawing on Foucault’s notion of ‘the confessional.’ Additionally, Douglas’ anthropological construction of ‘dirt’ is used to consider why these consultations are ‘confessional’ experiences. Email interviews were conducted with 26 women diagnosed with a viral STI and 12 sexual health clinicians. Data were analysed thematically using a feminist, poststructuralist approach. Findings indicated that discourses of morality shape sexual health consultations. Five themes were identified in relation...


Type-specific human papillomavirus infection among heterosexual males examined by peniscopy
20 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Men are the primary link in the human papillomavirus (HPV) epidemic chain. They act as both bearers and transmitters of HPV, contributing substantially to the increase in HPV incidence and the increased risk of cervical cancer. Less frequently, HPV causes the development of penis or anal cancer.1 The results of previous HPV studies in men have shown inconsistent prevalence ranging from 0% to –73%.2 The aim of this study was to determine whether there were any associations between peniscopy (a suggested test for HPV detection), the frequency of HPV DNA detection, and the primary viral types present in men who sought care in a urological office setting. The subjects were 61 heterosexual men, aged between 18 and 65 years, who were examined between August 2009 and August 2010. Biolo...


HPV16 L1 and L2 DNA methylation predicts high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women with mildly abnormal cervical cytology
20 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Abstract DNA methylation changes in human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) DNA are common and might be important for identifying women at increased risk of cervical cancer. Using recently published data from Costa Rica we developed a classification score to differentiate women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (CIN2/3) from those with no evident high grade lesions. Here we aim to investigate the performance of the score using data from the UK. Exfoliated cervical cells at baseline and six‐months follow‐up were analyzed in 84 women selected from a randomized clinical trial of women undergoing surveillance for low grade cytology. Selection of women for the methylation study was based on detectable HPV16 in the baseline sample. Purified DNA was bisulfite converted, amplif...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.


Geographic Variability in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among U.S. Young Women
19 Jan 2013 at 5:00am

Conclusions: Results demonstrate disparity in HPV vaccine uptake by region of residence in the U.S. among young women. Further research is needed to understand the factors contributing to this geographic disparity. Evaluation of vaccination policies and practices associated with higher coverage regions might help characterize effective methods to improve HPV vaccination among women aged 18–26 years. (Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine)


Three questions about HPV vaccination
18 Jan 2013 at 10:59am

In 2009, more than 30,000 people in the U.S. learned they had cancer linked to the human papillomavirus, or HPV. This virus is best known for causing cervical cancer, but it’s also the culprit behind many cancers of the mouth, throat, anus, and genitals. Unlike many forms of cancer, for which we lack the knowledge and tools to prevent, scientists have figured out how to dodge HPV-triggered cancers by HPV vaccination. Vaccination against HPV thwarts the viruses’ spread, wrecking its ability to jump between people. Wiping out HPV could mean shutting down a big source of cancer cases — more than 3 percent of all diagnoses in the U.S. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)


Differential outcome of concurrent radiotherapy plus epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors versus radiotherapy plus cisplatin in patients with human papillomavirus-related head and neck cancer
17 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: This is the first study to show that p16-positive patients may benefit more from RT+EGFR inhibitors than conventional RT+CT. These results are hypothesis-generating and should be confirmed in prospective trials. (Source: BMC Cancer)


Male circumcision and prevalence of genital human papillomavirus infection in Men: a multinational study
16 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

Conclusions: This study shows no overall association between MC and genital HPV infections in men, except for certain non-oncogenic HPV types for which a weak association was found. However, the lack of association with MC might be due to the lack of anatomic site specific HPV data, for example the glans penis, the area expected to be most likely protected by MC. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)


Definitive radiation therapy without chemotherapy for human papillomavirus–positive head and neck cancer
16 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm

ConclusionThese findings attest to the exquisite radiosensitivity of HPV‐positive head and neck cancer. The clinical outcomes observed from this selected series compare favorably with historical controls treated by more intensive chemoradiotherapy strategies. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013 (Source: Head and Neck)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Have a look at The Cancer and Oncology Daily, the new cancer portal with all the latest cancer news and research powered by MedWorm, updated daily.

Feeds provided by best-herpes-treatments.com and medworm.com.