Signs of STD

Cynthia L. Gay, MD, MPH, associate professor of infectious diseases, and David Margolis, MD, the Sarah Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, and Epidemiology in the UNC School of Medicine, published results of a clinical trial showing that vorinostat and immunotherapy may modestly shrink the latent HIV reservoir. Cynthia Gay, MD, MPH CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Antiretroviral therapies (ART) stop HIV replication in its tracks, allowing people with HIV to live relatively normal lives. However, despite these treatments, some HIV still lingers inside cells in a dormant state known as "latency." If ART is discontinued, HIV will awaken from its dormant state, begin to replicate, and cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To create a cure, researchers have been attempting to drive HIV out of latency and target it for destruction. A new clinical trial led by Cynthia Gay, MD, MPH, associate professor of infectious diseases, David Mar

Introduction The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is from the genus Lentivirus within the family of Retroviridae, subfamily Orthoretrovirinae (1, 2). HIV is classified into types 1 and 2 (HIV-1, HIV-2), based on the genetic characteristics and differences in the viral antigens (2–6). The origin of HIV-2 has long been resolved (7), and it remains as the most common type of HIV among individuals from west Africa (8). In 1989, a closely related simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) was found in a monkey, the sooty mangabey ( Cercocebus atys ), whose natural range is in west Africa (9). A virus closely related to HIV-1 was first reported in 1989; this virus, SIVcpz, was found in two captive chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) in Gabon (10). The Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a global health problem; over 70 million people have been infected with HIV, 35 million have died, and 36.7 million people currently live with the disease (11). HIV contin

What kind of rash can you get from a gym? You may catch several types of skin infections from the gym, including a staph infection and ringworm. Research has found that bacteria live on 10% to 30% of gym surfaces, such as equipment, the floor, and yoga mats. Simple actions can save you from common skin infections and other illnesses that easily spread while you sweat. Read on to learn about skin infections you can catch at the gym and ways to prevent them. You might contract a skin infection through contact with different surfaces at the gym. Certain types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, including: Bottoms of smelly gym bags Floors of community showers Insides of running shoes Skin infections that spread through the air can also occur. A study published in 2018 found that germs can spread easily through the air if there's a lot of carbon dioxide, such as when a lot of people are exercising and breathing heavily.

One aspect of sexual health is ensuring that people have pleasurable but safe experiences with sex. To help encourage good sexual experiences, you may have heard that you should urinate following sexual activity. While peeing after sex may be helpful, it's not required to go immediately or go if you don't need to. Here's what you need to know about the benefits of peeing after sex, plus the experts' answers to some common questions. Getty Images Urinating after sex can help lower the risk of developing infections due to bacteria that may have gotten into the urethra during sex. Beyond that, peeing after sex hasn't been shown to have any definite health benefits, so it is not something most healthcare providers would say is necessary, Lauren E. Stewart, MD, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery specialist at NYU Langone Health, told Health . Dr. Stewart said it's unlikely to be harmful, so if you feel better when you

Blue waffle disease is a fake sexually transmitted infection (STI). The internet hoax was concocted by pranksters in 2010 who claimed the disease turns the vagina blue and causes symptoms associated with real STIs. The hoax included a picture of a labia that was doctored to look blue. According to Planned Parenthood, blue waffle disease is a "100% urban legend" that only serves to portray people with vaginas as vectors of disease. "Nevertheless, people remain skeptical," says Dr. Anita Ravi of the PurpLE Health Foundation, "even though it doesn't actually exist." This article describes how the blue waffle disease hoax started and how to get tested for real STIs to protect yourself and others. Bhupi / Getty Images How the Blue Waffle Hoax Started The blue waffle disease myth started as a bait-and-switch meme. Posting an image of a blue-colored waffle, the pranksters challenged users with the text: "Bet you can&

Home » Rhode Island Leads on HIV Prevention with Game-Changing PrEP Access Law June 27, 2024 Rhode Island Leads on HIV Prevention with Game-Changing PrEP Access Law By Joseph Metmowlee Garland, MD AAHVS, GLAD Board Vice President As a doctor who has spent 18 years caring for people living with and vulnerable to HIV, one of the most frustrating and heartbreaking aspects of my work is knowing that despite the availability of drugs to prevent HIV infection, many people continue to contract HIV because they cannot access these medications. In June the Rhode Island legislature passed, and Governor McKee signed, a law that will mean fewer people will get HIV. While we have made great strides toward ensuring access to HIV treatment across the U.S., the availability of preventive medications has greatly lagged behind. PreExposure Prophylaxis