Amazing: HIV cure is finally here!

HIV cure close after disease 'vanishes' from blood of British man 

The 44-year-old man could become the first person to be cured of HIV using a new therapy

A British man could become the first person in the world to be cured of HIV using a new therapy designed by a team of scientists from five UK universities.

The 44-year-old is one of 50 people currently trialling a treatment which targets the disease even in its dormant state.

Scientists told The Sunday Times that presently the virus is completely undetectable in the man’s blood, although that could be a result of regular drugs. However if the dormant cells are also cleared out it could represent the first complete cure. Trial results are expected to be published in 2018.

"This is one of the first serious attempts at a full cure for HIV,” said Mark Samuels, managing director of the National Institute for Health Research Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure.

“We are exploring the real possibility of curing HIV. This is a huge challenge and it's still early days but the progress has been remarkable."

HIV virus in the bloodstream

The trial is being undertaken by researchers from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London and King's College London.

HIV is so difficult to treat because it targets the immune system, splicing itself into the DNA of T-cells so that they not only ignore the disease, but turn into viral factories which reproduce the virus.

Current treatments, called anti-retroviral therapies (Art), target that process but they cannot spot dormant infected T-cells.  

The new therapy works in two stages. Firstly, a vaccine helps the body recognise the HIV-infected cells so it can clear them out. Secondly, a new drug called Vorinostat activates the dormant T-cells so they can be spotted by the immune system.

More than 100,000 people in Britain are living with HIV, around 17 per cent of whom do not know they have the disease, and 37 million are infected worldwide.

The first unidentified patient, a social care worker in London, said: "It would be great if a cure has happened. My last blood test was a couple of weeks ago and there is no detectable virus.

"I took part in the trial to help others as well as myself. It would be a massive achievement if, after all these years, something is found to cure people of this disease. The fact that I was a part of that would be incredible."

Professor Sarah Fidler, a consultant physician at Imperial College London, added: "This therapy is specifically designed to clear the body of all HIV viruses, including dormant ones.

"It has worked in the laboratory and there is good evidence it will work in humans too, but we must stress we are still a long way from any actual therapy.

"We will continue with medical tests for the next five years and at the moment we are not recommending stopping Art but in the future depending on the test results we may explore this."

Only one person has ever been cured of HIV. He is Timothy Brown, also known as The ‘second’ Berlin Patient, who received a stem cell transplant from a patient with natural immunity to HIV in 2008.

Sir Elton John urges world to continue fight to beat HIVPlay!01:07

Ian Green, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the Aids charity, said: "There is still no cure for HIV  and we welcome this ambitious study which looks to eradicate the virus completely from the bodies of people living with HIV, instead of suppressing it."

Philip Christopher Baldwin, an HIV awareness activist. "I'm really excited by the recent developments regarding a potential cure for the HIV virus.

"The first person to complete an experimental course of treatment has cleared the virus. I was diagnosed with HIV in 2010, when I was 24 years old. It took me a number of years to come to terms with my HIV.

"I am proud that five British universities have been responsible for this pioneering research. It remains to be seen whether the virus will return in the "cured" patient, or if the other people taking part in the medical trial will respond in a similar way.

"The research, though, is great progress and I hope that these early results will be repeated throughout the trial group. This is an important step towards a world free of the fear of HIV."

Source: Guardian UK
 

Oluwatimilehin Oke Email: healthertainment@gmail.com Whatsapp: +234-703-798-6229 BB PIN: 563D9C56 BB CHANNEL: C001C7A18 Twitter & Instagram: @timi0301

WORLD PHARMACIST DAY 2016 - I CARE FOR YOU

WORLD PHARMACY DAY 2016 - CARING FOR YOU 

World over, it's another year to commemorate and celebrate the relentless service of pharmacists in the health care sector, this year is themed "caring for you". 


Alot of people out there confuse or misinterprete their services especially in developing nations like Africa and Nigeria is not an exception to this. Many miscontrue the services of a pharmacist as luxury. Would you really blame these set of people?  The answer is a  resounding NO. There is little/insignificant level of awareness to the general public about the distinct roles and functions of a pharmacist. 


WHO IS A PHARMACIST? 

According to Wikipedia; pharmacists, also known as chemists, druggists, are health care professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication. He is adequately knowledgeable about biochemical mechanisms and actions of drugs - usage, therapeutic roles, side effects and potential drug interactions. 


Recent studies has revealed that over 50% of Nigerians engage in self medication, it is therefore imperative to summarize the distinct roles of a pharmacist. 

Pharmacists perform vital roles in the health care system through the medicine and information they provide. Some of these roles/functions include:

1. Provides expertise on drug composition (physical, biological and chemical properties). 

2. The manufacture and usage of drugs. 

3. Achieve positive outcomes from the use of medications to improve a patient's quality of life with minimum risk. 

4. Pharmacists cure diseases. 

5. Eliminate/reduce symptoms. 

6. Arrest or slow down a disease process. 

7. Prevent disease, diagnose disease. 

8. Alter physiological process for desirable result in the patients health. 

9. Dispenses medications by compounding, packaging and pharmaceuticals. 


From the above distinct roles, it is apparent that not everyone can prescribe medications. The next time you have that headache, fever and other symptoms don't just engage in self-medication. Speak to your pharmacist because they care for you. 


N. B- A chemist by Nigerian context(those who run patent medicine stores) is not in anyway a pharmacist, they've sent many to the grave beyond with their wrong prescriptions. Don't fall victim. 


In subsequent post, I'll be discussing the adverse effect of self-medication and the dangers of drug/substance abuse. Tramadol, codeine, rephnol, weed(marijuana) Etc. Watch out! Have a beautiful Sunday. 

Oluwatimilehin Oke Email: healthertainment@gmail.com Whatsapp: +234-703-798-6229 BB PIN: 563D9C56 BB CHANNEL: C001C7A18 Twitter & Instagram: @timi0301

Revealed! WHO Confirms Diabetes Now Completely Reversible (SEE HOW)

Stop diabetics

So many death caused by Diabetes has been revealed to be due to ignorance or lack of knowledge on it. Diabetes can be traced back to rapid increase in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity. Total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years. Most notably, they are projected to increase by over 80% in upper- middle income countries. Here are some facts by WHO (World Health Organization) revealing that Diabetes is completely reversible:

1. T1D [ Type1 Diabetes] is characterized by a lack of insulin production.

2. T2D [ Type2 Diabetes] results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. T2D is much more common than T1D, and accounts for around 90% of all Diabetes worldwide.

3. Reports of T2D in children- previously rare- have increased worldwide. In some countries, it accounts for almost half of newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents.

4. A third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This type is characterised by hyperglycemia, or rapid blood sugar, which is first recognized during pregnancy.

5. 80% of diabetes deaths are now occurring in low- and middle- income countries.   The full impact is much larger, because although people may live for years with diabetes, their cause of death is often recorded as heart diseases or kidney failure.

6. Lack of awareness about diabetes, combined with insufficient access to health services, can lead to complications such as blindness, amputation and kidney failure.

7. Diabetes can be prevented. Thirty minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days, a healthy diet and nutritional supplementation can drastically reduce the risk of developing T2D.

8. Diabetes has a devastating effect on virtually every system in the body, which sets the stage for a variety of diabetic complications. But, as I will explain, this devastation is largely preventable.Diabetes is a nutritional wasting disease. The elevated blood sugar levels that characterize diabetes cause excessive urination. In fact, diabetes mellitus is taken from two Greek words meaning “to pass through” and “Sugar” referring to excessive glucose-laden urination.

9. High blood sugar levels, which are caused by either lack of insulin or insulin resistance (type 1 or type 2 diabetes, respectively), overwhelm the kidneys’ capacity to reabsorb glucose as well as all water-soluble nutrients. Elevated blood sugar levels essentially act like an osmotic diuretic, washing out virtually everything.

10. Every time blood sugar rises and urination increases, patients with diabetes lose water, magnesium, zinc, B12, B6, folic acid, and many other nutrients. Although water is replaced by drinking, nothing is done to replenish the water-soluble nutrients that are also swept out.

Diabetes Is Completely Reversible.  

Replacing lost vitamins and minerals is critical. As a result of these continual nutritional losses, diabetes is the number one cause of blindness, amputation, and kidney failure, and it dramatically increases the risk of both heart attack and stroke.

I believe that if you were to give a healthy person an osmotic diuretic every day without replacing nutrients, they would develop these (and other) diabetic complications.

All of the components in our natural solution help to replace lost nutrients as a result of excessive urination. No wonder this natural solution is working wonders.

Oluwatimilehin Oke Email: healthertainment@gmail.com Whatsapp: +234-703-798-6229 BB PIN: 563D9C56 BB CHANNEL: C001C7A18 Twitter & Instagram: @timi0301

HOPE FROM HOPELESSNESS

I'm gonna be straight and informal as much as possible because this wasn't in any way planned, scripted or premeditated.

I let you down once again my esteemed readers, I've had my own fair share of life. It's easy when you render advices to people about relationships,  health and faith undermining that a time is coming when your own ship might hit the rocks and begin to sink.

I'm I beginning to bore you? Yes! I hit the bottom, I sunk both spiritually and emotionally, the storms came raging like fire, hell got lose over me.

I've always treated and acted strong, brave, smart, composed, intelligent and logical. Behold,  I let friends and families down. The reason I'm actually grabbing my notepad tonight is because someone I hurt truly forgave me and I found my anchor again.

In the game of boxing, you don't lose a match because you fall, you only lose when you refuse to get up on your feet. This phrase strengthened me, and most importantly renewing my love for JESUS - He made all the difference and gave me peace like a river. (I'm certain this is meant for somebody in a difficult situation right now).

Lastly, please don't ever give up on God!
Don't give up on life!
Don't give up on your dreams!
Chase it passionately - it's all gonna be worth it in the end.

I love you always, expect your tantalizing and wonderful health updates once again, ain't gonna leave you stucked or waiting anymore.

Yours in blog,
Jesumbo Oke Timilehin.

Oluwatimilehin Oke Email: healthertainment@gmail.com Whatsapp: +234-703-798-6229 BB PIN: 563D9C56 BB CHANNEL: C001C7A18 Twitter & Instagram: @timi0301

What you should know about Lassa Fever

OVER one year after Nigeria suffered from the deadly Ebola virus disease which claimed some lives, including those of car-givers (medical doctors and nurses), an outbreak of a disease of near same symptoms, though not as deadly, Lassa Fever, has been reported in some parts of the country.

At least 150 infections and seven deaths have recorded in the affected states of Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Bauchi, Oyo, Niger and Nasarawa. Lassa Fever is one of the lethal viral haemorrhagic fevers, apart from Ebola, Dengue and some others.
It has mainly affected West Africa and was first discovered in 1969 in a Nigerian town called Lassa, where two missionary nurses died of the disease.

Since then, it has been recurring, especially during the dry season, particularly between December and March, in different parts of the country and the West African sub-region. Poor hygiene and inadequate awareness and public enlightenment have been identified as major causes of its spread.

Lassa Fever is a viral illness
IT is an acute viral illness caused by Lassa virus, a single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to a family called Arenaviridae. The natural host or reservoir of this virus is a rodent known as the ‘multimammate’ rat that belongs to the mastomys genus.

It has been observed that mastomys rats breed very frequently and readily colonise homes; hence the easy spread of this zoonotic virus from infected rodents to unsuspecting humans.

Lassa Fever is common in West Africa
LASSA virus infections are common in West Africa to warrant public health concern.
An average of about 300,000 cases are recorded every year, with 5,000 deaths.

How it is spread to humans
HUMANS can contract the virus when they come in contact, directly or indirectly, with the urine and droppings from infected rats or by breathing in tiny particles from air that has been contaminated with rodent excretions. Some humans who eat infected rodents can equally contract the virus.

If adequate precautions are not taken, care givers, especially doctors and nurses, who handle or treat infected persons can contract the virus from contaminated blood, tissues, secretions or excretions of such patients.

However, it cannot be spread through casual skin-to-skin contacts (including handshakes), provided there are no cuts or bruises.
Lassa Fever usually produces symptoms
LASSA virus has an incubation period of one to three weeks, following which signs and symptoms of the infection emerge. Initially, non-specific symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, cough, back pain, abdominal pain or pain behind the chest wall may be felt, as well as vomiting, diarrhoea and facial swelling. As the disease progresses, mucosal bleeding and bleeding from body orifices may follow.

Lassa Fever can be treated
PROVIDED the affected person presents early enough and prompt diagnosis of Lassa Fever is made, an anti-viral agent called Ribavirin has been shown to be quite effective in reducing morbidity and mortality from the disease.

In addition to Ribavirin administration, supportive treatment may also be given to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as the blood pressure.
Untreated Lassa Fever often results in death
IT was estimated that 15 to 30 per cent of patients admitted for Lassa Fever end up dying of the illness. Death rates are higher for pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, and their unborn babies.

Mortality rates in the latter group (unborn babies) sometimes reach 95 per cent. Up to one-third of Lassa Fever survivors may suffer from varying degrees of hearing loss, which may be permanent.
Lassa Fever is better prevented
LIKE is commonly said, prevention is better than cure. Since no vaccine has been developed yet for Lassa virus infection, people are advised to employ every possible means to avoid contact with rodents and infected people.

Homes must be kept clean and rodent-free and foods stored in rodent-proof containers. Health care givers must practise barrier-nursing methods, such as isolation of infected patients and consistent use of face masks, gloves, gowns and goggles when attending to such patients.

Oluwatimilehin Oke Email: healthertainment@gmail.com Whatsapp: +234-703-798-6229 BB PIN: 563D9C56 BB CHANNEL: C001C7A18 Twitter & Instagram: @timi0301