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HIV & Hepatitis G |
| Researchers have discovered that infection with an apparently harmless, newly recognized virus seems to interfere with HIV, slowing its progression and prolonging survival of AIDS patients. Virus called GBV-C or hepatitis G, inhibits HIV. Patients with both HIV and hepatitis G lived longer than those infected with HIV alone. |
| Occupational Exposure to HIV |
| Health care workers whose activities involve contact with HIV infected patients or contact with blood or fluid from such patients, are at risk of getting infected with HIV virus. Post Exposure Prophylaxsis ( PEP ) : The rationale for treating occupational HIV exposures is that antiretroviral treatment immediately after exposure to HIV may abort infection by inhibiting local HIV replication. This would allow the host’s immune defences to eradicate the virus inoculum. The transmission of HIV infection through occupational exposure is very rare. The risk of infection percutaneous i.e through skin is 0.3%. The risk of infection after mucous membrane exposure or exposure through broken skin is much less – 0.09% Most of the cases of occupational exposures are those with needle stick injuries. A few have been with other sharp objects such as scalpels and broken glass. A significant number of percutaneous and other blood exposures occur during surgical procedures. Body fluids which have the potential of transmiting infection are semen, vaginal secretions, and fluids with visible blood. Exposure to saliva, tears, sweat and non bloody urine or faeces does not entail a risk of infection. Some protective measures :
Treatment of Occupational Exposure to HIV Immediate measures To use soap and water to wash any wound or skin that came into contact with suspected blood or fluid. Flush exposed mucous membrane with water. Do not apply caustic agents like bleach. Not to inject any antiseptic agents into the wound. Post Exposure Prophylaxsis (PEP) Only one agent Zidovudine is known to prevent the transmission of HIV in humans.However combination drugs are recommended. PEP is most effective if startd immediately. It should be initiated within 1-2 hours. PEP regimens : for 28 days Those with possible exposure should undergo followup HIV antibody testing at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and at 6 months. |
| Stability and Infectivity of HIV Virus |
| The overwhelming scientific evidence is that HIV is fragile and highly susceptible to physical and chemical agents and therefore does not survive well outside the human body. Drying causes a rapid (within 1 or 2 hours) reduction in virus concentration and renders 90 to 99 percent of the virus inactive.Other studies have shown that HIV is rapidly inactivated by a range of physical and chemical agents such as low levels of heat, pH extremes, and a variety of chemicals. These observations, coupled with the enormous dilution factors in sewage systems, suggest that on-the-job HIV risk factors for sewage workers are virtually nonexistent. HIV is transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, perinatally from an infected woman to her fetus or infant, through needle-sharing among intravenous drug users, and rarely, from accidents involving needlestick injuries and other blood exposures of health-care providers. Because there is no epidemiologic or laboratory evidence that HIV can be transmitted by the fecal-oral route or by air, fears associated with HIV transmission by other types of contact with sewage are not warranted.No instances of HIV transmission have been reported from an exposure incurred in performing mortuary services. The chemical germicides in embalming fluids have been tested and found to completely inactivate HIV.HIV is inactivated by heat and dies after 30 minutes at 56 degree C (132.8 degree F). It is also highly susceptible to physical and chemical agents.
If properly stored, HIV is very stable at low temperatures. It can last 7-10 days at 4 degree C (39.2 degree F) and months to years at -70 degree C (-94 degree F). |
Painful Sex |
| A large number of women are said to suffer from painful sex at some time or the other in their lives. In majority this remains unspoken and the women takes it that it may be a normal phenomenon or some think that they are alone with this problem. This condition is known as Dysparennia. Some amount of pain during sex is common and goes off after sometime.
Common causes of Pain during sex:
Vaginal Dryness – is one of the most common causes of pain during sex especially in young brides because of ignorance, insufficient arousal, inadequate foreplay, fear of pregnancy, stress or hormonal imbalance. Vaginismus – is a phenomenon in which the muscles at the vaginal opening constrict into tight spasm as soon as intercourse is attempted. This is a protective response against penetration and can happen specially with brides because of extreme fear, inhibition, improper sex education, childhood trauma, witnessing an unpleasant sexual activity. This results in a vicious circle of pain and fear. Vaginitis – is any type of vaginal infection or may be due to some allergic reaction or chemical irritation. The commonest is Thrush – a fungal infection resulting to foul smelling discharge. Lichen Sclerosis – is an auto immune condition in which immune cells attack the skin. It can affect any part of body, vulva is a common target. It usually develops after 40. Vulvadynia – In this condition there are nerve abnormalities around the vulva. It causes constant itching, burning pain around the vulva and vagina which worsens when touched even with water. Vestibulitis – In this condition too there is burning around vulva with redness and soreness. Tends to affect between 20s-30s. Cystitis – Most of the women experience this especially on the first initiation into sex. that is why it is also referred to honeymoon cystitis. It may also occur when sex is resumed after prolonged inactivity. It causes burning sensation while urination, frequent cloudy or bloody urine. Menopausal Thinning – This occurs with menopause when ovaries produce less estrogen resulting to vaginal lining thinning out and shrinking of the vagina. Endometriosis – In this condition the tissue that lines the uterus gets developed in other areas like fallopian tubes, ovaries abdominal wall or ligaments supporting the uterus. Women in 20s and 30s are most prone to this condition. It causes sharp pain deep in lower abdomen during intercourse. This condition may go after menopause or with hormonal therapy. Pelvic Inflammation Disease – It can cause following frequent chlamydia infection or infection following childbirth or due to IUD. Radiation scarring – due to radiation for cervical cancer or endometrial cancer can result in decrease in the length and circumference of the vagina because of adhesions and fibrosis. |
| Absorption of calcium |
| The amount of calcium in food items that we eat is absorbed differently. Like the calcium in spinach and calcium in milk is absorbed to the blood differently. The absorbability of calcium from spinach was compared with the absorbability of Ca from milk in healthy adults. Absorption was higher from milk in every case, with the mean absorption from milk averaging 27.6% and from spinach, 5.1%.
Thus, spinach Ca is much less readily available than milk Ca. The presence of lactose (milk sugar), lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose), and the acidic amino acids, lysine and arginine, are all factors that improve calcium absorption. Decreased absorption is associated with diets high in fiber. Foods such as whole grains and spinach are high in phytates and oxalates, compounds known to bind with calcium and reduce absorption. Vitamin D intake is a second factor, as active calcium transport is directly and proportionally dependent on the presence in the intestinal cell of calbindin D9k, the biosynthesis of which is totally vitamin D dependent. Absorption in jejunum and ileum is the major absorptive process when calcium intake is adequate. No more than 10% of total calcium absorption takes place in the large intestine. |
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