Software To Improve AIDS Survival?

Roland Piquepaille writes "There are more than 33 million people living with HIV worldwide. No cure or vaccine has been unveiled this week in Mexico during the International AIDS Conference. Still, European researchers have developed 'a predictive software system for HIV that could help extend the lives of victims of the killer disease.' The scientists working on the EuResist project have combined HIV databases in Italy, Sweden and Germany, creating what is probably the largest database on AIDS and HIV in the world. Armed with information about more than 18,000 patients, 64,000 therapies, and 240,000 viral mode measurements, the researchers have created new mathematical prediction models, which should soon be available to medical researchers and doctors all over the world."

Education?

[COMON$]

I am thankful for the sharing of information but after I RTFA it seems to me that this will only benefit individuals in developed countries with health care. What does this do for countries without a health care system where aids is rampant?

Of course I am a proponent of education being the best way to eradicate AIDS or bring it to a manageable level. There will always be people who will contract it in a truly unpreventable manner. However, in most cases a little caution or healthy set of habits will reduce this dramatically. Reduction in anal sex (2/3 male aids cases are homosexual [cdc.gov]), prolific unprotected sex, and sharing needles are just some off the top of my head. We arent telling people who they can be partners with and we aren't saying they are wrong.

Of course how do we bring education of this matter to countries were literacy is a luxury?

Re:Education?

[Anonymous Coward]

Interesting, you cite reduction in anal sex as a form of education, but don't really give gay men other options. While oral could still be considered, it's their act of intimacy, not yours. I'm not gay, but I have quite a few gay friends (moving to Cali gives quite a cultural difference). Additionally, education in the use of contraceptives falls under the same realm. I have a girlfriend, and while we practice safe sex, not all couples do. Hence the reason I have a 9 year old son.

Sorry, but sex education is only going to get you so far, and the options you offer don't help. I believe in providing better education, but this sounds like a very thinly veiled attempt to tell gay men to not have sex, and promote abstinence, which leads me to believe that you have ulterior motives. (Disclaimer: posting anonymously so I don't get all the gay jokes on my UID)

hmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Wonder how accurate it is. I was just told by the doctor today that my blood test came back positive for HIV. But he was laughing as he said it, so either he was a sociopath or it wasn't serious. He then explained that the second confirmatory test came back negative, and that's the one that's more accurate.

Re:Education?

[Anonymous Coward]

Many if not most of those countries that have the greatest AIDs infections rates have an cultural attitude against condoms

Not really. They just haven't completed primary education, are illiterate and may not even know what a "virus" is. They believe in witch doctors and think raping a virgin will cure the illness.

On of the greatest problems in Africa is how you teach people how to use a condom to protect against aids, since the population can't read and do not understand bacteria or viruses.

If you call illiteracy "cultural attitude" then maybe...

Re:Bad summary

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, once you are diagnosed with AIDS, you are treated as a subhuman.

I'll admit I help perpetuate this. I'm more worried about AIDS than hunting with Dick Cheney. I'm not gay or very promiscuous, I use protection, and I get tested regularly, but it's still incredibly worrisome to my generation. AIDS has been around as long as we have, and you're still SOL. Chris Rock is right.

Re:Education?

[geekoid]

The wording of your post as a little odd. I had to read is several times to realize you did not making an anti-gay statement.

The position really isn't a factor , it's the gay culture.
Homosexuals would seldom wear a condom, and person zero had homosexual 'engagement'.

Those number are leveling out. Lat I looked, young girls (teens) were the fastest growing segment getting AIDS.

Re:21M people have died of AIDS...

[WarwickRyan]

Well, the vast majority of AIDs cases are in the third world, where they probably don't have access to databases. Or doctors.

Re:Education?

[COMON$]

I was considering whether or not to respond to your post but I think you were unjustly modded flamebait. I apologized in a later post for not saying "unprotected anal sex". The problem which is stated often enough, is that for the most part that the reason for HIV is elective. It is not like getting a cold, or flu, or malaria, people choose to participate in the activity and do it. Maybe it is the diplomat in me but I think that if people are given the option they will do the right thing and protect themselves and their loved ones by following best practices.

Re:Predicting mutations?

[Iloinen Lohikrme]

Virco is a US company and as you mentioned they have a commercial offering. Those two facts are enough for EU to set their own research and development activities in the field as it sponsors European ability to research and compete and it gives national health care services an free non-commercial alternative to use. Just good use of EU money in my opinion.