In front of an almost all-male audience of about 30 people Nelson Vergel, HIV-wellness advocate and author, gave a talk on advances in HIV management, the possibility of a cure and aging within the HIV community. The event was recently held at the Hoover-Leppen Theater at the Center on Halsted and was co-sponsored by the Center on Halsted, TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network) and Positively Aware.
Using a slide show presentation, Vergel posed questions such as “How close are we to finding the cure?” and “How are you managing HIV and aging?” The first thing Vergel shared was the fact that HIV therapy is getting easier, more potent and less toxic before saying that there are three more once-a-day regiments in the works that will compete with Atripla.
Then he went on to the topic of cure-related clinical trials including the “Berlin patient,” Timothy Brown, who is reportedly completely clear of HIV. Brown developed myeloid leukemia which is a cancer of the immune system and to treat it he received a rare stem cell transplant treatment which cleared his body of cancer and HIV.
Vergel then shifted to the issue of preventing lipodystrophy and bone loss treatments. He outlined what measures people are taking to reduce their belly fat, fill out their faces and strengthen their bones including new drugs and continued exercise. Then he moved to the various methods to detect anal warts, anal cancer and dysplasia and how the HPV virus plays a role. The final topic was testosterone deficiencies in HIV patients and the options to increase testosterone including gels, Buccal, injections, pellets and the patch.
To see Vergel’s slides, visit nelsonvergel.com/pdfs/cureagingmay2011.pdf. Vergel also invites all who interested to join his internet discussion group by sending a blank e-mail to Pozhealth-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
A free HIV test and seminar will be held at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, on Monday, JUne 20, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. To RSVP for this free event call 773-472-6469, ext. 403, or e-mail rsvp@centeronhalsted.org.