New Discoveries Expected at the Scientific Workshop on HIV Reservoirs


Tucker, GA - April 21, 2011 -- Controlling HIV replication without the need of life-long antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the next frontier scientists are addressing. Researchers involved in the fields of HIV reservoirs and eradication have just released the preliminary program of a workshop they will organize later this year, where scientific breakthroughs are expected.

Fifteen years ago, when ART was discovered, a renewed optimism for a cure gained several scientists who predicted that 3 years of undetectable viremia would be able to get rid of HIV. In 1997, a reservoir of latently-infected cells was demonstrated in patients, which is established very early at acute infection. As these are resting cells which do not usually produce viral particles, they are not destroyed by the immune system and are inaccessible to ART. They also take part to the memory of the immune system, are life-long and would actually need more than 60 years of undetectable viremia to eventually be replaced by uninfected cells...

Despite dramatic decreases in morbidity and mortality with ART, new problems have emerged and life-long ART cannot be considered as the final response to the HIV pandemic. Patients adherence to treatment is variable, with possible selection of resistant strains. Toxicities accumulate with time, in particular of the metabolic type with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, osteopenia, lipodystrophy. Disease evolution is not completely stopped and slowly progressive neurocognitive dysfunction is found in some patients. Persistent chronic inflammation is another proof that the damages inflicted to the immune system and lymphoid organs are not totally reversed. Finally, universal access to ART is a major financial problem and the pandemic remains highly active with more than 7,000 daily new cases of HIV infection worldwide.

To address the issue of a cure, researchers have to set up in vitro and in vivo (animal) models of HIV persistence, define the virological and immunological mechanisms involved in HIV persistence, and discover new drugs acting differently than ART.

Their first objective is to induce a “HIV functional cure”, a situation where the virus would not be replicating and would not cause harm in the absence of ART. This condition naturally exists in a tiny proportion of patients, called ‘elite controllers’. These patients exhibit both low levels of HIV reservoirs and strong anti-HIV immune responses. The ultimate objective of researchers is to obtain a “HIV sterilizing cure”, where the virus is eliminated from the body. Several drugs are already in the pipeline to “flush out” the HIV reservoirs.

The “HIV Persistence, Reservoirs & Eradication Strategies Workshop” will gather all the international community of researchers working on a HIV cure and help define the right scientific path to success.

About the workshop:
International Workshop on HIV Persistence, Reservoirs & Eradication Strategies, December 6-9, 2011, Sin Maarten, website: http://www.informedhorizons.com/persistence2011/

Contact:
Alain Lafeuillade
Informed Horizons, LLC
860 Montreal Road, Suite 2
Tucker GA 30084, USA
Ph: +1 770 573 3020

Indulge Your Senses at New Vietnamese Hideaway


Six Senses Con Dao Puts Con Dao Island In the radar of luxury travelers.

Hanoi, Vietnam, April 21, 2011 -- Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is an award winning luxury tour operator in Vietnam and unveils very often new upscale travel experiences for the most discerning travelers.

In colonial times, the islands of Con Dao (also known as Poulo Condore) were much feared, as a notorious French prison was located on Con Son, the largest island of this remote southern archipelago.

Many of Vietnam's most famous freedom fighters served time on this lonely, windswept island, which lies 185 km south east of the port city of Vung Tau.

Today, the archipelago's residents survive by fishing, diving for pearls, collecting swallows' nests, and farming. Visitors will find starkly beautiful cliffs, long, untouched beaches, and patches of thick, old-growth forest. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the islands' remote beaches, while dolphins live offshore.

Just 60 minutes flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao offers the perfect escape from modern life. Clients also can visit Con Dao Island by ship from Vung Tau beach or by charter helicopter.

Six Senses (sixsenses.com) recently announced a new property in Con Dao, Vietnam is taking bookings NOW.

Only a 60-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Six Senses Con Dao opened in December 2010.

This secluded island hideaway in the East Sea is a hedonist's dream of 40 luxury villas on a truly idyllic stretch of white sand beach, each with its own private infinity pool, open-air bathroom and living area, and unobstructed views of the sea.

Like its fellow Six Senses properties it's more than just a luxury beach holiday, Con Dao offers an outstanding range of spa journeys and wellness activities. Here you can enjoy a moonlit dinner for two at the water's edge, take a private cookery class in your own villa, hike in search of the local wildlife, stay up late to watch turtles nesting on the beach...or simply lie back, relax and draw breath amidst the natural beauty of this Vietnamese paradise.

Unlike some other concept hotels, Con Dao truly embraces its surroundings - each villa is built with materials from sustainable sources (mirroring the ethos of the brand), while providing the most breath-taking view of the island. From catamaran sailing to cookery, from diving to dining, Con Dao is cool hideaway for all ages, tastes and sensibilities.

Luxury Travel (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) Unveils four day luxury vacation packages from Saigon To Con Dao, inclusive of three nights in Six Senses Con Dao with daily breakfast, all transfer and pick up and drop off services, taxes, return air tickets for only 1075 USD per person. This offer is only valid before 30 Oct 2010.

When to go:
The best time to travel to the south-eastern coast of Vietnam is December through to April during dry season. Summer time from May to September is a good time to rest and relax but expect some tropical rain.

For more information:

For more information about this or other luxury Vietnam holidays, contact our team on 84439274120 who will be happy to plan your ultimate escape, or email condao@luxurytravelvietnam.com for more information.

Contact:
David Nguyen
Marketing Executive
Luxury Travel Vietnam Group Company
5 Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: +84.4.3927 4120, 6273 3071 or 6273 3087 Ext 108
Fax: +84.4.3927 4118