Sneaky, Sneaky

An article in the Journal Of Virology, reported on the BBC website on 29 July 2006, refers to experiments carried out at UCLA showing that HIV survives anti-retroviral treatment by hiding in the gut lining.

Even when blood tests indicate that the treatment is working, HIV continues to replicate in the gut suppressing immune function. In effect, the gut is acting as a viral reservoir that keeps patients from being rid of the virus. The authors of the study recommend earlier aggressive drug treatment and gut biopsies as a way of monitoring gut inflammation.

Fair enough. FuelMix is no expert on HIV, but wonders whether earlier aggressive drug treatment might lead to earlier drug resistance or higher toxicity levels. Nevertheless, the research appears to be important in highlighting the evasive characteristics of HIV.

….which also got FuelMix thinking. Didn’t conventional wisdom say it was generally safe to swallow cum (provided there was no gum bleeding) because HIV would be killed by stomach acids? Now we’re being told that HIV hides in the gut? FuelMix is a little confused.

Is the method of infection, ingestion or penetration relevant in determining HIV’s ability to survive?

© 2006 FuelMix All Rights Reserved

Universal Testing

According to an ABC News report on 12 July 2006, the Centre for Disease Control in God’s Own Country will shortly release guidelines for the testing of all people over the age of 13 for HIV. In fact, the capital of God’s Own Country has the highest rate of new AIDS cases and all health care providers, whether private, public or community, routinely screen patients for HIV.

The CDC estimates that at least 25% of those with HIV in God’s Own Country are unaware of their status.

In principle, FuelMix welcomes the idea of universal testing. It is important to stress that the new CDC guidelines will make it clear that such testing is to take place with the patient’s full knowledge and consent. There will also be protocols on how the results are to be communicated.

As FuelMix sees it, there are several advantages to universal testing:

*personal intelligent knowledge
*updateable
*early detection when the immune system is still relatively healthy means a better chance of remission, or control and therefore a better lifestyle
*more accurate budgeting for public health
*more accurate budgeting for the individual in his prescription costs
*better birth control to prevent inter-uterine transmission to the foetus
*implementation of cohesive overall policy without stigmatizing certain groups
*a new culture of individual responsibility

And the disadvantages of universal testing?

*unscrupulous use of test results by insurance companies
*employers insisting on test results for personnel files
*workplace discrimination of HIV / AIDS individuals and subtle ways of forcing them out
*blackmailing and leaking of results to the media

It wasn’t that long ago that people were universally screened for other infectious diseases. With adequate safeguards, why should HIV be any different? But it does beg the obvious question: why has it taken this long?

© 2006 Fuel Mix All Rights Reserved

The Kindest Cut Of All?

According to a Reuters news report yesterday, researchers at the World Health Organization reported that circumcising men routinely across Africa, could prevent millions of deaths from AIDS.

The data showed that men who had been circumcised, had a significantly lower rate of infection from the AIDS virus. The report projected that if all African men were circumcised over the next 10 years, new infections would be reduced by 2 million and deaths reduced by 300,000.

It is thought that the cells and the warm wet environment in the foreskin, foster the susceptibility to HIV infection.

The quoted figures for African infection and death rates are staggering. The main method of infection is heterosexual. The report drew a comparison between West Africa, where circumcision is common and HIV infections low, and Southern Africa where the reverse is true.

In the Western world, circumcision is portrayed as a traumatic disfigurement of a male baby, with some parents flatly refusing to consider it. FuelMix is not suggesting that mere circumcision is sufficient to protect against HIV infection, but wonders whether parents should be re-thinking their attitudes.

By way of observation, FuelMix’s next door neighbours, a pair of middle aged white breeders with 2 barely legal aged boys, recently approached FuelMix, flushed with embarrassment: they wanted to know whether FuelMix was cut. When asked why, they confided that their 2 boys both of whom were uncut, were developing recurring foreskin infections requiring antibiotics.

FuelMix announced he was cut and suggested the breeders sit down with their boys and explain personal hygene. There was a good chance that they would become, or already were, sexually active. Failing that, get a doctor to tell them.

The breeders enquired whether it was too late to get them circumcised. FuelMix suggested they speak to their doctor and have a frank discussion with the 2 legal aged "men" about their future and their options.

Footnote: the boys are too ugly to be gay and declined to go under the knife.

© 2006 Fuel Mix All Rights Reserved

Fibonnacci Revisited

Ever noticed how some fags are notoriously bad in their punctuality? Tell them to show up at 7:30pm on a Tuesday night, you’ll be lucky if they show up on a Tuesday in the same month. They’ll always have some excuse.

If fags seem to be bad with figures on a clock, they sure seem to be good with figures on a cock. Ever noticed the number of online ads where the fag sings his stats, or claims to be “hwp” but demands precise figures of “7.5” or “8” or “8.5”?

What makes these fags think that cock sizes increase in half inch increments? FuelMix has yet to see an ad for "7.21" or "8.3" or "8.15". Is there some secret sequence of erectile gain that FuelMix has missed?

You’d think the fag was negotiating the interest on his deposit account. Wait – on second thought, that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Not to sound tart, but while interest rates might rise, FuelMix cautions fags about getting their hopes “up”.

© 2006 Fuel Mix All Rights Reserved