Michelle Lee Pelletier & Sarah Smith
December, 16, 1998
Mr. Marquis
Honors Chemistry
Aids
A.I.D.S is an epidemic of the nineties. There are over one million people infected with the HIV in the United States, and over 250,000 cases of Aids. The World Health Organization estimates that there are between five and ten million infected with the H.I.V virus. This number is rising steadily. A.I.D.S is the end result of H.I.V, and to this day there is no cure. H.I.V was discovered in 1981, but not until 1984 was it proven to be the cause of A.I.D.S. Since then the definition of A.I.D.S. has changed many times, and will no doubt keep changing. And as people learn more about it, they seek out a cure. Scientist have been working hard on a cure for more than a decade. They have come up with many pill "cocktails" or other forms of medications, but so far the cure is still far away. People with A.I.D.S/HIV are running out of time, yet it seems that there is sadly till a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding of the disease, and without understanding a cure is pushed farther away. Stealing a chance of survival from another person. The myths and truths need to be sorted out, a cure must be found, and the disease itself must be contained.
The HIV virus was discovered in 1981. Compared to many other diseases that have had a relatively huge impact on mankind, it is relatively new. Cancers and so forth have been here since man. HIV was not connected to Aids, or proven to be the cause until 1984. Since The discovery it has gone through many changes, and many names. HIV was formally known as Lymphadenopathy-associated virus (lAV), Human T-Cell lymotropic virus type III (HTLV III). It is relatively new, which means that both AIDS and HIV are subjected to much change through the new few decades, we may know a significant amount about it at this time, but new information is learned everyday. The information behind the cause of Aids is inconclusive. Though it has been said the first case from a monkey in Africa, this may not be the story, but man did get the virus from monkeys. How they got it from the monkey is another thing. Perhaps the "monkey" (which is immune to the virus, which is believed to be because the monkey doesn't have co-receptors on it's white blood cells) had bleeding gums or had a higher content of HIV in its blood system.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that a.i.d.s is an epidemic of the nineties. there are over one million people infected with hiv in the us, and over 250,000 cases of aids.
- Explains that the hiv virus was discovered in 1981, but it was not connected to aids until 1984. it was formally known as lymphadenopathy-associated virus, human t-cell lymotropic virus type iii.
- Argues that the aids virus has conquered many medications by growing immune to it.
- Explains the difference between hiv and aids by the t-cell count per cubic millimeter of blood.
- Explains that hiv virus weakens a person's immune system by attacking the white blood cell. most aids patients die of cancer, or heart disease.
- Explains that as hiv terrorizes the immune system, the person loses more and more t cells. aids leaves them wide open to almost anything, even a common cold could put them in bed for months.
- Explains that aids can be spread like wildfire, and that unprotected sex is one of the leading causes of transmission.
- Explains that only 25% of mothers with hiv/aids transmit aids to their unborn child. people who share, or use dirt needles are at risk of getting hiv.
- Opines that aids doesn't deserve research, and that it's like leprosy, which was shunned.
- Opines that if they weren't a bad chemist, they would want to go into the lab and look for cure/vaccine. the only way they could help is by being tested with different vaccines.
- Predicts that these two men are doing this, because of a very serious matter.
- Opines that protease inhibitors are not the way to go, since they have already proven to worsen some people's conditions.
- Opines that aids affects the poor countries, so there is no need to research like mad in the united states. the virus mutates and grows stronger, and if we don't help the other countries it will get out of control.
- Opines that the best move is to but more research into a vaccine and to continue grants for further studies into the combination of nevirapine and the older aids drugs azt and ddi.
- Believes that if we continue to research the above drugs, why trying our hardest to vaccinate, then eradicate, and there will be some hope within the next 50 years. education of the virus, not only in united states, would greatly help get it under control.
Related
- explanatory
- analytical
- opinion
- comparative
- The Origin Of AIDSexplanatory essayThere are four letters, that when put together can spell out a lifetime of agony, despair, prejudice and constant indignation; AIDS. Over the years the disease has been called GRID, Gay Cancer and finally came the name that is commonly accepted today, AIDS. Multiple theories are present as to the origin of this deadly virus, all of them are unique but no matter what the origin or name, AIDS is a terrible epidemic that needs to come to an end. People have suffered long enough, and too many people have been discriminated against something that’s not entirely their fault. The medicine for AIDS only prolongs the inevitable, and suffering of the poor people cursed with the disease. AIDS as of now is a death sentence and it currently has no cure; it targets people of every race, age, and gender from all walks of life but despite AIDS only being been around for less than a century, it has managed to leave an immense impact on American history, individuals, society and culture.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that aids is a terrible epidemic that needs to come to an end.
- Explains that the origin of aids has its share of theories under its belt, such as the 'god's punishment' theory, and the hunter’s theory.
- Explains that beginnings symbolize change, growth, and new understandings, to which aids did in a non-reticent manner.
706 wordsRead More - AIDS in Africaanalytical essayThe AIDS epidemic has reached disastrous proportions on the continent of Africa. Over the past two decades, two thirds of the more than 16 million people in the world infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, live in sub-Saharan Africa. It is now home to the largest number of people infected, with 70 percent of the world’s HIV infected population. The problem of this ongoing human tragedy is that Africa is also the least equipped region in the world to cope with all the challenges posed by the HIV virus. In order understand the social and economic consequences of the disease, it is important to study the relationship between poverty, the global response, and the effectiveness of AIDS prevention, both government and grass roots.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that sub-saharan africa is the least equipped region in the world to cope with all the challenges posed by the hiv virus.
- Explains that half of the world's cases are found in the aids belt, a chain of countries in eastern and southern africa.
- Explains that aids is a zoonosis, but its origin is unclear. researchers are unable to identify the exact origin of the virus, which inflicts acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
- Explains that hiv threatens to wipe out fragile development gains achieved over many decades. the virus has already surpassed malaria as the major killer in africa.
- Explains that africans are affected by the hiv virus more than others, but the large number of people living in poverty could contribute to the epidemic.
- Explains that mining companies pay $18 million a year in wages to 88,000 workers in carletonville, the center of south africa's gold industry.
- Explains that the strain on the capacity of families to cope with consequences of illness causes them to disintegrate as social and economic units.
- Opines that the aids epidemic must be countered with programs and developmental plans for the future to address the real threat of the hiv virus.
- Explains that most african leaders have remained indifferent in approaching the aids epidemic, with the exception of senegal and uganda.
- Explains that african leaders are reluctant to approach the hiv virus more effectively due to the anticipated economic trouble on african economies.
- Argues that if pharmaceutical companies infringed on copyright laws to allow poor countries cheap access to aids drugs, global business would suffer.
- Explains that some of the largest pharmaceutical companies agreed to cut prices of their aids treatment drugs for africa. the agreement states how the drug companies might proceed to improve access and availability to the drugs.
- Explains that the spread of hiv in africa is a devastating contribution to poverty, food shortage, and famine. low standards of health and unequal power structures contribute to the ongoing aids epidemic.
- Explains that economically, aids has taken its toll across africa and that companies are bracing themselves for far worse as their workers frequently become sick and die.
- Explains that women are more involved in the economic life in west africa than any other part of the continent. they are less dependent on men for survival and have more control when engaging in sex.
3459 wordsRead More - AIDSexplanatory essayAIDS is a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles. It is the most serious outcome of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. People with AIDS often suffer lung, brain, eye and other organ disease along with debilitating weight loss, diarrhea, candidacies, dementia, toxoplasmosis and a type of cancer called Kaposi's Sarcoma, and makes the immune system weak and therefore less able to fight certain infections and diseases. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:aids) AIDS is currently incurable, and is spread through the transfer of bodily fluids. According to WHO estimates, by end-1996, nearly 30 million people – including over 2.5 million children – had been infected with HIV since the start of the pandemic. Every day, more than 7000 adults and 500 babies are infected. More than 8 million people have developed AIDS. Of the 26.8 million adults with HIV infection – the global estimate in end-1996 – 14 million were in Sub-Saharan Africa and more than 3.5 million in Asia. Our region, that is South-East Asia, is likely to suffer the brunt of the pandemic - being home to over half the world’s population. Moreover, HIV/AIDS is now present in every continent and in every region of the world. (http://w3.whosea.org/en/Section10/Section18/Section349.htm)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that aids is a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products.
- Explains that the national association of people with aids advocates on behalf of all people living with hiv/aids in order to end the human suffering caused by the epidemic.
- Explains that the organization has created a multi-national base for people with aids, striving to make their lives easier. patience and empathy are prevalent social work values.
- Opines that they were impressed with the effort put forth by people to help people with aids.
967 wordsRead More - AIDS Resistance Genesexplanatory essayAcquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS, is a serious disease that becomes more and more common in our nation and around the world.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that hiv-1 is one of the most rapidly mutating viruses ever encountered. retroviruses bind to proteins encoded by host genes and insert their genes into chromosomes.
- Explains that hiv-1 primarily attacks immune cells, specifically macrophages and t-cells, which bear the cd4 protein.
- Explains that hiv-1 favors macrophages and finds a safe haven in them while it continues to replicate.
- Explains that the virus mutates and favors t-cells (a type of lymphocyte involved in cell-mediated immunity and interactions with other immune cells) over macrophages.
- Explains weight loss without dieting or change in regular food intake.
- Explains that hiv-1 has been found in a number of body fluids such as blood, semen, saliva, tears, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, breast milk, and cervical and vaginal secretions.
- Explains that some individuals seemed to have a degree of resistance to hiv-1 virus. scientists began to postulate that perhaps there was some mechanism in the human body that prevented the aids virus from taking hold.
- Explains that the first step in viral infection is for the virus particle to bind the cell wall surface and then enter by fusion.
- Explains that robert gallo's discovery that chemokines could suppress hiv-1 infection led to a rapid series of discoveries demonstrating the role of chimokine receptors as the coreceptor.
- Explains that the first coreceptor for hiv-1 was discovered on t lymphocytes called the cxcr4 chemokine receptor, which enabled t-tropic viral isolates to gain entry into t cells.
- Explains that two groups discovered a mutation in the ccr5 gene which might be responsible for resistance to hiv-1.
- Explains that this discovery has created an explosion in chemokine receptor research. scientists are already utilizing it in treatment and perhaps developing a vaccine for hiv-1.
- Explains that ccr5 is the coreceptor that primarily provides resistance against the m-tropic version of hiv-1.
- Explains that ccr5 is a chemokine receptor, which is seven membrane-spanning molecules found on the surface of cells in the immune system. hiv-1 takes advantage of these receptors to gain access to the cell via fusion.
- Explains that a defect usually implies that the system has gone array, however, in some cases defects or simply modifications from the normal genetic code, are helpful.
- Explains that aids researchers have recently uncovered a genetic trait that may provide protection against hiv-1. they are calling the trait an "aids resistance gene".
- Explains that acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids) is a serious disease that becomes more and more common in our nation and around the world.
- Explains that aids is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (structure of hiv), which attacks cells in the immune system, causing the body to lose its ability to fight off infections and diseases.
- Explains that hiv arose in africa from retroviruses of monkeys and spread to other parts of the world.
- Explains that the virus can infect both macrophages and t-cells, and it takes 2 weeks to 6 months to develop antibodies. a positive test result doesn't mean that a person has or ever will develop aids.
- Explains that even with the most potent drug treatments, suppressing hiv-1 remains an incredibly frustrating challenge.
- Explains that many aids education programs teach students to take responsibility for their actions and make decisions that contribute to their health and well-being.
- Explains that people of european descent are 81% wild-type, 18% heterozygote, and 1% homozygous. hiv-1 can become dual-tropic and destroy infected t-cells.
- Explains that the ccr5 protein is the second receptor for hiv-1 and that a mutation in the protein provides resistance to the infection.
- Explains that cxcr4 is a t-cell chemokine receptor, which facilitates fusion with hiv-1 during the t-tropic phase of hiv infection.
- Explains that a genetic defect in the ccr5 chemokine receptor is responsible for some protection against hiv-1. however, the mutation does not protect against the t-tropic virus.
3744 wordsRead More - HIV AIDSexplanatory essayToday millions of people globally are plagued with HIV/AIDS; some of which were contracted unknowingly through heterosexual sexual contact, others unknowingly through homosexual contact and surprisingly some who set out to contract HIV/AIDS purposefully. Bareback sex refers to intercourse without the use of any barrier protections to prevent the transmission of bodily fluids between participants. This is an extremely high risk behavior given the number of sexually transmitted diseases, and not knowing the status of HIV in them or in their partners. Unfortunately, in some developing countries the technology and condom supply are very little in respect to the sexually active population, and therefore results in more cases of STD’s and HIV/AIDS.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that bareback sex is an extremely high risk behavior given the number of sexually transmitted diseases, and not knowing the status of hiv in them or in their partners.
- Explains that homosexual deviants like "bug chasers" and those who engage in bareback sex do so for a variety of reasons, but each individual seems to have their own reasons.
- Explains that deann k gauthier and craig j. forsyth define bare backing between homosexual men as a social deviance as well as prostitution, homosexually itself, and pornography.
- Explains that there are three phases of hiv/aids in uganda, starting with rapid spread, dropping prevalence, and stabilization. in 1982, hiv burst into the ugandan peoples through urban sexual networks.
- Explains that the government implemented the abc program, which resulted in a large drop in persons living with aids, and the stabilization of hiv prevalence in the country between 2000 and 2005.
- Explains that uganda's abc method is a great model for other countries because it not only assumes that people are sexually active, but it gives them access to free condoms and other resources.
- Opines that this would be effective in the united states because it assumes that most people are sexually active and promotes the use of safe sex.
850 wordsRead More - HIVopinion essayAfter reading “Developing a Web Site for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention in a Middle Income Country: A Pilot Study from Thailand” (Kasatpibal, Visekul & Srikantha, Fongkaew, Surapagdee, Grimes, 2012) study (p 560-563). It is interesting appealing to the public about the new awareness that has occurred organized online to support HIV method of prevention. The article stated that only “41 MSMs” (men who have sex with men) were to be conduct in the research. The participants are HIV negative. However, may have contact with HIV positive person. The study conducted in “Chiang Mai, Thailand” in 2010-2011. The person chosen in that research was targeted at person with good computer skills and technology. However, there are a few concerns there is concern about the technology, design, prevention in the study need to research. There needs to be more variety to involve in the study as “41” person seemed to be a tiny number to involve in this research.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the article is appealing to the public about the new awareness that has occurred organized online to support hiv method of prevention.
- Explains that the study indicated the student chosen in this study were "college student," age range 20. in order to be more successful, the person should include older adults.
- Opines that the process of developing a website is not fully disclosed in the subject and indicated if the topic is easily available to the general public.
- Opines that the article does not state the nursing faculties past or present qualities such as their past study, honor or achievement.
- Opines that there is a need for awareness and process to help people being infected with hiv.
- Explains how groves explained using the internet to post their hiv infected status online to other men before they have a sexual relationship.
- Explains that the study aimed to reduce the number of msm by having online and offline session about hiv infection.
- Opines that online and offline activity can bring awareness to hiv intervention and prevention of being affected by having a safe sexual action and behavior.
- Opines that the website layout is a useful way to include the global society about hiv prevention and awareness.
1184 wordsRead More - aidsexplanatory essayIntroduction & Objectives Launched in 1996, UNAIDS, the United Nations specialized organisation on the global epidemic HIV/AIDS has focused on several goals ranging from “reducing sexual transmission to closing the resource gap across countries, eliminating gender inequalities, strengthening HIV integration” (Goals, 2014) among others. HIV/AIDS is one of the deadliest and most serious health challenges of our century. It is of such grave importance that combating it became part of the 6th United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) preceding the Millennium Summit in 2000. Since the discovery of the virus in the early 1980s the number of HIV/AIDS related deaths have progressively lowered, especially and increasingly since the mid-2000s. However as the UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, pointed out in our agency’s 2013 annual report, AIDS remains an unfinished MDG that needs continuous effort and determination in order for it to be accomplished.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that unaids' "you decide!" campaign focuses on promoting, protecting, and improving the health of women.
- Explains that the group leaders will put forward a set of brief reflective questions to start the discussion.
- Explains that this activity will give the groups a chance to become familiar with each other and get an idea of the purpose of this mural activity.
- Explains that the group will brainstorm the theme that they want to reflect in their mural. the theme for the mural should be based around the issues discussed in the booklet and in group discussions.
- Explains that when the theme is chosen, the team must come up with a central message to write in the mural. the message must be direct, catchy, provocative, and written in large and clear letters.
- Explains the next step is to decide on the drawings that the women will paint into the mural; everyone is encouraged to give their ideas.
- Describes the areas where the mural will be displayed, taking into consideration where it will communicate to most women.
- Describes the tasks and resources needed to complete the mural.
- Explains that hiv/aids is one of the deadliest and most serious health challenges of our century.
- Explains that the "you decide!" campaign aims to lower down the number of women living with hiv/aids in india through intensive information dissemination and awareness activities across the region.
- Explains that "you decide!" is an interactive mobile campaign that will involve a team of experts and volunteers travelling together in buses from region to region in india with the aim of preventing further spread of the disease.
- Explains that the girls will receive a condom card as part of the programme, which they can use to get free condons by showing it in their local medical centres, clinics, and pharmacies.
- Explains that the campaign aims to make sure that women are not only being taught to but instead focus on interactive activities where they can get truly involved.
- Illustrates the message in the mural: the choice is in your hands, make the right one! paint 4 doors and inside each one paint a banner that states unprotected sex, abstinence, infidelity, protection means loving yourself.
- Encourages women to spread the word about what they have learned and to use the mural as a way of explaining that knowledge.
- Opines that "you decide" will make a difference for the women across india, enriching their knowledge about this global epidemic, and reducing discrimination and stigma through this campaign.
1935 wordsRead More - Essay On AIDSexplanatory essayIn the war against HIV/ AIDS, promiscuity and drug use are among the most common sources of infection and education our greatest ally. Although medicine is vastly improving the lives of those infected, the disease is persistent and incurable. Prevention may prove to be the most effective method in subduing this disease for some time to come.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that aids and hiv are a dangerous disease that ignores an individual’s race, gender, economic class, or age group and can affect anyone at any time.
- Explains that hiv alters the immune system, causing exposure to infections and illness far more dangerous for those positively infected.
- Explains that hiv/aids attacks the body by three disease processes: immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and nervous system dysfunction. people who contract hiv can be infected for years before being diagnosed with aids.
- Explains that the symptoms of hiv and aids vary depending on the phase of infection. the concentration of the virus in the blood stream is particularly high at this time.
- Explains that some drugs are prescribed, such as protease inhibitors (pis), nucleoside reverse transcriptase (nrtis) and nnrtis. treatment should begin when a cd4 count is below 500, the patient has hepatitis b or develops severe symptoms.
- Describes the common ailments for those infected with hiv/aids, including tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, cryptococcose, and candidia.
- Opines that promiscuity and drug use are among the most common sources of infection in the war against hiv/ aids, and education is our greatest ally.
718 wordsRead More - The Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Treatment and Drugsexplanatory essayWith a disease that doesn’t discriminate towards any group, HIV/AIDS is a disease that is impacting the world at an alarming rate. It doesn’t matter your age, sex, race, sexual orientation, this disease impacts every demographic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), “Worldwide, there were about 2.5 million new cases of HIV in 2011. About 34.2 million people are living with HIV around the world.” There are many myths and confusion about this disease, and in this paper I’m going to discuss what HIV and AIDS are, as well as its impact it’s making around the world. Although there is no cure for this disease there are ways that your chances of contracting it are decreased, as well as medical treatments that you can receive to slow the progression.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that hiv/aids is a disease that doesn't discriminate against any group and impacts every demographic. there are many myths and confusion about this disease.
- Explains that the human immunodeficiency virus was discovered by researchers looking for the cause of aids in 1984.
- Explains that hiv can turn into aids when the cd4 cells are reduced from the virus taking over, leaving less than 200. opportunistic infections can be life-threatening since the immune system is weak or nonexistent.
- Explains that hiv virus transmission is possible through sexual contact, pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, drug use, occupational exposure, and blood transfusion or organ donation.
- Explains the best way to protect yourself from getting hiv is to be abstinent. limiting your number of sexual partners will also help lessen your risk.
- Explains that testing for hiv is a very simple process, since the virus is acute and if tested before 12 weeks after the possible transfer the test might not be accurate.
- Explains that there is currently no cure for hiv, but there are treatments available that can prolong a person’s life.
- Explains that medicaid expansion will give low-income people with hiv access to comprehensive health care. the affordable health care act will allow people who didn't have insurance due to the prior condition to purchase health insurance.
- Recommends getting tested for hiv/aids at least once a year or sooner if you are engaging in risky behaviors.
- Cites works citedaids action committee's the basics of hiv/aids.
- Cites aids.gov. (2012, june 06) and the centers for disease control and prevention (2013, april 23).
- Cites the centers for disease control and prevention's report on hiv incidence.
1241 wordsRead More - HIV and AIDS: The Epidemiccomparative essay...trive to live normal lives. Scientists also struggle to create a vaccine to get rid of HIV permanently. It is an important live saving decision to practice safe sex or abstinence and also to avoid the using needles to inject drugs.
In this essay, the author
- Estimates that one-third of the one million americans living with hiv are not aware that they have it.
- Explains that hiv, or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks and weakens the immune system causing the hiv-positive person to become more susceptible to ailments and infections.
- Explains that hiv and aids have become more prevalent between certain countries and cities, sexual preferences, and races.
- Explains that 48% percent of all aids cases diagnosed in america were due to men having sexual contact with other men and not using a condom.
- Explains that abstinence is the only way to guarantee that an individual does not obtain hiv. condoms are contraceptive devices worn over the male's penis or inserted in a woman'
- Explains that although there is no cure for hiv or aids, treatments are available to help individuals who are infected live a longer life.
- Explains that hiv/aids is a serious and deadly virus that can infect anyone regardless of race, status, gender, age, or location. there are ways to prevent it such as condoms and abstinence.
- Explains the dhh-office of public health. facts about hiv and aids. south deerfield: channing bete company, 2002.
1638 wordsRead More