HIV Cure - British Man May Be the First Patient Cured of the Disease

There’s no cure for HIV. But after the Sunday Times reported that a British man was cured of HIV using a therapy discovered by a team of scientists from the UK, an HIV treatment could just be around the corner. 

The British man is a 44-year-old person who’s part of the 50 individuals who participated in the trial treatment. The treatment is designed to target the disease even in its dormant stage. 

Presently, the HIV is undetectable in the patient’s blood. Scientists said that if it remains that way, he’ll be the first person to be cured. This case is one of the first attempts at finding a cure for this disease. Although it’s still early to say that it’s indeed an HIV cure, the progress is considered as remarkable. 

The HIV cure trial is being undertaken by scientists from several universities, such as Oxford, Imperial College Lond, King’s College London, Cambridge, and University College London. 

Why is it unfathomable to find the cure for this disease? 

One of the reasons HIV is complicated to treat is that it targets the patient’s immune system. It joins with the DNA of T-cells. As a result, the cells will ignore the disease. They also become viral factories that reproduce the virus. 

Current treatments are being used. They’re known as the anti-retroviral therapies. They target the process of the virus replicating. Unfortunately, they can’t spot infected T-cells that are still in the dormant stage. 

The latest treatment, however, works in two phases. The first step involves a vaccine that assists the body in recognizing those infected T-cells. From there, it can start clearing them out. Then, a new drug called Vorinostat is introduced. It activates the dormant T-cells. In that way, they’ll be seen by the immune system. 

In the UK, there are over 100,000 patients with this condition. But 17 percent of them don’t know that they have this condition. Worldwide, there are 37 million people infected with it. 

It’d be great if HIV cure would be discovered. The British man said that his blood test was taken two weeks ago and the virus couldn't be found. For him, it’s a massive achievement if it’s indeed a cure. 

This therapy aimed to clear the system of all HIV viruses. As mentioned earlier, the treatment includes even those dormant ones. Scientists working on this cure said that the treatment worked in the laboratory and they’re positive that it’ll work in humans. However, they admitted that this discovery is still a long way from the actual HIV cure. 

The medical tests will still continue for the next five years. At the moment, the scientists don’t recommend patients with HIV to cease from taking ART (anti-retroviral therapies). 

There’s only one person who has ever been cured of the disease. This patient received a stem cell transplant in 2008 from a patient who’s naturally immune to HIV. 

Currently, a drug that can cure HIV isn't available yet. With the results of this study, it looks promising because it doesn't just suppress the virus, but it also eradicates it. 

Top 10 Deadliest Diseases

Our human history is stained with the blood of the people who were killed in the war. However, the human diseases are the world’s biggest killers because they don’t discriminate race. In this post, let’s find out the top 10 deadliest diseases in the world. 

1. Ebola 

http://www.naturalnews.com/gallery/640/Ebola/Ebola-Virus-Word-Shapes.jpg

It’s a rare but deadly disease. An Ebola virus causes Ebola. It can infect humans and primates. The first case was discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, the disease spread sporadically in Africa. 

The natural reservoir host of the virus is still unknown, but researchers believe that it’s animal-borne, and the most likely reservoir are the bats. 

It requires direct contact with blood and body fluids, objects, and infected primates to get the virus. The outbreak in 2014 was considered to be the largest and most complex since the discovery of the disease in 1976. 

The said outbreak was so bad that all flights to those affected countries had been restricted. Health experts used experimental vaccines before they’ve tried on humans. Because of how it infects people, it strikes fear in people worldwide. 

The infection starts as an ordinary infection with common symptoms, such as sore throats, fever, and headaches. If it’s left untreated, it targets the person’s immune system causing blood vessels to explode. It’ll then result in internal and external bleeding. 

But Ebola isn't the only deadly disease in the world. 

2. The Black Death 

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/033/cache/plague-painting_3338_600x450.jpg

The plague began in 1347 when 12 of the trading ships returned from a journey to the Black Sea. It ravaged communities in Europe and changed their economy. Then, it spread to the north and east and affected Scandinavia and Russia. 

It spread from animals to humans through fleas from dying rats. When it infects human, the bacteria suppresses vital organs of the patient. 

Contrary to what others believed, the Black Death wasn’t a disease of poverty. Many wealthy individuals across Europe lost more than half of their members. Some of them became extinct. 

The symptoms included swellings in the groin, neck, and armpits. It also caused dark patches. Patients also experienced coughing of blood. 

Medieval people didn't understand the disease. For them, it came from God. As a result, they responded it with prayers and processions. Modern antibiotics could have combatted the plague. However, there were threats from mutating diseases and becoming immune to the effects of antibiotics. 

When the disease subsided in the 1350s, it already killed 60 percent of the European population. Per year, it still affects up to 2,000 people. Most of the cases are in sub-Saharan Africa. 

3. Smallpox 

http://carrington.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/small-pox-770x392.png

Although smallpox has already been eradicated worldwide because of a global immunization campaign, this disease was once a deadly disease that affected the human population for thousands of years. 

For research purposes, samples of the virus are kept. But it has led to concerns that this disease could be used as a biological warfare agent. 

Even if the illness has been eradicated, there’s still no cure for it. There’s a vaccine that can prevent it. However, the risks of the side effects are too high to give it as a routine vaccination for people who are at low risk of exposure to the virus. 

After you’ve infected, the symptoms will only appear within 12 to 14 days. During the incubation period, you’ll look healthy. But you can’t infect others yet. After that period, however, you’ll develop symptoms, like fever, headache, severe back pain, fatigue, and vomiting. 

A few days later, you’ll develop red spot appearing on your face, forearms and your trunk. This infection is caused by the variola virus, which can be transmitted from person to person or via contaminated items. 

4. HIV/AIDS 

http://www.avert.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_scale_style_780/public/field/image/howyougetHIV.png?itok=p2Ir99kn

The HIV/AIDS epidemic appeared out of thin air. It was first reported in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report said that five young healthy gay men from LA were suffering from a lung infection. 

But, within a few days, doctors from New York, San Francisco and other parts of the US called the CDC to report about similar cases. By the end of 1981, the CDC reported 270 cases of gay men with severe immune deficiency. Out of 270 cases, 121 of them died. 

At that time, scientists weren't sure what infecting these healthy gay men. So, gays were discriminated against. Every day, more cases were reported. It was in 1982 that the CDC first used the word AIDS. 

In the next few years, HIV/AIDS organizations were growing to find the mode of transmission and know more about how to fight it. Since then, scientists discovered that the disease was transmitted through bodily fluids. 

There’s still no cure yet for HIV/AIDS. However, some drugs can help in managing the disease. There are 75 million people with HIV worldwide. And 36 million of them died. In 2012 alone, 1.6 million people died of this disease. 

Before, this disease was considered a death sentence. But it’s no longer the case today because there are medicines that allow patients to live normal, healthy lives. 

5. Yellow Fever 

http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2015September/yellow-fever-650-x-350_093015022058.jpg

It’s an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. Mosquitoes transmit yellow fever. The yellow in the name represents jaundice affecting some patients. The symptoms will include fever, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. When a patient is infected with the virus, you’ll develop severe symptoms. Half of those patients died within 7 to 10 days. 

This disease isn't common in the US, but it’s endemic in Africa, Central, and South America. In 2006, the Yellow Fever Initiative was launched. Since then, there’s significant progress in fighting against the disease in West Africa. More than 105 million people in this area were vaccinated. During 2015, there were no reports of outbreaks of yellow fever. 

A vaccine can prevent yellow fever. The good thing is that it’s safe and affordable. A single dose of vaccine can offer long-term protection against the disease. That said, a booster isn't needed. 

Furthermore, survival rates can be increased through a proper supportive treatment in hospitals. Currently, there’s no anti-drug for this disease. 

6. Tuberculosis 

http://lagosmums.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tuberculosis.jpg

It’s an infectious disease that affects the lungs. In 2012, the CDC reported that 1.3 million died from this disease. And 8.6 million are falling ill. 

The causative agent of TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s spread through the air when an infected person coughs, spits, laughs and talks. 

Even though it’s contagious, you can’t easily catch the bacteria. Patients with this condition who received appropriate treatment for two weeks are no longer considered as contagious. 

What’s more terrifying is that some strains of the bacterium have become resistant to drugs. 

7. Cholera 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Adult_cholera_patient.jpg

It’s another deadly infectious disease that causes patients to experience severe watery diarrhea. If it’s left untreated, it can lead to dehydration and death. The primary cause of this disease is eating food or drinking water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. 

This disease was once prevalent in the US in the 1800s. It was before modern sewage treatment systems eradicated the spread of contaminated water. Because of the current treatment system, only 10 cases of this disease are reported in the US each year. And half of those cases are obtained abroad. 

8. Malaria https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Symptoms_of_Malaria.png

It was first identified in 1880. At that time, scientists considered this disease as a result of a parasitic infection. Malaria was taken from an Italian word malaria, which means bad air. This disease is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are mostly active at dusk and dawn. 

In 2013, an estimated 198 millions cases of this disease were reported, and 584,000 of them are dead. This disease occurs mostly in subtropical and poor areas of the world, like the Philippines. Although malaria has been eliminated from the US in the 1950s, the mosquitoes that carry it remain. That is, it can still be a risk of reintroduction. 

9. Spanish Flu  

https://www.eyeonspain.com/userfiles/image/mac75/Spanish-Flu-notice.jpeg

The Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 to 1919 was the deadliest in modern history. It infected 500 million people in the world. During the pandemic, there were 675,000 Americans who died. It was first observed in Europe, the US and some countries in Asia before it spread around the world. 

Most of the flu victims were young, healthy adults. At that time, effective drugs and vaccines were nowhere to be found. 

It was only in 1919 that the pandemic came to an end. 

10. Meningitis 

http://image.slidesharecdn.com/meningitisppt-140419230911-phpapp02/95/meningitis-ppt-16-638.jpg?cb=1397949002

It’s a rare infection affecting the delicate membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. For bacterial meningitis, this disease can be deadly. It’s also contagious. Viral meningitis, on the other, is less severe. Most patients can easily recover without specific therapy. Fungal meningitis is also rare, and it only affects patients with weakened immune systems. 

Meningitis is caused by bacteria, virus or fungi. Among the three types of meningitis, the most serious is bacterial meningitis that requires immediate medical attention. It’s also the type that’s deadly. A patient can die within hours. If not, he’ll suffer from permanent damage to the brain.

Buy Modafinil Online: Why Use This Smart Drug?

Modafinil is a cognitive enhancer. It’s not an illegal drug. It works like caffeine, but it doesn't cause agitation. Modafinil, per se, is a drug that can help you reach your potential. 

However, you shouldn't consider it as a wonder drug that will make you a genius. Rather, you may safely use the term “smart drug.” What’s more is that you can buy modafinil online at a very affordable price. 

What is modafinil? 

Originally, this smart drug was used or developed as a treatment for several medical conditions. It can help you function, despite having sleep-related issues. That said, you may use it as a way to maintain a healthy sleep cycle. 

The first time I took it, I experienced an improved level of my daytime alertness, even if I only have a few hours of sleep. 

I also found that my focus was improved, and it made me more goal-oriented while working on something. With that in mind, writing, reading and performing several difficult technical analysis have become less straining for me. My attention span has also increased. 

Improvement in Mental Performance

In the case of sleep deprivation, this smart drug is your solution. That’s why it is ideal for those who are working at night. 

Even if you’re not sleep-deprived, it’ll still offer a positive effect on you. 

Is it safe for children? 

This smart drug may improve focus and attention in adults. However, I don’t recommend it for use in children. 

How much dose to take? 

I took 200 mg of it in the morning. But you can take it anytime of the day whenever you need to improve your alertness. 

I haven't tried taking it at night. But some are using it at night when they’re exhausted and still have stuff to do. 

Are there risks involved? 

The risks and side effects of modafinil are low to non-existent. However, you should still check with your doctor to know whether it’s safe for you to use it, especially if you have a chronic condition. 

What’s great about it is that it’s not addictive, like narcotics or caffeine. So, there’s no street value for it. It may promote alertness, but it’s not stimulating. You can still sleep after taking it. But because of its wakefulness effect, you won’t want to. 

However, every person is different. That said, you ought to experiment it first on how it’ll affect your performance. This smart drug has a half-life of up to 15 hours. You may or may not have a problem falling asleep. 

I used this drug to increase my overall performance during the day. It has been particularly helpful for me after having a less sleep. 

What are the benefits of using it? 

Based on my experience, modafinil increased by motivation and enthusiasm to work harder and complete all tasks I need. It also improved by energy levels, despite the insufficient amount of sleep. Furthermore, this smart drug improved my confidence in interacting with others. 

Because of its alertness effect, it decreases my being a procrastinator. I found that it was difficult not to do anything. I had more energy when tackling tough projects. 

Where to buy modafinil online? 

I got mine at Afinil Express, which offers genuine Modafinil pills. Its delivery was pretty fast. 

What do you think of modafinil? Have you tried it yet? Where did you obtain it?

10 Major Diseases in the Philippines

Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates started categorizing diseases scientifically. It continues to modern times. In this post, let’s talk about the ten major diseases that affect Filipinos. 

1. Heart Disease 

It’s the leading cause of death, not just in the Philippines, but also in other parts of the world. In fact, more than half of all deaths in the world is the result of heart disease. 

Heart disease doesn't mean one condition. Rather, it’s used to describe several conditions. Most of them are related to plaque buildup in the arterial walls. When there’s a buildup of plaque, the arteries will narrow, thereby, creating a risk of stroke or heart attack. 

To protect your heart, you need to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. You also need to change your lifestyle and modify your diet. When it comes to food, the best way to prevent this major disease is to avoid salt, total fat, refined sugars, cholesterol and saturated fats. Instead, opt for more fruits and vegetables. 

It’s also ideal that you stop smoking and avoid alcohol intake. Then, you must take steps to reduce your stress levels. You may also wish to enroll in a stress management program. 

2. Cancer 

It’s a group of diseases that involve the spread of abnormal cells. If it’s not controlled, it can result in cell death. 

You can develop cancer. However, the risk of cancer increases with age. Some people have higher for lower risk because of their exposure to carcinogens or genes. 

One of the most common types of cancer is lung cancer. 

In men, the leading causes of death from malignant cells are lung, prostate, colon/rectum, pancreas, liver, leukemia, esophagus, urinary bladder, non-bodkin lymphoma, kidney and renal pelvis. 

For females, the leading causes of death from cancer will include lung, breast, colon/rectum, pancreas, ovary, leukemia, uterine corpus, liver, non-Hodgkin, and brain. 

Most types of cancer can be prevented. For instance, in lung cancer, you can avoid it by avoiding first-hand and second-hand smoking. 

Other types of cancer a related to obesity and having poor nutrition. Some cancer can be prevented through vaccinations, antibiotic changes, and behavioral changes. 

It’s also vital to undergo screening tests to detect malignant tumors early before the symptoms would even appear. When cancer is detected early, it will result in better outcomes. It also decreases chances of invasive treatment. 

Because early detection can improve outcome, everyone is encouraged to perform personal examinations. 

3. Respiratory Disease 

The most common is the chronic lower respiratory disease, which is a collection of diseases in the lungs that cause blockage and breathing problems. The signs and symptoms of this disease will include breathlessness, persistent cough, and frequent chest infections. 

To prevent lower respiratory disease, you need to avoid smoking. However, it’s not the only factor that increases your chances of suffering from it. You also need to prevent exposure to air pollutants at home or in the workplace. It’s also ideal that you avoid chemical fumes and dust. 

Genes and respiratory infections may also play a significant role. 

4. Injuries

They can happen to anyone. These are unintentional injuries that cause death for people ages one to 44. Although accidents can’t be prevented, there are ways to reduce your risk of accidental death or injury. 

One of them is to focus on road safety. That is, you need to wear a seatbelt when driving. You should also avoid driving when you’re intoxicated. 

5. Stroke 

http://www.ozonetherapymalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/ozone-therapy-to-prevent-stroke.jpg

It’s a cerebrovascular disease that develops as a result of the lack of problems in the blood vessels that supply the brain. Each year, thousands of people in the Philippines have a stroke. 

The risk of stroke increases with age. However, with the current lifestyle, people who have been hospitalized for a stroke are getting younger. Some are younger than 65 years. 

When it comes to stroke, each second counts. You need fast treatment to reduce brain damage. 

To prevent stroke, you should lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You should also avoid smoking. Having an unhealthy lifestyle and some medical conditions will also increase your risk for stroke. 

There are different ways to prevent stroke. One of them is to eat a healthy diet. It’s also vital that you maintain a healthy weight by getting sufficient amount of exercise. Then, limit your alcohol intake and manage your cholesterol levels. 

To learn more about how you can prevent or reduce your risk of stroke, you should talk to your doctor. 

6. Diabetes

By 2030, it’s estimated that at least six million Filipinos will have diabetes. Yes, our country is keeping with the top 10 nations with this major disease. In 2012 alone, deaths caused by diabetes amounted to 33 deaths per 100,000 deaths. 

This disease can cause a series of severe health complications, such as kidney failure, heart disease, and blindness. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is now as IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The other kind is type 2 or commonly known as NIDDM (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). 

Warning signs symptoms of this condition would include frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, changes in vision, feeling tired most of the time, dry skin and more infections than before. 

The good thing is that diabetes can be prevented. To reduce your risk for this disease, you need to change your lifestyle and increase your physical activity. 

7. Tuberculosis

http://www.healthtipsever.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/tuberculosis-cartoon.png

It’s still a threat here in the Philippines compared to other parts of the world. In fact, our country ranks number 34 out of those 200 countries. According to the latest report, 63 Filipinos died of TB per year. 

Even though the DOH is aggressive in spreading awareness of this disease, many Filipinos are still suffering from it because they don’t have enough money to undergo a medical checkup. 

Most of them simply shrug off a simple cough with fever. What they don’t realize is that the symptom may already indicate tuberculosis. 

Thus, it’s vital to have a medical checkup each time you have a cough that lasts more than three days. 

8. Kidney disease

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/83/e7/f9/83e7f9ac19f7759432110acc1634b118.jpg

Nephritis and nephrosis are just two of the kidney diseases or disorders that can cause several complications. Because of these disorders, waste from your blood will remain in your body and cause other health problems. 

This major disease is widespread and very costly. Unfortunately, understanding this disease is extremely low. Those with kidney disease would only realize that they have damaged kidneys when their condition has become severe or in the later stage. 

The symptoms you should watch out for would include appetite loss, headaches, dry skin, nausea and without loss without trying. 

When your kidney disease has become severe, you’ll experience the following symptoms: 

• Bone pain
• Abnormally pale or dark skin
• Drowsiness 
• Muscle twitching
• Easy bruising
• Breath odour
• Amenorrhea
• Shortness of breath 
• Sleep problems

The good thing is that a kidney disease can be prevented by avoiding alcohol intake and limit non-prescription pain relievers. It’s also ideal that you maintain a healthy weight and quit smoking. 

9. Asthma 

In the Philippines, nearly 20 Filipinos died of this disease per 100,000 people. Our country is ranked number 24 in the rate of death as a result of this disease. 

Allergy triggers cause asthma attack to a lot of Filipinos. Unfortunately, most of these asthma sufferers don’t take the right medication and treatment. As a result, the majority of them died from it. 

Some people also thought that asthma could be easily outgrown. Others consider it as a mild disease that doesn't kill. As a result, they don’t seek medical treatment for it. They also become reliant on nebulizers. 

But without seeking the right medical treatment, their asthma will never be treated or relieved. 

10. Inherited disease 

This one can’t be prevented unless you take out the gene that causes an abnormality. One good example of an inherited disease is Down’s syndrome. Some patients with this abnormality would not last long. However, because of medical advancements, patients can now live longer.