There are special events happening in the Community Center each week.  This week's featured event is listed below.   For an in-depth view of other events, just click GO.

Wednesday, May 11, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Community Center Presents:

MEET A DESERT ANIMAL

Please join us in the D.A.P. Community Center for this wonderful presentation, courtesy of our friends at The Living Desert. You will meet and learn about one of our animal friends from the desert: a bearded dragon. Lunch will be provided after the presentation. Please RSVP to Ed at 760.323.2118, ext. 295, or click to email. 

Don't be scared! 

HIV and hepatitis C treatment

A small study has shown that twice-weekly doses of pegylated interferon modestly improve the response rate to hepatitis C treatment in co-infected patients. Liver disease caused by hepatitis C is a leading cause of serious illness and death for people who are HIV-positive and co-infected with hepatitis C. Current treatment for hepatitis C consists of weekly injections with pegylated interferon, and a daily dose of ribavirin. However, only a minority of patients with chronic co-infection respond to this treatment. Suppression of hepatitis C viral load during the first few weeks of treatment predicts longer-term successful treatment outcomes. Researchers wanted to see if boosting levels of pegylated interferon during the first four weeks of therapy improved longer-term response rates. Their study involved 19 patients, who were randomized to receive standard treatment, or the experimental dosing schedule. Hepatitis C viral load was more likely to be suppressed to undetectable levels during the first few weeks of therapy among the patients who received additional doses of pegylated interferon. Overall, 57% of patients who received the experimental treatment were cured of hepatitis C compared to 50% of individuals who received the standard therapy. The provision of additional doses of the drug particularly boosted response rates in African Americans, who often respond poorly to hepatitis C therapy. (rv)

HIV and heart problems

People with untreated HIV infection have an increased risk of heart failure, according to new US research. The study involved just under 9000 people, 28% of whom were HIV-positive. People with HIV were almost twice as likely to experience heart failure as HIV-negative patients.  People with an undetectable viral load had a much lower risk of heart failure than individuals whose viral load was detectable. Doctors who conducted the study stressed the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease in routine HIV care. These include smoking, blood pressure, weight, levels of blood fats, and exercise. Separate research has found that the volume of fat around the heart is linked to hardening of the arteries, a traditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The study involved over 800 patients who had experience of HIV treatment. CT scans (computerised tomography) were used to measure the volume of fat around the heart. Most of the patients were men and they had been living with HIV for an average of 15 years. Many - 61% - had lipodystrophy, a type of body fat changes that are a side-effect of some older anti-HIV drugs. Higher volumes of fat around the heart were linked with a marker of hardening of the arteries. Risk factors included a lower CD4 cell count and lipodystrophy that involved fat gain. Consult with your HIV or personal physician with respect to your own health. (rv)

"From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems, and fill their own needs with dignity and strength."

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