How much does viral load need to fall to halve HIV transmission risk?

The partners in Prevention study of acyclovir as an HIV prevention measure showed that an average viral load reduction of .74 log is needed in order to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by 50%. The has important implications for future studies of HIV treatment as prevention.

This study though scant in data really hits the nail on the head. Microbicides, barrier protection for women, pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral drugs for those having unprotected sex have by and large failed as a preventative measure. Condoms and circumcision although successful are not particularly appealing to men having sex. HIV treatment as Prevention is the best way we believe of preventing the spread of HIV, especially in resource poor countries. In fact mathematical models in some provinces in Africa have shown that treating everyone could come close to stopping the spread of the infection in approximately 7/1/2 years. With no HIV preventative vaccine in sight, treatment as prevention may be the way to go.

The Schick Foundation Attended The AIDS Walk

The AIDS Walk

Board members Peter Schick and Arton Kabashi attended APLA's AIDS Walk on October l8,2009..This was the 25th anniversary of the AIDS walk. APLA has been the most successful fund raising organization mainly thru APLA and its generous sponsors such as MACY's. The day started out with a breakfast that Chairman of the Board Peter Schick attended. He listened to talks by various government and APLA officials including the Mayor of Los Angeles Antonoio Villaigarosa. This was followed by a celebrity introduction before a throng of at least 30,000 people, who amongst them were high school kids, collage kids, and people from all walks of life.

The goal of the 6.2 mile walk was 30,000 people walk to help 60,000 people infected with HIV in LA county.

People especially young people who are complacent about HIV in the USA, remember, at least 50,000 people are still infected in the USA each year, and an equivalent amount of people die of HIV/AIDS. There are at least 300,000 people walking around in the USA who are infected with the HIV virus and do not know it. We say get tested and if you test positive after a short period of time of counseling and talking to your partners or family start antiretroviral treatment. We have been advocating this for a long time The antiretroviral drugs available, are easier to take and have fewer side effects. Unchecked HIV is becoming a major health problem in this country being the cause of Cardiovascular problems, Liver problems, Kidney problems, and other organ system problems.

Our foundation wishes APLA well in the coming year, but if the AIDS walk is any indication they are in for a very good year.

The foundation is ready to present its second protocol and procedure for getting alpha sun for use as a supplement to HIV+ patients virologically suppressed who are on minimal antiretroviral medications. The pilot study being sent to the FDA will treat 30 patients stratified by CD4 counts of 200-350, 350-500, and those patients who have CD4 counts greater than 500. 1/2 of the patients will get standard antiretroviral therapy, and one half will get standard plus alpha sun. The markers of HIV infection will be followed monthly for 6 months. The markers that will be followed are CD 4, CD 4%, CD 8, CD 8%, D-Dimer, Viral load by PCR, pro-viral DNA, LPS, CRP, and viral culture. Based on the experience with patient zero who is HIV+ and has taken blue green algae for over 3 months there is no toxicity, improvement in some markers of HIV infection, and also improvement in some lab values which are consistent with side effect of antiretroviral treatment.

The Schick Foundation is ready to begin starting its postoperative inguinal hernia study using alpha sun, a bone marrow stem cell stimulator that increases circulating stem cells from the bone marrow 30% after daily ingestion of l000 mg of the algae (AFA).

The study is a 3 month study which will compare 30 patients who have inguinal hernia surgery and postoperatively 1/2 will receive alpha sun, and 1/2 will get standard post operative pain medications. In the alpha sun arm (AFA) we are looking at the markers, faster healing of the postoperative incision, fewer infections, less requirement for pain medications, and faster return to work. An abstract of the protocols has been submitted to the Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Meeting for January 2009 in Santa Barbara California.

October Newsletter 2009

Board members Peter Schick and Arton Kabashi attended APLA's AIDS Walk on October l8,2009..This was the 25th anniversary of the AIDS walk. APLA has been the most successful fund raising organization mainly thru APLA and its generous sponsors such as MACY's. The day started out with a breakfast that Chairman of the Board Peter Schick attended. He listened to talks by various government and APLA officials including the Mayor of Los Angeles Antonoio Villaigarosa.

This was followed by a celebrity introduction before a throng of at least 30,000 people, who amongst them were high school kids, collage kids, and people from all walks of life.
The goal of the 6.2 mile walk was 30,000 people walk to help 60,000 people infected with HIV in LA county. People especially young people who are complacent about HIV in the USA, remember, at least 50,000 people are still infected in the USA each year, and an equivalent amount of people die of HIV/AIDS.

There are at least 300,000 people walking around in the USA who are infected with the HIV virus and do not know it. We say get tested and if you test positive after a short period of time of counseling and talking to your partners or family start antiretroviral treatment. We have been advocating this for a long time The antiretroviral drugs available, are easier to take and have fewer side effects. Unchecked HIV is becoming a major health problem in this country being the cause of Cardiovascular problems, Liver problems, Kidney problems, and other organ system problems.

Our foundation wishes APLA well in the coming year, but if the AIDS walk is any indication they are in for a very good year.


The foundation is ready to present its second protocol and procedure for getting alpha sun for use as a supplement to HIV+ patients virologically suppressed who are on minimal antiretroviral medications. The pilot study being sent to the FDA will treat 30 patients stratified by CD4 counts of 200-350, 350-500, and those patients who have CD4 counts greater than 500. 1/2 of the patients will get standard antiretroviral therapy, and one half will get standard plus alpha sun. The markers of HIV infection will be followed monthly for 6 months. The markers that will be followed are CD 4, CD 4%, CD 8, CD 8%, D-Dimer, Viral load by PCR, pro-viral DNA, LPS, CRP, and viral culture. Based on the experience with patient zero who is HIV+ and has taken blue green algae for over 3 months there is no toxicity, improvement in some markers of HIV infection, and also improvement in some lab values which are consistent with side effect of antiretroviral treatment.


The Schick Foundation is ready to begin starting its postoperative inguinal hernia study using alpha sun, a bone marrow stem cell stimulator that increases circulating stem cells from the bone marrow 30% after daily ingestion of l000 mg of the algae (AFA).

The study is a 3 month study which will compare 30 patients who have inguinal hernia surgery and postoperatively 1/2 will receive alpha sun, and 1/2 will get standard post operative pain medications. In the alpha sun arm (AFA) we are looking at the markers, faster healing of the postoperative incision, fewer infections, less requirement for pain medications, and faster return to work. An abstract of the protocols has been submitted to the Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Meeting for January 2009 in Santa Barbara California.

Treatments and findings

Abacavir impairs endothelial function, possible explaining increased heart attack risk AIDS Sept. 24,2009

Abacavir a NRTI has been shown to impair endothelial function, providing a possible explanation for the drugs association with an increased risk of heart attack.

Abacavir toxicity has been the subject of intense debate whether it does or does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

What is interesting is that we are studying Blue Green Algae, or Alpha Sun, a bone marrow stem cell stimulator which decreases inflammation in many settings. Endothelial function impairment is caused by inflammation. It seems logical that Blue green algae, as proposed as a possible solution to toxicity for HIV medication, could be used in Abacavir patients not only to stop the virus, but to decrease the side effects namely cardiovascular disease caused by inflammation of the endothelium of the arteries.

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Breast Tenderness After Starting Combination Hormone Therapy May Indicate Higher Breast Cancer Risk. Archives of Internal Medicine October 14,2009


Postmenopausal women who experience new-onset breast tenderness after starting combination hormone therapy may face increased risk for breast cancer,. Researchers examined data on l7,000 Women's Health Initiative participants who were randomized to receive estrogen-progestin or placebo daily. In the hormone group, women with new onset breast tenderness t 12 months were about 50% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer during 5.5 years follow-up, relative to those without tenderness. There was no such association among placebo recipients.

The sensitivity and specificity of breast tenderness for predicting cancer risk were 41% and 64% respectively--which, the authors say, are similar to values for the Gail model.

The authors note that hormone-induced elevations in serum estrone and estrone sulfate might lead to increased breast tenderness and heightened rsk. They futher state that these findings should be considered by prescribing physicians to inform decisons regarding continued combined hormone therapy.

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Topical treatment for pre-cancerous anal cell changes safe and moderately effective Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome




A course of treatment with topical trichloracetic acid appears to provide a safe and effective treatment for pre-cancerous cell change in the anus, US investigators report in a study published in the online edition of the Journal of acquired Immune deficiency syndromes. The treatment was equally effective in HIV-Positive and HIV-negative men.

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Food insecurity increases risk of death for patients taking HIV-treatment in Canada J.Acq. Def. Synd. October 2009

Patients taking HIV treatment in Vancouver, Canada, who are food insecure have an increased risk of death, researchers report in the online edition of the Journal of acquired Immune deficiency Syndromes. The risk of death was especially hligh for food=insecure individuals who were of low weight.

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CD 4-cell-count below 400 increases cancer risk for patients with HIV October 9th Lancet Oncology

Maintaining a CD 4 cell count above 500 will protect HIV+ patients from a range of AIDS-defining and non-AIDS defining caners. this study was performed by french investigators and is presented in a paper published online on October 8th in The lancet Oncology.

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FDA committee recommends approval of maraviroc for first-line treatment in US


People with HIV in the United States are likely to get a further option for use in first-line drug combinations within the next few weeks, following the decision by the US FDA administration antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee to recommend marketing approval for maraviroc, the CCR5 inhibitor. CCR5 inhibitors work at the entry receptor level of the virus, T-cell interface.

Alpha sun with the preliminary finding that it may block entry of the virus into the T-cell may act in the same way.
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Four million now receiving Antiretroviral therapy, 6 million still in need. United Nations Agencies.


Although 4 million people are now receiving antiretroviral therapy in low and middle income countries, another 5 million adults and children lack access to treatment in low and middle income countries.