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Navigating Experimental Treatments

An experimental treatment is one that may or may not be sanctioned by government bodies such as the FDA. It may be believed to work and early studies may say it works, but that does not mean this is the case. As you take into consideration the wide range of treatments for any illness or disease you may have, you may come across an experimental treatment and be wondering what it is, how it works and how it can work for you. Should you use it?

Experimental treatments need to be viewed as the risks they are. While it may seem like these procedures are the best route to cure a condition, for example, it may not be that easy. If you are considering any type of treatment like this, your first step needs to be to focus on the actual condition and other, safer options if available. If a safer, proven choice is available, that may be the best route to take.

For many people who are considering experimental treatments, this is not the case. There may not be another solution. In these situations, individuals need to weigh all of the risks they may be dealing with, from the potential side effects to the risks of further damage or illness. In addition to this, most people need to take into consideration the likelihood that such a program can be helpful. It is not always the case that these procedures will work and therefore an alternative treatment may be necessary to consider.

Talk to several doctors. Find out from a variety of people what the positive and the negative about the experimental treatment is. It is only then that you can make a positive decision about whether or not you should move into this procedure.

The more information you have, the better of a decision you can make. For most people, this means spending time weighing all of the options and considering all of the facts. If you are not sure, ask doctors and family members for input. Sometimes seeing the options from another light provides more or better insight.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: ,

Robotic Surgery Medical Advancements

When it comes to the many medical advancements occurring in science today, one of those that some people are a bit worried about is the prospect robots performing surgery. However, robotic surgical procedures have been around for some time. Simple machines have been used in this industry since the 1980′s in fact. However, new technology is allowing for more procedures to be performed by robotic machines instead of the human hand.

There are now more procedures than ever that involve the use of robots including cardiothoracic surgical procedures, orthopedic surgeries, urology procedures, cardiology and gastrointestinal surgical procedures. These machines work in various ways. Most will work as arms for the physician who is able to control the robots behind a screen. The surgeon is still able to control the actions occurring during the procedure and can often perform the more difficult and repetitive tasks at a better level.

There are many benefits to the process of using robots over humans for some procedures. For example, robots do not tired as quickly as humans do, which means they can work longer without becoming tired and therefore finding it more difficult to perform. Robots offer more precision and can handle tasks that require very intricate movements. Robots are able to be more precise, and at times, can handle some procedures without the risk of human mistake.

When you look at the bigger picture, you may notice that there are good things about the use of robots for these types of procedures. Though a person still needs to operate the machine and that person needs to perform properly on the job, the robot adds a layer of added protection and at times better results. It is because of this that robots are becoming more and more present in surgical procedures today. As advancements in medical procedures continue to come in, this may mean more robotic use than ever.

Filed Under: General, Health Tagged With: , ,

Experimental Alzheimer’s Treatments

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most devastating of all diseases because it robs a person of the person’s memory, self awareness and even physical abilities. It progressively gets worse and it is not able to be cured. However, there are new treatments on the horizon that offer promise. New programs are being developed to help tame the condition and even to push off the onset or the later stages of this condition.

One of those treatment options is the use of gene therapy. This process is a process in which the cells of a body are genetically modified and then injected into the skill cells of those who have this condition. By doing this, it helps to encourage the body to become healthier, replacing those cells that have otherwise become infected.

New drugs are also available in experimental form. Some of these medications allow patients who have milder forms of Alzheimer’s to slow the development and progression of the condition. One of those medications is Dimebon. Those who have taken it have been able to see improvements in symptoms and overall health as a result.

Another type of experimental treatment for this condition is not actually a treatment, but rather a detection tool that can help doctors to understand when to begin treating patients. Early treatment can slow progression. Brain scans are becoming more readily available for just this. Though the technology is still experimental, doctors are using it to help see differences in the brains of those who have Alzheimer’s and those that do not.

Stay up to date on the vast number of treatments out there. Find out how these treatments can actually help your situation. Your doctor can help you.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

Experimental Weight Loss Treatments

Experimental weight loss treatments may be able to help you to drop those pounds you have been struggling with. There are countless weight loss fad diets out there and those diets range widely. These are not the experimental treatments available, though. Those diets that are backed by science and that have proven results are the ones to follow. However, doctors and scientists are continuously looking for weight loss treatment options beyond conventional medicine.

Perhaps the most common type of experimental treatment for weight loss is a weight loss pill. There are a variety of these on the market, including products such as Taranabant. These products promise to help you to lose weight, but are not FDA approved just yet. This particular option is designed to help you to increase your energy level and to decrease your appetite, therefore helping you to lose weight.

Another experimental treatment is weight loss surgery. Though some procedures are FDA approved and widely used in patients, others have not gotten to that point just yet. Gastric bypass is one of the most common options out there. Newer procedures, such as transoral gastroplasty is another option. Some people are able to lose as much as 40 percent of their body weight in this process after just a year. However, this procedure is not yet FDA approve for wide use.

If you are like many people, you do fall for those fad diets that promise to help you to lose weight. However, traditional medicine states that in order for a person to lose weight, the amount of food going into the body needs to be less than what the body’s need for energy is. That way, the body is able to tap into reserves of stored fat for energy.

The use of experimental weight loss treatments is likely to continue for some time. There are likely to be new programs occurring on a regular basis. However, do your research. Find out what these programs are and how they work before you actually begin using them or investing in them. That plays a significant role in your health.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

Should You Use Experimental Drugs?

Experimental drugs are those that are just under development. Studies are not yet complete to provide a full evaluation of the success and function of the drugs. The risks may not be fully known just yet. In addition to this, these drugs are not yet FDA approved, which may mean that you are unprotected if the drugs lead to complications to your treatment. With all of these concerns, you may be wondering why you should consider the use of experimental drugs at all.

These drugs are on the cutting edge. The drugs may be able to provide you with new treatment and solutions for your condition that other drugs cannot. More so, these drugs are often able to provide you with the resources you need that you cannot get from conventional treatments. Nevertheless, you should know what the risks of the condition are so that you can get appropriately prepared for them.

Before considering any type of experimental treatment, it is best to start with a treatment plan from your doctor. Discuss your needs and desires to use the medication as a treatment for your condition. Then, work with your doctor to determine if the risks are worthwhile in your unique situation. In some cases, these risks may be very minimal if not nonexistent. In other cases, the experimental drugs could prove to be more harmful than beneficial to you.

Making the decision to use these drugs is one only you can make. However, for many people who may not have other options, this treatment option can be incredibly beneficial. Take into consideration your needs and your overall health. Find out what the true benefits of the drug can be to you and then decide based on those factors if the drug is the best choice for your unique situation. Only you can decide to use them, but research your options.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

ARIC, Inc. Copyright Statement

PAGE DESIGN/GRAPHICS — The page designs, elements, and graphics used in ARIC’s AIDS Medical Encyclopedia website are © copyright 1998 by ARIC, Inc., and are property of ARIC, Inc. Use of page designs, elements, and graphics is prohibited without written permission. Contact information on ARIC appears below, at the end of this document.

CONTENT — The majority of the informational materials used in the ARIC’s AIDS Medical Encyclopedia website originate from sources other than ARIC, Inc. Wherever possible, these sources are specifically named and a hyperlink to their website (if one exists) is provided in notes accompanying each page (or section).

Except where specifically noted as being original works by ARIC staff, materials held on this site should be considered the sole legal property of their copyright holders: the original publishers, writers, and/or artists (as appropriate). Persons wishing to re-use or re-distribute these materials, in any form or for any reason, must contact the copyright holders and obtain their permission to do so before they proceed.

In some cases, informational materials held on this site may be the work of members of ARIC’s staff. For example, except where specifically noted, all entries in this site’s Glossary of AIDS Medical Terms are written by ARIC staff members; these entries are updated versions of the entries contained in our group’s primary print publication, ARIC’s AIDS Medical Glossary. Please note: these works by ARIC staff are © copyright by ARIC, Inc. and are the property of ARIC, Inc.

Use of Encyclopedia Materials

The sources of the materials held here are largely AIDS information services and publications that have open policies on re-use and re-distribution of their materials. In general, those policies hold users to the following conditions:

  • the use should not be for profit or commercial gain of any kind;
  • full contact information for the original source publication/group should be provided;
  • the information should not be edited or altered.

ARIC also asks anyone who wishes to use the materials held on this site to observe the following additional conditions:

  • the original publishers/authors should be notified of your use of their materials (Note: it is not necessary to notify ARIC as long as the use is not for profit);
  • each page of the materials should contain the following statement:
    Source: AIDS Research Information Center; for more information, call or visit our AIDS Medical Encyclopedia website at:
    [Note: If the information is distributed in electronic form, the website address should be made into a hyperlink to this Encyclopedia website, if possible.]

As long as all of these conditions are met, the use and/or redistribution of materials on this site is allowed. Anyone wishing to use these materials for commercial purposes or for any purpose other than that described above must contact ARIC for written permission. See below for full contact information.Our Use of Materials from Other Groups

Our use of the materials posted to this website is intended to be for informational purposes only, to inform and empower People with HIV. We feel it is important for the lay patient with HIV to very clearly understand the complex processes of HIV infection and disease, and we have chosen these materials because we feel these materials do the best job of accomplishing this difficult goal. We have tried our best to uphold both the letter and spirit of liberal copyright requirements of these organizations by scrupulously acknowledging the author(s) and/or source publication(s) of each item wherever possible, by keeping the information intact wherever possible, and by including a list of links to sources used in the Encyclopedia. We strongly urge and encourage all interested readers to visit and utilize these source organizations and publications by following these links.

We trust that all original publishers of any materials used here will take note of these indications of good faith, and will forego any copyright dispute and allow our continued use of these materials, since this use is not for commercial gain or profit, but for informational purposes only, and is offered for the common benefit of all parties involved. However, if any publisher (or author) feels strong objections to our use of their material in the Encyclopedia, they need only contact ARIC and we will immediately remove their materials from our website.

Contact Information on ARIC

Additional information on ARIC, Inc. beyond that offered on this website is available on the ARIC, Inc. Homesite. Please feel free to visit this site and view the more complete information on ARIC held there. You may feel free to contact us by telephone, FAX, mail or E-mail if you have any additional questions.

AIDS Research Information Center, Inc.
Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

Disclaim

ARIC AIDS Medical Information Services (AMIS)
GENERAL MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

ITEM I. ALL materials published or provided by ARIC, Inc. and its AIDS Medical Information Services (AMIS) are for the purposes of information only! This includes (but is not limited to) information contained in any ARIC public communication in any medium including print, electronic, hypertext, and film, and information given out via mail, E-mail and telephone contacts with ARIC clients and supporters. The information provided by ARIC, Inc. is intended to provide a framework of knowledge within which HIV positive persons, in partnership with their primary care physicians, can begin to build a coherent and effective plan of medical care and treatment for HIV infection and its sequelae. ARIC’s often-stated public mission is “patient empowerment through information;” that is: by providing basic information to People with HIV/AIDS, we hope to empower them to form a partnership with their doctors in making informed decisions about their own personal medical care. We do so because we honestly believe that patients empowered in this manner and cared for by experienced, responsive, and dedicated physicians have the very best chance of long-term survival in HIV infection with the highest possible quality of life. Recent studies have only served to verify and strengthen this belief.

However, information published or provided by ARIC, Inc. is not to be considered medical advice of any kind! ARIC, Inc. is strictly and only a provider of basic factual information on the medical treatment of HIV infection and related medical research. We are not, and do not claim to be, medical authority of any kind!

The state of general medical knowledge of this viral infection changes rapidly! While we make every reasonbable effort to provide medically accurate information, and to have that information independently reviewed for medical accuracy by qualified physicians experienced in the treatment of HIV infection before it is released, the possibility still exists that our information may be outdated! What may be “good” and timely information when we go to press (or upload to our Websites) can become outdated within a very short period of time. We therefore caution all readers to ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR(S) FOR CONFIRMATION AND GUIDANCE before attempting to utilize in any way any medical information found on any of our AIDS medical information websites or within any document posted to any of these websites, and within any public or private communication sent by volunteer staff of ARIC by any means, including telephone, FAX, mail, or E-mail, that are made as part of our AIDS Medical Information Services (AMIS) Hotline service.

As a matter of fact, the same holds true for AIDS medical information gathered from any other source as well: it’s just a good idea, regardless of where the information comes from, to bring it to your doctor(s) and have them confirm it. If your doctor(s) are aware of the information they will be able to confirm if the information is correct. And if they are not aware of the information, then there is certainly nothing to lose (and possibly much to be gained) by making them aware of it.

Responsibility for the PROPER use of the information provided by ARIC and/or its volunteer staff rests entirely and solely with the individual user. Neither ARIC, Inc., nor any of its staff or Board of Directors, nor any person whose work appears in any ARIC publication in any medium, may be held liable for damages of any kind resulting from the inappropriate use/misuse of this information. Such “inappropriate use/misuse” is hereby defined as:

“…any use or action of a medical nature that is NOT undertaken in cooperation with, upon the expressed advice or agreement of, and/or under the direct supervision of, an appropriately trained, fully qualified and legally licensed (US) medical practitioner.”

What that means, in English, is this: You cannot hold us liable for injuries you receive as a result of using the information we provide. We require that you bring what you learn at ARIC to your doctor(s). We encourage you, as a patient, to discuss new ideas with, and ask questions of, your doctor(s). When you do that, you become a partner in your medical care with your doctor, and your treatment (and any injury resulting from it) then becomes the doctor’s sole responsibility, as it certainly should be. If you do NOT do that, then you are MISUSING the information we provide, and WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH MISUSE.

In all medical matters, we STRONGLY urge readers to always consult a qualified, licensed medical doctor of your choice, and to follow that doctor’s advice closely. Ideally, you should choose a physician with extensive experience in the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS, and should look upon this person as your friend and ally in the implementation of all medical treatment. A good doctor-patient relationship is essential to successful medical care, especially in a disease like AIDS*.

If, for any reason, your doctor does not agree with the information obtained from ARIC, you should ALWAYS follow your doctor’s advice instead. NEVER attempt to medicate yourself under ANY circumstances. ALWAYS consult a qualified medical doctor on proper medical care for any condition, especially one as complex and changeable as HIV infection. If, for some reason, you do not agree with advice given to you by your doctor, you should by all means seek another opinion from a new and different physician. But you should NEVER attempt to medicate yourself without the guidance and advice of an experienced and qualified physician ! ! !

ITEM II. In addition, it should be remembered that articles about AIDS medical treatments (or any aspect of medical care) appearing in this or any other ARIC publication do not imply endorsement of any medication, therapy, health care provider, or medical theory. By nature, a medical information service such as ARIC must remain neutral as far as personal preferences for one treatment over another are concerned. That neutrality extends to all writers whose articles appear in our publications. This does not mean that ARIC staff members do not have opinions on AIDS medical treatment matters. It simply means that as we publicly present information on AIDS medical care, we always give an even-handed and unbiased account of any and all AIDS medical treatments. ARIC volunteers always strive to fulfill this mandate to the best of their abilities in all public communications.

ITEM III. Finally, comments and/or opinions stated in any and all articles published by ARIC are solely those of their authors, and do not represent ARIC policy or opinions held by ARIC’s Board of Directors. When and where comments or personal opinions appear in ARIC publications, they are always identified as such and are clearly delineated from the body of factual information presented therein. In the few cases where articles appear to be unsigned, the reader may generally assume that the author is an ARIC volunteer, though this may not always be the case, and still should imply nothing whatever about ARIC policy in general or that of any organization whose informational materials appear as part of this or any other ARIC public communication. Likewise, it should further be understood that the appearance of an individual’s name or image in any ARIC publication is not meant to imply anything about the health status and/or sexual preferences of the individual so named or portrayed.
Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

Acronyms

A List of Acronyms and Symbols Commonly Used in AIDS Medicine1
> greater than
< less than
> greater than or equal to
< less than or equal to
a, A “alpha,” the first letter of the Greek alphabet; denotes the first in a series
Ab antibody
ACTG AIDS Clinical Trials Group
ACTU AIDS Clinical Trials Unit
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
ALT alanine aminotransferase (blood test for liver enzymes)
Ag antigen
AP Aerosolized Pentamidine
ASP AIDS Service Provider (also ASO: AIDS Service Organization)
AST aspartate aminotransferase (blood test for liver enzymes)
b , B “beta,” the second letter of the Greek alphabet; denotes the second in a series
BUN blood urea nitrogen; a measure of blood chemistry
CBC Complete Blood Count; a series of tests of blood cell numbers
CBO Community-Based Organization (usually an AIDS service organization)
CBT Community-Based Trial(s) (research funded and run by community hospitals, clinics, or doctors)
cc cubic centimeter, a measure of fluid volume (e.g., a drug solution, blood, etc.)
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CFAR Centers for AIDS Research
CMV Cytomegalovirus
CNS Central Nervous System (the brain and spinal nerve cord)
CPK creatinine phosphokinase (a blood test for measuring pancreatic/hepatic tissue damage)
CPCRA Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS
CSF cerebrospinal fluid  (the fluid which surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord)
cu cm archaic notation for cubic centimeter, a standard volume of liquid (see cc)
cu mm archaic notation for cubic millimeter; a standard volume of blood (see cm 3)
d , D “delta,” the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet; denotes the fourth in a series
DHHS Dept. of Health and Human Services (also HHS)
DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid (primary nucleoprotein)
Dx physician shorthand for Diagnosis
EBV Epstein Barr Virus
ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
et al literally “and others” (implies the existence of additional authors that are usually not listed to preserve space)
FDA Food and Drug Administration
g , G “gamma,” the third letter of the Greek alphabet; denotes the third in a series
GI gastrointestinal (having to do with the stomach, intestines, or the digestive system in general)
g, gm gram (basic metric unit of weight, roughly equal to about 1/30th of an ounce)
Hb hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein in the blood)
Hct hematocrit (measure of the number of cells in a given volume of blood; also name of centrifuge device)
Hgb another way to abbreviate hemoglobin (see above)
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus (virus that causes AIDS)
HPV Human Papilloma Virus
HSV Herpes Simplex Virus
HZV Herpes Zoster Virus (see also VZV)
Hx physician shorthand for History (as in patient history)
IDU Injection Drug User; previously IVDU (IV drug user)
IFN interferon (a chemical with antiviral properties secreted by some types of immune cells)
IM intramuscular (e.g. an injection in the muscle)
IND Investigational New Drug (FDA certification allowing human clinical trials to begin)
IRB Institutional Review Board (committee that oversees/approves clinical research at hospitals/clinics)
ITP Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (a condition of low platelets)
IV intravenous; literally: “in the vein” (e.g. an injection in a vein)
IVIG IntraVenous Immune Globulin (infusion of specific antibodies, used as treatment or preventive)
kg kilogram; 1000 grams, roughly equal to 2.2 lbs. (see gm, above)
KS Kaposi’s Sarcoma (a type of cancer seen in AIDS)
l liter (a basic unit of volume, equal to about 1 quart)
LFT liver function test(s)
LIP Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonitis (children’s lung disease occasionally seen in AIDS patients)
m 1) “Mu,” 12th letter of the Greek alphabet;

2) micron, or micrometer (see below);

3) prefix denoting ‘one millionth-’
mm micrometer (one millionth a meter)
mM microMolar (a pharmacological measure of the concentration of a chemical or drug substance in solution, denoting one microgram per milliliter; see Molar)
M Molar (measure of concentration of a substance in a solution, denoting one (1) gram of substance in one liter of solution; basic unit of concentration in chemistry and physics)
m 1) meter (a basic unit of linear measurement, roughly equal to a yard, or 36″)

2) milli- (a prefix denoting ‘one-thousandth’)
m2 square meter (a unit of area; just as m3[a cubic meter] is a unit of volume)
MAI Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (bacterium causing the disease MAC, see below)
MAC Mycobacterium avium Complex (disease syndrome resulting from infection with MAI, see above)
mcg microgram (1/1,000,000th of a gram, rarely also mg)
MCV Mean Corpuscular Volume (a measure of the number of red blood cells in a given volume of blood)
mg milligram (1/1000th of a gram)
mg/Kg milligram per kilogram (usually of body weight; a pharmacologic measure denoting the dosage of a drug adequate to produce a desired effect
ml milliliter (1/1000th of a liter; see also: mm3)
mm millimeter (1/1000th of a meter)
mm3 cubic millimeter (standard fluid measure of blood or other fluid, equivalent to ml or .10 cc; e.g: a measure of “200 CD4+ T-cells/mm3″ means there are 200 T-4 cells in one cubic millimeter, or one milliliter, of blood)
mRNA messenger RNA (a special form of RNA that carries the genetic code of the active DNA in a living cell from the cell’s nucleus out to cytoplasmic areas where protein is made; there it directs the assembly of proteins in amino acid sequences, according to the genetic sequences in the original DNA strand. Messenger RNA also exists in retroviruses, and indeed is responsible for the creation of viral protein sequences that are used to form viral copies during the process of viral replication in infected cells.)
MTD Maximum Tolerated Dose; the largest dose possible before serious toxicity occurs
NCI National Cancer Institute
NDA New Drug Application (FDA certification that allows new drugs to be marketed under controlled conditions as research continues)
NHL non-Hodgkins Lymphoma  (lymphatic cancer not caused by Hodgkin’s disease; usually B-cell lymphoma)
NIAID National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIH National Institutes of Health
NSAID Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug(s)
OI Opportunistic Infection (infection which takes advantage of suppressed immunity to cause disease)
pa prescription abbreviation(s) (any of a number of different shorthand versions of various prescription instructions, usually of Greek or Latin origin)

NOTE: see How to Read a Prescrption
pcg picogram (a unit of weight in microscience; equal to one-trillionth of a gram)
PCP Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia (AIDS-related lung infection caused by a microparasite)
PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction
PFT pulmonary function test (test of lung function)
PGL Persistent Generalized Lymphadenopathy (chronically swollen lymph nodes)
PHS Public Health Service (also USPHS: US Public Health Service)
PI Principal Investigator (the primary research conducting a clinical trial)
PLWA Person Living With AIDS
PML Progressive Multifocal Leucoencephalopathy (rare fatal viral brain infection)
PWA Person with AIDS
PWHIV Person with HIV (Also: PWA/HIV: Person with HIV/AIDS)
RBC red blood cell  (red corpuscle, the main oxygen-carrying blood cell)
RNA Ribonucleic Acid (a simpler form of DNA, DeoxyriboNucleic Acid; used as the main reproductive molecule only in very primitive viruses, such as HIV)
RT Reverse Transcriptase (reproductive viral enzyme that allows HIV to copy its genetic information from it’s own RNA to the host cell’s DNA)
Rx physician shorthand for Recommendation (or prescription)
SC subcutaneous (beneath the skin, e.g., a subcutaneous injection)
SGOT serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (measure of liver function, see also ALT/AST)
SGPT serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (measure of liver function, see also ALT/AST)
SIV Simian Immunodeficiency Virus  (virus that causes an AIDS-like illness in monkeys)
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease(s)  (any disease transmitted by sexual contact)
Sx physician shorthand for Symptom
TIBC total iron-binding capacity (measure of blood health)
TMP-SMX Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim/Septra) (combination of two broad-spectrum antibiotic drugs)
Tx physician shorthand for Treatment
VZV Varicella (Herpes) Zoster Virus (see also HZV)
WBC white blood cell (also white blood cell count)
Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

Convents

CONVENTIONS USED IN the AIDS MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

The Encyclopedia is divided into four general topic areas and two additional appendixes. This hierarchy is outlined in greater detail in our What is the AIDS Medical Encyclopedia page. We consider the Encyclopedia website to be fairly intuitive to navigate, and the topic area titles listed in the main index and sub-indexes to be reasonably self-explanatory. For more information on how to get the most out of this website, please see our page on How to Use this Web Archive. The website’s general topic areas are further subdivided into a hierarchy of indexes, which eventually lead to single documents on specific individual topics. Within each of these documents, you will find information on the subject from a wide variety of sources, each of which is named. A link is usually provided to the organization’s website, if one exists.

The only convention consistently used throughout the Encyclopedia (aside from the listing of standard citations to outside publications) is that of the hyperlink. For the uninitiated, hyperlinks are interactive links that, when “clicked” by a left mouse button, allow the reader to “jump” to another document containing additional information related to the current topic. The presence of a hyperlink is indicated when the cursor’s shape changes from an arrow to a pointing hand, and by blue boldface highlighting. On this website, hyperlinks will generally transport the reader to documents or sub-indexes within the Encyclopedia website itself, but may sometimes lead to another website or Internet archive.

In some cases, a few links may be inactive (blue bold highlighting, but no response when clicked), or may appear in bold italic font face. These are indications of documents that we have not yet added to the archive, for one reason or another, but should be adding soon. The Encyclopedia website must be considered a work in progress, and will probably remain so due to the rapidly changing nature of AIDS medicine (see below). We ask the reader’s patience while we continue to add new and updated documents to this extensive archive in the future.

The reader should also keep in mind that in some cases, only limited reliable data may be available for some AIDS treatments. This fact, and space limitations, may prevent us in some cases from posting all information available on every single topic. Instead, we have chosen to concentrate on only the most reliable information currently available on opportunistic infections and those therapies most commonly used. On these topics, we have tried to provide as much information as space will allow.

Finally, it is one of the curses of any new field of medicine that information changes rapidly; and this is perhaps more true of AIDS medical care than any other field of medicine. AIDS medical information can rapidly become out-dated, and this is the main reason why the dissemination of AIDS medical information must be an ongoing process. It is also why we have chosen to publish this collection of AIDS medical information electronically, rather than on paper: website documents are far simpler and cheaper to update! We make our best efforts to always provide the most current and reliable information available from our sources, but a quick look through the material held here will reveal that in some areas we may fall behind in this difficult task. We therefore ask the reader’s kind indulgence as we change and update materials held here. Wherever possible, standard citations for any new research developments will be appended to documents when and where needed, so that the motivated reader will be able to acquire information on new developments easily. We also encourage our readers to visit all source organizations from which our materials are taken in order to stay fully informed on AIDS medical issues.
Filed Under: Health, Medicine Tagged With: , ,

HOW TO USE THIS WEB ARCHIVE

OW TO USE THE AIDS MEDICAL ENCYCLOPED

Our AIDS medical information is arranged by topic. There are four general topic areas:

  1. HIV/AIDS and the Immune System
  2. Opportunistic Infections
  3. HIV/AIDS Treatments
  4. Glossary of AIDS Medical Terms

Each topic is further subdivided as per common useage. Within the subdirectories, each document is listed alphabetically by name (drug name, disease/organism name, term name, etc.) wherever possible. There are also two appendixes, which contain additional supporting information:

  1. Appendix I – Image Gallery
  2. Appendix II – Supporting Documents

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FIRST: Identify the problem clearly. Have you been diagnosed with an Opportunistic Infection? Are you having a particular problem like weight loss? The AIDS Medical Encyclopedia website is divided into separate general topic areas, each of which includes numerous documents giving useful information on that aspect of HIV infection. Find the area that contains the information you want.

SECOND: Once you know where to look, go to that part of the Encyclopedia website. Once there, you can browse at random, or do a keyword search (see also below). Once you’ve located the document(s) you’re looking for, you’ll find they offer basic information in layman’s language as well as links to further additional information either within the Encyclopedia website or elsewhere. At this point, you should PRINT A COPY of what you’ve found and READ IT CAREFULLY. THEN TAKE IT TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER(S). Talk to them about the information. Find out what they think and discuss with them how they may be able to use the information to improve your treatment. REMEMBER: TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR is absolutely central to your successful health care! It’s YOUR BODY and you really do have a right to help your doctor decide what goes into it.

You can easily do keyword searches of the entire AIDS Medical Encyclopedia website at any time simply by going to the nearest Index page, always accessible through the link at the top left hand corner of every page. You can also search each documents using your own browser’s built-in search tool [usually the "Find (on this page)" command under the "Edit" menu item].

We have tried in every way possible to make the information here as easily understandable as possible. However, in spite of these efforts, there are bound to be instances where we use some medical term a reader doesn’t know. In instances where these terms are not already defined in context, the term will usually be hyperlinked to a corresponding definition in this website’s separate Glossary section. All the reader need do then is click on the blue-highlighted hyperlink, read the definition, and then hit their browser’s “BACK” button to return to the page they were reading. In those rare instances where a term is not defined in context and a hyperlink isn’t present either, the reader is still urged to check the glossary for the term. It should be there; if it is not, PLEASE contact us by E-mail to let us know! We will gladly respond by adding the term to our list of glossary definitions.

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We encourage any and all users to feel free to send us E-mail and let us know if you’re having any difficulties locating or understanding the information presented here.

Remember: Your comments and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome!

Remember, too, that this information is only an example of what is now available on AIDS through the Internet; you can do more investigating on your own, if you wish! There are literally hundreds of websites now providing useful medical information, and probably over a hundred sites offering high-quality AIDS medical information. For a comprehensive listing of these Internet AIDS resources, please see the AIDS links section of ARIC’s primary website.

If you have questions about entries in this Encyclopedia, or suggestions, updates, or feedback of any kind, PLEASE feel free to contact the HIV+ volunteers at ARIC, Inc. by mail, telephone, FAX, or E-mail at:

AIDS Research Information Center, Inc.

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PERMISSION TO USE / COPY / REDISTRIBUTE

Please feel free to copy and use the information in ARIC’s AIDS Medical Encyclopedia for personal information, to give to your doctor or to a friend with HIV, etc. But… DO NOT SELL IT, or include it in any publication that is sold, without written permission from BOTH ARIC, Inc. AND the original source of publication or author(s), if any. For more detailed information on the use of information posted here, please carefully examine our copyright statement.

Please also be absolutely certain to carefully read our Medical Disclaimer before attempting to use the information posted here!
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