Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Protects Against Herpes - Medical News Today

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Anti-HIV drug, tenofovir, when formulated as a vaginal gel, was found to reduce herpes simplex risk in females, researchers from the USA, Belgium and Italy reported in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. The scientists explained that this is because of the higher concentrations that reach vaginal cells in the vaginal gel formulation, compared to the drug when taken orally.

The authors explained that tenofovir disables a DNA enzyme of the herpes virus - reverse transcriptase - thus stopping its spread.

This study was a collaboration between researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), the University of Rome (Italy), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (USA), and Gilead Sciences Inc.

A 2010 clinical trial found that tenofovir in vaginal gel form reduced the risk of HSV (herpes simplex virus) infections, as well as HIV infections in females. In this latest report, scientists say they can explain why.

Oral Tenofovir had been shown to undermine the reproduction of HIV. However, nobody knew it could block the genital herpes virus.

Leonid Margolis, Ph.D., NICHD, said:

"HIV infection is closely associated with herpes viral infection. When people with genital herpes are exposed to HIV, they are more likely to become infected than are people who do not carry the herpes virus. Human tissues convert tenofovir to a form that suppresses HIV. We found that this form of tenofovir also suppresses HSV. This discovery may help to identify drugs to treat the two viruses even more effectively."

Dr. Margolis explained that previously approved drugs which are found to have other therapeutic benefits, apart from those they were approved for, can save millions of dollars. A new compound has to undergo extensive testing for efficacy and safety before eventually coming onto the market several years and millions of dollars later. In the case of an already existing drug, most of the safety and other testing has already been done.

The scientist studied individual cells and groups of cells that had been infected with HSV. They found that tenofovir, in high concentrations blocked the virus' ability to reproduce.

Their study also showed that tenofovir does not damage cells, such as those that line the vagina. Vaginal cells are targeted by HIV and HSV.

Cellular enzymes convert tenofovir into another chemical form which suppresses both HIV and HSV. The new chemical form deactivates an enzyme that is crucial for the virus' reproduction.

They tested tenofovir in tissue samples, including tonsils and cervix. After 12 days they found that tenofovir-treated samples only had from 1% to 13% of viral levels compared to untreated samples. They also found that tenofovir blocked viral reproduction of both HIV and HSV simultaneously in infected tissue.

In laboratory experiments, they found that mice infected with the herpes virus had no herpes symptoms and lived longer when treated with tenofovir.

When tenofovir is taken orally, concentration levels in target cells are not high enough to affect HSV in any significant way, the authors explained.

Dr. Morgolis said:

"When using the gel, the amount of tenofovir on the affected tissues is about 100 times the amount in the body when taking tenofovir in pill form. That explains why its anti-herpes activity wasn't noticed before. Thus, under proper conditions, an anti-HIV drug becomes an anti-HSV drug."

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our sexual health / stds section for the latest news on this subject. "Topical Tenofovir, a Microbicide Effective against HIV, Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Replication"
Graciela Andrei, Robert Snoeck, and Jan Balzarini (senior author), Joost van den Oord, Catholic University of Leuven; Emanuela Balestra, Carlo-Federico Perno (senior author), University of Rome; Tomas Cihlar, Gilead Sciences; and Andrea Lisco, Christophe Vanpouille, Andrea Introini, and Leonid Margolis (senior author) NICHD.
Cell Host & Microbe, Volume 10, Issue 4, 379-389, 20 October 2011 (10.1016/j.chom.2011.08.015) Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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Christian Nordqvist. "Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Protects Against Herpes." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 21 Oct. 2011. Web.
30 Oct. 2011. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

posted by Sammy on 25 Oct 2011 at 9:51 pm

Women with herpes are unlucky to have herpes because it brings much trouble to their life; they are lucky at the same time because the virus will make them have less chance to have breast cancer.

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View the original article here

Herpes Cures - Find a Cure Today!

Genital Herpes Simplex is an infection involving the genital organs of both male and female. It is caused by herpes simplex virus type II, a close relative of the type I virus that causes infections appearing most commonly as cold sores in the mouth and gum areas. This infection, categorized as a venereal disease, has become quite frequent in recent years making it the most common venereal disease aside from Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

Many medical practitioners believe that there is no such thing as herpes cures because the virus is not totally wiped out from a person's system. Once the virus invades the body through the tissues, it remains there for life, even though latent most of the time. The most severe symptoms occur when the virus is first acquired. The person feels ill with fever, experiences loss of appetite, and general malaise. Red and swollen blisters or lesions appear scattered on the skin in the genital region; although, these spontaneously clear up within three to six weeks. In recurrent attacks, the symptoms are less severe and only last for a short time.

However, with the developments in science and technology, coupled with experts who posses a great desire and admirable dedication to finding herpes cures, many articles have been distributed to make people aware that besides the conventional way of treatment, those afflicted with herpes also have other options.

Preventing outbreaks and keeping the virus in control, doctors administer vaccines or let patients take antiviral medications. Home remedies only offer temporary relief against sore and pain. These methods had been going on for decades which are clearly none of the herpes cures that people hoped for. However, 21st century brings good news as it changes the way herpes is treated. Just recently, a good number of herpes infected individuals tried one of the two known natural approaches to healing: the Homeopathic Approach and the taking of medicinal herbs as medicines particularly the Prunella Vulgaris, more popularly known as the Herbal Herpes Cure. These two are only a few of the number of emerging natural herpes cures available today.

The homeopathic approach dates back in the 18th century. The idea is to help the body heal itself by taking natural ingredients as regular medication. Homeopathic approach strictly uses all natural ingredients; thus, no side effects. It comes in the form of ointment which is applied on the affected region a number of times a day according to the instruction written on the product label. Prunella Vulgaris is under the homeopathic approach except it uses just one kind of herbal plant. It can be bought as a liquid wash or as a balm.

These natural herpes cures both address oral and genital herpes and the best thing about it is, since it has no side effects, it can be used even by infants. These natural approaches to curing herpes claims to have successfully cured people infected with either type I or type II virus.

The only way to know if you need to administer one of the above-mentioned herpes cures, the best way of knowing is to get tested for Herpes first.

15 million people contract STD's every single year. Are you one of the 1 in 4 people walking around with an STD and you don't even know it? We can help you identify if you have contracted one as well as the best Herpes Cures. Come get your FREE REPORT on checking for and fixing any potential STD problem at http://www.STDChecker.com

Zoster Virus, MS Possibly Linked - MedPage Today

Adults with a history of chicken pox or shingles infections had a fourfold increased risk for developing multiple sclerosis, researchers said.

In a population-wide epidemiological study conducted in Taiwan, the hazard ratio for MS diagnosis within a year of such infections, relative to those without such a history, was 3.96 (95% CI 2.22 to 7.07), reported Herng-Ching Lin, PhD, of Taipei Medical University.

Moreover, the mean time between the acute infection and MS diagnosis was just 104 days.

"Our findings suggest that the occurrence of MS could be associated with herpes zoster attack," Lin and colleagues wrote online in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

It's the first large-scale study to support previous suggestions that MS may be triggered or exacerbated by herpes zoster (also known as varicella zoster) virus, the agent responsible for chicken pox and shingles.

The virus infects the central nervous system. Typically, after the initial chicken pox attack, the virus becomes latent in the dorsal root ganglion. Years later, what Lin and colleagues called "immunological derangement" or other triggers can reactivate the virus to cause skin eruptions with severe pain.

Herpes zoster has long been suspected of playing some type of causative role in MS -- for example, demyelination has occasionally been seen in conjunction with severe herpes zoster attacks -- but the rarity of MS in the population has made epidemiological studies difficult.

Lin and colleagues drew on records from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, which covered some 22.6 million people as of 2007 -- more than 98% of the entire Taiwanese population. It includes monthly claims summaries and care orders for participants, including ambulatory and inpatient care.

The researchers identified about 317,000 adults who had a principal diagnosis of herpes zoster infection from 2003 to 2005. Among them, 29 developed MS during the year after this diagnosis was recorded.

For comparison, Lin and colleagues also examined records of 946,650 other randomly selected adults who had ambulatory care visits during this same period, matched 3:1 for age, sex, and year of visit to the individuals with herpes zoster attacks.

In the control group, 24 individuals were diagnosed with MS during the year after the index ambulatory care visit.

The researchers found that those with herpes zoster had slightly but significantly higher monthly income and were more likely to live in the northern part of the country than the control group. These factors were taken into account in the statistical analysis that led to the hazard ratio of 3.96 for MS diagnosis following herpes zoster attacks.

The analysis did not include counting everyone with a diagnosis of MS and checking for a history of herpes zoster infection.

Nevertheless, in an accompanying editorial, two Mexican researchers agreed that the findings significantly bolster the case for a connection between the virus and MS.

"The evidence provided in this study ... allows us to better understand the role of these viral factors as an MS risk among certain genetically susceptible individuals," wrote Teresa Corona, MD, and José Flores, MD, of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City.

Lin and colleagues said the mechanisms by which the virus may cause or worsen MS remain unknown, although speculation centers on alterations in immune functioning that lead to autoimmunity against myelin.

Corona and Flores offered one specific possibility: "reactivation of latent herpes viruses by other infectious agents, and cross-recognition of common viral antigens with antigens found in the myelin sheath, which thereby induces molecular mimicry or superantigens," they wrote.

Lin and colleagues noted some limitations to their study, including its reliance on potentially flawed administrative data, lack of information on potential confounders such as smoking status, and the possibility that some people with herpes zoster attacks did not seek treatment.

Also, they stressed that it was restricted almost exclusively to people of Han Chinese ancestry living in Taiwan.

Corona and Flores recommended that similar studies be undertaken elsewhere in the world to confirm the association in other ethnic groups.

The database used in the study is managed by the Taiwan Department of Health.

Study authors declared they had no relevant financial interests.

View the original article here

Herpes Cures - Find a Cure Today!

Genital Herpes Simplex is an infection involving the genital organs of both male and female. It is caused by herpes simplex virus type II, a close relative of the type I virus that causes infections appearing most commonly as cold sores in the mouth and gum areas. This infection, categorized as a venereal disease, has become quite frequent in recent years making it the most common venereal disease aside from Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

Many medical practitioners believe that there is no such thing as herpes cures because the virus is not totally wiped out from a person's system. Once the virus invades the body through the tissues, it remains there for life, even though latent most of the time. The most severe symptoms occur when the virus is first acquired. The person feels ill with fever, experiences loss of appetite, and general malaise. Red and swollen blisters or lesions appear scattered on the skin in the genital region; although, these spontaneously clear up within three to six weeks. In recurrent attacks, the symptoms are less severe and only last for a short time.

However, with the developments in science and technology, coupled with experts who posses a great desire and admirable dedication to finding herpes cures, many articles have been distributed to make people aware that besides the conventional way of treatment, those afflicted with herpes also have other options.

Preventing outbreaks and keeping the virus in control, doctors administer vaccines or let patients take antiviral medications. Home remedies only offer temporary relief against sore and pain. These methods had been going on for decades which are clearly none of the herpes cures that people hoped for. However, 21st century brings good news as it changes the way herpes is treated. Just recently, a good number of herpes infected individuals tried one of the two known natural approaches to healing: the Homeopathic Approach and the taking of medicinal herbs as medicines particularly the Prunella Vulgaris, more popularly known as the Herbal Herpes Cure. These two are only a few of the number of emerging natural herpes cures available today.

The homeopathic approach dates back in the 18th century. The idea is to help the body heal itself by taking natural ingredients as regular medication. Homeopathic approach strictly uses all natural ingredients; thus, no side effects. It comes in the form of ointment which is applied on the affected region a number of times a day according to the instruction written on the product label. Prunella Vulgaris is under the homeopathic approach except it uses just one kind of herbal plant. It can be bought as a liquid wash or as a balm.

These natural herpes cures both address oral and genital herpes and the best thing about it is, since it has no side effects, it can be used even by infants. These natural approaches to curing herpes claims to have successfully cured people infected with either type I or type II virus.

The only way to know if you need to administer one of the above-mentioned herpes cures, the best way of knowing is to get tested for Herpes first.

15 million people contract STD's every single year. Are you one of the 1 in 4 people walking around with an STD and you don't even know it? We can help you identify if you have contracted one as well as the best Herpes Cures. Come get your FREE REPORT on checking for and fixing any potential STD problem at http://www.STDChecker.com