Why are Women’s HIV & Aids Cases on the Rise?

byRichard D. Ramirez

Definition of HIV

• HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus.”

• What’s a Virus?• A virus is a non-living organism or inert

chemical, usually ultramicroscopic…• Consisting of nucleic acid, either RNA or

DNA, within a case of protein…• But needs a living (Host) cell to

reproduce…

AIDS Defined

• AIDS – “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome”

• A condition that proceeds the HIV virus…

• Disabling the Human Immune System…

• Compromising the body’s defense mechanism

• Making the body susceptible opportunistic diseases…

A Brief History on AIDS

• In 1981 – The first cases of AIDS where reported and classified as Gay Related Immune Deficiency or Grid.

• Scientists later found evidence that the disease existed in the world for some years prior, i.e.,

• Subsequent analysis of a blood sample of a Bantu man, who died of an unidentified illness in the Belgian Congo in 1959, made him the first confirmed case of an HIV infection.

The History Continues

• From 1989 – 1998, this virus continues to spread across the U.S.

• Devastating the woman’s population of this nation.

• In 1998 the reported cases of women living with AIDS had risen to 54,322

• As of the end of 2005, an estimated 4.9 million people had become newly infected with HIV / AIDS.

• Women represent nearly half (46%) of adults living with HIV / AIDS worldwide.

When did this Virus first get classified?

• 1981 – CDC was alerted of occurrences that led to the identification of a new disease.

• Because the majority of patients were homosexuals, lifestyle was quickly associated as the cause.

• By 1993 CDC releases a new definition for AIDS.

• Stating, that the Center for Disease Control expected 111% increase of diagnosed due to the new definition.

The Risky Sexual Transmission Theory

• Most of the HIV + Women have been infected;

• In there their own homes,• In their own Beds,• By their husbands…• Culture and Economics

are other contributing factors.

• As well as the lack of preventive education on HIV/AIDS transmission…

The HIV virus is a respecter of no one…

• 20th Century AIDS is no longer being seen as a disease that effect only the gay community.

• There are high risk social behaviors that are being addressed and associated in the spread of this deadly disease.

Meet Chris, She became a statistic in 2004

Women make up nearly half of the 37.2 million adults living with AIDS

What are the Odds

• Women are biologically, economically and socially more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, with studies showing they can be up to 2.5 times more likely to be infected

HIV & AIDS are running ramped across Central and South America

As of 2004 there were an estimated 90,000 reported cases of HIV in South America..

“What were we Thinking?”

California is also displaying increases in reported HIV cases across the state…

And our county, Tulare County is no exception…

Conquest of the Beast

Pseudomembranous Candidinsis Herpes Simplex Virus

Severe HIV Wasting Disease Acanthamoeba Infection

A silhouette of the AIDS virus

• This is an approximate scaled image of the AIDS virus in contrast to a T-Helper cell…

• The arrow indicates the actual AIDS virus…

• The stubby objects seen on the surface of the T-Cell are receptor…

• This the Beast in motion…

“The Incurable Beast”

Simplified HIV Life-CycleNew virus

particle buds from cell.

New viral components congregate

at cell surface

New viral RNA

New viral Protein

RNA copies are made which leave the nucleus

Viral DNA enters nucleus and combines with host

cell DNA

Cell nucleus

Virus core enters cell

and its RNA is converted

to DNA

Virus attaches to cell surface

HIV Protease

• The HIV protease is an AIDS virus enzyme.

• Critical for virus replication.

• The HIV protease has two strands of proteins with no covalent connections

Peptide Inhibitor

Dr. Betty Korber and fellow researcher John Mokili, have worked to clarify the evolutionary tree of HIV subtypes and strains.

Consensus copy

“The Biological Frontiers”

• Immunology and its complexities are currently the focus of scientist and researchers.

• Genetics, molecular, and cellular research continue to present broader possibilities for researchers.

• Yet there is no known cure for HIV / AIDS.• Stopping the (HIV Virus) is the biological frontiers, left for

both the science communities and researchers.• Until this time the Beast will continue to destroy human

life, devastate families, and over shadow our world with the possibility of contracting such a killing disease.

Work Cited• Alcena, Valiere, M.d. F.a.c.p. Women's Health and Wellnes for the Millennium (AIDS in Women in the USA).

1st ed. White Plains, N.Y.: Le Negre, 2005. 189-192.

• Buckley, Micheal R., and Kelly J. Henning. HIV Infection in Primary Care. 4th ed. Boston: Elserier, 2002. chpt. 1-3,12.

• Campbell, Neil A., Jane B. Reece, Martha R. Taylor, and Eric J. Simon. Biology Concepts and Connections. Custom Edition for the College of the Sequoias ed. San Francisco, Ca.: Benjamin Cummings, 2005. 498-499.

• Dod. "Threat Assessment." U.S. Military HIV Research Program. 5 Aug. 2004. U.S. Department of Defense. 11 Mar. 2006 <http://www.hivresearch.org/areas/threat.html>.

• "HIV / AIDS Among Women." CDC Divisions of HIV / AIDS Prevention. 02 Dec. 2004. CDC National Prevention Information Network. 11 Mar. 2006 <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/women.htm>.

• Korber, Bette. "HIV Molecular Immunology." Immuno@Lanl.Gov. 18 Aug. 2005. U.S. Department of Energy. 6 Mar. 2006 <http://www.hiv.lanl.gov/content/immunology/index.html>.

• Merigan, Thomas Jr. C. AIDS Medicine. 1st ed. New York, New York: Williams & Wilkins, 1994. 756.

• "People Living with HIV / AIDS in California by Counties." California Department of Health/Office of AIDS Prevention. 01 Feb. 2006. Department of Health Services. 21 Mar. 2006 <http://www.dhs.CA.gov/AIDS/>.

• "People Living with HIV / AIDS in California by Counties." California Department of Health/Office of AIDS Prevention. 01 Feb. 2006. Department of Health Services. 21 Mar. 2006 <http://www.dhs.CA.gov/AIDS/>.

• "Sobering Stats." AIDS Fact Sheet on Women. 27 Dec. 2005. HIV / AIDS Prevention Network. 11 Mar. 2006 <http://cdc.gov/hiv/stats/hasrlink.html>.

Image Cited• Statistics/ Graphics/ Images/1264 1-9htm. 2004. Washington

D.C., New York. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/images/1264 /1-9htm. Center for Disease Control. 21 Mar. 2006 <http://cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/images/1264/1264-1-9htm>.

• Women and AIDS. http://www.tidings.com/2004/1203/aidscrs.htm. AIDS Support Group. 2 Apr. 2006.

• Women are Now Making Up Nearly Half of Newly Infected Cases. UNAIDS. 2 Apr. 2006 <http://www.msmnpa.org/8wados.htm>.

• World AIDS Day2004. 2004. New York City. City of New York Health and Services Agency. 11 Mar. 2006 <http://www.cnyhsa.com/hiv/aids_awareness_events.php>.