by TU THANH HA

From  Globe and Mail.

It worked only on two strains of a highly mutable virus, yielded modest results and is nowhere near commercial licensing. But the first successful trial of an HIV vaccine has given a huge boost to scientists seeking to inoculate humankind against the virus linked to AIDS.

The results were based on a sliver of difference between two large test groups in Thailand, but were promising enough, considering that researchers have tried in vain for 26 years to come up with an effective vaccine.

“We’re on first base. This is not a home run,” Alan Bernstein, executive director of the New-York-based Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, said in an interview.

However, he said, the vaccine will be a springboard for future research. “When we get there, eventually it’ll save hundreds of millions of lives. This is an important day for the planet,” Dr. Bernstein said.

“It’s the first major hope in the field in a long time. … It gives us something to build on” said Mark Wainberg, director of the McGill AIDS Centre.

“The field of HIV vaccine was under a very dark cloud over the last 18 months as a result of the repeat failures of various candidate vaccines,” said Julio Montaner, president of the International AIDS Society and director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Montaner noted that the reasons for the latest vaccine’s success aren’t fully understood yet. “There might be light at the end of the tunnel. How bright, it’s not clear. How long is the tunnel, it’s not clear either.”

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Army and conducted by the Thai Ministry of Public Health.

Out of about 16,400 test subjects, half of whom were getting a placebo and the others the vaccine, 23 fewer people got infected among the inoculated group.

To read more, please click here.

by TU THANH HA From  Globe and Mail. It worked only on two strains of a highly mutable virus, yielded modest results and is nowhere near commercial licensing. But the first successful trial of an HIV vaccine has given a huge boost to scientists seeking to inoculate humankind against the virus linked to AIDS. The [...]

pics via gman.in

pics via gman.in

There are times we imagine ourselves to be worthy to wake up next to Paul DiLillo. And then we realize we can see him over the next dozen-plus pages and not have to deal with the walk of shame in the morning.

( www.queerty.com)

There are times we imagine ourselves to be worthy to wake up next to Paul DiLillo. And then we realize we can see him over the next dozen-plus pages and not have to deal with the walk of shame in the morning. ( www.queerty.com)

Roving Xtra.ca reporter Michael Pihach rubs shoulders with politicians, drag queens and leather men at the 2009 Capital Pride Parade in Ottawa.

Roving Xtra.ca reporter Michael Pihach rubs shoulders with politicians, drag queens and leather men at the 2009 Capital Pride Parade in Ottawa.

Where did you think 22-year-old Steve would be living? ‘Cause if you guessed Staten Island, you’d be … perpetuating stereotypes! But also: You’d be correct! Either way, you can’t dislike the guy — given all the homoerotics that follow.

(Photos: Muscle Art Studio, Vulgaire; www.queerty.com)

Where did you think 22-year-old Steve would be living? ‘Cause if you guessed Staten Island, you’d be … perpetuating stereotypes! But also: You’d be correct! Either way, you can’t dislike the guy — given all the homoerotics that follow. (Photos: Muscle Art Studio, Vulgaire; www.queerty.com)