Whoonga

Abstract: Antiretroviral Therapy is classified in six classes and acquired great achievements in HIV inhibition, but this advantage can be affected by developing drug resistance. The combinations of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs have been proven as effectiveness key to control the progression of AIDS; however, these benefits may be compromised by drug resistancy. Thus, drug-resistance testing has become an important tool to the management of HIV-infected patients. Viral RNA was extracted from the plasma by using the QIAamp? Viral RNA kit (Qiagen, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. RT-PCR performed with the one-step PCR kit (Qiagen, Germany) and Nested PCR. We used the Taq Polymerase master mix kit (Sinaclone, Iran) to amplify of target gene, then products sequenced and analyzed in Stanford HIV drug resistant database. 25 patients, including 13 (52%) males and 12 (48%) females that all of whom received antiretroviral treatment and data indicated that 19 of 25 patients (76%) had RT mutation that consequently reduce susceptibility to NRTI and NNRTI and 4 patients (16%) had PR mutations. In this study two patients have mutation in L100 combine with K103N and 3% of patients have mutation in T215 that mutation in T215, suggesting that they had likely been infected originally with a mutant virus. The mutation rate in RT gene was 76% which may be due to not adherence to the treatment regimen by the patients may cause drug resistancy.

Abstract: South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled against the South African government in its fight with hundreds of state employed doctors and nurses and the Treatment Action Campaign over the provision of an antiretroviral drug to HIV positive pregnant women. The government has resisted making nevirapine available to thousands of poor women reliant on public health facilities. The drug helps reduce the transmission of HIV to the unborn infant. It is also cheap and easily administered. The court decided that the state's policy of providing a very limited number of women with the drug in 18 pilot sites was unconstitutional, as it …

Abstract: Whoonga is a drug cocktail in South Africa rumored to contain illicit drugs and HIV antiretroviral (ARV) medication. Although its use may adversely impact adherence to HIV treatment and may have the potential to generate ARV resistance, there is a paucity of research characterizing whoonga. We learned of whoonga during semi-structured interviews about substance abuse and HIV risk at “club-events” known as inkwaris in an urban township of Durban, South Africa. Whoonga was an emerging theme spontaneously identified as a problem for the community by 17 out of 22 informants. Perceptions of whoonga suggest that it is highly addictive, contains ARVs (notably efavirenz), is used by individuals as young as 14, and poses a threat to the health and safety of those who use it, including increasing the risk of HIV infection. Our informants provide preliminary evidence of the dangers of whoonga and reinforce the need for further study.