Development of Novel Immunogens for Vaccines to HIV-1

Introduction

The growing number of mortality rate is discovered through the contribution of health illnesses and/or diseases. One of the causes of the health illness is the HIV/Aids that affect both men and women. Experts already given the fact that the reasons in acquiring the disease is through blood transfusion, inheritance, and sexual activities. For the past years, there are victims suffering in the diseases because of the failures in discovering the specific vaccine or treatment.

Background and Problem Statement

The problem in HIV/Aids already infected the population on both developing and developed countries. In the continuous investigation of the appropriate vaccines for medications and treatment, the experts described the relation between HIV replication and immune responses. However, the relationship may seem critical in understanding the pathogenesis of HIV/Aids can push the development of an effective HIV/Aids vaccines. In the prevention of HIV diseases, the expert’s studies discovered that the role of humoral immune response of an individual. In addition, the there are evidences that neutralizing the antibodies can highly contribute to the protection. The antibodies that neutralized the HIV infections target the cells through binding the proteins (Schweighardt, et al., 2007). However, how far does the development on the anti-HIV vaccination can reach its success, and lessen the growth of population who has the HIV/Aids?

Research Aim and Objectives

The aim of this project is to select peptide epitopes that mimic neutralization-sensitive domains of HIV-1 envelope and may function as candidate HIV-1 vaccines. In order to satisfy this aim, there are three objectives that should be considered. First is to determine the similarities and differences of HIV-1 and HIV-2 that can contribute to the development of the novel immunogens. Second is to determine the methods and scientific processes applied in the investigation of the vaccines for HIV-1. Third is to describe the essential elements that can increase the development of the vaccine.

Literature Review

The availability of the vaccines against the infections and diseases are not independently taken as the treatment. The vaccines are for strengthening the human’s immune system and for the benefit of protection against the protection. This means that vaccination is not the real solution to fight deadly diseases. The common misconceptions of humans are relying too much on the medical intervention and temporary solution provided by the medical professionals. The experts advised that an individual should follow the health lifestyle to avoid the diseases. In the case of HIV/Aids, the vaccines can be possibly available in the county’s health departments (Stiegler et. al., 2001). From the various studies, the proposed vaccines are tested to the monkeys that have the same level of DNA as of humans and other essential antibodies. The variety of novel immunogens vaccinated in the selected monkeys show some significant improvement with their ability to control the infection with highly pathogenic Aids viruses. This observation delivers the idea that the rapidity of diseases progression can be deflected through the action of prolonging the disease-free survival. The neutralizing antibodies that protects the animals against the infection of Aids viruses might be awakened or revived through the vaccine strategies and for such resembles in their immune responses. Therefore, the studies concluded that the novel vaccine strategies slow the progression of the disease, if it does not successes the prevention of the infection (Letvin, 2002). It is accepted that the prophylactic vaccine against the HIV-1 requires the development of novel immunogens that are capable in protecting or neutralizing the antibody responses. Now, it is time for the development and continuous approach in a more standardized system for the creation and evaluation for the vaccines. The assessment should also include the transmission and sensitivity of the body against the infection to help improve the vaccine design (Schweighardt, et al., 2007).

Methodology

The suggested method in the study is the use of the secondary information. This is an advantage for the study to discover the researches done to fight the diseases and pursue the development of the vaccines. The materials that can used in the study are the medical journals, books, medical and investigative reports, case studies and others that are focus in the investigation of the HIV/Aids vaccines. The investigation from different settings is a good design in obtaining the information regarding the recent indication of HIV diseases and the observation of its reaction towards the current vaccination and antibodies. This will give the study the necessary idea in organizing the information regarding the continuous development of the novel immunognes for the HIV-1.

References:

Letvin, N.L., (2002) Perspective: Strategies for an HIV Vaccine, The Journal of Clinical Investigation 110(1)

Schweighardt, B., Liu, Y., Huang, W., Chappey, C., Lie, Y., Petropoulos, C., & Wrin, T., (2007) Development of an HIV-1 Reference Panel of Subtype B Envelope Clones Isolated From the Plasma of Recently Infected Individuals, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 46(1): 1-11

Stiegler, G., Kunert, R., Purtscher, M., Wolbank, S., Voglauer, R., Steindl, F., & Katinger, H., (2001) A Potent Cross-Clade Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibody against a Novel Epitope on gp41 of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 17(18)

Effectiveness of Obesity Management Interventions on Adults

Introduction

Obesity is one of the concerns of the health organizations around the world. Both children and adults, and men and women are affected of this disease. From the previous years, the obesity became a natural topic in health care because of this obvious presence in the population. Apparently, there is no specific cause of obesity but there are factors that might contribute in its existence. The inappropriate meals, unbalanced diet, and lifestyle are the typical causes of obesity as according to the experts. Moreover, there is no specified method to cure this type of disease. Health care professionals also detected several diseases associated with the condition in obesity. The serious health cases that might involve in the obesity are the heart disease, diabetes, and even death. However, there are interventions that can be use as strategies for obesity management among adults.

On Obesity Management

Various strategies have been employed to control obesity. These include dietary advice, behavior therapy and pharmacological intervention. The caloric intake is proposed to be the one that should be controlled and it is important in predicting the weight gained by the individual. Typically, calories can be loss due to the used energy of the body but there is a significant difference of calories intake in between men and women. However, it remains a big problem to maintain the successful diet. The behavior and intention of an individual creates a tendency on how the adult will manage the diet or the therapy for obesity. The effective obesity management and the strategies associated might be temporary in weight reduction. But having the better understanding in metabolic controls of the body fat will improve the obesity management and interventions. However, at the present surgery remains the only effective option for the management of obesity (ASERNIPS, 2000).

The health care professional continuously develop the consensus guideline in managing the obesity thus, recommending the combination of the treatment interventions and interventions relating to the screening and prevention. The appropriate management of obesity is an evidence-based approach that allows that the treatment of recognized through the clinical judgment as according to the agreed necessity of an individual.

A Comprehensive Obesity Management

An effective management for obesity comprises with the appropriate weight management that will significantly create a weight loss experience with the assurance that there is a reduction on health risks. It aims to improve the health conditions of the obese individuals. Through the appropriate management and treatment, such as the modest weight loss, improvement in the nutritional content and increase in the physical activity and fitness, the ideal obesity management that is suitable for the individual can be achieved. The obesity among the adults has a high potential in involvement of health risks and complications that is why the appropriate monitoring of the weight plays a vital role.

Interventions

An effective obesity management can reduce the need to treat co-morbidities by drugs. Through the physical examination and body composition analysis, the individual can be assessed regarding the obesity problems and the level of obesity. The health care professionals will guide an individual towards the prevention of further weight gain especially on those overweight individuals. Through the provided dietary advice and increase in the physical activity, the individual can experience changes towards his target. Other than that, the management should comprise with the proper monitoring on diet, cognitive behavioral approaches, and psychological support. However, if the obesity level is too high, the surgery is advised which includes the pharmacological treatment and therapies (Tsigos, et al., 2008).

Outcomes

The use of management and intervention can be more effective by combining the two or more mechanisms of action. However, the effectiveness of many promising therapies remains unjustified because of the limitation of the studies investigating regarding the interventions. On the other hand, there is an ongoing extensive research on the behavioral weight-loss which sustains the obesity management interventions. This kind of behavioral weight-loss intervention can have an impact over the significant periods of patient’s life-span. This includes the knowledge in decision-making and behavioral changes making it possible to achieve the high quality of health care solutions through the randomized controls (Goldfarb, Yaskin, & Toner, 2008).

Conclusion

Because of the growing population of obese people, particularly in America, the people became more concern regarding their health. However, without the help of the obesity management and the determination of its effectiveness, more and more people will be diagnosed of obesity.

References:

ASERNIPS, (2000) Laparascopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for the Treatment of Obesity, Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical [Online] Available at: https://www.surgeons.org/Content/ContentFolders/News/ASERNIPS/Systematicreviews/LABGreview0600.pdf [Accessed 30 July 2010].

Goldfarb, N., Yaskin, J., & Toner, R., (2008) The Evidence Base for Effectiveness of Obesity Management Programs: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature [Online] Available at: http://dmaa.org/theforum08/presentations/Goldfarb.pdf [Accessed 30 July 2010].

Tsigos, C., Hainer, V., Basdevant, A., Finer, N., & Fried, M., (2008) Management of Obesity in Adults: European Clinical Practice Guidelines [Online] Available at: http://www.easoobesity.org/documents/OMTFManagementofObesityinAdults2008.pdf [Accessed 30 July 2010]

Health Lifestyle

Introduction

The increasing number of health problems and the continuous evolution of diseases generally affect the entire population of both developed and developing countries. Obviously, the creation of diseases is not a coincidence but because there are reason behind its evolution. Furthermore, the diseases are the responsible for the detected health risks that weakens the society and the continuous growth of the nation. In association between the health and diseases, there is a link that suggests that lifestyle greatly affects the formation of the viral diseases that can increase the mortality rate if not given appropriate action immediately.

Modern Lifestyle

Our modern life style is largely responsible for the increase in diseases today. This is a fact. The lifestyle of a person depends on the varieties of an individual’s activities. Apparently, the virus of “modern” lifestyles is now a deadly and widespread reality. Everyday is about the news of health problems like the obesity, smoking and physical inactivity crash the lives of people and steal vitality. People who are stressed out these days describe their day as “toxic’’ for stress generates toxic juices. Part and parcel of the need to be cautious of the food we eat is the need to exert conscious effort to lead a healthy, stress-free, and well-balanced lifestyle. The most popular setting is among the cities which show the effects of health among the poor lifestyle. Because of the harmless modes of entertainment consist of television, movies and the Internet, people and even the young children, often set aside that importance of healthy living and exercise. Much more, if parents did not guide their children, the bad models that portrays in television shows can create a great influence in their young minds.

In terms of food, there is a wide growth of Fast food chains that are built at every turn and corner while there are few stores offering a limited selection of fresh and healthy foods, often sold at higher costs. Along this dangerous course, there is no possible escape route out of disease and poverty. A fast food offers the products that are packed with grease, sodium and calories plus a sedentary lifestyle will be unmistakably costly and lethal in the long run.

Actions

Healthy lifestyle is the way of life in which an individual is concern on the promotion and protects his health and well-being. Usually there are strategies that an individual can organize such as avoiding to smoke, regular exercise, eating healthy foods, monitoring and controlling the weight, managing the stress and regular health check up. Apparently, every country placed an initiative to answer the problems of health, but only few strategies were recognized. One strategy is to shape the social conditions using the information. With the movement of transforming the social environment, the health policies can be developed as well as different programs that can empower an individual to make healthy choices. This is a good start to level the healthy lifestyle interventions by limiting the diseases and stop death.

Every government should start designing an effective program that can attract more people to active lifestyles. More leisure parks, more footpaths, and safe bikeways provide opportunities for diabetics to effectively control their disease. It is an effective way to cut down the excess and unessential fats and salt intakes. The practice of sanitation is also a desirable strategy to avoid the passing the infectious diseases through touching. This will also serve as an effective way to be a role model for a child.

Seminars, lectures, and other forums on healthy lifestyle and information regarding the proper diet can intensify the campaign for the healthy lifestyle. Basically through serving of nutritious foods is an effective way to fight the disease and reduce the creation of potential diseases in the body. Companies, such as food manufacturers and food services, can help by the use of better food labeling and reformulating of food products.

Conclusion

Clearly, through the use of healthy lifestyle projects, there is a safer course and effectively halt the spread of chronic diseases. But first, in order to do that, people should take the challenges and win the battle in changing their traditional lifestyle into a healthy one. The promotion of healthy lifestyle should take place in homes, in families, schools, markets, workplaces, hospitals, streets, cities and communities, and stay there as part of their system. Being healthy is not merely being free of physical illness; it is the state of well-being of the mind, body, and soul.

References:

Duque, F.T., (2006) Public Health Convention on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases: Current Initiatives [Online] Available at: http://www.doh.gov.ph/files/speeches/ncd/healthylifestylescoalition.pdf [Accessed 13 July 2010].

Estabillo, A.V., (2009) Practice Healthy Lifestyles, Residents Urged [Online] Available at: http://www.mindanews.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=6137 [Accessed 13 July 2010].

Childhood Obesity in the United States

Introduction

One of the growing problems in United States is the increasing population of children who are facing the problems of obesity. Obesity is described to have an impact on the lifestyle, health, and social life of young people. Children, who do not practice the healthy behavior such as exercise, have the potential to gain excess weight that leads to obesity. The impact of obesity is however, related to the costs placed on the huge burden in the economy in United States. The trends of obesity appeared in all children and significantly occurred in all age, race, and ethnic groups through the US.

The rationale of the study came from the children with obesity having the social disposition. In addition, the paper is meant to produce the ideas regarding the issues of multiculturalism, diversity, and stereotyping. The most common medium that can deliver the obvious social effects on obese children is the media. Through the use of the theories in societies, the paper can distinguish the influence of media on children.

Diversity and Multiculturalism

Diversity defines a variety of individuals (or objects) depending on their opinions, color, and style. The typical type of diversity is cultural diversity which creates a barrier and isolation from the society. People often look for diversification because of the appearance of others, different from what is in the social norm or what is expected. On the other hand, the theory of cultural formation delivers the idea of multiculturalism. The social speculations affect the individual’s ability to promote his own growth. Accordingly, multiculturalism struggles along the context of globalization. It becomes problematic in a way, as illustrated in the majority of the common culture compared to the migrant cultures (San Juan, 2003). In relation to the problems of children with obesity, instead of comparison between the ethnicity and culture, obese children are compared to other children who are normal according to their BMI (Body Mass Index) and age.

Media

There is a negative stereotyping for both obese children and youth. The increase in obesity prevalence, there is a comparison between the group of heaviest children and leanest group. The argument is that, heaviest children continuously getting heavier while the leanest group of children stays lean (Institute of Medicine, 2004). The media contributes a lot in the social interaction of children because of the wide range of broadcasting. The issues of obesity as mirrored in the news pertain mostly on the negative effects among children, saying that it has emerging serious threats to the future and health of nation. Childhood obesity can potentially shorten their lives as compared to their parents’ lifespan (American Heart Association, 2005). This kind of attack of media resembles the amount of attention given by media towards the risks of obesity.

Media can rely on the issues of stereotyping in two ways – one is to isolate the children with obesity problems and the other is focusing on the effective ways on how to help the children fight such kind of disease. Through the promotions of healthier foods and beverages as marketed to children using the popular movies or famous actors, the elements of essential information is directly delivered. In addition, the continuous promotion of messages and public education to find solution in the growing population of obesity is important to regulate the evolution of health risks (WFA, 2008). Media can use their powers to implement the information of children in both positive and negative ways. However, if the media (e.g. television shows) translate the existence of an obese child in a show, they were often mocked by their playmates because of their features. This typical idea suggests that stereotyping of the children that shows obese problems leads to social isolation. Also, this promotes the low self-esteem of children and their physical insecurities that might affect their social participation.

Conclusion

As part of the actions and initiatives of the companies, there is a recognizable effort regarding the combination of technologies and innovation. The media is part of society to educate the children and adolescents about the importance of healthy eating and exercise. The devotion of media’s attention, in particular, is to aim among the other populations that are disproportionately affected by childhood overweight and obesity. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the campaigns and researches educate and motivate the children in engaging themselves in a healthier lifestyle. The media can minimize the effects of obesity among children by creating information that can stimulate their social interaction in order to reduce the population of obese children.

References:

American Heart Association, (2005) A Nation at Risk: Obesity in the United State A Statistical Sourcebook, Accessed 13 July 2010, from http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1114880987205NationAtRisk.pdf

Institute of Medicine, (2004) Childhood Obesity in the United States: Facts and Figures, Accessed 13 July 2010, from http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/Data/Texts/IOM_ChildhoodObesityFactsAndFigures.pdf

San Juan, Jr. E., (2003) Challenging the Theory and Practice of Contemporary American Studies, The Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 25:303–333, Accessed 13 July 2010, from http://www.bulatlat.com/news/4-1/3-50SANJuan.pdf

WFA, (2008) Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents, World Federation of Advertisers, Accessed 13 July 2010, from http://www.pana.com.ph/docs/Marketing-Food-to-Children-and-Adolescents.pdf