Research on AIDS Control

Statistical Evidence Used to Support Early Study Termination Study population, comprising two clusters, namely AIDS patients and those suffering from AIDS-related complex, was a factor that supported early termination of the study. Statistical evidence employed was that AIDS patients who suffered from pneumonia many times were included in the study. On the other hand, patients who suffered multiple Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) episodes were excluded from the study.

Thus, the research, comprising 27 participants who had spent 24 weeks in the study, 152 participants with16 weeks' participation and others had completed at least 8 weeks' of participation. At this point, 19 recipients of placebo and 1 recipient of 1 AZT (Azidothymidine) died during the study (Fischl et al., 1987). Are you for or against the early termination and why? The idea of early termination is not considered favorable, since the study proved valuable in treating the clinical condition, virus replication and immune function.

As this study was created as a randomized double blind placebo control (RDBPC) trial with duration of 24 weeks, the mortality rate would have been significantly reduced almost to zero. Patients could, be taught to receive placebo or AZT for immunity. Numerous indicators reveal that AZT's toxicity and the resulting dosage reduction may have contributed to treatment failure, and in turn, failure to sustain study benefits to participants. Also, the smaller variation between placebo- and AZT- receiving groups following 20 weeks into the study might be artifactual (Fischl et al., 1987).

Propose an observational study that might contribute to an understanding of why some people develop AIDS and others do not A Priority Research Agenda study (A Priority Research Agenda, 2010). Why some people develop AIDS and others do not In a majority of cases, absence of protective variants makes cells infected with HIV undetectable by the immune system. Scientists, for example, have proven earlier that individuals with immune systems capable of controlling HIV will most probably possess specific "flavors" of a key immune trait known as Human Leukocyte Antigen (or HLA).

This system enables the human body to differentiate between body cells that are healthy and cells that foreign agents (e.g. viruses) have infected. An area of the 6th chromosome which encodes for HLA holds genetic commands for the newly found amino acid variants. Five out of six of these variants lie within a CD4-controlling protein (which governs how CD4s (a category of immune cells) exhibit viral protein parts on their external shell, in the event they get infected by a virus).

The human immuno virus is especially drawn to CD4 cells and can infect them with ease -- without continuous antiviral treatment, HIV can gradually destroy infected individuals' immune systems. Genetic variations that alter the basic amino-acid unit of major immune system proteins also account for why certain individuals get affected by AIDS, whereas others do not (Knox, 2010). There has been significant progress in increasing HIV-affected individuals' ART (antiretroviral therapy) access, and avoiding vertical transmission.

But this rise in ART interventions has also brought to light several knowledge gaps with regard to ART intervention delivery and clinical management for children and women. Development of pediatric preparations and weight-adjusted dose recommendations, best models for ART delivery that minimize failure to follow-up and maximize treatment access, and effect of antiretroviral treatment (for vertical transmission prevention) on further treatment options in case of women are some issues that persistently challenge AID-affected people, their physicians, and program managers (A Priority Research Agenda, 2010).

Variables that you would measure It is recommended to use residual nonresponse bias, which is not revealed in measured behavioral and demographic variables. There are very few studies which evaluate this form of nonresponse bias, as they necessitate information regarding non-respondents' HIV status. Hull and colleagues ascertained non-respondents' HIV status in their study by inspecting sera previously obtained from patients who had visited an STD clinic (they employed a blinded testing technique to ensure that results.