Questões de Inglês

HIV/AIDS TREATMENT

DR. NICOLA WILLIAMS, PH.D

 

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative viral agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 
(AIDS), is a devasting and lethal disease that has caused widespread suffering worldwide for almost half a 
century and we still have no cure for this disease. But, while those infected can expect to continue treatment 
throughout their lifetime, in recent times there have been advancements in therapeutics.

 

[5] The introduction of daily combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) led to a significant drop in AIDS-
related morbidities and mortality. Even so, a mechanism of HIV persistence today is the proliferation of 
cells that were infected prior to the introduction of ART. In addition, cART therapy comes with a whole 
host of problems, including premature aging, drug fatigue, toxicity, and inflammatory effects. These side 
effects exacerbate the incidence of other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive 
[10] pulmonary disease (COPD). 

 

There are remaining knowledge gaps in the campaign against HIV. Challenges to long-acting antiviral 
therapy involve mutations which are resistant and understudied populations. The development of drug-
resistant mutations has been a barrier to achieving a cure for HIV. Meanwhile, problems with adherence to 
cART regimens involve adverse drug reactions and limited access to therapy.

 

[15] The targeting of integrase has been touted as one of the most promising approaches to combating HIV 
infection. This protein is highly unique. The inhibitors formulated to inhibit integrase are long-acting and 
have shown exceptional promise in their capacity to block HIV integration and replication. Meanwhile, 
another technique that holds promise is the in-vivo delivery of gene-editing tools to either target the virus 
or enhance the immune system or protect cells from becoming infected.

 

[20] There are opportunities for a collaborative effort and cross-fertilization of concepts from cancer research, 
for example, by utilizing studies done on immune resistance in the field. The same goes for research into 
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whereby increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in severe 
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection could aid further understanding of HIV.

 

At present, most of the research into a cure for the virus has been carried out by high-income countries.  
[25] In developed countries, the incidence of infection rates is much lower and tends to be mainly problematic 
within the remit of the male homosexual population. Bearing this in mind, we need to remain cognizant 
of the fact HIV strains are genetically and biologically diverse and vary according to sex, ethnicity, and 
geographical locale.

Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Recent-Advancements-in-Treating-HIV.aspx. Accessed in: 22 aug. 2024. (Adapted). 

    “Even so, a mechanism of HIV persistence today is the proliferation of cells that were infected prior to the introduction of ART.” (l. 6-7)

 

The underlined expression can be replaced, without significant change in meaning, by the following word:

HIV/AIDS TREATMENT

DR. NICOLA WILLIAMS, PH.D

 

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative viral agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 
(AIDS), is a devasting and lethal disease that has caused widespread suffering worldwide for almost half a 
century and we still have no cure for this disease. But, while those infected can expect to continue treatment 
throughout their lifetime, in recent times there have been advancements in therapeutics.

 

[5] The introduction of daily combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) led to a significant drop in AIDS-
related morbidities and mortality. Even so, a mechanism of HIV persistence today is the proliferation of 
cells that were infected prior to the introduction of ART. In addition, cART therapy comes with a whole 
host of problems, including premature aging, drug fatigue, toxicity, and inflammatory effects. These side 
effects exacerbate the incidence of other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive 
[10] pulmonary disease (COPD). 

 

There are remaining knowledge gaps in the campaign against HIV. Challenges to long-acting antiviral 
therapy involve mutations which are resistant and understudied populations. The development of drug-
resistant mutations has been a barrier to achieving a cure for HIV. Meanwhile, problems with adherence to 
cART regimens involve adverse drug reactions and limited access to therapy.

 

[15] The targeting of integrase has been touted as one of the most promising approaches to combating HIV 
infection. This protein is highly unique. The inhibitors formulated to inhibit integrase are long-acting and 
have shown exceptional promise in their capacity to block HIV integration and replication. Meanwhile, 
another technique that holds promise is the in-vivo delivery of gene-editing tools to either target the virus 
or enhance the immune system or protect cells from becoming infected.

 

[20] There are opportunities for a collaborative effort and cross-fertilization of concepts from cancer research, 
for example, by utilizing studies done on immune resistance in the field. The same goes for research into 
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whereby increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in severe 
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection could aid further understanding of HIV.

 

At present, most of the research into a cure for the virus has been carried out by high-income countries.  
[25] In developed countries, the incidence of infection rates is much lower and tends to be mainly problematic 
within the remit of the male homosexual population. Bearing this in mind, we need to remain cognizant 
of the fact HIV strains are genetically and biologically diverse and vary according to sex, ethnicity, and 
geographical locale.

Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Recent-Advancements-in-Treating-HIV.aspx. Accessed in: 22 aug. 2024. (Adapted). 

The article talks about HIV/AIDS treatment. Regarding this topic, the author’s main aim is the following:

Read the following letter to the editor.

 

To the Editor:

    Defective airplanes, tobacco products, cars without seatbelts and social media posts: One of these things is not like the others.

    The surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy proposes applying warning labels to social media platforms as if they are surely dangerous, like cigarettes and airplanes whose doors fall off during a flight. But there’s another way social media is different: It’s a tool we use to express ourselves. As such, its use is protected by the First Amendment¹.

    This isn’t the first time the government has tried to regulate expression in the name of protecting kids. It tried to do so in the 1950s with comics, the 1980s with rock music and the 1990s with video games. We now look back on these efforts as misguided and unconstitutional.

 

Nico Perrino

Washington

The writer is the executive vice president of FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

(www.nytimes.com, 24.06.2024. Adapted.)

 

¹ First Amendment: an item in the American Constitution that guarantees the people freedom concerning religion and expression, among other rights.

 

It is the letter writer’s explicit position on protection protocols:

Read the text to answer question.

 

     When United States (US) Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy pushed for a tobacco-style warning on social media, he called the mental health crisis in young people an emergency that demanded action without waiting for “perfect information.”

     Even among experts, questions remain about the exact role that social media plays in the mental health of children and teens. Authors of a comprehensive new review of research on the topic say there’s still key information missing to know whether prevention programs and interventions will work.

     In the study, published recently in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found an overall link between anxiety and depression in adolescents and the time spent on social media platforms, as well as a link between the types of activities and content they were interacting with. However, the level of impact varied enough to suggest that the findings shouldn’t be generalized to the population as a whole. “In a world increasingly saturated by digital technology, we cannot afford to design prevention programs, interventions, and regulations without knowing that they work for everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable,” wrote the study authors.

    The National Academies committee specifically recommend against a social media ban. Despite potential harms — such as unhealthy social comparisons and distracting from other important healthy behaviors such as sleep, exercise and studying — social media can also benefit young people by helping to foster connection with friends and family, and with online support communities.

(Deidre McPhillips. https://edition.cnn.com, 24.06.2024. Adapted.)

According to the fourth paragraph, social media use can, potentially,

Read the text to answer question.

 

     When United States (US) Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy pushed for a tobacco-style warning on social media, he called the mental health crisis in young people an emergency that demanded action without waiting for “perfect information.”

     Even among experts, questions remain about the exact role that social media plays in the mental health of children and teens. Authors of a comprehensive new review of research on the topic say there’s still key information missing to know whether prevention programs and interventions will work.

     In the study, published recently in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found an overall link between anxiety and depression in adolescents and the time spent on social media platforms, as well as a link between the types of activities and content they were interacting with. However, the level of impact varied enough to suggest that the findings shouldn’t be generalized to the population as a whole. “In a world increasingly saturated by digital technology, we cannot afford to design prevention programs, interventions, and regulations without knowing that they work for everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable,” wrote the study authors.

    The National Academies committee specifically recommend against a social media ban. Despite potential harms — such as unhealthy social comparisons and distracting from other important healthy behaviors such as sleep, exercise and studying — social media can also benefit young people by helping to foster connection with friends and family, and with online support communities.

(Deidre McPhillips. https://edition.cnn.com, 24.06.2024. Adapted.)

The study described in the third paragraph

Read the text to answer question.

 

     When United States (US) Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy pushed for a tobacco-style warning on social media, he called the mental health crisis in young people an emergency that demanded action without waiting for “perfect information.”

     Even among experts, questions remain about the exact role that social media plays in the mental health of children and teens. Authors of a comprehensive new review of research on the topic say there’s still key information missing to know whether prevention programs and interventions will work.

     In the study, published recently in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found an overall link between anxiety and depression in adolescents and the time spent on social media platforms, as well as a link between the types of activities and content they were interacting with. However, the level of impact varied enough to suggest that the findings shouldn’t be generalized to the population as a whole. “In a world increasingly saturated by digital technology, we cannot afford to design prevention programs, interventions, and regulations without knowing that they work for everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable,” wrote the study authors.

    The National Academies committee specifically recommend against a social media ban. Despite potential harms — such as unhealthy social comparisons and distracting from other important healthy behaviors such as sleep, exercise and studying — social media can also benefit young people by helping to foster connection with friends and family, and with online support communities.

(Deidre McPhillips. https://edition.cnn.com, 24.06.2024. Adapted.)

The expression “‘perfect information’”, from the first paragraph, refers to