Educational efforts increase use of HIV preventive drug in Africa by 55%

A promotional program increased use of HIV preventive drugs in a hard-hit African nation, a new study has found. Photo by Kim Cloete/NIH

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A promotional program designed to educate patients on HIV risk and prevention saw use of a preventive drug regimen among at-risk groups in Africa increase by more than 50%, according to a study published Wednesday by the journal Science Translational Medicine.

During the 18-month trial in the small, southern African nation of Eswatini, 34% of those in the study started pre-exposure proplylaxis, or PrEP, which involves giving antiviral drugs to those at risk for HIV before they're exposed to the virus to prevent infection, the researchers said.

A promotional campaign that included an educational booklet and a T-shirt increased participation in PrEP by 55%, they said.

The educational booklet highlighted the importance of PrEP and the HIV risks for pregnant women and sex workers, among others. The T-shirt carried the message, "What if there was a pill that could prevent HIV?" on the front and "Actually there is: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Ask me for more information about PrEP" on the back.

RELATED Cost puts HIV-preventing PrEP out of reach for many

Although the study focused on the population of one African nation, the approach also could be successful anywhere HIV prevalence is high and use of PrEp remains low, researchers said.

"I think our research applies to countries, and regions within countries, that have a very high HIV incidence in the general population," study co-author Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer told UPI.

"In these settings, PrEP offered at primary care facilities, or in the community, to anyone who is at at least a minimal risk of acquiring HIV ... could have a substantial effect on the course of the epidemic," said Geldsetzer, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford.

RELATED COVID-19 lockdown led to less sex, lower use of HIV prevention meds

Eswatini, a small country in southern Africa formerly known as Swaziland, has the world's highest prevalence of HIV among adults and an annual incidence of new infections as high as 3% of the population there, Geldsetzer and his colleagues said.

The promotional program they used was intended to increase trust within the community of clinic workers and boost PrEP participation rates.

The study focused on PrEP participation, retention and retention rates among 1,538 people who received care at six clinics in the nation, researchers said.

RELATED Potential new drug could be taken twice a year to treat HIV

The clinics offered PrEP to anyone over age 16 who had at least a minimal risk of infection, and gradually rolled out a promotional program that included videos, booklets and other materials designed to raise awareness of HIV prevention options.

Eventually, all study participants saw the promotional materials. However, to assess the value for increased PrEP use, participants at three clinics received them earlier than those at the other three.

Over 18 months, 517 of the study participants, or 34%, started PrEP, and about one-third of these participants attended all of their scheduled appointments during their first six months on the regimen, the data showed.

Participants who received the promotional materials were 55% more likely to start PrEP and stick with the regimen than those who did not, the researchers found.

"[Our] promotion package had a small, but significant, positive effect on PrEP uptake," Geldsetzer said.

"Patients, clinicians and policymakers generally felt that PrEP promotion and delivery should be expanded beyond healthcare facilities to the community to reach men, as well as women, who don't frequently attend clinic-based care.


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Antarctic Ice Sheet to melt, raise sea levels by 8.5 feet even under Paris Agreement

View of the rift across the Larsen C Ice Shelf as seen from the vantage point of NASA's DC-8 research aircraft on November 10, 2016. Scientists predict that even keeping global warming to a minimum under the Paris Agreement, enough of the Antarctic Ice Shelf will met to raise sea levels by 8.5 feet in the long-term. File Photo by John Sonntag/NASA | License Photo

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The Antarctic Ice Sheet will suffer irreversible ice loss raising ocean levels by 8.5 feet even if the world meets global warming goals laid out by the Paris Agreement on Climate change, scientists said in a report published Wednesday.

The analysis determined there are a number of temperature thresholds above pre-industrial levels that will ultimately lead to increasing sea levels if the world's nations don't rein in emissions and global warming.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal nature, was conducted by researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the University of Potsdam in Germany, Columbia University in New York City, and Stockholm University in Sweden.

The researchers determined that if global warming is maintained at 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- as laid out by the Paris Agreement -- sea levels would rise by 8.5 feet.

If the climate agreement is not met and global warming rises to between 6 degrees and 9 degrees above pre-industrial levels, sea levels will increase to up to about 138.5 feet. Global warming of 10 degrees above pre-industrial levels would cause Antartica to become "virtually ice-free," the study says.

The impacts won't be immediate, but once global temperatures reach these levels, Antarctic ice will irreversibly melt into the next century.

"Antarctica holds more than half of Earth's fresh water, frozen in a vast ice-sheet which is [more than 3 miles] thick," said Ricarda Winkelmann, lead authors of the study and researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and University of Potsdam.

"As the surrounding ocean water and atmosphere warm due to human greenhouse-gas emissions, the white cap on the South Pole loses mass and eventually becomes unstable. Because of its sheer magnitude, Antarctica's potential for sea-level contribution is enormous: We find that already at 2 degrees of warming, melting and the accelerated ice flow into the ocean will, eventually, entail 2.5 meters of global sea level rise just from Antarctica alone. At 4 degrees, it will be 6.5 meters and at 6 degrees almost 12 meters if these temperature levels would be sustained long enough."

Basically, the warmer Earth gets, the faster the continent loses its ice.

Last month, scientists discovered a new melting spot in East Antarctica, home to most of the ice sheet. An influx of warm seawater into the Lützow-Holm Bay has accelerated melt rates beneath the Shirase Glacier Tongue.

Senate blocks resolution honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg over language about successor

Female members of Congress stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried by a joint services military honor guard after Ginsburg lied in state at the U.S. Capitol on September 25. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday blocked a resolution honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after rejecting language regarding the selection of her successor.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer attempted to pass the resolution commemorating the life and legacy of Ginsburg by unanimous consent, but Cruz, R-Texas, opposed the measure citing language that her seat not be filled until the next president is inaugurated.

"Republicans came to us with this resolution, but ignored Justice Ginsburg's dying wish, what she called her most 'fervent wish' that she not be replaced until a new president is installed," said Schumer, citing a message relayed by Ginsburg's granddaughter following her death on Friday. "So we simply have added it to the exact same text of the resolution the Republicans gave us."

President Donald Trump said he will announce a nominee to replace Ginsburg by the end of the week and said a confirmation vote in the Senate should be taken before the election on Nov. 3.

RELATED Ruth Bader Ginsburg remembered as 'brave' fighter for gender equality

Cruz rejected the language in the resolution, accusing Schumer of attempting to turn the bipartisan resolution into a partisan measure.

"Under the Constitution, members of the judiciary do not appoint their own successors," said Cruz. "She led an extraordinary life. She was one of the finest Supreme Court litigators to have ever practiced. Justice Ginsburg understood full well that the position being put forth by the Democratic leader is not the law and is not the constitution."

He requested that Schumer remove the language and take up a resolution that includes Ginsburg saying she opposed increasing the number of justices beyond the nine currently serving.

"I believe Justice Ginsburg would easily see through the legal sophistry of the argument of the junior senator from Texas. To turn Justice Ginsburg's dying words against her is so, so beneath the dignity of this body," Schumer said in response.

Study: World must adopt CO2-catching science to meet climate goals

Thursday's report said the technology offers a cost-effective pathway for low-carbon hydrogen production and can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. File Photo by Ryan Tong/EPA-EFE

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A global energy watchdog said in a report Thursday that governments and polluters must quickly embrace carbon capture and storage technologies to have any chance of meeting future climate goals.

The International Energy Agency said carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology must have a key role in trapping global-warming emissions

"Carbon capture, utilization and storage is the only group of technologies that contributes both to reducing emissions in key sectors directly and to removing [carbon dioxide] from the atmosphere to balance the emissions that are the hardest to prevent -- a crucial part of reaching the net-zero emissions goals that a growing number of governments and companies have set for themselves," IEA said in a statement.

The major report, titled "CCUS in Clean Energy Transitions," said the technology can be used with existing energy infrastructure, such as power and industrial plants, and can provide solutions for heavy industries like chemicals and aviation.

RELATED California to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars by 2035

The report said the technology offers a cost-effective pathway for low-carbon hydrogen production in many regions and can remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

"The scale of the climate challenge means we need to act across a wide range of energy technologies," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said. "Carbon capture is critical for ensuring our transitions to clean energy are secure and sustainable."

Birol noted that world governments buying into the strategy is "essential" to creating a viable market for the technology.

RELATED Study highlights carbon sequestration services provided by U.S. forests

"But the industry must also embrace the opportunity," he added. "No sector will be unaffected by clean energy transitions -- and for some, including heavy industry, the value of CCUS is inescapable."

The IEA said there are existing plans to build more than 30 CCUS facilities worldwide at a cost of $27 billion, more than twice the total of investments pledged in 2017.

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CCS 

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AND USE IN THE BAKAN SHIELD

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American consumption of sugary drinks declines, study finds

A new study found that American consumption of sugary drinks is declining. Photo by Nica444/Pixabay

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the United States declined significantly between 2003 and 2016, according to a report published Thursday by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The percentage of American children who were "heavy consumers" of the drinks, including sodas and chocolate milk, declined to 3% from 11% over the 14-year period, the data showed.
For adults, the percentage dropped to 9% from 13% over the same period.
"Heavy consumers" were defined as those who drank more than 500 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages -- about 3 1/2 cans of soda -- daily.

RELATED Study: Diabetes drug metformin may protect the aging brain

"We found that the percentage of children and adults in the U.S. who are heavy sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers has declined significantly over time," study co-author Kelsey Vercammen told UPI.

"This is promising because we know that excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is related to poor health," said Vercammen, a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RELATED Rising obesity levels put Americans at risk during pandemic: CDC

Heavy consumption has been linked with weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities and gout, the agency said.

These beverages are widely consumed in the United States, with about 60% of children and 50% of adults drinking at least one during a typical day, Vercammen and her colleagues said.

For their analysis, the researchers analyzed data on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption for more than 20,000 children and 30,000 adults from the National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey.

RELATED Vitamin D deficiency increases COVID-19 risk by more than 50%

Although they noted declines in consumption overall, the percentage of heavy sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers increased slightly among people age 60 and older -- though it remains relatively low -- and little change was observed in consumption among adults aged 40 to 59 years.

"There have also been a number of public health campaigns about the health harms of sugar-sweetened beverages and greater awareness about the health harms of [these drinks] seems to be shifting public preference," Vercammen said.

In addition, "a number of cities and counties have imposed beverage taxes, while others have passed healthy beverage ordinances, which require restaurants to offer only healthy beverages with children's meals instead of sugar-sweetened beverages," she said.

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#MEDICARE4ALL

ACA reduced number of Americans with 'catastrophic' health expenditures



The ACA has reduced risk for catastrophic health expenditures for many Americans, a new study has found. Photo by Thomas Breher/Pixabay


Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Researchers have linked a nearly 20% decline in "catastrophic" healthcare expenditures during the last decade to changes made as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to an analysis published Thursday by JAMA Network Open.

An estimated 11.2 million Americans experienced "catastrophic" healthcare expenditures in 2017, down from 13.6 million in 2010, researchers reported. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 and fully in effect by 2014.

The researchers defined catastrophic health expenditures as calendar year out-of-pocket costs plus premium spending that exceeds 40% of post-subsistence income -- or income minus typical food and housing expenditures.

While low-income households saw a 2.3% reduction in risk for catastrophic health expenditures between 2010 and 2017, the risk still was more than twice that of those with higher incomes, the researchers said.

RELATED Supreme Court to hear Obamacare challenge one week after election

"These findings help to explain why so many U.S. residents, including those with insurance, continue to worry about their ability to afford needed care," the researchers, from Stanford University, wrote.

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was designed to lower the cost of healthcare insurance and reduce the number of uninsured Americans.

One of the goals of the law was also to protect low-income households from health expenses that would severely limit their ability to cover subsistence costs such as food and housing.
RELATED Study: U.S. healthcare costs nearly double of other wealthy countries



For the analysis, researchers reviewed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, using income information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number of uninsured non-elderly adults declined to just under 28 million in 2017, from nearly 43 million in 2010, the data showed.

Over the same period, the population of those who received Medicaid coverage increased to just over 18 million from 11.0 million.

RELATED Survey: Michigan Medicaid expansion reduced number of residents in 'poor' health

Although the number of Americans experiencing catastrophic health expenditures declined by about 20%, privately insured adults accounted for 54% of all cases of catastrophic health expenditures in 2017, up from 46% in 2010.

"Despite large coverage gains, 11 million U.S. adults, including 6 million with private insurance, continue to experience catastrophic health expenditures annually," researchers wrote.

"These figures are likely to increase as millions lose employment or require unexpected medical care because of [COVID-19]."

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Hamas, Fatah agree to 'unified vision' for Palestinian state


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks out against U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan on January 28, 2019, saying "the conspiracy deal will not pass." File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Leading Palestinian rival groups Hamas and Fatah on Thursday agreed to a unified vision in their fight for a Palestinian nation.

The groups issued a joint statement after the meeting in Turkey. It said Hamas and Fatah have a "unified vision" to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and continue its fight for an independent country with Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas and Fatah said they will continue to work out differences and capitalize on previous talks they have held in Ramallah and Beirut.

Azzam al-Ahmad, of Fatah's Central Committee, told Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency that coming elections will include Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. He said the outcome of the meeting will be given to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to issue a decree.

"It was agreed to hold legislative elections, followed by presidential elections, then elections for the National Council," al-Ahmad said.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, tweeted that both groups coming together would help Palestinians form a strategy in the long-running campaign for a Palestinian state and dispute with Israel.

"The dialogue is an important step towards reconciliation and partnership, and unifying the Palestinian stance in the light of the consensus on rejecting all the liquidation projects against the Palestinian cause," al-Sheikh said.

Earlier this month, Palestinian leadership condemned U.S.-brokered deals to normalize relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

German bishops announce higher payments to Catholic abuse victims STILL NOT ENOUGH

The Catholic bishops conference said the new panel will be comprised of medical and mental health professionals and attorneys. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A conference of German Catholic bishops introduced a new model on Thursday to pay survivors of abuse within the church, which could pay each more than $50,000.

The German Bishops Conference announced the creation of an independent committee to investigate complaints of sexual abuse by priests and other clergy. The panel would also determine compensation.

Conference Chair Georg Batzing detailed the new model Thursday at a meeting in Fulda.

Under the change, survivors are eligible for a onetime payment of up to $58,000. Victims will also be able to request that the church pay for therapy.

The independent committee will be comprised of medical and mental health professionals and attorneys. The proposed model would take effect next year.

While the increase in compensation is a tenfold increase over what survivors in Germany have previously been entitled to ($5,800), it's far less than advocates were hoping for.

Batzing called the improvement a "genuine step forward" in addressing past abuse, but acknowledged that some will find the change "unsatisfactory."

One German victims group had called for an increased payout to $466,000 per victim, arguing the amount would be appropriate for a lifetime of trauma some survivors have experienced.

A 2018 study paid for by the German Bishops Conference found that more than 1,600 clergymen had committed some form of abuse against thousands of minors, mostly boys, between 1946 and 2014. Victims groups believe the actual numbers are higher.

DOJ: 300 charged with committing crimes 'under the guise' of protests

BILL BARR'S BULLY BOY'S

The remains of vehicles are on the lot of Car Source, a pre-owned vehicle dealership, are shown on Aug. 31, after they were torched by protesters during demonstrations against the shooting in the back of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man last week in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Justice Department announced Thursday that more than 300 people have been charged with committing crimes "under the guise" of peaceful protests that erupted nationwide following the police-involved killing of George Floyd.

In a statement, the department said hundreds were arrested in 29 states and Washington, D.C., since late May with more than 40 of the 94 U.S. Attorneys' Offices filing federal charges, including attempted murder, assaulting a law enforcement officer, arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device, among a slew of other federal offenses.

"Violent opportunists have exploited these demonstrations in various ways," the Justice Department said.

Protests erupted nationwide against police brutality and racial inequality after Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by a White police office on Memorial Day in Minneapolis.

The Justice Department said of the hundreds arrested since then, 80 were indicted on arson and explosives charges, 35 were charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer, 30 with civil disorder offenses and 15 were charged with damaging property.

"These individuals are alleged to have set fires to local businesses as well as city and federal property, which will regrettably incur millions of taxpayer dollars to repair damages to the Portland Courthouse, Nashville Courthouse, Minneapolis Police Third Precinct, Seattle Police East Precinct and local high school in Minnesota; and, to replace police cruisers in South Carolina, Washington, Rhode Island, Georgia, Utah and other states," the Justice Department said.

RIGHT WINGERS
In one instance in Virginia Beach, Va., John Malcolm Bareswill, 63, pleaded guilty in August to making a telephone threat in early June to burn down an African American church. In another in Boston, John Boampong, 37, has been accused of firing 11 rounds at a crowd of police officers and civilians.

The Justice Department said several of those charged with civil disorder offenses used social media platforms to incite destruction during the protests and for police officers to be attacked.

In Knoxville, Tenn., Dominic Brown, 18, was charged with inciting a riot after posting messages to his Snapchat account instructing his followers to attack police officers.

In one message, he is accused of writing "we are not each other's enemy only enemy is 12," using a slang term indicating police officers and for his followers to "lace your shoes, wear masks and gloves. Bring hammers bricks whatever you have."

"Several of these charges carry significate maximum prison sentences," the Justice Department said, explaining that both arson and felony assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison.

"Through these acts, these individuals have shown minimal regard to their communities and for the safety of others and themselves," the federal department said.

Chinese citizen journalists remain in detention, reports say

By  Elizabeth Shim  SEPT. 25, 2020 

Chinese auhorities continue to detain journalists who went missing in February. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Chinese citizen journalists arrested in February while reporting on the spread of the coronavirus in Wuhan are on hunger strike and under residential surveillance, according to press reports.

Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist, continues to be detained, The Epoch Times reported Friday. Zhang is being held in Shanghai and is on hunger strike, as she faces charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," according to the South China Morning Post.

Chen Qiushi, a journalist and lawyer who made headlines when he disappeared in February, is under government surveillance at home, along with his parents, the BBC reported.

Chen reported from Wuhan in late January before he went missing on Feb. 6.
RELATED FBI director warns Chinese hackers are targeting U.S. COVID-19 research



Xu Xiaodong, a Chinese mixed martial arts fighter and Chen's friend, posted a video to YouTube on Thursday confirming the 35-year-old Chen was in good health and was under "supervised surveillance at a designated residence" in Qingdao, Shandong Province.

"The authorities have investigated his activities on the mainland, Hong Kong and Japan," Xu said.

"They are satisfied that he has no financial links with 'foreign forces,' was not responsible for any subversive activities [and as a result decided] not to prosecute him."

A lawyer who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said the surveillance is against the law.

"Since the authorities have decided not to prosecute him, it is actually not lawful to continue to keep him in close surveillance," the source said.

Citizen journalists began to roam the streets of Wuhan in January as the Chinese government and local Wuhan authorities declined to provide more information on the coronavirus.

Li Zehua, a journalist who disappeared after a car chase, could also be under residential surveillance, according to The Epoch Times. Fang Bin, another Wuhan-based whistleblower active on YouTube, remains missing, the report says.

EPOCH TIMES IS ANTI COMMUNIST RIGHT WING FAKE NEWS IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP