Good news for HIV positive patients, as they can live up to 78 with ART

Good news for HIV positive patients, as they can live up to 78 with ART

News Unknown   09:12

A new study has shown how young HIV-positive patients being given the latest treatments can now live a "near-normal" life expectancy.

This latest useful information was disclosed in The Lancet, a medical journal written by scientists saying that a 20-year-old who starts antiretroviral treatment (ART) from 2010 can now live up to 78 years as any other person.

Though the patient would have died about 10 years younger if they had started the treatment in 1995, says the report.

Speaking with Sky News, Professor Jonathan Stern who co-authored the study stated that recent medical advances signifies that an HIV patient "taking one pill every day could expect near-normal life expectancy".

Prof Sterne also looked ahead to the prospect of eventually eradicating the virus completely, saying: "People who are treated are no longer infectious, or far less likely to transmit their HIV" when they are taking ART.

However, ART, a blend of three or more drugs that block the virus from reproducing and help repair the damaged immune system, need to be taken for life.

The ART drugs were widely announced 20 years ago which brought about a dramatic and instant reductions in the number of deaths linked to HIV, which can lead to AIDS if left untreated.

He  further that efforts being made to destigmatising the disease played a major part in people seeking help, as well as increasing the quality of life for those living with HIV.

One major example, was that of the 'Diana moment' in 1987, when Princess Diana held the hand of an AIDS patient in pictures that were broadcast across the world, was an early first step in removing the stigma associated with HIV.

The report also stated that despite the impressive treatments recorded so far, the life expectancy rate of those who got the virus via drugs does not improve as much as in other groups.

Nevertheless, putting into account all age groups, the life expectancy for patients remains lower than the general population.

Man finds giant tarantula on the street of Leicester

Man finds giant tarantula on the street of Leicester

News Unknown   08:30

A giant tarantula which as large as the hand of a human being has been discovered in one of the streets in Leicester.

The creature also known as the salmon pink Brazilian bird-eating spider, can grow to a leg-span of 10 inches, was to be abandoned in a plastic box in Narborough Road.

Commenting on about the creature, the RSPCA man who found the it, thought to be the third-largest species of tarantula, was someone who has a phobia for spiders and had been "understandably shaken" by the discovery.

According to Steve Smith, animal collection officer, presumed the giant spider was to be an unwanted pet which was abandoned by its owner who may have struggled to look after it.

He said: "We would recommend that anyone interested in keeping a tarantula as a pet thoroughly research the particular species' needs carefully first before deciding to get one, so they know what is involved and how long it is likely to be for."

Mr Smith said that despite its size, the spider was "not aggressive at all". As a specialist is now taking care of the spider.

Salmon pink Brazilian bird-eating spiders, or lasiodora parahybana, have pink hairs growing on their legs and are found in the tropical rain forests of eastern Brazil.

Despite its name, the species only rarely eats birds, preferring mostly insects it captures on the forest floor as well as lizards, frogs and mice.

Animal charities have warned of rising numbers of exotic pets being abandoned in the UK, often after they are given as presents.

It is not the first time a Brazilian spider has turned up unexpectedly. In 2015, a Bristol man received one in the post, meant for the previous owners of his house.

In 2013, a man had a tarantula confiscated after he tried to take it into a court in Kent.

32-year-old snake whisperer rushed to hospital after sustaining unbearable injury

32-year-old snake whisperer rushed to hospital after sustaining unbearable injury

News Unknown   05:51

32-year-old Abu from Kelantan, Malaysia, seem to have an insatiable flair for his pet, irrespective of the fact that he had been beaten on about eight occasion by his snakes, which at one point, ended led him into coma.

Abu development his like for snakes from his father, who is also known as a specialist snake handler.

Abu said: ‘The pain from a snake bite is very severe to the point that you can’t even describe it.

‘The worst bite would have to be the eighth time. I did not realise that the snake was bleeding from its head. I tried touching the wound on its head and it bit me right away. It took ten seconds for the snake to let me go.

‘On the way to the hospital, bubbles started coming out of my mouth and a few moments later I was unconscious.

‘The doctor confirmed that I was not going to make it because the venom had spread to my heart.

‘After being in a coma for two days I woke up. I am considered lucky to still be alive.’

Abu claims to follow safety precautions before allowing anyone take photos or ‘pet’ his venomous snakes; King, Chip and Cik Din.

He said: ‘I take my cobras to participate in training courses for taming snakes at the Fire Department Training Centre. I also lead awareness briefings on the dangers of snakes to the public.’

Last year the media reported that Abu had married his snakes, a claim which he rubbished and said his bond with snakes had been twisted.

He added: ‘No human can get married to a snake. That story is definitely false and I think the story got altered and twisted to suit people of different beliefs and culture.

‘I’m only interested in humans when it comes to marriage.’

Even though his snakes have put his life danger, the fireman has never thought of giving them up or felt afraid, instead is more driven to learn and teach other firemen and his community how to catch and tame snakes.

He said: ‘Snakes are wild species and we need time to get used to them and understand their characteristics to be able to tame them.

‘I don’t care if people call me crazy or stupid, I know what I’m doing. It is for the benefit of the public and the Fire Department.’

Diesel car scrappage to make millions of drivers in the UK get compensated

Diesel car scrappage to make millions of drivers in the UK get compensated

News Unknown   09:09

British government to compensate owners of diesel powered cars about £1,000 to £2,000 or more, as they enter a scrappage agreement after the PM overruled two cabinet ministers.

This is being done as the government perfects plan on how to tackle air pollution in the country. The measure will get worst offending cars off the British road.

Theresa May’s intervention is said to have come in as a measure to ease the concern being raised after a proposal was made to introduce “toxin taxes” on diesel vehicles in around nine or 10 cities while a further 25 councils being told to enforce less draconian measures.

Both the Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary, are said to have opposed the plan as they saw it as being difficult to target the problem cars.

The said payment would only be made to the owners of the car, provided they agree to buy a new low-emission car

According to statistics, there are about 11.2 million diesel cars in the using UK roads, out of which 1.9 are said to over 12 years old.

Therefore, if the UK government make it a duty to focus the five most affected cities outside London (Leeds, Derby, Southampton, Birmingham and Nottingham), that will bring about 100,000 to 150,000 being scrapped.

President of the AA Edmund King said: “It could be fiscally neutral. If it is dependent on the purchase of a new low-emission car, the government will automatically get 20 percent VAT, plus on most new cars there is an addition to the vehicle excise duty.”

Also, Director of the RAC Foundation Steve Gooding expected difficulties with the scheme. He said: “It is not a simple matter of taking the oldest cars out of circulation.

“The worst polluters could well be much more recent models that do high mileages in congested towns and cities.”

A survey which was conducted in March revealed that 68% of drivers are in support of a scrappage arrangement, while only 10% were against it.

During the era of Tony blair, car drivers were advised to change from petrol powered cars, but now, Theresa May has stated how that would  be taken “into account” in future plans.

During a recent trip to the Middle East, Mrs May said: “In relation to the issue of diesel cars, obviously we will be producing a new air quality plan, we've been required to do that by the courts.

“Decisions will be taken when we produce that plan – obviously we will take final decisions as to what we do.

“But I'm very conscious of the fact that past governments have encouraged people to buy diesel cars and we need to take that into account when we're looking at what we do in the future.”

Proposed anti-masturbation bill soon to become a law in Texas, months after a call was made to criminalise abortion

Proposed anti-masturbation bill soon to become a law in Texas, months after a call was made to criminalise abortion

News Unknown   06:20

A law tagged man’s Right to Know Act, set to make men in Texas pay a $100 fine for each ‘unregulated masturbatory emission’. The bill is said to be a satirical one, because women targeted always by anti-abortion laws.

When passed into law, the law will only allow masturbation that is conducted under medical supervision in an approved health care centre.

Thus, any “unregulated masturbatory emissions outside of a woman’s vagina, or created outside of a health or medical facility, will be charged a $100 civil penalty for each emission, and will be considered an act against an unborn child, and failing to preserve the sanctity of life.”

This new law would permit Texas men only “occasional” masturbatory secretions inside the approved facilities, the bill would insist that the resulting semen be “stored for the purposes of conception for a current or future wife.”

This bill is barely three months after Republican Tony Tinderhold proposed that the government should make abortion a criminal offence in Texas, in order to force women to be more responsible about their s3xual behaviour.

Britain risks losing up to 42,000 overseas nursing staff post-Brexit

Britain risks losing up to 42,000 overseas nursing staff post-Brexit

News Unknown   06:13

A report has revealed that the UK may face a shortage of about 42,000 nurses within six years of Brexit. This prediction was made available by government officials as they reflect on the possible outcome of EU and non-EU nurses refusing to come to the UK to work in the NHS from 2019.

According to the sad prediction, the shortage could range between 26,000 and 42,000 by the 2025 and 2026 respectively, as reported in the Health Service Journal. The journal reveals that there is a "severe risk of under-supply if immigration rules change and international inflows stop".

Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the College had warned of the situation "years ago" but had been "told we were scaremongering".

She told the HSJ: "This is a large problem that is coming at us quickly and we need to move fast. What we are not seeing is any real action."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said they were "focused on workforce planning to ensure the NHS has the staff it needs to continue to provide good care".