Home / Health / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
HIV spread to be reduced in new discovery
Adjust font size:

Australian medical researchers have found that topical oestrogen could help prevent HIV infection by blocking entry of the virus into the human penis.

A study by Department of Zoology of the University of Melbourne has found that applying oestrogen to the penis increases the thickness of the natural keratin layer in the skin.

The study, published in PLoS ONE (PLoS One) journal Wednesday, showed that keratin on skin acts a barrier to viral infection, so increasing the keratin layer could prevent HIV from infecting the male.

HIV affects over 40 million people worldwide and is on the rise particularly in countries where males are not circumcised.

Lead researcher Professor Roger Short, of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, said using naturally occurring, weak oestrogen could enhance keratin protection.

"We have found a new avenue to possibly prevent HIV infection of the penis," the Australian Associated Press quoted him as saying.

"In countries where circumcision is not religiously or culturally accepted, oestrogen treatments to the penis could be very effective in reducing the spread of the disease," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- HIV/AIDS remains potent since discovery 25 years ago
- ASEAN countries address HIV/AIDS issues
Most Viewed >>
- Asian mania for skin whitening
- Want skin like Snow White? Try TCM foods, acupressure
- TCM Rx: Build yin energy during your pregnancy
- Survey: 13 minutes of sex considered good sex
- Blood: The mother of qi - Why donating is a big deal in China