Clinical efficacy of antiretroviral combination therapy based on protease inhibitors or non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors: indirect comparison of controlled trials

The AIDS establishment and the pharmaceutical companies have spent
the last twenty-three years and billions of dollars searching for cures
for AIDS but they have made zero progress. On the contrary, their
recommendations for treatments given to AIDS patients and HIV-positive
individuals have led to the poisoning of millions of people around the
world with toxic chemicals (AZT, protease inhibitors, and other toxic
antiretroviral drugs, and corticosteroids).

My extensive research on the causes and pathogenesis of AIDS in all
risk groups has guided me to discover the factual causes of AIDS. It has
also led me to understand the reasons behind the AIDS establishment’s
failure to control the AIDS epidemic and finding cures for AIDS [1-3]. I
believe that implementing the following recommendations will help solve
the problems created by the AIDS establishment and save lives and billions
of dollars. These recommendations will also help the medical community,
governments, and the public to better understand the factual causes of
AIDS and eventually controlling the AIDS epidemic.

My recommendations include: I). Understanding the factual causes of
AIDS in the USA and the industrial world and solving the problems. II).
Focusing on the factual causes of AIDS in Africa and eliminating the
problems. III). Assessing the validity of the HIV-Hypothesis’s claim that
HIV causes AIDS. IV). Stopping the treatments of AIDS patients and HIV-
positive individuals with toxic chemicals. V). Evaluating the AIDS
establishment’s approaches in dealing with the AIDS epidemic.

I). Understanding the factual causes of AIDS in the USA and the
industrial world and solving the problems.

A. Causes and the pathogenesis of AIDS in drug users

Crack cocaine became very popular in the 1970s and the inhalation of
crack cocaine has caused severe respiratory illnesses in the drug users
that needed long-term treatment with high doses of powerful anti-
inflammatory drugs. The inhalation of crack cocaine has caused nasal
septal perforation, necrosis, and granulation; chronic rhinitis; laryngeal
edema; bronchial asthma; bronchiolitis obliterans; pulmonary edema;
diffuse alveolar damage and hemorrhage; pneumonitis; eosinophilic
pneumonia; interstital lung diseases; and foreign body granuloma of the
lungs [1].

The United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use
of glucocorticoids by inhalation in 1976 to treat the inflammation of the
respiratory system and asthma that are caused by inhaling crack cocaine
and other chemical agents. The chronic use of medications containing
glucocorticoids at high doses by inhalation cause severe impairment of the
immune defenses of the lungs and the upper respiratory tract. It has led
to the infection of the lungs and other organs with opportunistic
microorganisms and the development of cancer [1-3].

The treatment described on page 1463 of Fauci et al.’s book for
patients suffering from lung fibrosis (LF) can cause AIDS [4]. They
stated, “A trial of oral prednisone is begun at a dose of 1mg/kg daily and
continued for about 8 weeks. Should the disease not respond or be
progressive, additional immunosuppression with cyclophosphomide should be
considered. The objective is to reduce the white blood cell count to
approximately half the normal baseline value, causing a distinct drop in
the total lymphocyte count. However, a minimum count of 1000 PMNs/µL
should be maintained”. At these dose levels, the CD4+T cells count in the
peripheral blood of the treated individual is expected to be <300/µL
which meets the definition for AIDS set by the United States Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [4].

The following is a clinical example that shows the treatment of
patient who suffered from respiratory illnesses with cortiticosteroids and
other immunosuppressent agents caused AIDS. A 33-year-old previously
healthy female developed acute bilateral pulmonary infiltrates after 18
hours of intense rock cocaine (crack) smoking. Ten months later she
developed progressive dyspnea and interstitial pneumonia. She was
unsuccessfully treated with high doses of prednisone (1 mg/kg/day for
eight weeks) followed by a trial of cyclophosphamide. She died due to
respiratory failure with a superimposed mycobacterial infection. The time
between her first admission to the hospital with interstitial pneumonia
and her death with AIDS was about 21 months [5].

The chronic use of cocaine, heroin, and alcohol has also caused
peripheral neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, renal problems, and other
systemic illnesses, that are treated with high doses of corticosteroids
and other immunosuppressent agents. Since the 1970s, the prescriptions
containing glucocorticoids have increased tremendously to treat more than
forty medical conditions in AIDS risk groups. These are the factual causes
of AIDS in drug users and not HIV.

B. Causes and the pathogenesis of AIDS in homosexual men

Some homosexual men use cocaine and/or other illicit drugs and suffer
from injuries of the respiratory systems, infections, and other systemic
damage, which are treated with glucocorticoids and dose levels that cause
AIDS [1]. For example, a 38-year-old homosexual man with a history of drug
abuse, presented with acute bronchitis and focal organizing chronic
pneumonia with granulomatous reaction. He was treated with prednisone at
90 mg per day. After three weeks of prednisone treatment, he developed
Kaposi’s sarcoma on the foot, trunk, and upper and lower extremities. The
lesion was regressed after the cessation of treatment with corticosteroid
[6].

In addition, the use of alkyl nitrites, also known as “poppers” to
facilitate anal sex became popular in the1970’s among homosexuals. The
inhalation of “poppers” at sufficient amounts causes methemoglobinemia and
severe headaches, which was then treated with aspirin. The heavy use of
aspirin and alcohol causes thrombocytopenia. As well as, AZT and proteases
inhibitors cause bone marrow depression, thrombocytopenia, and peripheral
neuropathy. Thrombocytopenia and peripheral neuropathy are classified by
the CDC as AIDS indicator diseases, which are also treated with high doses
of glucocorticoids that cause AIDS [1-4].

Fauci et al. described the treatment for thrombocytopenia as follows:
60 mg of prednisone is administered for 4 to 6 weeks and then decreased
slowly for over another few weeks [4]. Cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and
AZT are also among the drugs recommended for the treatment of
thrombocytopenia. This treatment for thrombocytopenia can cause AIDS as
shown in the following case. An individual with thrombocytopenia was
treated with corticosteroid for 42 months and subsequently developed
Kaposi’s sarcoma that spread to the spleen [7].

Furthermore, some homosexual men suffer from rectal and colon
problems that have been treated with high therapeutic doses of
corticosteroids. In a study included nineteen HIV-positive homosexual
men, hemorrhagic proctitis was diagnosed in seven cases and three cases
had purulent cryptitis with abscess formation and fistulation. All
patients showed CD4+T cell/CD8+ T cell ratio <1 [8].

Sharpstone et al. reported that eight HIV-positive males with
inflammatory bowel disease who used rectal corticosteroid preparation had
a decline in their CD4+ T cell at a rate of 85 cells/µL per year [9]. Four
of them underwent coloectomy that eliminated the need for the steroid and
their CD4+ T cell increased 4 cells/µL per year. Eight HIV-positive
homosexual men who did not have surgery were used as match control. They
continued to have a decline of 47 cells/µL per year as the result of the
use of rectal corticosteroids.

Furthermore, investigators from George Washington University and the
National Institutes of Health reported a case of an HIV-positive
homosexual man with ulcerative colitis who developed a severe reduction in
his CD4+ T cell counts following 9 days treatment with corticosteroid. The
depletion in CD4+ T cell number was reversed following the cessation of
the treatment with the corticosteroid [10]. Briefly, approximately 3 weeks
prior to surgery for ulcerative colitis that was unresponsive to
corticosteroid, the patient's CD4+ T cell count was 930 cells/µL of blood
and the count fell to 313 cells/µL within 10 days of treatment with
corticosteroid. Five days postoperatively, the patient became asymptomatic
and was discharged on tapering prednisone without the use of
antiretroviral agents. After surgery, the patient's CD4+ T cell counts
progressively rose. The CD4+ T cell counts were 622 cells/µL and 843
cells/µL at 3 and 6 weeks following the operation, respectively.

This case also provides very important clinical observations. The
CD4+ T cell counts rose from 313 cells/µL to 843 cells/µL, while the viral
load dropped from 31,300 RNA copies/mL to 11,400 RNA copies/mL within a
few weeks following the cessation of the glucocorticoid treatment and
without the use of the antiviral therapy [10]. These data indicate that
the viral load count is highly influenced by the glucocorticoid treatment.
In addition, the results of the studies described above clearly show that
the reductions in CD4+ T cell counts in homosexual patients have resulted
from their treatment with glucocorticoid and not as the result of their
HIV-infection. These studies provided clinical proof that HIV is a
harmless virus and the HIV tests are worthless.

C. Causes and pathogenesis of AIDS in hemophilia patients and people
receiving blood transfusion

The main cause of AIDS in hemophilia patients and people who receive
blood transfusion is their treatment with high doses of glucocorticoid
compounds and other immunosuppressive agents. Hemophilia patients who are
receiving clotting factors have been treated with immunosuppressive agents
(cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids) to prevent the development of
antibodies to these factors. Patients with severe hemophilia also develop
serious chronic joint problems resulting from bleeding inside the joints
and they are treated with high therapeutic levels of glucocorticoids [1,
4].

Some of the people who receive blood transfusion suffer from serious
adverse reactions to the blood components and they have been treated with
glucocorticoid as described by Fauci et al. [4]. For example, the risk of
getting an allergic reaction from a blood transfusion is 1-4%. In
addition, some people who required blood transfusion also suffer from
chronic health problems that are treated with corticosteroid and
immunosuppressive agents.

D. Causes and the pathogenesis of AIDS in infants and children

In the United States of America, most of infants and children who
developed AIDS usually have mothers who are drug users. The prevalence of
cocaine use among pregnant women in the U.S. is relatively high as shown
by countless studies [1, 4]. For example, cocaine-positive urine was found
in 15.3% of 411 pregnant women surveyed in hospitals at the time of
delivery. The impact of illicit drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy
on infant’s health is extremely serious. Nine studies that included 1,295
drug-using mothers and 4,293 nonusers showed that cocaine use during
pregnancy has led to a high prevalence of premature births and low birth
weights [1].

O'Shea et al. evaluated the outcome of pregnancy of 95 HIV-positive
pregnant women and found that there was little variation in the plasma
viral load that occurred during pregnancy. However, there was an
association between the viral load and prematurity; the mean gestation at
delivery decreasing by 1.3 weeks for every 10-fold increase in maternal
HIV RNA [11]. We know that HIV does not induce labor but premature
delivery is a good indicator for drug use.

Mothers expected to have premature birth are usually treated with
glucocorticoids prior to delivery to facilitate the development of the
lungs in the premature infants. Premature infants are also treated with
glucocorticoids after birth to reduce the incidence of chronic respiratory
disease. In addition, drug exposed infants usually have serious health
problems that are treated with glucocorticoids. The thymuses of HIV-
infected infants and children with AIDS usually show atrophy of the
lymphoid and connective tissue. These changes are consistent with those
observed in the lymphoid organs of HIV-negative children suffering from
severe malnutrition or treated with high doses of corticosteroids.

II). Focusing on the factual causes of AIDS in Africa and eliminating
the problems.

In Africa, AIDS is caused by severe starvation. An individual
suffering from severe starvation usually loses up to 90% of his or her
thymus size along with the capacity of the functions of their immune
system. In starvation, the release of endogenous cortisol at high levels
causes atrophy of the lymphoid tissues [1, 2, 12]. Fortunately, AIDS in
people who are suffering from severe starvation is reversible with proper
nutrition and supportive medical care. In a study involving 110
malnourished children, the thymic area was found to be 20% of the size in
healthy children. The size of the thymus in these children was increased
from 20% of normal to 107% of normal following 9 weeks of proper feeding
[12].

The reversal of the reduction in CD4+T cell count in HIV+ pregnant
women following proper feeding was also reported by Fawzi et al. [13].
Briefly, the influence of diet on T cell counts in peripheral blood of
1,075 HIV-infected pregnant women who had poor nutritional status was
studied. The CD4+ T cell counts of the women who received multivitamins
increased from 424/µL to 596/µL during six months of proper feeding.

The prevalence of KS, lymphoma, lymphadenitis, and tuberculosis in
Africa is similar or even higher than those observed in homosexual men,
drug users, and AIDS patients in the United States and Europe [1, 14].
However, AIDS in Africa occurs almost equally in males and females because
starvation affects both sexes equally. For example, histopathology study
of 2,194 lymph nodes conduced in Zimbabwe showed that the most common
diseases were: non-specific hyperplasia (33%), tuberculous lymphadenitis
(27%); metastases (12%), Kaposi’s sarcoma (9%); and lymphomas (7%). In
children, the prevalence of KS was higher in children under 5 years than
in the 6-15 year bracket. Approximately two thirds (65%) of all patients
with KS were aged between 20 and 40 years [14].

III). Assessing the validity of the HIV-Hypothesis’s claim that HIV
causes AIDS.

The HIV-hypothesis states that HIV causes AIDS by selective killing
of the CD4+ T cells because these cells have a special receptor on their
membrane that bind with HIV. I have not found any truth to support these
assumptions. People with AIDS usually suffer from severe loss of CD4+ T
cell, CD8+ T cell, and other white blood cells in the peripheral blood and
lymphatic tissues. The lymph nodes of AIDS patients show atrophy and the
loss of all components that include T cell, B cell, and connective
tissues. These abnormalities resemble those found in patients treated with
high doses of corticosteroids and people suffering from severe
malnutrition.

I reviewed the changes in the lymph nodes of 117 HIV-positive
patients with AIDS reported in the literature [1]. These lymph nodes
showed atrophy of lymphoid tissues and stroma. Fauci and his colleagues
also examined the lymph nodes from HIV-positive AIDS patients and they
found that all types of lymphocytes were depleted. They stated that
apoptosis was not restricted only to CD4+ T cell; both B cell and CD8+ T
cell were found to undergo apoptosis. They also stated that the increased
intensity of the apoptotic phenomenon in HIV infection is independent of
the progression of HIV activities and the levels of viral load [15].

Furthermore, HIV has been found in CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, and B
cell lymphocytes in the lymph nodes of some people. It’s ability to infect
cells is not restricted to cells that have CD4 receptor as predicted by
the HIV-hypothesis [1]. In addition, the clinical examples described in
this report show that the reductions in the T cell counts observed in HIV-
positive patients treated with corticosteroid were reversed following the
cessation of the treatment with corticosteroid [8, 9]. The reductions in
the T cell counts were also reversed in HIV-positive malnourished pregnant
women when these women received a proper diet [13]. These clinical data
indicate HIV is a harmless virus.

It is very clear from the medical evidence presented in this report
that Robert Gallo and the proponent of the HIV-hypothesis have made false
statements in regard to HIV causes selective killing of the CD4+ T cells
and AIDS is a new disease. I believe that physicians, scientists, and
governments should ask Robert Gallo to provide the evidence that he
isolated HIV from lymph nods of AIDS patients that missing only CD4+ T
cell. My extensive review of the medical literature indicates that there
is no patient with AIDS who has his or her lymph nodes missing only CD4+ T
cell [1].

IV). Stopping the treatments of AIDS patients and HIV-positive
individuals with toxic chemicals.

AIDS patients, pregnant women, and malnourished people have been
treated with toxic and expensive drugs (AZT, protease inhibitors, and
other antiviral drugs) based on the false assumptions that HIV causes
AIDS. AZT causes severe bone marrow depression and reduces white blood
cell counts including T cells. It is very toxic to the stem cells in bone
marrow (the source of T and B lymphocytes) and to fast growing tissues
such as embryonic and fetal tissues. Protease inhibitors and other toxic
antiviral agents cause wide spread systemic damage in liver, kidneys,
pancreas, and other organs and should not be given to any human being.
Also, some patients with AIDS have been treated with high doses of
corticosteroids, which cause AIDS. These practices are not supported by
science and are causing tragedies and should be stopped [1-4].

The following are clinical examples that demonstrate the toxicity of
AZT and the invalidity of the AIDS establishment’s claim that AZT has
helped people with AIDS.
Fischl et al. gave AZT to 524 subjects who had a first episode of
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia [16]. These subjects received AZT in
either a dose of 250 mg taken orally every four hours (n=262) or a dose of
200 mg taken orally every four hours for four weeks and thereafter 100 mg
taken every four hours (n=262).

In this study, additional AIDS-defining opportunistic infections
developed in 429 subjects (82%) in the AZT treated groups. Furthermore,
the neutrophil counts declined to less than 34% of baseline in 230
subjects; the hemoglobin levels declined to less than 66% of baseline in
178 subjects; and 134 subjects received red-cell transfusions. 183
subjects (35%) were withdrawn from AZT therapy because of toxic reactions
such as severe anemia and neutropenia. At 24 months of treatment, the
mortality rates were 66% and 73% in the low and standard AZT doses,
respectively.

Furthermore, the following is a list of some of the serious adverse
reactions to AZT that have been reported in infants, children, and adults,
which show the suffering of the people, who are treated with AZT. These
reactions may include: 1) cardiovascular problems (neutropenia,
granulocytopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, and
vasodilatation); 2) digestive system and liver’s problems (edema of the
lip, bleeding gums, edema of the tongue, mouth ulcer, pharyngitis,
constipation, diarrhea, rectal hemorrhage, hepatomegaly with steatosis,
hepatitis, hyperbilirubinemia, and pancreatitis); 3) neurological problems
(tremor, twitch, anxiety, confusion, depression, dizziness, emotional
problems, loss of mental acuity, nervousness, paresthesia, hyperalgesia,
somnolence, and vertigo); 4) muscle and joint problems (myopathy and
myositis, muscle spasm, and arthralgia ); 5) respiratory system problems
(flu syndrome, cough, dyspnea, epistaxis, hoarseness, rhinitis, and
sinusitis); 6) skin problems (photophobia, sensitization reactions, acne,
changes in skin and nail pigmentation, pruritus, rash, sweat, and
urticaria); 7) urinary system problems (dysuria, polyuria, urinary
frequency, and urinary hesitancy); 8) other systemic reactions (lactic
acidosis, abdominal pain, back pain, body odor, chest pain, chills, fever,
syncope, lymphadenopathy, and hearing loss [1, 4, 17].

V). Evaluating the AIDS establishment’s approaches in dealing with
the AIDS epidemic.

The United States Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and Anthony Fauci, the Direct of the AIDS program at the US National
Institute of Health have overlooked crucial medical evidence that
indicates HIV does not cause AIDS. Below are clinical examples that show
specifically the measures that have been taken by Fauci to control the
AIDS epidemic are scientifically not valid. Furthermore, they have
contributed to the expansion of the AIDS epidemic in the USA and the rest
of the world.

1. Fauci has not considered the use of corticosteroids by the AIDS
risk groups

There is overwhelming medical evidence that show the wide use of
corticosteroids among patients in all risk groups in the U.S. My review of
the medical literature has revealed that Fauci has studied the influence
of corticosteroid on the structures and the functions of immune system,
especially T cell, since 1970s [18]. The symptoms and the types of
infections that he described in patients received corticosteroids are
similar to those described in AIDS patients. However, Fauci has not
considered these clinical data.

For example, Fauci et al. stated in 1976 that we have reviewed many
aspects of the host defenses that are altered by corticosteroids, and the
combined effects of these changes must be considered in trying to
understand the relation between corticosteroids and infections. Since the
defect with corticosteroids is broad, it is not surprising that many types
of infections seem to occur more often in patients treated with
corticosteroids. Of the bacterial infections, staphylococcal and Gram-
negative infections, as well as tuberculosis and Listeria infections,
probably occur most often. Certain types of viral, fungal, and parasitic
infections also occur often. Studies of bronchial aerosols showed that
with higher doses of corticosteroid in the aerosol, Candida infections of
the larynx and pharynx occurred more often [18].

2. Fauci’s treatments recommendations have caused AIDS

Fauci has recommended the use of corticosteroids at high doses in
individuals suffering from chronic illnesses and those suffering from
immune depression. His treatments recommendations have caused AIDS. For
example, pneumocystis carinii (PC) is one of the opportunistic infection
classified by the CDC as an AIDS-defining disease. Fauci et al. stated,
Adjunct glucocorticoid therapy should be started as soon as possible after
the diagnosis is made, preferably no later than 36 to 72 h [4, page 1825].

3. Fauci has called symptoms and lesions caused by drug use and
medications as AIDS indicator illnesses

Fauci has called thrombocytopenea, peripheral neuropathy,
glomerulonephritis, and other illnesses induced by drugs and medications
as HIV diseases. Fauci et al. stated on page 1,842 of their book [4] HIV-
associated nephropathy closely resembles the heroin-associated nephropathy
seen in IDUs. It is now recognized as a true direct complication of HIV
infection. The prototypic lesion of HIV-associated nephropathy is a focal
segmental glomerulosclerosis, which is seen in approximately 80 percent of
patients with this complication and occurs predominately in IDUs (heroin)
blacks. However; on page 1,550 of the same book, they reported that
intravenous heroin use is associated with an increased incidence of focal
and segmental glomerulosclerosis (heroin-associated nephropathy) and
occurs predominantly in blacks [4].

It seems reasonable to conclude that heroin, impurities, and
infectious agents other than HIV present in dirty needles are the causes
of the renal problem in the heroin drug users and not HIV. Gross examined
biopsies from the kidneys of 14 drug users and found that 11 (79%) of them
showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [19]. Fauci’s assumption of
including glomeruloseclerosis as HIV disease is not supported by medical
facts.

Furthermore, the CDC and Fauci have considered peripheral neuropathy
and thrombocytopenia as AIDS-indicators illnesses [4]. They justified
their actions by stating that autoimmune diseases induced by HIV cause
these illnesses. The medical evidence clearly shows that the CDC and
Fauci’s assumptions are not valid. Because alcohol, illicit drugs, and
many medications used by individuals in risk groups cause peripheral
neuropathy and/or thrombocytopenia. In addition, AIDS and autoimmune
disease are mutually exclusive illnesses. Patients with AIDS suffer from a
depression in the immune system functions, while patients with autoimmune
disease suffer from hyperactive immune system.

The common drugs that cause thrombocytopenia include:
chemotherapeutic agents, alcohol, myelosuppressive drugs, thiazide
diuretics, estrogens, antibiotics, sedative, hypnotics, anticonvulsants,
aspirin, sulfa drug, digitoxin, phenytoin, gold salts, heparin, and
sulfnamides and trimethoprim (the treatment for Pneumocyst carrinii).
These drugs also cause severe hematological complications, including
agranulocytosis and hemolytic and megaloblastic anemia.

4) Fauci has overlooked many medical indicators that show HIV does
not cause AIDS

My investigation has revealed that the majority of AIDS patients
suffer from metabolic and endocrine abnormalities. The high prevalence of
adrenal insufficiency observed among AIDS patients provides strong
evidence that AIDS in these patients is caused by the use of
corticosteroids [1, 4]. Fauci et al. stated that endocrine and metabolic
abnormalities are frequently seen in HIV-infected individuals, and that
most HIV-infected individuals studied at autopsy had involvement of
adrenal glands [4]. However, Fauci has not considered the involvement of
corticosteroids in the pathogenesis of AIDS in risk groups.

Furthermore, physicians reported to the CDC many cases of individuals
with AIDS but were not infected with HIV. Fauci and the CDC have not
investigated the cause(s) of AIDS in these people but rather called this
condition as “idiopathic CD4+ T cells lymphocytopenia” (ICL). They stated
that ICL is different from AIDS because the ICL patients also have low
CD8+ T cell and B cell counts in addition to low CD4+ T cell counts [4].
However, Fauci et al. also stated that people with AIDS have low B cell
and CD8+ T cell counts in addition to CD4+ T cell [4, 15]. It seems that
Fauci’s has made contradictory statements.

In addition, there are thousands of healthy people who have been
infected with HIV for more than 10 years. However, they remained
asymptomatic. Fauci and the CDC have referred to these people as “long-
term non-progressors” [4]. They should explain to us why people are living
in perfect health for 10 years or more with HIV, if HIV is supposed to be
a killer virus. The logical explanation for this mystery is that these
people are not using drugs and/or taking toxic medications.

Conclusions

The medical evidence presented in this report and the references
cited clearly show that AIDS is not a new disease and HIV is a harmless
virus. The HIV-hypothesis has misled physicians from all over the world to
prescribe toxic medications to healthy HIV-positive people and people with
AIDS. It has also influenced physicians to overlook the health problems
associated with the use of illicit drugs, alcohol and medications. I urge
the medical community, scientists, and governments to investigate these
issues to save lives and vital resources.

References

[1] Al-Bayati, MA. Get All The Facts: HIV does not cause AIDS. Toxi-
Health International, Dixon, CA 1999 [http://www.toxi-health.com].

[2] Al-Bayati MA. WHAT REALLY CAUSES AIDS? The British Medical
Journal, December 12, 2003. [http://bmj.com/cgi/eletters/327/7427/1306-
c#43382]

[3] Al-Bayati, MA. Stop Giving People Toxic Drugs: HIV Does Not Cause
AIDS. The British Medical Journal, April 4, 2002
[http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7340/757#responses]

[4] Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isslbacher KJ, Wilson, JD, Martin JB,
Kasper DL, Hauser SL, and Longo DL. Harrison's Principles of Internal
Medicine. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York USA, ed. 14, 1998

[5] O’Donnell AE, Mappin FG, Sebo TJ, and Tazelaar H.: Interstitial
pneumonitis associated with “crack” cocaine abuse. Chest 100(4): 1155-7,
1991

[6] Real FX, Krown SE, and Koziner B.: Steroid-Related Development
of Kaposi’s Sarcoma in a Homosexual Man with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Am J Med
1986: 80 (1):119-122, 1986

[7] Akmal SN, Wahab YA.: Kaposi’s sarcoma following long term steroid
therapy. Malays J. Pathol 1989; 11:65-68, 1989

[8] Lenhard B, Naher H, and Petzoldt D.: Inflammatory periproctal and
anorectal conditions in HIV infections. Hautarz 38(6):361-3, 1987

[9] Sharpstone DR, Duggal A, and Gazzard BG. Inflammatory bowel
disease in individuals sero-positive for the human immunodeficiency virus.
Eur. J. Gastroentrol. Hepatol 1996; 8:575-8

[10] Silver S, Wahl SM, Orkin BA, Orenstein JM. Changes in
circulating levels of HIV, CD4, and tissue expression of HIV in a patient
with recent-onset ulcerative colitis treated by surgery, Case report.
Journal of Human Virology 1999; 2:52-7

[11] O'Shea S, Newell ML, Dunn DT, et al.: Maternal viral load, CD4
cell count and Vertical transmission of HIV-1. J. Med. Virol 54(2):113-7,
1998

[12] Chevalier P, Sevilla R, Sejas E, zalles L, Belmonte G, and
Parent, G. Immune recovery of malnourished children takes longer than
nutritional recovery: implications for treatment and discharge. J. Trop
Perdiatr 1998; 44:304-7

[13] Fawzi WW, Msamanga GI, Spiegelman D, et al. Randomized trial
effects of vitamin supplements on pregnancy outcomes and T cell counts in
HIV-1-infected women in Tanzania. The Lancet 1998; 351:1447-1482

[14] Sibanda, E.N. and Stanczuk, G. Lymph node pathology in Zimbabwe:
a review of 2194 specimens. Q. J. Med. 1993; 86(12): 811-7.

[15] Muro-Cacho CA, Pantaleo G, Fauci AS. Analysis of apoptosis in
lymph nodes of HIV-infected persons. Intensity of apoptosis correlates
with the general state of activation of the lymphoid tissue and not with
stage of disease or viral burden. J. Immunol 1995; 154:5555-5566

[16] Fischl MA, Corette BP, Pettinelli C, et al. A randomized
controlled trial of a reduced daily dose of zidovudine in patients with
the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The New England Journal of
Medicine 1990; 323: 1009-14.

[17] USPDI. Drug Information for the health care professional. Volume
1, 21st Edition, Published & Distributed by Micromedex, Englewood, Co,
USA

[18] Fauci AS, Dale DC, and Balow JE: Glucocorticosteroid therapy:
Mechanisms
of Action and Clinical Considerations. Annals of Internal Medicine 84: 304
-15, 1976.

[19] Gross EM.: Autopsy findings in drug addicts. Pathol Annu 13 Pt
2:35-67, 1978

Competing interests:
None declared