Psychoneuroimmunology and HIV-1.

Recent psychoneuroimmunologic findings have suggested that it may be useful to evaluate the influence of behavioral factors on immune functioning and disease progression among human immunodeficiency virus-Type 1 (HIV-1) infected individuals. Behavioral interventions with immunomodulatory capabilities may help restore competence and thereby arrest HIV-1 disease promotion at the earliest stages of the infectious continuum. Evidence describing benefits of behavioral interventions such as aerobic exercise training on both psychological and immunological functioning among high-risk HIV-1 seronegative and very early stage seropositive gay men is presented. The HIV-1 infection is cast as a chronic disease for which early immunomodulatory behavioral interventions may have important physical and psychological impact. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social Support, Positive States of Mind, and HIV Treatment Adherence in Men and Women Living With HIV/AIDS.

Numerous studies have linked social support to better medication adherence among illness groups, but few have examined potential mechanisms for this relationship. Relationships were examined between social support, depression, positive states of mind (PSOM), and medication adherence among HIV positive men who have sex with men (n = 61) and women (n = 29) on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Depression and PSOM were evaluated as potential mediators of the relationship between support and adherence. Cross-sectional data showed that greater social support and PSOM related to better adherence whereas higher depression scores related to nonadherence. PSOM partially mediated the relationship between social support and adherence. PSOM may be an important mechanism through which social support is related to better medication adherence in this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Massage therapy is associated with enhancement of the immune system's cytotoxic capacity

Twenty-nine gay men (20 HIV+, 9 HIV-) received daily massages for one month. A subset of 11 of the HIV+ subjects served as a within subject control group (one month with and without massages). Major immune findings for the effects of the month of massage included a significant increase in Natural Killer Cell number, Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity, soluble CD8, and the cytotoxic subset of CD8 cells. There were no changes in HIV disease progression markers (CD4, CD4/CD8 ratio, Beta-2 microglobulin, neopterin). Major neuroendocrine findings, measured via 24 hour urines included a significant decrease in cortisol, and nonsignificant trends toward decrease of catecholamines. There were also significant decreases in anxiety and increases in relaxation which were significantly correlated with increases in NK cell number. Thus, there appears to be an increase in cytotoxic capacity associated with massage. Implications for HIV+ men as those with other illnesses, particularly cancer, are discussed.