[Photo/VCG] A cancer patient with HIV may have been cleared of the virus after receiving a bone marrow transplant from an HIV-resistant donor, thought to be the second such case after a bone marrow transplant, according to research published in the journal Nature on Tuesday. The patient, whose identity was not disclosed, stopped taking antiretroviral drugs 16 months after the transplant, and the virus has not been detected during an additional 18 months, according to the study. In the research, led by Ravindra Gupta, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, the patient received bone marrow stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation known as CCR5 delta 32, which produces immunity to HIV infection, according to Nature. The first such case of an HIV patient being cleared of the virus after a bone marrow transplant happened a decade ago to Timothy Brown, known as the Berlin patient, who is still free of the virus. The breakthrough suggests the first case was not a one-off and could pave the way for future treatments, Nature said in a release on its website. Gupta described his patient as functionally cured and in remission. But he cautioned, It's too early to say he's cured, according to a Reuters report. The procedure is expensive, complex and risky, and will not be a common method to cure all patients with HIV, the report said. rainbow rubber braceletsrubber wrist bandscustom bracelets canadaxl silicone wristbandscustom wrist bands
Glance from Kowloon on the skyline of Hong Kong [Photo/VCG] BEIJING -- China on Thursday urged the United Kingdom to respect China's sovereignty and stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks after the UK government released its latest six-monthly report on Hong Kong. We urge the UK to face the reality that Hong Kong has returned to China for 22 years, respect China's sovereignty, stop releasing relevant reports, and stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs, Geng said at a press briefing. It is undeniable that the one country, two systems practice has achieved widely-acknowledged success, he said. Hong Kong's affairs have been entirely China's internal affairs since July 1, 1997. The British side has no right to make irresponsible remarks or interfere with any excuses, Geng said.
