 | • HIV CARE TODAY
 U.S. FDA Panel Recommends HIV "Quad" Drug for Approval
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel last week recommended approval of the four-drug "Quad" pill for first-line HIV treatment. However, the panel warned about the potential for renal complications and expressed concern about the lack of female representation in the drug's clinical trials.
 Human Stem Cells Can Be Programmed to Find, Kill HIV, Researchers Say
"[A] team of UCLA researchers has now demonstrated that [genetically engineered human stem] cells can actually attack HIV-infected cells in a living organism," the UCLA AIDS Institute announces.
 African Americans Less Likely to Adhere to HAART; Untreated Depression May Be a Factor
Fewer than 30% of African Americans living with HIV had "optimal" adherence in a recent study, compared to 40% of HIV-infected people of other races and ethnicities. Meanwhile, depression was found to be much more common among African Americans.
 Insomnia, Daytime Sleepiness Not More Likely Among HIV-Infected People, Study Suggests
Insomnia rates among those living with HIV and on HAART in the U.S. are no higher than the general population, despite sleep disturbances being a common complaint among HIV-infected people taking treatment, according to a study from the U.S. military.
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• HIV NEWS & VIEWS
 Did Burger King Fire One of Its Managers Because He Is HIV Infected?
Christopher Peña, a Burger King employee for seven years, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a lawsuit against the fast food chain claiming that Peña was illegally fired because he is HIV positive.
 Ending the Epidemic: A Call for Leadership
"The President and Secretary Clinton gave us the vision" for an AIDS-free generation, writes Paul Kawata of the National Minority AIDS Council. "Now it's time for various federal departments to provide the substance to realize that vision and for Congress to appropriate the necessary resources to make it a reality."
 Dear HIV Organizations: You Really Want to Help Us? Pay Us.
Barb Cardell dreads it when people ask her what she does for a living. "'I am a professional volunteer,' I usually respond. ... What am I supposed to say? 'I can't work because 20 years ago I tested HIV positive, and just surviving was my full-time job?'"
 A Fire in the House: HIV/AIDS in the Deep South
"Having been active in the fight against HIV/AIDS for the past 25-plus years, I've seen plenty of life that is unfair, unjust and painful," Maura Riordan of AIDS United writes. A recent trip to Alabama brought it all back: "What I have seen and heard is far too reminiscent of my early days in this fight," she declares.
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• HIV/STD TRANSMISSION & EDUCATION
FDA Panel Recommends Approval of Tenofovir/Emtricitabine as Preventive Treatment for HIV
Late last week, an expert advisory panel recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) for pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP -- but its recommendation was neither unanimous nor all-encompassing in terms of impacted populations.
 How to Get Heterosexual Black Men Involved in HIV Prevention, Part 2
We continue our in-depth roundtable discussion with a panel of experts about how U.S. society (and the HIV/AIDS community) can help heterosexual African-American men use condoms more, more openly discuss HIV, and value themselves and their health more highly.
 To End HIV and Hepatitis C, We Have to Change the Conversation
It's a common refrain: "Condoms make sex less enjoyable." But is that really as true as many of us claim? "What about the idea of reframing sexual pleasure as including the absence of worry?" asks Dana Van Gorder, the head of Project Inform.
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• THE PATIENT PERSPECTIVE: FEATURED ON THEBODY.COM
 Six Reasons Why People Skip Their HIV Meds
Taking antiretrovirals every day as prescribed isn't the easiest thing to do, even in the once-daily treatment era. The reality is that everyday life brings with it obstacles that can stand between a patient and his or her treatment. This patient-focused slideshow discusses some of the common reasons why people skip doses and offers advice on how to resolve the issue.
 Jamar Rogers Talks About Life After His Elimination (Audio)
May 1 marked the end of the road on The Voice for Jamar Rogers, an HIV-positive New Yorker who captured viewers' hearts with emotional performances and his stirring story of redemption. He talked with POZ I AM Radio a few days after leaving the reality talent show.
 Under the Medicaid Microscope: Fighting for Assistance
Without Medicaid, Kat Griffith would never be able to afford her HIV treatment. But even though it keeps her alive, renewing her Medicaid authorization each year is a stunningly miserable experience.
 Dave R: "Dear Dave ...": The Virus Writes Back
"You knew all about me before we met ... How many friends had I killed, with you watching me do it and yet still determined to get into bed with me eventually? Oh please, don't tell me you never meant for this to happen!"
 As a Young Woman With HIV, Can I Still Reach for the American Dream?
"Is the American Dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness really achievable for HIV-positive women?" Sonia Rastogi asks. "[HIV] does not have to be a disease of crisis, despair and shame. Yet, it is. It is because HIV runs the well-worn path of gender inequality."
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