Glossary

publication bias – the tendency for published results to be different to other trials. For example, trials that show a positive effect are more likely to be reported and published than trials that find no effect.

obstetrics – a branch of medicine that refers to the care of women during pregnancy.

reverse transcriptase – an enzyme unique to HIV. It is used to convert single-strand RNA into double-strand DNA. This is needed before HIV’s genetic material can be integrated in the human DNA. HIV drugs that stop this process are called reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs).

latent – not active at present, resting. Latently infected CD4 cells are CD4 cells that are infected with HIV but which are resting. HIV drugs do not work on resting cells.

cerebrovascular refers to the blood vessels taking blood to the brain.

A blockage that restricts blood to the brain is called a stroke.

Strokes can occur when blood vessels in the brain block, or when a clot formed in another part of the body is carried to the brain.