Deterministic And Stochastic Models Of Aids Epidemics And Hiv Infections With Intervention [Hardcover]

Tan Wai-Yuan (Author), Hulin Wu (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9812561390 | ISBN-13: 978-9812561398 | Publication Date: July 30, 2005

With contributions from an international team of leading researchers, the book pulls together updated research results in the area of HIV/AIDS modeling to provide readers with the latest information in the field. Topics covered include: AIDS epidemic models; vaccine models; models for HIV/cell dynamics and interactions; cellular kinetics; viral dynamics with antiviral treatments; modeling of drug resistance and quasispecies. Extensive deterministic models, statistical models, stochastic models and state space models on treating AIDS patients with anti-retroviral drugs are provided, as well as an in-depth discussion of these models. The book also contains updated reviews on mathematical models for assessing effects of AIDS vaccines, statistical methods for analyzing clinical trial data on AIDS vaccines, and overviews of models and statistical methods for assessing drug resistance of HIV to anti- retroviral drugs. Some important statistical methods specific to the intervention and prevention of HIV epidemic are also discussed. This will be a useful reference source for graduate students and researchers in biomathematics and biostatistics, as well as for HIV/AIDS epidemiologists and clinical investigators learning quantitative methods to study AIDS epidemics and HIV infection.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 612 pages
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company (July 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9812561390
• ISBN-13: 978-9812561398
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,286,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a grimly serious book, June 27, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deterministic And Stochastic Models Of Aids Epidemics And Hiv Infections With Intervention (Hardcover)

A grimly serious book. The chapters describe many models of how the AIDS/HIV pandemic might continue spreading. There are attempts to include numerous factors that contribute or act against the spread.

A major topic investigated in several chapters is the evolution of AIDS resistance to the protease inhibitors. The inhibitors have now been given in treatments for almost 10 years and have proved remarkably effective in fighting HIV to a standstill, though crucially not in eliminating it. A key problem, that surely keeps many researchers awake at night, is what might cause HIV to successfully mutate. One chapter, by Heffernan and Wahl, studies treatment interruptions as a probable cause. The interruptions might happen because some recipients cannot keep affording the treatments. Or they might, inadvertantly or otherwise, neglect treatments. (Zonked out junkies, anyone?)

Other chapters delve into such issues as better estimates of spreading. A consistent problem is that it is always possible to introduce a more complex model, with more parameters to estimate. What is vital is trying to discern a model with the minimum complexity, that still is adequate to describe a continuing epidemic. From the book, it is unclear which if any of the presented models this might be.