1993

Genelabs Technologies Inc. Reports Preliminary Results of Phase II Clinical Trial for AIDS Drug--GLQ223--at Scientific Conference: Business Wire (10/18/93); Redwood City, Calif.--Genelabs Technologies Inc. recently presented preliminary results of its Phase II study of GLQ223, an anti-viral compound, against AIDS and AIDS-related complex. The results were reported by the principal investigator, James O. Kahn, assistant clinical professor at the University of California at
AIDSFront: Medical Briefs: Advocate (10/19/93) No. 640, P. 33; With testing of gp160 beginning in August, Massachusetts became the first state to sponsor testing of an AIDS therapy that is the reverse of others. The new therapy uses a vaccine to fight infection that has already taken hold in the body. Conventional vaccines aim to prevent infection, but this latest therapy intends
Arena's Bold AIDS Play Focuses on Home, Family: Baltimore Sun (10/28/93) P. 4E (Rousuck, J. Wynn); The nation s oldest continuously operating black community theater will present a play that revolves around something that African-Americans are becoming all too familiar with-- AIDS. Cheryl West s Before It Hits Home, the first major drama to portray the effect of the deadly disease among blacks, imparts much essentia
Poll: Teens Want Hillary Clinton for Prez in 1996: United Press International (10/28/93); New York--Today s teenagers think that Hillary Clinton should be elected U.S. president in 1996, and view AIDS as the nation s leading problem, reveals a recent survey that polled 5,000 young people across the country on such topics as their sexual and political opinions. Teens pointed to AIDS as America s worst proble
Scandal of Blood Plasma Untested for HIV Broadens in Germany: United Press International (10/31/93); Berlin--Germany s HIV scandal grew Sunday as a second firm was charged with supplying blood plasma not screened for the AIDS virus, and as hospitals began reviewing records to identify patients who received untested blood. Pharm Dessau was charged with the knowing distribution of plasma which had not been tested for HI
Dinkins Administration Failed to Spend $11 Million in Federal AIDS Funds: United Press International (10/29/93) (Byron, Peg); New York--The Dinkins administration reported recent calculations indicating that New York City will fail to spend about $11 million of an allocated $44 million from the Ryan White Care Act before the year ending in April 1994. AIDS Policy Coordinator Ronald Johnson said he hoped the money would be used more quickly in
AIDS Sufferer Surrender Ends Riviera Hostage Drama: Reuters (10/31/93); Nice, France--A man with AIDS detained three hostages in a French Riviera clinic for six hours before surrendering early Sunday after his brother, a police officer, convinced him to give up, said authorities. Christophe Azouzi, 32, a former patient of the Sainte-Marie clinic, had demanded $120 million and a helicopter
Danish Police Find Stolen HIV Test Tubes: Reuters (10/29/93); Copenhagen--Danish police have found 70 of the 75 test tubes of HIV that were stolen from a Copenhagen hospital, and arrested a suspect of the theft. The test tubes were taken from a locked freezere at Hvidovre Hospital, where they were being used for research purposes. The thief may have believed that they contained d
AIDS Agency in Chaotic State, Critics Charge: Washington Times (10/29/93) P. C8 (Barras, Jonetta Rose); Critics attest that the Agency for HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C., is in a state of chaos. Indeed, the agency has been plagued with numerous problems from as far back as a year ago, when an agency employee was sent on a $2,000 trip to the Virgin Islands for a conference which records indicate he never registered for or a
AIDS Activists Protest at Capitol: United Press International (10/29/93) (Sorensen, Andy); Sacramento--More than 90 activists from the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP) staged a political funeral Friday before the Capitol to protest California Gov. Pete Wilson s policy towards people with AIDS. The group accused Wilson of cutting AIDS funding, and denounced his veto of a needle exchange bill that woul
Researchers Create Molecule to Block AIDS Infection: Wall Street Journal (11/01/93) P. A11A; French researchers have created a type of molecules that they say are able to block AIDS infection in test-tube research. In lab trials, the molecule CDR3 blocks the entry doors on three cell types targeted by HIV: lymphocyte, macrophage, and intestinal cells, according to the team at North Marseille Hospital. Thanks t
Punctures in Surgical Gloves: Lancet (Great Britain) (10/16/93) Vol. 342, No. 8877, P. 984 (Lane, T. Vaughan et al.); The practice of double gloving among orthopedic surgeons serves a dual purpose, according to Lane et al. Surgeons are concerned about infection risks for the patient and, at the same time, double gloves provide added protection for the staff should one glove be punctured. Wearing extra gloves effectively reduces the pe
Infant AIDS Prevention Study Finally Gets Going: Journal of American Medical Association (10/20/93) Vol. 270, No. 15, P. 1785 (Cotton, Paul); After a year-long delay, HIV immunoglobulin (HIVIG), which may prevent the transmission of the AIDS virus from pregnant mothers to their infants, will finally be tested in a clinical trial. Researchers hope that HIVIG, which contains antibodies to HIV, will work much in the same way as do similar products with antibodi
Northwest Philadelphia AIDS Prevention Program to Hold Kick- Off Event; Temple University's Full Circle Theater to Be Featured: PR Newswire (10/25/93); Take It Into The Palms Of Your Hands, a new AIDS education and prevention program for residents of Northwest Philadelphia, will present a special performance featuring Temple University s Full Circle Theater to launch the campaign. Take It Into The Palms Of Your Hands is a community intervention project that aims to l
Diagnostik Purchases HIV/AIDS Specialty Pharmacy Company: PR Newswire (10/27/93); Albuquerque, N.M.--Diagnostik, Inc. has announced the $9 million acquisition of Chronitech Health Services, Inc., which provides specialty pharmacy, homecare medication, and infusion services to the HIV/AIDS market. This acquisition enables Diagnostik to respond quickly to the growing need for quality, reliable special
American Red Cross Selects Ortho-Chiron Joint Business as Major Supplier for Blood Screening Tests: Business Wire (10/27/93); Emeryville, Calif.--The American Red Cross has signed a contract to purchase several mandated blood virus ELISA screening tests exclusively from the joint immunodiagnostic business of Chiron Corp. and Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc. For a three-year period beginning March 1, 1994, the Red Cross will buy four or five ELIS
IDC's Virotech Unit Secures Favorable Test Results With Anti- HIV Drug: PR Newswire (10/27/93); Minneapolis--Virotech, Inc., a subsidiary of IDC Holdings, Ltd., announced that one of its anti-HIV compounds achieved significant viral reduction at low concentrations with negligible toxicity to healthy cells. Virotech scientists initially theorized that the compound would inhibit viral activity within the form of th
The Immune Response Corporation Receives U.S. Patent on HIV Technology: PR Newswire (10/27/93); Carlsbad, Calif.--The Immune Response Corporation has received a U.S. patent relating to its HIV immunotherapeutic product, which is designed to boost the immune system of HIV-infected individuals and thereby allow the body s normal defense mechanism to control the virus. A Phase II/III clinical trial of the product ha
ISIS Files for Antisense Drug to Treat CMV Infections That Cause Blindness in AIDS Patients: PR Newswire (10/27/93); Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. has, for the second time, filed an investigational new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for the use of an antisense drug for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients. CMV retinitis is an opportunistic vira
Four Asian Nations Join Drug-Fighting Alliance: United Press International (10/27/93); Bangkok--Four Asian countries added their names to the United Nations International Drug Control Program to combat illegal drug production and trafficking in the Golden Triangle area of Southeast Asia. China , Laos , Burma , and
Indonesia to Hand Out Free Condoms in Irian Jaya: Reuters (10/28/93); Jakarta--In an effort to curb the spread of AIDS, health officials will give away 16,000 condoms in the remote eastern province of Irian Jaya, reported the Antara news agency. The goal of the condom distribution is to prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases in that province, said health official Irwan
Prison Guards Complain of Working Conditions: United Press International (10/28/93); Crescent City, Calif.--Correctional officers at Pelican Bay State Prison in California have filed a complaint accusing the state of failure to protect them from the human waste of inmates, which is often pitched at them from cells. The waste is a health threat to the guards because it may contain blood with infectious
German Plasma Firm Closed: Wall Street Journal (10/29/93) P. A11; The German government has revoked the manufacturing license of UB-Plasma, and police have shut down the pharmaceutical firm in Koblenz, Germany , which failed to ensure that all of its blood products were not contaminated with the AIDS virus. Authorities were trying to locate the company s products, their intention bei
AIDS Digest: Genetic 'Antisense' Drug Enters Human Testing: Washington Blade (10/22/93) Vol. 24, No. 45, P. 29; Massachusetts-based drug company Hybridon announced the recent kick-off of a clinical trial to test a new drug that interferes with the genetic code of HIV. France s National Agency for the Fight Against AIDS is co-sponsoring the trial of GEM 91, a so-called antisense molecule. While other anti -HIV drugs attack the vi
Ross Prepares Launch of Beverage for AIDS Patients: Adweek--Eastern Edition (10/18/93) Vol. 34, No. 42, P. 9 (Riddle, Judith Springer); Ross Products, a division of Abbott Laboratories , plans to target the health care profession in a print advertising and public relations blitz to market a nutritional drink formulated expressly to meet the dietary needs of people with HIV/AIDS. The beverage, known as Advera, is fortified with vitamins, minerals, and o
Agouron Reports Novel Anti-HIV Compounds: PR Newswire (10/20/93); La Jolla, Calif.--At a recent New Orleans conference on antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. unveiled the chemical structure of a novel class of chemical compounds that may inhibit a key enzyme required for HIV replication and which may, consequently, block HIV infection of T-cells in vit
AmFar President to Speak in Wooster: United Press International (10/26/93); Wooster, Ohio--The president of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFar) will deliver a lecture on Youth and AIDS on Thursday, Oct. 28, at the 1993-94 Wooster Forum. As one of the country s top public health authorities, Dr. Mervyn Silverman has been active in the battle against AIDS since the onslaught of the
Sheffield Medical Technologies and Johns Hopkins Collaborate on Clinical Development of AIDS Therapeutic; Planning Underway for RBC-CD4 Phase IIA Clinical Trial: Business Wire (10/25/93); Houston--Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. announced that Johns Hopkins University will conduct a double-blinded, Phase II clinical trial of Sheffield s red blood cell(RBC)-CD4 Complex in 12 HIV-infected patients. The study is designed to evaluate the antiviral activity of the RBC-CD4 Complex on viral load and to det
Over 2,300 German AIDS Cases From HIV-Infected Blood: United Press International (10/22/93); Berlin--The Federal Health Office (BGA) in Berlin announced last week that a total of 2,305 Germans became infected with the AIDS virus after receiving contaminated blood and pharmaceutical products. The BGA said there are currently 60,000 known cases of HIV infection in Germany , and that three -fourths of those invol
Targeted Genetics Corp.: HIV-Killing Cells Used as Experimental Gene Therapy: PR Newswire (10/25/93); Seattle--Targeted Genetics Corp. announced the start of a gene therapy trial for a potential HIV treatment called adoptive immunotherapy in which genetically modified cells specifically recognize and destroy HIV-infected cells. These killer T- cells will be isolated, modified to contain a special suicide gene, expanded
Arena's Bold AIDS Play Focuses on Home, Family: Baltimore Sun (10/28/93) P. 4E (Rousuck, J. Wynn); The nation s oldest continuously operating black community theater will present a play that revolves around something that African-Americans are becoming all too familiar with-- AIDS. Cheryl West s Before It Hits Home, the first major drama to portray the effect of the deadly disease among blacks, imparts much essentia
Court Ruling, AIDS Vote Cause Outcry in France: Reuters (10/27/93); Paris--A court ruling in an AIDS lawsuit and a parliamentary vote on HIV testing Wednesday triggered outrage in France . In the northern town of Metz, Judge Margareth Stagier placed a mother and father under investigation for failing to caution their daughter s boyfriend about her HIV-positive status. The man, identif
MBTA Rejects New Condom Campaign: Boston Globe (10/27/93) P. 21 (Kong, Dolores); With the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority s (MBTA) second rejection of paid condom ads in little more than a year, the state s largest AIDS organization has accused the system of censorship and will sue. The MBTA has declined to accept the ads for fear they may be offensive, but the Massachusetts AIDS Action
Eat Out so That AIDS Victims Can Eat In: Baltimore Sun (10/28/93) P. 1E (Corey, Mary); On Thursday night, 40 or so Baltimore-area restaurants will take part in Dining Out for Life, an event to raise money for an AIDS food service. Regi s, Gampy s, and Mick s are a few of the participating restaurants that will donate 20 percent of the money from dinner bills this evening to Moveable Feast, a meal deliver
Reducing the Cost of HIV Antibody Testing: Lancet (Great Britain) (10/02/93) Vol. 342, No. 8875, P. 866 (Tamashiro, Hiko and Heymann, David); Tamashiro and Heymann defend their suggestion that use of a second and third enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or a simple-rapid test to confirm HIV infection is as sensitive and specific as western blot strategies. Their work was questioned by Simon and Brun-Vezinet, who were concerned that the proposed strate
The Taking of Free Condoms in a Drug Abuse Treatment Clinic: The Effects of Location and Posters: American Journal of Public Health (10/93) Vol. 83, No. 10, P. 1466 (Amass, Leslie et al.); Injecting drug use and unprotected sex are two of the primary behavioral risk factors contributing to the steady transmission of the AIDS virus. Condom use is the most powerful tool currently available to prevent transmission during sex. Amass et al. report that, while treatment can reduce drug use and needle sharing,
Good Medicine?: Advocate (10/19/93) No. 640, P. 16; President Clinton s proposed plan for health care reform has earned the praise of AIDS advocates. There are three areas where the proposal looks good to us, said Daniel T. Bross, executive director of the AIDS Action Council, a lobbying group. The prescription drug coverage looks like it will cover most AIDS drugs. In
Politics and AIDS Research: Washington Post (10/26/93) P. A16; The editors of the Washington Post offer some criticism of Congress for its slow response concerning clinical testing of the controversial AIDS vaccine gp160. About this time last year, they recall, Congress appropriated $20 million for the Department of Defense to conduct accelerated tests of the drug, although the us
AIDS Counseling: Associated Press (10/26/93) (Davis, Amanda); A retired financial planner infected with HIV spoke at a recent AIDS conference in Kansas City about how AIDS patients can manage the burden on their financial situations. The most common mistake HIV-positive people make is not doing anything, declares John Darragh. Because only 6.1 percent of people with full-blown AI
Study Shows AIDS Patients Need Change in Care System: United Press International (10/24/93) (Wasowicz, Lidia); San Francisco--Turf wars, limited resources, and narrow goals that characterize the current system often interfere with AIDS services, say scientists, who urge a more centralized approach to the disease. Studies in Oakland, Calif., and Baltimore, Md., demonstrated a lack of coordination among many small care providers,
Zimbabwe May Muzzle Witchdoctors AIDS Claims: Reuters (10/24/93); Harare--Because they are a threat to the government s campaign to curb the spread of AIDS, claims of traditional healers that they know a cure may be silenced by a government-ordered news blackout. Witch doctors are profiting from the epidemic sweeping Zimbabwe , so the government may invoke a law banning the promotion
Females Shouldn't Downplay AIDS Risk: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/26/93) P. 2D (Donohue, Paul); AIDS is a predominantly male disease in both America and Canada , says Dr. Paul Donohue, but the demographics are shifting rapidly. Women now account for 11 to 12 percent of reported AIDS cases in the United States , a figure significant enough to consider the disease a real threat to the female gender. The male-femal
34,000 Condoms Were Distributed in '92 at 7 City High Schools: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/27/93) P. B3 (Hollman, Laurie); Approximately 34,000 condoms were dispensed to high school students at seven public school health resource centers in Philadelphia last year, according to a report presented yesterday at a hearing by the Family Planning Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania. More than one-fourth of those enrolled at the seven schools--2
New Hope Zoning Board Approves Residence for HIV-Infected People: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/27/93) P. B5 (Schiavo, Christine); Last night in the Philadelphia area, the New Hope Zoning Hearing Board approved the conversion of an old house in the tiny Pennsylvania borough into a home for eight HIV-positive residents. Four board members voted unanimously to deny an appeal by about 10 neighbors who wished to block the zoning permit, which was issu
Specialists Cast Doubt on New AIDS Findings: Reuters (10/26/93) (Yanowitch, Lee); Marne La Coquette, France--After French researchers at the Pasteur Institute claimed on Monday to have solved the mystery of how AIDS penetrates and infects human cells, the celebration of the discovery was overshadowed by the doubts cast by specialists, who said that findings would help understand the virus, but not n
Gene Map of AIDS Key Will Help Research--Doctors: Reuters (10/27/93) (da Silva, Wilson); Sydney--Australian scientists say they have cloned and genetically mapped the CD26 co-receptor molecule that was identified only days ago by French researchers as the key that allows HIV to enter and infect human cells. Geoff McCaughan, associate professor of Sydney s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, says his research tea
Primary Infection With Zidovudine-Resistant HIV: New England Journal of Medicine (10/07/93) Vol. 329, No. 15, P. 1123 (Hermans, P. et al.); Hermans et al. challenge the conclusions of Erice et al., who described an HIV-positive patient with a primary infection that showed resistance to zidovudine. Erice et al. suggested that isolates that are resistant to nucleoside analog drugs are associated with a higher virulence or modified immune response. After thei
Zidovudine-Resistant Variants of HIV-1 in Brain: Lancet (Great Britain) (10/02/93) Vol. 342, No. 8875, P. 865 (Stefano, Mariantonietta et al.); Position changes of amino acids in the reverse-transcriptase (RT) of HIV have been associated with the development of zidovudine-resistant strains in the blood. Just hours after administration of zidovudine, the drug concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is half that found in plasma. It is uncertain if the resista
Assessment of Laboratory Reporting to Supplement Active AIDS Surveillance--Colorado: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (10/01/93) Vol. 42, No. 38, P. 749; The surveillance case definition for AIDS was expanded in January to include HIV-infected adolescents and adults with CD4 counts lower than 200, pulmonary tuberculosis, recurrent pneumonia, and invasive cervical cancer. In preparing for the implementation of these new criteria, the Colorado Department of Health (CDH) a
Alternative Treatment Library Available: AIDS Treatment News (10/01/93) No. 184, P. 6; The Jon Greenberg Library of Alternative Treatments for HIV Disease, an anthology of information on alternative AIDS therapies, is now available from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Steven Korsia compiled the collection, working closely with Jon Greenberg, who died this summer, to gather data for the publication. In a
Is It OK to Lick It?: Advocate (10/19/93) No. 640, P. 7; Postmaster General Marvin Runyon says he can t believe there would be any controversy about it, yet activists appear to be dissatisfied with the new AIDS awareness postal stamp that is being prepared for its Dec. 1 debut. One objection is the stamp design itself. It features the global symbol of a folded red ribbon, wh
San Francisco: NAC Trial Recruiting: AIDS Treatment News (10/01/93) No. 184, P. 7; Herzenberg Laboratory at Stanford University is now recruiting for participants in an eight-week trial of NAC (N- acetylcysteine). The goal of the study is to determine whether oral NAC can replenish glutathione levels in the T cells of HIV-infected persons. Low glutathione levels are often characteristic of HIV infect
Poll Finds Ignorance on HIV Test: United Press International (10/24/93); Tokyo--Only one in five Japanese adults know that tests cannot determine HIV status until at least three months have passed since having sex, according to a poll by the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies. The survey questioned 2,000 randomly selected individuals, and found that 41 percent of the responde
CDC Study Finds Five Transfusion-Related AIDS Cases Per Year: United Press International (10/25/93); Miami Beach, Fla.--Since screening for HIV began in 1985, very few people have become infected with the virus via blood transfusions, according to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of transfusion-related AIDS cases rose steadily from 1978 to 1984, then fell dramatically when testing be
Good Nutrition May Delay Onset of AIDS: United Press International (10/25/93); San Francisco--Good nutrition, combined with a daily multivitamin, may stall the development of AIDS in a significant percentage of HIV-positive men, according to a study presented yesterday at a major health meeting. The large, long-term followup of some 300 San Francisco men infected with the virus indicated that mul
Texas Health Officials Recall 3 Million Condoms: United Press International (10/25/93); Austin, Texas--State health officials in Texas yesterday recalled about 3 million condoms made in Thailand and distributed throughout the state by agency contractors. The condoms, which may be defective, were distributed under the brand names Fame, Bulldog, and Prestige, said David Smith, state health commissioner. W
8 Counties' AIDS Fight Gets Boost: Chicago Tribune (10/25/93) P. 1-3 (Thomas, Jerry); Until recent times, many residents and officials in the Chicago collar counties refused to acknowledge that HIV/AIDS was a major health concern in their areas, and those who had contracted the virus had to travel long distances and be treated in secrecy to receive primary care and medicine. As the number of persons inf
HIV Infection Mechanism Discovered: Washington Post (10/26/93) P. A13; Researchers at France s Pasteur Institute claim to have discovered how the AIDS virus penetrates and infects blood cells, a finding which could have major implications in the development of a vaccine. The team said it found a co- receptor molecule called CD26, which was identified several years ago, but whose function
Swiss Ciba-Geigy Returns AIDS Drug's Testing Rights to Houston's Tanox: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (10/21/93); Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy Ltd. has returned to Tanox Biosystems all rights to develop a product for treatment of AIDS patients. Ciba had no experience with the product, protective antibodies against HIV, said Tanox Executive Vice President David Anderson, adding that the decision to transfer the rights wa
Gov. Chiles Calls Statewide Business Conference on AIDS: PR Newswire (10/21/93); Lake Buena Vista, Fla.--Gov. Lawton Chiles challenged Florida business and labor leaders to join the battle against AIDS by creating education programs for the workplace that will help employees and their families better understand the disease. Chiles said the increasing spread of the virus worldwide mandates that gove
Estimated 30,000 Swazis Have HIV Virus: Reuters (10/20/93); Mbabane--About 30,000 people in Swaziland are infected with HIV, according to Dr. J.J. Mambo of the National AIDS Control Office. There were 319 confirmed cases of people with full- blown AIDS by the end of September, he reported.
BRF--Ethiopia-AIDS: Associated Press (10/19/93); Addis Ababa, Ethiopia--AIDS is spreading swiftly in Ethiopia, with hospitals reporting 335 new cases each month since July, reports a senior health official. Although hospitals say that there are 8,735 cases of AIDS in Ethiopia, the actual figure is about 43,000, claims Dr. Mengistu Mihret, head of the National AIDS Pr
Advanced KS: Liposomal Doxorubicin Trial Recruiting, Many Cities: AIDS Treatment News (10/01/93) No. 184, P. 7; Liposomal doxorubicin (brand name DOXIL ) is an experimental form of a standard doxorubicin drug used for treatment of Kaposi s sarcoma. DOXIL is being marketed quickly because it will also likely be an important improvement for the treatment of certain cancers. And because the lesions characterized by Kaposi s sarcoma
Dutch MP Urges Rethink on European Condom: Reuters (10/21/93); Amsterdam, Netherlands--A Dutch politician announced that she will urge the European Commission to rethink plans for a standard European condom. The commission calculates that the average erect European penis measures about 6.7 inches long and 2.2 inches wide. Nel van Dijk, a member of the Dutch Green Party of the Euro
National Media Pitch 'A Penny for AIDS': Cable, Broadcast Television Join Celebrities, Video Stores to Boost Awareness for AIDS Fundraiser: PR Newswire (10/21/93); Los Angeles--Cable and broadcast television will air publicity announcements by celebrities soliciting support for A Penny for AIDS, the national week-long fundraising effort of the Video Industry AIDS Action Committee (VIAAC). The campaign will donate one cent for each video tape or disc rented or purchased by custome
Ampligen Proves Effective Against Resistant HIV: Journal of Commerce (10/21/93) P. 8A; The experimental drug Ampligen has proven effective against AZT-resistant strains of HIV, according to HEM Pharmaceuticals Corp. of Philadelphia. Ampligen is a double-stranded RNA compound developed by HEM. According to the company s research summary, AZT and other current AIDS treatments attack HIV at only a single po
Deep Thinking From the AIDS Czarina: Washington Times (10/25/93) P. A20; Before a group of health care specialists on the White House lawn last Wednesday, AIDS czar Kristine Gebbie denounced the United States persisting Victorian attitudes about sex and called for society to loosen up. Victorian society that misrepresents information, denies sexuality early, denies homosexuality particularl
AIDS: 'A Whole Shift in Attitude': Baltimore Sun (10/23/93) P. 1B (Selby, Holly); In the four months since being appointed the United States first national AIDS policy coordinator, Kristine M. Gebbie has been successful in eliciting cooperation from all sides. Gebbie s post was created by President Clinton to fulfill a campaign promise. While the job carries much weight and exposure, it wields very
Too Few Doctors Treating AIDS, Physician Warns: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/22/93) P. A20 (MacLeod, Robert); Dr. Philip Berger, one of Toronto s leading AIDS doctors, says there is a paucity of physicians in the city willing to treat patients afflicted with AIDS. He says Outright bigotry, homophobia, and prejudice against intravenous drug users are the reasons for the decline, and he adds that the work load for doctors willin
U.S. Company to Test Gene Therapy for AIDS: Reuters (10/22/93); Seattle--Targeted Genetics Corp. has begun a trial of a new AIDS treatment using genetically modified white blood cells that recognize and attack cells with the AIDS virus. The Phase I tests will determine the safety of the experimental treatment on 15 patients with HIV. Targeted Genetics will work with the Fred Hutchi
Testing Rights for AIDS Drug Returned to Tanox: Journal of Commerce (10/25/93) P. 8A; Ciba-Geigy Ltd. has given back to Tanox Biosystems all rights to develop a product for the treatment of AIDS patients. Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy had no experience with this type of product or with protective antibodies against the AIDS virus, and could not determine the probability of success from prelimi
Canada Clears 3TC, AIDS Drug in Trials, for Certain Patients: Wall Street Journal (10/25/93) P. C15; Canada s Health and Welfare department has approved the anti- AIDS drug 3TC for the treatment of patients unable to tolerate other authorized AIDS medicines. The ruling would allow some AIDS patients who do not qualify for participation in clinical trials of 3TC to use the experimental drug in a last-ditch effort.
AIDS Digest: Washington Blade (10/01/93) Vol. 24, No. 42, P. 33; The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute announced plans to conduct a three-year, $14 million clinical trial of immune globulin (HIVIG). The studies will examine how to prevent HIV transmission from HIV-infected pregnant women to their uninfected, unborn babies. The trial will involve 400 women, some of whom will
New Choreography and High Fashion in a United Expression About AIDS: New York Times (10/20/93) P. C15 (Kisselgoff, Anna); The dance and fashion worlds merged Monday night for A Demand Performance, a benefit extravaganza to raise money for AIDS education, care, and advocacy. The cause attracted 18 choreographers, who joined forces at the New York State Theater for an event that featured dance performances--many of them premieres--as well a
AIDS Researchers Give Upbeat Reports at National Conference: United Press International (10/20/93) (Wasowicz, Lidia); San Francisco--Leading AIDS researchers reported renewed enthusiasm, optimism, and hope, as well as promising new vaccine tests to combat the deadly virus. Scientists continue to press on with studies of long-term survivors, combination drug therapies, and inoculation trials, attendees at the Sixth National AIDS Update
Germany-AIDS: Associated Press (10/20/93) (Thorson, Larry); Berlin--A criminal investigation of federal health officials is being conducted following Germany s second scandal concerning blood products contaminated with the AIDS virus. Bruno Rautenburg, a spokesperson for Berlin s Justice Department, said that a probe is under way into allegations that the Federal Health Office
Genetic Link Seen in HIV Immunity: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/20/93) P. A15; A Canadian-Kenyan research team has been studying a small group of prostitutes in Nairobi who appear to be naturally immune to the AIDS virus. After eight years, the scientists may have discovered a genetic link to explain why. They estimate that one in five clients soliciting the prostitutes is infected with HIV, and
Kenyan Charged With Infecting Women With AIDS: Reuters (10/20/93); Auckland, New Zealand--A Kenyan musician infected with the AIDS virus was charged in an Auckland court with deliberately infecting women with the deadly disease, said court officials. Police said that at least one woman alleged to have had contact with Paul Mwai, 28, has tested HIV-positive. Mwai, a drummer with an Afr
Health Ministry Officials Suspected of Taking Bribes in HIV Scandal: United Press International (10/21/93); Vienna--In an effort to accelerate approval of products for hemophiliacs, health ministry officials in Austria may have accepted bribes from a drug company which manufacturers the products, according to press reports. The allegations target civil servants who supposedly traveled to conferences worldwide at the expense
Needle Exchange Set for Boston, Cambridge: Boston Globe (10/21/93) P. 38 (Howe, Peter J.); Following years of opposition from many public officials and neighborhood leaders, the cities of Boston and Cambridge, Mass., will implement a $100,000, year-long pilot needle exchange program to curb the spread of the AIDS virus, announced officials. Vans and walking patrols of officials will trade one free, clean syr
Street Interviews Indicate High Rate of HIV Testing: United Press International (10/15/93); Atlanta--Anonymous street interviews indicate that groups at high risk for contracting the AIDS virus may actually be getting HIV testing in larger numbers than the figures cited in national surveys. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention questioned people in areas of Los Angeles with a high in
Australia--AIDS--Aborigines: Associated Press (10/15/93); Adelaide, Australia--Because of ceremonial sharing of blood, as well as a general absence of safe sex practices, Australian aborigines are at high risk of devastation by AIDS, according to the findings of a state inquiry. HIV is spreading rapidly, and some aborigines have already died from the disease, said the report
Men Want Bigger Condoms, Study Finds: United Press International (10/14/93); London--Nearly one out of five men surveyed at a clinic complained that standard, one-size-fits-all condoms are too tight, report researchers. Dr. Stuart J. Tovey and colleagues at Guy s Hospital in London questioned 281 men about condom use. They found that 25 percent had trouble putting on the condom. Of the 19 perce
Jury Gives Go-Ahead for AIDS Patient to Use Marijuana: Reuters (10/16/93); San Diego, Calif.--After two hours of deliberation, a jury said that it was okay for a man with AIDS to use marijuana to combat symptoms of the disease. Samuel Skipper, 39, faced five to six years in prison after drug agents seized more that 40 marijuana plants from his La Mesa, Calif., home. The San Diego Superior Cou
Taking a Walk for AIDS Awareness: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/18/93) P. B1 (Zucchino, David); Twelve thousand participants in Philadelphia s seventh annual AIDS walk raised $625,000 on Sunday to benefit 36 different organizations providing AIDS care, education, and prevention in the region. The diverse group of walkers were entertained by street singers, jugglers, and clowns as they walked the seven-and-a-half
Experts Fear a 'Temptation to Undertreat': USA Today (10/18/93) P. 10A (Price, Richard); While the chair of the American Foundation on AIDS Research board supports President Clinton s health plan, she has concerns about the treatment of terminally ill patients under the plan. There is an incentive to avoid excessive expense, says Mathilde Krim, and for people who have a disease that is considered incurable
AIDS Camp Plea: Pass Reform Plan: USA Today (10/18/93) P. 10A (Price, Richard); For people with HIV/AIDS, the Clinton health care plan is the most critical public-policy issue affecting them today. Because the plan would guarantee all Americans health insurance and prescription coverage, including people with pre-existing conditions, infected persons as well as the health care providers who treat
Curb on Blood Products May Spark Trade Dispute: Financial Times (Great Britain) (10/18/93) P. 16 (Cookson, Clive); A new trade dispute is forming as the European Community positions itself to restrict and eventually ban American imports of blood plasma and related products. Europe uses 11.1 million pints of plasma each year. Half of this product, worth about $650 million annually, comes from paid donors in the United Stat
John S. Fanning Joins National Association of People with AIDS as Director of Information Service: PR Newswire (10/13/93); Washington--The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) announced the addition of John S. Fanning to its staff. Fanning is now director of information services, where he supervises the development of NAPWA s information-based programs. These programs educate communities nationwide and provide infected and affe
Nobel Winning Technique Has Dramatic Applications: United Press International (10/13/93); Washington--The gene amplification technique that helped Kary B. Mullis share in this year s Nobel Prize in Chemistry is one that affects many aspects of life. Known as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, the technique permits scientists to target a specific area of genetic material and repeatedly multiply it. One very
Dr. Lionel Resnick Confirms Important Developments in AIDS Treatment: PR Newswire (10/13/93); Boynton Beach, Fla.--Polydex Pharmaceuticals Limited announced that National Institute of Health consultant Dr. Lionel Resnick and Dr. Mariano Busso, both of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, have confirmed a significant development in AIDS treatment. Resnick, who is chief virologist at Mount Sinai, reported that te
Sexual Transmission Surpasses Drug Use as Cause of AIDS Among Women: PR Newswire (10/13/93); Tampa, Fla.--In Florida, and across the nation, the incidence of AIDS in women is increasing and, among women, HIV infection through heterosexual activity has bypassed injection-drug use as the most prevalent mode of contracting the virus. The Centers for Disease Control this year expanded its definition of AIDS to inc
German Agency Says It Erred in H.I.V. Case: New York Times (10/15/93) P. A7; The German Federal Health Agency admitted its mistake in not passing along to the Health Ministry the reports regarding information on contaminated blood supplies that infected hundreds with the AIDS virus. Joachim Welz, deputy president of the agency, said at a news conference that it should have given the 373 reports
HIV Carriers to Sue Pharmaceuticals Group for $1.4 Million: United Press International (10/14/93); Vienna--A consortium of 24 hemophiliacs will sue Austrian- Swiss pharmaceutical group Immuno for $1.4 million, on the grounds that they contracted the AIDS virus in 1985 after using the company s Factor 8 blood-clotting product. By testing blood supplies--a practice already in effect in many other countries--the HIV in
Book Finds Business Too Often Ignores Growing Impact of AIDS on the Work Force: Baltimore Sun (10/15/93) P. 1E; Shapiro, Stephanie); Earl C. Pike, author of We Are All Living with AIDS: How You Can Set Policies and Guidelines for the Workplace, says that American businesses have too often opted to ignore the legal and moral issues posed by the epidemic. Large and small companies alike must develop sensitive and practical policies for dealing with th
Man With AIDS Virus Indicted on Assault Charges in Bitings: Washington Post (10/15/93) P. B3; A U.S. District Court grand jury in Alexandria, Va., yesterday indicted a man carrying the AIDS virus on charges stemming from a July confrontation in which he allegedly bit two corrections officers at a prison. Jeffrey Wayne Sturgis, 27, was charged with assault with intent to commit murder. Law enforcement officials
Scores Scorn Kelly's AIDS Record: Washington Post (10/15/93) P. B3 (Kovaleski, Serge F.); Several dozen activists rallied outside the office of D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly to protest what they say is an inadequate response by the District of Columbia to the AIDS epidemic. The demonstrators criticized the city government for not spending more than $1 million this year in federal subsidies, for delaying the
Medical Briefs: Advocate (10/05/93) No. 639, P. 33; Lifetime costs of HIV treatment are estimated at $119,000, according to a survey of 1,164 people with the AIDS virus. The AIDS Cost and Utilization Survey took data from participants at 26 different hospitals, clinics, and doctors offices to come up with that figure. The survey calculated the overall cost of in- and ou
AIDS Digest: Washington Blade (10/01/93) Vol. 24, No. 42, P. 33; Burroughs Wellcome has said that it will simplify the financial assistance program through which the pharmaceutical company provides AZT and other AIDS drugs at no cost to financially disenfranchised patients. Under the previous system, patients received medication through product vouchers. Under the new plan, doctors
Cell Genesys and CellPro Collaborate on Anti-HIV T Cells for AIDS: PR Newswire (10/12/93); Foster City, Calif.--Cell Genesys will collaborate with CellPro Inc. to facilitate the initial clinical evaluation of its genetically engineered anti-HIV cells. Cell Genesys program involves genetic alteration of white blood cells from the immune system, with receptors placed on the cell surface that allow the T cells
Students Urged to Get Tests for AIDS Virus: Chicago Tribune (10/13/93) P. 1-3; Rochester, Mich.--Officials at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., have recommended that several students be screened for HIV as soon as possible, according to the Oakland Press. The students may have been exposed to the virus, which was being used in experiments during the winter term by a biology professor and hi
AIDS Threat Used in Extortion Attempt: United Press International (10/14/93); San Francisco--California Pacific Medical Center yesterday confirmed reports that a blood-drawing technician there threatened to claim he gave patients AIDS-contaminated blood unless he was paid $1 million. The San Francisco hospital is confident that no patient was injected with tainted blood, said Audrey Serfling, ch
Germany Probes Blood Scandal: Wall Street Journal (10/14/93) P. A13; Germany s Health Ministry has ordered the shutdown and has assumed the functions of the Federal Health Agency, which is implicated in a cover-up of AIDS-contaminated blood products. The Ministry has also ordered a probe of government conduct in the 1980s, when scores of hemophiliacs were infected with HIV. Hemophiliacs
Women With AIDS Risk Assault by Partners: Baltimore Sun (10/14/93) P. 16A; Women who find out that they have the AIDS virus are in danger of injury by their partners if the physician tells the men that there is a chance that they may be infected as well, according to two Baltimore attorneys at the University of Maryland School of Law. Richard North and Karen Rothenberg identify such cases of
Clinic Won't Fire Official Who Falsified Resume: Washington Post (10/14/93) P. D.C. 4 (Harris, Hamil R.); AIDS activists are criticizing the Whitman-Walker Clinic for its failure to remove the director of a new AIDS outreach center after he admitted to falsifying his resume to secure the position. Maurice O. Franklin, 33, was hired to head the Max Robinson Center in Southeast Washington, D.C., a social services and medical
A Top Candidate to Head D.C. AIDS Agency Says No: Washington Post (10/14/93) P. B3 (Goldstein, Amy); The District of Columbia s prime choice to head the city s Agency for HIV/AIDS has declined an informal offer, citing as reasons an inadequate salary and a hostile environment. Frank Oldham, Jr., 45, director of New York s Office of Gay and Lesbian Health, rejected the proposed $65,000 salary and asserted that the posi
Help Africa, Pleads AIDS Pioneer Montagnier: Reuters (10/11/93); Paris--The French scientist who initially discovered the AIDS virus made an appeal Monday for financial aid to help control the epidemic in Africa. That continent is the most afflicted by the disease, but the least able to combat it. We can t just abandon Africa, Luc Montagnier said. We must mobilize to stop the world
AIDS Sufferer Denounces Benetton's Use of Disease: Reuters (10/11/93); Paris--A terminally ill French AIDS patient struck back at controversial HIV positive ads by Italian clothier Benetton with his own full-page newspaper advertisement. Olivier Besnard-Rousseau s ad featured a picture of an emaciated man smiling sadly with the words HIV positive stamped above him. Business as usual durin
Amsterdam Study Finds Risky AIDS Behavior Among Homosexuals: United Press International (10/11/93); Washington--Despite intense AIDS education and prevention campaigns, there has been an increase in unprotected sex among gay men, according to an Amsterdam study. In the first half of 1991, the percentage of homosexual men reporting intercourse without a condom dropped dramatically from 86 percent to 29 percent. In the
Study Shows AIDS Risk Among Blacks: United Press International (10/11/93); Washington--A study of urban blacks in their mid-30s showed that 8.4 percent tested positive for HIV. Two-thirds of the infected women and three-quarters of the men did not know or even suspect their positive HIV status. A history of intravenous drug use was reported by 35 percent of the men who were infected, and anot
Inmates--AIDS Testing: Associated Press (10/11/93); Boston--The high number of prisoners in Massachusetts has prompted the state to reverse a 15-year ban prohibiting inmate participation in experimental drug trials. Of the approximately 850 HIV-positive inmates, many desire the same early access to potential treatments as do non-prisoners, say inmate advocates. Other st
Hospital: No HIV Threat From Blackmail Attempt: United Press International (10/12/93); San Francisco--California Pacific Medical Center is convinced that no patients contracted the AIDS virus after a disturbed employee tried to blackmail the hospital for $1 million by suggesting that he may have infected patients while taking blood. The San Francisco hospital announced satisfaction well beyond a reasonab
A Hands-On Ministry: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/13/93) P. G1 (Collins, Huntly); Unlike traditional AIDS volunteer programs, an unconventional new ministry started by Philadelphia-area Quakers caters to the final needs of people in the last phases of the AIDS disease. Implemented in July, the program s goal is to help people dying of AIDS to remain in their homes as opposed to a nursing home or hos
WHO Pledges to Back Philippine AIDS Programme: Reuters (10/13/93); Manila--The World Health Organization announced its support of the Philippines AIDS prevention and control program to prevent the virus from seizing the country. WHO said that it will provide the Philippine Health Department with $490,000 over the next two years in direct financial assistance, beginning in January of n
Medicinal Pot Defense Launched: United Press International (10/13/93); San Diego, Calif.--An HIV-infected man who is on trial for growing marijuana testified in court yesterday, portraying the illicit drug as a medicinal herb that helps him cope with the symptoms of his illness. Samuel Skipper, 39, is the first California resident permitted to use medical necessity as a defense against cu
Billy Graham Retracts Statement on AIDS as God's Judgment: United Press International (10/09/93); Cleveland--The Rev. Billy Graham has expressed deep regret for saying that AIDS may be God s judgment for people s sins. Is AIDS a judgment of God? asked Graham before a record-breaking crowd in Columbus, Ohio. I could not say for sure, but I think so. After seeing letters criticizing that comment, Graham contacted the
NIH Lays Groundwork for Expanded AIDS Vaccine Trials: United Press International (10/10/93) (Levy, Douglas A.); Philadelphia--The National Institutes of Health has awarded two private firms contracts worth $6.5 million in the first year to prepare for large-scale Phase III trials of experimental AIDS vaccines. In an effort to build the infrastructure required to test vaccines so that it is ready when testing begins--between one
Congress--AIDS: Associated Press (10/08/93); Washington--The House has voted to spend $2.5 billion in fiscal year 1994, which began Oct. 1, on AIDS programs, the most the government has ever allocated in one year to combat the disease. Fiscal year 1993 saw about $2 million spent on the same programs. The figure was cited in a $256 billion measure for education, h
Officials Shocked by Wilson's Veto: United Press International (10/09/93); San Francisco--Officials have confirmed that California Gov. Pete Wilson s veto of legislation for an experimental, three- year needle exchange program will not affect a similar effort already underway in San Francisco. Mayor Frank Jordan criticized Wilson s action and assured city health officials that he has no i
Risky Sex Continues in Age of AIDS: United Press International (10/11/93); Washington--Even in the midst of the deadly AIDS epidemic, risky sexual behavior continues to prevail, according to the first major sex survey of American adults since the Kinsey report of 1948. The poll questioned 2,058 adults. Ninety percent reported having sex in the past five years, and 13 percent of those--includi
AIDS Testing: Associated Press (10/08/93) (Rawls, Phillip); Montgomery, Ala.--A federal judge struck down the part of an Alabama law allowing a physician to conduct AIDS testing without patient permission on the grounds that the doctor thought the patient was at risk. U.S. District Judge Harold Albritton ruled that the 1991 law which allows the tests under certain conditions un
AIDS Patients Urged to Come Out: Washington Post (10/12/93) P. B7; In Washington, D.C., yesterday, in recognition of National Coming Out Day, ACT-UP sponsored a coming out rally as well as a news conference at Lafayette Square that called for action against the AIDS epidemic. Participants also joined in a march from Dupont Circle to the White House.
AIDS Education Campaign Calls on Morgan State: Baltimore Sun (10/12/93) P. 2B; In an effort to educate college students about AIDS, students and staff at Morgan State University yesterday distributed about 2,000 condoms, as well as coupons for free, anonymous HIV testing. The message is that you need to protect yourself but also protect others, said Erica Spradlin, a spokesperson for the Chase Br
New Therapies Indicate Progress Against Other Diseases: Washington Post (Health) (10/12/93) P. 9; Alpha interferon is proving useful in the treatment of several diseases, not least among them the AIDS virus. The drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for Kaposi s sarcoma, a rapidly progressive skin disease that spreads to other organs. This condition strikes about 20 percent of all persons with AIDS.
Needs Assessment for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Service Programs: United States Conference of Mayors: Technical Assistance Reports (09/93) P. 1; Needs assessment is a process by which data is gathered and analyzed in order to determine the needs of a targeted population. The United States Conference of Mayors contends that, with resources becoming scarce, needs assessment is crucial at this point in the AIDS epidemic. They applaud the process as a useful manage
Activists Now Urge Caution on Approval of New AIDS Drug: Nature (09/30/93) Vol. 365, No. 6445, P. 378 (Macilwain, Colin); Despite objections from AIDS activists, who say the value of ddC has not been adequately proven, a panel of scientists is advising the Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of the drug as a treatment for HIV. The Antiviral Drug Advisory Committee decided last week that ddC, manufactured by Hoffman-LaRoche, sh
Activists Stunned By City's Sharp Cuts in AIDS Budget: Washington Blade (10/08/93) Vol. 24, No. 43, P. 1 (Chibbaro Jr., Lou); The government of the District of Columbia has approved an immediate funding cut of 7.5 percent to 15 percent for all city AIDS programs run by private agencies, announced D.C. Deputy Public Health Commissioner Howard Manly this week. Manly reported that the cutbacks were needed to curtail D.C. s financial crisis. The
The Case for Clean Needles: New York Times (10/11/93) P. A16; The pros of needle exchange programs outweigh the cons, according to the editors of the New York Times, and it now makes sense to expand the number and size of such programs. The editors cite recent findings of a comprehensive study by the Centers for Disease Control. The study concluded that providing clean syringes t
Better Condoms Called Essential AIDS Weapon: Baltimore Sun (10/09/93) P. 9A; Funding and efforts funneled into the search for an AIDS vaccine would be better spent inventing condoms that are stronger, more sensitive, comfortable, and pleasant to use, according to a professor and a graduate student at the University of California at Los Angeles. Paul Abramson, the UCLA professor, criticizes curr
German Fights Ouster Over AIDS-Tainted Blood: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/09/93) P. A7; German Health Minister Horst Seehofer refused to resign Friday following allegations that the government covered up 373 cases in which patients received blood transfusions from products contaminated with the AIDS virus. All but one of the patients has tested positive for AIDS. Seehofer last week revealed that a federal
Clashing Over AIDS Coverage: New York Times (10/10/93) P. 23 (Noble, Barbara Presley); When the Supreme Court last November declined to hear a case from the estate of Jack McGann, who had died of AIDS by that time, the Court s inaction encouraged many self-insured employers to reconfigure employee health benefits. Those changes included placing caps on AIDS-related benefits, or dropping them altogether.
Haverford College to Show 1,000 Panels of AIDS Quilt: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/11/93) P. B2; Haverford College will display 1,000 of the 23,784 panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31 at the school s fieldhouse. The opening ceremony will feature Philadelphia AIDS activist Anna Forbes, as well as a recitation of the names of those represented on the quilt. Haverford is accepting new panels, wh
TriStar Takes a Risk With AIDS Drama: Wall Street Journal (10/11/93) P. B1 (King, Thomas R.); As the first film concerning AIDS by a major studio, TriStar s Philadelphia may be one of the most talked-about movies in recent times. The film stars Tom Hanks as a lawyer who is fired from his Philadelphia firm because he has AIDS, and Denzel Washington as the attorney who represents him in the courtroom battle again
AIDSLine: What Can I Do About Recurrent Sinus Infections?: Advocate (10/05/93) No. 639, P. 33 (Cohan, Gary R.); Chronic bacterial sinus infections are one of the most common problems that people with HIV face. Dr. Gary Cohan, an HIV specialist, says that this is probably caused by bacteria easily getting into nasal passages because the antibodies which usually fight the bacteria off don t work properly. He cites a study reported
Surveillance Case Definition for AIDS in Resource-Poor Countries: Lancet (Great Britain) (10/02/93) Vol. 342, No. 8875, P. 864 (Colebunders, Robert et al.); De Cock et al. propose a new AIDS surveillance case definition to be used in countries lacking resources. A study sampled 329 male and females of European, African, Hispanic, and Asian descent who had contracted the virus via intravenous drug use, blood transfusions, homosexual or heterosexual contact, or an unknown me
Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in Patients With the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: New England Journal of Medicine (09/30/93) Vol. 329, No. 14, P. 995 (Luft, Benjamin J. et al.); Toxoplasmic encephalitis is the most common infection of the central nervous system that is associated with AIDS, write Luft et al. The infection develops in 3 to 10 percent of American AIDS patients and, if untreated, is fatal. The standard therapy for encephalitis is a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, b
Why Business Must Face Up to the Reality of AIDS: Electrical Apparatus (10/93) Vol. 46, No.10, P. 50 (Elsberry, Richard B.); The latest statistics on AIDS indicate that 1 in 250 persons aged 25-44 are infected; that age group accounts for 50 percent of the country s labor force. As the danger of AIDS increases, businesses must take action to reduce employee risk of the virus. The federal government was concerned enough to begin an awareness
AIDS Groups Refocus With 'ACT NOW': Washington Blade (10/01/93) Vol. 24, No. 42, P. 21; National ACT UP and other AIDS organizations and activists announced the formation of a new coalition that aims to unite activism efforts. The new group, ACT NOW (AIDS Coalition to Network, Organize, and Win), plans to debut in January with a Washington, D.C., conference. According to a press release, the goal of the c
Blood Plant Go-Ahead Attacked: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/07/93) P. A8 (Cox, Kevin); Plans by the Canadian Red Cross to build a $150-million blood plasma processing plant have been denounced by the Canadian Hemophilia Society and the Canadian Blood Agency. General opinion holds that the Red Cross should not proceed with construction as long as it is the subject of a federally- mandated probe into the s
Judge to Head Blood Probe: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/06/93) P. A4 (Picard, Andre); The Canadian federal government has appointed a senior judge with a medical background to conduct a judicial inquiry into the country s AIDS-contaminated blood disaster. Justice Horace Krever of the Ontario Court of Appeals, whose background includes AIDS issues, has until September 1994 to table a report explaining ho
Study Bolsters Controversial AIDS Theory: Reuters (10/07/93) (Riordan, Theresa); Washington--A study of an AIDS-like disease in mice supports a controversial new theory to explain the destructive nature of the virus in humans. Findings by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., bolster the idea that one arm of the immune system combats the virus better than the other arm. One kind o
Pressure Mounts on Bonn Health Minister Over AIDS: Reuters (10/08/93); Bonn--Pressure on German Health Minister Horst Seehofer is intensifying as opposition Social Democrats prepare to interrogate him on allegations that officials covered up reports of AIDS-tainted blood. The politicians say they will determine during a special session of parliament s health committee whether Seehofer sho
Viral Burden in AIDS: Nature (Great Britain) (09/23/93) Vol. 365, No. 6444, P. 301 (Garry, Robert F. and Fermin, Cesar D.); Recent studies presenting a simple cytopathic model for AIDS pathogenesis have been questioned by researchers Sheppard et al. Their arguments parallel those of others who embrace the so-called central paradox of AIDS, or the idea that a low incidence of HIV-infected cells does not have a detrimental effect on the immun
AIDS Digest: Washington Blade (09/24/93) Vol. 24, No. 41, P. 31; New cases of heterosexual HIV infection have skyrocketed 210 percent in the last year, while new cases of homosexual HIV infection have increased 65 percent, reports a World Health Organization official. According to San Tae Han, WHO s Pacific regional director, HIV infections derived from intravenous drug use has shot
AIDS Foundation Plans Three Centres: Nature (Great Britain) (09/23/93) Vol. 365, No. 6444, P. 285 (Butler, Declan); The World Foundation for Research and Prevention of AIDS was formed earlier this year by Luc Montagnier of the Pasteur Institute and Federico Mayor, director-general of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Contributions from Italian banks and individuals-- including opera singer
Special Service Entitled 'An Attitude of Hope' to Be Held at Hope Lutheran Church, Oct. 10: PR Newswire (10/05/93); Los Angeles--Hope Lutheran Church of Los Angeles is offering a special service this Sunday, Oct. 10, featuring humanity s battle with the AIDS virus. An Attitude of Hope will include musical devotionals and the lighting of memorial candles for loved ones lost to the deadly disease. Special guests will make appearances,
Playwright With a Message: United Press International (10/06/93); An American playwright with AIDS says he hopes his play, Paradise House, will educate Japanese audiences so that they can prevent the type of disaster that is currently taking place in the United States . Alexander Martin says that the play, based on his own experiences, portrays life in a Hawaiian apartment inhabited
AIDS Group Asks Benetton to Take Down Posters: Reuters (10/06/93); Paris--A French AIDS support group has asked a Paris court to order Italian fashion firm Benetton to remove controversial advertising posters. The French Association for the Fight Against AIDS filed a civil suit asking for $177,000 in damages. A ruling is due Nov. 10. The posters feature a bare male forearm, naked butt
More Money Sought to Fight TB Resurgence in U.S.: Reuters (10/07/93); Washington--The congressional Office of Technology Assessment has urged the White House and Congress to approve more funding to battle a resurgence of tuberculosis in the United States . The administration claims to have a national plan for the identification, treatment, and prevention of TB, but needs money to effecti
German Officials Dismissed Over HIV Infections: Reuters (10/06/93); Bonn, Germany--Two top health officials in Germany were fired Wednesday for failure to submit reports of AIDS cases that may have stemmed from tainted blood. Health Minister Horst Seehofer discovered that the Federal Health Agency received 373 reports of infected patients who may have contracted the AIDS virus through
AIDS Drug Shows Promise: Journal of Commerce (10/07/93) P. 7A; Tests of an experimental AIDS drug, designed to inhibit the virus from replicating itself, have proven the drug safe and effective. Studies also indicate, however, that the virus quickly learns how to circumvent the effects of the drug. Researchers are uncertain whether the drug, known as L- 697,661, would be more effe
Just What the Doctor Ordered: Barron's (09/20/93) Vol. 73, No. 38, P. 10 (Morgenthaler, Lissa); Scientists now have the technology to insert genes into cells of human patients to correct diseases. The result of this procedure is about 100 gene therapy techniques that have received approval and are in clinical testing in the United States and Europe. More than 3,000 disorders stem from genetic flaws or missing gen
Tuberculosis Recurrence in Africa: True Relapse or Re- Infection?: Lancet (09/25/93) Vol. 342, No. 8874, P. 756 (Daley, Charles L.); HIV-infected persons are at extremely high risk for progression to tuberculosis; in fact, U.S. and African studies indicate that HIV infection is the greatest known risk factor for the development of TB. The World Health Organization estimates that there are up to 4.5 million people who are dually infected with the two
Employee With AIDS Sues Over Benefits: Washington Business Journal (09/17/93-09/23/93) Vol. 12, No. 18, P. 7 (Love, Alice A.); A Virginia moving and storage company employee is suing his employer for restricting the amount of health insurance benefits he can receive for AIDS treatment. The case is one of several cropping up around the nation in response to the new federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which makes it illegal to limit the hea
Activists: AIDS Funding Biased Against Minorities: Washington Blade (09/24/93) Vol. 24, No. 41, P. 25 (Chibbaro Jr., Lou); Representatives of AIDS service programs targeting minorities told a Congressional Black Caucus workshop Sept. 16 that the majority of federal AIDS funds are awarded to older groups run by gay white men. The speakers, voicing the opinion of many black organizations in the District of Columbia, New York, and other citie
AIDS Foundation Receives Big Gift: Baltimore Sun (10/06/93) P. 2A; The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation yesterday received a donation of $1 million from tobacco heiress Doris Duke. I m very pleased to be able to do my part, said Duke, 80. Of the generous gift, renowned actress Taylor commented , This magnificent contribution will...increase public awareness about AIDS; it will immedia
Cash Problems Force DNX to Curtail Research into Human Blood Substitute: Knight-Ridder (10/05/93); DNX Corp., a Princeton, N.J., biotechnology company, announced that money troubles were forcing it to curtail revolutionary research into human blood substitutes. Just a month ago, the company disclosed that it was progressing in its human- hemoglobin program. That program develops and breeds genetically engineered pig
The Rise and Fall of a Pioneering AIDS Agency: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/06/93) P. A1 (Collins, Huntly and Kaufman, Marc); A pioneering minority AIDS organization that was born in a Philadelphia kitchen and grew quickly to international recognition is now in the midst of its demise due to management and financial problems. BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues), steered by founder Rashidah Lorraine Hassan, sought from
Justices Deny Appeal by Dentists Over AIDS Rule: Reuters (10/04/93); Washington--The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the American Dental Association challenging AIDS safety rules adopted in 1991. The guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were designed to protect health care workers from exposure to the AIDS virus and hepatitis B, which are both transmitted
5 Dentists Admit Bias Against AIDS Patients: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/06/93) P. B1 (Jaffe, Mark); Following a 1990 complaint lodged against 11 Philadelphia area dentists, five of the accused have admitted that their refusal to treat HIV-infected patients was a violation of the law, and pledged not to discriminate in the future. The American Civil Liberties Union and the AIDS Law Project filed the complaint with the
AZT Muscle Problems: L-Carnitine Study Recruiting: AIDS Treatment News (09/17/93) No. 183, P. 7; Recruitment is currently in progress for a study of high-dose L-carnitine as a potential therapy for AZT-related muscle problems. Eligible participants will be taking AZT and experiencing symptoms of AZT-induced muscle toxicity such as fatigue, decreased endurance, or weakness. The six-month study will be conducted at
Montrealers Walk for AIDS: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/04/93) P. A5; Nearly 10,000 people participated in Montreal s first walkathon to raise money for AIDS. The 10-kilometer walk, Ca Marche (It Works), took place Sunday in downtown Montreal. The fundraiser was organized by the Farha Foundation, which was established by Montreal businessmen when namesake Ron Farha contracted the virus i
Hauser Expands AIDS-Related Research With Third...: PR Newswire (10/04/93); Boulder, Colo.--The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a Phase II grant to Hauser Chemical Research Inc. The Small Business Innovation Research grant will allow the company to expand its research of artemisinin derivatives for combating pa
Testing the System for Testing the Blood Supply: New York Times (10/05/93) P. C18 (Goodman, Walter); Review columnist Walter Goodman of the New York Times chides Dateline NBC for its impure journalistic techniques in tonight s segment about contracting the AIDS virus from blood transfusions. The argument is that the Red Cross and other major blood banks nationwide have not been adequately screening for HIV. While Good
Romania Installs AIDS Hot-Line: United Press International (10/05/93); Bucharest--As part of an educational campaign, the Romanian Anti-AIDS Association (RAAS) yesterday introduced a telephone hot-line offering information and advice about AIDS. Thirty volunteers, equipped with three months of training, staff the hot-line. It is very important for everyone to call us and ask about AIDS-re
AIDS Cuts a Deadly Swath Through New Jersey's Prisons: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/03/93) P. B1 (Valbrun, Marjorie); With 881 infected, New Jersey inmates with AIDS are dying faster than any other prison population, according to a study by the federal government. The report, released last month, cited AIDS as the leading cause of inmate deaths in New Jersey in 1991. Nationwide, the state also led in the number of prisoner deaths resu
AIDS-Drug Maker Plays Hardball Over Price: Boston Globe (10/03/93) P. 81 (Biddle, Frederic M.); When, in September 1991, the Food and Drug Administration approved Foscavir as treatment of a viral infection that afflicts up to 40 percent of AIDS patients, pharmaceutical company Astra USA Inc. priced the drug at $59 per day for an average wholesale dosage. At an estimated $50,000 for a year of treatment, that makes
AIDS Surgery: Associated Press (10/05); Los Angeles--A woman who neglected to inform health care workers of her HIV-positive status will pay $15,000 to a surgical technician who was pricked with a bloody scalpel during the woman s breast-reduction operation. Jan Lustig, 46, a psychologist from Vancouver, Wash., stated on a form before her 1991 biopsy that sh
U.S. Alleges Bias to AIDS Patients by 2 Dental Offices: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (10/05/93) P. A7 (Ostrow, Ronald J. and Cimons, Marlene); In an unprecedented action, the federal government filed lawsuits against two dental practices that allegedly discriminated against clients with AIDS. After investigations prompted by AIDS-related complaints, the Justice Department determined that the offices violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibit
Suggestions for Clinical Nursing Research: Symptom Management in AIDS Patients: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/93- 09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 13 (Zeller, Janice M.; Swanson, Barbara; Cohen, Felissa L.); Malnutrition, respiratory dysfunction, gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, and opportunistic infections are a few of the many sources of pain for AIDS patients. Nurses, like doctors, are responsible for trying to alleviate the multiple physical symptoms that accompany AIDS. As a reflection of the funding priori
On the Air: Washington Blade (09/24/93) Vol. 24, No. 41, P. 54; Last week, PBS began airing its new program, The Secret of Life, an eight-hour series delving into human stories behind the breakthroughs in genetic research. One segment addresses AIDS, and features twin brothers--only one of which has the virus. The episode examines an experiment by the brothers to determine if the h
By No Means Cheap: Time (10/04/93) Vol. 142, No. 14, P. 12 (Silvergleid, Arthur J.); The president of the American Association of Blood Banks in Bethesda, Md., in a letter to the editors of Time, refutes a remark by an article in that publication that the nation s blood banks [resisted] testing for AIDS, despite early evidence that the disease [was] being spread through transfusions. Actually, says Dr.
Bronx AIDS Patient Who Wandered From Ambulance Sought: United Press International (10/02/93); New York--An Bronx man with AIDS apparently wandered away from the ambulance transporting him to therapy when it stopped to pick up another patient, police reported. Officer Andrew McInnis said that the disease has left Bennie Wooten, 44, without short-term memory. Wooten was being taken to New York Hospital from Bronx
HIV-Sex Abuse: Associate Press (10/02/93); Portland, Ore.--An Oregon man, after serving 11 months in jail for deliberately exposing three women to the AIDS virus, has been arrested for the rape of a three-year-old girl. Timothy A. Hinkhouse, 23, was indicted on charges of rape, sex abuse, attempted assault, and reckless endangerment of the child, disclosed Depu
Zimbabwe Catholics Reject State Textbook on AIDS: Reuters (10/03/93); Harare--The church has ordered Catholic schools in Zimbabwe not to use a government textbook on AIDS because it ignores Christian values. The text discusses the deadly disease as a medical issue, and fails to address important factors such as family relations and religious values, contends Rev. Anthony Berridge, secret
2 Arrested in Fla. in AZT Trafficking: Boston Globe (10/02/93) P. 35; Two Florida men have been arrested for allegedly trafficking over 17,000 doses of AZT , the most widely used AIDS drug, said police. Robert Stack, 27, and David Platt, 24, were charged by the Broward County Sheriff s Department with possession of a prescription drug with intent to sell. AZT, available by prescription
On the Campus, Testing for AIDS Grows Common: New York Times (10/04/93) P. A1 (Lee, Felicia R.); While contraception and sexually transmitted diseases were once the primary issues confronting sexually active college students, the AIDS virus is quickly becoming their major concern, with more and more students seeking HIV testing. The campus communities are responding to these needs; in fact, many major schools now
AIDS Suit Accuses Companies of Selling Bad Blood Products: Washington Post (10/04/93) P. A18; A lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 10,000 HIV-infected hemophiliacs charges that the National Hemophilia Foundation and five manufacturers sold or endorsed blood-clotting products even after they should have realized the risk of HIV in those products. According to the suit, which was filed in the Federal District C
New York: Community-Based Aspirin Study Recruiting: AIDS Treatment News (09/17/93) No. 183, P. 7; The Community Research Initiative on AIDS in New York City is currently recruiting volunteers for a study of aspirin as a potential treatment for AIDS. Researchers hope that aspirin will reduce HIV-related inflammation and, thus, lower the viral burden in AIDS patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive
Blood Sources Stay Secret: National Law Journal (09/27/93) Vol. 16, No. 4, P. 6; It is in the public s best interest to maintain the confidentiality of blood donors, even if they may have been given AIDS-infected blood, a New Hampshire judge has decided. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Shane Devine was delivered in the case of a widower who sued to know the identity of the person whom he asserts
"Concierto Por La Vida"--Latin Benefit Concert Slated to Combat AIDS: Business Wire (09/28/93); Los Angeles--International Hispanic singers, actors, and athletes will perform Oct. 16 in Concierto Por La Vida, [Concert for Life], a benefit concert to raise money for the battle against AIDS in the Latino community. Maria Conchita Alonso, Gerardo, Rudy La Scala, Jorge Muniz, and Alvaro Torres are just a few of the c
Celebrity Chair Elizabeth Taylor to Appear at Bullock's 'Passport '93' Fashion Show in Los Angeles: PR Newswire (09/28/93); San Francisco--Elizabeth Taylor, acclaimed actress and AIDS activist, will appear at the country s largest fashion show, which is being presented this year as a money-raising event for AIDS. Passport 93, a San Francisco tradition for more than a decade, has expanded the fashion extravaganza to California, where the Los
Researchers Call for Action to Curb Spread of TB: Reuters (09/30/93); London--Swiss researchers have warned that tuberculosis is spreading in Europe in the same manner that it is spreading in the United States , and have called for immediate action to control the disease. The researchers, in the British medical journal the Lancet, attributed the increase in TB to the AIDS virus and immig
Let HIV-Infected Doctors Operate: United Press International (09/29/93); Trenton, N.J.--A special commission of health experts and Health Department officials from New Jersey is recommending that physicians and dentists with HIV be allowed to perform surgery. If approved, the proposal would overturn a 1991 policy urging HIV-infected workers to refrain from such procedures. The policy would
Soviets Secretly Tried to Blame U.S. for AIDS--CIA: Reuters (09/30/93); Langley, Va.--For more than five years, the former Soviet Union attempted to blame the AIDS virus on a plot by U.S. military scientists, according to newly declassified CIA documents. The papers reported that the Soviets launched a campaign in 1983 aiming to tie the emergence of AIDS to American biological weapons rese
All U.S. Workers to Get Instruction in 'AIDS 101': Washington Post (10/01/93) P. A23 (Brown, David); In the course of the next year, all employees at federal agencies will receive basic instruction about HIV and AIDS. While the military, as well as federal hospital and prison systems, currently teach employees how to prevent infection and what to do if infected, the new plan will require all federal workers to get AID
Giving Addicts Clean Needles Cuts Spread of AIDS, U.S. Study Finds: New York Times (10/01/93) P. A21 (Hilts, Philip J.); Trading drug addicts used needles for clean syringes does help prevent the spread of the AIDS virus, and the government should expand such programs, concluded the first comprehensive study of needle exchange plans. A federal panel found that drug users in the programs were less likely to engage in needle-sharing, and m
Therion Biologics Corporation Completes $4.1 Million Private Placement: PR Newswire (09/29/93); Cambridge, Mass.--Therion Biologics Corporation announced the completion of a $4.1 million private placement. The money from the placement will allow the company to continue preclinical studies in its AIDS program, said Therion president and CEO Dennis Panicali. In March, Therion entered a license and research collabor
Swiss City Bans Benetton "AIDS" Advertisements: Reuters (09/29/93); Lausanne, Switzerland--The Swiss city of Lausanne announced that it has banned advertisements by Italian fashion firm Benetton, which has released new ads featuring naked buttocks and other body parts stamped with the words HIV Positive. I find it shocking that one can make money out of disease, said Jean-Claude Rosset
Good Job Is Leading Concern for World Youth: Reuters (09/28/93) (Schoolman, Judith); New York--While securing a good job is the leading priority of children and teenagers, today s youth also harbor concerns about AIDS, war, and getting into car accidents, report worldwide opinion polls. Eighty-one percent of children in the United States said that they were concerned about AIDS; the figure was 65 perce
HybriQuick Amplification Product Detection System for HIV-1, 2 Test Introduced by MicroProbe Corp.: Business Wire (09/28/93); Bothell, Wash.--MicroProbe Corp. announced the availability of the HybriQuick HIV 1, 2 Test Kit for use with its new HybriQuick Amplification Product Detection System and Affirm Processor. Intended for research use only, the test is designed as an adjunct or alternative to other detection methods. The semi-automated te
Ministers of Health Urge Intensified Fight Against AIDS: PR Newswire (09/29/93); Washington--Health ministers from all of the countries in the Americas emphasized the imperative need to mobilize all sectors of the society in the campaign against AIDS. The officials were in Washington yesterday for the 37th meeting of the Pan American Health Organization s Directing Council. They reviewed the latest
AIDS-Stricken Dentist Allegedly Infected Patients: Reuters (09/29/93); New York--A Florida dentist carrying the AIDS virus intentionally infected six of his patients, charged his friend and ex-lover in a television interview. In a segment of the news program 20/20 to air Friday on ABC, Edward Parsons said he believes that Dr. David Acer deliberately infected the patients to demonstrate th
UCSF Researchers on September 30 to Release Conclusions and Recommendations of CDC-Funded Study on Needle Exchange Programs: Business Wire (09/29/93); San Francisco--At a press conference today in San Francisco, University of California researchers will discuss the results of an 18-month study of needle exchange programs and present recommendations to federal, state, and local government. In the most comprehensive study ever on needle exchanges, investigators evaluat
World Population Growth Little Affected By AIDS: Reuters (09/30/93); Berlin--A United Nations official has refuted a theory that transmission of AIDS will neutralize the world s population growth and eliminate the need for family planning. This prediction demonstrates a lack of knowledge about family planning and about the impact of the disease on populations, said Nafis Sadik, executiv
Insurance Fund Settles AIDS Health Benefits Suit: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (09/30/93) P. B7 (Boxall, Bettina); In a settlement that may have national impact, an insurance provider has decided to withdraw a $5,000 cap on AIDS-related benefits. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) contends that the restriction is a violation of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects disabled citizens--including tho
Deputy Dogged: Advocate (10/05/93) No. 639, P. 7; Reports that the former head of the Dallas AIDS Arms Network may be appointed as top deputy to the White House AIDS policy coordinator have raised eyebrows in Texas. Warren Buckingham presided over the network when, in 1991, it was accused of leaving clients in need by delaying grant payouts of $175,000 and using the f
Graham Says AIDS May Be God's Judgment: United Press International (09/27/93); Columbus, Ohio--In a sermon Sunday, Rev. Billy Graham stated that the AIDS epidemic may be God s punishment on people for the sins they have committed. Is AIDS a judgment of God? he asked. I could not say for sure, but I think so. Graham went on to say that he believes God meant sex to be a part of marriage only.
Court Told AIDS Cut Life at Least 8 Years: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/28/93) P. A9 (Downey, Donn); A cardiologist testified in Canadian court that a deceased man with a history of heart disease might have lived another 8 to 11 years had he not contracted AIDS. The testimony was delivered in a case brought by the dead man s wife and children, who contend that Kenneth Pittman, who died in March of 1990 at age 59, was
Study Finds Young Adults Unconcerned About AIDS: United Press International (09/27/93); Washington--Despite years of intense campaigning to deliver AIDS prevention information, less than half of 1,601 young adults claimed to have adjusted their behavior, researchers reported. University of Minnesota researchers surveyed the group of urban heterosexuals between the ages of 21 and 40 and found that only 43
Thai Private Sector Forms Alliance to Fight AIDS: United Press International (09/28/93); Bangkok--Business leaders launched an anti-AIDS campaign in Thailand , where authorities predict that, by the end of the century, more than one-third of deaths among the work force population will result from the virus. The goal of the Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS (TBCA) is to provide effective leadership throu
Liposome Company's ABLC Available in South Africa: PR Newswire (09/28/93); Princeton, N.J.--The Liposome Company, Inc. has launched a named patient distribution program for amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) in South Africa . The traditional form of the drug, without the lipid complex, has been widely used as an anti fungal agent in the treatment of fungal infections in those with weak immun
Body Shop Starting a Campaign on AIDS: New York Times (09/28/93) P. D4 (Levy, Clifford J.); Body Shop International PLC, the British cosmetics chain that has grown explosively in the past ten years, is positioned to launch its new AIDS awareness campaign. Based on the theme of Protect and Respect, the campaign will distribute condoms, lubricants, educational literature, and advice. Proceeds from condom and lu
A Hallucination Inspires a Vision for AIDS Drug: Wall Street Journal (09/29/93) P. B1 (Waldholz, Michael); A scientist s 3-D hallucination of a molecule has led to promising research of an AIDS drug at a small company. Dr. Manuel Nivia s vision prompted workers at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. to experiment with a new research technique that uses computerized, three-dimensional color images of molecules to design new drugs.
Black Gays in New D.C. AIDS Coalition Wary About Nation of Islam's Role: Washington Post (09/29/93) P. D1 (Goldstein, Amy); Gay blacks who are members of a newly formed coalition of black and Hispanic AIDS groups are rethinking an alliance with medical and religious leader Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad. The Sankofa Community Coalition of HIV/AIDS Services was formed by the various organizations as an alternative to the Whitman- Walker Clinic, whi
Series on AIDS Set Here: Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/27/93) P. B6; Beginning Tuesday, a week of public policy forums concerning AIDS will be held at Virginia Union University in Richmond. The series will address topics such as AIDS prevention and education, research and treatment, housing, government spending, women and children with the disease, substance abuse, and civil rights conc
Leading AIDS Researcher and Advocate Dies: United Press International (09/25/93); San Francisco--Jesse C. Dobson, a leading AIDS activist, has died at age 36. The cause was pneumonia as a result of AIDS. After being diagnosed with HIV in 1985, Dobson became a skilled lobbyist and an expert on AIDS treatment. Frustrated with the slow release of new therapies, he created an underground network for HIV
Using TV to Talk About Sex With Kids: United Press International (09/24/93) (Kuklenski, Valerie); Los Angeles--While many fear that sex on television encourages young people to have intercourse themselves, there is one organization that contends that TV can be an ice-breaker for parents to discuss the topic. The Center for Population Options, a nonprofit organization that aims to educate kids about safe sex and bir
"Home" Host Tests Negative for AIDS After TV Mishap: Reuters (09/25/93); Hollywood--After a live television scare in which a doctor used a needle just injected into TV host Gary Collins to also inject his co-host, Sarah Purcell, Collins has reportedly tested negative for the AIDS virus and is awaiting the results of a hepatitis test. During a segment on flu inoculations on the popular ABC m
Union Broke Disabilities Law in AIDS Case, Panel Finds: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (09/25/93) P. 5B; The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that a Philadelphia construction union which cut health coverage for workers with the AIDS virus violated federal laws. The Laborers District Council, believed to represent over 10,000 area construction workers, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it i
AIDS-Linked Investments Under Fire: Chicago Tribune (09/27/93) P. 4-5; An emerging business--that of buying life insurance policies from AIDS patients--is under close scrutiny by investment regulators across the country. Under these viatical settlements, brokers claim to help terminally ill people, who are often too sick to work, obtain the money needed to meet expenses. The insurance sel
Health Worker Says Nepal Can't Escape AIDS: United Press International (09/28/93) (Rana, Bhola); Katmandu, Nepal--Nepal cannot avoid the AIDS epidemic, warns Keith Leslie, country director of The Save The Children s Fund USA. Nepal lies between Bangkok and Bombay, he explains. People are constantly traveling in these three countries. The program, which is funded by the American Foundation for AIDS Research, will c
Experts Warn of Possible Wave of Child AIDS Victims: United Press International (09/28/93); Manila--Health authorities recently warned Asian governments that infants may be the next group targeted by AIDS unless measures are taken to control the spread the deadly virus. The actual number of children with AIDS in Asia is very low, but the risk is very high, said Daniel Brooks, regional director of the United N
Antibiotics Fight H.I.V. In Laboratory Studies: New York Times (09/28/93) P. C3 (Kolata, Gina); Researchers have discovered that a class of antibiotics known as aminoglycosides hampers part of the process that allows HIV to reproduce. While they believe that they may have found a new approach to designing AIDS drugs, the researchers caution against self-treatment by warning that the antibiotics have yet to be tes
Health Concerns of Women With AIDS: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/93- 09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 39 (Rose, Molley A.); A small study of HIV-positive women suggests that males and females infected with the virus share common life concerns. Dr. Molley A. Rose, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, studied a group of 11 women, then compared her sample to a similar study of gay men. Two physiological
Medical Briefs: Advocate (10/05/93) No. 639, P. 34; Smoking cigarettes quickens the development of full-blown AIDS in HIV-infected individuals, according to researchers at St. Mary s Hospital in London. In HIV-positive smokers, versus HIV-positive nonsmokers, the progression time to AIDS was reduced. This disparity was primarily due to the development of pneumocystis ca
Talking It Out: Advocate (10/05/93) No. 639, P. 17; In perhaps the strangest AIDS litigation yet, a Maine woman is suing her physicians, who she contends should not have allowed her HIV-positive baby to be born. Former prostitute Barbara Anastosopoulos, who learned of her HIV infection after the birth of her son Christopher, insists that doctors should have tested her f
Blood Strategies: Forbes (09/27/93) Vol. 152, No. 7, P. 152 (Bohner, Kate); While the American Red Cross insists that the blood supply is now safer than it has ever been, HIV screening tests are not completely flawless. Due to the serological window, or the time frame between when HIV infection occurs and when it actually is detectable in blood, contaminated blood could still slip through the
HIV-Positive Woman Sues Doctor: Reuters (09/24/93); Vancouver, British Columbia--A woman who became infected with the AIDS virus when she was artificially inseminated will take her doctor to the Supreme Court of Canada , according to her lawyer. Kobe ter Neuzen, 48, claims that the doctor failed to test the semen used in the process for HIV. A provincial Supreme Court
HIV Tattoo: Associated Press (09/24/93) (Andersen, Peggy); Seattle--The firing of a hospital employee for refusing to cover up a tattoo announcing his AIDS status was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Twenty-eight- year-old John Baldetta, a nursing assistant whose job at Harborview Medical
Lack of Vitamin A May Hasten AIDS Death--Study: Reuters (09/26/93); Baltimore--Vitamin A deficiency may take as much as one year of potential life from HIV-infected adults, according to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported that such a deficiency weakened the immune systems of adult AIDS patients, but said that taking doses of vitami
California Dept. of Health Services Sued by AIDS Testing Laboratory: PR Newswire (09/27/93); Costa Mesa, Calif.--Health Test Inc. (HTI) has sued the California Department of Health (DHS), in an attempt to gain approval for its new HIV self-collection device, HIV Home Check. HTI accused DHS of intentionally derailing approval of its application. For the past two years, HTI claims that it submitted more than eig
A D.C. Clinic's Controversial Rx for AIDS: Washington Post (09/27/93) P. A1 (Goldstein, Amy); Controversy continues to swarm around a religious leader as he promotes an unproven AIDS drug and seeks federal funding for the only black-run AIDS clinic in the District of Columbia. Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, director of the Abundant Life Clinic and health minister to the Nation of Islam, has been criticized for using
Three-Year Randomised Study of High-Purity or Intermediate- Purity Factor VIII Concentrates in Symptom-Free HIV- Seropositive Haemophiliacs: Effects on Immune Status: Lancet (09/18/93) Vol. 342, No. 8873, P. 700 (Seremetis, Stephanie et al.); A group of researchers used monoclonal-antibody-purified factor VIII concentrates to test their hypothesis that the use of the concentrates in HIV-positive hemophiliacs would change the rate of deterioration of the immune function. Seremetis et al. studied 60 HIV patients with hemophilia, all of whom were symptom-free,
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the Treatment of Debilitating Fatigue Associated With HIV/AIDS: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/93- 09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 33 (Reillo, Michelle R.); While antiviral drugs may relieve some of the symptoms experienced by AIDS patients, they do little to reduce the debilitating fatigue associated with the virus. Michelle R. Reillo, a clinical nurse at the Maryland Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., tested 25 HIV-infected patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a trea
Health Care Under the Americans With Disabilities Act: CompFlash (08/93) P. 7; The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has recently released several provisions dealing with the Americans with Disability Act, one of which states that employers cannot refuse to hire persons with disabilities out of fear that they will influence the employer s health care costs. The provisions, which also requir
Howard University College of Nursing Graduate Studies Subspecialty in HIV/AIDS: The First Year: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/93- 09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 46 (Nicholas, Doris E.); The AIDS epidemic is disproportionately affecting disenfranchised groups, in particular the African-American community. The nation s capital, which consists largely of people of color, has the ninth highest annual rate of AIDS in the country last year. Howard University, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., has ta
Report to Cite AIDS as Threat to Farmworker Families: Nation's Health (09/93) Vol. 23, No. 8, P. 3; A December report by the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality will illustrate how the AIDS epidemic affects migrant and seasonal farmworker families. Early studies indicate that this group is often forgotten while other populations are targeted for AIDS prevention and education programs. There is also eviden
HIV2 and AIDS: Pharmacist (09/93) Vol. 18, No. 9, P. 100; The government has mandated that all donated blood be screened not only for HIV-1 but also for HIV-2, a new strain of the virus that has spread to the United States from Africa. HIV-2 differs from HIV-1 in that it progresses towards AIDS at a much slower rate. Once AIDS does develop, however, it exhibits identical symp
Smash Hit for AIDS: United Press International (09/23/93) (Kuklenski, Valerie); Past and present tennis stars participated in an exhibition Wednesday in Los Angeles to raise money for singer Elton John s AIDS Foundation. The very first Smash Hits World Team Tennis tournament was attended by celebrities from all arenas, including comedian Jay Leno, singer Sheena Easton, actress Judith Light, Olympi
IDC's Virotech Unit Executes Letter of Intent With Organetics, Ltd.: PR Newswire (09/23/93); Minneapolis--Two companies, which both direct their activities toward treatments for AIDS and other immune-deficient disorders, are considering either a merger or a strategic alliance. Virotech Inc., a medical research company, has executed a letter of intent with Organetics Ltd., a developer of medical devices. Virote
Statement of the National Association of People With AIDS on President Clinton's National Health Care Proposal: PR Newswire (09/23/93); Washington--The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) has announced its support of President Clinton s health care reform package. NAPWA said in a release yesterday that Clinton s initiative would help the country overcome hurdles to obtaining effective health care for people with AIDS. The release cited acc
Who Should Fill the Care Gap in HIV Disease?: Lancet (09/18/93) Vol. 342, No.8873, P. 726 (Mansfield, Simon and Singh, Surinder); Like with many other chronic diseases, it is appropriate for the community to serve as the setting for primary care of those with HIV/AIDS, according to Dr. Surinder Singh of the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London and Dr. Simon Mansfield of Westminster Hospital in London. However, they explain, negative p
Charting HIV Care: American Medical News (09/20/93) Vol. 36, No. 35, P. 14; The federal government has earmarked $15 million to find out more about where, how, and from whom those with HIV can receive health care. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research will launch the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS). The foundation of the study draws from a similar study in 1992 of 2,09
Natural History Trials Addressing Special Needs of Women: AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 137; An upcoming five-year study aims to identify factors that affect the progression of AIDS in women. The study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control, will involve 200 HIV-positive women and 100 high-risk women each at four different locations nationwide. This probe into the natural history of AIDS in women will have
Prayer, Meditation, Exercise, and Special Diets: Behaviors of the Hardy Person With HIV/AIDS: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/93- 09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 18 (Carson, Verna Benner); Anecdotal testimony has tied long-term survival of the AIDS virus with certain spiritual and health-promoting behaviors, as well as participation in AIDS-related activities. To determine if quantitative research would support these theories, Verna Benner Carson studied 100 such subjects who completed Kobasa s Personal
Battling AIDS: Restaurants USA (09/93) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. 28 (Batty, Jennifer); With the stigma surrounding AIDS and public ignorance about how it is transmitted, one industry that is highly scrutinized is foodservice. The Centers for Disease Control repeatedly remind people that AIDS cannot be contracted through sweat, tears, toilet seats, phones, forks, and certainly not from eating food prepare
Where People With AIDS Find Comfort: Boston Globe (09/22/93) P. 17 (Negri, Gloria); While many people with AIDS face pain and humiliation from society in general, New Englanders with the disease can find refuge in the Boston Living Center. Initially a peer support group, the center was implemented about four years ago and now has 900 members. Full-time staff offer quilting, jewelry making, art, massag
Magic Johnson Gives Deposition in AIDS Suit: USA Today (09/23/93) P. 9C; Basketball legend Magic Johnson and Waymer Moore, the woman who is suing him on the grounds that he infected her with HIV, are giving depositions this week in Kalamazoo, Mich. Johnson spent the last two days in a hotel answering questions from lawyers. His accuser is expected to arrive for her deposition later this wee
NMAC Applauds President Clinton's Commitment to Health Care Reform: PR Newswire (09/22/93); Washington, D.C.--The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) praised President Clinton for making health care reform a priority in this country and, in doing so, for addressing the needs of people with HIV and AIDS. NMAC, as well as the rest of the AIDS community, has applauded the president s reform package, which elim
Planned Sexual Behaviour of Young Australian Visitors to Thailand: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/15/93) Vol. 270, No. 11, P. 1309 (Mulhall, Brian P. et al.); An Australian study was conducted to evaluate knowledge about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases among young Australians visiting Thailand . Of the 213 participants who were traveling without a spouse or partner, only 34 percent claimed that they definitely did not intend to have sex. Of those who might, mor
'Oh My God, It Could Be Me': Maclean's (09/06/93) Vol. 106, No. 36, P. 42 (Nemeth, Mary and Driedger, Sharon Doyle); The World Health Organization estimates that by the year 2000, women will make up half of the world s new cases of AIDS, and the disease is already beginning to take its toll on Canadian women. The federal Laboratory Centre for Disease Control reports that 406 women aged 15 or older have been diagnosed with AIDS since
HIV-1 Inhibition by a Peptide: Nature (09/09/93) Vol.365, No. 6442, P. 113 (Jiang, Shibo et al. ); Peptides from virus envelope glycoproteins may have an antiviral effect, according to studies. Jiang et al. of the New York Blood Center say that peptides inhibit infection by other strains of HIV-1 and, at a certain level, inhibit HIV replication completely. The mechanism through which the peptides inhibit HIV is stil
DNCB Treatment Today: AIDS Treatment News (09/03/93) No. 182, P. 3 (Gilden, Dave); Past excitement over an AIDS treatment using a chemical called dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) is apparently being revived. Seven years ago, scores of AIDS patients were using DNCB which, when painted on a small patch of skin, triggers a reaction much like that to poison ivy. By causing an immune system response, DNCB in t
Tuberculosis and HIV Infection: Lancet (09/11/93) Vol. 342, No. 8872, P. 676 (John, T. Jacob; Kaur, Amitinder; Babu, P. George); Tuberculosis is not necessarily an opportunistic infection of AIDS in HIV-infected persons in countries where TB is highly endemic, assert researchers from Christian Medical College and Hospital in India . Kaur et al. diagnosed a patient who had HIV infection, pulmonary TB, chronic fever, weight loss, and a CD4 count o
AIDS Orphans: Africa's Lost Generation: World Watch (09/93-10/93) Vol. 6, No. 5, P. 10 (Sachs, Aaron); While the AIDS epidemic is rampant worldwide, in Africa it is threatening not only the population s health, but its basic social structure as well. AIDS is affecting family life, a fact reflected in the rising number of orphans who have lost one or both parents to the disease. The number of children whose mothers died
New CDC Head Fights AIDS With Education, Not Politics: American Medical News (09/13/93) Vol. 36, No. 34, P. 5 (Hearn, Wayne); Dr. David Satcher, the next director of the Centers for Disease Control, says that he will not allow politics to affect the agency s efforts to promote AIDS prevention and education. Satcher, who has presided as president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., since 1982, will become on Jan. 1 the first Africa
Disease Detection International to Supply 1.2 Million Tests in Brasilian Federal (AIDS) Program for the State of Sao Paulo, Brasil: PR Newswire (09/20/93); Irvine, Calif.--Disease Detection International, Inc. was informed by its Brasilian joint venture, DDI do Brasil, that the companies have been awarded a federal order for 1.2 million SeroCard HIV-1 tests to be used by the government of Sao Paulo. The tests will be used, through the Department of Health, to test Brazil
12 Troupes Take Steps Against AIDS: Chicago Tribune (09/21/93) P. 1-14 (Hanson, Cynthia); The Dance For Life fundraiser Saturday night at Chicago s Athenaeum Theatre raised over $40,000 for a local AIDS organization. A dozen local troupes presented jazz, tap, ballet, and modern dance performances to a capacity audience of 925 people. Proceeds benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
AIDS Research Reviews: Lancet (09/11/93) Vol. 342, No. 8872, P. 668 (Lifson, Alan R.); The latest volume, number three, of AIDS Research Reviews includes a series of specialized articles written by experts about HIV, the host response, and possibilities for preventing infection. The articles, presented in scientific sections, describe specific advances and current issues in each of five disciplines, whic
Staten Island Can't Secede From AIDS: New York Times (09/19/93) P. 45 (Clines, Francis X.); As inhabitants of Staten Island ponder secession from New York City, they know that such a move will direct attention their way--and not for the expected reasons. Should Staten Island break from the mainland, it will automatically be catapulted to the rank of second among the state s leading AIDS cities. There are 1,01
Tainted-Blood Probe Launched: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/17/93) P. A1 (Cernetig, Miro); All 10 Canadian provinces have indicated that they support the initiation of a government probe to determine how more than 1,000 people were infected with HIV via donated blood before screening for the virus began in 1985. Quebec, however, has still not officially committed to the estimated $2.5 million inquiry, said F
China Imposes AIDS Test on Returning Mainlanders: Reuters (09/20/93); Hong Kong-- China is subjecting passport holders returning to the country to random AIDS tests, reported a Beijing newspaper. People who want to live in China for longer than one year or who have been gone for longer than three months have to take drug tests, said an official at the State Health and Quarantine Departme
Law on Marriage, AIDS Is Voided: Boston Globe (09/20/93) P. 6; U.S. District Judge Aldon J. Anderson recently ruled that a 1987 Utah law prohibiting the marriage of people with AIDS is a violation of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. This legislation dictates that no public entity may discriminate against a person with a physical or mental impairment limiting major life
Zimbabwe Witchdoctors Boosted by AIDS Epidemic: Reuters (09/21/93) (Mdlongwa, Francis); Harare--While the AIDS epidemic continues to stump leading medical researchers worldwide, a handful of witchdoctors in Zimbabwe are claim to have herbal cures that heal the infected. I have and I can cure AIDS--no one can doubt that, brags one of the more famous witchdoctors. But critics do doubt; in fact, they insist
Breaking the Silence on AIDS: Investor's Business Daily (09/21/93) P. 4; While many corporations have shied from AIDS education and discussion in the workplace, Motorola Inc. is one company that is attempting to be more open about the disease. Henry Provost, Motorola s employee relations director, said that the company feels that secretiveness about employees with AIDS who abruptly fall ill
AIDS Drug: Associated Press (09/21/93); Rockville, Md.--A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee is recommending approval of a single-drug AIDS therapy. The drug ddC , sold under the brand name HIVID by Hoffman-LaRoche Inc., has previously been authorized for use with AZT , another AIDS drug.
Disputed AIDS Study Delayed: Financial Times (Great Britain) (09/21/93) P. 8; Publication of the complete results of a controversial AIDS drug study has been delayed by the Medical Research Council. The council disclosed in April that preliminary data in the study indicated that AZT , the most common treatment for HIV/AIDS, is not effective in delaying the development of AIDS in patients infecte
The Three Ps of HIV Management: Paps, Pelvic Exams, Polcoscopies: AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 139; Because cervical cancer has been added to the new AIDS case definition, physicians are becoming more aware of the importance of gynecological care. The pap smear can be a valuable tool of prevention because it detects cervical cancer and other gynecological abnormalities which are often associated with HIV. Likewise, t
HIV Policy Targets Health Personnel: National Underwriter (09/13/93) No. 37, P. 7 (Koco, Linda); A growing number of companies now offer HIV Asset Guard -- insurance to healthcare providers and other professionals who are at risk for infection. Issued by Reliable Life of St. Louis, the contract provides that a lump sum of money be paid if an individual is diagnosed as HIV positive. The amount of $100,000, $250,000
Boy, 12, Arrested for Prostitution: United Press International (09/19/93); Cleveland--A 12-year-old Cleveland boy who was arrested for prostitution was not carrying condoms to reduce his chances of becoming infected with AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. The child had been soliciting male clients in the same neighborhood for at least four months. The arresting officer and his partn
AIDS Said Threatening Zambian Copper Industry: Reuters (09/16/93); Lusaka--Officials at the World Health Organization predict that by the turn of the century, AIDS will have a dramatic effect on Zambia s largest copper producer, as well as on other labor segments. WHO medical officer J.A. Kalilani told an AIDS workshop in Lusaka that Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines 51,000-member wor
Mayor's Management Report Released: United Press International (09/17/93); New York--The final city management report of New York Mayor David Dinkins reviewed the fiscal year, and compared accomplishments to goals for that term. Dinkins report stated that 13,629 individuals infected with the AIDS virus received city services in fiscal year 1993, a figure three times the number of AIDS patient
Uganda--AIDS: Associated Press (09/17/93) (Wasswa, Henry); Kampala, Uganda--Indifference and multiple sex partners due to polygamy and promiscuity are the two main factors that contribute to Uganda s plight as one of the nations hardest hit by AIDS. Now, the Ugandan government is leading African countries in the fight against the disease. A seven-year-old AIDS control program,
Cortech Begins Preclinical Development of Compounds for Sulfa Allergy Treatment in AIDS Patients: PR Newswire (09/16/93); Denver--Cortech Inc., a Denver-based biopharmaceutical company, has begun preclinical development of a series of compounds to treat the allergic reaction to sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in AIDS patients. SMX combined with another antimicrobial, trimethoprim, is premium therapy for prevention and treatment of Pneumocystis car
AIDS Walk: Associated Press (09/18/93); Washington--The Clinton administration s new health care system guarantees health security for people infected with HIV/AIDS, promised Tipper Gore Saturday at the 1993 capital Aidswalk. In many ways, AIDS and other chronic diseases represent the ultimate test of a reformed health care system, said Gore, wife of Vice Pr
Cases Linked to AZT Show Difficulty of Tracking Rare Side Effects: Washington Post (09/20/93) P. A3 (Brown, David); More than six years after its introduction to the market, the world s most popular AIDS drug is under scrutiny due to newfound evidence of toxicity. Several unexplained deaths of patients taking AZT alerted health officials that AZT and other nucleoside analogs appear to induce liver damage and lactic acidosis, a build
Powerful, Noteworthy Episode of 'In the Heat of the Night' to Air, Sept. 23: PR Newswire (09/15/93); In the Heat of the Night, an award-winning police drama series, will incorporate in a new episode the real-life issue concerning legal responsibilities of AIDS-infected individuals. The episode, which airs Thursday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. on CBS, centers around a young lady who has a one-night stand with a local businessm
Report Says Prisons Need More AIDS Staff: Boston Globe (09/16/93) P. 35; A Massachusetts task force formed by Public Safety Secretary Thomas C. Rapone is calling for more AIDS staff in state prisons to work with inmates who are infected with the disease. The task force of state and individual health officials is recommending more case managers, counselors, nutritionists, bilingual staff, an
French AIDS Group Sues Benetton Over Posters: Reuters (09/16/93); Paris--The French Association for the Fight Against AIDS said it has sued Italian sportswear company Benetton over recently- released advertisements featuring naked body parts stamped with the words HIV Positive. The group said that the photographs, which debuted in the Paris underground this week, symbolize the Nazi p
National Institutes of Health Will Sponsor Dosing and Efficacy HIV/AIDS Trial Using VIMRx Pharmaceuticals' Oral Hypericin: Business Wire (09/15/93); Stamford, Conn.--The National Institutes of Health will sponsor human clinical trials of the drug VIMRxyn, an anti- viral compound that is under investigation by VIMRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. as an AIDS therapy. A previous human trial demonstrated the systemic safety of administering VIMRxyn intravenously, but the new tri
Bad-Blood Probe Needed, Collins Says: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/16/93) P. A4 (Mickleburgh, Rod); Canada s federal health minister, Mary Collins, wants a full- scale judicial inquiry to examine how and why so many people were infected with the AIDS virus before mandatory testing of blood donations began in 1985. Collins said she will urge provincial and territorial health ministers to agree to such a probe, but wil
Canada to Aid Recipients of HIV-Tainted Blood: Reuters (09/15/93); Edmonton, Alberta--Health ministers of the Canadian provinces and territories have asked the Canadian Blood Agency to administer, on their behalf, a new $100 million program to aid people who contracted HIV through contaminated blood. A total of 954 Canadians became infected in the 1980s before tests to screen for the
AIDS Test Sought for Dr. Solomon: Baltimore Sun (09/17/93) P. 1B (Siegel, Eric); Several former patients of Baltimore physician Dr. Neil Solomon allege sexual improprieties and are attempting to compel the high-profile doctor to undergo AIDS testing. A trio of women who are suing Dr. Solomon filed a motion in circuit court, accompanied by affidavits of three other women who also claim abuse but are
AIDS Liability Suits: Wall Street Journal (09/17/93) P. B3; Hemophiliacs who were infected by the AIDS virus via blood- clotting product Factor VIII have made some recent advances in the courtroom. Now, because it will be difficult to prove which company made the product used by a specific plaintiff, the hemophiliacs want a panel of judges to consolidate liability suits against
TB Surge Blamed on Increase in AIDS: Washington Times (09/17/93) P. A6; Fueled by the continuing rise of the AIDS epidemic, a resurgence in tuberculosis resulted in 1.5 percent more TB cases during 1992, report the Centers for Disease Control. A total of 26,673 cases of TB, the largest figure since 1981, were reported to the CDC last year. For most of the century, tuberculosis declined at
Leuconostoc Citreum Isolated From Lung in AIDS Patient: Lancet (09/04/93) Vol. 342, No. 8871, P. 622 (Giacometti, A and Ranaldi, R, et al.); Giraud and colleagues report a fatal case of leuconostoc infection in a bone marrow transplant recipient. Their case stresses the importance of recognizing organisms that may be opportunistic pathogens, which endanger the health of those who have immune system disorders. Giacometti et al. isolated such gram-positive co
Participants Needed for HIV Acute Infection Study: American Medical News (09/13/93) Vol. 36, No. 34, P. 4 (Staver, Sari); The question of whether intervention just after HIV transmission can disturb viral dissemination and alter the course of disease progression is a serious one in AIDS research, but it may not be answered any time soon if a $6 million study continues to flail. The National Institutes of Health trial, launched eight month
Conocurvone: New Anti-HIV Chemical From Australian "Smoke Bush": AIDS Treatment News (09/03/93) No. 182, P. 1 (James, John S.); The U.S. National Cancer Institute is calling for proposals by drug companies to develop a new anti-HIV chemical called conocurvone, which is found in the smoke bush plant. NCI first collected the plant, which grows only in Western Australia , in 1981 and screened it for anti-cancer agents. Researchers found that the p
Car Crashes, Homicides Lead Cause of Youth Death: Reuters (09/15/93) (Frank, Jacqueline); Washington--Car crashes are the number one cause of mortality for people under age 24, followed by homicide, said the government in its annual report on American health. Based on data through 1992, the report listed the deadly AIDS virus as the 8th leading cause of U.S. deaths. AIDS has moved up from 10th place, where
AIDS Registry May Have Received Death Blow: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/15/93) P. A7 (Mickleburgh, Rod); The core of the Canadian federal government s AIDS strategy may be grounded before it even gets the opportunity to take off. A year after winning the bid to implement and operate a multimillion-dollar AIDS data registry for patients and doctors, a Montreal consortium has withdrawn from the project. The AIDS Treatment I
Bristol-Myers Squibb's MEGACE Oral Suspension Approved for the Treatment of Significant Weight Loss Due to AIDS: PR Newswire (09/15/93); Princeton, N.J.-- Bristol-Myers Squibb has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market MEGACE (megestrol acetate) Oral Suspension, a synthetic derivative of progesterone that will be used to treat AIDS patients experiencing extreme weight loss. Significant weight loss is defined as a loss of more
Benetton Uses AIDS Again to Advertise Its Clothes: Reuters (09/15/93) (Waddington, Richard); Milan, Italy--Italian fashion firm Benetton SpA has launched its latest controversial ads, which feature AIDS-related wording stamped on various naked body parts. One ad is the image of a bare arm with the writing HIV Positive on it. The other two, which are sexually suggestive, show a bare behind and a lower abdomen,
HemaCare Receives Conditional Approval to Test Immupath in Phase III Clinical Trial: Business Wire (09/15/93); Los Angeles--After a review of the company s Phase I and II clinical trials of Immupath, a potential AIDS treatment, HemaCare Corp. has received approval from the California Department of Health Services to proceed with Phase III testing. The drug is used in passive hyperimmune therapy, a process in which donated human
AIDS Drug Halves Risk of Common Infection: Baltimore Sun (09/16/93) P. 14A; AIDS patients who consistently take the drug rifabutin may reduce their chances of developing a particular infection by 50 percent, according to a new study. Mycobacterium avlum complex, characterized by fever, weight loss, diarrhea, and anemia, among other problems, is an illness common to those with AIDS. It reported
Psychosocial Problems and Risk Behavior: Focus (08/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 8 (Walter, H.J.; Vaughan R.D.; Cohall, A.T.); High school students with multiple psychosocial problems are susceptible to HIV infection because they practice high-risk behavior, reported a study of more than 1,000 tenth graders living in or near New York City. The data indicated that 3 percent of the sample participated in high-risk behavior, while 25 percent enga
Blood Bank Judgment Over HIV-Tainted Blood Dropped: American Medical News (09/13/93) Vol. 36, No. 34, P. 37; The Nevada Supreme Court overturned a $505,000 judgment against a Reno-based blood bank that gave a man a transfusion of HIV-contaminated blood in 1984. A year later, the donor at United Blood Services who had previously donated blood given to Jeffrey Clark tested HIV-positive. Nineteen months later, Clark was notified
Controversial New AIDS Film Points to Important Lessons Learned: PR Newswire (09/14/93); New York--The new film about AIDS, And the Band Played On, spotlights the early failure of government and blood industry executives to protect the safety of the nation s blood supply- -a tragic mistake that resulted in HIV infection of almost 70 percent of all hemophiliacs. More than a decade after the virus was detect
International AIDS Memorial Quilt to Be Displayed in West Hollywood Oct. 8-10: Business Wire (09/14/93); West Hollywood, Calif.--The city of West Hollywood will present a display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which memorializes hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who have died of AIDS. The display, People Do Care, will showcase 1,488 of the 24,000 panels that make up the entire quilt. With each panel han
California's Largest AIDS Fundraiser to Take Place Sept. 19: PR Newswire (09/14/93); Los Angeles--The largest AIDS fundraiser in California, AIDS Walk Los Angeles, will take place on Sunday, Sept. 19. The ninth annual 10-kilometer walk is expected to be completed by over 1,700 participants. The event benefits AIDS Project Los Angeles, which provides support services to people with HIV or AIDS and prese
AIDS Virus Transmission By Heterosexuals Rising: Reuters (09/14/93); Manila, Philippines--While global transmission of the AIDS virus in homosexuals has increased 65 percent, there has been a dramatic rise of 210 percent so far this year in the number of heterosexual transmissions, reports the World Health Organization . A WHO statement declared that the pandemic is worsening. It also
WHO to Asia: Have the Political Will to Fight AIDS: United Press International (09/15/93); Manila--In a resolution adopted at its yearly regional meeting, the World Health Organization urged Asian countries to recognize the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic, and warned that its own resources to fight the virus are shrinking. According to predictions, Asia will have the highest HIV infection rate in the world
AIDS--Workplace: Associated Press (09/15/93) (Likens, Terri); Chicago--In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control s campaign to motivate corporate America into a more active role in the prevention and treatment of AIDS, about 50 business executives and health officials met Tuesday to discuss methods of coping with the disease in the workplace. White House AIDS policy coor
Merck Drops Final Bid to Develop Drug for AIDS in Face of Viral Resistance: Wall Street Journal (09/15/93) P. B6 (Waldholz, Michael); Merck & Co. , a pharmaceutical company, has abandoned its last attempts to develop an AIDS drug that once showed great promise. Known as L661, the drug works by blocking reverse transcriptase, which is crucial to viral replication. Late in 1991, however, the company determined that L661 causes the AIDS virus to m
Inefficacy of Cytarabine in Progressive Multifocal Leucoencephalopathy in AIDS: Lancet (09/04/93) Vol. 342, No. 8871, P. 622 (de Truchis, Pierre et al.); Progressive Multifocal Leucoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic infection of the central nervous system that has been detected in as many as four percent of AIDS patients. Partial recovery has been documented as spontaneous, or as being related to zidovudine treatment, but a few case studies suggested the efficacy
Women and AIDS: Brief Overview: AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 131; A July report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that new cases of AIDS in 1992 rose 9.8 percent among women, compared to 2.5 percent among men. The report also indicates that, for the first time, more women were infected through sexual contact than through IV drug use. The disease appea
New AIDS Case Definition Impacting Women, Drug Users: AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 132; A study to determine the effect of the new AIDS case definition indicates that over half of patients who qualify are asymptomatic, the majority of them females and intravenous drug users. The new definition was introduced this year in response to concerns that patients with advanced HIV were ailing, yet ineligible for
Counseling for HIV-Infected Adolescents: Focus (08/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 1 (Elliot, Alan S.); When treating adolescents with HIV, therapists must consider two particular issues: the level of understanding and rapport, says Dr. Alan S. Elliot, a senior psychologist at NYU-Bellevue Hospital Center. According to Elliot, who is also Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, adolescents do not hav
Research Gaining Support for Vaginal Microbicide: AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 134; With the increasing threat of AIDS to women, and the limitations of prevention methods, research for a vaginal microbicide that could prevent the spread of HIV is assuming priority among research issues. The microbicide, or virucide, would be applied intravaginally like a spermicide, and would stop transmission of HIV
Alpha 1 Biomedicals Announces Manufacturing Agreement for Thymosin Alpha 1: PR Newswire (09/13/93); Bethesda, Md.--Alpha 1 Biomedicals, Inc. has announced a manufacturing agreement with UCB Bioproducts, S.A. for the production of bulk Thymosin alpha 1, the pharmaceutical company s lead drug. Approved in Italy as an adjuvant for influenza vaccine in those undergoing renal dialysis, and in
AIDS Called Leading Killer of Young Men: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/13/93) P. A4 (Wilson, Deborah); AIDS stunts the lives of young men in Vancouver, British Columbia, more than any other cause of death, according to a recent study. The results indicated that the potential for years of life lost to the disease is 40 percent higher in British Columbia than in the rest of Canada . The study also concluded that, while AI
Hungarians' AIDS Risk Rises as Economy Slows: New York Times (09/14/93) P. A4 (Perlez, Jane); As unemployment skyrockets and the economy slows in Hungary and other Eastern European countries, the threat of AIDS in these once isolated nations is increasing, say doctors. Hungarian medical authorities report that only 350 people in the population of 10 million are HIV-infected, and only 131 have AIDS.
U.S. Panel Backs Plan to Culture Armies of Immune Cells: New York Times (09/14/93) P. C3; A National Institute of Health panel of experts voted unanimously to approve an experiment that would infuse virus- killing cells into 15 AIDS patients. The NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee approved the technique, which proposes to remove CD8 anti-viral cells from patients, culture the cells into vast numbers, an
Medical Briefs: Advocate (09/21/93) No. 638, P. 35; When studies in Germany of an anti-HIV drug showed no indication that it has any impact against HIV, and registered some evidence of toxicity, Hoffman-La Roche Inc. suspended development of the TAT-inhibitor. Researchers do not, however, feel that they should dismiss the possibilities of TAT-inhibitors simply because o
Cosalane Halts HIV Infection: Science News (09/04/93) Vol. 144, No. 10, P. 153 (Lipkin, Richard); After a potential AIDS treatment successfully stopped the AIDS virus in test tubes but proved too toxic for human subjects, researchers sought less harmful variations of the chemical. Mark S. Cushman, a medicinal chemist at Purdue University, and his colleagues report that the most potent of the 70 or so compounds test
Drug Trial Changes Should Open Doors for HIV-Positive Women: AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 1; In response to pressure from women s health organizations such as the HIV Law Project, the Food and Drug Administration has dropped barriers excluding women of childbearing age from participation in early clinical trials. The 1977 guidelines, now viewed by the FDA as rigid and paternalistic, prohibited these women fro
Condoms Reduce Transmission: AIDS Alert--Common Sense About AIDS (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 2; Regular condom use is effective in reducing the risk of HIV in couples in which one partner is HIV-positive and the other is negative, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control. In that study, none of 123 discordant couples who consistently used condoms reported transmission of HIV. In a study of 1
Communicating With Parents: Focus (08/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 7 (Leland, N.L. and Barth, R.P.); A study of more than 1,000 high school students in California determined that adolescents who communicated with their parents about sexual issues were more likely to take precautions against exposure to AIDS. The study surveyed a sample group with the average age of 15.4 years. Discussing pregnancy, birth control, and
Doctor Stresses Prevention Despite Search for Cure: Reuters (09/10/93) (Wilson, Christopher); Cambridge, Mass.--Preventative programs to stop the spread of AIDS must be escalated and will have to continue even after a cure for the disease is found, said Dr. Luc Montagnier, the doctor who discovered the virus. Even if we find ... a vaccine, it is likely to be very expensive and we will therefore have to devise a
An Update on Book for Women: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/13/93) P. B1 (Vrazo, Fawn); A book known as the bible of women s health, which first appeared in 1970 and still has printings of over 3 million, has been updated to include the latest issues concerning women. Our Bodies, Ourselves changed the way women viewed themselves physically and politically. It has been adapted for the 1990s, and now includ
California Legislature Passes Needle Exchange Bill: Reuters (09/11/93); Sacramento, Calif.--In an effort to curb the spread of AIDS, the California state Senate Friday voted 21-16 in favor of a plan to implement a needle exchange program for drug addicts. The state Assembly had already passed the bill, which now moves on to Gov. Pete Wilson, who previously vetoed two similar measures. The
AIDS Killing Prisoners: Washington Post (09/13/93) P. A6; Of 1,863 inmate deaths nationwide in 1991, 528 were attributable to AIDS, according to a study by the Justice Department. New Jersey and New York had the highest incidence of such deaths, with two-thirds of prisoner deaths caused by AIDS. Research specialists speculate that the deaths caused by the disease in both stat
Priorities for HIV Testing in Developing Countries?: Lancet (09/04/93) Vol. 342, No. 8871, P. 601 (Colebunders, Robert and Ndumbe, Peter); HIV testing in developing countries is not always feasible because of lack of equipment, high cost, or both. Cheaper tests are more feasible, but less reliable. According to Robert Colebunders of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium , and Peter Ndumbe of the Virus Immunology Unit at the University of Yaounde i
Wellcome Defends Patent for AIDS Medication AZT: Pharmaceutical Representative (09/93) Vol. 23, No. 9, P. 2; After a two-year legal battle, a U.S. District Court in New Bern, N.C., upheld the claim of Burroughs Wellcome as the sole inventors of AZT , a treatment for HIV. The case began in 1991 when Barr Laboratories and Novopharm Inc., in separate incidences, submitted applications to the FDA
Seven Bulgarian U.N. Peacekeepers Catch AIDS: Reuters (09/09/93); Sofia--Several Bulgarian soldiers contracted the AIDS virus while performing U.N. peacekeeping duties in Cambodia , reported the state news agency BTA. Quoting a colonel of the Bulgarian army, BTA said that, of the 1,244 Bulgarians who had returned from Cambodia, seven were infected with HIV. Of a population of 8.5 mi
Jamaica: Associated Press (09/08/93); Kingston, Jamaica--Hospital employees have been cleared of negligence after their hospital accidentally gave patients blood tainted with HIV. The University Hospital of the West Indies said that two patients, one of whom has since died of terminal lung cancer, were given the contaminated blood on March 30. The mistake
Germany Pledges Money to HIV-Infected Haemophiliacs: Reuters (09/09/93); Bonn--After pledging $1.25 million to hemophiliacs who were infected with HIV through blood transfusions, German Health Minister Horst Seehofer urged other organizations to do the same. About 400 hemophiliacs who received tainted blood between 1982 and 1985 have already died from AIDS. Of the country s 6,000 hemophilia
Diana Calls for Understanding Towards AIDS Mothers: Reuters (09/08/93) (Forrester, James); Edinburgh--In her address to 500 delegates meeting at Heriot Watt University in Scotland, Princess Diana of Great Britain pleaded for compassion towards HIV-infected mothers. She said that these women suffer from the grief and guilt of knowing that they probably will not see their children through to independence. Prin
Red Cross Agrees to Aid Blood Victims: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/09/93) P. A5 (Mickleburgh, Rod); The Canadian Red Cross, which faces more than 120 lawsuits for spreading the AIDS virus through contaminated blood, will finally offer financial assistance to people who were infected with HIV. In the early years of the disease, before safeguards were established for the blood supply, the Canadian Red Cross passed alon
Cesareans May Reduce Spread of AIDS to Babies: Reuters (09/09/93); London--Performing cesareans during childbirth may lower the chances of women transmitting HIV to their unborn infants, according to a report by pediatricians at the Italian university of Turin. One study indicated that babies delivered by C-section had a 14-percent risk of being born with the AIDS virus, while those b
Gene Therapy--AIDS: Associated Press (09/10/93) (Recer, Paul); Bethesda, Md.--The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, a panel which evaluates human gene therapy techniques, will vote Friday on a proposal to insert a genetic trap into the CD4 cells of AIDS patients. The experiment, designed by Drs. Flossie Wong-Staal, Eric Poeschla, and David Looney of the University of California
Sheffield Forms Agreement With CBR Laboratories, Scales Up Production of AIDS Compound for Phase II Clinical Trials: Business Wire (09/07/93); Houston--Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. announced an agreement with CBR Laboratories to produce the company s red blood cell (RBC)-CD4 Complex for use in Phase II clinical trials in patients infected with HIV. The contract provides for CBRL to scale up and deliver the electroinsertion equipment to Sheffield. CBRL
HemaCare Plans National Clinical Trials of Immupath: Business Wire (09/07/93); Los Angeles--At a recent pre-investigational new drug (IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, representatives of HemaCare Corp. announced plans to conduct national trials of a bio-pharmaceutical product, Immupath, as a potential treatment for AIDS. Discussion at the meeting included clinical trial des
AIDS Front: Who's Minding the Store?: Advocate (09/21/93) No. 638, P. 35 (Delaney, Martin); The problem with AIDS research is that it lacks direction and control, according to one AIDS expert. No one is in charge, says Martin Delaney, the founding director of Project Inform, which distributes AIDS treatment information around the world. The result, attests Delaney, is that key research questions remain unansw
Steppin' Out Announces Week of Events in Downtown Royal Oak to Raise Funds for Those With AIDS and HIV: PR Newswire (09/08/93); Royal Oak, Mich.--Steppin Out, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for caregivers to people with AIDS and HIV, will host a week of charity events Sept. 12-19 to raise money for its cause. Scheduled events included a shoe auction of footwear donated by Madonna, Bette Midler, Anita Baker, Willie Nelson, Ted Nugent
AIDS Family: Associated Press (09/07/93) (Armour, Nancy); Indianapolis--Mark Ellis is the last of three hemophiliac brothers to contract AIDS; the other two have already died, leaving him to wonder when the disease will claim his life, too. The Ellis brothers, like thousands of others suffering from hemophilia, were introduced to the Factor 8 clotting agent in the late 1970s.
Lawsuit Alleges Priest Infected Man With AIDS Virus: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/08/93) P. A3; Denver--In what is the first case of its kind, a Denver man filed suit against a priest who allegedly infected him with HIV. Thomas Perea, 36, claims that Rev. Delbert Blong of the Diocese of Pueblo began sexually abusing him in 1971, and continued to do so until 1992. Perea, who is gay, believes Father Blong infected
Economic Cost of AIDS in India Enormous--Official: Reuters (09/09/93); Manila, Philippines--More than 1 million people in India are infected with HIV, and the virus is spreading at an alarming rate, reported Kusum Sahgal, a physician with the National AIDS Control Organization of India. Kusum said that situations in other countries indicate that the cost of taking care of people with AIDS
Still Alive: Defying an Epidemic: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (09/08/93) P. A1 (Stolberg, Sheryl); As the AIDS epidemic continues into its second decade, experts are beginning to focus on a small group of people who are infected with HIV, but are remaining healthy. These healthy positives have lived with the virus for 10 or more years without taking antivirals; their immune systems appear to effectively resist HIV.
HBO Film on AIDS Premieres: Washington Post (09/09/93) P. D1 (Roberts, Roxanne); The Kennedy Center last night was the setting for the Washington, D.C., premiere of And the Band Played On, HBO s docudrama about AIDS. The film portrays the medical mystery about the origins of the disease, and stars Matthew Modine as Don Francis, one of the early researchers at the Centers for Disease Control. The AI
Does Zidovudine Delay Development of AIDS?: Lancet (08/28/93) Vol. 342, No. 8870, P. 558 (Holmberg, Scott D. and Byers, Robert H.); Several cohorts examined HIV-infected men and determined, by tracking incubation time, whether the drug zidovudine delayed the progression to AIDS. Scott D. Holmberg and Robert H. Byers of the HIV/AIDS division of the Centers for Disease Control found a trend for longer incubation periods in all of their analyses. The
Prions, Viruses, and Antiviral Drugs: Lancet (Great Britain) (08/28/93) Vol. 342, No. 8870, P. 545 (Amor, Sandra and Mehta, Surekha); HIV was among the viruses discussed at the 9th International Congress of Virology. At the conference, two groups revealed research on the ability of protease inhibitors to decrease productive infectious virus. Dr. F. Wong-Staal provided information on the most promising aspect for the development of anti-viral treatmen
One Kind of AIDS Virus May Be Main Type Transmitted: Chemical & Engineering News (08/30/93) Vol. 71, No. 35, P. 20; In a finding that is significant in the search for an AIDS vaccine, researchers believe that a particular phenotype of HIV may be the primary one that transmits the virus from person to person. David D. Ho and his colleagues at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City analyzed the phenotypes and genotype
Economic Cost of AIDS Huge and Growing: United Press International (09/08/93); Manila, Philippines--The AIDS epidemic is a serious economic problem, as well as a staggering health dilemma, with developing countries suffering most, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). About one in every 250 adults in the world is HIV-infected, and most of these individuals live in non-industrialized coun
Indian Soldiers Returning From U.N. Duty in Cambodia Test HIV Positive: United Press International (09/05/93); New Delhi--HIV infection has been detected in as many as 45 Indian army soldiers returning from peacekeeping duties in Cambodia , said a report in the Times of India newspaper Sunday. According to the paper, the virus was diagnosed by army medical officers during routine checkups of the soldiers after their return from
Elders Wins Confirmation in Senate by Vote of 65-34: Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/08/93) P. A2; Dr. Joycelyn Elders, confirmed yesterday in the Senate by a vote of 65-34, will succeed Dr. Antonia C. Novello as the U.S. Surgeon General. Elders, who is known for her outspokenness, identified AIDS prevention as one of her priorities. She is the first black, and second woman to hold the position.
AIDS Epidemic Seen to Burden Asian Economies: Reuters (09/08/93); Manila, Philippines--Experts report that, by the year 2000, Asia may surpass Africa in the number of new cases of AIDS, and the epidemic may pose a risk not only to the health of the region, but the economy as well. The issue was discussed at a recent workshop in Manila on the impact of AIDS in Asian countries. United
HIV Infects 1M Women This Year: Financial Times (Great Britain) (09/08/93) P. 4 (Cookson, Clive); More than 1 million women worldwide will be infected by HIV this year, and by the year 2000, 13 million women will be HIV- positive and 4 million will have died from the virus, according to the head of the World Health Organization s global program on AIDS. Dr. Michael Merson reported that females becoming infected wit
Key to AIDS: Science Steps a Little Closer: Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/08/93) P. A2 (Garrett, Laurie); Recent discoveries in past weeks about how the HIV virus catapults the immune system into chaos offers new evidence that perhaps the actual damage is caused not by the virus, but the system itself, report scientists. Previous research has focused on the ability of HIV to harm CD4 cells in the immune system; however, th
Heterosexual Women Facing Increase in AIDS: Baltimore Sun (09/03/93) P. 1B; The number of women acquiring the AIDS virus through heterosexual contact is increasing, according to a state study. Although this figure still remains small, Dr. Joseph Horman of the Maryland AIDS Administration says that the numbers indicate a trend. AIDS-infected females in Maryland have doubled since the early 1980
Spiritual Duty Seen in AIDS Work: Chicago Tribune (09/02/93) P. 1-7 (Griffin, Jean Latz); The religious community is putting aside moral judgment and condemnation to help in the struggle against a disease that is primarily transmitted through sexual activity and drug use. Groups are providing health care, shelter, food, friendship, and spiritual guidance to people with AIDS. Experts say that, while this con
The AIDS Commission's Final Plea: Washington Post (09/03/93) P. A24; Four years ago, the AIDS Commission was established to advise Congress and the president on the development of a national policy concerning HIV. Today, it is no more. The final report details the disappointment of members, who feel that the AIDS epidemic has not been taken seriously, and neither have their recommendati
Tenor Pavarotti Throws His Weight Into AIDS Fight: Reuter (09/02/93); Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti last week pledged to help one of the discoverers of the AIDS virus, Dr. Luc Montagnier, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in their joint effort to fight the disease. Montagnier and UNESCO joined forces last January to form the World Foundation for
Attempted HIV-Murder Cases Dropped: Richmond Times--Dispatch (09/03/93) P. B5 (Pope, Jon); First-degree murder charges against two Virginia prostitutes have been dropped at the request of prosecuting attorney Cassandra S. Burns. Brenda Hines and Rita Conway of Petersburg Commonwealth had been held without bond pending their trials for attempted murder for knowingly having sex after testing positive for the v
Panel Tells Firm to Pay AIDS Victim: Washington Post (09/04/93) P. E1 (Mariano, Ann); A local real estate company has been ordered to pay $35,000 to a city resident afflicted with AIDS after the company refused to make repairs to his apartment because of his disease. The District s Commission on Human Rights ruled last week that the Joel Truitt Management Co. of the District discriminated against J. Cor
Wives Want Husbands Held Liable for Hiding in Closet: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/03/93) P. A1 (Parsons, Charlotte); Sophia Bell-Ginsburg made Canadian legal history last June when Justice Alvin Rosenberg of the Ontario Court s General Division gave her the go-ahead to file a $1.4 million suit against Myron Ginsburg, her estranged husband, for not informing her that he was bisexual. Bell-Ginsburg, who argued that her husband unfairly
Middle-School Condom Giveaway: Washington Times (09/07/93) P. A6; In a program believed to be the first of its kind in the United States , four New Haven, Conn., schools will make condoms available to fifth- and sixth-graders. The program, which begins with the start of classes this week, was granted school board approval partly because of a Yale University survey indicating that 28
Nominee Expected to Get OK: USA Today (09/07/93) P. 3A (Hall, Mimi); Surgeon-general nominee Joycelyn Elders is expected to receive confirmation from the U.S. Senate today despite some misgivings concerning her record and rhetoric. Liberals have praised her for being an unapologetic health-care maverick who has not shied away from such weight issues as teen pregnancy and the spread of A
AIDS Researchers Seeing Their Quarry in a New Light: Baltimore Sun (09/07/93) P. 1A (Garrett, Laurie); Scientists in the fight against AIDS are excited over a new research strategy that shifts the focus away from HIV itself, and towards how the immune system is effected by this virus. A popular belief is growing that HIV fools the body s immune system into attacking itself and other areas of the body, and that its abili
East Bay AIDS Food Bank Changes Hands: PR Newswire (09/01/93); Oakland, Calif.--The Center for AIDS Services East Bay AIDS Food Bank is now operated by Project Open Hand, with temporary funding from Alameda County. The $15,000 from the county will keep the food bank running for about three months. The mayors of both Oakland and Berkeley have asked their city councils for grants, a
Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and the Circle of Care Brings Smiles to Town; Comedienne Elayne Boosler Takes Part in a Day of Special Programs: PR Newswire (09/01/93); Collegeville, Pa.-- Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, and The Circle of Care, two family- oriented AIDS clinics, will mark the fourth anniversary of their partnership with a Family Day celebration. Internationally-acclaimed comedienne Elayne Boosler will host the festivities, to be held Sept. 8
Women Offered a New Condom: New York Times (09/02/93) P. B7; A new protection against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases has arrived in the form of a female condom. A polyurethane sheath with flexible rings at each end which the woman inserts into the vagina before intercourse, the female condom will be available this week through Planned Parenthood of Connecticut. At
College Athletes: Bar HIV Infected: Washington Post (09/02/93) P. D2; Nearly two-thirds of college athletes participating in contact sports would support a ban restricting HIV-infected players from competition, according to a survey at the University of Michigan. The questionnaire listed football and men and women s basketball as contact sports. Of those athletes competing in other sport
School Condom Program Called Successful: Washington Post (09/02/93) P. DC10 (Harris, Hamil R.); A condom program in Washington, D.C., schools, implemented in an effort to prevent the spread of AIDS, has been called a success and will be continued in the new academic year. Last year, free access to condoms from school nurses was available in all high schools and four junior highs; consequently, reported cases of s
State to Sponsor Trial of Vaccine for People With HIV: Boston Globe (09/02/93) P. 25 (Lehman, Betsy A.); Massachusetts will host the first state-sponsored trial of an AIDS vaccine, and will also contribute $150,000 to the evaluations from a voluntary HIV/AIDS tax checkoff fund. There are approximately 30,000 state residents who are infected with HIV, but the trials will enroll only 140 patients to test the vaccine GP 160.
British Women in AIDS Scare From Infected Health Worker: Reuters (09/02/93); London--Seven British women were offered AIDS tests and counseling after health officials discovered that a male nurse who helped deliver their babies was HIV-positive. There was a chance of transmission because the nurse gave the women injections during delivery, but Dr. Myrtle Summerly, the North Staffordshire Health
On 'Light,' Clear Talk About a Present Danger: AIDS: USA Today (09/03/93) P. 3D (Gable, Donna); In an effort to increase AIDS awareness, Arsenio Hall and Paula Abdul will host a two-hour special on ABC Saturday at 8 p.m. In a New Light 93 combines education with music and comedy, yet, according to executive producer Joseph Lovett, promises to be the frankest discussion of clinical sexuality in prime time since th
Schaefer Yields to Support Needle Exchange Program: Baltimore Sun (09/03/93) P. 1B (Frece, John W. and Daemmrich, JoAnna); After initially opposing efforts by Baltimore officials to implement a needle exchange program, Gov. William Donald Schaefer announced that he would support emergency legislation that would permit the city to distribute clean syringes to drug users. Plans by Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and Health Commissioner Peter
Liposomal Doxorubicin in AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma: Lancet (08/21/93) Vol. 342, No. 8869, P. 497 (Hengge, U.R., et al); Liposome-encapsulated cytotoxic agents are less toxic and more effective than traditional chemotherapy in some experimental tumors, report U. R. Hengge et al., researchers of dermatology and venerology. The researchers studied the safety and efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin in 21 subjects infected with AIDS-related Ka
HIV in South Africa: Lancet (08/28/93) Vol. 342, No. 8870, P. 557 (O'Farrell, Nigel); AIDS continues to grow among core groups, and spread to rural areas of South Africa , yet the government s response is less than urgent, says Nigel O Farrell of the Department of Genitourinary Medicine at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Much needed counseling and education programs still have not been implemented. Rath
HIV/AIDS Video Targets Foodservice Industry: Midwest Foodservice News (07/93-08/93) Vol. 11, No. 5, P. 1; The National Restaurant Association and the American Red Cross have teamed up to produce HIV/AIDS: What You Need to Know, an educational video about the deadly disease and its transmission in the workplace. The 13-minute program deals with common misperceptions that can be detrimental to an industry that depends on its
Erecting Barriers to Slow the Spread of AIDS: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (08/31/93) P. A17 (Mackie, Iain D.); The intentional spread of AIDS is an emerging problem that the criminal justice system is not prepared to handle, says Iain D. Mackie, associate professor of medicine at the University of Western Ontario. Mackie, who is director of the HIV care program at St. Joseph s Health Centre in Ontario, has several recommendatio
Belgian Child Faces Anti-AIDS Graffiti at School: Reuters (09/01/93) (Guissard, Gerard); Bilstain, Belgium--Three-year-old Lucas Van de Broecke, an HIV -positive adopted child from Poland , faced anti-AIDS graffiti such as Damn AIDS and No AIDS Here on his first day of nursery school in the eastern Belgium hamlet of Bilstain. Already, two parents have executed threats to remove their children from the scho
Baltimore Plans to Begin Needle Exchange Program: Baltimore Sun (09/02/93) P. 1A (Bor, Jonathan); Baltimore, Md., hopes to distribute clean needles to about 1,000 drug users in an effort to curb the spread of the AIDS virus through shared syringes, said Dr. Peter Beilenson, the city s health commissioner. Beilenson announced that health educators and nurses will operate a center not only to exchange needles, but to
Health Care Providers Sign Unique $25 Million Agreement: Business Wire (09/01/93); San Francisco--Chronitech Homecare Services Inc. has signed a $25-million-a-year joint venture with the country s largest private home health care company, Kimberly Quality Care. Chronitech will provide oral medication to Kimberly Quality Care s HIV patients in San Francisco and West Hollywood, and infusion supplies an
D.C. AIDS Agency Firings Upheld: Washington Post (09/02/93) P. C3 (Goldstein, Amy); Vincent C. Gray, the director of Washington, D.C. s Department of Human Services, upheld the dismissal of the chief of the top AIDS agency in the District of Columbia after allegations of improprieties. Chief of the Agency for HIV/AIDS, Caitlin Ryan, was accused two months ago of improperly steering an AIDS education c
New Stamp Urges AIDS Awareness: Washington Post (09/02/93) P. B2 (McAllister, Bill); Postmaster General Marvin Runyon, with the help of White House AIDS policy coordinator Kristine Gebbie and others, unveiled the design of a new stamp promoting AIDS Awareness in a ceremony yesterday. The stamp features a red ribbon, which is a common symbol of the AIDS movement, and the simple wording AIDS Awareness.
HIV Pathogenesis: AIDS Treatment News (08/20/93) No. 181, P. 5 (James, John S.); Based on an experiment of 80 HIV-positive patients, a study from Greece reported that AIDS patients who had allergies experienced a more rapid decrease in T-helper counts than did those who were non-allergic. The difference was statistically significant, and the two categories may have benefited from different treatmen
Six-Year Diet Study: Nutrients May Reduce AIDS Risk: AIDS Treatment News (08/20/93) No. 181, P. 3 (James, John S.); A major study, based on six-year data of 296 healthy, HIV- positive men in San Francisco, suggests that several nutrients may reduce progression to AIDS. The participants provided a nutritional questionnaire as well as accounts of their dietary intake, which were then analyzed by special computer software to calculate
Medical Briefs: Advocate (09/07/93) P. 39 (Cohan, Gary R.); HIV-infected patients who are treated with AZT long before their T-cell counts drop to hazardous levels can slow the development of AIDS, according to a three-year study. European and Australian researchers discovered that patients taking high doses of AZT twice daily were only about half as likely as patients taking p
Update: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome--United States, 1992: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/93) Vol. 270, No. 8, P. 930; The Centers for Disease Control released a report summarizing AIDS statistical findings from 1991 to 1992. According to this data, the number of reported cases of AIDS moved up to 47,095 from 45,499, a 3.5 percent increase. Like previous years, the majority of infected persons were gay or bisexual men, although the num
Lightening Up: Utilizing Humor in the Battle Against AIDS: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (08/26/93) P. B9 (Pacheco, Patrick); Where gay jokes and satire have been used in the past as a shield against bigots, they are now being applied to a more serious adversary--AIDS. In the past decade or so, in light of the tremendous emotional and physical pain experienced by those infected with the fatal disease, the arts have responded in like with sole
NABI Establishes Scientific Advisory Board With Immunologists, Virologists and Pediatricians From Leading Medical Institutions: PR Newswire (08/31/93); Miami--North American Biologicals, Inc. has formed a panel of health experts from top medical institutions to advise the company as it develops plasma-based therapeutic products for the treatment of immune system disorders and infectious diseases. NABI is currently developing and supplying for trials HIVIG, an immune g
Argentina Ministry of Health Approves Disease Detection International's Seven-Minute, Whole Blood AIDS Test for Use in National Program: PR Newswire (08/31/93); Irvine, Calif.--A patented, seven-minute, whole blood AIDS test has been evaluated and approved by the Argentina Ministry of Health for use in Argentina s National Program for the Fight Against Human Retrovirus and AIDS. The SeroCard HIV-1 test for the antibody to the AIDS virus was submitted by Disease Detection Inter
Killer Virus Hits at Heart of Economy: Financial Times--Africa (Great Britain) (09/01/93) P. 13 (Kibazo, Joel); Since AIDS first surfaced to begin its destruction 12 years ago, sub-Saharan Africa has been hit hard, accounting for more than half of the world s AIDS population. With about 1.2 million Africans dead from the disease, and an estimated 14 million infections projected by the year 2000, many fear the depressing financia
AIDS Prevention Rule Debuts: USA Today (08/31/93) P. 8C (Duncan, Jeff); High school football players with open wounds or bloody jerseys must exit the game for at least one down, dictates the new rule passed in January by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The guidelines, effective this football season, were designed to prevent transmission of HIV or other blood-born
Medical Briefs: Advocate (09/07/93) Issue 637, P. 40 (Cohan, Gary R.); While one study estimates the risk of HIV infection after a needle stick as 0.36 percent, or one transmission per 278 exposures, others indicate a few cases of infection which resulted from splashing blood from a contaminated needle on the skin or in mucous membranes. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the chances
Should HIV-Infected Immigrants Be Barred From the United States?: Health Vol. 7, No. 5, P. 24 (Nickles, Don and Berenson, Aimee); As controversy continues to swirl around AIDS, the issue of immigration, too, is in heated debate. The United States currently prohibits the entry of HIV-infected immigrants. Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) asserts that if immigrants bring HIV into the country, even more Americans will contract the virus, and that it will s
Flood Damage: Advocate (09/07/93) Issue 637, P. 24 (Gallagher, John); Hazards and hardship await those with AIDS in the aftermath of recent flooding in the Midwest, say activists. The destruction, which spanned 10 states, left a small fraction of HIV-positive people without homes and no place to go, since many temporary shelters refuse them. Thousands more salvaged their homes, but now m
Dorian Corey Is Dead; A Drag Film Star, 56: New York Times (08/31/93) P. A18; Drag film star Dorian Corey has died at age 56 of AIDS. Corey was featured in the award-winning documentary Paris Is Burning, a film about female impersonators. Corey himself was a participant in drag life off-screen, and performed regularly in New York. He also owned a clothing establishment, Corey Design.
National AIDS Commission Chairman In Cleveland: PR Newswire (08/30/93); The National Commission on AIDS officially goes out of business on Sept. 3. On that day, the chairperson of the commission, Dr. June E. Osborn, will address the City Club of Cleveland, Ohio. Osborn has held her position for more than four years and has steered the National Commission through hard times. According to th
AIDS Treatment Documentary Premieres Amidst Controversy: PR Newswire (08/30/93); San Francisco--The medical world is criticizing a documentary about an unapproved medical treatment called ozone therapy, which may allegedly deter cancer and AIDS. Canadian filmmaker Geoffrey Rogers Ozone and the Politics of Medicine describes a potential breakthrough drug that is dismissed by health officials, althou
Mass. to Conduct First State-Sponsored Study of AIDS Vaccine: United Press International (08/27/93); Boston--Massachusetts will conduct the country s first state- sponsored tests of an AIDS vaccine, announced health officials. Tests of the drug, gb 160, will be done in conjunction with MicroGeneSys Inc. and the Wyeth-Ayerst Research Division at a dozen locations statewide. The trials are scheduled for 15 months, but w
HIV-Positive Status Brings Attempted Murder Charges in More Sex Cases: Los Angeles Times (08/29/93) P. A27 (LoLordo, Ann); HIV infection is assuming more relevance in the courtroom, to the dismay of gay-rights advocates and defense attorneys, and to the pleasure of prosecutors and advocates of victims. Sex cases dominate this new attitude toward HIV, as prosecutors begin charging defendants with attempted murder. Opposition insists that th
Women May Have Contracted HIV Through Lesbian Sex: Reuters (08/30/93); Austin, Texas--Transmission of the AIDS virus through female- to-female sex is rare, but not impossible, say health officials, who are investigating the case of two HIV-positive lesbians. A federal study of 164 homosexual women with AIDS found that all of the subjects had other risk factors that contributed to the deve
Medical Briefs: Advocate (09/07/93) Issue 637, P. 39 (Cohan, Gary R.); Adolescent girls are the next group to emerge as a major segment of the AIDS population, according to an analysis by the United Nations Development Program. The study concluded that sexually active females under age 20 have higher rates of HIV infection than do older women or younger men. Researchers corroborated the d
Update: Barrier Protection Against HIV Infection and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/93) Vol. 270, No. 8, P. 933; It remains true that the most effective method for preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact with infected partners. The Public Health Service has, however, also offered the use of condoms as a method of prevention for serodiscordant couples--sexual relationships in which
WKBD/Harvey Ovshinsky Production 'Close to Home' Wins National Emmy: PR Newswire (08/26/93); Detroit--The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the national Emmy for Community Service to a documentary about AIDS. The award is presented each year to a local TV station for its outstanding contributions to the community. Close to Home: The Tammy Boccomino Story chronicles the true story of a ho
Woman Being Sued on AIDS Show Says Point Was Missed: Boston Globe (08/26/93) P. 30 (Hohler, Bob); An actress/comedian who is being sued for her performance during an AIDS awareness program says that the three teenage litigants missed the point of the show. When Suzi Landolphi, 42, brought her Hot, Sexy and Safer Productions, Inc. to a Chelmsford, Mass., high school, she told jokes about oral sex, masturbation, and
Applicator to Make Condom Use Easier: New York Times (08/30/93) P. D2 (Chartrand, Sabra); A New Jersey inventor hopes to promote condom use, one of the most effective methods of preventing sexual transmission of the AIDS virus, through an applicator that makes condom use easier. After realizing how many couples do not use prophylactics because of their messiness and inconvenience, consumer products designer
For Black Gays, a 'Double Whammy': Philadelphia Inquirer (08/30/93) P. B1 (Valbrun, Marjorie); A block party was the setting for an AIDS fundraiser in Philadelphia, Pa., for gay black men, who are often ostracized by both white gays and black heterosexuals. Black-on-gay racism and gay-on-gay discrimination were concerns discussed at the event, held by the William J. Craig Foundation, which provides support servi
Clinton AIDS Leader Says Funding to Remain Tight: Boston Globe (08/27/93) P. 26 (Kong, Dolores); AIDS policy coordinator Kristine Gebbie told AIDS researchers, officials, providers, and activists in Boston that funding for AIDS may be scarce due to the expected high cost of national health care reform. AIDS advocates, who have asked for full funding for the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, ho
A Blood Cell Therapy Is Designed to Act as a Decoy to Lure HIV Away From the Immune Cells It Kills: New York Times (08/30/93) P. D2 (Chartrand, Sabra); As researchers scramble for an answer to the AIDS problem, a new technique has been patented this month by Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. Based on the work of Dr. Yves- Claude Nicolau at the Harvard Center for Blood Research, the new therapy involves the insertion of a protein called CD4 into red blood cells. This
HIV--Lesbians: Associated Press (08/29/93); Austin, Texas--The myth that lesbians are not at risk for AIDS is being challenged by a case in Austin, Texas, of two gay women who have tested positive for HIV. According to the women s physician, Dr. David Wright, his patients insist that they could not possibly have been infected through needle- sharing or unsafe se
Hollywood's Take on AIDS: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/26/93) P. E1 (Natale, Richard); While entertainment with AIDS as the central plot is rare, the films that do exist focus on the personal triumph and tragedy of individuals. Finally, Hollywood is prepared to move on to other, broader aspects of the disease. Viewers will soon be introduced to four new works about AIDS, all approaching issues from diffe
Number of AIDS Carriers Reaches 15,000 in Indonesia: United Press International (08/27/93); Jakarta--Health Minister Suyudi of Indonesia reported that the number of people infected with the AIDS virus is approaching 15,000--a figure 100 times that which the government reported. Official figures dictated that, as of July 31, there were as many as 150 HIV-infected people in 11 of the country s 27 provinces. Of
N.H. School Panel Seeks Input on AIDS Policy: Boston Globe (08/26/93) P. 58; Concord, N.H.--New Hampshire schools are required by state law to teach about AIDS, but they do not have to adhere to the Board of Education guidelines. The school system is currently caught in a tug-of-war between those who believe only abstinence from sex should be taught, and those who feel students should be instru
Center for Special Immunology Cleared to Provide Immune Reconstitution Therapy to Existing Patients; FDA Approves IND for Limited Chemical Use: PR Newswire (08/26/93); Fort Lauderdale, Fla.--The Center for Special Immunology, a subsidiary of Health Professionals Inc., has received approval of an Investigational New Drug application from the federal Food and Drug Administration. The restricted IND allows the center and its affiliated doctors to continue their AIDS therapy. When tradit
Workplace TB: Associated Press (08/26/93); Washington--A coalition of five labor unions petitioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to establish a safety standard designed to protect health care workers from on-the-job exposure to tuberculosis. The petition also asked for national guidelines to enforce the standard. The Labor Coalition to Fight
AIDS Suit: Associated Press (08/26/93) (Testa, Karen); Miami--A jury ordered former exotic dancer Lucienne Wheeland, 29, to pay her ex-husband $18 million for failing to inform him that she was infected with HIV. In the country s largest jury award to a plaintiff infected through heterosexual activity, Bruce Wheeland, 29, of Fort Lauderdale was awarded $8 million in compen
Belgian Parents Consider School Boycott Over AIDS Child: Reuters (08/25/93) (Pleming, Sue); Brussels--The mayor of Bilstain, in eastern Belgium , said that a group of parents there have threatened to withdraw their children from a primary school because a child with HIV has been enrolled. Last week, inhabitants of the hamlet met with health and city officials, who urged the parents not to try to oust the six-
AIDS Lecturer Sued in Massachusetts: United Press International (08/25/93); Chelmsford, Mass.--Three students who felt humiliated by a sexually graphic AIDS-awareness program at their high school have filed suit in U.S. District Court in Boston against the well-known AIDS-awareness lecturer who presented it. The suit alleges that nationally recognized performer Suzi Landolphi shocked and humil
Colombian Chemist Seeks AIDS Cure From Vultures: United Press International (08/25/93); Bogota--Colombian scientist Miguel Palencia thinks he may be close to an AIDS cure and wants President Clinton to fund $1 million so that he can continue his research. Palencia told a Colombian magazine, Semana, that a blend of gastric juices from vultures could provide a biological defense against the disease. His bel
Rhodococcus Equi Pneumonia and Occult HIV Infection: Lancet (08/21/93) Vol. 342, No. 8869, P. 496 (Libanore, Marco et al.); Reluctance of older homosexual patients to admit high-risk behavior may cause death without ever being diagnosed as HIV- positive, say Marco Libanore et al. at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology in Italy . Marco Libanore and his colleagues encountered a 71-year-old man with a cavitating mass in the
Occupational Infectious Disease Exposures in EMS Personnel: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/93) Vol. 270, No. 8, P. 914; Reports of occupationally transmitted hepatitis B and HIV compelled the Portland Bureau of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services to implement a program for handling exposures. Data was collected for a two-year period using prehospital care records, verbal and written exposure reports, and statistics; 256 incidents were ca
A Manhattan Project by Any Other Name...: Science (08/13/93) Vol. 261, No. 5123, P. 827; Twenty top AIDS researchers, government leaders, and activists who gathered July 30-31 agreed that now is the time for an expanded, more focused approach to the AIDS puzzle. The meeting was held at the University of Wisconsin and adhered to the theme, Future Directions in AIDS Research: Towards a Cure. Participants at
Cable-Access Program Tests Limits of Obscenity: Washington Post (08/26/93) P. A3; Infosex, a cable-access program that aired on an Austin, Texas, television station, has sparked debate over graphic sexual scenes shown in the midnight broadcast. The program, aiming to explore gay life and safe sex issues, showed men performing oral sex and other homosexual acts. The explicit nature of Infosex result
AIDS Sufferers Acceptable for Swazi Election: Reuters (08/24/93); Mbabane--Swaziland s election officer, Robert Twala, dismissed an appeal for compulsory AIDS testing of political candidates. Opposition candidate Peter Dlamini appealed on the grounds that AIDS-infected candidates might not live long enough to complete a five-year parliamentary term. On Tuesday, Twala disagreed and co
HIV Infection Spreading Fast in Thailand, Study Says: United Press International (08/24/93) (Levy, Douglas A.); Washington--HIV has spread rapidly in Thailand , particularly in the northern region, despite high rates of condom use, said researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore on Tuesday. The report indicated that 13 percent of the 2,417 men studied tested positive for HIV. Of that figure, almost
Around the NBA: Ruling in Magic Case: Washington Post (08/25/93) P. C5; A federal judge in Lansing, Mich., determined what litigation may be sought by the five-year-old child of a woman who claims to have contracted AIDS from Magic Johnson. U.S. Judge Richard A. Enslen ruled that the daughter of Waymer Moore cannot sue for emotional distress because she was not present when her mother had
AIDS Test: Associated Press (08/25/93); Glenview, Ill.--LifeSource Blood Services, a blood bank in Illinois, will inform 2,000 donors in the Chicago area that they had inconclusive HIV tests. False test results from 1987 to 1992 forced LifeSource, under strict Food and Drug Administration guidelines, to throw away most of the donated blood. Beginning this pa
Lawyer With HIV Sues Former Firm Over Dismissal: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/26/93) P. B2; An HIV-infected attorney is representing himself in a lawsuit against his former Philadelphia firm, which fired him after discovery of his condition. Identifying himself only as John Doe in a suit filed under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the lawyer claims that his work record with Kohn, Nast & Graft was exe
He Feels in Front by Being Upfront: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (08/25/93) P. A9 (Kowalick, Vince); Steve Burdett, a stock-car racer at Saugus Speedway in Los Angeles, has finally admitted to himself that he is homosexual and come to terms with the fact that he is HIV-positive. Burdett discovered his infection in 1991 after a case of shingles and severe fatigue sent him to the doctor s office, where he took an AIDS t
Liposome Technology Inc. Receives First Market Approval; Amphocil to be Marketed and Distributed in the United Kingdom: Business Wire (08/23/93); The antifungal market has witnessed significant growth, partially because of the opportunistic fungal infections that plague persons with comprised immune systems, for example, AIDS and cancer chemotherapy patients. Liposome Technology Inc. got a green light from the regulatory body of the
Cannabis Research Opens a New Window on the Brain: Reuters (08/20/93) (Hirschler, Ben); London--Therapeutic benefits for patients with certain illnesses, including AIDS, may eventually result from ongoing research of cannabis. More commonly known as marijuana or hash, cannabis served medicinal purposes throughout ancient history. Now, because of the discovery in pig brains of the chemical anandamide, whic
Many Transfusions Unnecessary: United Press International (08/24/93); Washington--Close to 40 percent of blood transfusions are not needed, and that number could be lowered with a little extra training for surgeons, reported Harvard Medical School researchers. The team studied almost 1,500 medical records six months before and after surgeons completed a short seminar on when transfusions
AIDS Costing Australian Insurers A$10.9 Million a Year: Reuters (08/23/93); Sydney--Insurance claims by HIV-infected persons in Australia are increasing at the rate of nine percent each year and are costing insurers millions of dollars, said insurers. So far, AIDS patients have claimed A$47.1 million (U.S.$31.6) in life insurance and pension, according to the Life Insurance Federation of Austr
Colombian Health Officials Investigate AIDS Blood: United Press International (08/23/93); Bogota--The AIDS-related death of a two-year-old girl who received tainted blood at a private clinic has compelled health officials to investigate how that blood was approved. Further concern stems from the fact that last week another patient, who received blood from the same clinic, was diagnosed with the deadly virus
Expert Says AIDS Toll Rivals Bubonic Plague: Baltimore Sun (08/24/93) P. 2B (Selby, Holly); Dr. Michael L. Levin, associate professor at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland medical institutions, was appointed chairman of the Mayor s AIDS Coordinating Council in Baltimore. The organization is comprised of 50 health professionals, activists, and AIDS-infected individuals who coordinate efforts to fulfi
Russia--AIDS Camp: Associated Press (08/23/93) (Korzhov, Maxim); Ust-Izhora, Russia--This week at the Center for Preventing and Campaigning Against AIDS, 30 infected children and their families escape from the daily stigma surrounding the disease. In rural hometowns, infected children and their healthy relatives are greeted with ostracism, harassment, fear, ignorance, and hatred fro
Five Agencies Will Share AIDS Funds: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/25/93) P. B2 (Acker, Carolyn); In a news release yesterday, the city of Philadelphia announced that five local agencies would share $237,665 in AIDS prevention and education money funded by the Centers for Disease Control. Three of those organizations are minority- run, and all five serve primarily minority populations; however, the new competitive
AIDS Groups Go Head-to-Head With Whitman-Walker: Washington Post (08/25/93) P. B1 (Goldstein, Amy); The new Sankofa Community Coalition of HIV/AIDS Services, a union of more than a dozen black and Hispanic AIDS organizations, plans to bid for the $2 million government grant that has been awarded to the Whitman-Walker Clinic for the past several years. The coalition members acknowledge the quality of their rival s ser
Varmus Reassuring for NIH: Nature (08/12/93) Vol. 364, No. 6438, P. 561; In a refreshing change, President Bill Clinton strayed from the standards of his predecessors when he nominated Harold Varmus as the next director of the National Institutes of Health, write the editors of Nature in an editorial from the Aug. 12 issue. The editors assert that Bush, Reagan, and other former presidents t
AIDS Commission Laments Lack of Progress, Leadership: Nation's Health (08/93) Vol. 23, No. 7, P. 10; America s struggle with AIDS in the past few years has garnered little triumph and not enough national leadership, said the National Commission on AIDS. In one of its final reports before disassembling in the fall, the commission asserted that leaders at all levels need to communicate with the public about AIDS. The tr
Safety First: An OSHA Primer: Security Management (08/93) Vol. 37, No. 8, P. 36 (Kohr, Robert L. and Nobrega, Kathryn); In its first regulation specifying biohazards, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a bloodborne pathogens standard, which took effect in March. The new standard pinpoints workers, such as medical and health providers, morticians, lab employees, first-aid responders, and rescue workers, who come in
AIDS Trials to Include More Minorities: Nation's Health (08/93) Vol. 23, No. 7, P. 20; In an estimated $3.6 million expansion, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will augment its AIDS Clinical Trials Groups to include a greater portion of minority populations. The groups will branch out to trial units at Howard University in Washington, D.C., the University of Hawaii in Man
WHO Calls for Prison Reform to Control HIV: Nation's Health (08/93) Vol. 23, No. 7, P. 20; New guidelines to control the spread of AIDS among the incarcerated are being advocated by the World Health Organization . The recommendations, which include needle exchange programs and distribution of condoms to prisoners, were introduced at the ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. WHO also suggests mor
CDC's New Director Plans Shift in Focus for Agency: Washington Post (Health) (08/24/93) P. 6 (Rovner, Sandy); David Satcher, president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., is the new director of the federal Centers for Disease Control. While recognizing the deadly AIDS virus as a major concern of the agency, Satcher hopes to focus some attention on drug and violence prevention as well. Satcher, 52, joins the CDC at
The Country Music Industry Climbs on the Anti-AIDS Bandwagon: New York Times (08/24/93) P. D18 (Elliott, Stuart); As major advertisers begin contributing to the battle against AIDS, reinforcements from the ranks of Nashville are prepared to join them. Country artists, record labels and other influential sectors are becoming increasingly involved in the anti-AIDS campaign. One such indication is Red Hot and Country, a recording sch
AIDS Cited in Death of Rapist: Baltimore Sun (08/24/93) P. 3B (James, Michael); A recently convicted rapist who allegedly wore a condom during his attack of a Johns Hopkins student died of complications from an AIDS-related illness, said authorities. Calvin Mayo III, 28, was sentenced in February to a life-plus term for the kidnapping, rape, robbery, and extortion of the 27-year-old woman. After b
Florida Plans 'AIDS-Care' Facility for Ill Inmates: Washington Post (08/24/93) P. A5 (Kidwell, David); Civil libertarians are criticizing the Florida prison system, which will become the first in America to provide separate care and facilities for inmates who are terminally ill with AIDS. While the opposition charges that it is merely an excuse to treat AIDS patients like lepers, prison officials claim that the new faci
Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid From Patients With AIDS-Related Primary Lymphoma of the Central Nervous System: Lancet (08/14/93) Vol. 342, No. 8868, P. 398 (Cinque, Paola et al.); Epstein-Barr virus is often associated with AIDS-related cancers. A team of European researchers took samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 85 HIV-infected patients within six months before death; their goal was to assess whether Epstein- Barr virus DNA could be used in diagnosing tumors. Lymphomas of the central nervous
Gene Therapy Advance: Chemical & Engineering News (08/16/93) Vol. 71, No. 33, P. 3 (Dagani, Ron); Breakthrough work has been conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, where researchers have developed a form of gene therapy that may effect AIDS. The new method uses monoclonal antibodies that, unlike traditional antibodies, work inside the cell. The research team, headed by immunologist Wayne A. Marasc
Infection Control Guidelines Reflect New Technology in Dentistry: AIDS Alert (08/93) Vol. 8, No. 8, P. 118; In response to public fear that dentistry tools transmit HIV, the Federal Center for Disease Control recommend that all heat -tolerated, hand-held equipment be sterilized between uses. Previous infection control guidelines found that surface disinfection of handpieces was adequate. Although nine clusters of Hepatitis B
BRF--AIDS Prison: Associated Press (08/23/93); Orlando, Fla.--Florida s penal system will become the first nationally to segregate prisoners in the final stages of AIDS, reported the Miami Herald on Monday. A facility near Orlando is being converted and is scheduled to open next summer. Dr. Charles Matthews, the state prison s head physician, said that the building
Woman With AIDS Virus Wins Deportation Reprieve: Reuters (08/20/93); Ottawa--An illegal immigrant carrying the AIDS virus received a temporary reprieve from deportation from Canada after she staged a demonstration outside of the prime minister s office. Clara Palacios, holding her infant and crying, said that her husband and father had disappeared in
Harvard's New Test-Tube Business: New York Times (08/22/93) P. F4 (Diesenhouse, Susan); The Harvard Medical School will soon begin the metamorphosis of an unused high school building into its new Institutes of Medicine. Harvard hopes for a bright future for its new $90- million complex. Research teams from a number of disciplines will work toward medical milestones, including breakthroughs in AIDS, breast
Blood Substitute to Cut Disease: New York Times (08/23/93) P. D2; About a half-dozen companies are in aggressive competition for the development of blood substitutes which, unlike human blood, would fail to transmit viruses like AIDS and hepatitis. The companies are competing to capture what is believed to be a $1-billion market. One biotechnology company, Enzon, Inc., received a pat
U.S. to Test MicroGeneSys AIDS Vaccine After Firm Torpedoes Broader Study: Wall Street Journal (08/23/93) P. B2 (Chase, Marilyn and Ricks, Thomas E.); A pharmaceutical company is under criticism after diverting a government attempt to test several AIDS vaccines by refusing to donate its product, VaxSyn. Federal agencies have tried for several months to devise a test of several promising products, but will now test MicroGeneSys s vaccine only. Although other potential
New HIV Guidelines: American Druggist (08/93) Vol. 208, No. 3, P. 14; A panel of health experts assembled by the National Institutes of Health is recommending that not all HIV patients be treated with AZT . The new guidelines stem from a recent study in Europe which indicates that the drug does not delay the onset of AIDS. Based on the infected person s level of CD4 T cells, use of AZT i
FDA Nutritional Supplement Regulations: Comments Due August 17: AIDS Treatment News (08/06/93) No. 180, P. 7 (James, John S.); The Food and Drug Administration s regulation of the nutritional vitamin supplement industry is sparking anxiety in those representing persons with AIDS or other deadly diseases. The FDA released a report, Unsubstantiated Claims and Documented Health Hazards in the Dietary Supplement Marketplace, stating its position
Drug-Resistant TB Ushers New Recommendations for Treatment: AIDS Alert (08/93) Vol. 8, No. 8, P. 116; The Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET) offers three recommendations to stunt the growth of the disease, especially drug-resistant strains which are extremely hazardous to HIV patients. One recommendation is to treat TB with four drugs instead of just the accustomed three -- isoniazid, rifampin,
French AIDS Tests Get the Hook: Science (08/06/93) Vol. 261, No. 5122, P. 679 (Flam, Faye); Nine of the 31 HIV blood tests marketed in France were quickly pulled off the market by the French Health Ministry, causing anxiety in people who tested negative and are now uncertain about the validity of those results. According to Phillippe Douste Blazy, Deputy Health Minister, the kits did not perform well in a rec
Tom Fuccello Is Dead; Actor on TV Was 56: Washington Post (08/20/93) P. B7; Actor Tom Fuccello, whose roles included everything from soap operas to Shakespeare, died of AIDS at a hospital in California. The veteran actor appeared on Broadway, the daytime soap One Life to Live, the nighttime soap Dallas, and other television programs and commercials. He is survived by his mother and brother.
TB Resurgence Seen in U.S., Western Europe: United Press International (08/20/93) (Taylor, Charles S.); Atlanta--A rebound in tuberculosis, already observed in the United States , is now evident in several Western European countries, according the World Health Organization . The trend since the 1970s has been a steadily declining rate in cases of the respiratory disease; however, that trend now seems to be reversing.
Chronicle: Award in Memory of Ashe: New York Times (08/19/93) P. B11; The Commonwealth Fund, one of the oldest philanthropies in the nation, presented $175,000 in memory of Arthur Ashe to the New York Junior Tennis League. Tennis star Ashe, who died of AIDS in February, helped found the league, which was established so that poor city youths could learn the sport and compete successfully.
Soldier With AIDS Virus Accused of Unsafe Sex: Chicago Tribune (08/19/93) P. 1-4; A possible court-martial awaits an HIV-infected soldier who is charged with violating a safe sex order. The mandate requires enlisted persons to inform their partners if they are infected with the AIDS virus. Spec. Quincy Mason, 22, who is stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo., refuses to disclose the numb
Army to Test AIDS Vaccine Early in 1994: Washington Post (08/20/93) P. A20; With intense opposition from officials at the National Institutes of Health, large-scale testing of an AIDS vaccine will begin early in 1994. The vaccine, called VaxSyn, is a product of MicroGeneSys, a Connecticut pharmaceutical company. Scientists at NIH studied the results of previous, smaller studies and concluded t
Cost Analysis Questions Value of Routine HIV Testing: AIDS Alert (08/93) Vol. 8, No. 8, P. 120; Voluntary routine HIV testing of hospital patients is not cost effective as far as preventing secondary transmissions to health care workers, indicated a recent analysis by the Center for AIDS Prevention and the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California at San Francisco. The analysis was prese
Harvard Group Makes a Splash--Twice: Science (08/06/93) Vol. 261, No. 5122, P. 678 (Cohen, Jon); Last winter, researchers at Harvard Medical School attracted plenty of media attention by reporting that a combination of three drugs appeared to be effective in stopping HIV from replicating. However, critics believed the study was flawed and said anything can kill HIV in a test tube. Those that criticized the study p
Research, Political Leaders Plan Future Directions: AIDS Treatment News (08/06/93) No. 180, P. 1 (James, John S.); Top health officials convened July 30 and 31 in Madison, Wis., to discuss Future Directions in AIDS Research. Among those attending the meeting were Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Kristine Gebbie, the White House AIDS Policy Coordinator; Dr. David Kessler, Comm
"A Better Life" Is Another AIDS Play With a Difference: United Press International (08/16/93) (Cole, Gloria); New York--Author Louis Delgado, Jr. has chosen AIDS as the theme of his first play. A Better Life features two main characters -- one a Black drug addict, the other an Oriental homosexual. Both are men who have been diagnosed with the AIDS virus, and are designated to share a hospital room. The plot explores the impact
Receptagen Sponsors AIDS-Lymphoma Drug Research at University of British Columbia: Business Wire (08/18/93); Seattle, Wash.--Receptagen Corp., a biotechnology company, signed a multi-year research agreement with the internationally known Biomedical Research Centre at the University of British Columbia. Under the agreement, Receptagen will develop growth-blocker drugs, based on antibodies, to treat AIDS-related cancer. Because
Third Phase of AIDS Vaccine Study Nears Start: Reuters (08/19/93); Washington--MicroGeneSys Inc., a biopharmaceutical company working on an AIDS vaccine, said that the third phase of its study will begin before the end of the year. The company will donate its vaccine VaxSyn to the trial, which will involve 5,000 to 10,000 HIV-positive patients nationwide who will be measured for progr
AIDS Agencies Agree to Coordinate Funding: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/19/93) P. B2 (Collins, Huntly); After months of struggle between local Philadelphia AIDS agencies and Robert K. Ross, the city s health commissioner, the two parties have finally agreed on a plan to coordinate the distribution of more than $20 million in public funds for AIDS services. Under this new allocation system, the Philadelphia Health Departm
AIDS Scare Hits South African Orange Sales: Reuters (08/18/93); Johannesburg--Many South Africans will not buy oranges from hawkers due to hearsay that the fruit is tainted with AIDS- infected blood, said Lawrence Mavundla, chairman of the African Council for Hawkers and Informal Business. He claimed that shop proprietors spread the rumors to hurt the hawkers, their competition. Ma
AIDS Marriages: Associated Press (08/18/93); Salt Lake City--Officials in Utah asked a federal judge to overturn a 1987 state law banning individuals from marrying AIDS-infected partners. Last month, Attorney Brian Barnard sued for two married couples, both with wives carrying HIV, whose children would be considered illegitimate should the marriages be voided. Ba
Fullerene Bioactivity C60 Derivative Inhibits AIDS Viruses: Chemical & Engineering News (08/02/93) Vol. 71, No. 31, P. 3 (Baum, Ruddy); Water-soluble buckminsterfullerene may prove to be an effective component of drug treatments for HIV-1 and HIV-2, according to separate studies by two different AIDS research groups. Scientists from the University of California--San Francisco reasoned that the C60 water-soluble derivative has physical properties that w
AIDS Risk Reduction Among a Multiethnic Sample of Urban High School Students: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/93) Vol. 270, No. 6, P. 725 (Walter, Heather J. and Vaughan, Roger D.); AIDS-prevention instruction by teachers in inner-city high schools with multiethnic student bodies may lead to a reduction in the spread of the disease, according to a study by researchers Heather J. Walter and Roger D. Vaughan. The scientists compared students from two similar inner city high schools, one of which pro
Prophylaxis: New One-Day Sulfa Desensitization Procedure: AIDS Treatment News (08/06/93) No. 180, P. 6 (James, John S.); New research and improved procedures have made it possible for some HIV-infected persons to receive a treatment that was previously considered unsafe due to adverse reactions by the patients. More than half of HIV patients react negatively to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) , a prophylactic treatment that
Top Brands Lend Ads to French AIDS Effort: Adweek--Eastern Edition (08/09/93) Vol. 34, No. 32, P. 14 (Tilles, Daniel); Joker, a small agency in Paris, is using advertising to promote anti-AIDS, pro-condom messages. The campaign has caught attention through its use of well-known French ads from Benetton and Elle which have been slightly adapted to promote condom use. Francois Trabelsi, Joker s principal, hopes to team with international
In Red Cross Class, AIDS Care-Givers Learn All They Can, Hope for the Best: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/18/93) P. G1 (Herndon, Lucia); The Red Cross in Center City, Philadelphia, Pa., offers free home-nursing training programs to providers who care for persons with the AIDS virus. The 14-hour sessions focus on pharmacy, nutrition, economics, and law. Participants also spend time in a hospital, where they learn essentials such as making a bed with a pe
Cape Aid Fundraiser: United Press International (08/18/93); AIDS activists and members of the 11 Rotary Clubs in Cape Cod, Mass., are uniting to raise and distribute money for housing and health services for local residents infected with the AIDS virus. According to the Cape Cod AIDS Council, there are 321 people in the community with full-blown AIDS and have been 190 deaths re
Boulder County AIDS Project Combats Ignorance About the Illness: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (08/17/93) (Burrus, James); Boulder, Colo.--As the AIDS epidemic continues to grow, businesses will need to confront issues surrounding employees who are infected with the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most people with HIV are between the ages of 25 and 34 -- the age group that makes up the bulk of the work force. Althoug
BRF -- Japan-AIDS: Associated Press (08/17/93); Tokyo--In hopes of directing attention to the alarming increase of HIV in Asia, next year Japan will become the first Asian country to host the International Conference on AIDS. The 10th annual meeting, to be held Aug. 7-12 in Yokohama, is expected to attract about 10,000 people. While AIDS shows promise of stabilizati
Houston Woman Claims Man Hid His HIV Status: Reuters (08/17/93); Houston--In what is believed to be one of the first cases of its kind, authorities said that a 46-year-old man who allegedly is infected with HIV has been charged in a Texas court for deliberately exposing a woman to the disease. A 1989 state law says that intentionally exposing another person to the virus is a felony,
HIV Risk-Related Sex Behaviors Among Injection Drug Users, Crack Smokers, and Injection Drug Users Who Smoke Crack: American Journal of Public (08/93) Vol. 83, No. 8, P. 1145 (Booth, Robert E.; Watters, John K.; and Chitwood, Dale D.); While it is commonly accepted that users of intravenous drugs face a high risk of exposure to HIV because of their drug use, research by Drs. Robert E. Booth, John K. Watters, and Dale D. Chitwood indicates that IV-drug users and people who smoke crack cocaine are also likely to engage in sexual practices that put them
Hemophiliacs Sue: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (08/16/93) P. A3; The Alberta branch of the Red Cross and the provincial government are being sued by five Edmonton hemophiliacs who are seeking damages for contracting HIV through blood tainted with the virus before 1985. Before Canada s national screening of donated blood started on Nov. 1, 1985, approximately 700 hemophiliacs and 270
Malaysian Latex Company to Export Condoms to Thailand: United Press International (08/17/93); Kuala Lumpur--Malaysia-based Sidax Latex Industries will export 45 million condoms to Thailand under a contract awarded under the government s campaign against AIDS. Three years ago, Thailand began a campaign against the disease, allotting 10 percent of the national Food and Drug Administration Department s budget to d
World Wire: Postscripts: Wall Street Journal (08/17/93) P. A10 (Anantharaman, Krishnan M.); One out of every eight people in Uganda is infected with HIV. Most of the population is at risk of dying from the epidemic, according to the head of the Ugandan AIDS control program.
Vaccine for Hepatitis B: Washington Post (Health) (08/17/93) P. 15 (Siwek, Jay); Like the AIDS virus, Hepatitis B can move from person to person via sex with an infected partner, contact with contaminated blood, and needle injections. Unlike HIV, however, one can contract the virus through extraordinarily small amounts of blood -- from a tiny cut, for example. Because the amount of blood is often t
Felons No More, Russian Gays Fight Bias, AIDS: Washington Times (08/17/93) P. A9 (Rubin, Julia); Russian homosexuals have announced the creation of an advocacy group, Triangle, through which they will seek equality for gay men and lesbians and will fight the spread of AIDS. The group will act as an information center for homosexuality and AIDS, and will be involved in political activities. Triangle was formed thre
Tuberculosis on the Rebound: Chicago Tribune (08/16/93) P. 8-4 (Thomas, Jerry); Following a period of near extinction, tuberculosis is back on the rise in Illinois Lake County, as well as nationwide. In 1992, instances of TB rose 20 percent from 1952, with more than 26,000 people across the county testing positive for the disease. Health experts in Lake County report that this increase may be caus
AIDS in Africa -- It's a Different Story: Washington Post (Health) (08/17/93) P. 7 (Okie, Susan); While the World Health Organization estimates that more than 8 million Africans have HIV, researchers report that the majority of this number suffer and/or die from common infections. Unlike North American and European AIDS patients, who suffer from unusual infections like Kaposi s sarcoma, African patients are dying f
City Funds Will Shore Up AIDS Group: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/17/93) P. B1 (Collins, Huntly); Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell has agreed to give the Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues (BEBASHI) organization $200,000 in city funds. BEBASHI, which provides AIDS education in the city s black communities, recently lost $218,000 in funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. This loss had threaten
Key Statistician Ousted as Waxman Enters gp160 Fray: Nature (07/29/93) Vol. 364, No. 6436, P. 374 (Macilwain, Colin); The Jackson Foundation has apparently forced AIDS researcher and biostatistician Bill McCarthy to resign after he publicly criticized U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bob Redfield s research on the gp160 vaccine and allegedly leaked data concerning a gp160 trial to the press. McCarthy has accused the foundation and the Army of a cov
HHS Orders Probe of Hemophilia, HIV: American Medical News (08/02/93) Vol. 36, No. 29, P. 15; Donna E. Shalala, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said she will instruct the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine to investigate cases involving the contamination of blood products in the early 1980s. Numerous hemophiliacs who used the products have contracted HIV. Sens. Robert G
Sexual Behavior and Exposure to HIV Infection: Estimates From a General-Population Risk Index: American Journal of Public Health (08/93) Vol. 83, No. 8, P. 1139 (Campostrini, Stefano and McQueen, David V.); Although numerous mass-media reports have stated or implied that members of the general public do not face a particularly high risk of contracting HIV, a study by researchers Stefano Campostrini and David V. McQueen indicates that approximately 85 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 50 engage in sexual activit
Rational Suicide and HIV Disease: Focus (07/93) Vol. 8, No. 8, P. 5 (Jones, James R. and Dilley, James W.); Suicidal inclinations among AIDS patients are extremely common as the patients constantly reevaluate the quality of their lives. One recent study indicates that people infected with HIV may be up to 40 times more likely to consider suicide than members of the general population, although other surveys have reported lev
Increased Recurrence of Tuberculosis in HIV-1-Infected Patients in Kenya: Lancet (08/07/93) Vol. 342, No. 8867, P. 332 (Hawken, Mark et. al); Tuberculosis patients generally respond well to a standard regimen of thiacetazone treatments, although a study of 196 TB patients in Kenya indicates that patients infected with HIV-1 are 34 times more likely to suffer a recurrent TB infection than those not infected with HIV-1. Approximately 70 percent of the HIV-1-po
Russian Alarm as Deadly Diseases Spread: Reuters (08/14/93) (Trevelyan, Mark); Moscow--The economic crisis in Russia is causing a resurgence of infectious diseases, including diphtheria, tuberculosis, cholera, and even bubonic plague, say Russian officials. The government is urging people to get vaccinations, but many Russians are afraid of contracting AIDS from contaminated needles. Malaria-bear
Burmese Warlord's Army Hit by Killer Epidemic: Reuters (08/16/93) (Hepinstall, Sonya); Ho Mong, Burma--About 125 soldiers from Burmese warlord Khun Sa s rebel army have been treated for meningitis at a hospital in Ho Mong. Historically, meningitis has been an epidemic that hits groups of people living in close quarters -- especially military communities -- but improved preventative care has reduced the p
Diet, Vitamins May Protect Against AIDS, Study Shows: United Press International (08/16/93); Berkeley, California--The results of a recent study, described by one researcher as exciting, show that a proper diet supplemented with multivitamins may delay the onset of AIDS in men infected with HIV. Begun in 1984, the study, the findings of which were published in the Journal of Immune Deficiency Syndromes, reveal
Severity of Sentence Questioned After HIV Carrier Infects Women: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (08/13/93) P. A4 (Mickleburgh, Rod); Raymond Mercer of Newfoundland was given an 11-year prison sentence for transmitting the AIDS virus to two women. The decision has fueled the controversy over the role courts should play in policing behavior of HIV-positive citizens. Both sides of the debate have expressed outrage over the severity of the sentence. AID
Rational Suicide and HIV Disease: Focus (07/93) Vol. 8, No. 8, P. 5 (Jones, James R. and Dilley, James W.); Suicidal inclinations among AIDS patients are extremely common as the patients constantly reevaluate the quality of their lives. One recent study indicates that people infected with HIV may be up to 40 times more likely to consider suicide than members of the general population, although other surveys have reported lev
Alabama Pharmacies Offer AIDS Education: American Pharmacy (08/93) Vol. NS33, No. 8, P. 18; More than 1,000 Alabama pharmacies have become part of a statewide public education promotion offering data about AIDS prevention and treatment. The campaign, Facts from your Pharmacist: Answers About AIDS, aims to promote pharmacists as accessible sources of data regarding HIV and AIDS. Pharmacists that wanted to be p
Increased Recurrence of Tuberculosis in HIV-1-Infected Patients in Kenya: Lancet (08/07/93) Vol. 342, No. 8867, P. 332 (Hawken, Mark et. al); Tuberculosis patients generally respond well to a standard regimen of thiacetazone treatments, although a study of 196 TB patients in Kenya indicates that patients infected with HIV-1 are 34 times more likely to suffer a recurrent TB infection than those not infected with HIV-1. Approximately 70 percent of the HIV-1-po
AIDS Babies Pay the Price: New York Times (08/13/93) P. A26; Health-care providers in New York State try to protect the privacy of mothers infected with the AIDS virus, so that they will be more likely to voluntarily cooperate with the health system. However, this has resulted in about 200 newborn babies a year infected with the AIDS virus leaving the hospital without anyone lif
Red Cross Hires Lobby Firm to Deal With Criticisms: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (08/12/93) P. A5 (Mickleburgh, Rod); The Canadian Red Cross has hired a major lobbying firm to fend off criticism of the organization s role in the nation s tainted blood affair. More than 1,000 Canadians were infected through blood contaminated with the AIDS virus. A public inquiry into the matter is planned. The Canadian Red Cross has been accused of be
TB Rising Among Pregnant Women -- CDC: Reuters (08/12/93) (Schwartz, Jerry); Between 1985 and 1990, five pregnant women were found to have tuberculosis in several New York Hospitals; but between 1990 and 1992, the number rose to 11, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC said that although New York has a high TB rate, it believes the increase reflects a nationwide tren
Houston AIDS Specialist Sues HMO That Tossed Him Out: Knight-Ridder (08/13/93); AIDS doctor Joseph C. Gathe Jr. is suing the Cigna Healthplan of Texas, alleging that the HMO dropped him from its network of physicians because it didn t approve of the level of care he provided. Gathe said, Obviously there needs to be better and more cost-effective medical care, but it can t be at the expense of pati
A Thinner Condom Is Said to Allow More Sensation: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/13/93) P. A2 (Ritter, Malcolm); The London International Group, a British company that sells Ramses and Sheik latex condoms, will introduce a new polyurethane condom in the United States next year. Polyurethane is thinner than latex, can be used with oil-based lubricants, and is said to allow for greater sensitivity. Robert Hatcher, a gynecology prof
Court Favors Drug 'Concept' Over Proof: Science (07/30/93) Vol. 261, No. 5121, P. 545 (Anderson, Christopher); A federal court in North Carolina has ruled that Burroughs Wellcome is the sole owner of the patent on AZT , rejecting the claims of two generic drug manufacturers that a pair of scientists from the National Institutes of Health should be designated as co-inventors of the HIV treatment.
Daiichi Pharmaceutical to Run TB Drug Tests in China: Nikkei Weekly (Japan) (08/02/93) Vol. 31, No. 1580, P. 12; China has requested that Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. conduct clinical trials on the effects of synthetic anti-bacterial compounds against multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis in that nation. Daiichi s trials will concentrate on the effects of new quinolone synthetic anti-bacterial compounds such as the company s Tariv
Star-Studded Show Offers Frank Talk on AIDS: United Press International (08/11/93) (Kuklenski, Valerie); Producers of In a New Light 93, an upcoming TV special on AIDS, promise that the show will feature blunt language about the deadly disease never before allowed on primetime. The ABC program will air Sept. 4, and will feature such big-name stars as Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Taylor, and Luke Perry offering personal insig
Study: AIDS Fear Cuts Emergency Aid: Chicago Tribune (08/11/93) P. 4-1 (Vogt, Amanda); A growing number of healthcare professionals refuse to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or CPR to accident victims for fear of contracting AIDS, a new study suggests. Nearly 50 percent of internists and 80 percent of nurses are reluctant to do mouth-to-mouth on strangers, according to Dr. Barry Brenner of Cedars-Sinai
Teen Struggles After Going Public With HIV Infection: Baltimore Sun (08/12/93) P. 16A; Sherry Johnson, the 18-year-old Florida woman whose dentist infected her with the AIDS virus, says she is not ready to take on the role of crusader. Johnson is Patient I, the sixth patient of the late Dr. Dave Acer known to be infected with the HIV virus. Johnson, like Kimberly Bergalis three years ago, has become a mu
Compensation for Tainted Blood: Toronto Globe and Mail (08/11/93) P. A18; Much attention has been given to the dispute over compensation for more than 1,000 Canadians who contracted AIDS from tainted blood. Although in 1990 all provincial governments agreed to take a do-nothing approach on the compensation issue, Nova Scotia broke ranks in April and became the first province to agree to comp
Transfusion Patients Blast Blood Deal: Toronto Globe and Mail (08/11/93) P. A6 (Mickleburgh, Rod); Patients who contracted the AIDS virus through normal blood transfusions are joining infected hemophiliacs to denounce Canada s newly proposed compensation package. The package would provide $30,000 a year for four years to any Canadian infected through the blood distribution system, as well as a lump-sum payment of $5
Cutbacks Weaken Front Lines in AIDS Battle: Reuters (08/11/93) (Davidson, Ros); The AIDS wards at San Francisco General Hospital may be threatened because of possible funding reductions at the public hospital. About 10 years old, the wards face budget reductions and personnel turnover like other AIDS sites as the disease spreads. As a global model for medical care in AIDS care, Ward 5A, with 20 be
Where AIDS Advances, Understanding Lags: New York Times (08/12/93) P. B1 (Schemo, Diana Jean); People infected with AIDS who dwell in the nation s larger cities benefit from support groups, and, in the words of one AIDS spokesman, a close-knit, cohesive community. However, for those people who live in more suburban areas, battling the deadly effects of AIDS is not their only worry. In Long Island, where over 2,8
Study to Assess TB Treatments in AIDS Patients: American Pharmacy (08/93) Vol. NS33, No. 8, P. 16; The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has introduced the first massive American study to determine tuberculosis treatment goals for HIV-infected people. Study participants will include as many as 650 HIV-infected patients with active TB. Experimenters will analyze the addition of fluoroquinolone lev
Dingell Pursues AIDS Patent 'Cover-Up': Science (07/30/93) Vol. 261, No. 5121, P. 539; Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) has launched an investigation into a patent controversy surrounding researcher Robert Gallo and the discovery of the AIDS virus. Dingell has hinted that a forthcoming report from his office will show that officials at the Department of Health and Human Services may have willfully ignored and
In the Name of Charity: Advocate (08/10/93) No. 635, P. 42; Although AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) raised more than $1 million with its annual fashion event on June 3, the fund- raiser honoring Calvin Klein angered many AIDS activists. It makes my skin crawl, says Rodger McFarlane, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. A couple hundred grand from Calvin Kle
Hemophiliacs Reject Compensation Package: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (08/10/93) P. A1 (Mickleburgh, Rod); A financial package proposed by Ontario officials to compensate the hundreds of Canadians infected with HIV through contaminated blood was rejected by representatives of hemophiliacs. The proposal, presented at a Toronto meeting Tuesday, was a long way from what we need, said Tom Alloway, president of Hemophilia Ontari
WHO Says Well-Funded Program Could Cut AIDS Toll: Reuters (08/09/93) (Forrester, James); Glasgow, Scotland-- World Health Organization official Dr. Michael Merson said many of the 30 million to 40 million people expected to become infected with HIV by the end of the century could avoid the disease if education programs are better-funded. If the investment is made--$1.5 to $2.9 billion a year, that s not a
WHO Cites "Important Progress" on Vaccine Against AIDS: United Press International (08/09/93); Geneva--On Monday, Dr. Michael Merson, head of the World Health Organization s AIDS program, said work on a vaccine against AIDS is proceeding, but such a vaccine is still far away. Merson, who was speaking before a virology congress in Glasgow, Scotland, said, The progress to date on HIV vaccine development is encoura
One-Fourth of British Condom Brands Fail Safety Test: United Press International (08/10/93); London--Nine out of 34 brands of British-made condoms failed to meet new European safety standards that will replace British standards later this year, according to a consumer magazine called Which? way to Health. Three of the failing brands carried the British Standard Kitemark, a seal indicating that the product had
AIDS Ed Changes Students' Behavior: USA Today (08/11/93) P. 1D (Painter, Kim); A new study reports that a short but intense AIDS education program positively affected behavior among New York City high school students. While the number of students who reduced their risks through behavioral changes was small, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that any change is significant bec
Patients Laud Cuban AIDS Care: Washington Post (08/11/93) P. A1 (Farah, Douglas); Cuba has adopted a novel and successful means of preventing the spread of AIDS. The country has established 13 sanitariums across the country, where those infected with the disease are provided with a special diet and medical treatment, and where their contact with Cuban society is limited. Although the sanitariums
NIH Reauthorization Bill In, HIV-Infected Immigrants Out: Nation's Health (07/93) Vol. 23, No. 6, P. 5; New legislation that President Clinton recently signed into law reauthorizes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and, among other things, will encourage the training of researchers who specialize in AIDS and reproductive health. Although bill sponsors Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.),
Doctors Help HIV-Positive Haitian Refugees Gain Freedom From US Government Detention Camp: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/04/93) Vol. 270, No. 5, P. 563 (Skolnick, Andrew A.); This June, Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, N.Y., ordered the government to immediately release 247 HIV-infected Haitian refugees from a detention camp at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , and bring them to the United States for proper medical attention. In March, Judg
News Briefs: Political Battles Over HIV Education Leave Teens Defenseless: Nation's Health (07/93) Vol. 23, No. 6, P. 5; According to a report by the National Commission on AIDS, the controversy over what form HIV education for young people should take has become a target for much of the country s anxiety about sexuality. The commission says that there is a need for federal leadership on the issue and for legislation on comprehensive ser
AIDS-Thurmond Aide: Associated Press (08/08/93); Columbia, S.C.--Michael Boyle, an aide to Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), found out he had AIDS in 1986, but waited two years to tell his lover and four to tell the senator, since he realized that such a revelation could jeopardize his political career. From 1991 until his death in April 1993, Boyle continued to respect
Provinces Seek Deal in Blood Scandal: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (08/09/93) P. A1 (Picard, Andre); Health officials from several Canadian provinces are negotiating with the provincial heads of the Hemophilia Society in an attempt to reach a settlement in the Canadian blood crisis, which left more than 1,000 hemophiliacs and recipients of blood transfusions infected with AIDS. Until now, attention has been directed t
WHO Seeks Better Medical Education to Fight AIDS: Reuters (08/09/93); Edinburgh, Scotland-- World Health Organization (WHO) executive director Michael Merson said Tuesday that doctors treating AIDS patients must begin to take into account patient opinions concerning treatment and approaches. According to Merson, the changes in doctor-patient relationships must be considered during medica
Zynaxis Inc. Files With FDA to Market Zymmune: Reuters (08/09/93); Malvern, Penn.--Zynaxis, Inc. reported that it would submit a 510(k) notification Monday with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for marketing clearance on its Zymmune CD4/CD8 Cell Monitoring System. The Zymmune system provides counts for CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in under 35 minutes without the need for trained t
Digest: Life and Health Insurers...: Washington Post (08/10/93) P. C1; Life and health insurers paid $1.4 billion in AIDS-related claims in 1992, not including payments to self-insured companies or Blue Cross and Blue Shield, according to a survey by insurance groups. Related Story: Journal of Commerce (08/10) P. 10A
Firm Claims Success for Blood Substitute: Journal of Commerce (08/10/93) P. 7A (Sheeler, Jim); Somatogen Inc. has announced a major milestone in its research on a blood substitute. In the last set of clinical tests, patients received the highest dosage (25 grams) of the company s recombinant human hemoglobin molecule. Somatogen established the 25-gram dosage because critics claimed last year that trial levels re
Charting the Spread of AIDS: Science News (07/31/93) Vol. 144, No. 5, P. 68; Among the trends reported by the CDC in its update on AIDS is the fact that for the first time, the number of U.S. AIDS cases for women infected through heterosexual contact is greater than that for women who were infected through intravenous drug use. The CDC s update was published in the July 23 issue of Morbidity an
Effect of Isoniazid Prophylaxis on Incidence of Active Tuberculosis and Progression of HIV Infection: Lancet (07/31/93) Vol. 342, No. 8866, P. 268 (Pape, Jean W.; Jean, Simone S.; Ho, John L. et al.); Tuberculosis coinciding with human immunodeficiency virus infections is a mounting public health problem. Half of Haitian patients with AIDS have tuberculosis as a presenting opportunistic infection. The CDC has recommended isoniazid prophylaxis in HIV-seropositive individuals with positive PPD skin reaction, although
APHA Goes to Court to Fight Use of AIDS as Gay Ban Justification: Nation's Health (07/93) Vol. 23, No. 6, P. 12; William Rubenstein of the American Civil Liberties Union asked the American Public Health Association (APHA) to lend its expertise in two suits, in an attempt to stop the AIDS crisis from being used as a justification of the military ban on homosexuals. The first case involves Joseph Steffan, who was discharged from th
Thalidomide and HIV: Background: AIDS Treatment News (07/23/93) No. 179, P. 6 (James, John S.); Recent reports about the use of thalidomide in treating certain AIDS patients have revived hopes that the drug may be important for the area of HIV therapy known as immune suppression. Accounts released in early July show that thalidomide can help some AIDS patients regain normal weight and that it can help treat tuber
Exhibit Views AIDS Frankly for the Young: New York Times (08/08/93) P. 29 (Janofsky, Michael); The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., is now exhibiting the What About AIDS? exhibit, developed in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The exhibit is designed to educate men and women under the age of 20, who are often uncomfortable or confused about issues related to
Country Stars Mount AIDS Campaign: United Press International (08/06/93); Country music stars Mark Chesnutt and Mary-Chapin Carpenter have been named co-chairs of the country music industry s public service campaign aimed at raising awareness about AIDS. The campaign will begin in January, and include TV, radio, and print ads featuring 35 other country singers. Chesnutt spearheaded the campa
Testing Newborns for AIDS Virus Raises Issue of Mothers' Privacy: New York Times (08/08/93) P. A1 (Navarro, Mireya); An expanding program in New York designed to test infants for HIV and to treat them as quickly as possible has generated controversy over the health needs of children and their mothers rights to privacy. The state of New York is now considering a plan under which the results of HIV tests conducted on newborns would be
Immunity Booster to Be Tested on Pregnant Women With HIV: Washington Post (08/08/93) P. A8; In September, doctors at more than 40 U.S. medical centers will begin trials of the immune-system booster HIVIG in 400 pregnant women infected with the HIV virus. HIVIG is an immune globulin that contains HIV antibodies. Researchers are hoping that the experimental treatment will keep the virus from crossing the placen
AIDS Deaths to Top 8 Million by 2000, WHO Says: Reuters (08/09/93) (Forrester, James); Glasgow, Scotland--According to Michael Merson, executive director of the World Health Organization s (WHO) global program, an additional 6 million people will have died of AIDS by the year 2000. In light of this figure, said Merson, the world faces a pandemic of vast proportions. Merson, in a speech to be delivered Mo
Early HIV Low-Dose Interferon Trial: San Francisco, Denver, Durham: AIDS Treatment News (07/23/93) No. 179, P. 7; Schering-Plough is sponsoring a twenty-eight-week trial to measure the immunological effects of low-dose alpha interferon injections on people with HIV and a T-helper count of over 500. The purpose of the trial is to see whether alpha interferon can be helpful in managing early-stage HIV disease, perhaps by promoting
Intrigue Grows Around Redfield Report: Science (07/16/93) Vol. 261, No. 5119, P. 283; Word is spreading that Walter Reed Army Institute of Research s Robert Redfield has been cleared of charges that he overstated the worth of an AIDS vaccine he tested in HIV- infected people. However, Army officials will not reveal details of the investigation with his co-workers, and some scientists claim the Army s in
A Most Clever Virus: U.S. News & World Report (08/09/93) Vol. 115, No. 6, P. 55 (Brownlee, Shannon); Scientists are only now beginning to realize the complexities of the AIDS virus. Researchers attending the ninth annual AIDS conference in Berlin expressed frustration at the lack of a cure, or even an effective treatment for the disease. Scientists have long puzzled over the fact that during HIV s latent stage, the vi
Don't Blame Prostitutes for AIDS, Study Says: Reuters (08/05/93); London--According to a report from the British Medical Journal, prostitutes in Britain infect their non-paying sexual partners with sexually transmitted diseases at a greater rate than they infect paying clients with AIDS. The study revealed that prostitutes usually require paying customers to use a condom, and because
New AIDS Awareness Announcements: Business Wire (08/05/93); Miami--Westwood One Radio Networks is planning a joint project with the manufacturer of Trojan Condoms to air 1,000 AIDS Awareness announcements before July of next year. The campaign, which begins immediately, will be the largest promotion of safer sex ever done by a condom manufacturer and radio network. Spots will b
No HIV Test for Vietnam Visas--Official: Reuters (08/05/93); Hanoi-- Vietnam has officially denied rumors that it plans to require that foreigners be tested for HIV before they are given visas. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ho The Lan told a news conference that last week s press reports that those infected with HIV would be barred from entering the country were not true. HIV
Indonesia Estimates Up to 20,000 With HIV Virus: Reuters (08/05/93); Jakarta--New estimations from Indonesia put the number of people infected with HIV around 20,000. This figure is in direct conflict with projections last year by the U.N. Development Program and the World Health Organization that estimated the number of HIV cases in Indonesia to be 2,500 and 16,000, respectively.
French Gay Partners Win Benefits: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/06/93) P. A3; France has passed a new law which extends medical benefits to cover nonworking partners in homosexual couples. The anti- discrimination organization Ornicar says these benefits will help assure coverage for AIDS victims and better keep the disease in check, since patients will be able to afford more regular medical e
CDC: Condoms Can Block AIDS: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/06/93) P. A19 (Neergaard, Lauran); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asserts that latex condoms, if used correctly, can block the deadly AIDS virus. The agency is now gearing up to spread this message to all Americans. The CDC s Dr. Bert Peterson says, Our first message is to avoid intercourse with an infected partner. But for people who wi
New AIDS Drug Leaps Over the Counter: Science (07/23/93) Vol. 261, No. 5120, P. 422 (Stone, Richard); AIDS researcher Donald Kotler is studying the effects of aspirin on the process of HIV replication. Kotler will conduct a double-blind trial scheduled for August that will involve 46 HIV-infected people and will study aspirin s ability to reduce the HIV serum level. Kotler, who works for St. Luke s-Roosevelt Hospital C
American Witnesses Testify in Japan About AIDS Risks: Nature (07/15/93) Vol. 364, No. 6434, P. 181 (Swinbanks, David); A former official of the Centers for Disease Control, Donald Francis, testified in Japan on behalf of a group of hemophiliacs who contracted the HIV virus from blood products. The patients had filed charges against the Japanese government and blood product manufacturers for failing to protect them from HIV-contaminated
Top AIDS Researcher to Do Time: Science (07/23/93) Vol. 261, No. 5120, P. 422 (Stone, Richard); The former head of plasma products research at the French National Center for Blood Transfusion (CNTS), Jean-Pierre Allain, was sent to jail in July for not preventing the distribution of HIV-infected blood-clotting factors to hemophiliacs in 1985. Allain, who is now a medical professor at Cambridge University, was con
Protein Design Labs Reports Second Quarter 1993 Financial Results: PR Newswire (08/05/93); Mountain View, Calif.--Protein Design Labs Inc. has reported revenues of $941,000 for the three months ended June 30, 1993, compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 1992. Protein Design saw a net loss of $2.8 million, or 23 cents a share, prior to recording a special charge of $5.0 million, or 39 cents per share
AIDS Activists Picket Vaccine Manufacturer: Journal of Commerce (08/05/93) P. 7A; Rhone-Poulenc sent almost all of its 1,900 employees home three and one-half hours early Tuesday to avoid a demonstration by members of Act Up Philadelphia. About 25 members of Act Up visited the firm s campus in Collegeville, Pa., to complain about alleged foot-dragging by Rhone-Poulenc on plans for large-scale testin
Study Blames Low Esteem For Homosexuals' Unsafe Sex: United Press International (08/04/93) (Wasowicz, Lidia); San Francisco--A San Francisco Department of Public Health study reports that a number of homosexual and bisexual men are ignoring widespread prevention messages and are engaging in unsafe sex. STOP AIDS project director Dan Wohlefeiler explains, The social context of gay men s lives--including homophobia, racism, lack
Connie Fitzgerald, 39; Member of AIDS Action Committee Board: Boston Globe (08/04/93) P. 31 (Allen, Scott); Connie M. Fitzgerald, a member of the board of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts and spokeswoman for the AIDS community, is dead at the age of 39 from complications associated with the AIDS virus. After being diagnosed with the HIV in 1985, she fought to ensure that the rights of those with AIDS were upheld, a
France Promotes Use of Condoms Among Tourists in 5 Languages: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/05/93) P. A2; Hoping to quell the spread of AIDS, France is embarking on a prevention-promoting campaign aimed at the nation s tourist groups. Because France has one of Europe s worst AIDS epidemics and is one of the world s most popular tourist sites, the state anti-AIDS agency has decided to use billboards, phone payment cards, an
STD Research Confirms Link to HIV: AIDS Alert (07/93) Vol.8, No.7, P. 101; Evidence that supports previous beliefs about the role that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) play in the spread of HIV was presented at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. Studies show that, on a global scale, instances of HIV are most common among people who have visited STD clinics. In fact, one
Male AIDS Patients Are Living Longer, Healthier: AIDS Alert (07/93) Vol.8, No.7, P. 107; Findings from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) reveal that advancements in therapy and health care have increased the life-span of people diagnosed with AIDS. The study has also found that varying blood levels of HIV RNA and anti-HIV antibodies can indicate when a person with HIV will develop AIDS. The patients
Kenyan Priest Boycotts Funerals for AIDS Victims: Reuters (08/04/93); Nairobi, Kenya--Citing conflicts in church doctrine, Kenyan priest Stephen Njenga is refusing to conduct funeral services for people who have died of AIDS. Njenga said that by performing burial services, the church may be seen as encouraging the spread of the disease. Njenga went on to say that it is his belief that AI
HHS Secretary Hails Clinton Nomination of NIH Director: PR Newswire (08/03/93); Washington--President Clinton s nominee for director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Harold Eliot Varmus, M.D., has been overwhelmingly approved by Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. Shalala said that having Varmus as the NIH head would be special because of his track record as one of the wo
Australian Study Challenges Validity of HIV Tests: Reuters (08/03/93) (da Silva, Wilson); Sydney--Australian doctors at the University of Western Australia and the Royal Perth Hospital are challenging recent antibody tests used worldwide to detect the HIV virus. They contend that their research shows strong proof that these tests do not specifically detect HIV. In fact, they claim that similar antibodies ca
Mother of Child Who Helped Teach Maine About AIDS Is Dead at 29: Boston Globe (08/03/93) P. 23; Theresa Dannemiller, who along with her daughter Autum had the AIDS virus, died of AIDS-related infections on Sunday at the Maine Medical Center. The 29-year-old mother helped educate Maine-area residents about the dangers of AIDS, and in the process became a national celebrity. She had been infected by the HIV virus b
AIDS Activists Arrived to Protest, But Firm Was Deserted: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/04/93) P. B2 (Collins, Huntly and Burling, Stacey); Members of Act Up Philadelphia wanted to demonstrate on Tuesday at the pharmaceutical company Rhone-Poulenc Rorer (RPR) over an AIDS vaccine, but when they arrived, the company building was empty. RPR sent 1,900 workers home more than 3 hours early due to fears of property damage. According to company spokesmen, RPR a
AMA, CDC Urge Counseling Before HIV Testing: AIDS Alert (07/93) Vol.8, No.7, P. 110; According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), counseling can reduce the occurrence of high risk behavior among those infected with the HIV virus. The study admittedly lacked breadth and scientific strictness, but the results did support the belief that, provided continuous structu
AIDS Policy: Two Divisive Issues: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/28/93) Vol. 270, No. 4, P. 494 (Rogers, David E. and Osborn, June E.); Drs. David E. Rogers and June E. Osborn argue against narrowly targeting HIV groups and in favor of needle exchange programs to slow the HIV epidemic in drug users. The needle exchange programs should accompany drug treatment programs with universal access. Rogers and Osborn believe that focusing HIV prevention program
How a Vaccine Could Stave Off AIDS: American Medical News (07/26/93) Vol. 36, No. 28, P. 2 (Staver, Sari); Exposure of the weakened immune system of an HIV-positive person to a large amount of HIV-derived antigen may incite the host to mount an immune response that is more effective than the response elicited by the virus itself, according to an issue paper published by the National Institutes of Health. This process could
Carlton H. Lee Jr., 35, AIDS Panel Lobbyist: New York Times (08/03/93) P. B6; Carlton H. Lee Jr., the Congressional liaison officer for the National Commission on AIDS, died on Friday at the age of 35. The commission says that Lee, who had hepatitis B, died as the result of a toxic reaction to an experimental drug that he was taking as part of a clinical trial by the National Institutes of Healt
Buckyball May Block AIDS Step: New York Times (08/03/93) P. C8 (Browne, Malcolm W.); According to a University of California report, the buckyball, a spherical carbon molecule, could turn out to be a formidable weapon against the HIV virus that causes AIDS. University chemists and pharmaceutical experts claim that a computer-designed molecule based on the buckyball has been shown by lab tests to inhibi
Lawsuit Wants HIV Prisoners Segregated: United Press International (08/01/93); Tallahassee, Fla.--A recent lawsuit filed in Leon County Circuit Court wants the state of Florida to separate all inmates who test positive for AIDS. Inmates William Gerry Hargrove and H. David Wallick filed the suit because they fear they may be exposed to the disease accidentally, due to a lack of sanitary living con
Hoffmann-La Roche Halts AIDS Drug's Development: Wall Street Journal (08/03/93) P. B6; Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. plans to stop its development of the TAT antagonist, an AIDS drug. The company ended the program because many study patients showed poor tolerance for the drug at higher doses. Scientists from AIDS Clinical Trials Group, a partner in the tests, noted discouraging findings at the recent AIDS con
Republican Blocks Final Vote on Surgeon General Nominee: New York Times (08/03/93) P. A18; Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) has put U.S. Surgeon General nominee Joycelyn Elders confirmation vote on hold for another month. Nickles, a leading opponent to Elders nomination, said at a news conference that he will delay the vote until the Senate returns from recess in September. Nickles has called Elders a radical for
Vaccine Void: Trials Stalled, Along With Hopes for HIV Therapy: American Medical News (07/26/93) Vol. 36, No. 28, P. 2 (Staver, Sari); Hopes for an AIDS vaccine have been diminished due to controversy over the most widely tested therapeutic AIDS vaccine, MicroGeneSys gp160. During the 1992 International Conference on AIDS in Amsterdam, two reports of MicroGeneSys gp160 received significant attention because they showed what appeared to be the first re
APHA Goes to Court to Fight Use of AIDS as Gay Ban Justification: Nation's Health (07/93) Vol. 23, No. 6, P. 12; Although there appeared to be a lull in using the AIDS epidemic as a tool to hinder gay rights, it seems to be picking up again. American Civil Liberties Union s William Rubenstein has asked the American Public Health Association for its expertise in setting the record straight on the connection between homosexuality a
News Briefs: Political Battles Over HIV Education Leave Teens Defenseless: Nation's Health (07/93) Vol. 23, No. 6, P. 5; Because of the nationwide controversy over how to properly aim HIV education messages to teenagers, effective AIDS prevention programs have been impeded. A recent report called Preventing HIV/AIDS in Adolescents by the National Commission on AIDS revealed that questions about HIV prevention messages have become the pol
N.J. Lawmaker Working on Clean-Needle Plan: United Press International (07/31/93); Trenton, N.J.--In an effort to help curb AIDS, New Jersey State Senator Wynona Lipman is working on legislation to create the state s first clean-needle program for addicts. Lipman s proposal would terminate a current state ban on possession of syringes without prescriptions. State and local authorities at selected sit
AIDS Linked to Argentine Tuberculosis Mortality Rate: United Press International (08/02/93); Buenos Aires--Deaths among Argentineans with tuberculosis are increasing, due directly to a greater prevalence of patients with AIDS, according to Dr. Mary Oviedo de Notari. The past three years have seen a 75-percent increase in tuberculosis deaths, and over 50 percent of those currently suffering from the disease hav
AIDS Expert Reports 'Pandemic' in Burma: United Press International (07/30/93) (Barnetson, Denholm); Bangkok--According to AIDS expert Dr. Daniel Tarantola, Burma is experiencing a rampant spread of the HIV virus, and despite having a population of 42 million, the number of HIV infections within the country could surpass that in the United States in two years. Presently, Dr. Tarantola estimates that 300,000 to 400,00
Barr Files Appeals AZT Case: PR Newswire (07/29/93); Pomona, N.Y.-- Barr Laboratories , Inc. is appealing a federal district court order upholding Burroughs Wellcome s patent on AZT as a treatment for AIDS. The court order ended a trial over Barr s contention that scientists at the National Institutes of Health were co-inventors of AZT as an AIDS therapy.
Ontario's First HIV Centre to Provide Care, Training: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/30/93), P. A5; Ontario is experiencing a growing shortage of doctors trained to deal with HIV-positive individuals. To ease the situation, the Ontario Ministry of Health yesterday announced C$520,000 in annual funding for an innovative new HIV center to train physicians and care for as many as 1,000 AIDS patients. HIV- specialist Phi
New Tool for Prosecutors: Attempted Murder by HIV: Baltimore Sun (08/02/93), P. 1A (LoLordo, Ann); The state of Florida has charged 31-year-old AIDS patient Ignacio Perea Jr. with attempted first-degree murder for sexually assaulting three young boys. Perea is among a growing number of defendants whose HIV status has been the basis for a murder charge. The issue has been hotly debated in the courtroom and in law jou
The Lifetime Cost of Treating a Person with HIV: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/28/93) Vol. 270, No. 4, P. 474 (Hellinger, Fred J.); Fred J. Hellinger has used information from the AIDS Cost and Service Utilization Survey to determine the estimated expense of medical care for people with HIV from the time of infection until death. Hellinger studied information from interviews conducted during the spring and early summer of 1992 with 1,164 HIV patien
Laboratory Methods for Diagnosing and Monitoring HIV Infection: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (04/93- 06/93) Vol. 4, No. 2, P. 11 (Grady, Christine); The four types of laboratory tests relating to HIV include: tests for antibody to HIV; tests for quantifying the presence of HIV; tests to monitor the progression of the disease; and tests to monitor immune status. The most common antibody test is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Others are Western blot,
Dental Treatment and HIV Positivity: Lancet (07/10/93) Vol. 342, No. 8863, P. 119 (Zakrzeweska, J.; Robinson, P.; and Croucher, R.); People with HIV have special needs for dental care because, along with typical oral diseases, they may have particular oral conditions caused by the infection. Yet, HIV patients have difficulties getting proper dental care. One study found that of 146 HIV-infected men, 30 percent stopped going to their dentist because
The Long Shot: Discover (08/93) Vol. 14, No. 8, P. 61 (Caldwell, Mark); When researchers discovered that AIDS was a virus in 1984, they believed that a vaccine could be developed in as little as two years. But although many prototype vaccines are now beginning to reach the human testing stage, researchers have become wary of claiming to have found a cure for AIDS. Over the past decade they
Canada Watch: Activists Fight Deportation: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/29/93), P. A4; Canadian AIDS activists carried two imitation coffins to federal immigration offices on Wednesday to protest against the deportation of a Salvadorean woman, who is being ordered out of the country solely because she is infected with HIV. Clara Palacios must leave Canada on Saturday along with her 10 -month-old son. Ap
Germany--AIDS--Hemophiliacs: Associated Press (07/28/93) (Allen, Arthur); Bonn, Germany--Prompted by the outcome of the tainted blood scandal in France , HIV-positive German hemophiliacs have demanded compensation and an investigation into the country s blood supply. In a statement from the Hemophiliacs Society, German hemophiliacs, who consist of about 7,500 people, are calling for compensa
AIDS Dilemma Remains Despite Positive AZT Study: Reuters (07/29/93) (Johnson, Cynthia); London--Decisions on whether to use AZT early in the course of HIV infection should not be based on findings from a single report, analysts said Thursday. The European-Australian study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine concurred with earlier research that showed that early treatment of HIV- positive patie
African Nations Brace for Economic Impact of AIDS: Christian Science Monitor (07/30/93), P. 8 (Press, Robert); Africa has more than half of the world s AIDS cases, which will eventually affect developing nations economies, according to two recent studies by the World Bank on AIDS in Africa. Officials from Kenya said that the AIDS epidemic in Africa has both a personal dimension for individuals and an economic one for the whole
AIDS Drug Might Use 'Buckyballs': Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/30/93), P. B1 (Stolberg, Sheryl); What started as a joke treatment for HIV may actually be effective in stopping the virus from multiplying in the test tube. Simon Friedman, a 27-year-old graduate student in pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California--San Francisco, was recently discussing with his colleague, Diane Roe, ways in which rese
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia Among US Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/28/93) Vol. 270, No. 4, P. 470 (Simonds, R. J.; Oxtoby, Margaret J.; Caldwell, M. Blake; et. al.); R. J. Simonds and associates have monitored children ages zero to 12 years and women of childbearing years to determine epidemiologic traits of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among children with perinatally acquired HIV. The scientists obtained data from surveillance done by state and local health departments and
Commission Report: 'AIDS: An Expanding Tragedy': Journal of the American Medical Association (07/21/93) Vol. 270, No. 3, P. 298 (Marwick, Charles); The National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome has concluded the current indifference and fear to AIDS must be stopped, or else the virus will be responsible for an unprecedented number of deaths among young Americans. The projection was included in a recent commission report written by Dr. David E. Rog
Active AIDS Surveillance: Hospital-Based Case Finding in a Metropolitan California County: American Journal of Public Health (07/93) Vol. 83, No. 7, P. 1,002 (Elcock, Maryellen; Simon, Tamara; Gilbert, Bradley P.; Copello, Gene; and Kelzer, Pauline J.); Health departments that rely solely on passive surveillance are not guaranteed their reported level of AIDS cases will be correct. Therefore, the authors attempted to create an example of active AIDS cases reporting that use resources available to county workers. To achieve the model, the authors conducted a validation
State of Denial: Advocate (07/27/93) No. 634, P. 44 (Gallagher, John); Alabama state laws regarding HIV are among the worst nationwide. Doctors in the state may test for HIV without the patient s permission, and Alabama state prisoners are tested automatically for the virus and HIV-positive inmates are separated from the general population. Sex-education instructors are required to emphas
France--AIDS: Associated Press (07/28/93) (Burns, Christopher); Paris--AIDS hotlines were inundated with calls from concerned people Wednesday after the French government ordered nine tests for HIV to be taken off the market because they were less effective than newer tests. AIDS Info Service, the main nationwide toll-free line, was answering up to 400 inquiries an hour in the Pari
Average Cost of Treating AIDS Patients Declining: Reuters (07/27/93); Chicago--The cost of treating AIDS patients has declined significantly over the past few years, and can be attributed to improvements in diagnosing and treating AIDS-related conditions, according to a report in Tuesday s Journal of the American Medical Association . The cost of treatment from initial HIV infection to d
Red Cross Offers Courses on Care of AIDS Patients: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/29/93), P. B2; The Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania is implementing a series of AIDS courses designed to reach 1,200 people who provide care to AIDS patients. The three-day courses, called AIDS Home Care, will begin today and will be repeated throughout the year with three or four new classes each month. The courses will give f
AIDS Spreads Fastest Among Young Women: Washington Post (07/29/93), P. A1 (Rensberger, Boyce); Young women worldwide have the highest rate of HIV transmission, according to a report released Wednesday by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The findings revealed in the report can be traced to various causes, from social and behavioral factors to anatomy. As women grow older, they become less inclined t
Australian Study Says AZT Slows Progression to Full-Blown AIDS: New York Times (07/29/93), P. A20 (Angier, Natalie); A new study has revealed that by taking the anti-AIDS drug AZT early in the course of disease the progression toward full- blown AIDS may be substantially slowed. The study, conducted by Dr. David A. Cooper of St. Vincent s Hospital at the University of New South Wales in Syndey, Aus
Needles and Race: Atlantic (07/93) Vol. 272, No. 1, P. 38 (Kirp, David L. and Bayer, Ronald); Due to the reluctance by many politicians to implement needle- exchange programs, the AIDS epidemic will continue to ravage the IV-drug-using population. Several American politicians dismiss the idea of providing clean needles to drug users as sending the wrong message in the midst of the war on drugs. But much less at
Insurance Status Among People With AIDS: Relationships With Sociodemographic Characteristics and Service Use: Inquiry (Summer 1993) Vol. 30, No. 2, P. 180 (Fleishman, John A. and Mor, Vincent); AIDS patients without insurance were admitted to hospitals as inpatients less frequently than those with private insurance, and they had fewer inpatient nights, write John A. Fleishman and Vincent Mor of Brown University in Providence, R.I. The researchers interviewed 937 AIDS patients who were recruited from outpatien
Viral Quasispecies: Scientific American (07/93) Vol. 269, No. 1, P. 42 (Eigen, Manfred); Using a combination of mathematics, chemistry, and biology, Manfred Eigen has classified the nature of viruses, including HIV, as a quasispecies. He defines quasispecies as a group where all members help to continue the stable population. Fitness of the whole matters more than fitness of the individual. Eigen notes tha
AIDSFront: Medical Briefs: Advocate (07/27/93) No. 634, P. 39 (Delaney, Martin); The South West Community Based AIDS Treatment (ComBAT) Group has launched a clinical trial of the anti-AIDS drug 3TC for HIV-positive volunteers. The drug is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor that interferes with the enzyme that HIV uses to copy its genetic material. According to laboratory reports, 3TC is active agai
Eyeing Buyers Clubs: American Druggist (07/93) Vol. 208, No. 2, P. 11 (Ostrowidszki, Victor); The Food and Drug Administration is taking a tougher stance on the underground businesses known as AIDS buyers clubs. The FDA cautioned the clubs that extreme promotion of their merchandise could constitute health fraud. In addition, the agency ordered the clubs conduct their operations under the supervision of a physi
AIDS & Country Caring: Washington Post (07/28/93), P. C7 (Harrington, Richard); The country music industry is gearing up to join the battle against AIDS. Country singer Mary-Chapin Carpenter has been named chairman, along with fellow singer Mark Chestnutt, of the Country Music AIDS Awareness Campaign Nashville, which will feature a series of public service announcements from a variety of stars. A
It's Time for Ontario to Pay Blood Money: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/27/93), P. A17 (Crozier, Karen L.); According to Toronto-based lawyer Karen Crozier, those in Ontario who have been infected with the HIV virus through tainted blood should receive financial retribution most expeditiously. Crozier says there is no need for a set payment program to be in place before victims get much needed funds, and that Health Minister
China-AIDS: Associated Press (07/27/93); Hong Kong--China s Cabinet has announced that it will restrict the work, home, and school lives of residents within its Guangdong province who are infected with AIDS. The number of reported HIV cases within the province has risen from zero three years ago to 63 at present. Although no indications have been given to sug
Confirm Dr. Elders: Minneapolis Star Tribune (07/28/93); Minneapolis--The editors of the Minneapolis Star Tribune contend that Dr. Joycelyn Elders, President Clinton s choice for top health official, is hardly a white-bread candidate. As director of the Arkansas Health Department, Elders supported both condom distribution and sex education in public schools, arguing, We ve t
HHS Fumbles Ball on AIDS Vaccine Trial: Science (07/09/93) Vol. 261, No. 5118, P. 151; The Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services have been at odds for the past several months over which agency will conduct a $20 million AIDS vaccine trial. Since last fall, the two agencies have been trying to decide how to proceed with a congressionally mandated clinical trial of a therape
Grim Reality: AIDS Is Cutting a Wide Swath Through the Nation's Young Adults, A Federal Study Shows: Advocate (07/24/93) No. 634, P. 24 (Bull, Chris); Because of a recently released federal report showing that AIDS has surpassed accidents, cancer, and heart disease as the leading cause of death among young adults in five states and 64 cities, epidemiologists and policy makers have renewed their demands for enhanced prevention efforts targeting the disease. Susan Y. C
Wellcome's AZT Faces Attacks on Two Fronts: Business Week (07/26/93) No. 3329, P. 36 (Flynn, Julia et al.); Although Burroughs Wellcome has seen monetary success from its anti-AIDS drug AZT since 1987, the company is now under attack for its patent and clinical reputation. In a lawsuit currently being tried in North Carolina, Burroughs Wellcome is seeking to prevent generic drug makers Barr
Taking a Very Large Dose of Can-Do: Financial Post 500 (Canada) (1993) No. 3070, P. 68 (Levin, Martin); Francesco Bellini, chief executive officer of BioChem Pharma Inc., hopes to propel the firm into the ranks of the world s leading pharmaceutical companies. The Canadian company may become a leader in AIDS research with its drug 3TC , according to Bellini. BioChem has formed ventures with U.K., German, and Swedish firms
Illinois Company Set to Test Blood Substitute in U.S.: Knight-Ridder (07/23/93) (Leung, Shirley); Chicago--Baxter International has announced that it will expand clinical tests of its hemoglobin-based blood substitute to hemorrhagic-shock victims at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a patented chemical cross-linking process, Baxter has stabilized a human hemoglobin molecule from outdated blood so that i
State Seeks Comment on Use of AIDS Funds: United Press International (07/26/93); Indianapolis--A public hearing will be held on August 4 at the Indiana State Department of Health, for the purpose of getting the public s views on the continued use of funds obtained through the Ryan White Care Act. The Indiana State Department of Health has received $753,940 from the program in 1993, with much of the
Prostitution, Prejudice Fuel AIDS Epidemic in Honduras: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/27/93), P. C1 (Wilkinson, Tracy); Honduras now has Latin America s highest rate of AIDS cases. In the country, where the disease is spread through an active prostitution industry, AIDS patients are outcasts. Health care workers, the poverty-stricken society, and worried government officials are staggered by the epidemic.
City Health Chief Vows Help for AIDS Groups: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/27/93), P. B5 (Collins, Huntley); Philadelphia s city health commissioner has vowed to find city and state funds for local AIDS organizations that were passed over for federal funding. Robert K. Ross, speaking at a meeting of The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium (TPAC), said that because many local agencies had not been properly forewarned about new compet
AIDS in California: Business Wire; Sacramento, Calif.--There were 8,513 AIDS cases reported in California last year, in an increase of 4.3 percent from 1991. About 72 percent of cases were reported by homosexual or bisexual men, an increase of 0.8 percent over the previous year. More than 10 percent of cases were due to injection drug use, up 20 percent
Faith in Multiple-Drug AIDS Trial Shaken by Report of Error in Lab: New York Times (07/27/93), P. C3 (Altman, Lawrence K.); Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School scientists admitted last week that they found a grave error in a theory supporting a new type of drug therapy for HIV. The error highlights the great pressures on AIDS scientists to work rapidly while upholding scientific standards, as well as the pressures on f
Peptide T Unavailable in Buyers' Clubs: AIDS Treatment News (07/09/93) No. 178, P. 7 (James, John S.); Because buyers clubs throughout the United States have been unable to obtain supplies of peptide T, approximately 3,000 AIDS patients have been denied access. Peptide T, which has been in drug development for several years, is not federally approved and therefore can only be sold in buyers clubs or through other under
MGH Offers Apology for Error in AIDS Data: Boston Globe (07/23/93), P. 6 (Foreman, Judy); Officials from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) apologized last Thursday for an unfortunate error by researchers who claimed to have discovered what could be the Achilles heel of HIV last February. Researchers said the reported treatment had stopped replication of HIV in a test tube. However, researchers later
Too Many Questions on Tainted Blood: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/26/93), P. A18; How 1,000 Canadians became infected with HIV before 1985 through tainted blood and blood products remains unclear, write the editors of the Toronto Globe and Mail. There are many indications that some of the cases could have been prevented. Until the early 1980s, AIDS was poorly understood, and consequently, largely un
Dangerous Liaisons: Los Angeles Times Magazine (07/25/93), P. 10 (Jones, Robert A.); While HIV transmission among older men who have sex with men is sharply reduced from the early 80s, transmission continues at high levels in younger gay men, says a report by the National Commission on AIDS. This finding simply confirmed what researchers had suspected as early as two years ago: that the younger the ga
AIDS Patients Contest Utah Ban on Marriage: New York Times (07/25/93), P. 28; Two Utah women with AIDS are suing to overturn a state law that bars people with the disease from marrying. Upon learning of the suit, Governor Mike Leavitt blocked enforcement of the law until the legislature can reconsider it in January. Even Stephen J. Rees, the state senator who sponsored the bill in 1987, now says
Surgeon General Nominee Elders Ends Senate Hearing in Stronger Position: Wall Street Journal (07/26/93), P. A7A (Stout, Hilary); After her confirmation hearing, President Clinton s nominee for surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, was in a better position to withstand attacks from conservatives. Elders, who previously headed the Arkansas Department of Health, has been criticized by conservatives and right-wing religious groups for her support of con
Waiting to Die at the AIDS Hotel: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/26/93), P. A1 (Bearak, Barry); In New York City, homeless people with AIDS are entitled to private rooms in one of the city s 34 single-room occupancy hotels (SROs). To receive a room, however, an individual must have an M11Q form signed by a doctor, proving that they have full-blown AIDS. Although the city s homeless shelters are not suitable for i
AIDS Complicates the City's Pledge to House Homeless: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/26/93), P. A7 (Bearak, Barry); New York City spends $7.2 billion a year on social services, and about $500 million of that money goes toward housing the homeless. In 1981, New York became the first U.S city to provide shelter on demand for the homeless. The AIDS epidemic, however, has complicated the housing issue. People with weakened immune system
Corporations That Confront the Scourge of AIDS: Business and Society Review (Spring 1993) No. 85, P. 21 (Booth, MacAllister); With more than 100 people contracting HIV every day and as many as 10 million Americans predicted to be infected by the year 2000, businesses should implement their own AIDS education programs because they will not be able to avoid the pandemic any longer, writes MacAllister Booth, president and chief executive officer
Humor Magazine Eases AIDS Pain: American Medical News (07/19/93) Vol. 36, No. 29, P. 12; A humor magazine designed for HIV-positive individuals encourages its readers to exhibit a petulant bad attitude. Michael Botkin is the editor of Diseased Pariah News, a magazine that uses dark humor to alleviate the pain of living with AIDS. He said, We say that since we re losing out on most of life, we re entitled t
Panel: Let Prisoners Get Experimental AIDS Drugs: Boston Globe (07/22/93), P. 27 (Locy, Toni); HIV-positive inmates should be allowed to volunteer to participate in clinical trials of new AIDS drugs, according to an advisory AIDS task force which supported the proposal by the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Charles McDonald, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety, said the task force reque
Ontario Expands Testing for HIV: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/22/93), P. A1 (Mackie, Richard and Fuller, Ann); Ontario s chief medical officer of health has recommended that any resident who received a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985 should be tested for HIV. Dr. Richard Schabas statement, backed by Health Minister Ruth Grier and various health groups in the Canadian province, increased the importance of testing for tho
Health Chief to Meet With AIDS Groups: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/23/93), P. B5 (Collins, Huntly); Philadelphia s health commissioner agreed yesterday to meet with local AIDS organizations regarding a bitter dispute over federal AIDS education funds. Dr. Robert K. Ross decision comes after a heated meeting on Wednesday, where the Philadelphia AIDS Consortium demanded that Ross show up at a public meeting Monday to d
AIDS Groups' Feud in Hub Intensifies: Boston Globe (07/22/93), P. 32; Two AIDS organizations from Massachusetts are at odds over assertions that one of them discriminates against HIV-positive IV-drug users. The Boston-based National AIDS Brigade received a 1,500-signature petition from the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts demanding an investigation into the Brigade s claim that AID
Scientists Acknowledge Flaw in 3-Drug Attack on AIDS Virus: Washington Post (07/23/93), P. A3 (Brown, David); The theory of the combination AIDS therapy involving three drugs is apparently incorrect, even though some of the findings that led to the theory are still promising, said researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday. The technique, called convergent combination therapy, is based on the belief that HIV
Judge Affirms Maker's Patent for Drug That Fights AIDS: New York Times (07/23/93), P. A12; The patent held by Burroughs Wellcome Co. for its anti-AIDS drug AZT was upheld by a federal judge yesterday in a decision that ends a legal battle with two generic drug companies that sought to break the company s monopoly. United States District Judge Malcolm Howard issued a direct verdict in favor of Burroughs W
AIDS Cases From Sex on Rise for Women: New York Times (07/23/93), P. A12 (Altman, Lawrence K.); Heterosexual intercourse has replaced intravenous drug use for the first time as the most common route of HIV infection among women, according to health officials from the Centers for Disease Control who reported figures from 1992. About 60 percent of those women had been sex partners of men who were IV-drug users, and
Eyeing Buyers Clubs: American Druggist (07/93) Vol. 208, No. 2, P. 11 (Ostrowidszki, Victor); The Food and Drug Administration is taking a tougher stance on the underground businesses known as AIDS buyers clubs. The FDA cautioned the clubs that extreme promotion of their merchandise could constitute health fraud. In addition, the agency ordered the clubs conduct their operations under the supervision of a physi
Corporations That Confront the Scourge of AIDS: Business and Society Review (Spring 1993) No. 85, P. 21 (Booth, MacAllister); With more than 100 people contracting HIV every day and as many as 10 million Americans predicted to be infected by the year 2000, businesses should implement their own AIDS education programs because they will not be able to avoid the pandemic any longer, writes MacAllister Booth, president and chief executive officer
Humor Magazine Eases AIDS Pain: American Medical News (07/19/93) Vol. 36, No. 29, P. 12; A humor magazine designed for HIV-positive individuals encourages its readers to exhibit a petulant bad attitude. Michael Botkin is the editor of Diseased Pariah News, a magazine that uses dark humor to alleviate the pain of living with AIDS. He said, We say that since we re losing out on most of life, we re entitled t
Ssenyonga Dies Before Verdict: Man Accused of Spreading HIV: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/21/93), P. A4; A Canadian HIV-positive man accused of knowingly transmitting the virus to several women died yesterday of AIDS, leaving a judge to decide whether to issue a verdict in the case, said an activist. Charles Ssenyonga died Tuesday morning, said a nursing supervisor at Listowel Memorial Hospital, where the Ugandan immigran
AIDS Fund Allotment Draws Protesters' Ire: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/22/93), P. B1 (Collins, Huntly); Philadelphia s first attempt to allot federal money through a competitive bidding process drew opposition from about 150 protesters who demonstrated at a meeting of The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium, a regional planning organization. The protesters, most of them black, said the process had unfairly overlooked grassroots
Surgeon General Nominee's Condom Plan Had Secret Flaw: Baltimore Sun (07/22/93), P. 15A; The controversial condom distribution program executed by the Arkansas Health Department did not reveal that as many as five percent of the condoms tested defective, and the federal government considered a court order to seize them. However, state Health Department officials, including then-Director M. Joycelyn Elders,
Flaw Is Discovered in Crucial Research on AIDS Treatment: New York Times (07/22/93), P. A1 (Altman, Lawrence K.); After three months of testing a promising AIDS therapy, questions have been raised on the validity of the study s initial findings. Also, the principal researcher in the original studies that led to the trial said yesterday that his team had found a flaw in the research. The trial, paid for by the federal government, i
Clinton Makes AIDS Czar Pick--At Last: Advocate (07/27/93) No. 634, P. 27 (Gallagher, John); President Clinton s June 25 appointment of Kristine Gebbie, former director of the Washington State health department, as the federal AIDS policy coordinator came after months of criticism from AIDS activists who said Clinton was too slow in filling the post. According to insiders, the timing of the appointment was pro
HIV Quiet But Not Silent: Nature (07/08/93) Vol. 364, No. 6433, P. 110 (Weber, Johnathan and McClure, Myra); Even though early HIV infection is largely considered asymptomatic, the virus is far from silentJclinically or virologically, write Jonathan Weber and Myra McClure of St. Mary s Hospital Medical School in London, U.K. The site and quantification of HIV infection in the early stages has received a lot of attention. It h
Transporter-Independent Processing of HIV-1 Envelope Protein for Recognition by CD8 T Cells: Nature (07/08/93) Vol. 364, No. 6433, P. 158 (Hammond, Scott A. et al.); HIV-1 envelope (env) protein is processed in infected cells by a novel Tap-1/Tap-2-independent pathway that appears to be localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, write Scott A. Hammond et al. of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. CD8 cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) identify virally infected cells by recognizing p
Agenda: California Screaming: Advocate (07/27/93) No. 634, P. 16; San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan had his office occupied by nearly 50 AIDS and health care activists on June 15 in protest of reductions he proposed in the city health budget. Edward Zold, media coordinator for ACT-UP/Golden Gate, said, A lot of support services for people with AIDS are taking a direct hit.
Hurdles for an AIDS Vaccine: Boston Globe (07/20/93), P. 15 (Turner, Robert L.); The discovery of a successful AIDS vaccine will lead to several bureaucratic problems unless the administration plans for it, writes columnist Robert L. Turner. Martin Levin, director of the Gordon Public Policy Center of Brandeis University in Boston, says that instead of a happy ending, the discovery of an effective
AIDS Patient Who Was Allowed to Smoke Pot Dies: United Press International (07/20/93); Panama City Beach, Fla.--The last AIDS patient to be allowed to legally smoke marijuana in order to alleviate his pain from the disease has died at age 31. Kenny Jenks, a hemophiliac who contracted HIV from a tainted blood transfusion in the early 1980s, died of AIDS Monday at his home in Panama City Beach, Fla. His wi
FDA Threatens to Revoke Blood Bank Licenses: Reuters (07/20/93); Washington--A San Francisco blood bank was warned by regulators from the Food and Drug Administration that its licenses will be revoked unless it immediately fixes problems that threaten the safety of the blood it collects. The FDA said it informed the Irwin Memorial Blood Bank of the San Francisco Medical Society that
Ottawa Knew Blood Tainted: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/20/93), P. A1 (Picard, Andre); Leading Canadian health officials were aware that HIV-infected blood was administered to hemophiliacs more than one year before it became necessary to heat-treat blood products to kill the virus, according to one of Canada s top AIDS researchers. Michael O Shaughnessy told Radio-Canada that he revealed to Health and We
Cytomegalovirus Retinitis: When Looks Can Deceive: Lancet (07/03/93) Vol. 342, No. 8862, P. 51; Cytomegalovirus retinitis ( CMV ) can be misdiagnosed in AIDS patients even though it is the most frequent cause of vision loss in these patients, write G. Diego Miralles of the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, N.Y. A 39-year-old homosexual man with HIV infection presented with right-sided loss of vision. He wa
CD4 T-Lymphocytopenia Without Opportunistic Infections in HIV- Seronegative Ethiopian Immigrants to Israel: Lancet (07/03/93) Vol. 342, No. 8862, P. 50 (Pollack, S. et al.); It is undetermined what underlying conditions are responsible for low CD4 counts among asymptomatic HIV-negative Ethiopian immigrants to Israel , write S. Pollack et al. of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel. Approximately 15,000 Jews were flown from Ethiopia to Israel in early 1991. The rate of HIV infection
Elton John Sells Record Collection for AIDS Charity: Reuters (07/19/93); London--Singer and AIDS advocate Elton John is selling his personal collection of 48,000 records in his latest attempt to fight the disease. London auctioneers Sotheby s said Monday that the celebrity expected to raise as much as $225,000 from the collection, which includes rare boxed sets, demo discs, and colored viny
Rape Victim Having HIV Refuses to Prosecute: Reuters (07/19/93); Bangkok, Thailand--An HIV-positive Thai woman who was gang raped by a dozen men refused to file charges against them because she claimed they suffered enough by knowing that they were exposed to the deadly virus, reported the Thai daily Mathichon. The newspaper said the woman s doctor, a specialist on the disease, brou
AIDS Cuts Into Actors Equity Health Coverage: Reuters (07/19/93) (Morehouse, Ward); New York--Because of the increasing number of AIDS cases among actors, the Actors Equity Association health care plan is in severe trouble. Alan Eisenberg, the executive secretary of the 30,000-member Actors Equity Association, said an alarming amount of AIDS-related claims, coupled with the general health care inflati
France Makes Ministers Liable for Mistakes: New York Times (07/20/93), P. A6; Due to the scandal over HIV-contaminated blood in France , legislators approved reforms that will facilitate the process of prosecuting Cabinet ministers for any wrongdoing. Members of the National Assembly and the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed the measures, which could hasten action against former Cabinet officials i
Caesareans May Lessen HIV Spread to Babies: Washington Post (Health) (07/20/93), P. 5; Babies born to HIV-positive mothers may be less likely to contract HIV if they are delivered by Caesarean section, according to a study published in the Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health discovered that 20.2 percent of the babies born by vaginal delivery to
Sexual Activity Among American Teens: Washington Post (Health) (07/20/93), P. 5; American teenagers are more likely today than in previous generations to become sexually active between the ages of 15 and 19, according to data compiled by the federal Center for Population Options. In a 1990 survey, the agency found that first episodes of intercourse are mostly unplanned. Females who reported prepari
Treatment Errors Cited in Drug-Resistant TB: Washington Post (Health) (07/20/93), P. 5 (Boodman, Sandra G.); The dramatic rise in the rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis cases may be partly due to common errors doctors make in treating such patients, according to a recent report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association . The study was conducted by Denver infectious disease experts Artin Mahmoudi and Michae
Ambivalent Campaign: Far Eastern Economic Review (07/08/93) Vol. 156, No. 27, P. 34 (Hiebert, Murray); Although Vietnam has relatively low rates of HIV infection, there could be an explosion of the epidemic as a result of ignorance about the disease. Le Dien Hong, deputy chairman of Vietnam s National AIDS Committee, stresses that all the necessary factors for an explosion are here. Contact with the outside is increasi
Army Expected to Clear AIDS Scientist: Science (07/02/93) Vol. 261, No. 5117, P. 19 (Stone, Richard); A U.S. Army investigation has found baseless the allegations that AIDS researcher Robert Redfield misrepresented data from a trial of a therapeutic AIDS vaccine, according to Army sources. The sources say that Redfield, who worked at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, was slapped on the wrist for some non-rese
Shalala Draws Line on AIDS Test Royalties: Science (07/02/93) Vol. 261, No. 5117, P. 19 (Stone, Richard); The Clinton administration has reaffirmed the Bush administration position on the royalties that France s Pasteur Institute is seeking on a blood test to detect HIV. The institute began a campaign in January 1992 to convince U.S. officials to renegotiate the percentage of royalties it receives from an HIV test. But aft
A Czar Is Not What the AIDS Fight Needs: Baltimore Sun (07/19/93), P. 9A (Greenberg, Daniel S.); Given historically awful fates of the last czar and many of his predecessors, it is unknown why the Clinton administration believes an AIDS czar will actually help the fight against the disease, writes columnist Daniel S. Greenberg. Congress has ordered what proponents refer to as a czar for AIDS research; meanwhile, P
AIDS, Up Close: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/19/93), P. E1 (Collins, Huntly); An AIDS education exhibit targeted at young people is now being previewed at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and is entitled What About AIDS? The exhibit, funded with $500,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and intended to be a national prototype, opened last month for a summer-long field test in Philadelp
Man's Dream Survives With AIDS Walkathon: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/16/93), P. A4 (Gibbon, Ann); Organizers of an AIDS walkathon scheduled for October in Montreal are attempting to proceed with the plans even though the director of the event has died of AIDS. Ron Farah, who died of AIDS Monday night, was motivated to establish a foundation to help people with AIDS in Montreal after he became ill in 1988. The 10-ki
SJC Upholds Conviction, Says Needle Exchange Unjustified: Boston Globe (07/16/93), P. 19 (Wong, Doris Sue); The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled Thursday that the spread of HIV among IV-drug users does not pose enough of a threat to justifies the illegal distribution of hypodermic needles. The unanimous ruling upheld the indictment of two men by a jury last year for violating the state law that makes it illeg
Clinton Nominee Leaves State Job: New York Times (07/19/93), P. A13 (Hilts, Philip J.); President Clinton s nominee for Surgeon General quit her job as director of the Arkansas Health Department on Sunday to help reduce opposition to her nomination. Dr. Joycelyn Elders resigned and then flew from Little Rock, Ark., to Washington, D.C., with the president so that she can undergo questioning by the Senate L
CDC Offers New Guidance on Drug-Resistant TB: American Medical News (07/12/93) Vol. 36, No. 26, P. 1 (Voelker, Rebecca); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines in an effort to stop further spread of drug- resistant tuberculosis. Doctors should begin all TB patients on a four-drug program of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and either streptomycin or ethambutol, the CDC said. All patients should be clos
Physicians Not Fazed by AZT Guidelines: Nature (07/08/93) Vol. 364, No. 6433, P. 93 (Macilwain, Colin); The guidelines on when to administer AZT to HIV-positive patients issued by a panel of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has drawn little controversy among physicians. The new guidelines replace the ones issued in 1990, which recommended routine prescription of AZT in all patients whose CD4
Burroughs Sues Over Patent Right to AIDS Drug: American Medical News (07/12/93) Vol. 36, No. 26, P. 14; The manufacturer of the anti-AIDS drug AZT is currently involved in a trial that could determine whether generic drug makers are permitted to make a less expensive version of AZT. Burroughs Wellcome is trying to prevent any violation of its exclusive patent right to produce AZT. The drug company argues that its resear
New HIV Treatment Guidelines Offer Flexibility on AZT: American Medical News (07/12/93) Vol. 36, No. 26, P. 5 (Staver, Sari); New guidelines for treating HIV-positive adult patients have been provided by an independent panel appointed by the federal government. The recommendations, revealed after a three-day conference at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., offer more flexibility than the previous treatment guidelines issued i
China Orders AIDS Screening of Blood Supplies: Reuters (07/15/93) (Parker, Jeffrey); Beijing--Chinese health officials have directed all blood banks to screen donated blood for HIV, but they warn that a lack of money would slow down the introduction of the nationwide screening effort. The move signifies the increased concern about the safety of blood supplies. Although the rate of AIDS cases in
Hearings on Surgeon General Nominee Postponed: Washington Post (07/16/93), P. A1 (Schwartz, John); Hearings scheduled for today to confirm President Clinton s nominee for Surgeon General will be delayed due to emerging questions regarding her finances, according to a Senate committee. The Clinton administration has been prepared to defend Joycelyn Elders, the Arkansas health official whose views on sex education and
D.C. Fires 2 Officials in Mishandling of AIDS Contract: Washington Post (07/16/93), P. B5 (Goldstein, Amy); Due to alleged improper handling of a bid on an AIDS contract with a clinic connected to the Nation of Islam, two Washington, D.C., health officials were fired yesterday, according to city sources. D.C. Commissioner of Public Health Mohammad Akhter informed Floyd H. Agostinelli and Elizabeth D. Kilpatrick yesterday of
No News Is Bad News: Advocate (07/13/93) No. 633, P. 24 (Bull, Chris); The outcome of the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin held in June was gloomy because of presentations which supported the theory that AIDS will not be eradicated from the earth any time soon. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Robert Gallo, direc
Agenda: Condoms 2, Church 0: Advocate (07/13/93) No. 633, P. 18; Surprising calls for condom use recently came from France and Ireland--two predominantly Roman Catholic countries. Andre Collini, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Toulouse, France, encouraged condom use in an unusual challenge to the teachings of Pope John Paul II, who emphasizes that abstinence as the only protection
Pulmonary Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Patients as Criterion for AIDS in Europe: Lancet (07/03/93) Vol. 342, No. 8862, P. 50 (Cayla, Joan A. et al.); Pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients should be a criterion for AIDS only if immunosuppression is demonstrated by a negative tuberculin skin test and/or low CD4/CD8 ratio, write Joan A. Cayla et al. of the Institut Municipal de la Salut in Barcelona, Spain . The European Center for the Epidemiological Monitor
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia During Primary HIV-1 Infection: Lancet (07/03/93) Vol. 342, No. 8862, P. 24 (Vento, Sandro, et al.); Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) can be experienced in primary HIV-1 infection, and it is important to note this so that such cases are not misdiagnosed as AIDS, write Sandro Vento et al. of the A Pugliese Hospital in Catanzaro, Italy . The researchers examined three patients with severe CD4 lymphocytopenia (62-91
Rock the Vote's Patrick Lippert Dies of AIDS: United Press International (07/14/93); Los Angeles--The executive director of last year s Rock the Vote voter registration effort died Tuesday of AIDS. Patrick Lippert was 35 and died at the Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina Del Rey, Calif. Actress Meg Ryan, who was a close friend of Lippert s, said, He was an idealistic man and he lived that way. On
Swatch Watches and Magic Johnson to Raise $1 Million for Charity: United Press International (07/14/93); Los Angeles--Former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson and Swatch watches revealed plans on Wednesday to work together to raise more than $1 million for AIDS-related causes and inner-city youth programs. Johnson is expected to host three fund-raising parties, and Swatch will contribute a percentage of ear
AIDS: It's Not About 'Us vs. Them': Washington Post (07/15/93), P. A27 (Graham, Jim); The fight against AIDS should not be seen as homosexuals versus heterosexuals or blacks versus whites, but should fought as a single concerted effort, writes Jim Graham, executive director of Washington, D.C. s Whitman-Walker Clinic. A July 7 article by Courtland Milloy was disturbing because it emphasized in divisive
Pitfalls in the Care of Patients With Tuberculosis: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/07/93) Vol. 270, No. 1, P. 65 (Mahmoudi, Artin and Iseman, Michael D.); Drs. Artin Mahmoudi and Michael D. Iseman have analyzed documents of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a referral center between 1989 and 1990 to determine the management decisions that may have been linked to acquiring drug resistance. The physicians used practice standards set by the American Thoracic Society, the C
In-Vitro Synthesis of Antibodies to Toxoplasma Gondii by Lymphocytes From HIV-1-Infected Patients: Lancet (07/03/93) Vol. 342, No. 8862, P. 22 (Vendrell, Jean- Pierre et al.); AIDS patients who experience neurological abnormalities may benefit from toxoplasma-specific in-vitro antibody because it could serve as a useful biological marker for the diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis, write Jean-Pierre Vendrell et al. of the Centre Hospitalier Regional et Faculte de Medeince in Montpellier,
'Invisible' Epidemic Now Becoming Visible as HIV/AIDS Pandemic Reaches Adolescents: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/07/93) Vol. 270, No. 1, P. 16 (Goldsmith, Marsha F.); The newest group affected by the AIDS epidemic is teenage girls, according to the director of the Adolescent AIDS Program at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. Dr. Karen Hein, who is also professor of pediatrics and associate professor of epidemiology and social medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in
Christmas in July? 'A Shy Rabbit's Heart' Ornament to Raise Funds for AIDS Fight: Business Wire (07/13/93); New York--The renowned American Christmas ornament designer Christopher Radko has proposed giving the profits from a special ornament, A Shy Rabbit s Heart, to help the fight against AIDS. Radko believes the ornament will raise $350,000 for AIDS organizations, including God s Love We Deliver, the Los Angeles Homestead
A Condom With Your Coffee?: Reuters (07/13/93); Nice, France--Condoms will this year be offered to vacationers who dine in cafes and bars on the French Riviera. About a million condoms are expected to be distributed in 200 cafes, beach bars, and night clubs along the Mediterranean seaboard beginning Wednesday as a part of the national anti-AIDS campaign, organizers
What the AIDS Czar Can't Do: New York Times (07/14/93), P. A19 (Foreman, Christopher H.); Despite the outstanding public-health credentials of Kristine M. Gebbie, the newly appointed federal AIDS czar, AIDS policy coordination cannot address most of the primary challenges the epidemic presents, writes columnist Christopher H. Foreman Jr. A coordinator cannot increase knowledge about HIV, which is what is ne
AIDS Discrimination Suits Settled: United Press International (07/13/93); New York--As a result of discrimination complaints, a landlord and a neighbor of a Queens, N.Y., family with foster children with AIDS have agreed to pay into educational funds for the children in settlement, it was revealed Tuesday. According to Human Rights Commissioner Dennis deLeon, the neighbor threatened to move
Polydex Reports Progress on AIDS Drug Research: Business Wire (07/13/93); Boynton Beach, Fla.--Polydex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced Tuesday its progress in anti-AIDS therapies. It is currently working on Cytochalasin D, which has demonstrated in vitro that it has a potent anti-HIV effect. Cytochalasin D represents a new approach to AIDS treatment because it is a naturally occurring compoun
Md. Extends Old Weapon Against TB: Baltimore Sun (07/14/93), P. 1B (Bor, Jonathan); In an effort to curb the spread of tuberculosis, Maryland health officials revealed new regulations yesterday to boost their authority in quarantining TB patients who are reluctant to take their medicine. The new rules, which took effect last week, also require doctors to offer TB skin-testing to all HIV -positive pati
Update: Mortality Attributable to HIV Infection/AIDS Among Persons Aged 25-44 Years--United States, 1990 and 1991: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (07/02/93) Vol. 42, No. 25, P. 481; AIDS is the third leading cause of death among young adults aged 25-44 in the United States , and prevention efforts should be focused on this group, write the Centers for Disease Control. In 1991, 29,850 Americans died of AIDS-related complications. Among these, 3 percent were younger than 25 years; 74 percent were 25
An Old New Drug for AIDS: Time (07/12/93) Vol. 142, No. 2, P. 49 (Gorman, Christine); The once-banned sedative thalidomide is believed to have some clinical benefit in slowing the onset of AIDS. Thalidomide was found to cause birth defects in European children whose mothers took the drug in the early 1960s. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration prohibited the drug from being marketed in the
AIDS Research Sends Patients From Hope to Despair: American Medical News (07/05/93) Vol. 36, No. 25, P. 14 (Culhane, Charles); AIDS research revelations can cause patients to continually battle feelings of hope and fear, according to researcher Dr. Michael Gottlieb, who spoke at a recent AIDS research and treatment symposium sponsored by the Institute of Advanced Studies in Immunology and Aging. Its a roller coaster propelled in part by the wa
Catholic Church Attacks Condom Program: Reuters (07/12/93); Tegucigalpa, Honduras--A Honduras health ministry program that distributes condoms to prevent the spread of HIV infection was condemned by the country s Catholic Church, which said the effort will only promote living in sin and fornication. The health ministry announced that it was distributing the condoms to thwart th
First Female Condoms to Be Shipped This Week: United Press International (07/12/93); Jackson, Wis.--The Reality female condom will be shipped this week to selected organizations, according to the condom s manufacturer, Wisconsin Pharmacal Co. The device, also called the vaginal pouch, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May. It is designed to provide protection for women against sexuall
We've Got an AIDS Czar, Now What?: PR Newswire (07/12/93); Washington--The newly appointed White House AIDS policy coordinator will assume her responsibilities just in time to oversee the federal response to a key turning point in the AIDS epidemic, according to Daniel T. Bross, executive director of the AIDS Action Council. If the federal AIDS czar, Kristine Gebbie, is equipp
NBC Poll Finds Support for Teenage Contraception: Reuters (07/12/93); Washington--Most adults favor the distribution of contraceptives to high school students, according to a nationwide survey issued Monday. The poll, which is expected to be aired Tuesday on the television program Dateline NBC, revealed that 57 percent of the 1,004 adults surveyed supported contraceptive distribution in
Panel Suggests Kindergarten AIDS Classes: Washington Times (07/13/93), P. B1 (Wagner, Arlo); In an effort to prevent further HIV infections among teenagers, a Montgomery County, Md., panel yesterday said the county should implement a comprehensive AIDS education program, including classes as early as kindergarten. Also, the task force suggested that the county school system order an outside review of its AIDS
Agenda: Swish and Spit: Advocate (07/13/93) No. 633, P. 15; The Florida dentist with AIDS who transmitted HIV to six of his patients is believed by some to have done so deliberately, according to various news articles published in early June. David Lewis, a University of Georgia researcher who has studied the case of Dr. David Acer, said, Whether it s scientifically valid or no
Some HIV Patients Benefit From Combo Therapy: American Medical News (07/05/93) Vol. 36, No. 25, P. 29 (Staver, Sari); Two-drug combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy in treating some HIV-positive patients, according to a study released at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in June. The study found that people with relatively healthy immune systems benefit by a combination of AZT and DD
What Drugs, When?: American Medical News (07/05/93) Vol. 36, No. 2, P. 2 (Staver, Sari); Due to revelations about the limited efficacy of AZT and questions about when and how to prescribe antiviral drugs, many physicians attending the Ninth International Conference on AIDS became uneasy about the future of AIDS treatments. Two large studies on AZT presented at the conference disputed the long-held belief i
New Tests on Dextran Sulphate Disclosed: Business Wire (07/09/93); Boynton Beach, Fla.--Preliminary in vitro testing conducted on behalf of Polydex Pharmaceuticals Limited of its patented high molecular weight dextran sulphate, in injectable form, has suggested an efficacy in preventing the spread of HIV, according to Doctors Lionel Resnick and Mariano Busso of Mt. Sinai Hospital in M
Adria Announces Finalization of Mycobutin Co-Promotion Agreement: PR Newswire (07/09/93); Dublin, Ohio--Adria Laboratories has announced that it has come to an agreement with SmithKline Beecham to co-promote Adria s recently approved prescription drug Mycobutin to treat an AIDS-related illness. Mycobutin is the only drug approved for the prevention of Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC), a life-threatening
France--Syringe Machine: Associated Press (07/09/93); Nimes, France--A machine that exchanges used syringes for clean ones has been installed in Nimes, France, as a part of the city s anti-AIDS efforts. Mayor Jean Bousquet said, It s not a distributor, it s an exchanger. This doesn t concern making it easier to get a syringe, but making sure one isn t thrown on the ground
Canada Watch: Manitoba to Compensate Hemophiliacs: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (07/09/93), P. A7; Manitoba has added itself to the list of Canadian provinces that will compensate hemophiliacs who contracted HIV through contaminated blood, announced Health Minister Don Orchard on Thursday. Orchard, who was initially reluctant to compensate the hemophiliacs, said he changed his mind because several other provinces ha
AIDS--Hemophiliacs: Associated Press (07/09/93) (Connell, Christopher); Washington--Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala has called for an extensive investigation of how thousands of hemophiliacs contracted HIV from tainted blood products a decade ago. Hemophiliacs and their families have argued that companies knowingly distributed contaminated blood products between 1982 a
District Replaces AIDS Chief: Washington Post (07/10/93), P. B1 (Goldstein, Amy); The chief of the Washington, D.C., AIDS agency was fired and two other city health officials suspended after an internal investigation concluded they had improperly directed a contract away from a clinic linked to the Nation of Islam, according to city sources. D.C. Commissioner of Public Health Mohammad Akhter dismiss
Where AIDS and Money Cross Paths: Gays and Minorities Dispute How Funds Are Divided Up: Washington Post (07/11/93), P. A1 (Goldstein, Amy); Disputes are emerging among various AIDS organizations in the United States over federal funds to help the growing number of communities affected by the epidemic. As the federal government allotted $850 million in AIDS subsidies into communities nationwide, tensions have worsened and are producing a second generation o
The SCID-hu Mouse as a Model for HIV-1 Infection: Nature (06/24/93) Vol. 363, No. 6431, P. 732 (Aldrovandl, Grace M. et al.); HIV-1 infection of the SCID-hu mouse reproduces key aspects of HIV-1 pathology in humans and may be an important small animal model to study HIV-1-induced pathogenesis in vivo, write Grace M. Aldrovandl et al. of the University of California--Los Angeles Medical Center. The researchers used a SCID-hu mouse as a model t
HIV Induces Thymus Depletion In Vivo: Nature (06/24/93) Vol. 363, No. 6431, P. 728 (Bonyhadi, Mark et al.); Because the thymus probably serves as a site of T-cell differentiation and maturation throughout life, the elimination of thymopoiesis may represent a key pathogenic mechanism in all HIV-positive patients, write Mark L. Bonyhadi et al. of Systemix Inc. in Palo Alto, Calif. HIV is typified by declining CD4 T-cell counts
Dentist Fined for Turning Away AIDS Patient: United Press International (07/08/93); New York--A dentist from New York City has been ordered to pay $7,500 in compensatory damages to the estate of an AIDS patient whom he refused to treat, an action that caused the defendant emotional distress, the city Human Rights Commission announced Thursday. Dennis deLeon, commission chairman, said Dr. William Hurwi
Third Victim of Florida Dentist Buried: United Press International (07/08/93); Akron, Ohio--A man from Akron, Ohio, who contracted HIV from the Florida dentist with AIDS was buried Thursday after dying from the disease. John Yecs Jr., 36, was the third patient of Dr. David Acer, a dentist from Stuart, Fla., to die from AIDS. There are three remaining patients who contracted HIV from Acer do not y
Man Convicted of Rape Used a Condom: United Press International (07/08/93); Mineola, N.Y.--A man from Hewlett, N.Y., was indicted Thursday for raping a woman who convinced him to wear a condom. A Nassau County Court jury also convicted 27-year-old Ivan Jiminez of sodomy and burglary after six hours of deliberation. Jiminez faces up to 25 years in prison once sentenced on Aug. 3. Nassau County
Haitian With AIDS Slams Treatment at Guantanamo: Reuters (07/08/93); Washington--An HIV-positive Haitian woman who was recently detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , told the Amnesty International newsconference Thursday that she was mistreated while at the base. Defense Department officials, however, said refugees held at the base were treated far better there tha
AIDS Group Blasts State for Handling of AIDS-Infected Inmate: United Press International (07/08/93); San Francisco--An inmate who was dying of AIDS should have been allowed to spend his final days at home, according to an AIDS activist group that criticized California prison officials. Lawrence Wilson of ACT-UP/Golden Gate said it was inhumane to keep convicted burglar Stanley Young incarcerated until his death of AID
CDC Updates Guidelines for Dentists: Washington Times (07/09/93), P. A6; The Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines yesterday on the infection-control procedures used in dentistry for the first time since it conceded that a Florida dentist with AIDS had transmitted HIV to six of his patients. The CDC said in a supplement to its weekly report that it was revising the 1986 recomm
Progress Reported in Developing Vaccine for HIV: Washington Post (07/09/93), P. A13; Significant headway has been made by U.S. researchers in developing a preventive vaccine against HIV infection, according to a study published in the current issue of the Lancet. The scientists have manufactured a vaccine that incites the human body to produce antibodies that helped neutralize HIV in laboratory tests.
Suing Over Transfusions: Wall Street Journal (07/09/93), P. B3 (Moses, Jonathan M.); The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that people suing health -care providers over HIV-contaminated blood are bound by the statute of limitations in personal injury cases, rather than by the much shorter limits involved in medical-malpractice cases. The decision in John Doe vs. American Red Cross continues a recent na
Duesberg's Anti-AZT Campaign Continues: Nature (06/24/93) Vol. 363, No. 6431, P. 660 (Clayton, Julie); The controversial American molecular biologist who claims that recreational drug use rather than HIV is the cause of AIDS has rejected as a fabrication the findings of a recent study designed to disprove his hypothesis. Michael Ascher and colleagues of the California Department of Health Services used data from the San
HIV Immigration Ban, Travel Restrictions--Current Status: AIDS Treatment News (06/18/93) No. 177, P. 6 (James, John S.); On June 10, President Clinton signed into law a new HIV immigration ban that he initially opposed but did not openly speak against in Congress. Because the president could not veto the bill without also vetoing the NIH Reauthorization Act that Congress attached to it, the AIDS community did not press for a rejection of
Poland--AIDS: Associated Press (07/06/93) (Grajewski, Marcin); Warsaw, Poland--The Polish Education Ministry, which consists of mostly conservative Roman Catholics, wants to prohibit an AIDS education booklet published by the Health Ministry to teach secondary school students how to avoid contracting HIV infection. The booklet, AIDS and You, uses pictures that illustrate sexual in
Grassroots Campaign to Oppose Surgeon General Pick: Reuters (07/07/93) (Auchard, Eric); Washington--President Clinton should not appoint Dr. Jocelyn Elders as the next surgeon general, according to conservative women s groups who Wednesday vowed to block Elders nomination through a national lobbying effort. The groups cited Elders record as Arkansas state health department director and her support for abo
Phase I Clinical Trials of MiKasome Initiated by Vestar; Liposomal Formulation of Antibiotic May Combat Resistant TB: PR Newswire (07/07/93); San Dimas, Calif.--Phase I clinical trials will begin for MiKasome, Vestar Inc. s liposomal formulation of the antibiotic amikacin, reported the company on Wednesday. Preliminary data from tuberculosis and mycobacterium avium infection models resistant to traditional chemotherapeutics have shown that MiKasome is effect
Japanese Poster Gives Wrong Information on AIDS: Reuters (07/08/93); Tokyo--A children s poster distributed in Japan that was intended to educate students about how a person contracts HIV infection was corrected by its publisher after it showed that unclean people were more likely to become infected with HIV, according to a Japanese Ministry of Education official. Shogaku-hoken News (
Detention of Carriers 'Last Resort' for HIV: Washington Times (07/08/93), P. A1 (Price, Joyce); The newly-appointed AIDS czar said yesterday that detaining HIV-positive people who are carelessly irresponsible about spreading the disease sexually is suitable as a last resort. Federal AIDS coordinator Kristine Gebbie said, My personal position is that you should only go to detention after you have exhausted other o
C-Sections May Protect Babies From HIV: United Press International (07/08/93); Washington--Delivering babies from HIV-infected mothers by way of cesarean section may reduce the risk of the virus transmission, according to a study published today in the Online Journal of Clinical Trials, a scientific journal distributed via computer. Researchers reported that babies delivered by c-section surgery
Proposal: A Better Strategy for Developing AIDS Drugs: AIDS Treatment News (06/18/93) No. 117, P. 5 (James, John S.); It is widely agreed that better drugs are needed for better AIDS treatment, and if the Concorde report does prompt a movement against AZT and the other third-rate drugs currently available, the success of such a movement will rely on the success of alternative drug-development methods. Two major paths for drug develop
Berlin: Concorde Trial Questions Early AZT Use--Wider Implications: AIDS Treatment News (06/18/93) No. 177, P. 3 (James, John S.); The medical journal The Lancet issued a one-page letter on April 2, 1993, describing the preliminary examination of the biggest clinical testing of early treatment with AZT . The test, called the Concorde trial, took place in the United Kingdom , France , and
Marion--Tuberculosis Drug: Associated Press (07/01/93); Kansas City, Mo.--An application for a tuberculosis treatment that combines three drugs has been submitted by its manufacturer to the U.S. government. Marion Merrell Dow, a top producer of anti-TB drugs, said Wednesday that it filed a new drug application to the Food and Drug Administration for Rifater, which combines
War on AIDS Is Victim of Friendly Fire: Washington Post (07/07/93), P. D1 (Milloy, Courtland); The Washington, D.C., Commission on Public Health s Agency for HIV/AIDS cannot continue to neglect the city s AIDS epidemic because of problems within the office, writes Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy. Caitlin Ryan, the agency director who is a lesbian and also white, was suspended three weeks ago for alleg
Only AIDS-Free Couples to Marry--Kenyan Vicar: Reuters (07/07/93); Nairobi, Kenya--Medical certificates should be required from couples who are getting married to prove they are negative for HIV infection, according to an Anglican vicar in Kenya. The Rev. Stephen Njenga, who is responsible for a diocese in Kenya s capital, Nairobi, said, By demanding the certificates, the church would
Government Solicits Pimps to Fight AIDS: Reuters (07/07/93); Jakarta, Indonesia--The Indonesian government has decided to ask for the assistance of pimps in helping thwart the spread of HIV infection in the world s fourth most populous nation, the Jakarta Post daily reported on Wednesday. The newspaper quoted director general for social rehabilitation Soesilo Soepeno as telling
Court Says No Rules Broken by Fort Wayne Company: United Press International (07/06/93); Indianapolis--No law was violated by a Fort Wayne, Ind., company that discriminated against an HIV-positive man, according to a Tuesday ruling by the Indiana Court of Appeals. The state court said the company s policy would be illegal now, under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, but was legal at the time it
He Fought the Law While Fighting AIDS: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/07/93), P. A1 (Collins, Huntly); The recent decision by the U.S. Social Security Administration to extend benefits to HIV-positive people was partially prompted by a class-action suit filed by an infected Philadelphia man. Peter Rosetti, an electrician with AIDS, filed a class-action suit in June of 1991 alleging that the Social Security Administratio
Government Study Finds Benefits in Needle Exchange Programs: AIDS Alert (06/93) Vol. 8, No. 6, P. 86; Although a recent government study found that needle-exchange programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV, the U.S. surgeon general must give a similar assessment before federal funds could be provided for such programs. The study was conducted by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in Washington, D.C.,
Antibody to Specific HIV-1 Proteins in Oral Mucosal Transudates: Lancet (06/26/93) Vol. 341, No. 8861, P. 1659 (Cheingsong- Popov, Rachanee et al.); Oral mucosal transudate (OMT) is a potential source of specimens for the measurement of HIV antibodies to gp120, write Rachanee Cheingsong-Popov et al. of the St. Mary s Hospital Medical School in London, U.K. It has been suggested that HIV-1 antibodies can be detected, with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity
Household Bleach as Disinfectant for Use by Injecting Drug Users: Lancet (06/26/93) Vol. 341, No. 8861, P. 1658 (Donoghoe, Martin C. and Power, Robert); IV-drug users who continue to share syringes should not be urged to clean used equipment but to ensure a routine and reliable source of sterile equipment, writes Martin C. Donoghoe and Robert Power of the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School in London, U.K. On March 25 of this year, the National Institute on Dr
WHO Estimates Global AIDS Cases at 2.5 Million: Reuters (07/02/93); Geneva--There has been a total of 718,894 reported AIDS cases worldwide to date, according to the World Health Organization s member states. However, in a six-month update of its figures, the agency s Global Program on AIDS said it predicted the actual cumulative total was more than 2.5 million because of under-reporti
Octamer Compound Circumvents AZT Resistance and Inhibits Replication of HIV and SIV: Business Wire (07/05/93); Mill Valley, Calif.--Significant findings on a compound s ability to fight the monkey version of HIV and its AZT- resistant strains were reported Monday by privately held Octamer Inc. Dr. Ernest Kun headed the study, which was conducted by incubating cells with relatively low amounts of 3 -nitrosobenzamide (NOBA) befor
Britain--AIDS: Associated Press (07/02/93); London--Potential brain infection as a result of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients may be detected early on, according to a small preliminary French study published in the July 3 issue of the British journal The Lancet. Dr. Jean Pierre Vendrell at the Institute of Biology in Montpellier, France , reported that if large
Free Condoms Are Now Just a Fact of Life at High Schools: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/06/93), P. B3 (Chu, Henry); The condom distribution program implemented last year in the Los Angeles Unified School District has drawn little opposition lately. Last year, the district decided to make condoms available to its 127,000 high school students free of charge. The decision initially outraged some parent, civic, and religious groups. How
Army May Hold Up AIDS Vaccine Trial: Washington Post (07/06/93), P. A13 (Squires, Sally); The $20-million planned trial of a therapeutic AIDS vaccine that was recently expected to be conducted by the National Institutes of Health has been returned to the Department of Defense. The Army confirmed Friday that it will test the drug, VaxSyn, only if its manufacturer, MicroGeneSys, donates enough vaccine for the
Attitudes About AIDS at Work: Washington Post--Health (07/06/93), P. 5; About two-thirds of businesses with more than 2,500 employees and almost 10 percent of businesses with fewer than 500 employees have had at least one worker with HIV or AIDS, according to a survey conducted by Foster Higgins. A telephone poll of 2,000 people conducted by the National Leadership Coalition on AIDS found
Legions of Life Scientists Will Be Called to the Front, as War on AIDS Intensifies: Scientist (06/28/93) Vol. 7, No. 13, P. 1 (Lewis, Ricki); Although the AIDS epidemic continues to spread, a growing amount of skilled AIDS researchers is expected, according to experts. While gauging the current exact amount of AIDS researchers is nearly impossible, the number is probably in the tens of thousands, according to several estimates and predictions. Many offices c
HIV Also Kills Developing White Blood Cells: Science News (06/26/93), P. 406 (Pennisi, E.); Not only does HIV kill mature white blood cells, but two research teams have found that the virus also eradicates young immune-system cells before they have a chance to develop. The reports were published in the June 24 issue of Nature and support the belief that HIV is most destructive in lymphoid tissues. Grace M. Al
Walking Wounded: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/01/93), P. B10 (Natale, Richard); A neglected group of people affected by the AIDS epidemic are the HIV-negative friends, families, or lovers of those who have died of the disease. These people witness successive deaths of friends and loved ones which can lead to grief, guilt, and subsequently to bouts of hypochondria, clinical depression, anxiety, ins
On Stage and Off: Anthem Against AIDS: New York Times (07/02/93), P. C2 (Collins, Glenn); The American Foundation for AIDS Research ( AmFAR ) has established as its official anthem the song The Day After That from the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In the play, the song, performed by Anthony Crivello, tells of a political revolution. However, when Liza Minnelli saw the show, she believed the song was ab
Disease Detection International Inc. (DDI) Announces Brasilian Approval to Sell Rapid, On-Site, AIDS Test: PR Newswire (06/30/93); Irvine, Calif.--Disease Detection International (DDI) recently received preliminary approval and specific recommendation from Sao Paulo, Brazil , to sell its SeroCard HIV-1 rapid whole- blood HIV test. In laboratory research performed at the Adolpho Lutz Institute in Sao Paulo, the SeroCard HIV-1 test was found suitab
Calling Attention to the Need for AIDS Prevention and a Cure: PR Newswire (07/01/93); New York--The nine-member team of Princeton University students who began a climb of Alaska s Mt. McKinley on June 17 as a means of raising AIDS awareness is making steady progress to the summit of 20,320 feet. The Climb for The Cure was delayed for two days after there was a shift in weather patterns. But the effort h
Protesters Hold Capitol Funeral With Corpse of AIDS Victim: Washington Post (07/02/93), P. C2 (Kovaleski, Serge F.); Members of ACT-UP convened yesterday outside of the Capitol to conduct a political funeral for a fellow activist who died of AIDS. One of Tim Bailey s last wishes, those who knew him say, was to have his dead body thrown onto the White House lawn in protest of the lack of aggressive federal action against the AIDS epid
AIDS is Claiming More Young Lives: Baltimore Sun (07/02/93), P. 10A; AIDS has become the second-leading killer of young men in the United States , surpassing heart disease and cancer, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control. The federal agency said in its weekly report that AIDS is also closing in on unintentional injuries, such as car accidents, as th
FDA Moves to Strengthen Blood Bank Quality Control: Washington Post (07/02/93), P. A2 (Schwartz, John); The Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday that it will implement new regulations to ensure the safety of the blood supply. The rules are designed to enhance quality control for blood banks and to set new standards for record keeping so that potential HIV-positive donations can be tracked and identified more
Transmission of Drug-Resistant Virus Raises More Questions: AIDS Alert (06/93) Vol. 8, No. 6, P. 84; Researchers have reported a sexually transmitted case of drug- resistant HIV infection for the first time. Even though it is too early to know whether this is a common occurrence, the new finding intensifies the debate over early antiretroviral treatment and emphasizes the virulence of the mutated virus, say researcher
Fort Lauderdale Hospitals Help AIDS Patients Shift to Home Care: AIDS Alert (06/93) Vol. 8, No. 6, P. 92; A hospital district in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has reduced the average length of a hospital stay for its AIDS patients by seven days. The North Broward Hospital District has used a creative mixture of 10 case managers, Ryan White funding, an AIDS Medicaid waiver program, and various community services to help AIDS patie
Studies on Male Sexual Behavior: Safe Sex Not an Accepted Practice: AIDS Alert (06/93) Vol. 8, No. 6, P. 88; Anti-HIV messages are not being heeded by Americans, especially men, according to three studies recently released. The most significant of the three studies is the National Survey of Men, published in the March/April issue of Family Planning Perspectives. The study involved 3,321 men ages 20- 39 who participated in fac
'Dr. Peter' Shows Nobility in the Face of AIDS: USA Today (07/01/93), P. 3D; Tonight HBO will air one of four of The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter, an informative first-hand chronicle of the devastation that AIDS causes. Dr. Peter Jepson-Young, a gay physician, received much praise in Canada for his televised video diary that chronicled his progressively intense battle with AIDS. Four years int
AIDS Coordinator: Associated Press (06/29/93) (Vernaci, Richard L.); Washington--The newly appointed federal AIDS coordinator indicated that she supports needle-exchange programs but shied away from endorsing condom distribution in schools. Kristine Gebbie, appointed by President Clinton last week as the AIDS czar , said she has been given clear authority to work across the Cabinet on f
Burroughs, Rivals Clash as AZT Trial Opens: Investor's Business Daily (07/01/93), P. 35; The role of government researchers in the development of the anti-AIDS drug AZT was disputed yesterday by attorneys for Burroughs Wellcome and two companies fighting to enter the market for the drug. The debate emerged after opening statements in a patent-infringement lawsuit that could lead to less-expensive generic v
Novello Satisfied With Fight She Waged Against AIDS: Washington Times (07/01/93), P. A4 (Price, Joyce); Dr. Antonia Novello, who resigned Wednesday as U.S. surgeon general, claims that she made significant steps in controlling the AIDS epidemic, and becomes irritable when anyone indicates that she was not as aggressive as her predecessor, C. Everett Koop. We were counting patients with AIDS when Dr. Koop was surgeon gene
Researchers on AIDS Find a Use for Thalidomide: New York Times (07/01/93), P. A13 (Altman, Lawrence K.); The once-banned sedative thalidomide is now being investigated for use in treating AIDS, tuberculosis, and other maladies. Thalidomide was banned in the early 1960s after it was found to cause deformed limbs in the children of women who took it early in pregnancy. But in a report published today in the Proceedings of t
Surge in First-Quarter AIDS Cases Not Expected to Continue: AIDS Alert (06/93) Vol. 8, No. 6, P. 81; Although there was a 204 percent increase in AIDS cases reported since the implementation of the new federal AIDS surveillance definition, it is not expected to continue, say health experts. The number of AIDS cases reported in the United States during the first quarter of 1993 rose to 35,779, a 204 percent increase fr
The Price of Progress: With the Loss of Its Housing Contracts, Shanti Project Learns Quick Growth Can Have a Downside: Advocate (06/29/93) No. 632, P. 34 (Gallagher, John); San Francisco s largest AIDS service group is facing a drastic reorganization after financial mismanagement forced it last month to relinquish eight city housing contracts worth $1.9 million. Paul Lambros, the Shanti Project s interim executive director, said, We did it voluntarily before the [city s] AIDS office deman
Researchers Debate Timing of AZT Treatment: American Medical News (06/21/93) Vol. 36, No. 23, P. 4 (Staver, Sari); Even though there is new evidence indicating that early AZT treatment does not prolong the onset of full-blown AIDS, two leading AIDS researchers claim that it may be preferable to start treatment with the drug even earlier than previously recommended. At a recent American Medical Ass
1992-97 AIDS Projections for England and Wales: Lancet (06/19/93) Vol. 341, No. 8860, P. 1589 (Horton, Richard); While a plateau is expected in the overall incidence of AIDS in England and Wales, there are varying predictions for each exposure category. Prof. N.E. Day and colleagues estimate there will be between 1,945 and 3,215 new AIDS cases by 1997. Projected annual numbers of AIDS cases for 1997 in each of the main exposure c
Nation Editorial Sampler: What Newspapers Are Saying: United Press International (06/30/93); President Clinton s willingness to support the politically touchy recommendations from his AIDS-policy coordinator, Kristine Gebbie, will determine her success in the position, write the editors of the Seattle Times. While Gebbie will encounter a number of obstacles, she has the training, experience, and personality fo
North American Biologicals to Supply HIVIG For...: PR Newswire (06/29/93); Miami--North American Biologicals Inc. (NABI) announced Tuesday that its Immunotherapy Division has won a contract to supply the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health with HIVIG. The institute will use HIV Immune Globulin in a clinical trial to test its efficacy in preventing th
Victims Reject Blood Deal: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/29/93), P. A7 (Picard, Andre); People in Quebec who were infected with the AIDS virus because of Canada s tainted-blood scandal have strongly rejected a $10 -million provincial compensation plan. Claire Desrosiers, executive director of the Quebec division of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, announced yesterday that 95 percent of the 172 people who
Don't Ask to Be on AIDS Coordinator's Staff: Washington Post (06/30/93), P. A19; The nation s new AIDS coordinator, Kristine M. Gebbie, formerly Washington state s health official, revealed to the Fox network on Tuesday that her staff will be very small, four or five people at the maximum. Gebbie also said that she approved of needle exchanges for drug addicts as a means of stemming the spread of t
Rules Are Set for Granting Benefits on AIDS Virus: Wall Street Journal (06/30/93), P. B8; The Social Security Administration disclosed rules that are aimed at expediting the procedure in which benefits are given to people infected with the HIV virus. As with the interim regulations issued by the outgoing Bush administration, the new rules list symptoms connected with aids that will automatically qualify ind
The Completeness of AIDS Case Reporting in New York City: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/16/93) Vol. 269, No. 23, P. 2995 (Greenberg, Alan E. et al.); The New York City AIDS surveillance system was effective in tracking the epidemic s spread during its first decade, write Alan E. Greenberg et al. of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. The researchers identified adults and adolescents with AIDS or with illnesses suggestive of AIDS using both population-bas
Trends in HIV Prevalence Among Disadvantaged Youth: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2887 (Conway, George A.); HIV prevention strategies should be targeted at the hard-to- reach group of adolescents who are out of school and indigent, write George A. Conway et al. of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. The researchers conducted an analysis of demographic and geographic trends of HIV infection among Job Corps student
HIV Prevention Through Case Management for HIV-Infected Persons--Selected Sites, United States, 1989-1992: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (06/18/93) Vol. 42, No. 23, P. 448; The spread of HIV can be curbed by HIV-prevention case management--a one-on-one client service intended to assist HIV -positive persons in receiving services that will prevent or reduce high-risk behaviors, write the Centers for Disease Control. This method allows HIV-positive persons to enter a stable, ongoing medical
New York Telephone Will Award Monetary Grants to 23 Organizations Involved in Providing Service to AIDS Victims: Business Wire (06/28/93); New York--New York Telephone will provide monetary grants to 23 organizations statewide that are involved in providing service and care to AIDS patients. The recipients of the grants will be recognized on June 30 at New York Telephone s headquarters in New York City. The money awarded ranges in value from $5,000 to $25
UCSF Will Be One of First California Sites to Participate in National Study of AIDS in Women: Business Wire (06/28/93); San Francisco--The University of California--San Francisco is one of four sites announced Monday to take part in a national study of the effect of HIV infection in women. The Women s Interagency HIV Study will last four years and will research signs and symptoms in HIV-positive women. It will also investigate the patte
Government Panel on HIV Finds the Prospect for Treatment Bleak: New York Times (06/29/93), P. C3 (Altman, Lawrence K.); Because of new findings about the efficacy of AZT , the outlook for treating AIDS is disheartening. At a meeting at the National Institutes of Health last week, most experts agreed with the European Concorde study s conclusion that AZT is not effective in treating early HIV infection. Dr. Merle A. Sande, the chairman
U.S. Will Relax Disability Rules in H.I.V. Cases: New York Times (06/29/93), P. A1 (Pear, Robert); The Clinton administration will release new regulations this week to facilitate the process in which HIV-positive people receive federal disability benefits, contradicting a decade of more restrictive policy. The rules, being distributed Tuesday to Social Security offices nationwide, come partly in response to a lawsui
AIDS Panel's Final Report Repeats Pleas for Action: New York Times (06/29/93), P. B7 (Hilts, Philip J.); The National Commission on AIDS issued its final report, after four years of work, which reemphasizes its request for the federal government to establish a national plan to combat the AIDS epidemic. The commission ended its work yesterday and said it hoped that the Clinton administration would do a better job of handli
Agenda: Something Rotten in the Air: Advocate (06/29/93) No. 632, P. 17; American Airlines employee health plan discriminates against people infected with HIV, according to recent protests by AIDS activists. The company s health plan denies coverage to any employee hired after Dec. 1, 1986 who has a preexisting medical condition or any illness arising from that condition. Activists say that
Tyranny of the Red Ribbon: Newsweek (06/28/93) Vol. 121, No. 6, P. 61 (Peyser, Marc); The ubiquitous red ribbon that symbolizes AIDS awareness has prompted debate among AIDS organizations about its effectiveness. The ribbon has been displayed at virtually every entertainment awards ceremony since it was first introduced in 1991. Recently, the AIDS ribbon was even given a tribute at the Council of Fashio
HIV Overlooked in Women: Health (07/93-08/93) Vol. 7, No. 4, P. 18; HIV is three times less likely to be detected in infected women than in infected men who are admitted to an emergency ward, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Albert Einstein college of Medicine in New York, N.Y. In an attempt to determine the rate of HIV infection in the emergency room at North Cen
Canada Court Allows Wife to Sue Bisexual Husband Over AIDS Risk: United Press International (06/26/93); Toronto--An Ontario provincial court judge decided that a suburban Toronto woman can sue her estranged husband for more than $1 million for putting her at risk of contracting HIV because he neglected to disclose his homosexual activities. Justice Alvin Rosenberg on Friday refused to dismiss a suit filed by Sophia Bell-
National Association of People With AIDS Statement on White House Appointment of AIDS Policy Coordinator: PR Newswire (06/25/93); Washington--The National Association of People with AIDS said in a statement Friday that it is pleased with President Clinton s appointment of Kristine Moore Gebbie as White House AIDS policy coordinator. The statement read, The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) applauds the president s fulfillment of hi
Into the Maelstrom: New Chief of AIDS Policy Considers the Political Pitfalls That Await Her: New York Times (06/27/93), P. 23 (Hilts, Philip J.); President Clinton appointed Kristine M. Gebbie to the controversial post of AIDS czar on Friday. Gebbie knows her job will not be easy. AIDS politics are always difficult, she said. The subjects you must confront are sex and drugs and death and money. I don t come into the job with any illusions that it won t be diffic
Experts Change Guides to Using Drugs for H.I.V.: New York Times (06/27/93), P. 1 (Altman, Lawrence K.); An independent panel of federal AIDS experts has recommended a major shift in the strategy for treating people with HIV infection. The new recommendations, released Friday night after a three-day meeting at the National Institutes of Health, allow for more flexibility than existing ones. While the new guidelines are no
Panel Is Probing Early Abbott AIDS Test: Wall Street Journal (06/28/93), P. B6C (Burton, Thomas M.); An HIV test made by Abbott Laboratories in 1985 has been found to be inaccurate in detecting the virus in donated blood, according to congressional investigators. As a result, dozens of unsuspecting patients may have received HIV-contaminated blood, say investigators for the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investig
Man Infected With H.I.V. by Florida Dentist Dies: New York Times (06/28/93), P. A8; A man who contracted HIV infection from his Florida dentist has died of an AIDS-related illness at the age of 33. The man, Richard Driskill, died of pancreatic failure on Saturday, according to his lawyer, Robert Montgomery. Driskill was one of six patients known to be infected by dentist Dr. David Acer, who died of AI
HIV Infection as Leading Cause of Death Among Young Adults in US Cities and States: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/16/93) Vol. 269, No. 23, P. 2991 (Selik, Richard M. et al.); HIV infection has been found to be the leading cause of death among young men and women in several U.S. communities, which has lead to a large proportion of deaths in this age group, write Richard M. Selik et al. of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. The researchers used data prepared by the National Cente
Opportunistic Infections and CD4 Lymphocytopenia With Interferon Treatment in HIV-1 Infected Patients: Lancet (06/19/93) Vol. 341, No. 8860, P. 1597 (Pesce, A. et al.); The CD4 cell count and HLA haplotypes should be considered when administering interferon (IFN) to AIDS patients who have used intravenous drugs, write A. Pesce et al. of the University of Nice-Sofia Antipolis in Nice, France . Dr. Vento and colleagues reported in the April 10 issue of the Lancet of a decline of CD4 cel
Vietnam Can Combat AIDS if It Acts Now--Study: Reuters (06/24/93); Hanoi, Vietnam--A potential explosion of AIDS cases could be contained by Vietnam if it moves now to alter people s risky behavior, the aid agency Care International said Friday. Care issued a report, The Risk of AIDS in Vietnam, that gave the most detailed survey ever of sexual behavior and attitudes in the Communist-
Hauser Awarded New Project From the National Cancer Institute for a Compound With Possible Anti-HIV Activity: PR Newswire (06/24/93); Boulder, Colo.--Hauser Chemical Research Inc. has announced a new agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the Isolation and Purification of Michellamine B from Crude Extracts of Ancistrocladus sp. Novum. NCI will be researching the anti-HIV activity of the agent. NCI has agreed with Hauser to prepare eno
China Puts HIV Cases at 1,000: Financial Times (Great Britain) (06/25/93), P. 4; More than 1,000 people in China have been found to be infected with HIV, according to reports by state radio. By the end of May, China had recorded 1,106 cases of HIV-positive people; 189 of the cases were among foreigners. A total of 14 people have developed full-blown AIDS, and 10 of those have died. Although most of
Wellcome Faces Court Challenge to Keep AIDS Drug Monopoly: Journal of Commerce (06/25/93), P. 7A (Hirschler, Ben); British pharmaceutical leader Wellcome PLC will undergo a bitter court battle in the United States next week to retain its monopoly on the controversial anti-AIDS drug AZT . The exclusive right that Wellcome holds to make and market AZT is being challenged by two generic drug manufacturers,
Nurse Named to AIDS Position: Washington Times (06/25/93), P. A7; President Clinton is expected to announce the appointment of a former Washington state health official to the federal AIDS czar position today, according to administration sources. Kristine Gebbie, a former nursing professor, served as the Washington state secretary of health until leaving the post this spring. She is
Why Johnny Can't Be Safe: Advocate (06/16/93) No. 631, P. 46 (Galagher, John); All states now have policies concerning AIDS education in public schools, although the policies don t guarantee that all students are receiving sufficient AIDS education. The religious right, say experts, are the severest foes of the education programs, which are already jeopardized by incomplete information and insuff
Please Don't Drink the Water: Advocate (06/15/93) No. 631, P. 44 (Osborne, Duncan); The Milwaukee outbreak of illness caused by the cryptosporidium parasite has drawn attention to a federal report indicating the organism could live in New York s water supplies as well. The report, by a federal panel convened by the Environmental Protection Agency, indicates that the parasite could live at high enough
AIDS Battle Reports: Advocate (06/15/93) No. 631, P. 16; Significant new findings on HIV and AIDS were revealed recently worldwide. Researchers from the Netherlands detected a super-virulent HIV strain they say may hasten the onset of full-blown AIDS. A person with this strain is six or seven times more likely to develop full-blown AIDS within 30 months than someone with a w
Alleged Rapist Has HIV, Charged With Attempted Murder: United Press International (06/23/93); Miami--A man accused of raping three young boys while knowing he was infected with HIV has been charged with attempted murder. Investigators said Ignacio A. Perea Jr. was aware of his infection at the time of the alleged assaults. At the time of his arrest, a doctor s receipt was found that showed he underwent T-cell t
Chief Health Officer Apologizes to Miss America: United Press International (06/23/93); Tallahassee, Fla.--A letter of apology has been sent to Miss America from Florida s chief public health official, who criticized school officials who asked her not to mention AIDS or discuss sex when she visited three elementary schools. Dr. Charles Mahan, health director for the Florida Department of Health and Rehabi
Mouse Provides Key Clue in AIDS Research: United Press International (06/23/93); Los Angeles--The depletion of the immune system can be studied much more rapidly by using mice to reveal the hidden secrets of AIDS, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California--Los Angeles. The researchers recorded for the first time a rapid and near complete depletion of a human im
Guidelines on AZT Use Could Face Revisions: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (06/24/93), P. A4 (Cimons, Marlene); New federal guidelines for the AIDS drug AZT could be imposed as a result of a recent European study that casts doubt on whether the drug prolongs life, according to AIDS researchers who met Wednesday to discuss the issue. A federal advisory panel for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, expected
Lawsuit Could Decide Price of AIDS Drug: Baltimore Sun (06/24/93), P. 22A; The price of the AIDS drug AZT could be contingent upon the outcome of a patent infringement case that goes to court next week and will decide whether generic drug makers are allowed to make less expensive versions of the medication. AZT s manufacturer, Burroughs Wellcome Co., is trying to prevent any violation of its
Drug Therapy: Therapy for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (06/10/93) Vol. 328, No. 23, P. 1686 (Hirsch, Martin S. and D'Aquila, Richard T.); Many drugs have been made that disrupt several of the stages in HIV replication, including inhibitors of reverse transcriptase, protease, and a regulatory protein. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors can stop the spread of the contagious virus to new cells but doesn t interfere with the replication of HIV genomes. Two of
HIV Provides Tools for Gene Therapy: Science News (06/12/93) Vol. 143, No. 24, P. 372 (Pennisi, E.); Two preliminary trials involving the transfer of genes in AIDS patients have been recently supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee. The first protocol will determine the safety of transferring DNA that will cause the recipients cells to make HIV proteins --in particular,
Risk for Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission According to Maternal Immunologic, Virologic, and Placental Factors: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2853 (St. Louis, Michael E.); The effectiveness of different interventions in preventing perinatal HIV-1 transmission may vary according to the stage of maternal HIV infection at the time of pregnancy, write Michael E. St. Louis et al. of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. The researchers studied 324 HIV-1 infected women at delivery, w
Monkey Virus May Lead to Anti-HIV Insights: Science News (06/12/93) Vol. 143, No. 24, P. 374 (Pendick, D.); By using computers to obtain structural information on the monkey version of HIV, scientists may soon be able to discover what could inhibit the spread of HIV infection. At a recent meeting of researchers in Washington, D.C., two teams of investigators revealed that they have found the structure of a key protein manufa
Africa--AIDS: Associated Press (06/21/93); Washington--The World Bank revealed on Monday its largest loan ever provided to fight AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Africa. The bank will give $64.5 million to Zimbabwe . The effort s first goal is to purchase a sufficient amount of condoms, which will cost more than $12 million. The bank has
AIDS Disclosure: Associated Press (06/21/93) (Fleeman, Michael); Los Angeles--An HIV-positive woman was not at fault for neglecting to disclose her infected status to doctors before surgery, according to a ruling by a Superior Court judge. Judge David Horowitz said Jan Lustig had no duty to reveal her medical condition and that government policy allows HIV- infected people to mainta
Discrimination Said to Be Hindering Fight Against AIDS: United Press International (06/22/93); Geneva--Discrimination against people with HIV or AIDS is impeding efforts to slow the spread of the disease, according to the World Health Organization . Dr. Dorothy Blake, deputy director of WHO s Global Program on AIDS, said in a statement that discrimination against people with the disease is equivalent to an epid
Canada Watch: New Trial Ordered in HIV Case: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/22/93), P. A9; The case of the HIV-positive Canadian woman who contracted the virus through artificial insemination will be heard in a new trial. Kobe ter Neuzen, of Victoria, was awarded $883,000 in medical malpractice damages in 1991 against Vancouver gynecologist Dr. Gerald Korn. The British Columbia Appeal Court decided that Dr.
Canada Watch: Hemophilia Group Demands Action: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/22/93), P. A9; Nearly 30 people protested before the Ontario legislature on Monday, calling for financial compensation for Canadian hemophiliacs who contracted HIV from tainted blood products. Health Minister Ruth Grier subsequently told the group that a compensation package was expected to be discussed at a meeting of deputy health
Absence of True Seroreversion of HIV-1 Antibody in Seroreactive Individuals: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2876 (Roy, Michael J. et al.); There is no evidence that an individual who has been confirmed to be seroreactive to HIV-1 infection by two separate samples can subsequently become nonreactive, write Michael J. Roy et al. of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The researchers used a retrospective cohort study reviewing the results
Cardiac Morbidity and Related Mortality in Children With HIV Infection: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2869 (Luginbuhl, Lynn M. et al.); The presence of encephalopathy or Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) coinfection appears to identify a subset of HIV infected children at especially high risk for adverse cardiac outcomes, write Lynn Luginbuhl et al. of the Children s Hospital in Boston, Mass. A total of 81 HIV-positive children who had one or more cardiac evalu
Detection of HIV DNA in Cervical and Vaginal Secretions: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2860 (Clemetson, David B. A.); The presence of HIV DNA in cervical secretions was significantly associated with oral contraceptive pill use, cervical ectopy, and pregnancy, write David B.A. Clemetson et al. of the University of Washington in Seattle. The researchers studied 97 HIV-positive women attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic
CDC--TB: Associated Press (06/17/93) (Neergaard, Lauran); Atlanta--All tuberculosis patients should be monitored to ensure that they take their medication, according to new federal guidelines targeted at fighting the spread of deadly drug-resistant TB. When a patient doesn t complete a regimen of treatment, multi-drug resistant strains of TB develop. Such strains have spread
Rural AIDS: Associated Press (06/18/93) (Davis, Amanda M.); Kansas City, Mo.--A three day AIDS conference that began Thursday addressed the issues of prevention and care of AIDS patients in rural areas and small cities. The Third Annual Hidden Epidemic Conference, sponsored by the Rural AIDS Network and the U.S. Public Health Service, involved about 200 people from 18 states. T
U.S. Urged to Help States Treat Haitians With HIV: Reuters (06/18/93); Washington--A total of 23 members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill on Friday that would require $1.8 million from the federal government to be given to New York, Florida, and Massachusetts in order to treat the HIV- positive Haitians recently flown there. A federal judge ordered the government to admit
Free Brochure on Infection Control Offered to Ohio Consumers: PR Newswire (06/21/93); Columbus, Ohio--The Ohio Dental Association (ODA) has been aggressively educating the public on the safety of dental offices throughout the state for the past several years. The Ohio State Dental Board was the first health care board in the country to require its licensees to follow extensive infection control policies
Critical Care Specialists Determine Decreased Need for Blood Transfusions in High Risk Patients: Business Wire (06/21/93); Anaheim, Calif.--Blood transfusions for high-risk cardiac patients may not be needed as frequently as was thought in the past, according to a study conducted by a team of Yale University School of Medicine researchers. Allowing the blood count to decrease to a low level without transfusing increases the strain on the h
Gays Honour AIDS Victims: Toronto Has Largest Number of Cases of the Fatal Illness in Canada: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/21/93), P. A8 (Kyvrikosaios, Deborah); On Saturday, the homosexual community in Toronto revealed an AIDS memorial to honor people who have died of the disease. No one wanted to admit that people were dying of AIDS; the names of the people were never heard, said Robert Lavery, organizer for the AIDS Memorial Committee. The memorial will break the silence and
India: HIV-Positive Blood Donors: Lancet (Great Britain) (06/12/93) Vol. 341, NO. 8859, P. 1527 (Mangla, Bhupesh); The Indian government is reconsidering its current blood donation policy of discarding HIV-positive blood while not informing the respective donors about their HIV status. Some feel that the policy should be kept intact because it promotes confidentiality, avoids the stigmatization of people with the disease, and becau
Poland: HIV Testing for Inpatients?: Lancet (Great Britain) (06/12/93) Vol. 341, No. 8859, P. 1527 (Rich, Vera); Polish physicians and medical ethicists met last month to discuss whether or not to introduce mandatory HIV testing for all hospital patients. Medical pay-scales in Poland allow for a bonus for staff working with HIV-positive patients, but the staff cannot demand an HIV test. Ministry of Health plenipotenitary on AIDS
Grief Re-Examined: The AIDS Epidemic Is Confounding the Normal Work of Bereavement: U.S. News & World Report (06/14/93) Vol. 114, No. 23, P. 81 (Horn, Miriam); Survivors of the AIDS epidemic are inventing new rituals and renewing old ones to honor the dead, and psychiatrists are finding that social activism may be the best way to heal from the loss. The Ackerman Institute in New York has discovered that bereaved family members frequently mourn in secrecy. Grief counselor Mard
Indonesia Steps Up Campaign Against AIDS: Reuters (06/18/93); Jakarta, Indonesia--A new anti-AIDS campaign in Indonesia will require blood donors to undergo HIV testing before giving blood, and people considered at high risk for the virus will be encouraged to be tested, the Jakarta Post reported on Friday. Health Minister Suyudi was quoted as telling a House of Representatives C
Polydex Announces Filing of Patent for Potential New AIDS Drug: Business Wire (06/18/93); Boynton Beach, Fla.--Polydex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. revealed on Friday that it filed a patent for a potential new AIDS drug in the United States , which will be followed by a similar filing in Canada . The new drug involves the conjugation of dextran or dextran sulphate with
Chinese Medicine Can Help Some AIDS Patients: United Press International (06/20/93) (Wasowicz, Lidia); San Francisco--A Chinese treatment may provide relief to some AIDS patients, according to reports released by researchers attending HIV, AIDS and Chinese Medicine: A First International Conference at San Francisco State University. The researchers said that as more and more people become infected with HIV, and there is
Late-Starter Vietnam Hopes to Beat AIDS Threat: Reuters (06/20/93) (Rogers, John); Hanoi, Vietnam--Although Vietnam is experiencing an emergence of AIDS cases, experts say that the country still has a chance of curbing the disease s spread, although it may require a change in attitude. The growth in confirmed cases of HIV has health-care workers in Vietnam remembering the beginnings of Thailand s epi
BioChem Sees Profit in Multi-Drug AIDS Approach: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/18/93), P. B6 (Gibbon, Ann); BioChem Pharma Inc. of Montreal, Canada , announced that the research revealed at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin, which stated that combination therapy is the best approach to treat AIDS, will benefit its own product, 3TC . BioChem President and CEO Francesco Bellini said that the
Patients Over 45 Are Often the Forgotten AIDS Victims: Los Angeles Times (06/20/93), P. A14 (Neergaard, Lauran); It has taken 12 years of the AIDS epidemic for the nation to begin to recognize that the malady is affecting older Americans and the even older relatives who care for them. Judy Fink of the American Association of Retired Persons, which is implementing an AIDS education effort for its members, said, It s a multi-genera
New Research Center Added to Fight Against AIDS: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2838 (Cotton, Paul); Funding from public and private sources has allowed for a new $45 million basic AIDS research center to be built in San Francisco. The Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology is on the campus of the San Francisco General Hospital and is affiliated with the University of California--San Francisco (UCSF). The staf
Insurance Associated With AIDS Mortality Rates: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2832 (Randall, Teri); HIV-positive patients who rely on government-funded insurance for their health care have higher mortality rates than infected individuals with private insurance, according to a recent study released at the American Federation for Clinical Research annual meeting held last month in Washington, D.C. The publicly insured
What If a Cure Is Far Off?: Newsweek (06/21/93) Vol. 121, No. 25, P. 70 (Cowley, Geoffrey and Hager, Mary); Because it has been more than a decade without a cure for AIDS and none is expected in the near future, AIDS experts believe their best hope is prevention of the disease. The World Health Organization estimates that 14 million people have contracted HIV since the epidemic began more than a decade ago, and more than 2 m
Dinkins Opens His Administration's First AIDS Home: United Press International (06/17/93); New York--New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins cut a ribbon to open his administration s first AIDS housing site on Thursday. The housing consists of a 15-bed facility in the Lower East Side of the city. Although the facility is not ideal for AIDS patients because of its steep stairs and two shared bathrooms on each fl
Second Plane Full of HIV Haitians Arrives: United Press International (06/17/93); Miami--The second group of HIV-positive Haitians who were detained at the U.S. Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , for as long as 20 months were flown to Miami Thursday, and federal officials hoped to free all of the refugees from the naval base by the end of next week. The flight carried 46 Haitian refugees, all of w
FDA's Oncology Advisory Committee Reviews Clinical Data on Vestar's Daunoxome for Treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma: PR Newswire (06/17/93); Washington--Vestar Inc. announced Thursday that an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration has reviewed its summary of safety and efficacy data on DaunoXome (R) in the treatment of AIDS patients with Kaposi s sarcoma for whom conventional chemotherapy has failed. The drug is Vestar s liposomal formulatio
Man With AIDS Can't Explain Why He Failed to Protect Lovers: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/17/93), P. A7 (Hess, Henry); An HIV-positive man from London, Ontario, told a court on Wednesday that he did not know why he continued to have unprotected sex with various women after learning of his condition. Charles Ssenyonga, who is charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, testified that even after a test confirmed
B.C. to Offer Compensation to Those Given HIV-Tainted Blood: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/17/93), P. A4 (Mickleburgh, Rod); Following the lead of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, British Columbia decided to offer financial compensation to people who contracted HIV through tainted blood transfusions in the early 1980s. Health Minister Elizabeth Cull revealed the decision in the B.C. Legislature, emphasizing the importance of taking acti
Steps Towards Vaccines: Financial Times (Great Britain) (06/18/93), P. 11 (Griffith, Victoria); Although no cure for AIDS is expected in the near future, two U.S. biotechnology companies have made significant strides in developing a preventive vaccine for the disease. The biotech firm, Chiron, in a joint venture with Switzerland s Ciba, and Genentech have designed vaccines consisting of genetically engineered pro
Fight Against Tuberculosis Intensifies: Federal Times (06/07/93) Vol. 29, No. 17, P. 14 (Winsten, Ed); The U.S. Postal Service wants to develop a policy to implement tuberculosis screening for its employees, according to the postal service s national medical director, David H. Reid. The incidence of TB has increased, especially on the East and West coasts. In 1993, at least two postal service employees in the Washington
AIDS Activists and Pharmaceuticals: The Struggle for Common Ground: Public Relations Quarterly (Spring 1993) Vol. 38, No. 1, P. 31 (Moravick, Ann); Pharmaceutical companies have become more open to AIDS activists complaints while AIDS activists have become more professional in negotiating with drug firms, writes Ann Moravick. Bristol-Myers Squibb , Burroughs Wellcome, and Hoffmann-La Roche have contributed to this change in climate. However, to continue a solid wo
Implants Eyed for CMV Retinitis: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/09/93) Vol. 269, No. 22, P. 2831 (Cotton, Paul); Implants that release drugs directly into the eye may produce better therapy for AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus ( CMV ), according to Dr. Jay S. Kuker, associate professor of ophthalmology at Tufts University Medical School. The drug- delivery system, which is aimed at giving the eye more medication with fewer sid
Kids are Target of NIH AIDS Vaccine Trial: Nation's Health (05/93-06/93) Vol. 23, No. 5, P. 10; The National Institutes of Health has launched the first trial of experimental HIV vaccines for infected children. A total of 90 children nationwide will participate in the trial, which will compare the safety of three vaccines. The trial will target asymptomatic HIV-positive children aged 1 month to 12 years. The stud
Dental Chain Settles AIDS Discrimination Case: United Press International (06/16/93); Los Angeles--A chain of dental clinics in Los Angeles agreed Wednesday to educate its employees on how to treat HIV- positive and AIDS patients, as part of a settlement of a lawsuit alleging that it violated the city s AIDS discrimination law. Deputy City Attorney David Schulman said the civil settlement calls for West
AIDS Epidemic Leads to Skyrocketing Cancer Rate: United Press International (06/16/93); San Francisco--The cancer rate in San Francisco has escalated 22 percent over the last decade, particularly among residents in the predominantly homosexual Castro District of San Francisco, according to a report released on Wednesday. Dr. William Wright, chief of research and surveillance for the California Cancer Regi
More HIV Cases Expected in Study: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/16/93), P. A5 (Fuller, Ann); More former patients may be found to be infected with HIV at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto as a $100,000 study of children who received blood transfusions continues into the fall, according to a doctor from the hospital. Susan King, who heads the study, said Tuesday that six children who were received trans
Wife Allegedly Shoots Man Over HIV: Washington Post (06/17/93), P. D1 (Beyers, Dan); A woman from Woodbridge, Va., who allegedly shot her husband four times at a Maryland military base, said she did it because he was infected with HIV, an FBI spokeswoman said yesterday. Deborah Ann Callahan was arrested Tuesday morning soon after her husband was shot and critically wounded in a parking lot outside the
Epidemic Fueled by Wide Inequity in Relationships: Philadelphia Inquirer (06/17/93), P. A1 (Collins, Huntly); Because women in developing countries tend to have less power than men in relationships, they are becoming a group that is increasingly at risk for HIV infection. For such women, protecting themselves from HIV infection is not just challenging, but requires a social revolution. Jonathan Mann, chairman of the Global AID
Budget Breathes Life Into Ailing Children's, Prevention Programs: Nation's Health (05/93-06/93) Vol. 23, No. 5, P. 1; President Clinton s spending package proposal for fiscal year 1994 focuses most attention to AIDS, tuberculosis, childhood immunization, women s health, and preventive care. AIDS would receive $600 million more this year at the Public Health Service for a total of $2.7 billion. The president s plan also provides $60 mi
The Young and the HIV-Positive: Advocate (06/15/93) No. 631, P. 79; Network soap operas are expected to air an episode on June 21 in which HIV-positive characters are represented, as an attempt at promoting AIDS awareness. Neil Tadken thought up A Day of Compassion with openly gay HIV-positive actor Michael Kearns after they appeared together in an AIDS-themed episode of Life Goes On l
Fusion Toxin, New Kind of Potential AIDS Treatment, in Early Clinical Trial: AIDS Treatment News (06/04/93) No. 176, P. 7 (James, John S.); Clinical trials are being conducted in Boston and Baltimore to test a new kind of anti-HIV treatment that treats diseases by targeting and selectively killing harmful cells. The treatment, known as fusion toxins, is made by Seragen Inc. and will be tested on asymptomatic HIV-positive patients who have CD4 cell counts b
Health Professionals Announced That Initial Results Indicate CSI's Immune Reconstitution Program for Persons With AIDS Is Feasible and Well Tolerated: Business Wire (06/15/93); Fort Lauderdale, Fla.--Health Professionals, Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, Center for Special Immunology, Inc. (CSI) presented findings at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin that suggest its Immune Reconstitution Program for AIDS patients is promising and well tolerated. CSI presented interi
Dimethaid Announces Joint Venture: PR Newswire (06/15/93); Markham, Ontario--Dimethaid Research Inc. revealed yesterday that it has agreed to a research joint venture with Dr. F.W. Kuehne and his group of companies, including Oxo Chemie AG, a pharmaceutical company based in Switzerland . Dr. Kuehne is a West German scientist who has been searching for an effective AIDS treatme
AIDS Notification Bill Dies in Committee: New York Times (06/16/93), P. B6; A New York Assembly committee voted yesterday to postpone action on legislation that would require the notification of parents whose newborn babies test positive for HIV. The outcome of the 10-to-9 vote would kill it for the year, but legislators expect to address the issue again next year after it is examined by the s
Irish Begin to Liberalize Laws on Sex and Family: New York Times (06/16/93), P. A10 (Clarity, James F.); As a result of the growing problem of AIDS in Ireland , the country has decided to liberalize laws involving families and sex, in an action that is generally opposed by the Catholic Church. The government said the new law that requires more widespread condom distribution was incited by the need to control the spread of
Worcester Holds 1st AIDS Walk: Boston Globe (06/15/93), P. 22; An AIDS service organization in Worcester, Mass., reported that it raised $148,000 in pledges from its AIDS walk on Sunday. The money will benefit 10 area organizations, and exceeded its goal of $70,000. More than 2,500 people participated in The Walk for Life on Sunday, which was sponsored by AIDS Project Worcester.
HIV Carrier Unaware of Wrongdoing, Trial Told: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/15/93), P. A3 (Hess, Henry); A London, Ontario, court heard additional testimony on Monday that a local man accused of infecting three women with HIV through unprotected sex didn t know he was doing anything wrong. Charles Ssenyonga continued to have unprotected sex, even though his doctor and public health officials had warned him against it, bec
In Some Cities, AIDS Found Top Killer of Young Adults: Washington Post (06/16/93), P. A3; AIDS and its related opportunistic infections have caused more deaths among young adults in several U.S. cities and states than accidents, cancer, and heart disease, according to a report published by federal researchers in Wednesday s Journal of the American Medical Association . By analyzing 1990 mortality data, the
Slowing the Spread of HIV: Agenda for the 1990s: Science (05/28/93) Vol. 260, No. 5112, P. 1266 (Merson, Michael H.); The AIDS pandemic continues to grow 12 years after it was first described, writes Michael H. Merson for Science. But HIV, which can be prevented from spreading, is probably more well-understood than any other virus. In the 1990s, the question is whether prevention efforts should be continued, but on a wider scale, or w
British AIDS Funding: Garbled Story Reaches U.S.: AIDS Treatment News (05/21/93) No. 175, P. 7 (James, John S.); Reports that large cuts in AIDS funding are set in the United Kingdom have reached the United States , where the fear is that the cuts could spread to this country. Some attendees at the International Conference on AIDS are reportedly changing their airline tickets so they can demonstrate in London on the way home.
Mystery to AIDS Virus Spurs Studies: Reuters (06/10/93) (Johnson, Cynthia); Berlin--Questions about why some people seem to have a natural resistance to HIV were raised last week at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Dean Mann, of the U.S. National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md., thinks the rate HIV-positive patients develop full-blown AIDS depends on their tissue type. There appe
Researchers Urged to Address Ethical and Social Issues Before Initiating HIV Vaccine Trials in Developing Countries: Business Wire (06/10/93); Berlin--Before large-scale trials of HIV vaccines are launched in developing countries, important social and ethical issues must be addressed by researchers, government leaders, and drug companies, according to a team of international scientists. The group, led by Dr. Peter Lurie, a health policy analyst at the Univers
A Personal Side for Many in Pledge Walk for AIDS: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (06/14/93), P. 3A (Kirkland, Stephen); The fourth annual St. Louis AIDS pledge walk on Sunday involved about 5,000 participants and raised more than $200,000 for local AIDS groups, according to event organizers. Several participants had family, friends, or co-workers infected with HIV. I just want to help find a cure so other people don t become ill with th
AZT Protection Incomplete in Accidental Exposures: Reuters (06/14/93) (Mikkelsen, Randall); Philadelphia--The antiviral drug AZT , used to treat AIDS, provides incomplete protection at best against HIV in occupational exposures, according to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control. Health-care workers studied by the CDC have increasingly taken AZT after
Accusations of Bias Divide AIDS Groups: Boston Globe (06/14/93), P. 17 (Hohler, Bob); HIV-positive IV-drug users in Boston claim that a state social service AIDS agency has discriminated against them because they are not homosexuals. Last week, nearly a dozen recovering IV-drug users infected with HIV and allied with the National AIDS Brigade presented this picture, alleging that the AIDS Action Committ
Conference Ends With Little Hope for AIDS Cure: New York Times (06/15/93), P. C1 (Altman, Lawrence K.); The Ninth International Conference on AIDS held last week in Berlin did not reveal any cure for the disease, and researchers say the only way to avoid the malady is through prevention practices like safe sex. Dr. Lars O. Kallings, a Swedish AIDS expert, said to colleagues at the meeting, The AIDS epidemic is an emergen
Haitians With H.I.V. Leave Cuba Base for Lives in U.S.: New York Times (06/15/93), P. A20 (Rohter, Larry); A total of 27 HIV-positive Haitian refugees were released from the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , yesterday after almost 20 months of confinement. The release is the result of a federal judge s June 8 decision that the U.S. policy of prohibiting immigration of HIV-positive refugees even when they qualify for
Does ADA Bar Coverage Denials? Employer Freedom at Stake in Suit: Employee Benefit News (05/93) Vol. 7, No. 5, P. 1 (Delmar, Diana); The Mason Tenders District Council Welfare Fund, in a suit filed against two of its participants and the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, has asked the court to rule that the Americans With Disabilities Act does not require the fund to reinstate HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related disease coverage. The fund claims that the A
India Moves Ahead Cautiously on US AIDS Project: Nature (Great Britain) (05/27/93) Vol. 363, No. 6427, P. 294 (Jayaraman, K.S. and Macilwain, Colin); As a result of fears about a collaboration with U.S. researchers on a preventive AIDS vaccine, India s leading medical research official has said that the trials will not be conducted without permission of the Indian government. At Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, where the joint project is now identifying nearly 2,5
Dispute Over Money May Foil US AIDS Vaccines Trial: Nature (Great Britain) (05/27/93) Vol. 363, No. 6427, P. 294 (Macilwain, Colin); The National Institutes of Health may back out of a trial of three therapeutic AIDS vaccines because it cannot afford to pay $10 million to MicroGeneSys, the manufacturer of one of the vaccines. Frank Volvovitz, president of MicroGeneSys, claims that his company will provide its gp160 vaccine at cost because we re a sm
In NBA, AIDS Appears to Faze Few: Washington Post (06/13/93), P. D1 (Brubaker, Bill); Despite basketball star Magic Johnson s announcement in November 1991 that he tested positive for HIV, many professional basketball players have mixed feelings about whether his disclosure had any impact on their sexual behavior. Washington Bullets forward Harvey Grant said, Some guys still exchange phone numbers of gr
In Rural Areas, AIDS Patients Find Little Compassion or Health Care: Washington Post (06/13/93), P. A21 (Booth, William); Although the world s top AIDS researchers met in Berlin last week to discuss cutting-edge AIDS treatments, people with the disease who live in rural America are happy just to find a physician who is willing to treat them. The epidemic has spread in America s small communities and farmlands, requiring many AIDS patients
AIDS Epidemic Poised to Sweep the Developing World: Financial Times (Great Britain) (06/12/93-06/13/93), P. 3 (Abrahams, Paul); While the AIDS epidemic is a serious problem in the Western world, attendees at the annual AIDS conference in Berlin last week were repeatedly told that the epidemic is going to affect the developing world with disproportionate force. Approximately 90 percent of the 14 million people projected by the World H
Test Results for New AIDS Drug Called Promising, But a Small Step: Journal of Commerce (06/14/93), P. 5A (Collins, Huntly); A new anti-AIDS drug that attacks HIV inside infected human cells has shown promise in human trials conducted in France , the United Kingdom , and Italy , according to reports by researchers at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin, Germany .
AIDS Conference Spawns Closer Look at Long-Term Survivors as Key to Cure: Wall Street Journal (06/14/93), P. B3B (Chase, Marilyn); The Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin concluded Friday with controversy surrounding two clashing AIDS patient profiles: people with devastating immune destruction and long- term survivors. Among the disputed ideas were an emerging view of how HIV depletes the immune system and the resurgence of an old an
Swapping Secrets: Combination Drug Therapies Push the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Into an Unusual Alliance: Advocate (06/01/93) No. 630, P. 34 (Gallagher, John); A total of 15 of the world s largest pharmaceutical companies recently agreed to collaborate on research efforts to develop anti-AIDS drugs, but the move drew only restrained applause from AIDS activists. Derek Hodel, treatment issues director at the AIDS Action Council, a Washington, D.C., lobbying group, said, It s t
"HIV TKO: The Gloves Come Off in a Fight for Mandatory HIV Antibody Testing of all Professional Boxers: Advocate (06/01/93) No. 630, P. 32 (Bull, Chris); Because the world featherweight champion tested HIV-positive, he was stripped of his title, and the pressure soon mounted for mandatory HIV testing of professional boxers. Ruben Palacio s HIV-positive status was disclosed by the British Boxing Board of Control on April 16 the day before he was expected to defend his Wo
"Saliva AIDS Test Cut Risks for Health Workers: Reuters (06/10/93); Berlin--Health workers who take saliva samples in place of blood samples to test for HIV infection could reduce the danger of accidentally contracting the virus. A paper at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS indicated that about 100 health workers are thought to have accidentally caught the virus during the tes
"Community Program Reduces HIV Risk Among Young Gay Men: Business Wire (06/09/93); Berlin, Germany--A University of California, San Francisco, study indicates that HIV prevention and safe sex messages are optimally effective when tailored for the group at which they are aimed and delivered by peers. In the first eight months of a UCSF-directed outreach program in Oregon, the rates of unsafe sex by ga
"Skin Disease Found Higher in People with HIV: Reuters (06/10/93); Boston--A study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that people infected with HIV are much more prone to a number of skin diseases, especially as the virus progresses. A team of doctors from Boston examined the medical records of 684 people infected with HIV, and determined that the number of visi
"U.S. Charges Union Health Plan Biased Against AIDS: Reuters (06/10/93) (Frank, Jacqueline); Washington--The federal government filed a lawsuit against the Mason Tenders District Council s Welfare Fund for refusing a worker coverage for treatment of AIDS. The suit was filed one day after the government ruled employers and health insurance plans may not discriminate against workers with AIDS or other disabiliti
"French Say HIV Carriers Have Right to Normal Lives: Reuters (06/09/93); Paris--A poll by the CSA Institute regarding attitudes toward AIDS indicated that about 95 percent of French people polled feel people infected with HIV have a right to a normal social life. The poll said only 1 percent of those polled thought people carrying HIV should be quarantined, and 4 percent had no opinion. Of
"Doctors Study HIV Tie to Some Skin Diseases: Journal of Commerce (06/11/93), P. 7A; AIDS patients are more likely to contract one of several skin diseases, especially as the ailment progresses, new research has discovered. Boston physicians studied the medical records of 684 people with HIV. The records showed that people with HIV visited doctors five times more often for normal inflammatory skin illn
"28 New AIDS Cases Reported in Wisconsin: Chicago Tribune (06/10/93), P. 1-3; During May, officials Wednesday announced confirmation of 28 new AIDS cases in Wisconsin. The total number of AIDS reached 1,884 since 1982, the state said. In the same period, 20 people died from AIDS, making the death toll 966, according to Gerald Whitburn, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.
"Roche Unveils New AIDS Treatment: Financial Times (Great Britain) (06/11/93), P. 4 (Abrahams, Paul); Roche has issued preliminary information suggesting that its new treatment is just as effective as Wellcome s AZT and more effective when combined with other drugs. The drug, called Ro -31-8959, uses protease inhibitor technology and works by affecting the making of an enzyme necessary for HIV to replicate effectively.
"AIDS Link to V.D. Becomes Clearer: New York Times (06/11/93), P. A6 (Altman, Lawrence K.); Researchers at the international meeting on AIDS in Berlin, Germany , stated that greater efforts against all sexually transmitted diseases would help curtail the spread of H.I.V. The link between sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS has been clarified by studies showing that gonorrhea and chancroid can increase the
"Development of Live-Virus AIDS Vaccine Urged: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition , P. A2 (Stolberg, Sheryl); The World Health Organization has decided to recommend that scientists develop a vaccine to prevent AIDS. The decision is viewed as extremely risky, since many researchers have felt it would be too dangerous to inject humans with even a crippled form of the deadly virus. Dr. Robert Gallo, a prominent AIDS researcher, a
Detailed U.S. AIDS Report Offers Hints, Warnings: Baltimore Sun (06/11/93), P. 3A; U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novella released a report Thursday documenting a rise in the heterosexual spread of AIDS in the United States . The report indicates that 39 percent of reported AIDS cases in women in 1992 were attributable to heterosexual contact, an increase of 42 percent since 1990. The report was releas
AIDS Research: The Mood is Uncertain: Science (05/28/93) Vol. 260, No. 5112, P. 1254 (Cohen, Jon); The AIDS research community is in the midst of many changes. AIDS researchers who discounted alternative therapies as a way to combat the disease are beginning to take them seriously, while treatments that once seemed ineffective have become, at the very least, interesting. This open-mindedness is based on the fact tha
Researcher Calls for More Sex Education: United Press International (06/08/93); Berlin--Sex education for young people is essential in the fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, according to Anke A. Ehrhardt of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, who spoke Tuesday at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Ehrhardt said that HIV is spreading a
AIDS Survival Doubles: United Press International (06/08/93); Berlin--People diagnosed with AIDS in the 1990s are likely to live twice as long as those diagnosed with the disease in 1984, said Lisa Jacobson of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Jacobson said improved treatment of AIDS-defining illnesses, as well as anti-viral
Health Insurance Ruling to Hit Small Employers: New York Times (06/10/93), P. D2 (Freudenheim, Milt); The new federal guidelines announced yesterday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which require employers to prove that their health insurance policies do not discriminate against employees or dependents with AIDS or other costly diseases, will affect small businesses more than companies with at least 100
Surgeon General: Heterosexuals, Women Increasingly Hit by AIDS: United Press International (06/10/93); Washington--Heterosexual AIDS cases rose about 42 percent between 1990 and 1992, and the disease is infecting growing proportions of women and people who live in rural areas, according to a report issued Thursday by U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello. The report said that by the end of 1992, about 170,000 people had
Study Points to Immune Cell as Key to AIDS Survival: United Press International (06/09/93); Berlin--An immune cell that seems to inhibit HIV from multiplying may lead to the longer survival of AIDS patients, according to researchers from the University of California-- San Francisco who reported their findings yesterday at the international AIDS conference. They discovered the specialized cell that prevents HI
Decline Is Reported in Certain Diseases: New York Times (06/10/93), P. B3; The New York City Health Department yesterday revealed that there has been about a 25- percent drop in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the city. The decline in cases is proof that messages of safe sex are getting through to New Yorkers and especially adolescents, the Health Department said. The most recent depa
White House to Obey Order to Admit HIV-Infected Haitians: Washington Post (06/10/93), P. A30 (Duke, Lynne); The Clinton administration announced yesterday that it will comply with a federal judge s order and allow HIV-positive Haitian refugees held at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , into the United States . Some of the refugees had been held at the base for as long as 20 months after fleeing Haiti following a S
Wellcome Defends AZT, Says Combined Drugs Best: Journal of Commerce (06/10/93), P. 5A (Fixsen, Rachel); The British pharmaceutical firm that manufactures AZT defended the drug from reports of its ineffectiveness in treating HIV infection, and said that a combination of drugs now appears to be the best therapy in the early stages of infection. At the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin, Wellcome PLC argued ag
Hopes Are Dashed on AIDS Therapy: New York Times (06/10/93), P. A16 (Altman, Lawrence K.); The renowned developer of the polio vaccine, Dr. Jonas Salk, presented findings on his experimental immunotherapy for HIV- positive patients yesterday at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. However, the results received little praise from many of the AIDS researchers attending the conference. Dr. Alex
AIDS Vaccine Trials Viewed With Caution: Washington Post (06/10/93), P. A15 (Brown, David); Large-scale studies of preventive AIDS vaccines may start as early as 1995, but they may yield more information to scientists than benefits to subjects. At the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin yesterday, the most prominent topic addressed was the promise and pitfalls of AIDS vaccines. Because there are
AIDS Activists Says Basic Research Is Underfunded: Nature (Great Britain) (06/03/93) Vol. 363, No. 6428, P. 388 (Macilwain, Colin); Even though there is additional U.S. government funding for AIDS, research does not address the critical basic work on the pathogenesis of the disease, according to a new report by AIDS activist organization Treatment Action Group (TAG). Last year, TAG made recommendations that were adopted by Congress last month in th
Repligen Set to Test Vaccine for HIV Virus: Boston Globe (06/07/93), P. 46 (Rosenberg, Ronald); Pharmaceutical firm Repligen Corp. of Cambridge, Mass., was expected on Monday to announce the beginning of a 20-patient safety trial of its proposed therapeutic vaccine for HIV- positive patients. Repligen President Sandford D. Smith said the vaccine is intended to prolong the life of HIV-positive patients by equippin
Virus 'Decoy' May be Key to AIDS Vaccine: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (06/07/93), P. A1 (Hess, Henry); A technique that could revolutionize vaccine development and yield the ideal weapon against HIV infection has been discovered by researchers from the University of California-- Los Angeles. The revolutionary method creates a decoy that exactly resembles live HIV, but cannot cause illness. Because the body s defenses re
Prevention Is Best AIDS Cure for Now, Researcher Says: Journal of Commerce (06/09/93), P. 9A; The AIDS epidemic cannot be eradicated yet, and therefore worldwide efforts should concentrate on slowing its spread, according to a leading researcher at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Peter Lamptey, director of an AIDS prevention program financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), sa
U.S. Ordered to Free HIV-Infected Haitians: Washington Post (06/09/93), P. A1 (Duke, Lynne); A U.S. District Court judge in New York yesterday ordered Attorney General Janet Reno to immediately release 158 Haitian refugees from an HIV prison camp at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba . Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. of the Eastern District of New York said the Haitians are being held in the kind of indef
Using Herpes Is One Approach to Fighting AIDS: USA Today (06/09/93), P. 1D (Painter, Kim); AIDS researchers are considering using a part of the herpes virus to fight HIV infection. AIDS researcher Robert Gallo s lab at the National Cancer Institute has discovered that a herpes virus called HHV-7--a virus not yet known to cause any disease--infects the same cells that HIV does and uses the same molecular entr
EEOC Rules Target Bias in Insuring the Disabled: Wall Street Journal (06/09/93), P. B8; The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has adopted interim rules to enforce parts of the Americans With Disabilities Act which deal with insurance-related discrimination against employees with AIDS and other health problems. The rules state that employers and insurers must provide the same coverage for disabled wo
Genentech, Chiron Report Advances in Research Toward an AIDS Vaccine: Wall Street Journal (06/09/93), P. B8 (Chase, Marilyn); AIDS vaccine researchers presented their findings yesterday at the International AIDS Conference in Berlin. Two biotechnology companies showed that immunizing healthy volunteers against one strain of HIV created antibodies in the blood that also react against different strains. The companies, Genentech Inc.
Progress Is Shown in Race for HIV Drug: Wall Street Journal (06/09/93), P. B8; AIDS research reports released at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS this week have sparked some of the highest hopes in a field that has become increasingly dismal in recent years. The research involves drugs that inhibit the action of an enzyme called protease that is critical to HIV replication. About 12 com
Teens Misunderstand AIDS Protection: Baltimore Sun (06/09/93), P. 3A; Roughly half of sexually active high school students claim that they use condoms for birth control, but many neglected to use them to protect against HIV infection when other means of birth control were available, according to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and presented yesterday at the Ninth In
Popular U.S. Treatment for HIV Is Challenged by European Study: Washington Post (06/09/93), P. A4 (Brown, David); The anti-AIDS drug AZT helps asymptomatic HIV-positive patients for only about a year, and neither slows the development of full-blown AIDS nor extends life, according to details of a European trial on AZT presented yesterday at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. The conclusions came from a French a
H.I.V. Immunity Discussed at Berlin Conference: New York Times (06/09/93), P. A7 (Altman, Lawrence K.); Some prostitutes in Nairobi, Kenya , have evaded HIV infection despite exposure to the virus through frequent unprotected sex with HIV-positive men, according to a report released yesterday at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. These cases of HIV-free women are of profound scientific interest to rese
What Causes the Immune System Collapse Seen in AIDS?: Science (05/28/93) Vol. 260, No. 5112, P. 1256 (Cohen, Jon); Although it is still unknown how HIV leads to the depletion of CD4 cells, there are three prominent theories among AIDS researchers. Some researchers believe that HIV itself may kill the cells, while others believe that HIV may call in other elements of the immune system to kill the cells. Alternately, the virus may so
Sexual Behavior and Condom Use--District of Columbia, January- February, 1992: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (05/28/93) Vol. 42, No. 20, P. 390; Although the number of persons with multiple sex partners in Washington, D.C., who reported always using condoms was higher than in a national sample, condom use was still not widespread. The Washington, D.C., Commission of Public Health (CPH) conducted a telephone survey of DC residents aged 18-45 between January and
More Women-Controlled AIDS Prevention Methods Needed--WHO: Reuters (06/05/93) (Johnson, Cynthia); Berlin--Pharmaceutical companies should conduct more research into agents that women can use to protect themselves from HIV, World Health Organization officials said Saturday at a briefing hosted by the American Medical Association before Monday s start of the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Dr.
Draft AIDS Care Guidelines for Doctors Released by AMA: United Press International (06/05/93) (Mangasarian, Leon); Berlin--The American Medical Association on Saturday issued draft guidelines for physicians on diagnosing and treating HIV infection. The draft rules were released at this year s Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. There is the perception that advances in HIV care are occurring too rapidly for the average
Antisense Compound Shows Promise as AIDS Treatment: Business Wire (06/04/93); Results from a study on a promising new in-vitro compound to combat AIDS will be presented at the Ninth International Conference in Berlin, Germany , this week. GEM 91 is an antisense oligonucleotide designed to suppress viral replication of HIV. By concentrating on a gene sequence believed to be highly invariant in mo
The Dilemma of AIDS Treatment: Washington Post (Health) (06/08/93), P. 7 (Melillo, Wendy); Because there are still several unknowns about the effectiveness of AZT and other antiviral drugs in regard to prolonging the lives of AIDS patients, many people with the disease are seeking other options. A recent European study disproved the theory that using AZT early in the course of disease would prolong life.
How Safe Is a Dentist's Office?: Washington Post (Health) (06/08/93), P. 5; Many Americans are concerned about the potential of HIV transmission in a dentist s office, according to a recent survey sponsored by the American Dental Hygienists Association. The telephone interview involved 1,013 adults and found that 83 percent are very or somewhat concerned about infection control. However, only
Poll Finds Knowledge About AIDS Increasing: New York Times (06/08/93), P. C5 (Kagay, Michael R.); An increasing number of adult Americans know more about AIDS, know someone with HIV infection or AIDS, and have acted to prevent contracting the disease themselves, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll. Among the 1,347 adults interviewed, 49 percent said they had taken steps to protect themselves from H
AIDS Researcher Outlines New Concept of Selectively Boosting Immune System: Wall Street Journal (06/08/93), P. B6 (Chase, Marilyn); AIDS researchers should focus on new drugs that would selectively strengthen the beneficial cells in the immune system, while thwarting those that deplete the immune system, according to U.S. AIDS researcher Anthony S. Fauci. It is known that HIV causes the demise of the immune system. However, HIV may also incite hype
AIDS Meeting Opens With Call for Compassion: Journal of Commerce (06/08/93), P. 6A; The Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin began yesterday with calls for worldwide compassion toward AIDS patients. German President Richard von Weizsaecker opened the conference by emphasizing a need for more compassion and less moralizing toward AIDS patients around the world. Society must not split into h
$2.5 Billion a Year Urged to Curb AIDS Cases: Washington Post (06/08/93), P. A17 (Brown, David); New HIV infections expected worldwide by the year 2000 could be halved if the global AIDS community would invest $2.5 billion a year in the disease, according to a prediction by a World Health Organization official revealed yesterday at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin. The conference opened yester
AIDS Advocates Focus on Whether CDC Dollars Make Sense: Nation's Health (05/93-06/93) Vol. 23, No. 5, P. 1; Experts who object to the way the Centers for Disease Control allocates HIV prevention funds are joining forces to ensure that funding is given to community-based groups. These groups, which most directly address high-risk populations, are stretched to the limit by the expanding epidemic but are frequently the last to
Comparison of Atovaquone (566C80) With Trimethoprim- Sulfamethoxazole to Treat Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia in Patients With AIDS: New England Journal of Medicine (05/27/93) Vol. 328, No. 21, P. 1521 (Hughes, Walter et al.); Atovaquone, a hydroxynaphthoquinone compound proven to work against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), offers a useful alternative to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for AIDS patients who cannot tolerate that treatment or who fail to respond to it, write Walter Hughes et al. of the St. Jude Children s Research Hospita
AIDS Fear Spawns Mask Venture But So Far, Sales Are Sparse: Warfield's Business Record (05/28/93-06/04/93) Vol. 8, No. 22, (Hinebaugh, Cathy); Anne Arundel County, Md., last year passed a law requiring restaurants, bars, and theaters, as well as public meeting places and county-owned buildings, to display resuscitation masks and gloves to encourage people to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation during an emergency. The Anne Arundel law was passed in response
Univax Files PLA to Market WinRho SD For Severe Blood Disorder: Business Wire (06/03/93); Rockville, Md.--Univax Biologics on Thursday said that it has submitted a Product License Application with the Food and Drug Administration for approval to market WinRho SD in the United States for treatment of a severe blood disorder that affects about 11 percent of HIV-positive individuals. The primary indications i
Women With AIDS on Birth Control, Pregnant More Likely to Infect Partner: United Press International (06/05/93) (Mangasarian, Leon); Berlin--An HIV-positive woman may be more inclined to infect a sexual partner if she is pregnant, takes birth control pills, or has cervical ectopy, according to researchers from the University of Seattle who disclosed their findings in advance of this year s International AIDS conference. A study involving 97 HIV-posi
Experts Say AIDS Spreading Into Adolescent Population: United Press International (06/05/93) (Mangasarian, Leon); Berlin--AIDS is spreading into adolescent groups worldwide and young people need to learn about he disease before they become sexually active if the pandemic is to be thwarted, according to medical experts who spoke at a one-day seminar organized by the American Medical Association to launch the Ninth International C
Sixth AIDS Case Leads Investigators to Murder Theory: United Press International (06/06/93); Miami--The recently disclosed case of a sixth patient who contracted HIV from the Florida dentist with AIDS is raising questions that Dr. David Acer could have intentionally infected his patients before he died in 1990, according to a report in the Miami Herald on Sunday. Sherry Johnson revealed on May 6 that she was t
WHO Official to Seek $2.5 Billion a Year From Developed World for AIDS Fund: Wall Street Journal (06/07/93), P. B7 (Chase, Marilyn); A leading official from the World Health Organization will propose at the opening session of the Ninth International Conference on AIDS in Berlin today that industrialized countries invest a total of $2.5 billion a year in AIDS prevention in the developing world. Michael Merson, director of the World Health Organizatio
A Shot in the Arm for Vaccine Problems: Washington Post (06/07/93), P. A3 (Thompson, Larry); Some vaccines actually cause the disease they are meant to prevent, but a new type of approach may solve this problem. The new method may have maximum safety as well as a response strong enough to inhibit the spread of HIV infection. The vaccine uses what is called naked DNA, which is not surrounded by the virus outer
Global AIDS Community Gathers for Conclave: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (06/07/93), P. A2 (Stolberg, Sheryl); The Ninth International Conference on AIDS will open today in Berlin, Germany , and is expected to draw a record 12,000 attendees. It is considered by some to be a chaotic circus, but by others, an essential opportunity to learn the latest findings in AIDS research. What makes the meeting so disordered is that everyone
Court Order on Infected Inmates: American Medical News (05/24/93) Vol. 36, No. 20, P. 2; A federal judge has ordered that California prison officials place HIV-positive inmates in food-service jobs at the Vacaville medical prison. According to U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton, the state s ban on HIV-infected inmates in food jobs is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act because the instituti
Life Insurers Plan AIDS Tests: Nikkei Weekly (Japan) (05/24/93) Vol. 31, No. 1570, P. 19; As an increasing number AIDS cases begin to appear in Japan , the life insurance industry there plans to require HIV tests of applicants before issuing policies. Japanese insurance industry officials said the issue at hand is how to safeguard the privacy of test results--not the validity of rejecting applicants. Insura
More Guantanamo Haitians Released: United Press International (06/01/93); Miami--An additional 11 HIV-positive Haitian refugees held at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , were admitted into the United States last weekend. The 11 refugees was flown to the United States during the weekend and paroled into the community for humanitarian reasons, said Duke Austin, a spokesman for the I
ImmuCell Announces Continued Clinical Program to Develop Treatment for Diarrheal Infections in AIDS and Other Patients: Business Wire (06/02/93); Portland, Maine--ImmuCell Corp. on Wednesday announced the continuation of the Phase I/II human clinical trials for CryptoGAM, an orally administered polyclonal antibody product for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in AIDS patients and others with weakened immune systems. The trials are being conducted by Univax Biol
French Catholic Archbishop Backs Condom Use: Reuters (06/03/93); Toulouse, France--A French Roman Catholic archbishop revealed Thursday his support for condom use, which challenges the teachings of Pope John Paul II. Andre Collini, archbishop of Toulouse in southwestern France, said the church should rethink its doctrine on forbidding condom use because the devices are the best know
Irish Government Approves Condom Vending Machines: United Press International (06/03/93); Dublin, Ireland--The Irish government on Thursday voted in favor of lifting the ban on the sale of condoms through vending machines. The move is considered a milestone in the liberalization of the country s rigid laws on moral issues. Despite strong opposition from the Catholic church, the government also eliminated th
Medizone's Blood Decontamination Technology Proven Successful in Canadian Monkey Trial: Business Wire (06/02/93); New York--Medizone International Inc. on Wednesday disclosed that it had successfully completed the first two phases of a Canadian research study that has shown preliminary scientific evidence supporting the use of the company s proprietary blood decontamination technology in monkeys. To date, the research program has
Detained Teenagers Walk for AIDS Research Inside Detention Center: Boston Globe (06/03/93), P. 29 (Hart, Jordana); About a dozen teenagers at a Massachusetts detention center, who the state will not allow to participate in the annual 10- kilometer AIDS Pledge Walk in Boston this Sunday, raised money on their own on Wednesday by circling their fenced yard 52.5 times. Janet Martin, director of the Boston Secure Treatment Center, a pr
Stepping Ahead of AIDS Walk: Boston Globe (06/03/93), P. 23 (Artis, Joanne Ball); The 8th annual From All Walks of Life--AIDS Pledge Walk in Boston will be held Sunday. Vance Deare, an AIDS outreach worker, has been urging the minorities he works with to participate in the AIDS fundraiser for the past three months. Deare, who is also a minority, said it has been a difficult challenge working with th
Around the Region: Teacher Charged in Sex Abuse Tests Negative for AIDS: Washington Post (06/04/93), P. D5; The former Anne Arundel County, Md., high school teacher who has admitted to having sex with seven students has tested negative for HIV, according to his attorneys. The lawyers also said that he may plead insanity when his case goes to trial. Ronald W. Price. who was arrested on April 8 and charged with three counts of
AIDS: The Silent Treatment: Health (05/93-06/93), P. 16; Doctors do not educate their patients enough about AIDS, according to a study by researchers from the University of California. The researchers questioned 1,312 people if, during medical checkups in the past five years, a physician had discussed AIDS or asked them about high risk sexual behavior. Those who said no acco
"Bar Codes Track HIV Infected Needles: IDSystems (05/93), P. 27 (Navas, Deborah); The clean-needle exchange program in New Haven, Conn., has successfully thwarted the spread of HIV among IV-drug users by using an advanced system of tracking the needles and infection rates. The AIDS intervention program conducted by Yale University and New Haven s health department has used the bar- code-based syring
Pregnancy and Contraception Use Among Urban Rwandan Women After HIV Testing and Counseling: American Journal of Public Health (05/93) Vol. 83, No. 5, P. 705 (Allen, Susan et al.); Additional research is needed to define the cultural, psychological, and practical obstacles to effective, long-term contraception among HIV-positive women, write Susan Allen et al. of the University of California--San Francisco. For two years, the researchers followed a sample of 1,458 childbearing urban Rwandan women
Health Professionals to Present Research at Berlin AIDS Conference: Business Wire (06/02/93); Fort Lauderdale, Fla.--Health Professionals Inc. (HPI) has announced that its principal subsidiary, Center for Special Immunology Inc. (CSI), will be presenting two research reports at the Ninth International AIDS Conference in Berlin next week. CSI s Immune Reconstitution Treatment program will present its first findi
AIDS Conferences Have Outlived Usefulness, Journal Says: Reuters (06/02/93); London--International AIDS conferences are no longer useful and should be replaced by more effective means of communication, according to an editorial in the British journal Nature. The editorial on next week s ninth international conference on AIDS in Berlin said, For those who wish to catch public attention, say for
Miss America Censored in Fla. Over AIDS Views: Baltimore Sun (06/03/93), P. 13A; Miss America Leanza Cornett, who enjoys educating people about AIDS, has been asked not to mention the disease when talking with elementary school students in Florida. Some school officials demanded that she not use the word condom when talking to students, while others advised that she not mention AIDS at all. When th
State Increases Funding to Phila. AIDS Hospice: Philadelphia Inquirer (06/03/93), P. B2; Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey s administration yesterday revealed plans to allot $615,000 in funds this year for Betak, the Philadelphia hospice and nursing care facility for AIDS patients. The amount announced yesterday is a $200,000 increase from the $415,000 contract for 1993-1994 that the state approved in April.
Schools Give Condoms to 1,600 in First Year: Washington Post (06/03/93), P. D.C. 1 (Harris, Hamil R.); In the first year of Washington, D.C. s condom distribution program in schools, nearly 1,600 students, or 9 percent of students in targeted schools, have requested condoms at least once, while hundreds of others have returned more than once. D.C. Public Health Commissioner Mohammad Akhter said, This is the most success
AIDS Virus Isolations in U.S., France Traced to Same Patient: Philadelphia Inquirer (06/03/93), P. A2; The original samples of HIV that were isolated by researchers in France and other researchers in the United States in the early 1980s appear to have come from the same patient, according to a study published in today s issue of the journal Nature. The study said that the virus from the patient apparently tainted a labo
Youth AIDS Prevention Efforts Faulted: Washington Post (06/03/93), P. A5; The National Commission on AIDS yesterday suggested in a report that the lack of an aggressive federal AIDS policy has left young people confused and vulnerable to the disease. The commission s report also urged that condoms be provided in schools, but that abstinence be stressed as the most effective means to avoid co
Factors Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men's Decisions and Intentions to Seek HIV Testing: American Journal of Public Health (05/93) Vol. 83, No. 5, P. 701 (Myers, Ted); Improving access to HIV testing by removing some of the current psychological and physical barriers will enhance its medical and public health significance, write Ted Myers et al. of the University of Toronto in Ontario. In the spring of 1990, 1,295 men completed an anonymous questionnaire in gay- identified bars and b
The Dual Epidemics of Tuberculosis and AIDS: Ethical and Policy Issues in Screening and Treatment: American Journal of Public Health (05/93) Vol. 83, No. 5, P. 649 (Bayer, Ronald et al.); Because of the epidemiology of the tuberculosis epidemic, its relationship to HIV infection, and the fact that it is the most socially marginalized individuals who are affected by TB and HIV, there is a danger that the demands by the public for increased health protection will foster a climate in which the rights of in
Proposal for AIDS Memorial Dropped: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (05/28/93), P. 3A (Yearwood, Lori Teresa); A proposed memorial to people who have died of AIDS was rejected by St. Louis, Mo., city park officials as being inappropriate and too costly to maintain. Gary Bess, acting director of the city parks department, said, If we can create some positive public space for the public to enjoy, that s what we like to encourage.
AIDS Activists Heckle Clinton Over Haitians: Reuters (05/28/93); Philadelphia--AIDS activists disrupted President Clinton s speech at Philadelphia s City Hall last week by chastising his policy regarding the HIV-positive Haitians detained at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba . The protesters unfurled a large banner with the message, Abolish AIDS concentration camps, and b
Condom Use in Nation's Capital Surveyed: United Press International (05/27/93); Atlanta--Among Washington, D.C., residents surveyed, more than half reported always using a condom during sexual activity, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control. However, these findings suggest that about 40 percent are still not consistently protecting themselves and others from the spread of sexual
Health Professionals Announces Appointment of Director of Research as HIV Standards of Care Editor: Business Wire (05/28/93); Fort Lauderdale, Fla.--Health Professionals Inc. (HPI) on Friday named Dr. William M. Reiter, HPI s CEO and the Director of Research for its Center for Special Immunology Inc. subsidiary, as Editor-in-Chief of a new annual Standards of Care for HIV Disease publication to be issued by the Physicians Association for AIDS
AIDS Enters Second Decade Amid Debate on Progress Toward Cure: Reuters (06/01/93) (Johnson, Cynthia); London--The AIDS epidemic, now in its second decade, is still surrounded by controversy regarding its prevention and cure. Worldwide attention will again concentrate on the prospects for fighting AIDS next week at the ninth international conference on AIDS in Berlin. Although AIDS activists criticize today s AIDS resea
What's News: The AIDS Epidemic ...: Wall Street Journal (06/02/93), P. A1; The AIDS epidemic will continue to devastate the world for at least one or two more generations, even if researchers discover a successful vaccine in the next few years, said the chairman of the international AIDS conference scheduled to begin Monday in Berlin, Germany . Karl-Otto Habermehl, who heads a virology instit
Fla. Drug Firm Testing Anti-AIDS Product: Journal of Commerce (06/02/93), P. 7A; A pilot laboratory has been built by a renowned Florida medical firm in order to produce clinical trial quantities of HIVIG, a blood product designed to block the transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their unborn infants. North American Biologicals Inc. (NABI) has also submitted an application for a special per
IBF to Consider Testing for HIV: Washington Post (06/02/93), P. C2; An executive committee of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) yesterday made a unanimous recommendation to the federation that any fighter seeking an IBF title should have to prove in some way that he is not infected with HIV. The committee voted, 11-0, in Albuquerque, N.M., to present to the convention of the IB
Global Emergency: Mclean's (Canada) (05/24/93) Vol. 106, No. 21, P. 52 (Chisholm, Patricia); The number of tuberculosis cases is increasing worldwide, mostly in Third World nations. Between one-third and one-half of the global population has tubercle bacillus, the bacteria responsible for TB. World Health Organization officials have issued a worldwide emergency and reported that 30 million people will die from
Dapsone-Pyrimethamine Compared With Aerosolized Pentamidine as Primary Prophylaxis Against Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia and Toxoplasmosis in HIV Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (05/27/93) Vol. 328, No. 21, P. 1514 (Girard, Pierre-Marie et al.); Aerosolized pentamidine and dapsone-pyrimethamine were found to be equally effective in preventing first episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-positive patients, but dapsone-pyrimethamine was not as well tolerated as aerosolized pentamidine when used to treat toxoplasmosis, write Pierre-Marie Girard e
Mayors Dole Out $1 Million in AIDS Prevention Grants: Nation's Health (05/93-06/93) Vol. 23, No. 5, P. 4; The U.S. Conference of Mayors allotted $1 million to be used by community-based groups and health departments in 10 cities for establishing AIDS prevention programs for populations at high risk of HIV infection. The grants are intended to spur a collaborative anti-AIDS effort among community groups and local health dep
Packaging Reality: Is the Female Condom Better Than We've Been Told?: Village Voice (05/19/93-05/25/93) Vol. 38, No. 21, P. 25 (Coleman, Beth); The Food and Drug Administration s recent approval of the Reality Female Condom was received with continued doubt of the condom s efficacy. This reaction was due to the resistance to the device by the FDA itself. The agency continues to ignore that women constitute the fastest-growing AIDS population. The FDA requires
Sperm Doctor Releases AIDS Test Results: United Press International (05/28/93); New York--A New York City doctor who was accused of illegally supplying his own semen for artificial insemination has revealed his HIV test results to 10 doctors who performed the inseminations. Peter Slocum, a spokesman for the state health department, said Dr. Douglas Moss, a gynecologist, had not given the departmen
In the Age of AIDS, Sex Clubs Are Back in N.Y.: Philadelphia Inquirer (05/31/93), P. A1 (Maykuth, Andrew); Less than a decade after the state of New York passed regulations that threatened to close the remaining sex clubs in New York City, the popularity of such establishments has re -emerged. Because of the threat of AIDS, in 1985, the state classified fellatio and anal intercourse in commercial establishments as public-he
Housing Crisis Intensifies for People With AIDS: Baltimore Sun (06/01/93), P. 1B (Selby, Holly); AIDS activists and community leaders in the Baltimore, Md., area have formed a panel to devise a 10-year strategy for dealing with what they consider a rapidly growing housing crisis for AIDS patients. City officials began accepting proposals two weeks ago from nonprofit organizations on how to develop such a strategy
Body May Fight AIDS With Wrong Weapons: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (05/28/93), P. A4 (Hess, Henry); The human immune system fails to defeat some invaders, such as HIV infection, because it selects the wrong weapons, according to an article published in Friday s issue of Science. The study, by a team of researchers that includes Jonas Salk, the discoverer of the polio vaccine, indicates that the body s defenses fight
Insurers Accused of Discrimination in AIDS Coverage: New York Times (06/01/93), P. A1 (Freudenheim, Milt); As a result of the loss of vital medical benefits, more and more AIDS patients are accusing their health insurers of discrimination prohibited under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has received several dozen complaints involving health insurance plans that h
Heroes of Health Care: Omni (05/93) Vol. 15, No. 9, P. 34 (Menagh, Melanie); Margaret Heagarty, the director of pediatrics at Harlem Hospital in New York City, takes a unique approach to treating pediatric AIDS patients. She believes that these children need compassion and companionship. We ve been forced to confront an entirely new phenomenon with virtually no resources, so we ve had to use gr
The AZT Fire Storm: Advocate (05/28/93) No. 629, P. 29 (Gallagher, John); Although a recent eight-paragraph letter in the Lancet medical journal indicated that AZT was not effective in delaying full- blown AIDS, it was not a formal report on completed medical research. Many scientists and AIDS activists made their own conclusions from the letter, which was written by British researchers to t
Searching for a Cure: Federal Times (Supplement) (05/10/93) Vol. 29, No. 13, P. S4 (Laurent, Anne); In 1981, drug technician Sandra Ford discovered AIDS through a series of events that occurred as she managed a refrigerator full of unlicensed drugs. Although the drugs often saved lives, they were rarely used, discouraging companies from investing the $1 million needed for licensing. One of the drugs she distributed t
Refugees With HIV Refusing Medicine: United Press International (05/27/93); Miami--The majority of HIV-positive Haitian refugees held at the U.S. Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba , are refusing to take medication that will prolong their lives. Dr. Peter Weiss, an AIDS expert who arrived at the base three weeks ago to care for the refugees, said all but two or three of the 146 infected reside
PRI--AIDS-Aging-Medicine: Associated Press (05/27/93); Researchers are aware that the older an AIDS patient becomes, the more rapidly the disease develops in that individual. The reasons for this progression, however, remain unknown, and scientists still do not know how to halt the disease. These two problems are the subject of intense research at the National Institutes o
Most Speakers at Alexandria Hearing Want Condoms in School: Washington Post (05/28/93), P. D6 (Bates, Steve); The Alexandria, Va., School Board was asked by speakers Thursday night to distribute condoms to high school students who want them because the threat of AIDS transcends any moral questions that the proposal raises. Some speakers at the public hearing wore symbolic red AIDS ribbons and stressed that abstinence among tee
AIDS Activists Blame State Cuts in Funding for Big Jump in Cases: Boston Globe (05/27/93), P. 35 (Kong, Dolores); The severe increase this year in Massachusetts AIDS cases, especially among IV-drug users, can be attributed to the state s underfunding of prevention and treatment programs, according to AIDS activists. The rise in cases, reported Tuesday by the state Department of Public Health, can be blamed in part on a $12-million
Diversity but Conflict Under Wider AIDS Umbrella: New York Times (05/28/93), P. B1 (Navarro, Mireya); New York City s largest AIDS organization, the Gay Men s Health Crisis (GMHC), is under fire for not providing equal attention to other groups with AIDS besides homosexuals. The GMHC was established eleven years ago when the AIDS epidemic primarily affected homosexuals. But now the disease is spreading to other groups
Vaccine From AIDS-Like Virus Is Found to Protect Monkeys From Infection: New York Times (05/28/93), P. A11 (Altman, Lawrence K.); Vaginal infection with an AIDS-like virus can be prevented in animals through the use of a new vaccine derived from the monkey version of HIV, according to a study being published today in the journal Science. The study received praise from many experts who hope that a similar vaccine can prevent the transmission of HI
Budget Brouhaha: The White House Proposes a Steep Hike in Federal AIDS Spending, but Congress May Have Other Ideas: Advocate (05/18/93) No. 629, P. 23 (Bull, Chris); Even though President Clinton has proposed to increase the federal AIDS budget by 28 percent, it is likely to encounter stiff congressional opposition. On April 8, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala announced that the president had requested an additional $600 million in AIDS program funding for 1994,
Drug Researchers See Stock Prices Soar on Rumors of Treatment: Nikkei Weekly (Japan) (05/17/93) Vol. 31, No. 1569, P. 1 (Kageki, Norri); Japanese companies doing AIDS research have attracted investors, pushing up stock prices. Over the past five years, Japanese firms have invested in AIDS-related research and development by financing biotech firms, conducting research on peripheral AIDS-related drugs, and studying ways to cure AIDS. Nippon Zeon Corp. ha
Inadvertent Reuse of Bronchoscope Used on AIDS Patient in Lung -Transplant Recipient Without Sterilization: Lancet (05/22/93) Vol. 341, No. 8856, P. 1343 (Lewis, David L.); It is highly unlikely that HIV is transmitted through remotely possible modes such as deep kissing, write David L. Lewis et al. of the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. A double-lung -transplant recipient underwent bronchoscopy with an endoscope used the previous evening on an AIDS patient with candidosis and pneumo
HIV-2 Cultured From Blood 16 Days After Death: Lancet (05/22/93) Vol. 341, No. 8856, P. 1342 (Douceron, Herve); People who have died of an AIDS-related condition can still have active virus living in their bodies several days after death, write Herve Douceron et al. of the Hopital Henri Mondor in Creteil, France . A West African patient with AIDS died from acute myelomonocytic leukemia in a hospital. He was found to be infected
Indiana Man to Head Major Private AIDS Agency: United Press International (05/26/93); Indianapolis--The nationwide AIDS service organization, the Gay Men s Health Crisis (GMHC), has elected a new leader who is head of Indiana s Family and Social Services Administration. Jeff Richardson will be leaving his job next week and will begin his new job with the GMHC in August. Richardson said being gay and los
Survey: Crime and AIDS Top Concerns for the 90s: United Press International (05/25/93); New York--Violent crime and the threat of AIDS were the leading concerns among men and women nationwide, according to a poll published in Self magazine on Tuesday. The Gallup poll involved 1,003 adults and was conducted between March 31 and April 11, 1993. The number one concern among the participants was crime and vio
Polydex Reports Results of Toxicity Tests: Business Wire (05/26/93); Boynton Beach, Fla.--Polydex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. revealed on Tuesday the first results of toxicity tests on its Cytochalasin-D, an agent in a new AIDS drug currently under development by the company. Trials on animals were conducted at doses substantially higher than the recommended dose level for humans. Drs. Lionel
North American Biologicals Gets Euro Patent: Reuters (05/26/93); Miami--Blood plasma supplier North American Biologicals Inc. announced Wednesday it was given a patent from the European Patent Office for its proprietary globulin, HIVIG, and the process to produce it. North American Biologicals said HIVIG is a globulin, or a group of proteins, that may block the spread of HIV from in
Better AIDS Pneumonia Treatment Has More Side Effects: Reuters (05/26/93); Boston--The more effective a drug is in treating AIDS-related pneumonia, the more side effects it may cause, according to two studies, published in Thursday s New England Journal of Medicine, that compared different drug treatments for the opportunistic infection. In the first study, a team of French researchers found
Mass. AIDS Rate Triples That of '92: Boston Globe (05/26/93), P. 1 (Kong, Dolores); There has been a three-fold increase in the number of AIDS cases reported in Massachusetts so far this year, compared with the same period in 1992, according to state figures issued yesterday. State officials did not expect such a high increase in AIDS cases despite the new, more-inclusive federal definition. The stati
WHO: Combined Forces Against AIDS: Lancet (05/22/93) Vol. 341, No. 8856, P. 1336 (McGregor, Alan); United Nations agencies will coordinate efforts in a more aggressive global fight against AIDS to be headed by the World Health Organization . The move stems from a resolution sponsored by some 40 countries and adopted unanimously by the World Health Assembly at the end of its two-week session in Geneva. Under the aus
CDC Chokes on AIDS Treatment Proposal: Science (05/14/93) Vol. 260, No. 5110, P. 883 (Stone, Richard); Although celebrated physician Henry Heimlich claims that malaria may be a potential treatment for AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control strongly disagrees. Dr. Heimlich, inventor of the lifesaving Heimlich maneuver, has been giving malaria therapy to sufferers of cancer and Lyme disease for years. Patients are injected
Canada Recommends Inquiry Into Blood System: Reuters (05/25/93) Ottawa, Canada--The Canadian government requested Tuesday that its provinces examine their blood supply procedures, after discovering that more than 1,000 Canadians contracted HIV through tainted blood transfusions. A parliamentary subcommittee previously issued a report calling for an investigation into the country's blood supply system after finding that more than 1,000 people contracted HIV in the 1980s after receiving blood transfusions and blood products. In 1990, the federal government began compensating each of the 1,000 infected Canadians with about $95,000, said Janice Hopkins of Health and Welfare Canada. However, hemophiliacs and others are pressing for an inquiry into the extent of infection among recipients of blood and blood products, and for additional compensation from the provinces, which share with Ottawa the responsibility of ensuring a safe blood supply. Health Minister Benoit Bouchard said provincial health ministers must be consulted before a public inquiry is implemented, but once specifics are determined it should take about six to nine months. The country's blood distribution system is funded by the provinces, regulated by the federal government, and managed by the Canadian Red Cross Society. "Va. Student Hands Out 300 Condoms: Safe-Sex Crusade Draws a Suspension" Washington Post (05/25/93), P. C5 (Brown, DeNeen L.); A student from a Fairfax County, Va., high school who distributed more than 300 condoms to fellow students was suspended last week as a result. Nathan Hurto, a junior at Edison High School, said he handed out the condoms during school last Thursday to let people know if they are going to do something that puts them at
AIDS Quilt Ceremony to Recall, Honor 3: Boston Globe (05/25/93), P. 22 (Kong, Dolores); Three employees of the Massachusetts Department of Health who died of AIDS were expected to be honored this week at an AIDS quilt ceremony. The three employees are Sidney W. Borum Jr., an AIDS educator who died last year of the disease; Duane Draper, director of the state s AIDS bureau, who died in 1991; and Phil Carro
Peace Corps Workers Are Infected With AIDS Virus Abroad: New York Times (05/26/93), P. A13 (Holmes, Steven A.); An increasing number of Peace Corps volunteers have been found to have contracted HIV during their tours of duty even though they received thorough AIDS education, according to a study released at a Paris conference sponsored by the Society for International Travel Medicine. The study, conducted for the Peace Corps by
House Passes Research Bill That Bans Immigrants With HIV: Philadelphia Inquirer (05/26/93), P. A11 (Ball, Karen); The House of Representatives yesterday approved a medical research bill that bans HIV-positive foreigners and permits fetal tissue research. With a 290-130 vote, the House returned to the Senate a bill that authorizes $6 billion for the National Institutes of Health and directs new research money for breast and ovarian
U.S. Blacks, Africans Cite Grim AIDS Data: Philadelphia Inquirer (05/26/93), P. A10 (Fritz, Mark); A summit of black Americans and Africans was held yesterday in Libreville, Gabon , where stories of AIDS ravaging through communities were told. At the summit, AIDS was cited as the leading killer of New York women between the ages of 14 and 55, and Africa was identified as the world s leader in the number of HIV-posit
FDA Issues Warning About AIDS Drugs From 'Buyers Clubs': Washington Post (05/26/93), P. A3 (Schwartz, John); Some AIDS drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and sold through buyers clubs may be unsafe, the FDA wrote in a letter sent yesterday to about a dozen of the clubs. The agency has long permitted HIV-positive persons to import unapproved treatments under a personal use policy. Consequently, the undergr
Apoptosis and Disease: Lancet (Great Britain) (05/15/93) Vol. 341, No. 8855, P. 1251 (Carson, Dennis A. and Ribeiro, Joao M.); Apoptosis is a structurally distinct programmed cell death pathway which may have a role in the aetiology of AIDS, cancer autoimmune diseases, and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. By manipulating apoptosis through certain drugs, it may offer new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of thes
Liposomal Daunorubicin Treatment of HIV-Associated Kaposi's Sarcoma: Lancet (Great Britain) (05/15/93) Vol. 341, No. 8855, P. 1242 (Presant, Cary A. et al.); The drug liposomal daunorubicin may become the treatment of choice for AIDS patients with Kaposi s Sarcoma, write Cary A. Presant et al. of the Los Angeles Oncologic Institute and St. Vincent s Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. While conventional chemotherapy can be heavily toxic, using liposomes loaded with therap
Aetiology of AIDS: Lancet (Great Britain) (05/08/93) Vol. 341, No. 8854, P. 1222 (Schechter, Martin T. et al.); Professor Peter Duesberg s contention that HIV is not related to AIDS and that the cause of the disease stems from other risk factors like recreational drug use has been disproved, write Martin T. Schechter et al. of the University of British Columbia and St. Paul s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada . Duesberg challe
AlloDerm Processing Inactivates HIV; Shareholders Elect Seven Directors: Business Wire (05/21/93); The Woodlands, Texas--Biotechnology company LifeCell Corporation announced Friday that the proprietary process for producing AlloDerm, the company s dermal skin replacement, is also able to inactivate HIV. Chairman Paul M. Frison said, LifeCell s proprietary process for AlloDerm is designed to remove the human antigens
HemaCare Scientific Advisory Board Meets: Business Wire (05/24/93); Los Angeles--HemaCare Corp. announced on Monday the first meeting of its newly organized scientific advisory board, which addressed topics that included a review of current and future AIDS therapies and an analysis of HemaCare s Passive Hyperimmune Therapy (PHT) clinical trial and drug- manufacturing plans. Dr. Joshua
Irish Court Clears Condom Commercials: Reuters (05/24/93); Dublin, Ireland--A government anti-AIDS advertising campaign encouraging condom use as a means of preventing HIV infection has been approved by an Irish court. The commercials, featuring Irish celebrities, will be screened later in the week. Dublin city councilor Richard Greene has argued against the campaign in the Ir
AIDS Housing: Associated Press (05/21/93); San Francisco--A prominent AIDS service organization has been ordered to stop issuing housing for AIDS patients because a city audit revealed poor bookkeeping. None of the Shanti Project s clients will be displaced, however, and the organization said it would continue to provide practical and emotional support for AIDS
Rebuffing the Scare: AIDS Questions Prompt Safer Techniques: Washington Post (05/25/93), P. B5 (Stonesifer, Jene); New rules for safe grooming in manicures have been established as a result of fears surrounding the threat of HIV infection. Because nail salons are essentially self-regulating, it is the client s responsibility to learn about safety precautions and products that their nail technicians and salons are using. Even though
Procordia Unit Says It Takes Partial Blame in Contamination Case: Wall Street Journal (05/25/93), P. A10; A Swedish pharmaceutical company said it was partially responsible for allowing four hemophiliacs to contract HIV in 1985. The company, Kabi Pharmacia AB, part of Procordia AB, sold the product Preconativ to the hemophiliacs. All four patients were infected by blood plasma from an HIV-positive blood donor. Vice Preside
Bar on H.I.V.-Infected Immigrants Retained in Final Test in Capitol: New York Times (05/25/93), P. A18 (Hilts, Philip J.); A final battle was lost in allowing HIV-positive foreigners admittance into the United States as Congress supported continuing a ban prohibiting entry of infected travelers and immigrants. The decision emerged as conferees approved and sent both the Senate and the House a bill reauthorizing the National Institutes of H
Formulating Reform: The Administration Readies Its Health Care Reform Package. But Where Do People With AIDS Fit In?: Advocate (05/18/93) No. 629, P. 25 (Bull, Chris); The federal health care reform package expected to be released soon has AIDS advocates questioning how the plan will address the unique needs of AIDS patients. Members of the health care reform task force presented a general outline on April 12 that said all U.S. citizens would qualify for a basic health benefits packa
How Should We Teach Our Children About SEX?: Time (05/24/93) Vol. 141, No. 21, P. 60 (Gibbs, Nancy); Sex can be quite a confusing issue for American youths because of the mixed messages they receive from their parents, educators, and the media. The moral standards society once generally obeyed, or at least paid lip service to, were overcome by the sexual revolution and eventually AIDS. Ten years of fear of AIDS and fu
AIDS Virus Detected in Single Cells: Chemical & Engineering News (05/17/93) Vol. 71, No. 20, P. 31; HIV has been detected in individual blood cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of viral genetic material in addition to the flow cytometry. Steven M. Wolinsky and colleagues of the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago used PCR to amplify HIV-1 proviral DNA--the DNA copy of the viral RNA g
Congress Agrees to New NIH Office for AIDS Programmes: Nature (Great Britain) (05/13/93) Vol. 363, No. 6425, P. 101 (Macilwain, Colin); A compromise between the Senate and the House has facilitated the way for an autonomous Office of AIDS Research (OAR) to appropriate the $1 billion that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) spends annually on the disease. However, the bill will not take effect until Congress resolves a debate over whether foreigners
AIDS Victim Launches Testing Campaign: United Press International (05/22/93); Jensen Beach, Fla.--Only two weeks after revealing that she contracted HIV from her dentist, 18-year-old Sherry Johnson has launched a national media campaign to push for mandatory HIV testing of health-care workers. On May 7, Johnson announced that she was the sixth person infected with HIV by Dr. David Acer, a Stuart
WHO--AIDS: Associated Press (05/21/93); Geneva--Approximately 14 million people worldwide are HIV- positive, according to the latest report by the World Health Organization . Previously, WHO estimated that 13 million people were infected with HIV since its discovery a decade ago. The agency s most recent report renewed warnings that the total number of cases
Tainted-Blood Risk Was 1-in-4, Court Told: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (05/21/93), P. A18 (Downey, Donn); The Toronto man who contracted HIV from a tainted blood transfusion in 1985 had a 1-in-4 chance of receiving the contaminated blood when he underwent cardiac-bypass surgery and received 46 units of blood, according to a U.S. AIDS expert. Dr. Donald Francis, a regional AIDS consultant with the U.S. Public Health Service
AIDS in Rural America Bares Fear, Ignorance: Los Angeles Times (05/23/93), P. A13 (Anthony, Ted); Although the AIDS epidemic is spreading throughout cities as well as rural areas, small towns are ill-prepared to deal with the disease because of the moral or political issues involved. Some rural areas are responding to the epidemic by establishing support groups, but other areas refuse to address the issue of AIDS i
Thousands March in San Francisco to Mourn AIDS Victims: Reuters (05/24/93); San Francisco--Thousands of people participated in a candlelight march Sunday night to honor the more than 10,000 AIDS patients in San Francisco who have died of the disease. The mile-long procession of people holding candles walked from the predominantly-homosexual Castro District to the Civic Center, where they heard
More Terminally Ill Patients Turning to Insurance for Cash: Knight-Ridder (05/24/93); In a new industry trend, many people want to cash in their life insurance policies while they are still alive. Prudential Insurance Co. and Jackson National are considered the leaders of more than 150 insurance companies that have begun offering some type of accelerated benefit in recent years, said Janel Patterson, sp
Shedding Light on AIDS-Related Costs: Business Insurance (05/10/93) Vol. 27, No. 20, P. 33 (Johnson, Nancy P.); More than two-thirds of companies with 2,500 to 5,000 workers and nearly one in 12 small companies have employed a person with HIV or AIDS, according to Paul G. Farnham, a health economist for the National AIDS Information and Education Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug research and increa
Ethnic Conflicts, Poverty, and AIDS in Ethiopia: Lancet (05/08/93) Vol. 341, No. 8854, P. 1219 (Eshete, Hailegnaw et al.); War and poverty in Ethiopia , Somalia , and the Sudan has contributed directly to the AIDS epidemic by creating conditions that foster its spread and by impeding the necessary attempts for its control, write Hailegnaw Eshete et al. of the National Research Institute of Health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Rapid Assessment of Drug Susceptibilities of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by Means of Luciferase Reporter Phages: Science (05/07/93) Vol. 260, No. 5109, P. 819 (Jacobs, William R. et al.); Luciferase phages or Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains expressing luciferase genes may enable rapid screening of drugs for anti-TB activity, write William R. Jacobs et al. of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Bronx, N.Y. Due to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains, it has become increasingly important to
KS: DaunoXome Study Recruiting, Compassionate Use Also Available: AIDS Treatment News (05/07/93) No. 174, P. 7; An experimental treatment for Kaposi s Sarcoma (KS) will be used in clinical trials at nine U.S. locations. The phase III trial will randomize patients to receive either liposomal daunorubicin (brand name DaunoXome and made by Vestar Inc.), or the conventional treatment ABV (adriamycin, bleomycin, and vincristine). In
Sodomy Suspect Claims to Have AIDS: United Press International (05/20/93); St. Louis--A suspect in a string of sex attacks on men in a St. Louis, Mo., park has told authorities he has AIDS. The suspect was arrested about 1:00 a.m. Wednesday in O Fallon Park, where three incidents occurred over the weekend. Melvin Johnson, of Washington Park, Ill., was charged with sodomy, attempted sodomy, fi
Self Editor Proposes New Condom Etiquette: Reuters (05/20/93); New York--The editor of Self magazine has written her own book to help women address the issue of condom use during sex. Alexandra Penney, editor of the health magazine, wrote the book How to Make Love to a Man (Safely), which appeared in bookstores this week. She said, I propose a new condom etiquette. I make the mode
New Yorkers With AIDS Number More than 50,000: United Press International (05/20/93) (Byron, Peg); New York--New York City has become the first city in the United States to be home to more than 50,000 persons with full -blown AIDS, according to a report released Thursday by the city Health Department. The official number of AIDS cases at the end of April was 50,274. The disease was the leading cause of death for bot
New Insight Into Flu Virus: United Press International (05/20/93); Cambridge, Mass.--New discoveries into how the flu virus attacks human cells may help scientists who are attempting to fight other viruses, including HIV. Researchers from the Whitehead Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Mass., reported Thursday that the flu virus has a spring- loaded coil that propels a
Liz Orbits Cannes: A Day of Hopeful Stargazing at Film Fest: Washington Post (05/21/93), P. B1 (Waxman, Sharon); A benefit for AIDS was held at the Cannes film festival yesterday and was attended by actress and AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor. The Cinema Against AIDS event consisted of a $2,500-a-plate dinner with proceeds going to help AIDS research and prevention, and a special screening of Sylvester Stallone s new movie, Cliffh
Children: NIH Begins First Pediatric Trial of Therapeutic Vaccine: AIDS Treatment News (05/07/93) No. 174, P. 7; The first trial of an HIV therapeutic vaccine for children is currently being conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The research is intended to determine if an HIV vaccine can prevent children already infected with HIV from developing full-blown AIDS. The study will involve children between the age of on
Tat Drug: Parallel-Track Negotiations Status: AIDS Treatment News (05/07/93) No. 174, P. 4 (Peck, David); Although Hoffman-La Roche is the only company with a tat- inhibitor drug in human trials, it will not agree to a compassionate release program for AIDS patients with Kaposi s Sarcoma (KS) who have exhausted all other treatment options. The tat-inhibitor drug prevents the HIV tat gene and the tat protein it produces fro
HIV in Europe: Lancet (05/01/93) Vol. 341, No. 8853, P. 1146 (Horton, Richard); The effect of the AIDS epidemic on the European community was recently discussed at a conference in London, U.K., organized by the British All-party Parliamentary Group on AIDS. Professor Roy Anderson of London noted that nearly 95,000 cases of AIDS have been reported across Europe since the epidemic began, and over ha
Group Seeks Forest Park Site to Remember AIDS Victims: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (05/19/93), P. 3A (Yearwood, Lori Teresa); A memorial to AIDS patients has been proposed by St. Louis AIDS Memorial Inc. to provide a place for people to come and remember those who died of the disease. The nonprofit group wants to spend as much as $40,000 to transform Forest Park in St. Louis, Mo., into a memorial for local people who have died of the disease.
STD Clinic, AIDS Testing Face Closure at Beth Israel: Boston Globe (05/19/93), P. 17 (Knox, Richard A.); Due to a $250,000 yearly loss, a Boston hospital will close its clinic for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and a program providing anonymous HIV testing. Beth Israel Hospital s decision has enraged some hospital workers, patients, and public health advocates. Larry Kessler of the Massachusetts AIDS Ac
Some Doctors Lack Knowledge of Tuberculosis, Survey Finds: Reuters (05/18/93); San Francisco--Despite the alarming resurgence of tuberculosis in the United States , many doctors are unaware of the proper procedures for diagnosing, preventing, and treating the disease, according to a survey released on Tuesday at a conference of the American Lung Association in San Francisco. The survey involved 2
Hundreds Unknowingly Infected, HIV Experts Say: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (05/19/93), P. A6 (Picard, Andre); Among the 1.5 million Canadians who received blood transfusions between 1980 and 1985, several hundred could be infected with HIV but unaware of their status, according to Canadian activists and public health officials. Robert St- Pierre, coordinator of the HIV-T program at the Canadian Hemophilia Society, said there c
People Still Fear AIDS From Blood Transfusions: Poll: Reuters (05/19/93); Washington--Despite the extremely small chances of contracting HIV through blood transfusions, about half of all Americans fear they can become infected this way, according to a new Gallup poll released Wednesday. The survey was conducted for the American Association of Blood Banks and involved 1,002 adults. It found t
TB Rates Kept Rising Last Year, Report Says: Baltimore Sun (05/20/93), P. 15A; The prevalence of tuberculosis in the United States increased for the fourth year in a row in 1992 for a total of 26,673 cases, says a report issued yesterday by the American Lung Association. As reported to the Centers for Disease Control, active cases of TB, in which people exhibit symptoms of the potentially deadly
Worker Wins Fear of AIDS Suit: Business Insurance (05/10/93) Vol. 27, No. 20, P. 62; For the first time, a federal court has held a company responsible for causing an employee to fear that he has contracted AIDS. Last week, a jury found the Long Island Railroad liable for the unsafe working conditions that led John Marchica to prick his finger on a used hypodermic needle in 1989. But the jury also held
Independent Introduction of Two Major HIV-1 Genotypes Into Distinct High-Risk Populations In Thailand: Lancet (Great Britain) (05/13/93) Vol. 341, No. 8854 (Ou, Chin -Yih et al.); The waves of HIV-1 infection in Thailand among IV-drug users and sexually infected patients may not be epidemiologically connected, write Chin-Yih Ou et al. of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. The researchers sought to find the genetic heterogeneity and epidemiological distribution of HIV- 1 in Thailand,
Sex Surveys Come Out of the Closet: Science (05/13/93) Vol. 260, No. 5108, P. 615 (Watson, Traci); The recently released survey on sexual behavior by Battelle Human Affairs Research Center in Seattle has drawn a lot of attention for its efforts in understanding human sexual habits. The survey provided key figures about the numbers of sexual partners and the prevalence of homosexuality. Because of the conservative po
Liposome Encapsulated Cancer Drug Shows Enhanced Delivery in AIDS-KS Patients; Significant Efficacy Demonstrated by Novel Lesion Measurement Technique: Business Wire (05/18/93); Orlando, Fla.--A new liposomal compound of the well-known anti -cancer agent doxorubicin hydrochloride has been found to deliver more drug to the disease site than standard therapy in treating AIDS patients with Kaposi s Sarcoma (KS), according to findings presented yesterday at the 29th annual meeting of the American
United Biomedical Approved to Begin International AIDS Vaccine Trial: Business Wire (05/18/93); Hauppauge, N.Y.-- United Biomedical Inc. (UBI) has been granted approval by the Ministry of Health in the People s Republic of China to launch clinical trials of its prototype synthetic AIDS vaccine. The move makes UBI the first U.S. commercial manufacturer to receive approval to conduct AIDS vaccine trials internation
High Level of HIV Infection Found Among Young Gay Men: United Press International (05/18/93); San Francisco--A disproportionate number of young homosexual men in San Francisco are infected with HIV, according to a study released Tuesday by health officials. Dr. Mitchell Katz, head of the San Francisco Health Department s AIDS office, said the findings demonstrated that a lot of effort needed to be put forth to
Man Armed With Syringe Robs Stores: Washington Post (05/19/93), P. C3 (Castaneda, Ruben); Police in Washington, D.C., are searching for a man who has held up six Safeway supermarkets in the city and has threatened cashiers with a syringe that he claimed contained HIV-infected blood. Police Lt. Alton Bigelow called the case very unusual. I can t recall that happening in my four years in robbery, the lieutena
Cambridge Priest Reveals He Has AIDS: Boston Globe (05/18/93), P. 21 (Hart, Jordana); A Catholic priest from Boston, Mass., has disclosed that he is HIV-positive, and has received the support of most of his parishioners. Father William Cummings, 52, of St. John the Evangelist parish, told his parishioners on April 25 in a letter read by Bishop John Boles that he was diagnosed as HIV- positive in 1985 an
Find Tainted-Blood Victims, Ottawa Told: Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (05/18/93), P. A1 (Picard, Andre); The Canadian government must immediately detect and inform hundreds of Canadians who may have contracted HIV from tainted blood transfusions and blood products, according to a group of parliamentarians. The tracing of persons infected with HIV- contaminated blood is still incomplete, says an 88-page draft report by the
Lawmaker May Be Tapped as 'AIDS Czar': Washington Post (05/19/93), P. A17 (Kamen, Al); The federal AIDS coordinator position may be filled by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), who is a prominent congressional advocate of health care reform. McDermott, a popular legislator from Seattle, is also a medical doctor who once served as a Navy psychiatrist and Peace Corps Physician in Africa. He currently chairs the
Congress May Hang Up on AIDS Hotline: Science (04/30/93) Vol. 260, No. 5108, P. 611 (Stone, Richard); When the House of Representatives passed the National Institutes of Health reauthorization bill, it put an end to Project Aries, a $1.2 million study on whether phone counseling can persuade men to practice safe sex. A team of researchers led by Roger Roffman, an associate professor at the University of Washington, con
The Shadow That Defies Managing: AIDS Takes a Heavy Toll on Victims and Coworkers: Washington Post (05/16/93), P. H1 (Banas, Gary E.); AIDS can raise distressing issues of fairness on the job, writes Gary E. Banas, director of administration for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in New York. For the first time in early 1987, Banas had to deal with AIDS. Charles, a capable mid-level manager with the disease, began losing weight and missing
Octamer Gains Critical Patent Approval: Business Wire (05/14/93); Tiburon, Calif.--Octamer Inc., a privately held company in Mimi Valley, Calif., announced Friday that it received official acceptance of a third new chemical compound, which produces selective cell death and inactivates the HIV-1 virus and various cancer cells. The agent, 3-NOBA-Cysteine Sulfinic Acid adduct, is a subs
German Prostitutes Demand State Health Insurance: Reuters (05/16/93); Kassel, Germany--German prostitutes demanded Sunday to be covered under state health insurance, claiming they were no more likely to contract HIV infection than anyone else. Speakers said at a congress in the western city of Kassel that investigations had shown no higher rate of HIV infection among prostitutes than any
How to Get Information About AIDS in the Workplace: Knight-Ridder (05/17/93); Miami--A set of videos has been developed by the Greater Miami Chapter of the American Red Cross to educate people in the workplace about AIDS and HIV infection. The five videos include America at Work: Living With HIV; Basic HIV Issues for the Workplace; Rights and Responsibilities; Disclosure; and Issues for Managers
New Jersey Dentist Sued Over Termination of HIV-Infected Patient: United Press International (05/17/93); Newark, N.J.--A dentist allegedly refused to treat an HIV- positive New Jersey man after learning of the patient s condition, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The suit was filed Friday in federal court on behalf of the Camden County resident, known only as D.B. The man incurred a crac
AIDS Test Could Delay Immune System Destruction: Reuters (05/17/93); Atlanta--AIDS patients lives could be extended if they were regularly tested to determine whether the strain of HIV in their bodies was in the process of mutating to become resistant to conventional AIDS drugs like AZT , said a microbiologist on Monday. Thomas Merigan, professor of medicine at Stanford University, said
New TB Drug Resistance Test Developed: Reuters (05/17/93) (Schwartz, Jerry); Atlanta--A new test that has been developed uses a glow-in-the -dark feature to determine if a tuberculosis patient is infected with a strain that is drug-resistant or one that is susceptible to common anti-TB drugs. Dr. William Jacobs of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in New York told attendees at the Monday meet
Thai Doctors Keep Quiet About AIDS Virus: Reuters (05/18/93); Bangkok, Thailand--Thai physicians are neglecting to inform HIV-positive pregnant women about their infected condition in an attempt to thwart an epidemic of baby abandonment, according to a report in Tuesday s issue of The Nation newspaper. Each year in Thailand, more than 2,000 newborn babies are abandoned in 17 nort
FDA Approves Antibiotic for Fighting Tuberculosis: Wall Street Journal (05/18/93), P. B6; The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to the antibiotic streptomycin, a drug used in combating the resurgence of tuberculosis, according to the drug s manufacturer Pfizer Inc. of New York. The company said it is planning to make its Streptomycin Sulfate Injection USP available nationwide by mid-June. T
India: Introduction of Sex Education: Lancet (05/08/93) Vol. 341, No. 8854, P. 1207 (Anand, Annu); Due to the threat of AIDS in India , education officials are seriously considering including sex education in the school curriculum. The move would be a significant one because it is still believed in the country that talking about sex is taboo. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which p
AIDSLINE Now Available on PaperChase: Information Today (05/93) Vol. 10, No. 5, P. 4; The National Library of Medicine s database of clinical, research, and health care policy information on AIDS is now offered through PaperChase. The database, called AIDSLINE, uses 77,000 references, selected from 4,000 sources. References used in AIDSLINE are taken from several National Library of Medicine databases,
Ugandan Men Turn to Young Women to Escape AIDS: Reuters (05/13/93) (Massie, Meg); Kampala, Uganda--Because one in every ten Uganda residents is infected with HIV, Ugandan men are resorting to having sexual relations with young girls. Health-care workers have seen increasing numbers of reports of child abuse, rape, and sex between young girls and much older men. Official statistics report that five t
Underground Needle Exchange Being Done; Lawful Program Pondered: United Press International (05/14/93); Indianapolis--Members of the AIDS activist group ACT-UP have started their own clean needle exchange program among IV-drug users, even though a proposed pilot program is being considered by an Indiana advisory committee. The group of ACT -UP members called the AIDS Brigade has distributed about 1,500 clean needles to a
AIDS Cases Rising in South Africa: Reuters (05/14/93); Johannesburg, South Africa--The number of HIV-positive South Africans has increased 60 percent over the past two years and is expected to double this year, said the country s National Health Department on Friday. A report based on a survey of women attending health clinics calculated that the current total number of pe
Baby Is First to Receive Revolutionary Gene Therapy: Reuters (05/16/93) (Yablonka, Marc); Los Angeles--Gene therapy was conducted for the first time on a five-day-old baby with a weakened immune system, and doctors hope the revolutionary procedure will save his life, according to hospital officials. On Saturday, surgeons at the Children s Hospital in Los Angeles inoculated the baby with a small amount of ge
Conference Told AIDS Among Drug Users Rising but Controllable: Reuters (05/14/93) (Charles, Deborah); Montreal--One of the fastest growing groups at risk of contracting HIV infection is that of IV-drug users, but risk reduction approaches could thwart the epidemic among them, according to a conference on AIDS research in Montreal, Canada . Researchers from Canada and the United States told the thre
Prescription Is Fun at Nation's First Playroom for AIDS- Infected Kids: Los Angeles Times (05/16/93), P. A5 (Duff-Brown, Beth); A New York hospital has opened a treatment center to help young AIDS patients combat depression and fear while a therapist works with them in the hospital s playroom. The Magic Playroom at the Bronx Municipal Hospital in New York City is the first of its kind in the city and is believed to be unique in the nation--a tr
AIDS Plan Under Fire as Shift Is Demanded: New York Times (05/15/93), P. 2; The World Health Organization announced Friday that it would reassess its global strategy against AIDS after major members of the United Nations health agency demanded that other agencies be given bigger roles. At the conclusion of a two- week annual assembly meeting, WHO s member states unanimously passed a resolution
Waking Up to a Death Threat: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (05/17/93), P. B6 (Stier, Ken); Due to the increasing prevalence of HIV infection in Thailand , the country s business community has launched an anti-AIDS campaign in the workplace and is contributing to government- sponsored AIDS programs. Most Thai men have their first sexual encounters with prostitutes who work in the nation s thousands of brothel
Association of Tuberculosis Infection With Increased Time in or Admission to the New York City Jail System: Journal of the American Medical Association (05/05/93) Vol. 269, No. 17, P. 2228 (Bellin, Eran Y. et al.); The New York City jail system needs more public attention regarding the tuberculosis epidemic because it was found that the longer an inmate is incarcerated, the greater his or her chances of contracting TB are, write Eran Y. Bellin et al. of the Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. The researchers used a cohort of
Lethal Blood: A Formal Search Begins for AIDS Virus Carriers: MacLean's (Canada) (05/03/93) Vol. 106, No. 18, P. 40 (Jenish, D'Arcy); In an effort to be the first Canadian hospital to inform patients of the risk of infection with HIV-tainted blood products, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto sent a letter on April 15 notifying young people who had heart surgery between 1978 and 1985 to get tested for HIV. Dr. Susan King, assistant director of
Update: Investigations of Persons Treated by HIV-Infected Health-Care Workers--United States: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (05/07/93) Vol. 42, No. 17, P. 329; Among the 58 practices of HIV-infected health-care professionals investigated, the only reported cases of health- care worker-to-patient transmission was of the same dental practice in Florida, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC conducted HIV tests among 19,036 patients treated by 57 HIV-
TB Cases Up 20 Percent Since 1985: United Press International (05/13/93) (Taylor, Charles S.); Atlanta--There has been a 20 percent increase in the number of tuberculosis cases reported during the seven year period since 1985, with most cases transpiring among immigrants and HIV- positive people, said federal health officials Thursday. There was a total of 26,673 cases of TB reported last year in the 50 states a
Study Finds Ho