Washington Blade - October 22, 2004

CLEVELAND - A new experimental, topical drug produced by an international team of scientists offers new hope in battling the virus that causes AIDS, the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper reported last week. Led by Case Western Reserve University, a team of researchers from around the world developed a topical agent that women can apply before sexual intercourse as a barrier against HIV, the newspaper reported. The drug has been tested only on animals, and is expensive and complicated to mass produce, but the team of researchers believes it could lead to an affordable ointment, the Plain Dealer reported. Dr. Michael Lederman, director of Case's Center for AIDS Research and lead author of the study, told the Washington Blade that research has yet to be done on this topical agent as a way to stop the spread of HIV via anal intercourse. "Our results in the vagina may not be reproducible in the rectum," Lederman said. "We haven't done these experiments yet but hope to in time.

Lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge on the mend from cancer surgeries

NEW YORK (AP) - Melissa Etheridge is recovering at her home in California from two surgeries to treat breast cancer. Etheridge, 43, said on her Web site over the weekend that a tumor and lymph nodes were removed, and she will undergo chemotherapy next. She canceled tour dates to undergo treatment. "I still have both of my breasts and whether I will keep them is a bridge I have to cross later," she said on the site. Etheridge is still planning to shoot a sitcom pilot for ABC in which she plays a gay music teacher. Etheridge thanked her fans and her partner, actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, for their love and support. Etheridge and Michaels held a commitment ceremony in September 2003. The musician, who lives in Los Angeles, shares custody of a daughter and son with former partner Julie Cypher, who had the children through a sperm donation from rocker David Crosby.

Researchers: Women who carry 'gay gene' have more children

ROME - Scientists in Italy say they have found an answer to the debate over how the homosexuality gene passes from generation to generation, considering that gay men seldom reproduce, the Hindustan Times reported. According to the researchers, women who inherit the "gay gene" tend to have more babies than the average woman, the Times reported. With this increase in fertility, gay genetic factors are passed on and more gay men are born even though gay men largely do not have children, New Scientist reported. Lead author of the study, Dr. Andrea Camperio-Ciani of the University of Padua, and his team questioned 4,600 people, both gay and straight, and found that mothers and relatives of gay men, on average had more children, the Times reported. The researchers presented their study in the Royal Society Journals

National flu vaccine shortage a grave threat to HIV patients

WASHINGTON - A recently announced shortage of flu vaccine nationwide means that only the highest-risk groups likely will receive flu shots this year, and health leaders warned that the shortfall could be a particular threat for people with HIV, according to media reports. Thousands of flu-shot clinics across the United States were canceled this month after the shortage became public. In Washington, the Whitman-Walker Clinic announced it will provide flu shots to those who are greatest risk, based only on their T-cell count, according to WWC spokesperson Chip Lewis. Those with a T-cell count of 350 or less will be the first priority. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services learned on Oct. 5 that Chiron, a California-based biotechnology company, would not be able to offer flu vaccine for the U.S. market out of its Liverpool, England, plant, according to media reports. Health officials at Washington's Whitman Walker Clinic warned government leaders that the shortage of flu vaccine doses poses a particular threat to people with HIV. Government guidelines, however, include people with AIDS in high-risk groups that will be given priority for available flu shots.

HIV/AIDS rise in Barbados blamed on closet bisexuals

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Health officials reported that people in Barbados who are on the "down low" as bisexual are driving national HIV/AIDS figures up, according to news reports. Although deaths from the disease are on the decline, Barbadians still are not getting tested due to the stigma and discrimination that comes with the disease, said Carmeta Douglin, acting director of Barbados' National HIV/AIDS Commission.

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