Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) Vol 14, No. 1 - Winter 2004/05
ACRIA Study of SAM-e Published
On November 11, 2004, the peer-review journal, BMC Psychiatry (www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpsychiatry), published results from ACRIA's independent pilot study of SAM-e (S-Adenosylmethionine) used to treat depression in HIV patients. ACRIA decided to study SAM-e because there are repeated reports of high levels of untreated depression in the HIV population. Many people are reluctant to add yet another drug with potential side effects to their already onerous anti-HIV drug regimens. Fortunately, our study showed promise with the use of this natural alternative (SAM-e). Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is a demanding process. Yet this process is essential; otherwise the results would not be known or trusted. Since the study results were promising, ACRIA is now planning to conduct a larger clinical study of SAM-e, possibly in older adults with HIV who have been diagnosed with clinical depression. There is still too little clinical data on the efficacy of this agent. Hopefully, our further examination of SAM-e will serve to confirm its potential benefits for people living with HIV.
ACRIA's research staff was invited to present our seminal data on an over 50 HIV population at the 2004 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America November 19-23, 2004. This meeting represented the first time in the society's history to offer a symposium specifically on the aging HIV population. ACRIA was naturally very pleased to have played a central role in discussing this emerging topic of interest to gerontology researchers and care providers of older populations across the United States. ACRIA's presentations were:
Anyone interested in reading the abstracts and viewing the PowerPoint slides used for these presentations can visit the Research section of www.acria.org.
ACRIA's Community Advisory Board (CAB) fosters partnership between the education staff and the local community impacted by HIV/AIDS. Involving community members in the development of our education programs ensures that community values and cultural differences are respected in ACRIA's educational work.
Community Advisory Board members meet every other month, review program materials, and help us identify education needs.
For more information about the CAB or if you are interested in volunteering at ACRIA, please call Mark Milano at (212) 924-3934 ext. 123.
ACRIA offers a capacity building program for community-based organizations that provide services to people with HIV in New York City. The goal of the program is to help non-medical service providers incorporate accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date HIV treatment education and counseling into their agencies' work.
This two-part program includes:
ACRIA will work with participating organizations to share the information and skills acquired during the training with other staff and develop strategies to integrate treatment education into agency services. Participation in the training is limited to 25 people. For information about the program and how to apply, go to www.acria.org/treatment/nycta.html or call Donna Kaminski at (212) 924-3934 ext. 129.
UK-427,857 for Drug-Resistant HIV
People who have taken anti-HIV drugs from three of the four classes of drugs will take either UK-427 (an experimental HIV CCR5 attachment inhibitor) with an optimized regimen of anti-HIV drugs, or take a placebo (dummy pill) with the optimized regimen, for 11 months. Participants must be 16 or older and have a viral load of at least 5,000.
The Effect of Reyataz on Cholesterol Levels
People who have high cholesterol levels and a viral load below 50 while taking Kaletra will either switch to Reyataz or continue taking Kaletra. The study will last 12 months. Study participants will be reimbursed $25 for each visit.
Reyataz Compared to Kaletra
People whose viral load has risen to over 1,000 while taking Reyataz will have blood tests for resistance, CD4, and viral load. Study participants will be reimbursed $25.
For the above trials, contact Dr. Douglas Mendez at 212-924-3934 ext. 126 or Dr. Yuriy Akulov at ext. 124.
Standard of Care Treatment vs. ZEST Once-Daily Regimen
(Closed to Enrollment) This trial is studying whether people on their first HAART regimen who take their drugs two or more times a day can switch to a once-daily regimen. People in the trial either remain on their current medications, or switch to Zerit XR, Epivir, and Sustiva (ZEST) taken once daily.
The following persons, corporations and organizations made major donations between September 16, 2004 and December 14, 2004 to support ACRIA’s research and education efforts:
Abbott Laboratories
Altria
Frederick Anderson & Douglas Hannant
Annalee Newman Fund
Robin & Mark Avram
Mr. Scott K. Bessent
Mr. Robert M. Browne
Sue & Bob Cochran
Mr. Douglas S. Cramer
Ronald & Ellin Delsener
Tiffany & Louis Dubin
Mr. Brandon Fradd
Ms. Deborah Gimelson
Mr. Tom Gladwell & Mr. Andy Reynolds
Mr. Fredric Hanson
Gale Hayman & William Haseltine MD
Mr. Stephen Hays & Ms. Valerie Hughes
Reinaldo & Carolina Herrera
In Style Magazine
Mr. Jay Johnson & Mr. Tom Cashin
Mr. David Kleinberg
Ms. Leslie R. Klotz
Douglas & Kathy Landey Mr. Chad Leat
Jean-Pierre & Rachel Lehmann
The Gerald & Sandra Lippes Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Joshua Mack & Mr. Ron Warren
Helen & Brice Marden
Ms. Angela Mariani
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Marino
Mr. Mark Montgomery & Mr. Stephen Kinsella
Ms. Martha Nelson
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Judith & Samuel Peabody
Platinum Guild International
Pharmavite
Ms. Isabel Rattazzi
William & Katherine Rayner
Mr. Charles J. Roumas
Dr. & Mrs. James Scheuer
Mr. Nicholas S. Shahid
Joan & Mark Sherman
Mr. John Silberman
Russell & Kimora Simmons
Mr. William F. Trinkle
Blaine & Robert Trump
W Hotels
W Magazine
Ms. Jane Wenner
Thoughtful donations were made in memory of the following individuals:
Cliff Adams
Roberto Alonso
Barry Binkowitz, MD
Bill Black
Nathan Block
Gary Bonasorte
Michael Callen
Steve Cattano
Robert Chesley
Ira Davis
Patrick Englese
Al Isaac
Leslie Kaliades
Armando R. Larrea
George Locayo
Tommy McClain
Oswaldo Peres
Anne M. Reynolds
Thomas Saporita
Ray Tighek
Robert Woolf
Eleanor and Jack Rosenbaum
Contributions in support of ACRIA's vital research initiatives were made in honor of the following individuals:
Steven & Judy Gluckstein
Daisy Graciano
Michael Roper
Robert Russo
Gerard Stricker
J Daniel Stricker
Gerry Valentine
Editor in Chief
J Daniel Stricker
Editor
James Learned
Medical Editor
Jerome A. Ernst, MD
Publications Manager
Mark Milano
Ross Bleckner, President
Donald Kotler, MD, Vice President
Vincent Wm. Gagliostro,Secretary
Charles Franchino, DC, Treasurer
Marisa Cardinale
Bob Colacello
Douglas Dieterich, MD
Jason Heffner
Deborah Hughes
Kevin Krier
Adam Lippes
Mark J. Montgomery
Martha Nelson
Maer Roshan
Gary Bonasorte
Kiki Mason
David Seidner
George N. Stathakis
J Daniel Stricker
Jerome A. Ernst, MD
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