1994

Of Myths and Mischief: Discover (12/94) Vol. 15, No. 12, P. 36; Weiss, Robin; The search for a cure for AIDS has created myths of blame and myths of denial, writes Robin Weiss in a commentary appearing in Discover magazine. Myths of blame are created by people who want to find a scapegoat for AIDS. One theory is that HIV is man-made--that it is a combination of two other retroviruses, human T-ce
Like Father, Like Son, in Chicago No Less: National Law Journal (12/19/94) Vol. 17, No. 16, P. A12; AIDS activists John Stuen-Parker, founder of the National AIDS Brigade, and Andrew Hoffman, son of the late 1960s radical Abbie Hoffman, were tried in early December in a Chicago court for exchanging intravenous (IV) drug addicts needles. Hoffman and Stuen-Parker are trying to change the laws that outlaw possession of
Do I Need Therapy for a Low Platelet Level?: Advocate (12/13/94) No. 670, P. 37; Cohan, Gary R.; Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)--very low platelet counts-- affects from 3 to 12 percent of people infected with HIV and 30 to 60 percent of people with full-blown AIDS. Infection with HIV can cause impaired production of platelets or their destruction by platelet antibodies. Alcohol and certain medications--such as aspi
Comorbidities of HIV-1/AIDS in Adults: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (11/94- 12/94) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 35; Ungvarski, Peter J.; The comorbidities of HIV-1 and AIDS are complex and varied. During the course of HIV-1 infection, an individual is rarely diagnosed with a single health-related problem or disease. It is, therefore, necessary for nurses and physicians to understand the spectrum of HIV-1 disease and the individual biobehavioral and psyc
The Cost-Effectiveness of Voluntary Counseling and Testing of Hospital Inpatients for HIV Infection: Journal of the American Medical Association (12/21/94) Vol. 272, No. 23, P. 1832; Lurie, Peter; Avins, Andrew L.; Phillips, Kathryn A.; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that HIV testing in acute care hospitals should be instituted to assist in clinical diagnosis, to permit early medical management of HIV infection, and to counsel HIV-positive patients or those at risk about methods to prevent secondary transmission to their sex partne
Dance Legend Dunham Promotes Renaissance in Haiti: Reuters (12/29/94); Mikkelson, Randall; After a three-year absence from her adopted country, American dance legend Katherine Dunham has returned to Haiti to promote what she anticipates as an environmental and cultural renaissance there. The matriarch of black dance returned to her estate in one of Haiti s few remaining rainforests, saying that she aims to f
Sex 1995: 300-Foot Super Heroine Declares 'No Glove--No Love' A New Year's Resolution for Safe Sex: PR Newswire (12/29/94); Artist Mike McNeilly, known for his issue-oriented Mega-murals across the nation, has completed a 20-story mural titled No Glove--No Love. The Manhattan mural, one of the largest in the world, bears the Center for Disease Control s National Hotline number, 800-342-AIDS. No Rest for the Wicked Tonite warns Bubblehead, t
Zimbabweans Clash Over Rival Cultures: Reuters (12/29/94); Chigaru, Sibonginkosi; The generally conservative country of Zimbabwe is caught between Western and traditional values. Questions such as whether black Zimbabweans should have to pay for brides or just marry as they wish; whether men should continue to inherit the wives of their brothers; and what to do when an inherited wife has AIDS have
One in 50 Gambians is HIV-Positive, Official Says: Reuters (12/29/94); Synthia Eledu, a World Health Organization official seconded to Gambia s National AIDS Control Office, said that 24,000 of the west African nation s 1 million people have been identified as HIV-positive. The country s tourist trade was destroyed last July by a military coup in which army officers toppled president Sir
Investors Unsure of Value of Epitope's Oral AIDS Test: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (12/29/94); Investors initial excitement over approval of Epitope s saliva-based HIV test raised the price of the company s stock by 18 percent, to $24.875. Since then, however, some investors have sold the stock, causing Epitope to lose almost all the gains. The investors were impressed by the potential for the inexpensive HIV te
Untold History: Activism and Growth Hormone: AIDS Treatment News (12/02/94) No. 212, P. 5; James, John S.; A largely untold story, Activists Zap FDA Over Growth Hormones, by Jeff Getty of ACT UP/Golden Gate, examines recombinant human growth hormone as a treatment for wasting syndrome. The larger story it illustrates, however, is the real determinants of whether critical medicines ever get studied and whether they are ever
Patient-to-Patient HIV Transmission Trial: Lancet (12/17/94) Vol. 344, No. 8938, P. 1695; Ragg, Mark; A surgeon in Sydney, Australia , was recently found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct after the apparent HIV infection of four people who attended his surgery in November 1989. The New South Wales Medical Tribunal said that Dr. Todd Davis was responsible for the infection of four women who had minor procedu
Haven Returns Smiles to Small Victims: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (12/27/94) P. 1B; Todd, Cynthia; In March 1993, Scott and Kathleen Hummel opened Our Little Haven in St. Louis to care for drug-exposed and HIV-infected babies. It is the only local agency that is specifically devoted to HIV-infected and drug-exposed children. The Hummels were inspired by the work of Clara Hale, who started caring for babies of drug-a
Protein Design Labs Names Jon Saxe President; Laurence Korn Will Remain CEO and Chairperson: PR Newswire (12/28/94); Jon S. Saxe has been named President of Protein Design Labs, Inc. (PDL), whose Human Anti- CMV Antibody has completed Phase I or Phase I/II trials for CMV retinitis in AIDS patients and for other CMV infections. Saxe will report to Dr. Laurence Jay Korn, who is currently President, CEO, and Chairperson of the Board of
Dwayne Brown, Active in AIDS Work, Dies at 31: Washington Post (12/29/94) P. B4; Dwayne Stewart Brown, an AIDS activist who was coordinated volunteer services for Spectrum Inc., a Washington, D.C., HIV/AIDS educational organization, died on Tuesday from AIDS at age 31. Brown s other AIDS-related work included service as a board member of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, work as a peer counselor with the
Models Put 'New Face' on HIV: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (12/29/94) P. B11; Howlett, Susan; Rebekka Armstrong is one of 40 models with HIV or AIDS working in the Proof Positive Division of the Morgan Agency in Costa Mesa, Calif. They hope their healthy appearance will spread a message about HIV. There are so many people out there living with the disease and they don t fill a certain stereotype, says Morgan Ag
When Hope Falters, Balm for the Soul: New York Times (12/29/94) P. C1; Raver, Anne; There is an increasing movement among landscape architects, nurses, environmental psychologists, patients, and families to return nature to the lives of patients. Gardens are appearing in hospitals, hospices, and residences for the elderly throughout the country. Wherever medicine has no magic--for AIDS or cancer or me
Methadone Recommendations: Washington Post (12/29/94) P. A23; A panel of experts from the Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, has recommended that the government relax restrictions on the heroin substitute methadone because it reduces drug abuse, AIDS, and crime. The FDA-approved chemical is used to wean addicts from heroin. The government, however,
Famed Scientist Considering UM: Baltimore Sun (12/29/94) P. 1B; Bor, Jonathan; Considered one of the world s leading AIDS researchers, Dr. Robert C. Gallo said Wednesday that he is exploring the possibility of leaving the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Md., and setting up a virology laboratory at a university, possibly at the University of Maryland (UM). Gallo, who has been at the N
AIDS Pulls Together the Young and Old in Ugandan Villages: Wall Street Journal (12/29/94) P. A1; Carrington, Tim; In Uganda , AIDS is causing a massive shift in parenting duties to grandmothers. Many grandmothers are left to care for their grandchildren who are orphaned by AIDS. One 83-year-old woman, for example, cares for three children under the age of 16 and looks out for another four grandchildren who live nearby. The Christ
Care and Prevention: Hand in Hand: Focus (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 12, P. 1; Coates, Thomas; A wide range of psychosocial findings was presented at this summer s Tenth International Conference on AIDS. Stefano Bertozzi of the World Health Organization s Global Programme on AIDS, for example, discussed how the burden of caring-- especially in developing countries--falls to households and not to professionals.
AIDS: Is There a Turnaround in Sight?: Health (11/94-12/94) Vol. 8, No. 7, P. 22; Hastings, John; Long, Patricia; Mason, Michael; In New York City, prevention has proved to be an effective measure in the battle against AIDS. Sociologist Martina Morris and AIDS researcher Laura Dean conducted a study to determine how much safe sex is necessary to reduce HIV infections in gay men. Morris and Dean entered data obtained from a seven-year survey of 1,
Medical Briefs: Aspirin and Its HIV Effects: Advocate (12/13/94) No. 670, P. 37; Researchers in New York City are conducting a study to examine the effects of high-dose aspirin intake on HIV. They are trying to determine whether aspirin reduces the viral load carried by the patients. Previous studies have found that in the laboratory, aspirin inhibits the activation of a nuclear factor that has a r
Needle-Exchange Programs Backed: American Medical News (12/19/94) Vol. 37, No. 47, P. 8; Hearn, Wayne; American Medical Association (AMA) delegates to the AMA Interim Meeting voted to encourage needle-exchange programs as an effective method of reducing the spread of HIV, AIDS, and other diseases in drug users who otherwise would share infected needles. The delegates also supported the study of compassionate prescribi
A Comparison of Calculated Energy Requirements to Measured Resting Energy Expenditure in HIV-1-Infected Subjects: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (11/94- 12/94) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 30; Anderson, Robin; Grady, Christine; Ropka, Mary; HIV-infected individuals are particularly susceptible to nutritional changes, such as weight loss and malnutrition. To compare calculated energy need of HIV-infected patients to measured energy consumption, researchers studied 20 HIV- positive patients. The subjects, who were part of clinical drug trials conducted by t
Non-Cytolytic CD8 T-Cell Anti-HIV Responses in Primary HIV-1 Infection: Lancet (12/17/94) Vol. 344, No. 8938, P. 1671; Mackewicz, Carl E.; Yang, Limei C.; Lifson, Jeffrey D. et al; While acute HIV infection is accompanied by a significant increase in virus titres that soon fall, the role of humoral and cellular immunity is not clear in the control of virus replication. Researchers studying seven HIV-infected patients found that a non-cytolytic CD8 T-cell response preceded seroconversion. The resp
Patients of British AIDS Surgeon Warned: Reuters (12/24/94); Medical officials in Scotland have started tracing patients who may have been exposed to HIV by an infected surgeon. A hotline for worried patients was filled with calls soon after the doctor s name was released. A leading ear specialist, George Browning, agreed to be publicly named to narrow the list of past patients
Rough Treatment for AIDS: Boston Globe (12/26/94) P. 52; Lewis, Diane E.; HIV patients from around the country have stories of either receiving insufficient treatment or of being denied medical care--which is a violation of federal and state laws as well as of professional and ethical standards requiring fair treatment for all patients. The Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) and
A Rare Mix of Tenants: New York Times (12/28/94) P. B1; Foderaro, Lisa W.; Common Ground Community, a nonprofit housing and economic development organization, owns and manages the former Times Square Hotel in New York City. Once one of the most notorious welfare hotels, it has become a kind of social experiment where AIDS patients, formerly homeless people, mentally ill individuals, and worki
Study: Women With AIDS Die Faster Than Men: Washington Post (12/28/94) P. A7; A University of Minnesota study has found that HIV-infected women have shorter survival rates than men who are HIV- infected. The study, which followed both men and women at health centers around the United States , showed that women with HIV were 33 percent more likely to die than men who were comparably ill. The res
Clinton and AIDS: New Republic (12/26/94) No. 4,171, P. 7; From the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, politics have obstructed sane public health, write the editors of the New Republic. The conservatives discomfort with sex halted a response and the liberals oversensitivity to minorities and civil liberties stalled some measures. President Clinton has only partially broken the p
Strategy of Hope: Small, Rapid Viral-Load Trials: AIDS Treatment News (11/18/94) No. 211, P. 1; James, John S.; At the New Directions in Antiviral Chemotherapy conference in November, Dr. Douglas Richman--a leading AIDS researcher-- spoke of the value of small, rapid trials to look for antiviral activity in people. In a two-week study, you can show whether a drug works or doesn t work, said Richman. He also spoke of evidence tha
The Duesberg Phenomenon: Science (12/09/94) Vol. 266, No. 5191, P. 1642; Cohen, Jon; Peter Duesberg, a retrovirologist at the University of California, claims that such factors as illicit drug use and AZT cause AIDS. While most mainstream AIDS researchers ignore Duesberg s ideas, he has a vocal group of supporters. Among them are Nobel Prize winner Kary Mullis and Robert Willner, the doctor who recentl
HIV Testing in Prison: What's the Controversy?: Lancet (12/17/94) Vol. 344, No. 8938, P. 1650; Diamond, Jan; In a Lancet commentary, Jan Diamond of Merrithew Memorial Hospital in Martinez, Calif., wonders whether HIV testing in prisons remains controversial. While the debate during the 1980s focused on mandatory testing for inmates and segregation of those who tested positive, the latest emphasis is on ways to increase volunt
Former Aide Sues Hospital in Firing over HIV Tattoo: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/24/94) P. A10; John Baldetta, a former nursing aide, is suing Harborview Medical Center because hospital officials fired him for displaying a tattoo, HIV POSITIVE, on his forearm and for discussing AIDS with patients. Baldetta claims that the hospital violated federal laws, including the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as hi
China Sets Up First National Sex Study Group: Reuters (12/26/94); In the face of widespread ignorance about sex, rising prostitution, and venereal disease, China has initiated its first national sex study organization. The China Association for Sexology will study sex medicines, sex education, sexual psychology, sexual sociology, and venereal disease protection. While association pre
HUD Cutbacks Endanger Public Housing for HIV, AIDS Patients: Chicago Tribune (12/26/94) P. 1-7; McRoberts, Flynn; In an effort to restructure and spare itself from elimination, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed combining all its public and assisted housing into three programs. Most of the specific programs and subsidies would be phased out over a five-year period in favor of certificates to in
Fundamental Research at Risk: Washington Post (12/27/94) P. A1; Rensberger, Boyce; Scientists say that basic science, which focuses on learning more about how nature works, is the most misunderstood form of research. The National Science Foundation, which was established to support basic science, has been told to divert more of its money to applied science, which provides more immediate, practical re
Hopkins Will Study AIDS Drug: Baltimore Sun (12/27/94) P. 1B; Selby, Holly; Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are beginning two studies that explore ways of extending the benefits of a life- prolonging medication called Bactrim to AIDS patients. Bactrim, a sulfa-based antibiotic, is used to prevent and treat pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia (PCP), an opportunistic infection that attacks
Epitope Receives FDA Approval to Sell AIDS Test That Uses Saliva, Not Blood: Wall Street Journal (12/27/94) P. B4; Richards, Bill; After three and a half years of review, the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has given approval to Epitope Inc. to begin marketing the first test to use saliva rather than blood to detect HIV. The test, called OraSure, is also the first to be cleared by the FDA for collecting oral specimens for disease diagnosis of
The Next Step Toward a Global AIDS Vaccine: Science (11/25/94) Vol. 266, No. 5189, P. 1335; Koff, Wayne C.; There are four important areas where increased public sector efforts to facilitate private sector product development initiatives could significantly advance the timetable for the development of a safe and globally effective AIDS vaccine. First, incentives must be provided for expanded biopharmaceutical investment in A
Management of Suicidal Patients with HIV Disease: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (11/94- 12/94) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 19; Valente, Sharon M.; Saunders, Judith M.; There are higher numbers of suicidal acts among patients with HIV than among the general population. Stress related to HIV diagnosis, treatment, and medications can lead to depression-- which increases suicide risk. A lot of AIDS patients don t want to hang around til the end--they don t see a cure on the horizon and h
FDA's Oncology Drug Advisory Committee to Review Liposome Technology's DOX-SL at February 1995 Meeting: Business Wire (12/21/94); Liposome Technology Inc. (LTI) has announced that DOX-SL, its proprietary formulation of the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride, is scheduled for review at the Oncology Drug Advisory Committee meeting on Feb. 14. LTI filed a New Drug Application for the use of DOX-SL as single agent therapy for Kaposi s Sarcom
AIDS Research Centre Opens in Ethiopia: Reuters (12/22/94); An AIDS research center to study Africa s HIV strain compared to its counterparts in Europe and the United States was opened in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Thursday. The $8.1 million center, financed by the Dutch government, will focus on the African virus because its epidemiology and virus strains were dif
New Zealand Court Jails Kenyan Musician on AIDS Charges: Reuters (12/22/94); A New Zealand court has sentenced Peter Mwai to seven years in prison for having unprotected sex when he knew he was HIV- infected. Mwai, a drummer in a touring African band, was recently found guilty of six charges--one of causing grievous bodily harm and five of criminal nuisance after he had unprotected sex with fiv
The Condoms Aren't the Draw, Study Finds: Boston Globe (12/22/94) P. 3; Kong, Dolores; A new study has concluded that giving condoms to teenagers as part of an AIDS prevention program does not promote sex. The study compared the sexual activity of inner-city Latinos aged 15 to 19 in Boston, where a prevention program was instituted, and in Hartford, where there was no such program. Of the males who were
Scientists Advance in Understanding AIDS Enzymes: Reuters (12/22/94); Researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases announced on Thursday the discovery of the three-dimensional structure of one of the three key enzymes that HIV needs to reproduce. The finding fills in a large gap in the knowledge of researchers trying to develop a treatment or cure f
Across the USA: Pennsylvania/California: USA Today (12/23/94) P. 19A; In Philadelphia, the AIDS Law Project has reached a settlement with Rite Aid Corp. for disclosing HIV prescription information to an individual s employer. Although the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, AIDS Law officials say that Rite Aid will no longer release HIV prescription information to state employers
Health Department Cited for Deficiencies in Managing $1.5 Million AIDS Grant: Baltimore Sun (12/23/94) P. 10B; Selby, Holly; Federal officials have cited the Baltimore City Health Department for deficiencies in its administration of a $1.5 million grant for the care of AIDS patients, and are considering disbursing the money through a community-based AIDS clinic. Part of the Ryan White CARE Act, the grant funds early intervention services for
Head of Cancer Institute Says He Will Quit Post in April: New York Times (12/23/94) P. A24; Hilts, Philip J.; Dr. Samuel Broder, director of the National Cancer Institute, announced on Wednesday that he would leave the institute in April. Broder, who was among the first government scientists to work on treating AIDS, will join Ivax Corp., one of the nation s largest generic drug producers and a leading manufacturer of intraven
Out of the Closet on the Right to Die: American Medical News (12/12/94) Vol. 37, No. 46, P. 13; Morain, Claudia; Physicians are helping young, politically savvy AIDS patients in the push for assisted suicide. I ve always believed every person has the right to freedom of decisions about their own body, including the timing and mode of their own death, testified AIDS specialist Dr. Peter Shalit. Earlier this year, Shalit was a plai
Chaperoning a Pathogen: Nature (11/24/94) Vol. 372, No. 6504, P. 319; Cullen, Brian R.; Heitman, Joseph; Studies conducted by Franke et al and Thali et al identify a human protein, cyclophilin A, that promotes the formation of infectious HIV-1 virions. Brian Cullen and Joseph Heitman, both of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Genetics at Duke University Medical Center, question where the protein acts i
Clinton to Seek More AIDS Money: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/21/94) P. A3; Connell, Christopher; Officials announced Tuesday that the Clinton Administration will seek $91 million in additional funding next year to care for people with AIDS. The administration will also keep a special housing program for AIDS patients. The president has already increased spending on the programs, which are part of the Ryan White Ac
ChemTrak Enters Home HIV Testing Market with Acquisition of Coonan Clinical Laboratories: Business Wire (12/22/94); ChemTrak Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Coonan Clinical Laboratories Inc. (CCL). Subject to certain conditions, the closing is expected to occur within 30 days. CCL is in the third year of developing a home HIV-1 blood collection kit and is in the final stages of preparing a Pre- Market Approval applicat
Ohio's Universal Guaranty Life Sued by HIV-Positive Florida Lawyer: Knight-Ridder (12/22/94); McCabe, Robert; Universal Guaranty Life in Ohio has been sued by a HIV- positive Florida lawyer who claims that the company sold life insurance policies to people with AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses and then tried to drop them as policyholders. Gay activist Allan H. Terl accuses the company of racketeering and is seeking the origin
Pioneer AIDS Organization Leaves Bankruptcy, Plans to Raise Funds: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/22/94) P. B1; Kaufman, Marc; Collins, Huntly; Now that its plan for reorganization has been accepted, Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues (BEBASHI)--the pioneering AIDS education group--is emerging from bankruptcy. BEBASHI will begin fundraising again and will be in a better position to obtain government grants, officials said. Lorina Marshall, chai
Prison Inmate Has TB, 5 Staffers Test Positive: Baltimore Sun (12/22/94) P. 1B; Shatzkin, Kate; Inmates and staff at two of Maryland s state prisons are being tested for tuberculosis (TB) after an inmate was discovered to be infected with a rare strain of the disease that is resistant to seven drugs. While five of the 82 staff members who had the most contact with the prisoner have tested positive for TB bacteria
Around the Nation: Addenda: Washington Post (12/22/94) P. A14; After learning that the adoptive parents of a 3-year-old girl are infected with HIV, a St. Petersburg, Fla., judge reversed her adoption. The girl has been living with the couple since June 1992. Related Story: Washington Times (12/22) P. A10
AIDS Breakthroughs and AIDS Politics: Washington Post (12/22/94) P. A19; Hentoff, Nat; The discovery that AZT , when given to HIV-infected pregnant women, reduces the risk of HIV transmission to infants by two- thirds is surrounded by controversy. Mandatory prenatal testing could prevent transmission of a fatal infection to the child, but would violate the mothers privacy. AIDS czar Patricia Fleming sa
Ares-Serono AG Drug Cleared for Treatment of AIDS Weight Loss: Wall Street Journal (12/22/94) P. B8; The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has approved the use of a human-growth hormone, Serostim, made by Ares-Serono AG for the experimental treatment of severe weight loss in AIDS patients. AIDS advocacy groups hailed the FDA action because there is no other therapy for AIDS-related wasting syndrome. During Phase II
The Elections: What AIDS Organizations Need to Do Now. Interview with Tom Sheridan, Sheridan Associates: AIDS Treatment News (11/18/94) No. 211, P. 7; James, John S.; In light of the November elections, AIDS Treatment News interviewed Tom Sheridan, a professional lobbyist, AIDS organizer, and founder of the Sheridan Group--a government and public-relations organization--to find out what people concerned about AIDS should do. Sheridan said there are three levels of organization that
CDC Reorganization Prompts Concern: Science (11/25/94) Vol. 266, No. 5189, P. 1313; Thompson, Larry; The Centers for Disease Control s (CDC) plans to consolidate its AIDS activities into a single center has some AIDS activists worried. The center is already responsible for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Activists are also concerned because the move will shift responsibility for the disease from the CD
Home Is Where the Money Is: Advocate (12/13/94) No. 670, P. 32; Bull, Chris; In an Oct. 26 letter to the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ), the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association (NLGHA) alleged that pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson had unduly influenced FDA officials concerning an experimental HIV home test and illegally funneled millions of dollars to prominent AIDS advo
AIDS and Antibiotic Abuse: Futurist (11/94-12/94) Vol. 28, No. 6, P. 58; In The Plague Makers, author Jeffrey A. Fisher describes how an overuse of antibiotics could be a contributing factor to AIDS. Fisher believes that extended and excessive use of drugs such as tetracycline may suppress the immune system to the point that unusual forms of Mycoplasma bacteria develop. The bacteria interac
Nevirapine Triple Combination: Preliminary Results Released Nov. 17: AIDS Treatment News (11/18/94) No. 211, P. 6; James, John S.; Preliminary results of a study of the convergent combination approach to antiviral treatment were released in November. The subjects--who had at least six months prior treatment with AZT , ddI, or ddC--randomly received AZT and ddI, or AZT plus ddI plus nevirapine
BART Launches Multi-Faceted Community Outreach Programs for the Holidays: Business Wire (12/20/94); As part of an effort to be a part of the communities it serves, BART has designed a multi-faceted outreach program to help the less fortunate during the holiday season. One part of the program is With Love: From BART, a toy and gift drive for children with HIV or AIDS. There are hundreds of children and families in the
In Va., Having a Say in Dying: Washington Post (12/20/94) P. A1; Hall, Charles W.; At a time when physician-assisted suicide has sparked great controversy, medical professionals and those who counsel the terminally ill say that passive euthanasia, in which a patient is allowed to die through the withholding of medical treatments, has become far more common with much less debate. AIDS patient Andy Moo
Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing of Hospital In-Patients to Protect Health Care Workers Is Not Cost-Effective, UCSF Study Finds: Business Wire (12/20/94); A new cost-effectiveness study done by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) found that there is no justification for voluntary HIV testing of hospital in- patients to prevent HIV-infection of health care workers. The researchers found that screening in-patients to detect infection may be cost effective
FDA Grants Hemocleanse Approval to Expand Hyperthermia Trials for AIDS Patients: PR Newswire (12/20/94); The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has granted Hemocleanse, Inc. conditional approval to expand its clinical investigation of the use of the BioLogic-HT machine in the whole body hyperthermia (WBHT) treatment of patients with AIDS. An initial study was conducted in July with three patients treated at 42 degrees C
U.N. Denounces Aid Agency Leaving Refugee Camps: Reuters (12/21/94); Bedford, Julian; The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has denounced Medecins San Frontieres (MSF-Doctors Without Borders) decision to leave Rwandan refugee camps in Tanzania , calling it a callous publicity stunt before Christmas. The French wing of MSF announced Tuesday that it would pull out of the camps because
The WHO and Why of HIV Vaccine Trials: Nature (11/24/94) Vol. 372, No. 6504, P. 313; Moore, John; Anderson, Roy; John Moore of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and Roy Anderson of the Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases discuss the reasoning behind the World Health Organization (WHO) advisory committee s decision to approve Phase III HIV vaccine trials in developing countries. Ninety percent of the 16 millio
Heated Debate over a Law for the Dying: U.S. News & World Report (12/19/94) Vol. 117, No. 24, P. 36; Shapiro, Joseph P.; Two AIDS patients in Oregon are taking opposite sides in the debate over assisted suicide. Oregon is seeking to become the first place in the world where doctors can legally provide lethal drugs to help the dying end their lives. Michael Vernon wants the ban lifted because he wants control over how and when his life en
Cellular Immune Response to Common Mycobacterial Antigens in Subjects Seropositive for Trypanosoma Cruzi: Lancet (12/03/94) Vol. 344, No. 8936, P. 1540; Bottasso, O.A.; Ingledew, N.; Keni, M. et al; Researchers studied the impairment of immune responses in patients in the silent stage of Chagas disease, which is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and affects about 20 million people in Latin America. Bottasso et al used quadruple skin- testing with new tuberculins in 37 adults who were symptom- free but seropositive for T
Elders Vows to Continue Speaking Out: Reuters (12/19/94); Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders said she will continue to speak out about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Elders was forced out of office after she publicly condoned teaching schoolchildren to masturbate as a way to avoid the spread of AIDS. Sexual practices are, of course, best left to cons
Xerox Service Engineer Granted Leave to Work with AIDS Patients: PR Newswire (12/19/94); Xerox Corporation has granted Stephan Lee Clark six months of leave with pay to care for AIDS patients at the Bailey-Boushay House in Seattle--the first skilled nursing home in the nation for people dying of AIDS. Clark made a promise to a Xerox colleague, George Robbins, shortly before Robbins death from AIDS, that he
Prostitution Boom Boosts AIDS Risk in Zaire: Reuters (12/19/94); Wrong, Michela; An increasing number of women in Zaire are turning to casual prostitution, thus providing a breeding ground for AIDS. Because Zaire s recession is leaving many men without work and because an 8,500 percent annual inflation rate is undermining living standards, women of all ages have become prostitutes. Researchers esti
AIDS Victim's Family Has 'Celebration of Life': Houston Chronicle (12/19/94) P. 17A; Zuniga, Jo Ann; Instead of mourning his death from AIDS on Dec. 5, Brian Cammack s family organized a celebration of life party on Sunday. As a tribute to her brother, 19-year-old Nicole Turpeau organized Stop AIDS Let s Unite to Educate (SALUTE) last year. Turpeau speaks to high school groups and community groups about how to avoid c
Will New HIV Test Kits Ease the Stigma?: Houston Chronicle (12/19/94) P. 21A; Lum, Lydia; Although HIV home test kits may soon become available, a stigma still surrounds the HIV screening process. Although the AIDS epidemic has been around for more than 10 years, proponents of the home test say that people still tiptoe around the topic of HIV testing. Both health providers and clients alike often have so mu
Judge Gives Defense Time to Explain Marijuana Use: Baltimore Sun (12/20/94) P. 5B; O'Brien, Dennis; At the end of an AIDS patient s hearing on Monday for the possession and manufacturing of marijuana, a Charles County, Md., judge said that he would give the defense lawyers 10 days to submit legal memos supporting their position. The prosecution will have five days to respond before a decision is made. Jerome E. Mensc
Going Off the Beaten Path to Track Down Clues about AIDS: New York Times (12/20/94) P. C3; Altman, Lawrence K.; Because Dr. Yuan Chang and Dr. Patrick S. Moore were new to the field, they were more able to try wild ideas than many others working in established laboratories. Together, they form the husband-and-wife team that announced last week that they had detected fragments of a possible new virus and that the agent might caus
Marked Man: Advocate (11/29/94) No. 669, P. 6; Fuller, Matt; Matt Fuller, a volunteer for the People With AIDS Coalition, describes his experiences after he had the words HIV-POSITIVE along with a pink triangle tattooed on his arm. The only time he says he felt threatened by someone s reaction to the tattoo was by a large man on a New York City subway. When Fuller responded affi
The Brighton Conference and HIV Prevention: Focus (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 12, P. 5; Marks, Robert; The strongest presentations at the Conference on Biopsychosocial Aspects of HIV Infection focused on prevention strategies for gay men and drug users. In response to continuing relapse from safer sex, and the emergence of new populations who do not recognize their risk, researchers challenged assumptions about HIV prev
Bacterium Guards against HIV: Science News (11/26/94) Vol. 146, No. 22, P. 360; Fackelmann, Kathy A.; Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are trying to convert the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes into an HIV vaccine. While L. monocytogenes can cause illness in people with unhealthy immune systems who eat contaminated food, HIV-infected people appear relatively resistant to the bug. It was
Functional Association of Cyclophilin A with HIV-1 Virions: Nature (11/24/94) Vol. 372, No. 6504, P. 363; Thali, Markus; Bukovsky, Anatoly; Kondo, Eisaku et al; Thali et al report that viral particles formed by HIV-1 Gag polyprotein p55(gag) contain significant amounts of cyclophilin A. Sequences in the capsid domain of p55(gag) are both necessary and adequate for the virion-association of cyclophilin A. Cyclosporin A, as well as SDZ NIM811 ([Melle- 4]cyclosporin)--a non-immun
200 Protest Church Ban on AIDS Victims: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/17/94) P. B1; Macklin, William R.; Approximately 200 people gathered outside the Old Ship of Zion church in North Philadelphia to protest it s ban on people with AIDS. The protesters denounced the pastor as a fool, a false prophet, and an idiot. They also demanded that a sign warning visitors that to join you must have had an AIDS test and it must come
AIDS Vaccine Tests Set for Thailand, Brazil: Boston Globe (12/17/94) P. 15; Newly appointed leader of the United Nations AIDS program, Dr. Peter Piot, announced on Friday that heterosexual male drug users in Thailand and homosexual men in Brazil will be the key volunteers of the first human tests of two AIDS vaccines. Women will also be included in the initial tests, particularly in northern T
Health Journal: Embrace Risk Reduction: Wall Street Journal (12/19/94) P. B1; Chase, Marilyn; Among resolutions for a healthier 1995, health gurus hope for an AIDS vaccine. Until a safe, effective vaccine is developed, the most inexpensive, low-tech HIV barriers are condoms and needle-exchanges. They are not, however, broadly promoted because they are too controversial. The American Academy of Pediatrics recent
In the Name of AIDS Prevention, They Break the Law: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/19/94) P. B2; Urgo, Jacqueline L.; An unnamed underground effort in Atlantic City--illegal in New Jersey and eight other states--is geared toward preventing the spread of AIDS through the use of contaminated needles among intravenous drug addicts. As other organizations have done in the Northeast, the group last week began their needle distribution effo
Man Claims He Uses Pot to Fight AIDS: Washington Times (12/19/94) P. C6; Jerome Mensch, a 43-year-old dairy farmer, will argue at a preliminary hearing today that he needs marijuana to help fight the effects of HIV. When Mensch was arrested in November 1993 for possession of marijuana, he told officers he needed the drug to combat the nausea and weight loss associated with his illness. His
AIDS Virus Claims Fourth Dental Patient: New York Times (12/19/94) P. A14; Barbara Webb, a retired schoolteacher whom medical experts believe became HIV-infected from a dentist, died of AIDS on Saturday. Webb was the fourth of Dr. David Acer s patients to die of the disease. She had joined Kimberly Bergalis--the first of Acer s patients to die from AIDS--in advocating the testing of health ca
Ethics Committees Urged to Promote Benefits of Testing: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 158; Dr. Martin W. Sklaire, chairman of the provisional committee on pediatric AIDS of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has challenged hospital ethics committees to take a leading role in helping to educate pregnant women about the benefits of HIV testing. Ethics committees could have an enormous impact on AIDS education
Wrong HIV Test Leads to Job Loss: American Medical News (12/05/94) Vol. 37, No. 45, P. 17; A federal trial court for Puerto Rico has ruled that the government cannot be held liable in a medical malpractice action. While a Veteran s Canteen Service worker, who voluntarily submitted to an HIV test, was found HIV-positive in Oct. 1987, a Western Blot test in January 1988 showed he did not have the virus. After
Sounding Board: Targeted HIV-Prevention Programs: New England Journal of Medicine (11/24/94) Vol. 331, No. 21, P. 1451; Des Jarlais, Don C.; Padian, Nancy S.; Winkelstein Jr., Warren; Universal and targeted components are the keys to an effective HIV-prevention program. The universal element--a unified national response--consists of reducing HIV-related discrimination, providing basic information about HIV and transmission, and removing the legal and commercial restrictions on the availability of co
Sexual Behaviors and Drug Use among Youth in Dropout- Prevention Programs--Miami, 1994: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (12/02/94) Vol. 43, No. 47, P. 873; O'Hara, P.; Messick, B.J.; Kennedy, M.G. et al; To estimate the prevalence of risk behaviors among potential dropouts, researchers from the University of Miami School of Medicine surveyed students in two Miami dropout-prevention programs (schools A and B) and compared the responses to those from a survey of Miami public schools. In general, prevalences of specific r
Specific Incorporation of Cyclophilin A into HIV-1 Virions: Nature (11/24/94) Vol. 372, No. 6504, P. 359; Franke, Ettaly Kara; Yuan, Hannah En Hui; Luban, Jeremy; Researchers from Columbia University have found that cyclophilin A is specifically incorporated into HIV-1 virions, but not into virions of other primate immunodeficiency viruses. For cyclophilin A to bind and incorporate, a proline -rich region conserved in all HIV-1 Gag polyproteins is necessary. Disruption of a sing
Washington CTED Awarded Grant to Develop Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS: PR Newswire (12/15/94); The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has granted the Washington state Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) $1 million to develop Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA). The award will allow CTED to help people through contracts with nonprofit organizations and hous
OXiGENE Announces Results of Assay Used as Prognostic Indicator for HIV Infection in 133 Patients: PR Newswire (12/15/94); On Dec. 11, Dr. Michael Marmor of the Center of AIDS Research at New York University announced preliminary results demonstrating the superior effectiveness and usefulness of OXiGENE Inc. s immune function/DNA repair assay as a prognostic indicator for HIV-infected patients. OXiGENE s immune repair assay, which gauges t
U.S. Scientists Find Cell that Attacks HIV Virus: Reuters (12/15/94); U.S. scientists announced on Thursday that the discovery of immune cells that attack HIV and could be a potential cure for AIDS. Dr. Jay Levy and collaborators found that the immune cells, called CDT-T, decrease levels of the virus in the blood, causing the flu-like illness experienced during the first stages of AIDS t
A Bittersweet Visit by an Ailing Santa: New York Times (12/16/94) P. B1; Martin, Douglas; Mark Woodley sued Macy s department store for discrimination after he wrote on his employment application that he was taking AZT , an AIDS medication. Woodley says that Macy s refused to rehire him after a season of being Santa Claus in 1989. He is suing for more than $3 million in damages and to let him be Santa again
Virus May Cause Kaposi's Sarcoma: Washington Times (12/16/94) P. A12; A team of Columbia University scientists announced on Thursday that they had found strong evidence of an apparently newly detected virus that might cause Kaposi s sarcoma (KS) in AIDS patients. Dr. Yuan Chang and her husband, Dr. Patrick S. Moore, found that unique DNA sequences were isolated from tissues of KS lesions
Use of Living Wills in HIV Infection and AIDS: Lancet (11/26/94) Vol. 344, No. 8935, P. 1509; Meadows, Paul; In October 1992, The Terrence Higgins Trust, in cooperation with the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King s College, London, published a form of living will and healthcare proxy specifically designed for use by people with HIV and AIDS, writes Paul Meadows in a letter to the editor of the Lancet medical journal. Th
Hope for Sale: American Medical News (11/21/94) Vol. 37, No. 43, P. 13; Pinkney, Deborah Shelton; The lack of a therapeutic vaccine for HIV has led to an increasing interest in unconventional AIDS therapies, such as acupuncture, macrobiotic diets, and megadoses of vitamins. Some alternative therapy practitioners work in cooperation with doctors and consider their treatment supplementary. Many alternative therapies
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center Press Conference Dec. 15: PR Newswire (12/14/94); The husband and wife research team of Dr. Yuan Chang and Dr. Patrick Moore are holding a press conference at the Columbia- Presbyterian Medical Center in New York on Dec. 15 to discuss their findings of what they believe is a new human herpes virus that may be responsible for Kaposi s sarcoma (KS) in patients with AIDS
Family Portraits: Toronto Globe and Mail (12/14/94) P. A15; Mitchell, Alanna; A survey of sexually active young adults aged 16 to 19 has shown that teenagers from higher-income families seem to have a greater awareness of sexual health. The 1990 Ontario Health Survey found that while 46 percent of low-income teenagers never used a condom, only 40 percent of middle income and 32 percent of high i
Home Tests for HIV Supported: Houston Chronicle (12/14/94) P. 29A; Lum, Lydia; Two Texas legislators, Reps. Glen Maxey and Debra Danburg, said on Monday that they hope to pass legislation to make an HIV home-test kit legal for use in the state. The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering approval of the kits. At this point in Texas, such a kit could not be used because it does not p
Serving Compassion with a Meal: Washington Post (12/15/94) P. D.C.1; Young, Vincent; Chocolate Strawberries, a newly opened restaurant in the Washington, D.C., area, reserves its lunch hour to serve free meals to anyone who is hungry and HIV-infected. We re trying to help give people with HIV-AIDS, who might live on fixed incomes or can t afford to buy food, a chance to get out of the house and eat a h
Triumphing Over AIDS: Washington Post (12/15/94) P. D.C. 3; Young, Vincent; How I Got Over, a special ceremony that celebrated the lives of long-term AIDS survivors, was held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. It s time to hear from people who are living, surviving, and thriving, said organizer Gregory Ford, who tested HIV-positive eight years ago. More than 250 people attended the event, wher
Mayor's Office Disbands Advisory Unit on AIDS: New York Times (12/15/94) P. B5; Dunlap, David W.; New York City Deputy Mayor Fran Reiter on Wednesday disbanded the group of outside experts who were trying to restructure the city s Division of AIDS Services. In a letter to the committee s members, Reiter said that protests, discussions of process, non-negotiable demands and grandstanding by some AIDS organizations h
AIDS Activist Blames Partisanship for Lack of Progress: Nation's Health (11/94) Vol. 24, No. 10, P. 7; As the 103rd Congress came to a close, AIDS advocates lamented its list of unfinished business. Despite some gains in AIDS funding, partisan politics kept much AIDS-related legislation from making significant advances, said Daniel Bross, executive director of the AIDS Action Council. Lobbyists for the group say they wo
Learning about HIV-2: Lancet (11/19/94) Vol. 344, No. 8934, P. 1380; O'Shaughnessy, Michael V.; Schechter, Martin T.; Although HIV-1 and HIV-2 are related, the molecular organizations of the two viruses are different and their genetic homology is modest, write O Shaughnessy et al in a letter to the editor. In comparison to HIV-1, HIV-2 has lower rates of sexual and perinatal transmission, lower cell killing, lower viral burdens, more
Hypopyon Uveitis in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Treated for Systemic Mycobacterium Avium Complex Infection with Rifabutin: Journal of the American Medical Association (12/07/94) Vol. 272, No. 21, P. 1636p; Iridocyclitis is a dosage-dependent side effect in AIDS patients being treated for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection with systemic rifabutin. In a retrospective study, researchers reviewed seven cases of acute hypopyon uveitis imitating infectious endophthalmitis in AIDS patients to determine whether there wa
New Magazine for HIV Positive Readers: Reuters (12/13/94); Schoolman, Judith; POZ, a new magazine designed for readers with HIV or AIDS and their families and friends, deals with the realities of living with HIV infection and AIDS. It is a broadscope general consumer magazine, but one with an AIDS spin to it, says editor Richard Perez-Feria. The brainchild of publisher Sean Strub, who has been l
Verex Options Drug to Burroughs Wellcome: PR Newswire (12/13/94); Verex Laboratories Inc. entered into an agreement with Burroughs Wellcome Co. on Nov. 30, 1994, in which Verex granted Wellcome an option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license to a controlled release rate formulation of zidovudine ( AZT ) developed by Verex called Aztec. For an option fee, Wellcome has received the
Boston Biomedica, Inc. Awarded World-Wide License to Anti-AIDS Compounds: PR Newswire (12/13/94); Boston Biomedica, Inc. (BBI) has been awarded the world-wide exclusive license to six anti-AIDS compounds by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). The compounds were recently discovered in a collaborative study between Biotech Research Laboratories--a subsidiary of BBI--and UNC-CH to test large numb
Inquiry May Be Costing Blood, Red Cross Says: Toronto Globe and Mail (12/13/94) P. A8; Coutts, Jane; Dr. Roslyn Herst, director of the Red Cross blood center in Toronto, said on Monday that the Canadian Red Cross is short of blood and that the attention being focused on the issue in the Krever Commission inquiry may be one of the factors reducing the flow. Perhaps some of the information out of Krever is confusing the
Isis Begins Phase III Clinical Trials of Antisense Compound to Treat CMV Retinitis in Patients with AIDS: PR Newswire (12/14/94); Isis Pharmaceuticals is initiating Phase III clinical trials of ISIS 2922, an antisense compound to treat cytomegalovirus ( CMV )-induced retinitis in AIDS patients. If not treated, CMV retinitis can cause permanent retinal damage and blindness.
The Reliable Source: Washington Post (12/14/94) P. C3; Romano, Lois; While in Portugal on behalf of a local AIDS charity, the Duchess of York revealed that she had been tested three times for HIV--once before her marriage to Prince Andrew and before getting pregnant with each of her two daughters. People must be more open about the disease. It seems to me that the slogan The treatment
Nationline: AIDS Lawsuit: USA Today (12/14/94) P. 3A; Leavitt, Paul; Arvin Peterson s claim that he got AIDS from a pork sandwich at a Huntington Park McDonald s in 1992 was rejected by a Los Angeles jury. Peterson, who is HIV-positive, claimed the McRib sandwich contained shigella bacteria that reduced his T- cell count. The jury was deadlocked on the two issues--which will be retried-
Hevesi Unmoved: Crain's (11/21/94) Vol. 10, No. 47, P. 50; Moving companies routinely steal $3 million from New York City by overcharging for the cost of moving welfare and AIDS patients, claims city Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Poor or sick clients have to submit three bids before New York will pay for a move. The city Human Resources Administration, says Hevesi, has been unwilli
Health: AIDS in Developing Nations: Futurist (11/94-12/94) Vol. 28, No. 6, P. 57; A U.S. Census Bureau study reports that the AIDS epidemic will probably increase child mortality in developing countries. The disease will undo decades of improvement in child-survival rates. For example, infant and child mortality levels in Zambia have clear links to HIV and AIDS, and are currently 15 percent higher t
Approaches to AIDS Vaccines: Lancet (11/19/94) Vol. 344, No. 8934, P. 1425; Rowe, Paul M.; Several approaches to AIDS vaccines were presented at the seventh annual meeting of the National Cooperative Vaccine Development Groups for AIDS. Patricia N. Fultz of Alabama presented data suggesting that attenuated virus can induce strain-specific immunity and that vaccines must incorporate whatever strain is present
The Response of Symptomatic Neurosyphilis to High-Dose Intravenous Penicillin G in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (12/01/94) Vol. 331, No. 22, P. 1469; Gordon, Steven M.; Eaton, Molly E.; George, Rob et al; To determine whether HIV infection affects the course of syphilis and the response to treatment, researchers studied the response to treatment with high-dose penicillin G benzathine in 11 HIV-positive participants with symptomatic neurosyphilis. The patients were intravenously administered 18 million to 24 million unit
Experts Warn of Trivial Fixes in Blood System: Toronto Globe and Mail (12/08/94) P. A1; Coutts, Jane; Experts who have been studying the Canadian blood supply warned last week that Canada s blood system needs significant changes quickly. A spokesman for the panel of experts expressed the group s fear that people involved in running the blood system may believe the problems can be solved without too much effort. These a
The University of California, IDEXX Laboratories Inc. and Synbiotics Corp. Announce Agreement on Settlement of FIV Patent Infringement Suit: Business Wire (12/12/94); An agreement was reached Monday between the University of California, IDEXX Laboratories Inc., and Synbiotics Corp., in the settlement of a lawsuit relating to infringement of the university s patent on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) diagnostics, which is exclusively licensed to IDEXX. Synbiotics acknowledged that
A Side Trip into AIDS Theory: New York Times (12/13/94) P. C11; Dr. Leonard Adleman observed that when a person is HIV- infected, the decline of white blood cells of the immune system follows a predictable pattern. He concluded that the body must have a mechanism to keep the total number of CD4 and CD8 cells constant, but must not monitor the proportions of CD4 cells to CD8 cells.
Whatever Happened to the Contraceptive Revolution?: Washington Post (Health) (12/13/94) P. 13; Herman, Robin; The introduction of the birth control pill in 1960, along with the plastic intrauterine device four years later, formed the first wave of modern birth control methods. The contraceptive research revolution, however, was short. Thirty years later, few new approaches to contraception have reached the market. The AIDS epi
NZ Court Finds Kenyan AIDS Victim Endangered Lives: Reuters (12/13/94); Peter Mwai, a 29-year old Kenyan, was convicted in a New Zealand court today on six charges relating to having unprotected sex while knowingly infected with HIV. Mwai was found guilty of causing a woman grievous bodily harm. He was also convicted on five counts of endangering her life and that of four other women by fa
U.N. Picks a Leader for Fight on AIDS: New York Times (12/13/94) P. C12; Crossette, Barbara; The United Nations named Belgian scientist Dr. Peter Piot as head of a new U.N. office that will coordinate the efforts of six international HIV/AIDS organizations. Piot has been associate director of the World Health Organization s global program on AIDS since 1992. The new office, tentatively called the U.N. program
HIV Notification Act Stalls in House Subcommittee: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 155; The Newborn Infant HIV Notification Act has stalled in a House subcommittee, but will be reconsidered next year. The disclosure act--sponsored by a coalition of both Democratic and Republican representatives--is intended to reverse the practice of blind HIV testing. In 45 states, all infants are tested for HIV, but the
Association Between Hepatitis E Virus and HIV Infection in Homosexual Men: Lancet (11/19/94) Vol. 344, No. 8934, P. 1433; Montella, F.; Rezza, G.; Di Sora, F. et al; Although little is known about the risk factors for hepatitis E (HEV), in industrialized countries, higher prevalence rates have been found in injection drug users (IDUs) and in travelers to endemic areas, write Montella et al in a letter to the editor appearing in the Lancet. A total of 162 homosexual men and 66 IDUs
Jonathan Demme, Academy Award Winning Motion Picture Producer/Director, to Be Recognized by Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association: PR Newswire (12/09/94); In acknowledgment of the national and international recognition the film Philadelphia has brought to the city, Academy Award winning producer/director Jonathan Demme will be awarded the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association s (GPHA) Grand Award on Dec. 19. Mayor Edward G. Rendell will present Demme with the award at t
Gays Say Firing of Elders Is "Chilling": Reuters (12/10/94); Gay activists defended Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who was fired by President Clinton on Friday, and said the issue could cost the president votes in the 1996 election. This is war. Elders was a hero in the war on AIDS and Bill Clinton is a traitor, said Steve Michael, chairman of the Washington, D.C., chapter of
French Deputies Reject Compulsory AIDS Testing: Reuters (12/11/94); The French National Assembly on Sunday rejected a proposal to conduct systematic AIDS testing of the French population. The plan was dismissed after Health Minister Simone Veil informed deputies that AIDS testing was already required of anyone who wished to donate blood, sperm, mother s milk, or organs. There is debate
AIDS to Kill 10,000 Indians a Day by 2000--Expert: Reuters (12/11/94); I.S. Gilada, secretary general of the Bombay-based private Indian Health Association, said on Sunday that some 10,000 Indians will die each day from AIDS by the year 2000. The rate of HIV infection among Bombay housewives is the same as it was among the city s prostitutes eight years ago, said Gilada. One in 100 pregna
Across the USA: Florida: USA Today (12/12/94) P. 7A; A 45-year-old male nurse in Florida, who is charged with raping five anesthetized female patients in a hospital recovery room, has tested negative for HIV. Almost 70 former patients--who fear they may have been abused--have been tested for HIV.
The Lingering Pain of False HIV Diagnosis: USA Today (12/12/94) P. 1D; Levy, Doug; Although HIV detection procedures are almost 100 percent accurate, human errors can occur. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that in ideal testing circumstances, the odds of a false positive HIV antibody test are less than five in 100,000. Charles Shires may be one of those five. Last November,
Fanfare: Soccer: Washington Post (12/12/94) P. C2; Youssef Omar, a Nigerian soccer player on contract to a professional team in Egypt , was deported after blood tests revealed he is HIV-positive. Omar expressed shock at the test result, and speculated, Maybe it was when I was in Nigeria where I sometimes took injections for injuries I got when I was playing. Maybe the
Clinton Fires Surgeon General Elders, Citing Differences in Opinions, Policy: Wall Street Journal (12/12/94) P. A16; Frisby, Michael K.; Citing her for statements that differ from his own beliefs, President Clinton on Friday fired Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. The president requested her resignation after learning that at the Dec. 1 AIDS Conference, Elders had suggested that students should be taught about masturbation. Elders has a history of contro
Red Cross Had No Duty to Question Blood Donors: National Law Journal (11/28/94) Vol. 17, No. 13, P. B14; In the case of Doe v. American National Red Cross, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has held that the Red Cross had no duty in 1984 to question blood donors regarding their sexual history or orientation. The brother and daughter of Ms. Doe, who tested HIV-positive in 1990 and died in 1992 after rece
Postnatal Transmission of HIV-1 through Pooled Breast Milk: Lancet (11/19/94) Vol. 344, No. 8934, P. 1432; Nduati, R. W.; John, G. C.; Kreiss, J.; In a letter to the editor appearing in the Lancet medical journal, Nduati et al report a case of HIV-1 infection in Kenya that is likely due to pooled breast milk. Because of a decrease in his mother s milk production, a male infant s milk intake was supplemented for four weeks with freshly unpasteurized pooled milk fr
Immune Reconstitution for AIDS: Science (11/18/94) Vol. 266, No. 5188, P. 1150; Rachel Nowak; The theory that it is possible to cure late-stage AIDS by reconstructing the patient s immune system with a that of a baboon may soon be tested, if the proposal is approved by the ethics review board at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Transplant surgeon and immunologist Suzanne Ildstad conceived the
'Power of the Penny' Campaign Benefits Emergency Needs of People with AIDS: PR Newswire (12/08/94); We the People Living with AIDS/HIV, a self-help group of low- income people with HIV/AIDS in south central Philadelphia, is raising money through a coin collection campaign called The Power of the Penny. We ll take your pennies to the bank and convert them, not into dollar bills, but into more meals, more clothing, mor
Researchers Doubt Maverick AIDS Theory: Reuters (12/08/94); In a series of articles released on Thursday, the respected journal Science described its three-month investigation into the status of claims made by University of California virologist Peter Duesberg that drug abuse, not HIV, is responsible for AIDS. Science found that while Duesberg has been promoting his theory for
Genzyme Begins Phase II/III Study of Argus Pharmaceuticals' TretinoinLF for Kaposi's Sarcoma Patients: Business Wire (12/08/94); Genzyme Corp. and Argus Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Thursday announced the commencement of a Phase II/III clinical trial of TretinoinLF in patients with Kaposi s sarcoma--the most common malignancy seen in AIDS patients. TretinoinLF is Argus intravenous liposomal formulation of a retinoid compound called all-trans-retinoic
Court Upholds Rights of Hospital on HIV-Doctor: Reuters (12/08/94); Mikkelsen, Randall; The right of a Philadelphia-area hospital company to require an HIV-positive surgeon to inform potential patients of his infection was upheld by a federal judge on Thursday. In the first discrimination suit filed under the Americans With Disabilities Act by an HIV-infected health-care worker, Dr. Paul Scoles had sued M
Distorted AIDS Policy Abetting Scourge?: Washington Times (12/09/94) P. A25; Fumento, Michael; While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted a 75-percent increase in new AIDS cases, reporting of new cases actually jumped 111 percent last year, writes Michael Fumento in a Washington Times commentary. The increase is attributable to a new expanded definition of the disease which the CDC impl
She's Young, Beautiful, Educated--and She Has AIDS: USA Today (12/09/94) P. 11A; Reynolds, Barbara; The cover model of December s Essence magazine is religious, has never used drugs, is educated, is not promiscuous-- and has AIDS. Rae Lewis-Thornton cannot get health insurance and says she will probably not live long enough to finish graduate school or have children. AIDS has become one of the media s most underrepor
The Reliable Source: Washington Post (12/09/94) P. D3; Romano, Lois; The Pediatric AIDS Foundation is creating the Elizabeth Glaser Scientists Program in memory of the AIDS activist who died last weekend. Glaser founded the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Her family has requested that donations in her memory be made to the organization, which is based in Santa Monica, Calif.
Russia's Law on Iatrogenic HIV Infection: Lancet (12/03/94) Vol. 344, No. 8936, P. 1562; Rich, Vera; In contrast to the sharp criticism that Russia s proposed HIV testing law has drawn, an amendment to the Russian Federation Criminal Code has gone virtually unnoticed. The legislation would make doctors and medical workers open to prosecution for the HIV-infection of a patient due to medical negligence. For one patient
California: AIDS Drug Assistance Program, New Drugs Proposed; Title II Public Input Sought: AIDS Treatment News (11/04/94) No. 210, P. 7; James, John S.; California s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) pays for some drugs needed by people with HIV or AIDS. To qualify for the program, the prescription must be signed by a California- licensed physician and the drugs cannot be covered through the individual s insurance program. Drugs funded by ADAP include
HIV-1 in Blister Fluid of a Patient with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and AIDS: Lancet (11/19/94) Vol. 344, No. 8934, P. 1432; Correia, Osvaldo; Delgado, Luis; Santos, Cristina et al; The existence of markers for HIV infection in the blister fluid of a patient with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and full-blown AIDS is described in a letter to the editor by Correia et al appearing in the Lancet. A series of tests for HIV-1 and HIV-2 were performed on blood and blister fluid samples from a 34-year-o
Blood-Supply Computer Plan Struggling: Toronto Globe and Mail (12/02/94) P. A4; Coutts, Jane; A report obtained by the Toronto Globe and Mail has found that efforts to design a national computer system for Canada s blood supply have been mismanaged and inadequate. Five years after the project was started, the country is still years away from having a national computer system to trace safety problems in the bloo
Epitope Announces Successful Completion of FDA Facilities Inspection: PR Newswire (12/05/94); Epitope, Inc. announced Monday that Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) officials had completed a re-inspection of the company s manufacturing facilities and those of its contract manufacturer. The officials did not find occasion to issue a form 483 notice of deficiencies. The re-inspection was conducted as part of th
Kenyan in AIDS Case Refused Condom, NZ Court Told: Reuters (12/06/94); A woman on Tuesday told a New Zealand court that the Kenyan man charged with willfully infecting her with HIV refused to wear a condom when they had sex. Peter Mwai, 29, pleaded guilty to charges of transmitting HIV to the woman and endangering four other women. The woman testified that she agreed to spend the night wi
AMA Opposes Federal Mandates Requiring Physicians to Determine Immigration Status of Patients: PR Newswire (12/06/94); The American Medical Association (AMA) announced on Tuesday that it will oppose any federal mandates requiring doctors to determine a patient s immigration status before providing medical care. The organization also restated its policy of lobbying Congress to provide sufficient funding for existing health care programs
Volunteers Take Care of AIDS Patients' Pets: Reuters (12/07/94); Vinzant, Carol; Nationwide, there are 17 animal service organizations for people with AIDS. Pet Owners With AIDS Resource Service (POWARS) helps AIDS patients care for their pets by walking dogs, changing litter boxes, and offering veterinary care. The services allow patients to keep their pets and enjoy their companionship, even when
Across the USA: Alabama: USA Today (12/08/94) P. 8A; An artist in Alabama says he is offended that his paintings of nude men were hidden during an art gallery fund-raiser for children with AIDS. An organizer of the event said the paintings might have scared off donors.
AIDS to Slow Asian Economic Growth, Experts Warn: Reuters (12/08/94); United Nations experts warned that a major HIV epidemic will slow Asia s economic boom. With over 2.5 million estimated HIV infections in South and Southeast Asia, HIV is poised to slow down the pace of economic and social development in the region, said the experts in a statement after two days of talks in Hanoi. Dr.
Protease Inhibitors--Task Force Proposed: AIDS Treatment News (11/04/94) No. 210, P. 1; While attending October s meeting of the National Task Force on AIDS Drug Development, New York AIDS activist Jules Levin proposed the establishment of a high-level task force on protease inhibitors . Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) Commissioner David A. Kessler and Philip R. Lee, Assistant Secretary for Health a
Randomised Trial of Thiacetazone and Rifampicin-Containing Regimens for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Ugandans: Lancet (11/12/94) Vol. 344, No. 8933, P. 1323; Okwera, A.; Whalen, C.; Byekwaso, F. et al; In a randomized clinical trial of HIV-infected patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, researchers studied the safety and short-term efficacy of thiacetazone and rifampicin- containing regimens. Thiacetazone has been associated with cutaneous hypersensitivity and recurrent tuberculosis among HIV-positive patients
Phase I/II Trial Results of Immunogen's Oncolysin (R)B in AIDS Lymphoma Reported at Am. Society of Hematology--Subsequent Study Under Way: PR Newswire (12/05/94); Results of Phase I/II studies of ImmunoGen Inc. s Oncolysin B were reported on Monday at a meeting of the American Society of Hematology. The data showed that Oncolysin B was well tolerated as an adjunct to conventional chemotherapy in patients with AIDS-related lymphoma. The principal investigator in the Phase I/II st
Medarex Receives Approval to Begin AIDS Study in France: Business Wire (12/05/94); Medarex Inc. announced on Monday that France s Agence du Medicament has given it permission to commence Phase I/II studies of its AIDS Bispecific MDX-240 in France. The French studies, under the direction of Jean-Louis Pasquali, will join ongoing studies in Brussels. Pasquali is a professor of clinical immunology at Ho
Viagene Initiates World's First Efficacy Study of a Gene Transfer Product: PR Newswire (12/05/94); Viagene, Inc. has initiated the world s first phase II study of a gene transfer product, HIV-IT (V), which is used to treat HIV infection. This is the largest and the most clinically advanced gene transfer study ever to be initiated and should clearly signal that gene therapy is today s, rather than tomorrow s, technol
AIDS-Day Reports Dodged the Truth: Toronto Globe and Mail (12/05/94) P. C2; Coren, Michael; While many stories on World AIDS Day spoke of how hard AIDS has hit the artists of the world, for an overwhelming majority, their sexuality was neglected, writes Michael Coren in an editorial. Coren questions why this important aspect was omitted because the media are not unaware of the fact; they do not assume that th
Dr. David E. Rogers, 68, a Leader in Medical Education and the Fight on AIDS, Dies: New York Times (12/06/94) P. D23; Altman, Lawrence K.; Leading scientist, medical educator, and co-chairman of the National Commission on AIDS, Dr. David E. Rogers, died of colon cancer at age 68 on Monday. Despite his illness, Rogers left the hospital last Friday to receive an award from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York for his national leadership role in fighting A
Hunt in Forests of Borneo Aims to Track Down Natural Drugs: New York Times (12/06/94) P. C4; Shenon, Philip; Reports from the National Cancer Institute indicate that a substance found in a Malaysian tree called Calophyllum lanigerum destroys HIV in a test tube without killing healthy cells. The material is now being tested on mice at the institute. Extracts from a gum tree in the Borneo jungle, a vine found in West Africa, an
On the Fridge: Washington Post (12/07/94) P. E3; Quartermaine s in the Washington, D.C., area will donate all proceeds from the sale of its Jamaican eastern Blue Mountain coffee to two local charities: the D.C. Central Kitchen, which prepares food for the homeless, and Food & Friends, which provides free fresh meals to homebound people with HIV/AIDS.
A Chance to Talk Openly: Washington Post (12/07/94) P. A1; O'Harrow Jr., Robert; Critics say that Virginia Gov. George Allen s proposal to make sex education an option for local school systems would give the state one of the most conservative sex education policies in the country. There would also be a great difference in what school districts teach. Many parents, students, and teachers are worried
Books: Amazing Grace: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 88; Pela, Robert L.; Queer and Loathing: Rants and Raves of a Raging AIDS Clone, by the late David B. Feinberg, is a collection of previously published magazine articles and speeches, as well as new autobiographical essays. The pieces demonstrate with humor Feinberg s struggle with his own infected status and the forces behind his novels.
Manager Training: Federal Times (11/14/94) Vol. 30, No. 40, P. 43; HIV and AIDS education programs are being offered to agency managers by the Agriculture Department Graduate School . Special Issues for Supervisors and Managers targets managers who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses among staffers. It covers subjects such as legal issues, federal policy, and the emotional psy
On Shaky Ground: Advocate (11/29/94) No. 669, P. 36; Gallagher, John; Although San Francisco General Hospital s Ward 5A is internationally known for the AIDS care it provides, it faces many problems because of government cost-cutting and the changing economics of the health care industry. San Francisco General, like other public hospitals across the country, must keep its costs low and c
NZ Court Puts Kenyan on Trial in AIDS Case: Reuters (12/04/94); The trial of a Kenyan musician who is charged with willfully infecting a woman with HIV began in New Zealand on Monday. The man pleaded not guilty to charges of transmitting the virus that causes AIDS to one women and endangering the lives of another four. If convicted, he will face up to 14 years in prison.
AIDS Victim's Parents, Friend at Odds over Burial: Chicago Tribune (12/05/94) P. 1-3; A legal battle has erupted between the parents of a Michigan man, O Jay Bewley, and the man s lover of 12 years. The man, who died of AIDS-related complications, left a will but did not indicate where he wanted to be buried. The parents want him buried near their home in Texas, but their son s longtime companion wants
Clean Needles Slow AIDS: New York Times (12/06/94) P. A22; The evidence that researchers in New York City found that providing clean needles to drug addicts can slow the spread of HIV strengthens the case for needle exchange programs in New York and all other cities with injection drug users at risk, write the editors of the New York Times. Thus far, no study has measured a no
In Romanian Port, Orphans Suffer with Poverty, Neglect and AIDS: Journal of Commerce (12/06/94) P. 7B; Dascalu, Roxana; In Romania , children have been the worst hit by AIDS. More than 90 percent of all known cases of HIV-infection are in children under the age of 12. The source of infection is believed to be blood sold by poor sailors, which went immediately to the areas of greatest need, such as hospitals and orphanages. One half of
Two Similar Cases of Dentists, AIDS: Washington Post (Health) (12/06/94) P. 5; Boodman, Sandra G.; Two Florida dentists are suspected on infecting their patients with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded in the first case that Dr. David Acer somehow transmitted HIV to six of his patients during dental procedures. In the second case, the CDC decided that the dentist in question did not
SEPTA Loses AIDS Privacy Judgment: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/06/94) P. B1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; A federal court jury concluded that a SEPTA manager s constitutional right to privacy was violated when an administrator discovered he his illness with AIDS during a review of employee prescription claims. The jury also found that the administrator, Judith Pierce, violated the manager s privacy. Although Pierce was not
H.I.V. As a Defense in a Murder Trial: New York Times (12/06/94) P. A14; Dunlap, David W.; An approaching murder trial in Laurel, Miss., has many gay organizers worried that the case may be decided on whether the two homosexual victims were infected with HIV. J. Ronald Parrish, the lawyer for the defense, said he will argue that the accused shot the two men when they tried to sexually assault him. Parrish sa
Medical Briefs: Cell-Based Therapy on Trial: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 44; Researchers from Activated Cell Therapy Inc. and the Stanford University School of Medicine will study a cell-based therapy created to boost the immune systems of people with HIV. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Strategic Program for Innovative Research on AIDS Treatment has provided a grant f
HIV RNA--Time to Wake Up and Save Lives: AIDS Treatment News (11/04/94) No. 210, P. 3; James, John S.; HIV RNA tests should be used in numerous small, rapid trials to learn how to better use the drugs already available and others which could be made available, writes John S. James, editor of AIDS Treatment News. Although many researchers agree with this strategy, most want to first conduct other trials to prove that HIV
HIV-1 Subtype C in Brazil: Lancet (11/12/94) Vol. 344, No. 8933, P. 1354; Csillag, Claudio; Four cases of HIV-1 type C have been identified in Brazil . The discovery is important, says Ester Sabino--who discovered the one C case in Sao Paulo--because the C subtype might be more easily heterosexually transmitted than other strains. Transmission is predominantly heterosexual in I
Egypt Reports 375 AIDS Cases: Reuters (12/01/94); Egypt has documented 375 AIDS cases since the disease was first identified there about 15 years ago, and about 178 Egyptians have died from the disease, reports Ali Abdel-Fattah el-Makhzanji, the country s health minister. Foreigners living in Egypt must pass an AIDS test, and are deported if the test results come ba
West Covering Up AIDS Infection Rate, Zambia Says: Reuters (12/01/94); Winton, Neil; Industrialized nations have experienced a greater spread of AIDS among people, and the true rate of infection in these countries is actually much higher than official figures suggest, Zambian Health Minister Michael Sata accused on Thursday. We in Africa are not ashamed to admit the extent of AIDS, he said. We do not h
US Firms Are Faulted on AIDS Awareness: Boston Globe (12/02/94) P. 65; Lewis, Diane E.; AIDS activists said on Thursday that only one-third of U.S. companies have provided employees with AIDS awareness training --some of which were one-time events. At a World AIDS Day breakfast, Larry Kessler--founder and director of the AIDS Action Committee in Boston--said, There are still companies-- most of them small
AIDS Epidemic Spreads: Houston Chronicle (12/02/94) P. 7A; David Satcher, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced Thursday that AIDS is the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 25 and 44. Satcher also said that the disease has moved dramatically into the heterosexual community and that the transmission rate there is inc
SEPTA Manager with AIDS Says He Was 'Consumed' by Fear: Philadelphia Inquirer (12/03/94) P. B3; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; A SEPTA manager, identified only as John Doe, told a federal jury on Friday that since he discovered that a top administrator learned he has AIDS while reviewing employee prescription records, he has been consumed by fear and depression. Doe completed the final day of testimony in his invasion-of-privacy suit against S
Elizabeth Glaser Dies at 47; Crusader for Pediatric AIDS: New York Times (12/05/94) P. B10; Kennedy, Randy; Pediatric AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser has died of AIDS- related complications at the age of 47. Glaser, who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion in 1981, unknowingly passed the virus on to her two children. At the Democratic National Convention during the 1992 Presidential campaign, Glaser told of the death in
Man with HIV Held for Intent to Murder: Washington Times (12/05/94) P. C3; Charges of assault with intent to murder have been filed against an HIV-positive man from Carroll County, Md., who police claim raped his eight-year-old step-grandson. The case represents the first time in the county that prosecutors have used the charge against someone who they said knew he was infected with HIV. In a
CDC Links Rifabutin Use to Uveitis in Some Patients: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 159; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the use of rifabutin for prophylaxis for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) has caused uveitis in some patients. Uveitis is an inflammatory eye condition characterized by pain, redness, and temporary or permanent loss of vision. The condition has occurred in pa
Cutbacks at AmFAR: Advocate (11/29/94) No. 669, P. 16; The American Foundation for AIDS Research ( AmFAR ) announced on Oct. 21 that it was eliminating 11 jobs due to a decline in donations. No AIDS programs, however, will be cut. Sadly, AIDS is no longer seen as a public-health emergency, and that has impacted our ability to raise funds, said AmFAR president Dr. Mervyn S
Needle-Exchange Program Results Showing Trend Toward Treatment: Boston Globe (12/01/94) P. 35; Kong, Dolores; An assessment of Massachusetts needle-exchange pilot program indicates that 13 percent of the 1,200 participants have begun taking treatment for their drug addictions. The program aims to help reduce the spread of the HIV at a time when infection in the state has climbed from 12 percent of intravenous drug users in 198
Bureaucracy in India Hobbles AIDS Fight: Toronto Globe and Mail (12/01/94) P. A16; Stackhouse, John; India s governmental efforts to combat the spread of AIDS are impeded by a massive domestic bureaucracy. In the first three years of operation, the country s National AIDS Control Program has spent less than 50 percent of the funding provided by foreign agencies. There are all kinds of problems, explained Lev Khodakevi
AIDS Protesters Block Paris Champs-Elysees: Reuters (12/01/94); Members of the group Act Up staged a public display on Thursday in protest of an international AIDS conference being held in Paris, France . Some 70 demonstrators lay on the ground across the Champs-Elysees, in front of the Arc de Triomphe, and held banners that criticized global inaction in the AIDS prevention arena.
AIDS Demonstrators and Pro-Lifers Clash in Madrid: Reuters (12/01/94); Dozens of demonstrators commemorating World AIDS Day yesterday, many of them wearing symbolic red ribbons, clashed with members of an anti-abortion lobby in Madrid. A handful of the pro-life protesters were hoisting a banner reading Promiscuity causes AIDS, and the AIDS protesters proceeded to douse them with red paint
AIDS Group Drops Plan to Boycott World Conference: Reuters (12/01/94); After their demands for increased funding were met by the government of British Columbia, a coalition of Canadian AIDS groups on Thursday said it would abandon plans to boycott the international AIDS conference to be held in Vancouver in 1996. The coalition announced in April its intention to boycott the event, which i
AIDS-Related Product Enters Mass Media: Wall Street Journal (12/02/94) P. B5; Goldman, Kevin; Mass media advertisements for the nutritional supplement Advera, a treatment for AIDS-related progressive weight loss from the Ross Products Division of Advera Laboratories, are stirring up controversy. The advertisements were created by Interpublic Group s LCF&L agency and are believed to be the first AIDS-related
Asia Razzles and Dazzles on World AIDS Day: Reuters (12/01/94); On Thursday, World AIDS Day, events were held across Asia in an effort to boost awareness of the disease. In Bombay, India , a parade was held to mark the day, while students in Phnom Penh, Cambodia , gathered in a stadium to acknowledge ignorance about AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases. Although the
Amid Darkness and Protest, Citizens Mark World AIDS Day: New York Times (12/02/94) P. B3; Yesterday, a number of demonstrations and other public activities were staged to mark World AIDS Day. An Act Up demonstration in New York City resulted in 19 arrests for disorderly conduct. The city s Metropolitan Museum of Art draped several exhibitions in black, observing a Day Without Art. At City Hall, a coalition
AIDS Effort Shifts to Treat Society's Economic Health: Christian Science Monitor (12/02/94) P. 2; Moffett, George; While the focus on coping with AIDS has in the last decade emphasized the health of individuals, the next decade will shift that focus to include the economic well-being of families and societies--who are jeopardized by the continuing AIDS pandemic. The economic implications of AIDS have been underappreciated, but now
Paris Meeting Backs U.N. Program to Combat AIDS: New York Times (12/02/94) P. A12; Riding, Alan; At the Paris AIDS summit, representatives from 42 nations acknowledged that worldwide efforts to curb the spread of AIDS have been ineffective, and promised to increase their political support for a new United Nations program that focuses on prevention and combating AIDS-related discrimination. The international leader
Searle Abandons Its Protease Inhibitor: AIDS Treatment News (11/04/94) No. 210, P. 1; Searle announced on Nov. 4 that it was halting development of its protease inhibitor SC-52151 because although there have been promising laboratory results, two clinical trials have shown no indication of antiviral activity in people. Laboratory tests show that the addition of the AAG protein causes SC-52151 to lose
Intersecting Epidemics--Crack Cocaine Use and HIV Infection among Inner-City Young Adults: New England Journal of Medicine (11/24/94) Vol. 331, No. 21, P. 1422; Edlin, Brian R.; Irwin, Kathleen L.; Faruque, Sairus et al; Edlin et al studied 1967 people between the ages of 18 and 29 from inner-city communities in Miami, New York City, and San Francisco who had never smoked crack to determine the relationship between smoking crack cocaine and HIV infection. Smoking crack is thought to be associated with high-risk sexual practices that ac
Between Death and Hope: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/30/94) P. E1; Klein, Julia M.; Award-winning poet Mark Doty often deals with AIDS indirectly, through metaphor. Two of his works, My Alexandria and the upcoming Atlantis, explore possibilities of redemption and transcendence even in loss, instead of railing against cruel fate or an indifferent society. One of the things that illness, that mortality
For Artists Struck Down by AIDS, a Day to Help: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/30/94) P. E1; Klein, Julia M.; After just three years, Day Without Art--a period of mourning and an expression of support for persons with HIV or AIDS--has become a tradition. Day Without Art, the focus of World AIDS Day in the Philadelphia area, highlights the extent to which the arts have been hit by AIDS-related deaths. Observance in Philadelphia
Around the Nation: Addenda: Washington Post (11/26/94) P. A16; A 90-year-old man has tested HIV-positive after being bitten to the bone during an attack by an HIV-infected woman. The man may be the first person ever to have contracted HIV through a bite, said West Palm Beach, Fla., authorities.
World AIDS Day to Focus on Disease's Toll on Family: Baltimore Sun (12/01/94) P. 1A; Selby, Holly; The focus of the seventh annual World AIDS Day, an observance begun by the United Nations to bring attention to the estimated 14 million people who are living with AIDS or HIV, is on the disease s effects on families. In Maryland, where 5,637 people have died of AIDS, Gov. William Donald Schaefer is urging people who k
Caremark Settles an AIDS Suit: New York Times (12/01/94) P. D8; Caremark International Inc. has settled a lawsuit in which an AIDS patient accused the company of paying kickbacks to doctors. Caremark said only that while the settlement provided no money to the plaintiff, the company will pay the Atlanta man s legal costs. The suit accused Caremark of participating in a nationwide k
Extended Survival, New Drugs Give Hope on World AIDS Day: Washington Times (12/01/94) P. A6; Price, Joyce; On World AIDS Day, research pioneer Robert Gallo has found some reasons for hope after 14 years of the AIDS epidemic. He points to the increase in long-term survival and how more people are remaining symptom-free for longer periods of time. The variations in the rate of progression of HIV could be caused either by vari
Human Tests Near on Oral AIDS Vaccine: New York Times (12/01/94) P. A18; Patients were enrolled at San Francisco General Hospital this week for the first human test of an oral AIDS vaccine. An oral vaccine, said Dr. James Kahn, was easier to administer than an injected medicine and stimulated the body to fight HIV at it first line of defense--the fluids of the membranes that line the digest
Most New Cases of AIDS in D.C. Hit Drug Users: Washington Post (12/01/94) P. A1; Goldstein, Amy; In Washington, D.C., AIDS is now appearing most often in heterosexual men and women, especially those who use intravenous drugs. A total of 226 heterosexual drug users who became infected by sharing contaminated needles were diagnosed with AIDS during the first nine months of the year, compared with 199 men who were in
CRA Sees the Need and Acts: United States Conference of Mayors: AIDS Information Exchange (10/94) Vol. 11, No. 3, P. 7; The Chicago Recovery Alliance (CRA) was founded in 1991 to address the issues of HIV and recovery from drug problems. Although Illinois has both a prescription and a paraphernalia law, there is a provision that exempts research activities, thus carrying out needle exchange programs as research projects would be legal.
Medical Briefs: False Positives from Vaccine: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 44; A person who has previously had a rabies vaccination could falsely test HIV-positive, reported researchers in the August issue of Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. A 32- year-old woman, who worked in an animal care facility, had received a series of three rabies vaccinations. While the ELISA was reactive
Gay Writer Looks Back on Progress: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/24/94) P. G8; Grossmann, Mary Ann; Edmund White, an HIV-positive writer living in Paris, has written a short-story collection to be published in May. Six of the eight stories in Skinned Alive are about AIDS. Currently, he is writing a novel titled The Farewell Symphony because it is like that Haydn symphony when all the musicians get up and leave except
Shelter Will Open Doors to Homeless with HIV: Boston Globe (11/24/94) P. 74; Dowdy, Zachary R.; Officials at the Pine Street Inn in Dorchester, Mass., announced plans last week to provide a home for 10 HIV- infected people. Scheduled to open in June, Rockwell House will offer case management and other services for those with special needs. Dorchester s Public Facilities Department will fund renovation of the hous
Red Cross Official Faces Hostility: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/29/94) P. A3; Platiel, Rudy; Doug Lindores, secretary-general of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC), declared that Canada s blood supply has never been safer and that he would not hesitate to authorize its use for his family in a life-threatening situation. Instead of alleviating the public s fears about the blood supply, Lindores faced criticism from s
Ritualizing Grief, Love and Politics: New York Times (11/30/94) P. B1; Navarro, Mireya; Over the past decade, memorial services have become a distinct ritual for the gay population. In addition to grieving and crying, participants rail against the government and advocate more medical research. James A. Baggett, an organizer of political funerals, said that the funerals have allowed people to see the face
Across the USA: Florida: USA Today (11/30/94) P. 8A; Memorial services will be held Thursday in Venice, Fla., for Gary Kangesier, age 40. Kangesier died of a heart attack on Saturday. In an attempt to force him out of his job as town plumber, the city sued Kangesier in 1989 because he had AIDS. City officials worried that he would contaminate the water. Kangesier was awa
Shalala Seeks to Heal Rift with Paris over AIDS Test: Baltimore Sun (11/30/94) P. 4A; In an attempt to end a fierce years-long dispute between the United States and France over royalties for an AIDS test, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala on Tuesday called for a new era of research cooperation. Relations between scientists at the Pasteur Institute and the U.S. National Institutes of H
AIDS Spread in Africa Is Focus of Meeting: New York Times (11/30/94) P. A8; One of the major topics at the 42-nation conference on AIDS that opens Thursday will be the spread of AIDS in Africa. Researchers said Tuesday that in order to slow the spread of AIDS in Africa, it is necessary to determine why efforts to change people s high-risk sexual behavior have failed. Luc Montagnier, the French
Ex-Boss Defends AIDS Review: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/30/94) P. B1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; Judith Pierce, a former SEPTA administrator, on Tuesday defended her decision to review the health costs of workers infected with HIV. Before a federal court jury, Pierce claimed the review was legal and necessary for her job of controlling health costs for the transit authority s workers. Her decision caused a SEPTA m
CDC Ponders Changes in HIV/AIDS Office: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 159; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may conduct a significant reorganization of its office of HIV/AIDS. An external advisory committee concluded that the 10 separate departments that deal with HIV/AIDS activities overlap and are inefficient. The changes could result either in an improved existing cente
Around the Nation: Connecticut/Texas: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 18; Artist Donell Hill is suing the nuns who insisted that Hill s exhibit on sex and AIDS be moved from the San Antonio, Texas, gallery that they operate. Hill is asking that the nuns be forced to reopen his show entitled Spiritual, Sensual, Sexual. In other AIDS-related events, construction began last month in New Haven,
Developer Claims Success for Urine AIDS Test: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11/24/94) P. 3C; Signor, Roger; Dr. Howard B. Urnovitz, chief scientific officer of Calypte Biomedical Corp., has developed a new urine test for AIDS which, he says, will detect infections in millions of people who may unknowingly have the disease and may be infecting others. The urine test is less expensive to process and easier to perform than the
Area Restaurants Will Contribute to AIDS Effort: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11/25/94) P. 2B; As part of Dining Out for Life St. Louis, more than 50 area restaurants will donate 20 percent of Tuesday night s proceeds to benefit the St. Louis Effort for AIDS. Participating restaurants include Cafe de France , LoRusso s Cucina, Nantucket Cove, and Tucker s Place in Soulard.
Finding Hope in the 'Losses': Washington Post (11/28/94) P. C7; Brace, Eric; Significant Losses: Artist Who Have Died From AIDS, an exhibit at the University of Maryland Art Galley, is dedicated to the memory of those in the University of Maryland community who have died of AIDS. The show, which features nearly 50 works by professional artists who have died from AIDS, is the result of a conver
Manager Sues SEPTA After HIV Is Disclosed: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/29/94) P. B1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; An HIV-positive SEPTA manager who calls himself John Doe is suing SEPTA and former chief administrative officer Judith Pierce for invasion of privacy. Officials of the transit authority say they accidentally found out Doe was infected while reviewing an audit of prescription benefits that included the names of SEPTA em
State Delay of Funds Hurting AIDS Services: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/29/94) P. B1; Collins, Huntly; AIDS activists in Pennsylvania said Monday that a five-month delay in awarding $5.5 million in state and federal funds has jeopardized services to thousands of HIV-infected residents. The delay has already forced the closure of two rural AIDS programs. Federal funds under the Ryan White CARE Act are awarded to the Penn
250 New Housing Units for AIDS Patients Is Among Priorities of the State Legislature: New York Times (11/29/94) P. B7; Sullivan, Joseph F.; The most recent bill in the New Jersey Legislature would provide 250 units of housing in five urban areas for people with AIDS or HIV and their families. Senate president Donald T. DiFrancesco sponsored the measure, which he called a compassionate response to a pressing need. The National Commission on AIDS estimates t
Genentech Inc. Halts AIDS Therapy Work to Focus on Vaccine: Wall Street Journal (11/29/94) P. B6; Genentech Inc. has halted development of a potential treatment for HIV-infected people, but the company says it will continue testing the drug gp120 as a vaccine for preventing spread of the disease. The drug was designed to slow the onset of AIDS- related symptoms after infection with HIV. Phase II clinical trials,
After Setback, First Large AIDS Vaccine Trials Are Planned: New York Times (11/29/94) P. C3; Altman, Lawrence K.; The World Health Organization (WHO)is planning the first large trials of the two most widely tested experimental AIDS vaccines, both of which are derived from the gp120 protein. Plans for testing the vaccines in the United States were rejected in June. The vaccines have already been through the first two stages of a th
Is My Cat a Danger to My Health?: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 43; Cohan, Gary R.; While pets are a good choice for emotional and spiritual support, they do pose a serious health risk to HIV-infected people. The risks, however, can be decreased through a few precautions in the routine care of the cat. Toxoplasmosis, the most serious hazard, is an infection of the brain with the parasite Toxoplasma go
December 1 is World AIDS Day: Wholesale Drugs Magazine (11/94-12/94) Vol. 46, No. 11, P. 26; At 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 1, the White House will dim its lights for 15 minutes in observance of World AIDS Day and in tribute to those who are affected by HIV and AIDS. The theme of World AIDS Day this year is AIDS and Families: Protect and Care For the Ones We Love. The World Health Organization estimates that approxi
When Parents Are Dying: Governing (11/94) Vol. 8, No. 2, P. 16; Perlman, Ellen; Many states and the federal government have begun exploring standby guardianship. By the time parents make plans for their children, it s often too late and the state has to step in and make a decision, says Terry Zealand, head of the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. A 1992 New York state law allows a parent to d
Invitation to Fight AIDS: Washington Post (Home) (11/24/94) P. 5; Ross, Nancy L.; For the first time, the public will be invited to the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) winter benefit to be held Dec. 1-3. The effort is an attempt to broaden DIFFA s base of contributors. During the past decade, DIFFA has raised over $19 million nationwide for AIDS research and treatment. Two benefit
Study Says Crack Addicts Selling Sex for Drugs Are Spreading AIDS Virus: Washington Post (11/24/94) P. A24; Researchers examining drug use in New York, Miami, and San Francisco have found that crack cocaine is helping to spread HIV to heterosexuals in poor, inner-city communities. Desperate for a new hit, crack addicts are selling sex in exchange for drugs or money. The result is that HIV is spreading through the communities
Single National Body Urged to Run Blood System: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/25/94) P. A2; Coutts, Jane; The Canadian Public Health Association has called for a single national body to run the country s blood system. Dr. Rick Mathias, a member of the group that prepared the report, said that if one body was responsible for the blood system a decade ago, at least some of the 1,000 people infected with HIV might not have ca
Capitol Hill Turbulence Challenges AIDS Chief: Baltimore Sun (11/26/94) P. 3A; Selby, Holly; At a time when activists are calling the new Congress a disaster for anyone attempting to get federal funding or develop new programs to fight AIDS, Patricia S. Fleming--who has taken charge of the office of AIDS policy--seems undaunted by the prospects. Fleming believes that the key to making progress can be found on
Across the USA: D.C.: USA Today (11/28/94) P. 12A; On Thursday, World AIDS Day, AIDS activist Steve Michael will initiate an effort to recall District of Columbia Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans. Michael claims that Evans has not done enough to fight the spread of HIV since gaining the position and defeating gay candidate James Zais.
World Bank to Emphasize AIDS as Economic Threat: Washington Post (11/28/94) P. A7; Brown, David; The importance of AIDS as a threat to economic development will be the World Bank s emphasis in a new campaign of lending to AIDS-ravaged countries. A World Bank official said that the effect of the disease on income and work force skills is not widely appreciated, both in the governments of the countries most affected
Epidemiology: Targeting an Ally of HIV: Washington Post (11/28/94) P. A2; Cyclosporin A, a drug used to help prevent rejection of transplanted organs, may slow progression of AIDS by binding with the protein cyclophilin A. Two studies by research teams from Columbia University and Harvard University have found that HIV apparently needs cyclophilin A in order to duplicate itself. Other AIDS e
A Cluster of Tuberculosis among Crack House Contacts in San Mateo County, California: American Journal of Public Health (11/94) Vol. 84, No. 11, P. 1834; Leonhardt, Kathryn Kraft; Gentile, Felicia; Gilbert, Bradley P. et al; A total of 89 people were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in San Mateo, Calif., in March 1992. Fifteen percent, including 11 children, had active pulmonary TB. The contacts all either lived in or visited one of two crack cocaine houses. The index case, whose transient residence of several dwellings contributed to the
Red Hot+New: Advocate (11/01/94) No. 667, P. 76; Walters, Barry; Two new benefit albums will raise funds for AIDS education and relief. Red Hot+Country is a collection in which country music stars sing songs or adopt styles that influenced their musical growth. The albums includes Kathy Mattea, Dolly Parton, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The second album, Stolen Moments, crosses rapper
Efficient Neutralization of Primary Isolates of HIV-1 by a Recombinant Human Monoclonal Antibody: Science (11/11/94) Vol. 266, No. 5187, P. 1024; Burton, Dennis R.; Pyati, Jayashree; Koduri, Raju et al; The inability of antibodies designed to neutralize primary isolates of HIV-1 has impeded the development of an HIV-1 vaccine. Burton et al created a recombinant human antibody to envelope glycoprotein gp120. It was used to demonstrate that primary isolates are not refractory to antibody neutralization. The recombinant
Behavioral Science in the AIDS Epidemic: Lancet (11/12/94) Vol 344, No. 8933, P. 1312; Watters, John K.; There is growing evidence that public health measures, such as outreach programs for intravenous drug users and increased access to sterile needles, have reduced the frequency of behaviors known to transmit bloodborne diseases--including HIV, writes John K. Watters of the Institute for Health Policy Studies. Despite su
Tennis--Chris and Martina to Reunite for 1995 Legends Tour: Reuters (11/21/94); Retired tennis stars Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova will take part in the women s Legends Tour next year, announced tour sponsor Virginia Slims on Monday. The two will resume their legendary rivalry as they face off in a singles shoot- out competition each of the six weekends of the tour. Players who have already
Genesis House and Mercy Hospital to Hold 'Vigil Mass of Hope' to Highlight World AIDS Day: PR Newswire (11/21/94); A Vigil Mass of Hope, sponsored by Genesis House of the Archdiocese of Miami and Mercy Hospital, in conjunction with the South Florida World AIDS Day Coalition, will be held Nov. 30 to emphasize World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. The Mass will be led by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy with Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh of Catholic Com
Liposome Technology's DOX-SL Drug Shown to Be Efficacious in Treating AIDS Patients with Advanced Kaposi's Sarcoma; Liposome Technology Clinical Investigators Present Clinical Trial Data at Glasgow AIDS Meeting: Business Wire (11/22/94); Data presented at the Second International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection in Glasgow, Scotland, show that Liposome Technology s DOX-SL is a safe and effective therapy for patients with advanced AIDS-related Kaposi s sarcoma (KS). DOX-SL is a long-circulating STEALTH liposome formulation of the anticancer age
Judge: Doctor Failed to Aid AIDS Patient: Chicago Tribune (11/22/94) P. 1-4; A U.S. District Judge has ruled that a doctor violated the Americans With Disabilities Act when he refused to treat a man at a hospital because he had AIDS. Fred Charon went to Memorial Hospital in Fremont, Ohio, in April 1992 because of a fever and other symptoms, but was refused admittance and taken 45 miles away to
Critics Question BioChem Surge: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/23/94) P. B1; Many analysts reacted skeptically to the surge in BioChem Pharm Inc. stock on Tuesday, following the announcement of successful test results for its AIDS drug 3TC . Yorkton Securities Inc. issued a report stating, Popular press overreacts, and pointing out that three other AIDS drugs for use with
AZT Patent Ruling: Wall Street Journal (11/23/94) P. B4; The U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld most of a previous ruling awarding exclusive patents for AZT to Burroughs Wellcome Co. The court ruled that Burroughs was the sole inventor for five out of six patents because it conceived of using the drug on AIDS patients before obtaining the results of early tests. The court opin
CDC Updates OI Prevention Guidelines with Emphasis on Avoiding Exposure: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 149; Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expect new recommendations for the prophylaxis of opportunistic infections, including the first comprehensive guidelines on how HIV-infected patients can avoid exposure to infectious organisms, to be published by the end of the year. The recommendations
Hydroxurea as an Inhibitor of Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Type 1 Replication: Science (11/04/94) Vol. 266, No. 5186, P. 801; Lori, Franco; Malykh, Andrei; Cara, Andrea et al; Hydroxurea, a drug that has been used for the past 30 years to treat human malignancies, may be a potential candidate for AIDS therapy. Using non-toxic doses of the drug, researcher Franco Lori and colleagues discovered that hydroxurea indirectly inhibits HIV-1 replication. The antiviral effect was achieved in acutely
The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium to Hold Press Conference: PR Newswire (11/18/94); In correlation with several other press conferences being held throughout the state, the Philadelphia AIDS Consortium will hold a press conference on Nov. 28 to address Pennsylvania s failure to fund any services for persons living with HIV/AIDS since July, 1994. Also at issue is the state s failure to supply providers
Canada's Native Leaders Warn of AIDS Catastrophe: Reuters (11/18/94); Canada s native leaders announced Friday that natives were testing HIV-positive at an alarming rate and that AIDS was threatening to wipe out their people. The leaders urged the Canadian government to help stop the spread of the disease. AIDS poses a real threat to young natives and possibly the future of native people
A Place at the Table: Boston Globe (11/18/94) P. 22; The Boston Living Center is a nonprofit center that offers conversation, companionship, and wholesome food year-round to men and women with AIDS or HIV, write the editors of The Boston Globe. The center s Celebration of Life Thanksgiving dinner will be held Nov. 22 at the Hynes Convention Center Ballroom for all people
Free HIV/AIDS Information Available by Fax on World AIDS Day: PR Newswire (11/21/94); On World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA), in cooperation with AT&T, will provide an 800 number to provide up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS. This is a great opportunity for care providers, educators and people living with HIV, who have access to a fax machine, to receive time
GelTex Awarded $2 Million Grant from U.S. Commerce Dept. to Develop Non-Absorbable Therapies for Infectious Diseases: PR Newswire (11/21/94); The U.S. Commerce Department s Advanced Technology Program (ATP) has awarded GelTex Pharmaceuticals a $2 million grant to develop non-absorbable therapies for infectious diseases. The basis for GelTex s therapeutic approach is the development of non-absorbable polymers with structures and chemistries that permit select
Hemacare Updates Regulatory Status of HIV/AIDS Clinical Research: Business Wire (11/21/94); Hemacare Corp. announced Monday the completion of a virus inactivation study of its manufacturing method for the production of Immupath, an anti-HIV hyperimmune plasma. The results will be sent to the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) for review and possible lifting of the clinical hold on the company s Phase III in
Across the USA: Ohio: USA Today (11/22/94) P. 6A; An Ohio judge has ruled that Dr. Charles Hull violated federal law when he refused to treat Fred Charon, who had AIDS. Once you get an AIDS patient in the hospital, you never get him out, a witness testified that Hull said. Hull claimed he did not mean anything derogatory in the statement.
AIDS Drug Lifts BioChem Shares: Financial Times (11/22/94) P. 23; BioChem Pharma s stock soared to C$17.25 on Monday, up nine percent on the Toronto stock exchange after the release of promising clinical data for its anti-AIDS drug, 3TC . The results from two separate studies released at a conference in Glasgow, Scotland, found that a combination of 3TC and Wellcome Plc s
Around the World: Australia/Colombia/Switzerland: Advocate (11/01/94) No. 667, P. 20; Health officials in Melbourne, Australia , ordered an HIV- positive man to be detained in a hospital Sept. 17. The man violated two restraining orders by engaging in behavior that placed the public at risk for HIV, officials said. In other international AIDS-related news, an HIV-infected Colombian man --convicted of se
College HIV Rate Holds Steady, but Risk of Exposure Remains High: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 153; Recent results of the largest study of HIV seroprevalence at U.S. colleges show that transmission among students is rare. Health officials, however, say that more counseling and testing is needed at some colleges. There is a lot of sex, a lot of sexual experimentation, and there is the potential [for HIV transmission].
Ex Vivo Therapies Acquires Caremark Interest In...: Business Wire (11/17/94); Applied Immune Sciences Inc. (AIS) announced on Thursday that Ex vivo Therapies (ExVT) has purchased Caremark International s 50-percent interest in a joint venture with AIS for the commercialization of AIDS therapies in North America. Ex vivo is a joint venture between AIS and Rhone- Poulenc Rorer Inc. AIS also report
U.S. AIDS Doctor Dismisses New Treatment: Reuters (11/17/94); Passive Immune Therapy (PIT) has been dismissed as having minimal benefit by Dr. Michael Gottleib, the American doctor who discovered AIDS. I think it s very likely that people with HIV will have their hopes dashed; people are going to flounder (and) not know what to believe, he said. PIT involves monthly transfusions
Zamora Memorial: USA Today (11/21/94) P. 1D; Thomas, Karen; On Sunday, more than 1,000 people attended a memorial service for AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, who died from AIDS-related complications on Nov. 11. Zamora co-starred in MTV s Real World, which followed the lives of a group of young people sharing a house. Gay rights activists and Christian-right protesters clashed at th
AIDS Toll on Elderly: Dying Grandchildren: New York Times (11/21/94) P. A1; Lee, Felicia R.; Grandmothers across the United States are increasingly being presented with a new role--they are caring for adult children dying of AIDS and for the grandchildren--who might also be infected--who are left behind. Experts estimate that 125,000 children could lose their mothers to AIDS by the year 2000. The children are
Needle Sticks Drop at VA: Washington Times (11/21/94) P. A5; Amid increased fear of contracting AIDS or hepatitis from patients blood, a study has found that needle injuries to staff at Veterans Affairs hospitals have decreased 19 percent. The report, prepared by the General Accounting Office (GAO) for Rep. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said that VA officials do not know if the decrease i
Niger Muslims Protest Anti-AIDS Campaign: Washington Times (11/21/94) P. A16; Thousands of Muslims protested the Nigerian government s AIDS education and prevention campaign. The year-old media and poster campaign was denounced as promoting adultery. The radio and the television belong to the people of Niger, and we will not tolerate the Western destruction of the moral and religious codes of ou
AIDS Bill Hurts Russian Tourism: Wall Street Journal (11/21/94) P. A12; Tourism in Russia has already been affected by the Russian legislative bill to require AIDS tests of all foreigners entering the country. The tourism agency said, We faced a flood of cancellations of trips after lawmakers began debating the bill. If the bill becomes law, said AO Intourist- -a large Russian tour operato
Glaxo to Pursue Development of 3TC, Drug to Treat AIDS and Hepatitis B: Wall Street Journal (11/21/94) P. B5; Moore, Stephen D.; Glaxo Holding PLC plans to continue development of its AIDS and hepatitis B drug, 3TC . Citing promising results, Glaxo will apply for regulatory approval of 3TC as an AIDS treatment in combination with AZT or Retrovir early next year. Recent trials show that the combination of 3TC and AZT/Re
Dancing in Death's House: Newsweek (11/07/94) Vol. 124, No. 19, P. 66; Shapiro, Laura; Since November 1992, Bill T. Jones, a choreographer living with HIV, has traveled to 11 cities around the United States to conduct what he calls survival workshops. He videotapes the four-hour sessions with groups of people, ages 11 to 75, who have life-threatening illnesses such as HIV or ovarian cancer. Jones has in
Park's New Fight: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 20; Middleweight boxer Lamar Parks is HIV-infected. He abruptly canceled his March 4 title bout with World Boxing Council champ Gerald McClellan because of his deteriorating health. Parks won five South Carolina Golden Gloves championships and three Southeast regional titles as an amateur. As a pro, he was 28-1 and would h
Pediatric HIV Reclassified to Improve Diagnosis, Treatment: AIDS Alert (11/94) Vol. 9, No. 11, P. 156; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its definition of HIV for children under age 13. Based on new knowledge of HIV progression in children, the changes will update and simplify the coding process for the estimated 7,000 to 8,000 children in the United States who are infected each year. T
What is MAC? How Serious Can It Be?: Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 44; Cohan, Gary R.; One of the most serious and life-threatening AIDS complications is mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The disease comes from the same family as tuberculosis and is commonly found in soil, food, dust, and water. Untreated MAC makes an AIDS patient look and feel as if he were dying from the disease. During the 1980s, MAC
Sensitivity of United States HIV Antibody Tests for Detection of HIV-1 Group O Infections: Lancet (11/12/94) Vol. 344, No. 8933, P. 1333; Schable, Charles; Zekeng, Leopold; Pau, Chou-Pong et al; Certain European HIV screening tests do not always detect the highly divergent group O strains of HIV-1, which were first discovered in central Africa. Researchers tested eight serum samples from likely group O infections from Cameroon with 10 HIV tests licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While the assay
Helping Charities the Latest Trend among Fashion Models: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (11/16/94); Cindy Crawford and other models have formed an AIDS charity, Determined Involved Supermodels Helping to End Suffering (DISHES). In a benefit for pediatric AIDS patients, the group s first event was at skating rink on Tuesday. Other projects include a 1995 swimsuit calendar and an exercise video.
Tainted Blood and Violated Privacy: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/14/94) P. A14; Mr. Justice Douglas Carruthers of the Ontario Court s General Division ruled last week that the Canadian Red Cross must release the names of HIV-infected former blood donors to health officials. The judgment, write the editors of the Toronto Globe and Mail, poses a serious threat to the privacy rights of all Canadians.
Mothers, Babies in Partnership Against AIDS: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11/17/94) P. 6B; Although scientists believe that maternal-infant transmission can be almost completely prevented, there is a drawback to the findings that support this theory, write the editors of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pregnant women would have to be tested for HIV. Those who test positive would have to follow a rigorous schedu
The TV Column: Washington Post (11/18/94) P. F6; Carmody, John; As part of its 1994 AIDS Prevention Campaign, the Whitman- Walker Clinic in Washington, D.C., has kicked off a new television ad campaign. The 30-second commercial, which will be shown on seven different stations, advocates HIV testing, condom use, and safer sex.
AIDS Increasing at Slower Pace than Initially Feared; New Definition Led to Skew: Baltimore Sun (11/18/94) P. 29A; Although a revised definition of AIDS caused an increase in the number of cases reported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the AIDS epidemic is growing at a slower rate. Dr. John Ward, chief of the CDC s AIDS surveillance branch, said, however, that the expanded definition dumped into the syste
In the Works:Lenscrafters Hit with Suit: Advocate (11/01/94) No. 667, P. 34; Timothy Hale--a reputed sales superstar at Lenscrafters, has filed a $50 million AIDS discrimination suit against the store. Hale claims that his manager brought in the health department to post warning signs about transmission of AIDS. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, however, does not consider this
Ethical Challenges Posed by Zidovudine Treatment to Reduce Vertical Transmission of HIV: New England Journal of Medicine (11/03/94) Vol. 331, No. 18, P. 1223; Bayer, Ronald; Despite the prospect of great benefits from the study showing that the use of zidovudine ( AZT ) can help reduce maternal- infant transmission of HIV, many ethical questions remain unanswered. The most important issue is whether AZT will put at risk the 70 to 80 percent of children who, though born to infected women, w
No Enforcement Seen of Paris AIDS Summit Accord: Reuters (11/16/94); Arieff, Irwin; While organizers of the Dec. 1 Paris AIDS Summit say that the global action plan will help bring about needed reforms in how world leaders deal with the disease, the accord will have no enforcement mechanism which, they say will make it largely a symbolic move. The accord will advocate condom use and sterile syringe di
Hyperthermia Treatment Shows Positive Results on AIDS Patients: PR Newswire (11/16/94); Biocontrol Technology, Inc. has received test results of its whole-body extracorporeal hyperthermia procedure. IDT, Inc.-- a subsidiary of Biocontrol--and Hemocleanse, Inc. sponsored the clinical Food and Drug Administration ( FDA )-approved study that was conducted on AIDS patients in an Indiana hospital. Biocontrol s
Isis Pharmaceuticals Announces Agreement with Zeneca Ltd. for Manufacture of Novel Anti-HIV Compound: PR Newswire (11/16/94); Through its Cambridge Research Biochemicals (CRB) unit, Isis Pharmaceuticals , Inc. has signed an agreements with Zeneca Ltd. for the manufacture of Isis anti-HIV compound, ISIS 5320. Zeneca-CRB will employ solution phase chemical synthesis to make enough ISIS 5320 to enable Isis to complete preclinical studies and to
Prenatal AZT Cuts Babies' AIDS: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11/16/94) P. 14A; Signor, Roger; Doctors in St. Louis hospitals are creating one-stop clinics to increase treatment and testing among pregnant mothers and children. Doctors at the Washington University Medical Center want to increase the chances that a pregnant mother with HIV receives AZT before she is four-and-a-half months pregnant. AZT reduces
Funds Sought for AIDS Vaccine Testing: Boston Globe (11/16/94) P. 37; Greenberger, Scott S.; Massachusetts health officials, AIDS researchers, and activists lobbied Tuesday for $5 million to increase an encouraging therapeutic vaccine trial. The group claimed that the federal government has withheld research money slated for vaccines that strengthen the immune system, thus, ignoring a hopeful path in the fight
AIDS Cases Transmitted by Mothers Up Sharply: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11/16/94) P. 1A; Signor, Roger; The rate of maternal-infant transmission of HIV has sharply increased in the St. Louis, Mo., area. The AIDS clinic of St. Louis Children s Hospital has 24 infected children and 16 others at risk of developing HIV. The clinic has seen 17 new cases this year of children who are infected or at risk of developing HIV. Anot
Obituaries: Tom Villard: Washington Post (11/17/94) P. C7; Actor Tom Villard, who continued to work in movies and television after publicizing his illness, has died of AIDS- related pneumonia at age 40. He is best known for his role in the 1980s NBC comedy We Got It Made, but has made several appearances on Frasier, Sisters, and Star Trek: Deep Space 9. He also appeared in the
End of Co-Op Dispute Hailed As Victory for Gay Couples: New York Times (11/17/94) P. B3; Dunlap, David W.; Five years after the death of his companion and one year after his own death from AIDS, Harry Kirkpatrick has won the right to inherit an apartment that he and his companion shared. The settlement grants a privilege customarily extended to married couples--that a surviving partner can automatically inherit the lease to
Grantwatch: Uncharted Territory: A Retrospective on MAFC: Health Affairs (Fall 1994) Vol. 13, No. 4, P. 178; In June, the Minnesota AIDS Funding Consortium, a six-year project started in 1988 to raise funds from 35 local sources, released its final report. Uncharted Territory: A Retrospective on MAFC describes four emerging principles that directed its plans as well as its lessons learned and future challenges--which include
Bookshelf: HIV Infection: Lancet (10/29/94) Vol. 344, No. 8931, P. 1213; Nguyen, tran Hien; Clinical Manifestations in Adults is an inexpensive teaching aid consisting of set of 24 clinical slides. It is intended for use by doctors who care for HIV-infected patients in Asian and Pacific regions and those who teach others about HIV. The slides cover many aspects of HIV and AIDS, but not prevention strategies
Maternal Transmission and Viral Load: AIDS Treatment News (10/21/94) No. 209, P. 6; A study directed by Barbara Weiser and Harold Burger, co- directors of HIV research at the New York State Department of Health s Wadsworth Center, measured the plasma HIV RNA levels in 27 HIV-infected mothers at the time of delivery. Of the 11 mothers with the highest HIV RNA levels, eight transmitted HIV to their infa
Reducing the Risk of Maternal-Infant Transmission of HIV: a Door is Opened: New England Journal of Medicine (11/03/94) Vol. 331, No. 18, P. 1222; Rogers, Martha F.; Jaffe, Harold W.; The discovery that zidovudine ( AZT ) reduces maternal-infant transmission is an important advance in HIV prevention, but the results raise many questions. First, it is not known how AZT reduces the risk of transmission, so other strategies that work in the same way could potentially be effective too. In addition, som
Amid Tensions, Group Evokes Love, Ire: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (11/14/94) P. B1; Boxall, Bettina; AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) represents the face of AIDS charities to much of the Southern California public. In size and budget, APLA is second only to New York s Gay Men s Health Crisis. Amidst cries from some of a lack of concern for staff and clients, APLA has instituted changes including appointing a new execut
Long-Isolated Albania Fights Infectious-Disease 'Imports': Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (11/14/94) P. A3; Williams, Carol J.; International agencies, as well as neighboring countries who fear that Albania s various epidemics could spread, are helping the country fight infectious diseases. Also with the help of foreign agencies, Albania has launched a massive AIDS awareness campaign. The 500,000 migrant workers who illegally enter the country
Charter Cited in Appeal of Ruling on Tainted-Blood Donors: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/15/94) P. A7; Downey, Donn; In its application to appeal a ruling that permits the release the names of HIV-infected blood donors, the Canadian AIDS Society cites the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as common law. Judge Carruthers erred in failing to uphold the common-law rights of the donors to their bodily integrity and privacy, the app
Yes--In Our Back Yard: Boston Globe (11/15/94) P. 23; Carroll, James; On Sunday, ground was broken for the construction of housing for people with AIDS in Beacon Hill, Mass. Many communities-- out of fear, ignorance, and denial--have tried to prevent AIDS patients from living amongst them. Boston, however, leads the nation in providing housing options for people with AIDS. Larry Kessler,
Needle Exchanges Prove Their Worth: Chicago Tribune (11/15/94) P. 1-14; As few modern diseases have, AIDS has mobilized American society, write the Chicago Tribune editors. One issue that the country has been reluctant to deal with is that 25 percent of AIDS patients become infected through intravenous drug use. Although needle-exchange programs were suggested long ago, the war on drugs co
Addressing AIDS with Bop & Hop: Washington Post (11/16/94) P. B7; Harrington, Richard; Just after Red Hot + Country was released, comes Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. It is the fifth in a series of AIDS consciousness/fund-raising albums. While Red Hot + Country is geared to rural whites--who represent one of the fastest growing AIDS populations-- Stolen Moments is aimed at urban minorities. Stolen Momen
Streetbeat: ACT UP Dead Again?: Village Voice (11/01/94) Vol. 39, No. 44, P. 19; Schoofs, Mark; ACT UP, the AIDS activism group, is facing serious problems. There has been a shift from fighting for friends or oneself to an abstract end to the disease. Since the late 1980s, membership has diminished, fundraising has decreased, and leaders of the group have either died or gone to other organizations. ACT UP s signa
HIV Infection among Women in Prison: An Assessment of Risk Factors Using a Nonnominal Methodology: American Journal of Public Health (10/94) Vo. 84, No. 10, P. 1637; Hankins, Catherine A.; Gendron, Sylvie; Handley, Margaret A. et al; A nonnominal study--one that details previous risk behaviors-- was conducted in Quebec to determine the relative contributions of needle use practices and sexual behaviors to HIV- antibody seropositivity among female prison inmates. Of the 394 incarcerated women studied, 6.9 percent tested positive for HIV. Totals of 1
Ruling Allows Red Cross to Name Infected Donors: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/11/94) P. A6; Claridge, Thomas; A judge ruled Thursday to allow the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) to give the names of HIV-infected blood donors to public health officials. Mr. Justice Douglas Carruthers, who said the case was about the health and well-being of our society, rejected the claim that the release of the donors identities would violate their p
Cryopharm Reports Viral Inactivation of Cytomegalovirus in Transfused Blood; Study Results Presented at 47th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks: Business Wire (11/14/94); Cryopharm Corp. presented preclinical data Monday that showed that its photosensitizer, in conjunction with ultraviolet-A light (UVA), can inactivate cytomegalovirus ( CMV ), while maintaining the in vitro properties of platelets. Transfusion -related CMV infection can lead to complications including blindness and pne
AIDS Threatens African Food Supplies--U.N. Agency: Reuters (11/14/94); Haller, Vera; The United Nation s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that the AIDS epidemic poses a threat to Africa s food supply. The FAO s annual State of Food and Agriculture report states that AIDS has significant, long-term socio- economic implications on food security, agricultural productivity and national ec
Menino Visits Site of AIDS House: Boston Globe (11/14/94) P. 24; Boston Mayor Menino broke ground Sunday on a building in Beacon Hill that will house people with HIV. The $2.5 million building will consist of 20 units.
Across the USA: Tennessee: USA Today (11/14/94) P. 8A; A Tennessee nurse who was stuck with an AIDS-exposed needle in 1993 will receive $88,992 as well as all medical expenses. The judge ruled that even though the former Johnson City Medical Center nurse is not HIV-positive, she has been permanently disabled by post-trauma stress.
AIDS Researcher Suspended by School: Chicago Tribune (11/14/94) P. 1-3; Oakland University professor E. Rasul Chaudhry was suspended without pay for one year after he was found guilty of scientific and professional misconduct for violating safety requirements during HIV experiments in 1992. Many students had been working in Chaudhry s lab and were unaware of the potential dangers. A univer
Across the USA: Idaho/New York/South Dakota: USA Today (11/15/94) P. 10A; For the first time in Idaho, the Names Project AIDS Memorial quilt will be displayed. Two sections of the quilt will be exhibited at the College of Southern Idaho in December. In other AIDS news, groups that care for people with AIDS are circulating a petition to ask for a meeting with New York Gov. -elect George Patak
Not Your Ordinary Driving Test: Advocate (11/01/94) No. 667, P. 22; On Sept. 30, Lee County, Fla., became the first county in the state to offer voluntary HIV testing as part of its driver s license application procedure. It s our belief the only way to combat this disease in an effective prevention program is to get out to the population, said Mark Geisler, executive director of the L
Thai Women Can Be Educated to Reject Prostitution: Asian Wall Street Journal (10/31/94) Vol. 16, No. 44, P. 14; Wongburanavart, Chakrapand; Despite the fact that AIDS is a serious problem in Thailand , parents continue to sell their daughters into prostitution. Statistics show that over half of the 600,000 reported cases of AIDS and HIV in Thailand are found in prostitutes and common laborers. One way to stop the prostitution is to find other opportunities
Random Samples: Beefing Up HIV Antibodies: Science (10/21/94) Vol. 266, No. 5184, P. 366; Two recent studies suggest that passive immune therapy could help patients diagnosed with AIDS. In the therapy, plasma from people with high levels of anti-HIV antibodies--but no symptoms of AIDS--is transfused to AIDS patients. The first study, conducted by Levy and colleagues at HemaCare Corp., administered varying d
Lower Socioeconomic Status and Shorter Survival Following HIV Infection: Lancet (10/22/94) Vol. 344, No. 8930, P. 1120; Hogg, Robert S.; Strathdee, Steffanie A.; Craib, Kevin J. P. et al; The relationship between socioeconomic status and survival were studied to determine why some HIV-infected individuals live longer than others. A total of 394 homosexual men diagnosed with HIV during 1982-1984 participated in the study. The men were divided into two groups according to annual income--those who made mor
Some Blood Tests Miss Rare HIV Strain, Experts Say: Reuters (11/10/94); Dr. Gerald Schochetman, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 10 different tests to screen blood, several did not detect the rare strains of HIV that infected nine participants. The implication, then, is that infected blood could enter public blood banks. Infections by highly divergent stra
Antibody Advances AIDS Research: Washington Times (11/11/94) P. A3; Researchers announced Thursday that they have cloned an AIDS antibody that may prove useful in the search for a vaccine and may lead to a way of preventing maternal-infant HIV transmission. The monoclonal antibody, which is derived from the bone marrow of an AIDS patient, neutralized HIV-1 more than 70 percent of the t
Russia Plans to Impose HIV Tests on Foreign Visitors: Financial Times (11/11/94) P. 1; Freeland, Chrystia; Under new legislation expected to be adopted soon in Moscow, all foreigners entering Russia will be required to either take HIV tests at the border or produce medical certification showing that they have not been exposed to HIV. This would be the strictest law of its kind to be adopted by a large and influential countr
New AIDS Czar Claims Power to Achieve Results: Washington Times (11/11/94) P. A4; Price, Joyce; Patsy Fleming has been appointed as the new director of AIDS Policy. She replaces Kristine M. Gebbie, who was forced out in August by AIDS advocacy groups who claimed that she was ineffective and lacked power. In appointing Fleming, President Clinton requested a detailed report on the rapid increase of AIDS among adole
Flu Shot May Backfire on People with AIDS: Baltimore Sun (11/12/94) P. 3A; Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco s (UCSF) Medical Center have found that flu shots may backfire on AIDS patients. The shots may raise the level of HIV in their blood without protecting them from the flu. Most participants in the UCSF study had three times the normal amount of HIV in their bl
Lifeline: AIDS Activist Dies: USA Today (11/14/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; AIDS activist Pedro Zamora died of the disease on Friday at age 22. Zamora became infected with HIV through unprotected sex when he was 17. He testified at a congressional hearing and appeared in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention television commercial about AIDS. Knowing that I could die has been scary, he
Around the Nation: California: Advocate (11/01/94) No. 667, P. 18; The Orange County Register reported that at least 18 AIDS patients were refused treatment at the University of California at Irvine medical center. The hospital, which receives $25,000 a month in public funds to treat AIDS patients, said the treatment denials were accidental.
AIDS: Maybe There Isn't a Magic Bullet: Business Week (10/24/94) No. 3395, P. 108; Carey, John; Instead of rushing potential treatments into large clinical trials, the National Institutes of Health has redirected its AIDS research to focus on answering fundamental questions about how HIV disrupts the immune system. Although we ve come from nowhere to a situation where we know an enormous amount, science s underst
Synergy Between Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and HIV-1 Tat Protein in Induction of Kaposi's Sarcoma: Nature (10/20/94) Vol. 371, No. 6499, P. 674; Ensoli, Barbara; Gendelman, Rita; Markham, Phillip et al; Angiogenic Kaposi s sarcoma-like lesions in mice were induced by the combined operation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and HIV-1 Tat protein. The synergy is induced by Tat, which increases endothelial cell growth and type-IV collagenase expression in response to bFGF imitating extracellular matrix proteins.
Passive Hyperimmune Therapy: Apparent Patient Benefit: AIDS Treatment News (10/21/94) No. 209, P. 7; Passive immune therapy transfuses sterilized plasma from healthy HIV-positive donors to AIDS patients. The antibodies in the plasma may help those recipients who have no longer have the ability to produce them. A study of 220 patients, sponsored by the HemaCare Corporation, found benefits in recipients with baseline T-
The Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS to Hold Meeting: PR Newswire (11/09/94); The Washington Department of Health announced that the Governor s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS will hold a regular public meeting on Nov. 18, at which time the council will report on the Oct. 26 meeting with Gov. Mike Lowry. Common goals for prevention and awareness were discussed at the meeting and Gov. Lowry consente
ActionAIDS to Receive 1994 Better Business Award: Business Wire (11/09/94); The 1994 Better Business Award for best client services in Eastern Pennsylvania has been awarded to ActionAIDS, Pennsylvania s largest AIDS service organization. The award is one of eight different categories to be presented to leaders in for- and not-for-profit organizations in Eastern Pennsylvania. ActionAIDS has pro
Boston Biomedica Introduces New Product to Advance the Reliability of AIDS Testing: PR Newswire (11/09/94); Boston Biomedica, Inc. has received 510 (k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to begin marketing ACCURUN 1, a laboratory quality control product designed to increase the reliability of AIDS and other infectious disease testing. The product will aid blood banks, clinical laboratories, and hospitals in moni
Genzyme Says Virus Prevents AIDS in Monkeys: Reuters (11/09/94); Genzyme Transgenics Corp. announced Wednesday that its subsidiary, TSI Corp., has successfully used a mutant virus to prevent the onset of AIDS in monkeys. Scientists from Harvard Medical School and TSI Mason Laboratories demonstrated prevention of clinical and immunological indications of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus
HIV/AIDS Increasing Among Women in Georgia: PR Newswire (11/09/94); The proportion of women in Georgia reported with AIDS has increased from 4 percent of new cases in 1984 to 15 percent in 1993. Eighty percent of the women reported with AIDS in Georgia have been African-Americans, said Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey, director of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Epidemiology and Preven
Coping with AIDS a 'Fierce Challenge': Washington Post (11/10/94) P. D.C.1; Young, Vincent; AIDS continues to be a mystery to many people--including those affected by it--14 years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared it an epidemic. In Washington, D.C., the Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN), a peer counseling AIDS education and prevention class, helps people learn more about the disease.
Advancing New Therapies: American Medical News (10/17/94) Vol. 37, No. 39, P. 14; The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has implemented a four-year program to speed up development of HIV therapies. Under the program, six teams of researchers received $6.2 million for the first year. They will direct their efforts at gene therapy, immune-system restoration, and therapeutic
An AIDS-Like Condition Induced in Baboons by HIV-2: Science (10/28/94) Vol. 266, No. 5185, P. 642; Barnett, Susan; Murthy, Krishna K.; Herndier, Brian G. et al; A study was conducted in which six baboons were injected with the UC2 strain of HIV-2. Each of the baboons seroconverted within six weeks and five became persistently infected. Within 18 to 24 months after injection, three had CD4+ T cell loss. At necropsy, one baboon showed extensive circulation of the virus with foll
Spanish Chastity Clubs Emerge as Foil to AIDS: Reuters (11/08/94); Chonghaile, Clar Ni; Both Mother Teresa of Calcutta and President Clinton have been suggested as honorary members of Spain s new chastity clubs. We do not discriminate against anyone for their past, present or future. We just want people who will defend our ideals, explained Marcos Gutierrez, founder of the first club in Granada in August.
Isis CEO Describes Major Advances in Antisense Technology at Annual Meeting of AAPS in San Diego: PR Newswire (11/08/94); At the annual meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Stanley T. Crooke, Chairman and CEO of Isis Pharmaceuticals , Inc., outlined data showing that antisense drugs are therapeutically active in many animal models of disease and in human clinical trials. Results from a Phase I/II clini
Coonan Clinical Laboratories Inc. Announces FDA 510 (K) Approval of Blood Sampling Device to Be Used in HIV Home Collection Kit: PR Newswire (11/08/94); The Food and Drug Administration has given 510 (k) marketing approval to Coonan Clinical Laboratories (CCL) blood sampling device. The disposable device is intended for use in CCL s home collection kit for testing for HIV antibodies. With the approval of the device, CCL can now submit its final PMA application for the
AIDS Summit Accord to Back Condoms, Clean Syringes: Reuters (11/08/94); Arieff, Irwin; Organizers said Tuesday they anticipate that the Paris AIDS summit in December will produce a 42-country agreement advocating condom use and sterile syringe distribution. Dr. Bernard Debre, summit coordinator, described the accord to be signed on Dec. 1 as an extremely strong document. A draft of the final summit accor
Sociologist Was a Leader in Battle Against AIDS: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/08/94) P. A21; Political and AIDS activist, sociologist, and educator George Smith died Sunday from complications from AIDS at the age of 59. During the late 1980s, Smith helped found AIDS Action Now! and the Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange. He was also a member of various AIDS advisory committees and helped organize th
Survey Faulty on HIV and AIDS Threat: Chicago Tribune (11/08/94) P. 1-12; Freeman, William J.; Research presented in the recent Sex in America: A Definitive Survey helped reinforce many myths and misinformation about HIV and AIDS, writes William J. Freeman, executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS, in a letter to the editor. The number of HIV-infected Americans, for example, is suggeste
Lifeline: Eye Oil: USA Today (11/08/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; The FDA approved Adatomed Silicone Oil for detached retina on Monday. According to the agency, Adatomed treated 60 percent to 70 percent of patients in U.S. and European trials. It was deemed the most effective treatment for retinal detachments caused by cytomegalovirus retinitis, a condition common among AIDS
Seeking a Better Test of HIV Patients' Health: Investor's Business Daily (11/08/94) P. A6; Lau, Gloria; Oxigene Inc. announced Monday that it had completed the first- stage analysis of its blood test that measures the health of HIV patients immune systems. The colormetric test measures the ability of a person s DNA to repair itself. The strength of the immune system is indicated by the color of the paper marker. Oxigene
Former Cold War Rivals Share Women's Health Challenges: Nation's Health (10/94) Vol. 24, No. 9, P. 24; Jones, Dorothy; A group of 20 Russian obstetricians took a month-long tour of women s health facilities in the United States . The doctors visited several sites including the District of Columbia General Hospital, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and the Planned Parenthood of Santa Cruz County (Calif.) Teen C
Community Acquired Pneumonia in Adults in Addis Ababa: Etiologic Agents and the Impact of HIV Infection: Journal of the American Medical Association (10/26/94) Vol. 272, No. 16, P. 1234j; A study was conducted during 1987 and 1989 at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia , to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). A total of 8 percent of the 110 pneumonia patients were HIV-1 seropositive, compared to the 2.4 percent of the general population
Update: HIV Prevention and Children: American Medical News (10/17/94) Vol. 37, No. 39, P. 14; Grants totaling $20.7 million to benefit AIDS prevention and assistance programs for children and families were announced by U.S. Health Secretary Donna E. Shalala. Programs that help prevent kids from becoming HIV-positive--or help HIV- positive kids and their families to cope--deserve community and individual support
"Surrogate Markers": Current Status, Future Directions (Part I): AIDS Treatment News (10/21/94) No. 209, P. 1; James, John S.; Because HIV develops slowly and because of a lack of reliable ways to measure treatment effect quickly, researchers been searching for a surrogate marker for HIV disease progression. Although the T-helper count and the p24 antigen test have been used for several years, it has become evident that they are not reliable m
A Controlled Trial of Intravenous Immune Globulin for the Prevention of Serious Bacterial Infections in Children Receiving Zidovudine for Advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (11/03/94) Vol. 331, No. 18, P. 1181; Spector, Stephen A.; Gelber, Richard D.; McGrath, Nuala et al; HIV-infected children frequently experience recurrent serious bacterial infections. A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of intravenous immune globulin in children with AIDS or AIDS-related complex who were being treated with zidovudine ( AZT ). The trial followed 255 children between the ages of 3 months an
On the Trail of an AIDS Vaccine: Boston Globe (11/06/94) P. 92; Rosenberg, Ronald; Currently, only a few companies throughout the United States and Europe are focusing their research efforts on treatments and a potential cure for AIDS. One of these, Therion Biologics, is at the forefront, with one vaccine currently in human testing and another in primate testing. The latter, developed by Ronald Desro
It's Cheap and Effective, With Wonders Still Being (Re)discovered: Washington Post (11/07/94) P. A3; Brown, David; Vitamin A may be one of the few wonder drugs of the world. Used in treatments for keratomalacia--a leading cause of blindness, measles, and anemia--safe and inexpensive Vitamin A may have uses for AIDS patients. Researcher Richard D. Semba of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health is creating experiments
Israeli With HIV Reportedly Sought Sex: Baltimore Sun (11/08/94) P. 4A; AIDS-infected Israeli professor Yeshayahu Demner spent the last year of his life advertising for sex. Documents show that after Demner learned he was infected in September 1993, he began advertising for active partners and noted that age and color don t matter. Police say that the Demner--who was bludgeoned to death la
U.S. Cuts AIDS Research Grants in New York City: New York Times (11/08/94) P. A1; Lee, Felicia R.; In a decision that is prompting outrage and debate, three of the four community-based clinical trials on AIDS in New York City have been phased out. New York community groups and politicians, such as Senators Daniel P. Moynihan and Alfonse M. D Amato, are protesting the cuts because they feel that a city with such a hi
Penn Researchers Find Way HIV May Convert to AIDS: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/08/94) P. A1; Collins, Huntly; Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania announced Monday that they may have discovered how HIV progresses from its latent stage to start its aggressive attack on the immune system. A protein, unique to AIDS patients, appears to tell infected cells when to produce more HIV. The discovery could lead to new treatmen
New Attitudes Boost Condom Sales: Convenience Store News (10/16/94) Vol. 30, No. 14, P. 22; Carlin, Sybil; Serious concerns about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases have brought condoms from behind the pharmacy counter and made them more acceptable. In 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that condoms could be sold in any type of outlet to consumers of any age--though it is up to the individual store whether and whe
Reduction of Maternal-Infant Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 with Zidovudine Treatment: New England Journal of Medicine (11/03/94) Vol. 331, No. 18, P. 1173; Connor, Edward M.; Sperling, Rhoda S.; Gelber, Richard et al; Young children become infected with HIV-1 principally through maternal-infant transmission. The Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group conducted a multicenter study in the United States and France to assess the efficacy and safety of zidovudine ( AZT ) in reducing s
Sunset Boulevard to Close for Charity Fund-Raiser for Homebound with AIDS: PR Newswire (11/03/94); On Nov. 13, Sunset Boulevard will close for The Race to Deliver, a five kilometer run/walk. Men s Health Magazine and Polo Sport--the fitness fragrance by Ralph Lauren--are sponsoring the event, which will benefit Project Angel Food, an organization that brings hot meals to those in Los Angeles who are homebound becaus
Nation's Divorce and Matrimonial Attorneys See Significant Increase in AIDS in Divorce Cases, Posing Special Problems: PR Newswire (11/03/94); The major topics at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers included AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. One quarter of the lawyers attending the meeting said they have been involved in divorce proceedings that involve HIV-infected spouses and/or children. AIDS and HIV-related cases
Home But Not Alone--Homesharing Program: Business Wire (11/04/94); Home But Not Alone is a homesharing program that matches compatible people looking to share living arrangements, expenses, and household duties. The program was created by Housemate Match--a service sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Community Center--to provide affordable housing for people with HIV. Housing Opportuniti
National Advocacy Groups Call for Withdrawal of Johnson & Johnson's Application for HIV Home Test: PR Newswire (11/04/94); Citing unlawful promotion of a proposed HIV home testing product, the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association (NLGHA), The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), and Americans for a Sound AIDS/HIV Policy (ASAP), have filed a complaint with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) against
Earning Respect: Baltimore Sun (11/05/94) P. 1D; Selby, Holly; Mary Fisher--a wealthy Republican woman who became HIV- infected through her husband--first gained the national spotlight two years ago when, at the Republican national convention, she announced that she was HIV-infected. She urged the convention to show compassion for all people with AIDS. Ms. Fisher, an artist, has s
U.S. Blood Supply Safe, Researchers Say: Reuters (11/06/94); Harvey Klein, chief of the department of transfusion medicine at the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday that the U.S. blood supply is immensely safer than it was in the past, due in part to the all-volunteer blood donor policy. Only volunteers are accepted because donors who sell their blood are less likely to
Abandoned and Dying Babies Symbolize South Africa's AIDS Problem: Los Angeles Times (11/06/94) P. A11; Venter, Sahm; Despite the South Africa s medical facilities, the most advanced in Africa, AIDS is spreading rapidly through the country. The former white government neglected health care for blacks, who make up 75 percent of the 40 million population. The almost 14,500 babies that are born HIV- infected are part of a growing problem
Kuwait Might Test Visitors for AIDS: Reuters (11/07/94); Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates who frequently visit countries with high AIDS rates may soon be tested for AIDS, the Arab Times reported Saturday. Kuwait already requires that all expatriates working in the emirate be tested, and all non-Kuwaitis who test positive for HIV are deported. Fewer than 30 Kuwaiti nationals
Only a Phone Call Away: Educating Health Care Professionals About HIV/AIDS: Journal of the American Medical Association (10/26/94) Vol. 272, No. 16, P. 1242; Sumaya, Ciro V.; Macher, Abe M.; Bowen, Stephen G. et al; The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is now educating and updating health care providers in the clinical management of HIV and AIDS through two telephone services. Established in 1992, the International State-of-the-Art HIV Clinical Conference Call Series lets health care workers from around the worl
AIDS, HIV, and Mental Health: New England Journal of Medicine (10/20/94) Vol. 331, No. 16, P. 1100; Ponton, Lynn E.; Michael B. King s book--written for the Psychiatry and Medicine series--leads the reader personally through the world of HIV, AIDS, and mental health. Subjects that are discussed include fear of infection, psychological disorder, sexual behavior, and family members. King clarifies the real clinical risks of psychiatric
Quilts Comfort Stricken Babies Around the World: Reuters (11/03/94); Gardner, Christine; For six years now, volunteers for At-Risk Babies Crib (ABC) Quilts, of New Hampshire, have been sending quilts to babies that are dying from AIDS, fetal alcohol syndrome, or complications from crack cocaine. Over 160,000 quilts have been sent to babies--including 1,700 to Romania , 400 to
Burke Waits for Death: Richmond Times-Dispatch (11/02/94) P. E1; Wilstein, Steve; Glenn Burke, once an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, is thinking about suicide lately. The 41-year-old former major leaguer discovered last January that he has AIDS and, today, is virtually bedridden because his feet are filled with tumors. I kinda figured somewhere along the line I wo
Targeted Genetics Reports Third Quarter Financial Results: PR Newswire (11/03/94); Targeted Genetics Corporation reported Thursday a net loss of $2,225,000 for the third quarter ending Sept. 30, 1994. Increased investment in gene therapy product development and clinical trial programs are cited as reasons for the loss. The expense of holding Phase I trials studying a CTL-based immunotherapy for HIV a
Surgimetrics Signs Letter of Intent with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) to Begin Clinical Trials of Its HIV (AIDS) Screening Test Kits for Use by PLA: Business Wire (11/03/94); Surgimetrics International Ltd. announced Thursday that it has signed a letter of intent with the PLA of China and its Central Military Hospital to begin clinical trials of its HIV screening test kits. The 2 million members of the PLA are annually tested for HIV and other diseases. The Surgimetrics HIV 1-2 screening t
Health Ministry Calls Manila an HIV Hot Spot: Reuters (11/03/94); The Philippines Health Ministry s most recent HIV survey has declared Manila and its suburbs an HIV hot spot . The survey showed that one in 302 of the capital s registered female sex workers were HIV-infected. This is an alert that says we have a problem, said Health Secretary Juan Flavier. More than 500 Filipinos are
Philadelphia AIDS Discrimination Settlement Benefits Both Sides: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (11/03/94); The Scott Doe AIDS discrimination case was settled out of court to prevent what could have been for both sides a completely unpredictable jury verdict. The settlement provides Doe with quick cash, which Kohn, Nast & Graf s insurance company will pay, say legal sources. The law firm s insurance policy states that th
Leukemia Drug May Help Combat AIDS: Reuters (11/03/94); Kenen, Joanne; Researchers have found that hydroxyurea--a drug used to treat leukemia--has blocked HIV from reproducing in several kinds of cells in laboratory tests. While excited about the potential for the drug, the scientists warn that tests that offer promise in the lab sometimes prove disappointing in humans. Hydroxyurea is not
David Feinberg, 37, an Author Who Wrote of Life with AIDS: New York Times (11/04/94) P. A33; Dunlap, David W.; Author and ACT UP member David B. Feinberg died of AIDS on Wednesday at the age of 37. Two of his books, Eighty-Sixed and Spontaneous Combustion, --both fictional--followed the devestation caused by AIDS of gay life in New York. Queer and Loathing: Rants and Raves of a Raging AIDS Clone will be published in three weeks
Bookshelf: Gardening in Clay: Lancet (10/15/94) Vol. 344, No. 8929, P. 1072; Volberding, Paul A.; In Gardening in Clay, author Ronald O. Valdiserri--a pathologist engaged in HIV prevention research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--addresses HIV and AIDS as it affects society. Some recurrent themes are the author s choice of career, the difficulty of HIV prevention, the science and politics of prev
Grantwatch: Taking Action on National Health Care Reform: Health Affairs (Fall 1994) Vol. 13, No. 4, P. 178; In July, Funders Concerned About AIDS released a report entitled Taking Action on National Health Care Reform, which urges FCAA members and others to join the struggle for health care reform. One of the report s suggestions is funding for research of how various approaches to managed care affect people living with HIV/
Insurer Will Accept Wash. AIDS Patients: American Medical News (10/17/94) Vol. 37, No. 39, P. 32; Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co. has agreed to accept approximately two dozen applications from AIDS patients. The applications were submitted during a state-mandated open window period from July 1 to Sept. 30 requiring insurance companies to accept all applicants--even those with pre- existing conditions. Applicati
Autopsy Rates Among Patients Reported with AIDS: American Journal of Public Health (10/94) Vol. 84, No. 10, P. 1695; Schable, Barbara; Chu, Susan Y.; Researchers studied autopsy rates of people in the United States who died of AIDS to determine if there was a decline similar to that found in the general population of the country. The general autopsy rate in the United States from World War II to 1991 dropped from about 50 percent to 11 percent of deaths. Data was t
British Stores Blackmailed with HIV Threat: Reuters (11/01/94); Blackmailers threatened to inject HIV-infected fluid into food in three major British supermarkets unless they were paid US$20 million, a court was told Tuesday. The attempt was prevented by undercover police officers disguised as representatives from the Sainsbury, Safeway, and Tesco supermarket chains. Alexander Tayl
The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium Enlists Through Questionnaire the Advice of Consumers of HIV/AIDS Related Services: PR Newswire (11/01/94); In an attempt to provide HIV-infected consumers with an opportunity to influence decision making with regard to the distribution of more than $10 million to be allocated through the Ryan White CARE Act, The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium (TPAC) has distributed more than 5,500 questionnaires to consumers and providers in
Paris Bus Drivers Strike After AIDS Syringe Attack: Reuters (11/02/94); In protest for a colleague who was attacked with an HIV- infected syringe last Thursday, Paris bus drivers held a one- day strike on Wednesday. The drivers demanded more stringent security measures, including special cabins for drivers and a second transport official in buses. In the first eight months of the year, mor
Health Professionals, Inc. Announces Research Agreements: PR Newswire (11/02/94); Center for Special Immunology, Inc. (CSI), a subsidiary of Health Professionals, Inc., has signed agreements with Immunobiology Research Institute (IRI) and Boehringer Ingelheim to participate in HIV clinical trials with each company. Eight CSI centers will participate in IRI s two-year Phase III study of the safety an
Across the USA: New Jersey: USA Today (11/03/94) P. 10A; Condoms distributed at AIDS testing and counseling sites in New Jersey are being recalled because they smell like dead fish. The odor could be an indication of poor quality or contamination.
Discovery That AIDS Can Be Prevented in Babies Raises Debate on Mandatory Testing: New York Times (11/03/94) P. B14; Kolata, Gina; A debate over mandatory AIDS testing has arisen from the discovery that many infant AIDS cases are preventable. In order to prevent HIV infection, the HIV-positive mother must take AZT while she is pregnant--which means that pregnant women who may or may not know they are infected would have to be identified. A federa
Grassroots Organizing: Communication Groups: AIDS Treatment News (10/07/94) No. 208, P. 6; James, John S.; AIDS Treatment News proposes developing communication groups --small, personal groups of friend who meet for social activities that revolve around writing and calling public officials to advance AIDS causes. The individual groups would also work with other AIDS organizations to generate public response on their issues.
Again, Army Shuns AIDS Peer Review: Science (10/14/94) Vol. 266, No. 5183, P. 207; Last year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) criticized the Department of Defense s (DOD) plan to spend $20 million to test a therapeutic AIDS vaccine manufactured by MicroGenesys Inc. instead of peer-review research. DOD bowed to the pressure and promised to spend the
Red Cross Official Seen in Conflict: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/29/94) P. A5; Coutts, Jane; Commission counsel Marlys Edwardh suggested Friday that there was a potential conflict of interest when the medical director of the Toronto blood bank also served as an advisor to the Canadian Hemophilia Society. Documents submitted at the tainted-blood inquiry show that in 1983, Dr. Roslyn Herst, as chairwoman of the
Heimlich Maneuvers to Cure AIDS: Los Angeles Times (10/30/94) P. A1; Warrick, Pamela; Fueled by hundreds of thousands of dollars in celebrity donations, Dr. Henry Heimlich--the inventor of the anti- choking maneuver--is proposing to cure AIDS with Induced Malaria Therapy (IMT). A similar therapy was used in the treatment of neurosyphilis during the 1920s. IMT consists of inoculating patients with blood
New England News Briefs: Needle-Wielding Man is Arrested: Boston Globe (10/31/94) P. 41; Providence, R.I., police arrested a man last Thursday who threatened to stab two women with a needle if they did not give him their purses. The man claimed to have AIDS and pointed the needle at the women after approaching them in a hotel parking lot. It is not known whether the man had the disease.
Zimbabwe Rejects Blanket AIDS Tests for Insurance: Reuters (11/01/94); The Zimbabwean government has rejected insurance companies recommendations that compulsory AIDS tests be given to people taking life insurance policies of at least Z$50,000 (US $6,250). Compulsory testing would cause undue discrimination against people infected with HIV, said Health Minister Timothy Stamps. The insuran
Indonesia Says It Has 1,420 Confirmed HIV Cases: Reuters (11/01/94); Although the World Health Organization estimates that Indonesia has 50,000 people who are HIV-infected, the country s official count of those who are infected as of Sept. 30 is 1,420. Cases of HIV have been reported in all provinces of Indonesia except the sparsely populated islands of East Nusa Tenggara.
Killer T Cells Reported as a Potential Gene Therapy for Viral Diseases and Cancer: PRNewswire (11/01/94); A team of researchers lead by Margo R. Roberts--director of cell biology and immunology for Cell Genesys, Inc.--has developed anti-HIV T cells that specifically and efficiently kill HIV-infected cells in laboratory experiments. The findings, which are reported in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal Blood, describe the firs
Across the USA: Tennessee: USA Today (11/02/94) P. 4A; The Dean of Vanderbilt University, K.C. Potter, has refused to permit a campus group to distribute free condoms door-to-door in dorms. The AIDS awareness plan, he said, would invade the private spaces of residents. The Vanderbilt health department supplies condoms free of charge.
'Doe' Case Is Warning, Experts Say: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/02/94) P. B1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; Collins, Huntly; While many lawyers had hoped that the verdict in the Scott Doe AIDS-discrimination case would provide a more definitive decision on whether the federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) protects those with HIV or AIDS, legal experts say the case sends a clear warning to employers that if they discriminate, they wil
Crime, AIDS Money Rises; Heating Bill Aid, Transit Cut: Crain's (10/10/94-10/16/94) Vol. 10, No. 41, P. 13; Lipowicz, Alice; The appropriations bills passed in Congress will direct more federal money in New York City to AIDS education, crime- fighting, job retraining, and community block grants this year. The Ryan White AIDS services program will receive $110 million for its 250 programs--up from $78 million last year. New York state s share
Washington Whispers: Hazardous Duty: U.S. News & World Report (10/31/94) Vol. 117, No. 17, P. 38; Stanglin, Douglas; Power, Samantha; Impoco, Jim et al; The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will soon require that all people entering infectious areas at crash sites wear the protective suits that rescue workers wear. They will also have to go through safety training. People such as investigators, reporters, and photographers could be denied access to sites whe
AIDS Drug Interactions Guide Available: AIDS Treatment News (10/07/94) No. 208, P. 1; An 11-page fact sheet describing the interaction of frequently used drugs--including experimental ones--by HIV patients has been prepared by Project Inform. The list also includes suggestions for working with health-care providers--so that drug interactions receive attention--and a glossary of medical terms used in the
7th on Sale Returns to New York; CFDA and Vogue Announce Fashion Industry AIDS Benefit for May 1995: PR Newswire (10/31/94); The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), in cooperation with the CFDA Foundation and Vogue Magazine, will hold 7th on Sale/The Return to New York on May 17-21, 1995. For four days, shoppers will be offered fashions at discount prices. Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Vogue s Anna Wintour are chai
Grace and Fear Mark AIDS Epidemic in San Francisco: Los Angeles Times (10/30/94) P. B1; Tom, Dara Akiko; The San Francisco health department recently announced that, for the first time in any U.S. city, AIDS was the leading cause of death among men in 1992. That was the same year that health officials celebrated reaching a plateau in the number of new cases. Many in San Francisco were not surprised by the high numbers.
Insurance Rarer in AIDS-Ridden Southern Africa: Reuters (10/31/94); Mdlongwa, Francis; As AIDS spreads rapidly through southern Africa, medical insurance companies are questioning how they will survive. Old Mutual, one of South Africa s largest insurers, has added a clause to its life policies that allows it to refuse payment when a holder dies of AIDS. The firm estimates that it has lost almost US$1.25
Lifeline: AIDS & Needles: USA Today (11/01/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; A new study sponsored by the American Foundation for AIDS Research has found that needle exchange programs could reduce by half the risk of new HIV infections in intravenous drug users. The researchers observed a New York City needle- exchange program where clean needles were given to 22,000 drug users. The risk of inf
AIDS Drugs Fail to Curb Dementia and Nerve Damage: New York Times (11/01/94) P. C3; Altman, Lawrence K.; A study of six AIDS-related neurological conditions found that the incidence of infections that affect the brain and central nervous system is increasing among HIV-infected patients. Previous studies have found that AIDS drugs helped protect against such damage. The increase was due in part to the negative effects of d
And Now for Something Completely Different: Washington Post (Health) (11/01/94) P. 7; Weiss, Rick; In an effort to demonstrate his disbelief that HIV causes AIDS, a Florida physician pricked his finger twice last Friday with a needle that had just been inserted into the finger of an HIV-positive man. At an alternative medicine meeting in Greensboro, N.C., Robert Willner inoculated himself with the infected blood to
'Scott Doe' AIDS Lawsuit is Settled: Philadelphia Inquirer (11/01/94) P. A1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; The AIDS discrimination trial of Scott Doe ended Monday with a secret settlement that lawyer onlookers suggest would have to be at least $1 million. Doe claimed that his employers dismissed him when they discovered that he was HIV-positive. He filed the suit in August 1993, and was later joined by the federal Equal Emp
Top Public Health Videos Tapped for APHA Filmfest: Nation's Health (10/94) Vol. 24, No. 9, P. 7; Public health videos are the focus of the filmfest to be held during the American Public Health Association s Annual Meeting. Some of the selections include Reality Check: HIV Testing for Youth, HIV and AIDS, A Dangerous Affair: A Teenager s Story of AIDS, and Acts of Kindness--HIV/AIDS: Stories of Mutual Ministry. The
FDA Proposes Financial Disclosure for Clinical Researchers: AIDS Treatment News (10/07/94) No. 208, P. 6; James, John S.; A proposed Food and Drug Administration rule would require researchers conducting human trials of drugs or medical devices to reveal personal interests in the outcome of the trial if and when the data is submitted for FDA approval. The FDA is seeking public comment on the proposed rule, and asks that written comments b
Alkaline Phosphatase Band-10 Fraction as a Possible Surrogate Marker for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection in Children.: Journal of the American Medical Association (10/19/94) Vol. 272, No. 15, P. 1152; A lymphocyte fraction of alkaline phosphatase (ALP band-10) activity in serum may be useful in predicting HIV-1 in children born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers. ALP band 10 in serum s presence correlated with HIV-1 infection status. HIV- 1 positively identified in 31 samples from 18 patients, ages 0.1 to 10 years, while
MCNC and U.S. Patent Office Launch Internet AIDS Patent Library: PR Newswire (10/26/94); Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC), a private, nonprofit corporation, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have introduced the United States first Internet- accessible AIDS patent library. The system will bring the text and images of more than 1,500 AIDS-related patents to people throughout the world.
AIDS Group Urges Wider Use of Experimental Drug: Reuters (10/27/94); Trautman, Robert; The Treatment Action Group (TAG) on Thursday urged the government and drug manufacturer Hoffmann La Roche, Inc. to provide greater access to saquinavir, a new AIDS drug. TAG told the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Hoffmann--saquinavir s maker-- that expanded use of th
Russians Vote AIDS Test for Foreigners: Chicago Tribune (10/29/94) P. 1-19; The Russian Parliament has voted to make foreign residents take compulsory HIV tests. The Parliament also pledged to expel all of those residents who test positive. The law must still be approved by the upper house of parliament and signed into law by President Boris Yeltsin. Even if the law is passed, logistical probl
Across the USA: Tennessee: USA Today (10/31/94) P. 10A; Since schools started teaching family wellness in 1991, teen pregnancy in Nashville has decreased by 8 percent. Improved sex education, with an emphasis on abstinence and concern about AIDS, is credited with the change.
Lifeline: European AIDS Study: USA Today (10/31/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; The Italian Study Group on HIV Heterosexual Transmission reported in the journal Epidemiology that HIV is transmitted twice as easily from men to women as the disease passes from women to men. One explanation for the difference is that HIV- infected sperm can travel throughout a woman s reproductive system. The researc
City's Top AIDS Official is Reassigned Under Fire: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/31/94) P. A1; Collins, Huntly; Philadelphia Health Commissioner Estelle Richman will announce today the reassignment of Richard Scott, head the city s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (AACO). Scott has been accused by some leaders of minority groups of being insensitive to their needs. Most recently, Scott was accused of breaching the confidentia
Government Opens AIDS Hot Line: Washington Times (10/31/94) P. A7; The HIV-AIDS Treatment Information Service is a free, confidential phone service that will provide treatment information to people with AIDS, their families, and health care providers. The service, which is provided by the federal government, will be staffed by health information specialists who are fluent in both Engl
AIDS and Nutrition: Clarification, Additional Resources: AIDS Treatment News (10/07/94) No. 208, P. 4; Tobias, Tadd; There is a vast difference between the definitions of nutritionist and registered dietitian. Confusion is easy because many registered dietitians call themselves the more user friendly term of nutritionist when in community or outpatient settings. Almost anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, however, and he or she
Viral Load Measurement: Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 34; Cohan, Gary R.; Researchers have developed two new methods of measuring HIV s activity. Quantitative RNA-PCR is a technique under development by Roche Molecular Systems to detect very small amounts of RNA, and give a more precise estimate of how much virus is being reproduced in the body. Branched-chain DNA (bDNA) estimates viral load
Red Cross Wins Better Business Bureau Award for AIDS Education; Its Third BBB Honor in Five Years: PR Newswire (10/26/94); The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania s has been awarded the 1994 Best Service Introduction Award by the Better Business Bureau for its excellence in AIDS education and prevention. Introduced in 1993, the AIDS Home Care course helps people learn the skills and confidence they need to care for a loved one
Grace's Agracetus Unit Awarded $2 Million by U.S. Army to Develop HIV Vaccine; Initiates Plans for a Malaria Vaccine: PR Newswire (10/26/94); The Army Medical Research and Development Command awarded Agracetus, Inc., a subsidiary of W. R. Grace & Co., a $2 million, four-year grant to develop a DNA-based vaccine for HIV. Separately, The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research also entered an exclusive Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA
Ribi Science Update: Ribi's MPL in Liposomes Superior as AIDS Vaccine Adjuvant, According to Preliminary Comparative Human Clinical Study Data: PR Newswire (10/26/94); Data from a Phase I study conducted by the AIDS Vaccine Evaluation Group of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was presented on Wednesday at the 2nd International Conference on Mucosal Immunization, Genetic Approaches and Adjuvants. It showed that Ribi ImmunoChem s MPL immunomodulator formulated
Immunomedics Reports Clinical Results on Potential Imaging Agent for Infection in AIDS Patients: Business Wire (10/27/94); Further pilot clinical results of Immunomedic Inc. s new nuclear imaging agent for Pneumocystis infection in immunocompromised patients were announced at the 6th Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology in Sydney, Australia . With an 85.7 percent accuracy rate, the imaging agent diagnosed Pneumo
Biomune Systems Inc. Announces Preliminary Results of Phase I Clinical Trials: Business Wire (10/27/94); Preliminary Phase I trials of IMMUNO-C--a bovine antibody- based biologic drug in development for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis--were successful, Biomune Systems Inc. announced Thursday. We have administered IMMUNO-C to 41 healthy, HIV negative volunteers, and at this point our analysis is that the product is safe
Benetton's Condom-Monium: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/27/94) P. D6; French, Serena; A fashion show of the fall 1994 collection at local United Colors of Benetton stores was held last Wednesday night to benefit the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CanFAR). Eight Toronto-area Benetton store owners decided to put on the show after receiving the fall issue of Benetton s quarterly international magaz
Bad Blood Donors Can't Be Identified: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/27/94) P. A10; Claridge, Thomas; A temporary injunction has been placed to prevent the Canadian Red Cross from disclosing to public health authorities the identities of donors of HIV-infected blood now being tested after 10 years in cold storage. The Canadian AIDS Society requested the order. The Ontario Court s General Division will start hearing arg
Lifeline: AIDS Model: USA Today (10/28/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; Baboons infected with HIV appear to develop the same symptoms as humans, report researchers in Science magazine. Although animal activists protest the baboons suffering, Dr. Jay Levy of the University of California at San Francisco says that the animals are making new investigations of AIDS vaccines and treatments poss
HIV Prevention Programs: Science (10/07/94) Vol. 266, No. 5182, P. 13; Holtgrave, David R.; Qualls, Noreen; David R. Holtgrave and Noreen L. Qualls of the Centers for Disease Control s Office of HIV/AIDS fully endorse Aggleton et al s overview of issues related to the primary prevention of HIV infection. They note that while HIV prevention programs work, further empirical research is needed to address more complex questions-
Infections Related to Venous Access Devices in Patients with AIDS: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (9/94-10/94) Vol. 5, No. 5, P. 43; Settle, Jane T.; Neff-Smith, Martha; Wan, George J.; A retrospective study of venous access devices (VADs) was conducted in patients with AIDS to compare infection rates in implanted external catheters and completely implanted ports. VADs are often found in PWAs who need long-term administration of medications and access for phlebotomy and dehydration. All 48 participant
AIDS, HIV-Carriers Hit 1,709: Nikkei Weekly (10/10/94) Vol. 32, No. 1,641, P. 20; The Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry s AIDS Surveillance Committee reported cases of 92 new HIV carriers and AIDS patients in Japan during the July-August period--the third highest total during a two-month period. Of the total, 50 were Japanese males, exceeding the past rate of 37 in the May- June period. Eight new
New Symposium Series' First Topic Focuses on AIDS: PR Newswire (10/24/94); The subject of the first Page-Wood Symposium series, which is combined this year with the second Cleveland Virology Symposium, is AIDS and the Structure and Function of Viruses. The three day conference--to be held Oct. 27-29-- will include topics such as Public Health and Social Policy, Vaccine Development, Immunology
Osteotech Demineralization Process Inactivates HIV, Hepatitis and Other Viruses: PR Newswire (10/24/94); A new study, Inactivation of Viruses During Bone Demineralization, was presented to the North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting last Friday. The study described the potent virucidal effect of Osteotech, Inc. s bone demineralization process on HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and cytomegalovirus . The
Reaching Out to Asians & Pacific Islanders Facing HIV & AIDS; Campaign to Be Unveiled at Nov. 3 Media Conference: Business Wire (10/25/94); The largest HIV/AIDS campaign yet to reach out to Asians and Pacific Islanders will be introduced at a media conference on Nov. 3 in Los Angeles. Facing HIV & AIDS is a multilingual approach that will inform those who know or think they may be infected of the wide range of confidential services and resources availa
Nurse's Car Will Display AIDS Plate: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/26/94) P. 4A; A registered nurse who specializes in AIDS care will be able to keep his custom license plate that reads AIDS RN . The Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) initially denied Steve Lee--who wanted to show his pride in his work and AIDS awareness--the license plate. The agency reversed its decision this week on the
America's Silent Epidemic: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (10/26/94) P. A1; Roan, Shari; As sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) flourish, many young American are naive about the risks of sex in the 90s. Teen- agers and young adults are now the primary recipients of sexually transmitted diseases which, among other things, can increase the risk of contracting HIV. Statistics show that many people are infect
Court Overturns Limited Visits to Gay Father: Washington Post (10/27/94) P. D1; Fisher, Marc; The Maryland Court of Special Appeals has overturned a judge s ruling that limited a homosexual father s right to see his children. In a nine-to-four decision, the court ruled that if the father, David North, was permitted to see his children during the day, there is no reason to believe that nighttime visits would exp
Schwartz Has Plan to Boost Health Care: Washington Post (10/27/94) P. C3; Goldstein, Amy; District of Columbia Republican mayoral candidate Carol Schwartz announced Wednesday a plan to improve the health of the city s residents. She said she would emphasize preventative care, expand drug treatment, and continue many controversial methods the city is using to fight AIDS. Schwartz supported several AIDS-preve
Medical Briefs: Sulfadiazine Available: Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 34; Sulfadiazine, manufactured and marketed by Eon Labs Manufacturing Inc., is now available in the United States . Previously obtained only through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the drug can be used for treatment of many infections, including adjunctive therapy with pryimethamine for toxoplasmosis--an in
When All Else Fails: American Medical News (10/10/94) Vol. 37, No. 38, P. 13; Pinkney, Deborah Shelton; The American Medical Association is seeking $75,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop an HIV prevention training program for doctors. The prototype information kit contains an array of items--including pamphlets, condoms, a demonstration model penis, a contract card for recording negotiated
Evaluating Interventions for Fear of Contagion: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (9/94-10/94) Vol. 5, No. 5, P. 48; Meisenhelder, Janice Bell; Rice, Louise; Contact with AIDS patients is one educational strategy employed to lessen fear of HIV contagion. To evaluate this type of intervention among nurses, two continuing educational offerings presented a panel of people living with HIV. The one-day program was marked by a significant decrease in levels of fear. In the six-we
Nosocomial HIV-1 Transmission and Primary Prevention in Romania: Lancet (10/08/94) Vol. 344, No. 8928, P. 1028; Apetrei, C.; Buzdugan, I.; Mitroi, I. et al; To establish the incidence and prevalence of patient-to- patient HIV transmission among Romanian children, a study was conducted in life-care institutions for orphans and abandoned children. A total of 2,673 patients were tested for HIV in 23 different homes. A high prevalence of HIV infection was found--in contrast wi
The Immune Response Corp. Announces Third Quarter 1994 Financial Results: PRNewswire (10/24/94); The Immune Response Corp., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of proprietary products for the treatment of HIV infection and autoimmune diseases, on Monday reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30. The company experienced a net loss of $.20 per share compared to $.19 per share
Cell Genesys Issued Broad Patent for Universal Receptor Cell Technology: PR Newswire (10/25/94); Cell Genesys, Inc. has been issued a patent covering the core technology of its universal receptor cell therapy program. It was also announced that a Phase I/II clinical trial began this month at the National Institutes of Health for anti-HIV T cell therapy for AIDS, the main product in Cell Genesys universal receptor
China: 1,435 Cases of AIDS: United Press International (10/25/94); Holland, Lorien; China warned Tuesday that AIDS is spreading quickly through its heterosexual community as the government s control over its citizens lessens. While 1,435 people out of a 1.2 billion population were reported to have AIDS in July, scientists believe the actual number is higher--some estimating that as many as 40,000 Ch
String Quartet Playing for AIDS Charities: New York Times (10/26/94) P. C14; Kozinn, Allan; Proceeds from one series of concerts during the Tokyo Quartet s 25th anniversary season will benefit six AIDS charities. The string quartet is not accepting a fee for the six-concert cycle in New York City, and has underwriters such as Clairol and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce that are covering about $150,000 in hal
Test Measures HIV Blood Levels: Washington Times (10/26/94) P. A7; A new test, the branched DNA assay for HIV-1 infection, can help determine the levels of HIV in a patient s bloodstream. Researchers at the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Georgetown University, and the Chiron Corp. say the test will help doctors to evaluate the effectiveness of a
For Hemophiliacs and Their Families, Loss and Anger: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/26/94) P. A1; Shaw, Donna; There is a growing movement among hemophiliacs and their families demanding to know why the clotting medicine needed to prolong their lives was contaminated with HIV. The issue is expected to be raised at the annual convention of the National Hemophilia Foundation, which starts today in Dallas. During the 1980s, an eas
Armed and Dangerous: Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 28; Morales, Jorge; On Sept. 1, 62-year-old retired state worker William Lewis walked into the offices of Frances Tarlton, a spokeswoman on AIDS issues for the New York state health department, and slashed her throat with a linoleum knife. Lewis, who called himself an activist in the fight against AIDS, has been charged with attempted mur
New Blood Charges in Paris: Science (10/14/94) Vol. 266, No. 5183, P. 222; Cell biologist Francois Gros--a former scientific counselor to the prime ministry and one of France s most well-known scientists--and physician Claude Weisselberg--a former adviser to the health ministry--were added to the list of those accused in the contaminated blood scandal. Several scientists and politicians have
The Content of Ethical Problems Experienced by Persons with AIDS: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (9/94-10/94) Vol. 5, No. 5, P. 32; Cameron, Miriam E.; Crisham, Patricia; Lewis, Douglas E.; Persons living with AIDS experience ethical problems that can significantly affect their health, families, healthcare personnel, and society. A study was conducted to determine the foundations and contents of the problems in 25 people with AIDS and five significant others. Totals of 45 and 17 different ethical concerns
Risperidone in HIV-Related Manic Psychosis: Lancet (10/08/94) Vol. 344, No. 8928, P. 1029; Singh, A. N.; Catalan, J.; Manic psychosis is fairly common among people in the advanced stages of HIV. Singh and Catalan successfully administered risperidone to four male psychotic AIDS patients with manic symptoms. Following the Young mania rating scale, ratings in three patients fell from 43 to 8, 35 to 14, and 30 to 3 within seven to 10 day
Michael Douglas and Chayanne to Join Sharon Stone and Other Superstars Presenting Culinary Delights at "The Big Feast on the Beach": Business Wire (10/20/94); The list of celebrity chefs scheduled for The Big Feast on the Beach includes actor Michael Douglas and Latin pop star Chayanne. The event--which will benefit the March of Dimes, Lend-A-Hand, and the United Foundation for AIDS--will focus on celebrities, stars, chefs, famed wine makers, and a line-up of great music. O
U.S.-Ivory Coast AIDS Project Targets Women: Reuters (10/23/94); An AIDS project in Ivory Coast--funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--is trying to help the increasing number of women becoming infected with HIV. Project Retro-CI will try to keep women seronegative for HIV and keep seropositive women from developing opportunistic illnesses. Ivory Coast has th
French, U.S. Officials Plan AIDS Meeting: Reuters (10/24/94); Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and French Social Affairs and Health Minister Simone Veil met Monday to plan an international AIDS conference to be held in Paris. The meeting went smoothly, despite research tensions between French and U.S. scientists. AIDS doesn t know if its French or American, said
Japan Admits Failed to Warn Over HIV-Tainted Blood: Reuters (10/24/94); Japan admitted on Monday that its Health Ministry in 1983 did not publicize information it had about the risk of HIV contamination in imported blood products. Documents--filed in a lawsuit against the government and two pharmaceutical companies by hemophiliacs who claim they were infected with HIV through tainted U.S
German AIDS-Detecting Drug Recalled; Maker Says It Missed Virus in One Case: Boston Globe (10/24/94) P. 52; Hoechst, one of Germany s largest drug companies, has initiated a recall of Enzygnost--a drug used for HIV testing-- because it missed HIV in one instance. Behring, the distributor of Enzygnost and a subsidiary of Hoechst, began a worldwide recall action to 35 countries on Oct. 15. German pharmaceutical authorities hav
'Doe's' Boss Tells of Job Critiques: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/25/94) P. B1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; Steven Asher, Scott Doe s former boss, testified before a federal jury yesterday that he often criticized the lawyer-- who has AIDS--for being a poor writer and researcher. The lawyer claimed he had to rewrite Doe s briefs and other work so extensively that once when he gave Doe an assignment, Doe replied, Why should I
Koop's Grim Diagnosis: Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 16; C. Everett Koop, former surgeon general, said during a speech at Ohio Wesleyan University that there will never be a cure [for AIDS], and the likelihood of a vaccine is dim. He also said that education is the only way to fight the disease, as science will not likely find a cure. Koop, now a professor at Dartmouth Unive
Needle-Exchange Programme Against AIDS in Brazil: Lancet (10/08/94) Vol. 344, No. 8928, P. 1013; Csillag, Claudio; The Brazilian Ministry of Health reports that the number of new AIDS cases in Brazil has stabilized. The increase for 1992-1993 was 2 percent--there were 11,319 new cases in 1992 and 11,522 in 1993. Four years ago, a Brazilian person diagnosed with AIDS would live only five to eight months after diagnosis, but current
Hospital Care Grievances and Psychosocial Needs Expressed by PWAs: An Analysis of Qualitative Data: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (9/94-10/94) Vol. 5, No. 5, P. 21; Foley, Mary E.; Fahs, Marianne C.; A study was conducted to analyze AIDS patients reactions to hospitalization, and their experiences while hospitalized. Fifty patients hospitalized for AIDS-related complications were interviewed. The participants complaints included the lack of information concerning treatments and diagnosis, the routinization of treat
AIDS on Rise Among Young African Women: Reuters (10/21/94); Dr. Eka Williams, a Nigerian doctor, told a conference on AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa hosted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that young women in Africa were contracting HIV at an alarming rate. I do not know of any program that addresses the spread of HIV among adolescents, she said. Dr. W
Across the USA: Florida: USA Today (10/24/94) P. 11A; The 1,187 reported cases of syphilis in Florida in 1993 is the lowest level in the state in 30 years. The decrease is attributed to the fear of AIDS. The syphilis rate in Florida peaked at 8,292 cases in 1988.
Court: Disabilities Act Applies to Health Plans: Journal of Commerce (10/24/94) P. 13A; The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that companies providing health insurance plans for businesses may not discriminate against workers with disabilities--including AIDS. The ruling overturned a previous lower court decision that said health insurance companies were not subject to the 1990 Americans with
Backlog of Cases Drives Up Total of AIDS Victims: Washington Times (10/24/94) P. C3; The number of confirmed AIDS cases in Maryland leaped past 10,000 this month. As of October, there were 10,140 reported cases of AIDS in Maryland--up from 8,976 in June. The three- month increase stems mainly from a backlog that had gone unreported by the Baltimore City Health Department in early 1994. The delay was bl
AIDS Curriculum: Fighting Words: New York Times (10/24/94) P. B1; Dillon, Sam; There is great disagreement about what the latest AIDS guide for the New York City school system should contain. Louise Phillips and her allies have been fighting to make sure the curriculum encourages abstinence. Erica Zurer and her supporters have been fighting to ensure that plenty of information on condoms is inclu
AIDS Fear Means Gloves for Bus Drivers: Washington Times (10/24/94) P. A9; Bus drivers in Broward County, Fla.--who are afraid of catching AIDS and other diseases--are being given latex gloves to wear when driving. Some drivers have complained of handling transfers with blood and saliva on them; others have refused to touch the transfers--telling riders to place them in a basket instead. The
Report Says Hemophilia Foundation Knew Early That AIDS Was Probably Spread by Blood: New York Times (10/24/94) P. B9; The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday that the fact that AIDS was most likely a blood-borne virus that pharmaceutical companies could eliminate from blood-clotting medicine commonly given to hemophiliacs was known to executives of the National Hemophilia Foundation as early as 1982. More than half of the 20,000 hem
Gene Therapy Leaves the Lab, Faces Big Hurdles in the Clinic: AIDS Alert (10/94) Vol. 9, No. 10, P. 140; Researchers in gene therapy are initiating small trials in mice and humans that could yield a new approach to fighting HIV by boosting or possibly restoring the immune system. Researchers at the University of Washington have been encouraged by the reconstituted immune systems in patients given escalating doses of CD8 T
Homosexuality: New England Journal of Medicine (10/06/94) Vol. 331, No. 14, P. 923; Friedman, Richard C.; Downey, Jennifer I.; Although the AIDS epidemic is not confined to homosexuals, it has increased the stigmatization of gay men because they account for such a large number of AIDS cases in the United States . The epidemic has also intensified stigma against lesbians --who actually are at no increased risk of AIDS, but are often assumed to
Assisted Suicide Court Battles Intensify: Reuters (10/19/94); Appleson, Gail; Lawyers in New York on Wednesday urged U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Griesa to overturn the state s ban on doctor- assisted suicide. The suit--funded by Compassion in Dying-- was filed on behalf of three people with AIDS, two of whom have already died. Compassion in Dying claims the ban is unconstitutional, and alle
Soap Summit to Discuss Development of Storylines Affecting U.S. Attitudes Toward Reproductive Behavior: PR Newswire (10/20/94); The first Soap Summit, sponsored by Population Communications International, will feature discussion on how to incorporate American attitudes toward reproductive behavior into the plots of soap operas. More than 45 leading health experts, television executives, and top soap opera creative talents will attend the meetin
Trinity Biotech PLC Reports 6 Month Financial Results: PR Newswire (10/20/94); Trinity Biotech plc, an Ireland-based diagnostics company, has reported more than a 30-fold increase in both its second quarter and half-year revenues over the same periods in fiscal year 1993. Revenues continue to be derived chiefly from pregnancy sales, but HIV test sales are now coming on stream, said CEO, Ronan O C
Agouron Begins Clinical Testing of Anti-HIV Drug: PR Newswire (10/20/94); Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has started human clinical trials of AG1343, its anti-HIV drug. The safety and pharmocokinetic parameters of single and multiple oral doses of the drug will be assessed in phase I studies during the next 60 days. AG1343 demonstrated potent inhibition of HIV replication in vitro in preclin
Massie a Hit at HIV Conference with Lessons of Being Positive: Boston Globe (10/20/94) P. 38; Howe, Peter; Robert K. Massie, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, discussed his struggle with hemophilia and HIV on Wednesday at a meeting of the AIDS Action Committee. Massie received sustained applause and support when introduced as the first HIV-positive person in the country to run for a statewid
Poverty Increases Risk of Death from AIDS--Study: Reuters (10/21/94); A Canadian study has found that poverty reduces the survival rate of AIDS patients. Professor Martin Schechter of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver led a research team that followed the lives of 364 gay men for 10 years beginning in November 1982. Men on low incomes had a 63 percent greater chance of deat
Deaths: Cleews Vellay: Washington Post (10/21/94) P. D5; Cleews Vellay, a cofounder and former president of the French branch of ACT UP, died of AIDS on Oct. 18 in Paris. Vellay lobbied to raise public awareness of AIDS-related problems that AIDS patients experience. He also condemned the French government for laxity in developing AIDS prevention and education programs. Rela
Lifeline: Cause Celeb: USA Today (10/21/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; On Dec. 21--World AIDS Day--20 country music stars will participate in a benefit concert for a Nashville AIDS organization. Scheduled to perform at the event, being held at the Grand Ole Opry House, are Kathy Mattea, Billy Ray Cyrus, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, David Ball, and others. Tickets for the event will go on s
Government at Its Best: 15 More Innovative Programs: Governing (10/94) Vol. 8, No. 1, P. 36; The CARE/Project HOME AIDS Program of the Maryland Department of Human Resources is one of 15 finalists for the 1994 Innovations in State and Local Government Awards. The program provides private-home housing for HIV-positive single adults, which saves them money--compared to nursing homes--and improves the quality of
Setting Up an AIDS Policy: Inc. (10/94) Vol. 16, No. 10, P. 121; Carney, Karen E.; The standards promoted by the National Leadership Coalition on AIDS can be used as the foundation for a workplace AIDS policy. NLCOA s principles include compliance with federal, state, and local ordinances for disabilities; a policy of nondiscrimination; confidentiality of medical and health- insurance information; an
Confronting the AIDS Vaccine Challenge: Technology Review (10/94) Vol. 97, No. 7, P. 23; Essex, Max; The best chance for protection from HIV comes when an individual receives a vaccine that exactly matches the virus to which he was exposed. Thus, there will have to be a variety of vaccines developed based on subtype, stage of infection, and route of transmission. Most prototype AIDS vaccines have been prepared to prot
AIDSLine: Cytomegalovirus Treatments: Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 33; Cohan, Gary R.; Cytomegalovirus is an infection that causes, in healthy people, a mononucleosis-type illness marked by several weeks of fatigue and low-grade fever that resolves itself. It has an exposure rate of over 50 percent in the general population, but almost 95 percent of gay men test positive for CMV
Loni Anderson Introduces Desk Diary to Benefit L.A. Shanti and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation: PR Newswire (10/19/94); On Nov. 10, a reception will be held to benefit L.A. Shanti and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. At the reception, Loni Anderson will introduce a 1994 desk diary--proceeds of which will also benefit the two organizations. The desk diary contains photographs of 12 of the most beautiful and famous actresses, all of
Cytel Awarded $1.6 Million in NIH Contract: Business Wire (10/19/94); The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $1.6 million contract to Cytel Corporation to expand Cytel s Theradigm technology. The five-year contract focuses on applying knowledge of the major histocompatibility complex system to develop therapeutic vaccines for malaria, HIV, and to expand of the company s hepatiti
New York University Medical Center Calls Attention to the November 1994 Issue of the Journal of Virology, Which Reports a Breakthrough in Neutralizing the HIV Virus: Business Wire (10/19/94); The New York University Medical Center recently drew attention to the November 1994 issue of the Journal of Virology, which reports the use of a human monoclonal antibody to neutralize HIV. One of the authors of the report, Dr. Susan Zolla-Pazner of NYU Medical Center, says that this is the first instance of a human mo
Initiative Would Speed Spread of TB, Study Says: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (10/19/94) P. B1; Shuit, Douglas P.; Proposition 187, the anti-illegal immigrant initiative, would accelerate the spread of tuberculosis in California by driving illegal immigrants underground, predicts a study released Wednesday. The initiative would require health-care professionals to report undocumented immigrants to the U.S. Immigration and Naturaliz
Across the USA: Connecticut/Nebraska: USA Today (10/20/94) P. 10A; Two states recently announced AIDS-related news. In New Haven, Conn., more than 2,300 condoms were distributed by school clinics during the first year of an AIDS prevention program. The condoms are available to students starting in the fifth grade. And in Omaha, Neb., the Charles Drew Health Center will receive $1 mill
Teens Flock to Hear Johnson on AIDS: Baltimore Sun (10/20/94) P. 2A; Teenagers filled the bleachers at the Laguna Beach (Calif.) High School gym to hear former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson speak about HIV, and how he is coping with his own infection. I just live, said Johnson. You get up in the morning and you take your medicine and you work out for two hours. He advocated abstinence
Grantwatch: AIDS: Health Affairs (Fall 1994) Vol. 13, No. 4, P. 178; Iris House in New York City was granted $50,000 over two years by the Ittleson Foundation. Iris House is the country s first community-based organization specifically designed to address the problems that low-income and minority women with HIV/AIDS and their families face in obtaining services. Funds from the grant wil
Around the Nation: Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 20; An 21-year-old HIV-infected woman from West Palm Beach, Fla. has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly biting a 90-year old man while panhandling. In other news from around the country, a Cincinnati, Ohio, task force determined that intravenous drug use is not enough of a problem in the city to warrant a nee
Letters: The Efficacy of Zidovudine is Time Limited: Journal of the American Medical Association (10/05/94) Vol. 272, No. 13, P. 1001; Lundgren, Jens D.; Pedersen, Court; Nielsen, Jens Ole et al; In a letter to the editor published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , Lundgren et al respond to letters from Drs. Bergman and Wenglin and from Moore et al about their study concluding that the effect of zidovudine is time limited. Berman and Wenglin suggested that aggressive prophylactic antibiotic
Locallisation of HIV-1 to Human Papillomavirus Associated Cervical Lesions: Lancet (10/01/94) Vol. 344, No. 8927, P. 954; Vernon, S.D.; Zaki, S. R.; Reeves, W. C.; Symptom-free and immunosuppressed HIV-1 positive women have a significantly higher risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias and genital infection with human papillomavirus than HIV-negative women do. In a letter to the editor published in The Lancet medical journal, Vernon et al describe their study to determine whe
International Disunity on HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trials: Journal of the American Medical Association (10/12/94) Vol. 272, No. 14, P. 1090; Cotton, Paul; Phase III trials of two experimental HIV vaccines were indefinitely postponed this summer by the National Institutes of Health. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cited the lack of clear evidence showing that a person is actually immunized against HIV infection as a re
CEL-SCI Corporation Announces Extension of Warrants: PR Newswire (10/17/94); CEL-SCI Corporation--developer of Multikine, a potential treatment for cancers and other immunodeficiency diseases-- announced Monday that the expiration date of its publicly held warrants trading under the Nasdaq symbol CELIW has been extended by 12 months to Feb. 6, 1996. Viral Technologies, Inc., the 50 percent owne
Biocontrol Receives Patent for Procedure Used to Treat HIV: PR Newswire (10/18/94); The U.S. Patent Office has issued a patent to Biocontrol Technology, Inc. for its specialized method for whole-body extracorporeal hyperthermia used in the treatment of AIDS patients. An artificially induced fever of 107. 6 degrees Fahrenheit treats the HIV infection. Studies have shown HIV to be heat sensitive. The Bi
Health Chief Warns Cambodia Faces AIDS Epidemic: Reuters (10/18/94); Michael Merson, executive director of the World Health Organization s global AIDS program, said Tuesday that unless action is taken, Cambodia faces an AIDS crisis comparable to the one in neighboring Thailand . The time for action is now- -the price will be much greater (to pay) later if action isn t taken, he stated
Secrecy Proposed for Blood Study: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/18/94) P. A3; Coutts, Jane; Justice Horace Krever, head of the inquiry into why more than 1,000 Canadians were infected with HIV from tainted blood products, wants to keep a report on the current safety of Canada s blood a secret for three months. Krever wants the report, which will be issued at the end of November, to be distributed to participa
City Disclosed Confidential Data on AIDS Panel Members: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/19/94) P. A1; Collins, Huntly; The confidentiality of 36 members of a Philadelphia community AIDS advisory panel was violated by the city s Health Department, said City Health Commissioner Estelle Richman on Tuesday. The members names, sexual orientation, and the HIV status of some were accidentally put on a federal grant application to the Centers
One in a Million: Successful Meetings (10/94) Vol. 43, No. 11, P. 21; Carey, Robert; The Doral Arrowwood Resort Conference Center in Rye Brook, N.Y., is offering its clientele an opportunity to win $1 million. On November 7, each group that has booked a meeting scheduled before Dec. 9 will be able to send one member to try to score a $1 million hole-in-one. Many professional athletes and celebrities wi
7th ANAC Conference: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (9/94-10/94) Vol. 5, No. 5, P. 47; HIV Nursing on the Cutting Edge: Sharing Our Stories, Honing Our Skills is the theme of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Nationally-known experts, staff nurses, and HIV educators--such as Patricia Benner and Ron Bayer--will speak about the latest in HIV infection and nurse carin
Congress Hears African-American Concerns About Spread of AIDS: AIDS Alert (10/94) Vol. 9, No. 10, P. 146; The House Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations heard testimony concerning claims that more federal funds are desperately needed to support education and prevention efforts specific to the African- American population. AIDS experts agreed that more funding should be targeted for the Centers fo
NC Researcher to Help Stem AIDS in Haiti: Reuters (10/14/94); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill research instructor Frieda Behets is focusing on controlling the spread of AIDS in Haiti . If we can reduce the transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS transmission also will significantly decrease, said Behets. The UNC School of Medicine--as part of a regio
City AIDS Director Alleged to Have Violated Confidentiality of Three People with HIV/AIDS; Community Reps Demand Richard Scott's Resignation: PR Newswire (10/17/94); An emergency meeting with the city s HIV Community Prevention Planning Group has been scheduled by Philadelphia s Health Commissioner, Estelle Richman, to respond to calls for the resignation of Richard Scott, director of the city health department s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (AACO). Two weeks ago, Scott reve
'An Opportunity Was Missed': Houston Chronicle (10/17/94) P. 9A; SoRelle, Ruth; Dr. Subhash K. Hira, a professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health who directs an AIDS program in Bombay and New Bombay, claims that international and Indian health organizations missed an opportunity to stop the spread of AIDS six years ago. Hira says that until 1990, AIDS was a rare phenomenon and, b
Gene Therapy Experiments Already Approved by the Government: Washington Post (Health) (10/18/94) P. 14; Weiss, Rick; Four HIV-1-infected patients have been treated with genes that make HIV proteins. The objective of the treatment is to stimulate a stronger immune response against HIV. Although the safety of gene therapy was the focus of the tests--not the efficacy--one of the patients now tests negative for HIV. Another approach to g
Across the USA: South Carolina: USA Today (10/18/94) P. 9A; The number of people in South Carolina who have contracted AIDS during the past two years is greater than the total of all previous years combined. There have been 4,641 AIDS deaths there since 1981.
Man Settles Suit with Maryland Over Forced AIDS Test: Washington Post (10/18/94) P. D3; The state of Maryland must pay $75,000 to a unidentified Maryland man who was forced to submit to an HIV test after officials accused him of knowingly spreading the virus. The state has also agreed not to test people for HIV without their consent. The man was tested while being held in jail in August 1992. Frederick Co
Around the World: Advocate (10/04/94) No. 665, P. 20; Three Asian countries are taking or are planning AIDS-related measures. First, in Cambodia , the Cambodian Women s Association warned that an ordinance banning prostitution in Phnom Penh could obstruct the fight against AIDS by driving the prostitutes underground. Next, border guards in
Latino Women Encouraged to Question Traditional Roles: AIDS Alert (10/94) Vol. 9, No. 10, P. 147; One in five Latino women in the United States has reported a history of sexual abuse or rape. Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco suggest that sexual silence and sexual coercion may promote the spread of HIV infection in the Latino community. They found that discussion of sex is discouraged in
New Recommendations Urge Youths to Get Vaccinated Against Hepatitis B: PR Newswire (10/12/94); The American School Health Association on Wednesday announced new recommendations that urge all youths to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. The virus, which is spread through blood and other bodily fluids, is 100 times more contagious than HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 14 Americans a da
National Hospice Organization to Host 16th Annual Symposium and Exposition: PR Newswire (10/14/94); The National Hospice Organization is holding The 16th Annual Symposium and Exposition Opening Doors: The Next Generation of Hospice Caring in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 18-22. The conference will address such topics as AIDS care, ethical issues, and health care reform. Tom Grothe, RN, MFCC, will discuss the standard o
WHO Approves Large-Scale AIDS Vaccine Trials: Reuters (10/14/94); The World Health Organization announced Friday that it had approved the first large-scale trials of possible HIV vaccines. The unnamed vaccines will be tested in Brazil , Uganda , and Tanzania . The announcement came after a two-day meeting in Geneva, in which experts a
Growth Hormone Helps AIDS Patients Gain Weight--Study: Reuters (10/14/94); A study conducted by University of California at San Francisco researchers has shown that injections of human growth hormone can help people with AIDS gain weight. The trial involved 178 participants who were given daily injections of bio-engineered human growth hormone. The individuals gained an average of 6.6 pounds
Woman with HIV Is Facing Felony Charges of Sodomy: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/14/94) P. 1D; VandeWater, Judith; An HIV-infected woman accused of performing oral sex on two brothers, ages 11 and 13, will face two felony charges of sodomy. She also may be charged with violating a law that prohibits deliberate attempts to infect someone with HIV. Hospital records confirm that the woman was aware that she was infected when she made
Volunteers Pitch In to Help AIDS Patients Keep Their Beloved Pets: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (10/16/94) P. A19; Ivey, Dave; Philadelphia Pets Are Wonderful Support Inc. handles all the chores involved with pet care for AIDS patients. Volunteers walk and groom dogs, change cat litter, and arrange for veterinary care. Their help allows people who are weakened by of the disease to keep their pets. Seventeen major cities have organizations simi
AIDS Claims 3rd Hemophiliac Brother: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (10/16/94) P. A29; Sevareid, Susan; Les Gimmer, the third of four hemophiliac brothers to be infected with HIV, died of AIDS on Sept. 23--the eve of his 40th birthday. The brothers are thought to have become infected with HIV from tainted blood products during the early 1980s. Two of the brothers have died since 1990, and the other committed suicide in 1
Reference to Gay Clerk Raises a Furor at Trial: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/15/94) P. A1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; The judge in the AIDS discrimination case of Scott Doe v. Kohn, Nast & Graf threatened to punish the defense lawyer when he raised the issue of homosexuality on Friday. The attorney asked Doe if he had asked an openly gay file clerk for advice when Doe s boss told him his contract would not be renewed. The jury was
A Program That Works: AIDS-Smart Hair: Essence (10/94) Vol. 25, No. 4, P. 50; To combat the problem that women and youths in the rural South are the fastest-growing group of people with HIV, DiAna DiAna of DiAna s Hair Ego founded the South Carolina AIDS Education Network in 1987. DiAna distributes condoms and AIDS information to clients and shows AIDS prevention videos while their hair dries.
AIDS: Case: Doe v. Magsaysay: National Law Journal (09/26/94) Vol. 17, No. 4, P. C3; The plaintiff received more than 200 units of blood in 1985 after developing pancreatitis related to an adverse drug reaction. Because of the transfusions, he contracted hepatitis and was later diagnosed as HIV-positive. The plaintiff sued his doctor, charging that medical malpractice led to the need for transfusions,
Northfield Laboratories Reports First Quarter Results: PR Newswire (10/12/94); Northfield Laboratories Inc. on Wednesday reported a first- quarter, fiscal year 1995 loss of $1.8 million, which was expected because the company does not have any sales or revenues. Northfield is currently engaged in Phase II clinical trials of its blood substitute, PolyHeme, a solution of chemically modified hemoglo
Biomune Systems Inc. Announces Principal Investigator for Phase II Studies: Business Wire (10/13/94); Dr. Donald P. Kotler has been named principal investigator for Biomune Systems Inc. s initial Phase II human clinical trial of its biologic drug, IMMUNO-C. Kotler, Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University s College of Physicians and Surgeons, is a leading expert in AIDS-related gastrointestinal diseases.
NJ Announces Pioneer Plan for AIDS Families: Reuters (10/13/94); Abandoned housing in New Jersey will be renovated as part of the only program nationwide to provide permanent housing to families in which a parent is infected with HIV. Four non- profit organizations will make the housing available to the families and will also offer a wide range of social services to help them deal w
AIDS Groups to Protest Request to Block Public's Access to AZT Patent Trial Proceedings; Patent Rights to $300 Million of AZT at Stake: PR Newswire (10/13/94); AIDS advocacy groups representing people living with HIV strongly opposed a request by attorneys for Burroughs Wellcome to seal court proceedings of a patent infringement trial concerning the rights to produce AZT . A federal judge in North Carolina heard arguments Thursday from both sides as to whether court records a
Grants Given for AIDS Fight: Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/13/94) P. E8; A total of 10 Virginia organizations have been granted almost $300,000 collectively by the state Health Department to educate hard-to-reach populations about AIDS and HIV. The groups will target racial minorities, homeless people, inmates, substance abusers, prostitutes, out-of-school youths, women, gay youths, and mor
Don't Name Blood Donors with HIV, Group Warns: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/13/94) P. A4; Coutts, Jane; The Canadian AIDS Society said Wednesday that health officials should not be given the names of HIV-infected blood donors who, in a hepatitis B study nine years ago, did not consent to being tested for the virus that causes AIDS. The organization, warning it may go to court to stop a terrible precedent, was responding
Organization Fighting AIDS Homes Wins Round: Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/13/94) P. B5; Cooper, Alan; The Forest Hill-Bliley Road Neighborhood Association, in Virginia, will not be charged with violating federal and state fair housing laws for opposing AIDS group homes in the South Richmond area. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development published guidelines in September stating that attempts to exercise
HIV Carrier Pleads Guilty of Murder Try in Sex Case: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/14/94) P. B7; An HIV-infected man, Peter McAndrew, pleaded guilty on Thursday to attempted murder by knowingly having unprotected sex with a 15-year-old. The former counselor at a home for emotionally troubled youths also pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on the boy--a patient--with whom he had sex many times between A
Pillar House to Auction Kitchen Seats for AIDS Benefit: Nation's Restaurant News (10/03/94) Vol. 28, No. 39, P. 19; The Pillar House in Newton Lower Falls, Mass., is auctioning four seats at its chef s table as part of an AIDS benefit on Oct. 22. All proceeds will go toward the construction of a computer center for the Foundation for Children with AIDS. The kitchen seats will be sold to bidders of more than $1,500. Tickets for seats
AIDS Scams Alleged: Advocate (10/04/94) No. 665, P. 18; Two fraud allegations emphasize the potentially negative business side of the AIDS epidemic. Michael Alan Booth, an Atlanta resident who has AIDS, charged Caremark International Inc. with inflating his bills and prescribing unnecessary care so that it could pay kickbacks to two doctors and a pharmacy. The Illinois-base
HIV-1 Subtype E in Yunnan, China: Lancet (10/01/94) Vol. 344, No. 8927, P. 953; Cheng, Hehe; Zhang, Jiapeng; Capizzi, Jeffrey et al; In a letter to the editor published in The Lancet medical journal, Cheng et al report that 80 percent of the HIV infections reported in China during 1993 were from the southwestern province of Yunnan. HIV-1 isolates from these people and from intravenous drug users (IDUs) in remote mountainous areas bordering Myanmar--
Safe Sex for Lesbians: Focus (09/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 8; A lesbian AIDS pamphlet describes how a lesbian can avoid being infected with HIV by using simple precautions. Plastic wrap, dental dams, or non-lubricated condoms should be used during oral sex. Plastic gloves should be worn during sex play. Sex toys should not be shared without protecting against transmission by eith
Infant's HIV Infection Attributed to Patient-to-Patient Contact: AIDS Alert (10/94) Vol. 9, No. 10, P. 133; The New York City Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that patient-to-patient transmission resulting from an unidentified breakdown in universal precautions at a New York City hospital was the cause of an 11-month-old boy s infection with HIV in 1993. HIV -antibody testing was
10K Run and Rollerblade on Oct. 22 at Griffith Park for Childrens AIDS Center; Hundreds of Children in Los Angeles County to Benefit: Business Wire (10/12/94); Run & Roll For Our Future 94, a 10K run and rollerblade event, is being presented Oct. 22 by Ronald McDonald Charities in recognition of AIDS Awareness Month. The event will benefit hundreds of children at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles who are being treated for HIV and AIDS. Activities include the 5K Celebrity/Fam
Philadelphia AIDS Advocacy Coalition Sponsors Gubernatorial Forum on HIV and AIDS on October 19: PR Newswire (10/12/94); A gubernatorial forum on HIV and AIDS will be held by the Philadelphia AIDS Advocacy Coalition on Oct. 19. Estelle B. Richman, Philadelphia s Health Commissioner, will moderate the event. She will be joined by Lt. Governor Mark Singel, as well as a campaign representative of Congressmen Tom Ridge and Timothy C. Hollowa
Across the USA: Minnesota/Illinois: USA Today (10/13/94) P. 8A; Two states recently announced AIDS-related news. In Illinois, a new federal study reported that 44 percent of the state s private water wells have been found to be contaminated with bacteria--which is extremely dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as infants or AIDS patients. In Minneapolis, Minn., a
Lawyer Says After HIV Diagnosis, He Went From Legal Star to Leper: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/13/94) P. A1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; Scott Doe, the lawyer who accused his former employers of HIV discrimination, testified Tuesday that after just a year at the law firm, he received regular praise, big assignments, and large bonuses. Doe claimed the praise and assignments stopped coming his way after his boss discovered that he was HIV-positive. Doe s
HIV-Infected Teenager Convicted of Attempted Murder in 3 Rapes: Washington Post (10/13/94) P. C5; An HIV-positive Maryland teenager has been convicted of attempted murder in the rape of three women last year. A second man is awaiting trial on charges related to the rapes. The teenager--diagnosed with HIV three years before the rapes- -pleaded guilty to three rape charges and three counts of robbery with a deadly we
Educated Traveler: Good Deeds: Successful Meetings (10/94) Vol. 43, No. 11, P. 38; The Swissotel lodging chain will contribute $1 to AIDS research for each reservation made between October and December 31 through the SABRE computer reservation group.
Profile: Southern Comforts: Far Eastern Economic Review (09/29/94) Vol. 157, No. 39, P. 78; Pais, Arthur; As the only infectious diseases specialist living in Johnson City, Tenn., in 1985, Ethiopian-born Abraham Verghese had to learn how to treat AIDS in a town of clean-living, good country people. He had to encounter his own fear of AIDS, as well as the fears of nurses who believed AIDS patients deserved what they got and
Serial Killer With a Spit Sink: Advocate (10/04/94) No. 665, P. 20; Harvard University behavior scientist Dr. Leonard Horowitz has labeled Dr. David Acer, the late Florida dentist who was suspected of deliberately infecting his patients with HIV, a serial killer with a vendetta against the federal health establishment. In his report on a three-year study, Horowitz writes that Acer disp
Kaposi's Sarcoma, Vascular Permeability, and Scientific Integrity: In Reply: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/28/94) Vol. 272, No. 12, P. 922; Witte, Marlys H.; Borgs, Peter; Way, Dennis L. et al; In a rebuttal to letters to the editor published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in response to their article, Witte et al write that their piece sought clarification of three issues related to the enhanced vascular permeability that was reported in 12-hour Kaposi s Sarcoma lesions in the Science m
Fear of HIV Infection from Biting Not Supported by Research: AIDS Alert (10/94) Vol. 9, No. 10, P. 142; Two recent court cases concerning inmates biting correctional officers indicate that the public is still worried that HIV can be transmitted by saliva, despite researchers claims that HIV is rarely--if ever--found in saliva and that its transmission has never been confirmed. Still, HIV-infected prisoners who bite corre
The Myth of Invulnerability: Lesbians and HIV Disease: Focus (09/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 1; Vasquez, Carmen; Lesbians outside the mainstream community, such as lesbians of color or young lesbians, are the segment of this population most vulnerable to HIV. Because they are less visible, the lesbian community--along with many researchers and scientists- -have not worried about the problem of lesbians and HIV. Much is still unkn
Oxford GlycoSystems Introduces New Product to Sequence Carbohydrates Quickly, Easily; Two Companion Products Also Developed: PR Newswire (10/11/94); Oxford GlycoSystems on Tuesday introduced the RAAM 2000 GlycoSequencer, the first carbohydrate sequencer that automatically determines the structure of flourescently labeled carbohydrates. The device is expected to facilitate the study of carbohydrates, which are factors in diseases including cancer and AIDS. The RAAM
Biologic-DT Receives 510 (k) Approval: PR Newswire (10/11/94); Formal 510 (k) Premarket Notification Approval has been granted to HemoCleanse, Inc. by the Food and Drug Administration to market HemoCleanse s Biologic-DT System for drug overdose treatment. The Biologic System treats and removes toxins from the blood outside of the body while balancing critical blood chemistries. He
BioChem Pharma Corrects and Replaces Previous Announcement: Business Wire (10/11/94); Michael G. Grey has been appointed president of BioChem Therapeutic Inc., a wholly owned therapeutic subsidiary of BioChem Pharma, Inc. Grey will oversee all of BioChem Therapeutic s operations--including research, development, and administration. In collaboration with Glaxo Holdings plc, BioChem Therapeutic has two pr
Two French Ex-Officials Probed in AIDS Scandal: Reuters (10/11/94); Gaston Rimareix and Charles-Henri Filippi, two former advisers to former French Socialist ministers, were officially placed under investigation Tuesday as the continuing inquiry into why 1,250 hemophiliacs received HIV-infected blood during the mid- 1980s broadens. Both Rimareix and Filippi will be investigated as acco
AIDS: Case: Jeanne v. The Hawkes Hospital of Mt. Carmel: National Law Journal (09/26/94) Vol. 17, No. 4, P. C3; In 1985, Holly Lalonde was infected with HIV while undergoing a blood transfusion. Prior to surgery, Lalonde had donated her own blood, out of fear for AIDS, to be used if needed. A second unit of blood, however, was required and 15 months after the surgery, she tested HIV-positive. Lalonde, under the alias Judy Jeanne
Medical Briefs: Stavudine Approved: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 26; Cohan, Gary R.; The Food and Drug Administration has approved stavudine , or d4T , which is available by prescription. Before approval, stavudine and AZT were compared in HIV-infected adults that had CD4 cell counts between 50 and 500 and who had no
Asian Briefs: WHO Warns Conference of AIDS Threat: Nikkei Weekly (09/26/94) Vol. 32, No. 1639, P. 32; The World Health Organization said that Cambodia is set to become the next location of an HIV-epidemic, even though no AIDS cases have been reported there yet. Officials made the prediction at the 45th session of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee in Malaysia .
Behavior Change: Focus (09/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 7; During an 18-month period of intense media coverage of AIDS, lesbian bar patrons increased their AIDS knowledge and reduced their high-risk behaviors. Questionnaires distributed in 1986 and 1987-1988 showed that casual sex decreased between the first survey and the second one. While 33 percent of lesbians from the firs
Injection Drug Users' Needle-Cleaning Practices: American Journal of Public Health (09/94) Vol. 84, No. 9, P. 1523; Siegal, Harvey A.; Carlson, Robert G.; Falck, Russel et al; The effectiveness of bleach in inactivating HIV in drug users injection equipment is in question. In a letter to the editor published in the American Journal of Public Health, Harvey Siegal et al respond to the report by Shapshak and his colleagues that a minimum of 30 seconds in bleach is needed for sufficient cleanin
Red Cross Faces Another Suit Over HIV Transfusions: Washington Business Journal (09/30/94-10/06/94) Vol. 13, No. 20, P. 17; Lombardo, John; The American Red Cross is being sued for $10 million by a general practitioner who received a blood transfusion with HIV -tainted blood. Robert Baxter, who now has full-blown AIDS, had a successful kidney operation at the University of Virginia Medical Center in 1984. He was unaware of any problems until he received a
Mitterand Hat Tops Crawford Bikini at AIDS Sale: Reuters (10/06/94); Yanowitch, Lee; More than $190,000 was raised last Wednesday at a Paris auction of celebrity paraphernalia to benefit the fight against AIDS. The black felt hat of French President Francois Mitterrand--which raised $6,600--and model Cindy Crawford s autographed bikini--which sold for $1,320--were among the items auctioned. Attendance
Elton John AIDS Charity Boosted by Disney Film: Reuters (10/07/94); A total of $238,000 was raised at the London premiere of the Walt Disney movie The Lion King for the AIDS Foundation created by singer Elton John.
Annual Walk to Raise Funds to Fight AIDS This Sunday: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/11/94) P. B2; A 12-kilometer AIDS fund-raising walk will be held in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 16. Organizers of the eighth annual From All Walks of Life event hope to raise $850,000 for 43 regional AIDS organizations. More than 14,000 walkers participated last year, raising $625,000.
Children's Hospital to Join Study of Teens with HIV: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/11/94) P. B2; The federal government has granted Children s Hospital of Philadelphia $500,000 to study teenagers with HIV, and teenagers in danger of becoming infected with the virus. Children s Hospital, the first in the country to receive a federal grant that targets teens with HIV, is one of a dozen locations across the country t
Legal Briefs: Family Guide, AIDS Law: Washington Blade (09/23/94) Vol. 25, No. 39, P. 18; Keen, Lisa; The John Marshall Law School in Chicago has released it Law Review book of essays that discusses AIDS-related legal issues. Short commentary pieces include Obligations of HIV- infected health professionals and The AIDS epidemic and health care reform.
Pap Smears Gain Favor as Screening Tool: Nation's Health (09/94) Vol. 24, No. 8, P. 3; Preliminary results of a small study presented at the 10th International Conference on AIDS show that pap smears are as effective as colposcopies in detecting potentially pre- cancerous cervical conditions in HIV-positive women. Pap smears detected cervical abnormalities in 59 percent of the 75 HIV-infected and 21 HIV-
200 Atlanta Airline Employees Sign Up for October 16 AIDS Walk: PR Newswire (10/06/94); About 200 employees of the 25 passenger airlines that serve Atlanta have signed up as participants in the Oct. 16 AIDS Walk. The workers will constitute the Airline Industry Alliance combined team, one of 956 teams that are registered for the event. Funds raised from the AIDS Walk support Atlanta s non-profit AIDS serv
Alpha 1 Biomedicals, Inc. Announces Consummation of License Agreement with SciClone Pharmaceuticals: PR Newswire (10/07/94); Alpha 1 Biomedicals, Inc. announced Friday that it has completed a license agreement with SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in which Alpha 1 licensed to SciClone its proprietary rights to Thymosin alpha 1. As part of the agreement, Alpha 1 will receive royalties on SciClone s commercial sales if SciClone is successful in
Additional AIDS Drugs Provided Through State Program: PR Newswire (10/07/94); Pennsylvania State Public Welfare Secretary Karen F. Snider announced Friday that her department will begin paying for Megace and Zerit , two treatments for people with HIV and AIDS. The medications will be provided through the Special Pharmaceutical Benefits program, which helps individuals who cannot afford the expen
High Share of Males, AIDS Victims Hit by Plague: Reuters (10/09/94); Graves, Nelson; A total of nine of the 192 people diagnosed with the pneumonic plague in Surat, in western India , are HIV-positive, said the director of the World Health Organization , Hiroshi Nakajima. Statistics show that approximately 2 percent of blood donors in India have HIV. Dr. Dinesh Shah, medical superintendent of Civil Ho
Red Cross Opens Door in Bid for Trust: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/07/94) P. A4; In an effort to restore public confidence in Canada s blood supply, the Canadian Red Cross on Thursday opened the doors of its largest blood center, located in Toronto. Reporters and camera crews were given a two-hour tour of laboratories usually closed to the public. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a
Confronting the Gap in HIV Testing: Chicago Tribune (10/08/94) P. 1-1; James, Frank; Irwin, Julie; Because it can take up to six weeks for a newly infected person to develop enough HIV antibodies for tests to detect them, there is a gap in HIV detection. New Jersey and California have laws that require doctors to warn patients of transfusion problems and alternatives. Increasingly, even where it is not law, physicia
Dentists Urged to Treat AIDS Patients: Washington Times (10/10/94) P. A12; Lehrman, Sally; The American Dental Association and the Dental Alliance of AIDS Healthcare are urging dentists to treat people with HIV and AIDS. In studies of doctors attitudes toward patients with HIV from 1986 to 1990, Barbara Gerbert, professor and head of the division of behavioral sciences at the University of California at San
Giving Experimental AIDS Drugs a Trial Run: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/10/94) P. B1; Collins, Huntly; Experimental AIDS drugs are being tested in 1,400 Philadelphia -area residents in clinical trials conducted by Philadelphia FIGHT, a medical-research group that conducts community-based trials of AIDS drugs. For three years, the group has been helping people and extending their lives by testing drugs that prevent or tr
APHA Members Suggest Policy Statements to the Association: Syringe and Needle Exchange and HIV Disease: Nation's Health (09/94) Vol. 24, No. 8, P. 26; Four groups of policy statements have been proposed by constituents and units of the American Public Health Association for the APHA to consider for adoption as part of its official public policy base. The fourth group includes a statement on the relationship of needle exchanges and HIV, which notes the high rate of HI
Preparing for the Day an Employee Says 'I Have AIDS': Washington Business Journal (09/23/94-09/29/94) Vol. 13, No. 19, P. 21; Hurwitz, Mark; The workplace is one of the best places to spread the AIDS prevention message because it provides access to both genders and a cross-section of ages, cultures, ethnicities, and economic positions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a public/private partnership called Business Responds to AIDS.
AIDS: Case: Edwards v. Kuruvilla: National Law Journal (09/26/94) Vol. 17, No. 4, P. C3; The parents of a newborn boy in Arizona, who was infected with HIV in an after-birth blood transfusion and died six years later, were awarded $28.7 million in June. The hospital to which the boy was transferred after his birth in 1985, the blood bank that supplied the plasma for the transfusion, and the doctor who orde
Surgimetrics to Market HIV (AIDS) Testing Kits in South America; Signs Letter of Intent with Laboratory Phoenix, Based in Argentina: Business Wire (10/06/94); Surgimetrics International Ltd. announced that it signed a letter of intent with Laboratory Phoenix to distribute Surgimetrics HIV (AIDS) home screening test kits in South America. The Surgimetrics HIV 1-2 test kit is an inexpensive test that uses whole blood, serum, or plasma and provides a 99.2 percent accurate resul
AIDS Activist, Near Death, to See Family from Cuba: Reuters (10/06/94); Pedro Zamora, a Cuban-American AIDS activist, is nearing a meeting with family members he has not seen for 14 years. Zamora, 22, was featured on the MTV series The Real World and has testified before Congress about AIDS. He was reported near death on Thursday, due to AIDS-related complications. Zamora, who immigrated t
Alarming Spread of AIDS Adds to Honduras' Woes: Reuters (10/06/94); The swift spread of AIDS in Honduras , the second-poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, is threatening to develop into an epidemic which could obstruct development of the poor Central American country. A total of 5,825 Hondurans are reported to be HIV-infected--which accounts for 60 percent of HIV cases in Central
Across the USA: Tennessee: USA Today (10/07/94) P. 4A; Gwen McLaughlin must permit her daughters to visit their father, who lives with his HIV-positive brother. A federal appeals court said that McLaughlin could not prove that the two girls are at risk of contracting AIDS.
Jury Chosen in AIDS Suit by Lawyer: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/07/94) P. B3; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; A jury has been selected in the discrimination case of a lawyer who said he was fired by his law firm after his supervisors discovered he was HIV-positive. The jury is made up of 11 women and one man, with two female alternates. Ten of the jurors told the court that they or someone close to them had experienced discrim
HIV Father with Lover Gets Limited Visitation: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/07/94) P. A12; Stuckey, Tom; David North, an HIV-positive gay man living with his lover, has been granted only limited visitation rights to his three daughters because the judge does not believe that North can be trusted to hide his homosexuality. This is the first time Maryland s Court of Special Appeals has decided whether homosexuality is a rea
Survey Finds Most Adults Sexually Staid: Washington Post (10/07/94) P. A1; Vobejda, Barbara; A new study of sexual habits indicates that Americans are less sexually active than previously thought and, as a result, AIDS is not likely to become epidemic in the general population. The study s authors predict that AIDS will stay confined to high risk-groups, which include gay men and intravenous drug users. The co
Correspondence: Withdrawal of Conclusion: False Positive Tests for HIV in a Woman With Lupus: New England Journal of Medicine (09/29/94) Vol. 331, No. 13, P. 881; Povolotsky, Jacob; Polsky, Bruce; Laurence, Jeffrey et al; In a letter to the editor published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Jacob Povolotsky et al report his and Bruce Polsky s further findings in the study of the false positive HIV tests found in a woman with lupus and renal failure, originally studied by Jindal et al. Povolotsky and Polsky isolated HIV-1 on two oc
Correspondence: Tests for HIV in Lupus: New England Journal of Medicine (09/29/94) Vol. 331, No. 13, P. 881; Soriano, Vicenc; Ordi, Josep; Grau, Josep; In a letter to the editor published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Vicenc Soriano et al respond to Jindal et al s report on false positive HIV tests in a woman with lupus and end-stage renal disease, and question the patient s low CD4+ cell count. Soriano et al describe their own study of such patients, which
Around the Nation: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 17; In California, the Catalyst Foundation for AIDS Awareness and Care filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against the KHJ radio station because of an on-air exchange during which host Herb Nero told Catalyst vice president Brian Maxey, I hope you die of AIDS. In other AIDS-related news from across
Trend Watch: HIV Testing at Home?: Business Ethics (09/94-10/94) Vol. 8, No. 5, P. 13; Gaines, Susan; Direct Access Diagnostics, a Johnson & Johnson unit, recently filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval to market a home access HIV testing and counseling service. Some AIDS activists are concerned over the 800 number method of informing people of the results, wondering if telephone counseling i
Medical Briefs: Gender and AIDS: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 26; Cohan, Gary R.; Authors of a study comparing rates of new AIDS-defining disease and mortality between the genders say that there appears to be little difference between men and women in the clinical course of AIDS. The recent study of 2,554 participants--566 of whom are women--reflects similar survival times and similar prevalence of
AIDS Spawns Viatical Settlement Industry: Washington Business Journal (09/23/94-09/29/94) Vol. 13, No. 9, P. 31; Keller, Amy; The viatical settlement industry originated about five years ago as a result of the AIDS epidemic. Since then, more than 50 firms have opened nationwide, forming a $300 million industry. A viatical settlement refers to a process in which terminally ill people sign over their life-insurance policies to investors for a c
Argentine Homosexuals Complain of Police Brutality: Reuters (10/05/94); In a news conference Wednesday, Argentine homosexuals complained that they are frequently the target police brutality, which the government and courts ignore. Gays for Civil Rights told members of Amnesty International attended the press meeting that repressive police edicts which allow systemic detention of gays and t
Atlanta Women Have New Option for Safer Sex; Unconventional Campaign Kicks Off Arrival of New Weapon in Battle Against AIDS: PR Newswire (10/05/94); The Female Health Company on Wednesday, Oct. 12 will announce its unusual approach for the introduction of the Reality female condom in Atlanta. The female condom is the first means of protection with which women can shield themselves from AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy. The Campaign for Women
New Wellcome Antiviral Compound Shows Promise As...: PR Newswire (10/05/94); Scientists from Burroughs Wellcome Co. on Wednesday presented findings on the company s investigational anti-HIV compound 1592U89 at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. The scientists found that the compound was powerful and selective against clinical HIV isolates, and showed synergy w
Hybridon Advances GEM 91 to Phase 1B/II in AIDS Trials in U.S. and France: PR Newswire (10/05/94); Hybridon, Inc. says it will begin Phase 1B/II clinical trials of GEM 91, its antisense compound for the treatment of HIV-1 and AIDS, in the United States and France . The trials will be the first human trials to measure antiviral activity of a systematically administered antisense compound. Hybridon is also reporting
President Clinton's National Service Program Selects Philadelphia Project Site: PR Newswire (10/05/94); AmeriCorps-VISTA, President Clinton s national service program, has selected Philadelphia Health Management Corporation as a project site. Five VISTA volunteers will be assigned to projects that concern AIDS prevention and relapse prevention for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Four of the volunteers w
AIDSLine: Live Long and Prosper: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 26; Cohan, Gary R.; Long-term survivors represent approximately 5 percent of the HIV-positive population. Some defining characteristics for this segment include being HIV-positive for at least seven years, having not used antiretroviral drugs, and not having HIV-related symptoms. When studied, the nonprogressors shared factors including l
Get the Point: Village Voice (09/20/94) Vol. 39, No. 38, P. 6; Stuen-Parker, Jon; Stephen Arrendell s Growing Pains and Needles article did not note the extent of the National AIDS Brigade s New York City needle-exchange program, writes Jon Stuen-Parker, Director of the National AIDS Brigade, in a letter to the editors of the Village Voice. Some areas of the program reach over 100 intravenous drug u
Medical Briefs: P. Aeruginosa Infection: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 25; Cohan, Gary R.; Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City studied 27 occurrences of P. Aeruginosa bacterium--a significant opportunistic pathogen common among AIDS patients- -in 21 people. There were 21 primary infections and six relapses that were found in locations such as the lungs, the upper respiratory sy
The American Clinical Laboratory Association Recognizes AIDS Awareness Month: PR Newswire (10/03/94); In recognition of AIDS Awareness Month, the American Clinical Laboratory Association has prepared a Q&A fact sheet about the HIV antibody test. This is an effort to educate people about the test, about who should take the test, and about locations where the test is available. Having information available about reli
The Immune Response Corporation Announces...: PR Newswire (10/03/94); Immune Response Corp. announced on Monday that it has published Phase II Dose-Ranging study findings in the October 1994 issue of the journal AIDS. The study evaluated the effect of HIV proteins on the immune system. It clearly confirms and extends the safety and immunogenicity of the HIV- 1 immunogen, according to Joh
Celebrities Game to Raise Money for AIDS at Loews Monopoly Power Breakfast: Business Wire (10/04/94); AIDS Project Los Angeles has planned for Monday, Oct. 17 the Loews Monopoly Power Breakfast, a fast-paced game of Monopoly with two dozen celebrities participating as players. The fifth annual event is sponsored by the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Buzz Magazine, and the radio station 94.7. All proceeds will benefit
Court TV Plans Live Coverage of John Doe, Esq. v. Kohn, Nast & Graf: Entertainment Wire (10/04/94); The Courtroom Television Network is planning to have live coverage of John Doe, Esq. v. Kohn, Nast & Graf starting Oct. 5. John Doe, a Philadelphia attorney, is suing his former employers for discrimination because the firm allegedly fired him when it was discovered he had AIDS. He also charges that the law firm pr
Rail Condom Ad Condemned as Irresponsible: Reuters (10/04/94); Britain s Advertising Standards Authority on Tuesday condemned the state rail network for an advertisement displaying a dozen yellow condoms arranged in a circle like the European Union flag. The advertisement, designed to promote sales of European Rail passes for young people, was titled Inter-rail. You ve got the res
Bastyr University Awarded Federal Grant for Alternative Medical Research of HIV/AIDS: PR Newswire (10/04/94); The National Institutes of Health have awarded Bastyr University a three-year, $840,000 grant to establish an Alternative Medicine Center for research in HIV/AIDS. The center will study the use of alternative medicine therapy for HIV and AIDS patients, and will screen and evaluate HIV/AIDS therapies from the field of a
French AIDS Scandal Targets Minister's Adviser: Reuters (10/04/94); Claude Weisselberg, a former adviser to French ex-health Minister Edmond Herve, was placed under investigation Tuesday for the alleged poisoning of 1,250 hemophiliacs with HIV- tainted blood products. Weisselberg, Herve s specialist on infectious diseases and blood transfusions in 1985, said he was shocked by the quest
U.N. to Battle Against Spread of AIDS in Rwanda: Reuters (10/04/94); The United Nations has created a $1 million emergency fund to fight the spread of AIDS in Rwanda . One U.N. official said that victorious soldiers of the former rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front were an obstacle to halting the progression of AIDS inside Rwanda because it is not easy for soldiers to accept the simple bare fa
First Condom for Women Brings Reality to Drugstores: American Medical News (09/26/94) Vol. 37, No. 36, P. 13; Reality, the first condom for women, is the first product that enables women to protect themselves from AIDS and unwanted pregnancy. The road ahead for its manufacturer, Wisconsin Pharmacal Co., will be difficult because of complex usage instructions required by the Food and Drug Administration, a price nearly three ti
More Concerns Emerge Over D.C. AIDS Funding: Washington Blade (09/23/94) Vol. 25, No. 39, P. 32; Chibbaro Jr., Lou; Hank Carde, a former advisor to the Washington, D.C. Agency for HIV/AIDS, is threatening to sue the D.C. government for allegedly using federal AIDS funds to pay overdue bills for services not related to AIDS. Carde says that local AIDS service groups are approaching financial insolvency because the District is taking
Ivory Coast Launches Five-Year AIDS Plan: Reuters (10/03/94); Ivory Coast has won pledges of $2.25 million in initial funding for its program to fight the spread of AIDS. The five -year, $4.8 million plan was designed to prevent transmission of HIV, care for AIDS patients, and control other sexually transmitted diseases that facilitate the transmission of HIV. Daniel Kablan Dun
The AIDS Establishment's Conspiracy of Silence: Washington Post (10/01/94) P. A23; Hentoff, Nat; During the 1980s, Dr. Stephen Joseph, then New York City s commissioner of health, insisted that AIDS was a health problem--not a political one. Joseph was attacked when he exposed the tourist-attracting baths as polluted, when he advocated contact tracing, and when he advocated widespread testing. Posters around New Y
Local Agencies Band Together on Effort for AIDS Benefit Concert: Richmond-Times Dispatch (10/03/94) P. D14; Middleton, Otesa; The Richmond, Va., advertising community has come together to help people with AIDS. A piano concert will be held Friday to benefit the Persons with AIDS Assistance Fund at the Fan Free Clinic/Richmond AIDS Information Network. The money raised will be used to help people with AIDS pay their bills and buy groceries--so
Henry Ford Hospital Receives Major AIDS Research Grant: PR Newswire (10/03/94); The federal government has awarded $5.2 million to the Henry Ford Hospital in support of clinical trials in people with HIV and AIDS. The Division of Infectious Diseases, headed by Dr. Louis Saravolatz, received the grant. This award is the third largest of 16 awards given by the Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clin
Experimental AIDS Treatment Prolongs Life--Studies: Reuters (10/03/94); Baker, Sue; Researchers announced Monday that there was conclusive evidence that Passive Immune Therapy--an experimental AIDS treatment that uses plasma transfusions--delays the onset of AIDS in HIV-infected patients and extends the lives of people with AIDS. Dr. Abraham Karpas, from the University of Cambridge s hematology depart
Red Cross Demands Funding Change: Toronto Globe and Mail (10/03/94) P. A6; The Canadian Red Cross Society said that unless the provinces agree to a major renovation of the country s blood supply system, it will not continue to be a part of the blood- donation business. If introduced, the new system would resemble the U.S. blood distribution system. We need to move away from a system where we
In Performance: Male Prostitute With AIDS Is a Stand-In for Jesus: New York Times (10/04/94) P. C16; Hampton, Wilborn; Mother and Child, a new play by Matthew Lombardo, is the story about the confessions of the two characters, Mother and Child. Child is dying in a hospital room from AIDS and confesses to his mother all the intimate details of his life as a male prostitute before asking her to assist in his euthanasia. At the same time
Act Up Agitates Outside GOP Fete: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/04/94) P. B1; Landry, Peter; Bustos, Sergio R.; Outside a fund-raising event for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rick Santorum Monday night, about 400 members of the Philadelphia chapter of Act Up lay down in the street to protest Santorum s lack of support for legislation that would advance gay and lesbian causes. Philadelphia Act Up spokesman Paul Davis said that
AIDSLine: Hope for Cryptosporidiosis Sufferers?: Advocate (09/20/94) No.664, P. 25; Cohan, Gary R.; Chronic gastric cryptosporidiosis, an AIDS-related complication, is characterized by prolonged watery diarrhea. It is caused by a parasite, whose eggs can be transmitted from person to person both sexually and casually. Each year, approximately 10 to 20 percent of AIDS patients contract intestinal cryptosporidiosis, an
AIDS Experts Look East: Nation's Health (09/94) Vol. 24, No. 8, P. 1; The first international AIDS conference to be held in Japan caused attention to focus on the growing number of HIV infections in Asia and the immediate need for Asian countries to address AIDS prevention. Asian HIV infections are predicted to quadruple by the year 2000, affecting over 10 million people, said
Hot Zones, Cold Chills: The Coming Plague: Newsweek (09/19/94) Vol. 124, No. 12, P. 64; Jones Jr., Malcolm; The Coming Plague, by Laurie Garrett, addresses the significant epidemics that the world has faced. The 100-page chapter on AIDS outlines the science, sociology, and bad politics very clearly and accurately, and gives a global perspective that is not often apparent in such works. Garrett effectively highlights problems
Still on the Fast Track: Barron's (09/19/94) Vol. 74, No. 38, P. 14; Wyatt, Edward A.; While David Kessler, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, stated at last week s advisory hearings that the FDA would definitely continue its accelerated access policy for some experimental drugs used to treat life- threatening diseases, he did indicate that some fine-tuning might take place. Many AIDS ac
Health Care Hell: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 20; Gallagher, John; AIDS activists question whether Congressional health care reform will help people with long-term illnesses, such as AIDS and cancer. The Senate health care bill, while attempting 95 percent insurance coverage for Americans, would potentially cause more problems for people with HIV and AIDS. Some of the difficulties inc
Man with AIDS Fighting Clinic's 'No Pets' Policy: Washington Blade (09/23/94) Vol. 25, No. 39, P. 1; Fox, Sue; Controversy has erupted at Schwartz Housing, a division of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, because of its no pets policy. Last August, officials told Jeffrey Pendleton, a Schwartz resident, that he could not keep his cats because they might carry diseases that are dangerous to the weakened immune systems of people living wi
$15 Million Study Set to Improve HIV/AIDS Care: PR Newswire (09/30/94); The Public Health Service s Agency for Health Care Policy and Research announced Friday that the RAND Corporation will undertake a $15 million study of AIDS and HIV health care, treatment costs, and patients sources of financing. The study will provide accurate, up-to-date information on the costs of and access to heal
Canada Red Cross Wants Overhaul of Blood System: Reuters (10/01/94); The Canadian Red Cross announced Saturday the Canadian provinces and government need to overhaul the blood supply system and ensure that it can afford to provide safe blood; otherwise, the agency may withdraw from the blood-donation business. If we don t have that change, then we ll have to...turn over our responsibili
HIV-Positive Candidate Thinks Positive: Los Angeles Times (10/02/94) P. A10; Finucane, Martin; Bob Massie, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, is possibly the first HIV-positive candidate for statewide office. He says that he wants to help small businesses and work on health care reform and that he has not made his HIV status a focus of his campaign. Massie, a hemophiliac who was diagn
Case Against Law Firm Has a Hollywood Ring: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/03/94) P. B1; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; Jury selection begins today in the trial of a discrimination suit against a leading local law firm by an anonymous lawyer who claims that his promising career was cut short when he was fired after the firm learned that he was infected with HIV. The man s former employers at Kohn, Nast & Graf contend that he was dis
A Community in Denial: Focus (09/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 5; Chun, Rocky; Denial is the reason that the Asian/Pacific Islander community appears immune to the AIDS epidemic, says Rocky Chun, who helped found the Gay Asian/Pacific Islander Alliance Community HIV Project and the Asian/Pacific Islander AIDS Coalition in San Francisco. HIV is not discussed in the community because it is associat
Nothing Happened: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 22; Gallagher, John; The 10th International Conference on AIDS was a subdued meeting, compared to previous high-profile ones, because of reduced attendance and expectations. Many people felt that Japan , while chosen to highlight the spread of HIV in Asia, was too far away and too expensive for many participants to attend. Most of the res
Medical Briefs: Mucosal Candidiasis Therapy: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 25; Cohan, Gary R.; Research has shown a significant failure rate for fluconazole therapy in treating mucosal candidiasis, which is often found in people who are HIV-positive. Approximately 6 percent of 155 participants had persistent candida, and eight of those nine had a CD4-cell counts of less than 50. Only patients with extreme sympto
Setting Standards: Maclean's (09/19/94) Vol. 107, No. 38, P. 26; Nichols, Mark; A report filed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July--which resulted in the ban of Canadian source plasma from entering the United States--highlighted the differences between the Canadian and American blood systems. One distinction is that, in the U.S. blood system, potential donors are verbally and frankly
Surviving the Second Wave: Newsweek (09/19/94) Vol. 124, No. 12, P. 50; Rogers, Patrick; A second wave of the AIDS epidemic is sweeping the gay community after years of effectively controlling the disease. Studies show an increase in unprotected anal intercourse and in the annual rate of HIV infection among gay men under 30. AIDS educators are promoting monogamy and self-esteem, and are trying to head off
AZT, Perinatal Transmission: Unanswered Questions: AIDS Treatment News (09/16/94) No. 207, P. 7; Trewartha, Rae; Many questions stem from the finding that use of AZT by pregnant women can reduce HIV transmission from mother to infants by two-thirds. The study focused on a specific group of HIV-infected pregnant women, but leaves other women uncertain how they are affected by the results. Other unanswered questions include whethe
American AIDS Group Takes Battle to Asia: Reuters (09/28/94); The American Foundation for AIDS Research, the largest AIDS foundation in the United States , is taking its campaign against the disease to Asia. AmFAR s policy is to target places where it can make the greatest difference--which means that the foundation will have to concentrate on places where AIDS has not become a s
$1 Million Grant Will Aid Homeless Youths With the AIDS Virus: Houston Chronicle (09/29/94) P. 26A; Lum, Lydia; The Houston Institute for the Protection of Youth received a $1 million federal grant that will help HIV-positive young people get off the streets and lead independent lives. Officials hope that the project, which will begin in January and continue for three years, will help slow the spread of the virus that causes AID
Across the USA: Pennsylvania: USA Today (09/30/94) P. 5A; Pennsylvania Governor Casey signed a bill requiring sex offenders convicted of crimes involving intercourse to be tested for HIV. The victim will be informed of the results.
A Painful French Scandal Is Mined with Official's Trial: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/30/94) P. A1; Polman, Dick; Laurent Fabius, a former French premier, will face criminal charges today in connection with the distribution of HIV- tainted blood. Two other ministers, Georgina Dufoix and Edmond Herve, have already been charged with conspiracy to poison. Fabius is expected to deny any knowledge that, in 1985, hemophiliacs received H
Getting to the Point: Economist (09/10/94-09/16/94) Vol. 332, No. 7880, P. 28; Baltimore Mayor Schmoke is attempting to lower the number of AIDS cases among the city s 48,000 drug addicts by introducing a needle-exchange program. Although the federal government and Maryland state law prohibit the sale or supply of drug paraphernalia, Maryland permitted a waiver to give the plan a chance. Baltimor
Long-Term Survivors Hold Key to Understanding Immune Response: AIDS Alert (09/94) P. 126; Explanations as to why some individuals may remain symptom- free for 10 to 15 years after being infected with HIV were presented at the 10th International Conference on AIDS. David Ho, director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City, said, Possible explanations...include resistant CD4 cells and stro
Liposome Technology Inc. to File for European Marketing Approval...: Health Wire (09/27/94); Liposome Technology Inc. (LTI) reported on Tuesday that the Committee on Proprietary and Medicinal Products (CPMP) of the European Union has decided that the company s DOX-SL Stealth liposome product qualifies for review under the high technology List B concertation procedure. DOX-SL is a Stealth liposome form. Last
Thalidomide Enters Phase II Study for Major AIDS Condition...: PR Newswire (09/27/94); Celgene Corp. has launched Phase II clinical trials of thalidomide as a treatment for cachexia, the wasting condition that often afflicts AIDS patients. The study, which is believed to be the first corporate sponsored double-blind, placebo-controlled study in this country on the clinical efficacy of thalidomide, will
American Clinical Laboratory Association President Available to Discuss HIV, Testing: PR Newswire (09/28/94); In recognition of National AIDS Awareness Month, Dr. David N. Sundwall, president of the American Clinical Laboratory Association, will be available for interviews in October to discuss HIV and how testing can help reduce the spread of AIDS. Sundwall is also the co-vice chairman of the advisory board of the National Le
Genetic Research News Tips from the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine: PR Newswire (09/28/94); New Jackson Laboratory mice models have enabled researchers to study HIV infections in mice that are similar to the progress of HIV in humans. History shows that having an animal model for a disease can accelerate the research process by as much as ten-fold.
Biopharmaceutics Inc. Announces New Agreement: Business Wire (09/28/94); Biopharmaceutics Inc. announced Wednesday that it has secured the rights to a patented Antiviral Composition and Method -- which kills HIV and Hepatitis B on contact--from the Research Foundation of State University of New York at Stony Brook. The company plans to manufacture a spermicidal formula, made up of the antiv
Top AIDS Doctor Critical of Colleagues: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/28/94) P. A4; Picard, Andre; Dr. Rejean Thomas, Quebec s leading AIDS doctor and head of l Actuel clinic in Montreal, says that many Canadian doctors still refer people with possible HIV infection to Red Cross blood donor clinics for testing because they do not know where else to send them. One of the reasons that Canadian blood testing started la
AIDS Testing Suit Settled; Debate Lingers: Chicago Tribune (09/28/94) P. 1-7; Fegelman, Andrew; An Illinois man sued his doctor and the corporation that owns the hospital where she works for ordering an HIV test without first obtaining his written consent. The doctor cited an exemption to the law stating that written consent is not required when the doctor believes that a test is necessary for diagnosis and the p
Condom Range From Benetton: Financial Times (09/29/94) P. 18; Benetton, the Italian clothing manufacturer, will introduce a new line of condoms in Japan . The company said the green and pink condoms will be produced and distributed under a license agreement with Okamato Industries, a pharmaceutical company.
Anonymous No More: Advocate (09/20/94) No. 664, P. 15; North Carolina health officials announced Aug. 5 that all people tested for HIV will be required to supply their names and addresses on a confidential basis. This decision, the outcome of a three-year battle, contradicts the recommendation of the state AIDS advisory council, which was worried that the change would dete
Human Rights as Critical as Condoms Against HIV: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/14/94) Vol. 272, No. 10, P. 758; Cotton, Paul; While HIV prevention programs are useful, they neglect to consider the societal dimension of vulnerability to HIV, says Dr. Jonathan Mann, director of the International AIDS Center at Harvard School of Public Health. He says that, not until there is a change for the greatest victims of discrimination--women, for exampl
The Recrudescence of Thalidomide: Chemical & Engineering News (09/19/94) Vol. 72, No. 38, P. 71; Thalidomide, which was developed in the 1950s to prevent nausea during pregnancy but was found to produce fetal limb abnormalities, has been found to inhibit replication of the AIDS virus and to heal canker sores in patients with AIDS and other conditions. It also eases erythema reactions in patients with leprosy; doct
Montreal Clinic Had High HIV Rates: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/26/94) P. A2; Picard, Andre; According to documents filed at the Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada , a Red Cross blood-donor clinic in Montreal accepted 50 times more HIV-infected blood than the average Canadian clinic in late 1986. The clinic was shut down in 1987, four years after the Red Cross had asked that high-risk groups v
Judge to Rule if Hemophiliac Can Be Prevented From Suing: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/26/94) P. A7; Claridge, Thomas; A judge will rule next month on whether to approve a settlement that would prevent 10-year-old hemophiliac from being able to sue for damages after he was infected with HIV from blood products he received as a baby. The judge was told that the boy would probably receive more compensation from the settlement than any aw
Ex-Minister Charged in French Blood Case: United Press International (09/27/94); The former French minister of social affairs, Georgina Dufoix, was charged with conspiracy to poison in the 1985 case in which more than 1,200 hemophiliacs were infected with HIV during blood transfusions. Dufoix is one of three ministers accused of ignoring available techniques to disinfect blood. More than one-quarte
Romania Dominates European Infant AIDS Cases: Reuters (09/27/94); Popescu, Karin; Approximately 93 percent of AIDS patients in Romania are under the age of 12--accounting for 53 percent of the total child AIDS cases in Europe, said authorities Tuesday. The high rate of AIDS among children is an epidemiological accident due to the lack of disposable syringes and to the fact that before 1990 Romania d
City Fears AIDS to Follow Syphilis: United Press International (09/27/94); Due to a rising number of syphilis cases, Cincinnati Health Commission officials say they are worried about a looming AIDS epidemic. The number of syphilis cases in Cincinnati has doubled each year since 1991 and is expected to grow by another 30 percent by the end of 1994. Because both HIV and syphilis are predominant
Labelling Haitians Blood-Donor Risks Called Devastating: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/27/94) P. A8; Picard, Andre; Ten years after Haitians were singled out by the Red Cross as a high-risk group for HIV-transmission, the community is still facing the stigma. In 1983, when 37 percent of AIDS cases were among recent Haitian immigrants, the Canadian Red Cross requested that all high-risk groups--Haitian included--not donate blood. Dr.
Bill Seeks AIDS Test for Sex Offenders: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/28/94) P. B2; A bill passed Tuesday by the Pennsylvania state legislature would allow certain sex offenders to be tested for HIV. If approved by the governor, the measure would apply to people who are convicted of crimes involving sexual intercourse. A sex crime victim would be able to request that the test be performed and also to
'SMART SEX' Airs Tonight on MTV: CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse; In the continuing effort to educate young adults about preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), MTV will premiere a groundbreaking, one-hour television special, SMART SEX , on Tuesday, September 27, from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST. Produced by Linda Ellerbee s award- winning Lucky Duck Productio
Recognizing Denial Among HIV-Infected Clients: Focus (09/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 1; Opper Reiss, Jody; Denial, while accepted as a healthy defense mechanism, presents a challenge to health care workers who work with HIV patients to distinguish between its adaptive and maladaptive aspects. Some of the beneficial effects of denial are that an HIV-positive person will make future plans, remain an active participant in the
Old Drug Holds New Hope for Increasing HIV Survival: AIDS Alert (09/94) Vol. 9, No. 9, P. 124; Studies have found that acyclovir taken in conjunction with AZT can add up to one year of survival for AIDS patients. Researchers presenting the results at the 10th International Conference on AIDS say that they cannot account for the results, but that their findings show the immediate need for more combination the
US Sticks Head in the Sand on AIDS Prevention: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/14/94) Vol. 272, No. 10, P. 756; Cotton, Paul; Although the United States considers itself the best in health care, its AIDS prevention tactics are among the worst. As other countries reveal new school-based sex education programs, the United States government is considering amendments that would stop federal funding of schools that encouraged any sexual behavior
Chimp Model Holds Hope for Attenuated HIV-1 Vaccine: American Medical News (09/12/94) Vol. 37, No. 34, P. 20; Pinkney, Deborah Shelton; Researchers, knowing that HIV-1 infected chimpanzees do not develop AIDS, exposed two infected chimps to a different HIV-1 strain with the result that both resisted infection by the second virus. The study s lead author, Riri Shibata of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the chimpanzee
Consensus is You Can Bank on Blood: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/24/94) P. A4; Coutts, Jane; The consensus on the Canadian blood supply is that it is as safe as it was before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection, and that this safety level has been maintained since screening and testing for HIV in blood were introduced. Canadian officials say that the United States standards are different, but not
Increased Cases of AIDS in Washington to Require Greater Emotional Support for Children Affected by the Disease: PR Newswire (09/26/94); A press conference will be held on Sept. 27 by Rise n Shine to address the problems presented by the increase of AIDS cases and the its effects on children. Thirty thousand American children have had parents die as a result of AIDS. In Washington state, HIV is growing significantly faster in women than among men. The c
Dr. Shalala Calls for Bold Steps on Women, Children and AIDS: PR Newswire (09/26/94); While opening the 24th Pan American Sanitary Conference in Washington, D.C., Dr. Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, stated that one of the greatest challenges to Pan American countries is to end the suffering caused by AIDS. It is also necessary to provide healthy futures for children and to improve
Abbott Product's Ad Campaign Targeting People with AIDS Sparks Debate: Chicago Tribune (09/26/94) P. 4-7; Advera, the first AIDS-specific product to be advertised in the mainstream press, has a controversial new ad campaign. People who work with HIV-positive patients are concerned that Abbott Laboratories , the makers of Advera, are trying to profit from the severely ill. The Advera ad shows a tan, athletic, and handsome m
"Doctors Have Lucrative Business Tie: Boston Globe (09/26/94) P. 1; Golden, Daniel; Kurkjian, Stephen; Two Boston AIDS specialists, Dr. David Russell and Dr. Scott Harris, receive almost $200,000 a year from Chartwell Home Therapies of Waltham, Mass. Chartwell is one of the United States 10 largest providers of home infusion services, whose clients include people with AIDS. Since the doctors signed the contract, they ha
Across the USA: California: USA Today (09/27/94) P. 4A; The recently renovated $2.3 million Parker Hotel has opened in Los Angeles. It will house people with HIV and mentally disabled individuals living on their own for the first time.
Book Reviews: The Statistics of HIV: Science (09/09/94) Vol. 265, No. 5178, P. 1602; Longini Jr., Ira M.; AIDS Epidemiology, by Ron Brookmeyer and Mitchell H. Gail, describes the method that they developed called back- calculation, which is used for estimating the size of the HIV epidemic and for predicting the short-term course of the AIDS epidemic. Brookmeyer and Gail provide much of the quantitative history of the epide
HIV Infection in Women Conference, February 22-24, 1995: AIDS Treatment News (09/02/94) No. 206, P. 6; The National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, the Public Health Service Office on Women s Health, and other federal agencies are sponsoring the first national meeting on HIV infection in adult and adolescent women in Washington, DC on February 22- 24, 1995.
New HIV-1 Subtype Identified, Eludes Screening Tests: AIDS Alert (09/94) P. 130; A new subtype of HIV that is widespread in West Africa has been described in an analysis by French researchers. Called subtype O, the virus is a genetic deviant of HIV-1 that is antigenetically distinct from other HIV-1 subtypes. This variant is detected in Cameroon chimpanzees and is now thought to be the virus type i
Groundbreaking TV Special About Young People and Sex in the 90s Premieres on MTV--Additional Air Dates Announced: PR Newswire (09/23/94); Smart Sex is a one-hour special on MTV that features young adults speaking honestly about their sexual attitudes and experiences. The program shows how this age group is handling sexual decisions at a time when HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are so prevalent. The participants include people who are straig
Professional Education Program on Pain Management and HIV Disease is Launched in New York on September 26: PR Newswire (09/23/94); The Roxane Pain Institute introduced its first professional education program in New York in order to focus attention on the necessity of pain management and HIV. Leading HIV and pain specialists will discuss topics including the causes of pain, the availability of treatments, and an HIV pain case history.
WHO Stresses Preventive Medicine: United Press International (09/23/94); Khan, Bob; Participants of the 45th session of the World Health Organization s Regional Committee for the Western Pacific ended the meeting on Friday by pledging to work to prevent the spread of AIDS and to eliminate polio. The committee agreed that there exists a need for governments to provide strong support for programs that p
Wilson Acts on Scores of Bills: United Press International (09/23/94); California Governor Pete Wilson signed legislation Friday that permits involuntary testing for HIV under certain conditions. Under the measure, testing of previous blood samples will be permitted if a health care worker has received significant exposure to that individual s blood.
Catholic Group Fights Condom Policy with T Ads: Boston Globe (09/24/94) P. 15; Grant, Traci; The Boston chapter of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights launched a campaign Friday that criticizes condom distribution in schools. The campaign involves plastering 200 posters, which condemn the distribution of condoms versus preaching about abstinence, on Boston s MBTA trains. This attack comes one we
Obituary: Tomas Fabregas: New York Times (09/26/94) P. D9; Jeffrey, by Paul Rudnick, is being called the first AIDS comedy. The title character is a young, gay man from the Midwest living in Manhattan, who swears off sex because of the AIDS crisis. Just as he does so, he meets Steve, who is HIV- positive. To deal with his fears of AIDS, dying, loving, and of being alone, he t
AIDS and the Man: Washington Post (09/26/94) P. D1; Rose, Lloyd; Jeffrey, by Paul Rudnick, is being called the first AIDS comedy. The title character is a young, gay man from the Midwest living in Manhattan, who swears off sex because of the AIDS crisis. Just as he does so, he meets Steve, who is HIV- positive. To deal with his fears of AIDS, dying, loving, and of being alone, he t
Paris Global Summit on AIDS, December 1--Action Alert, More U.S. Effort Needed: AIDS Treatment News (09/02/94) No. 206, P. 6; Heads of state from 42 countries have been invited to a Global Summit on AIDS in Paris on Dec. 1. Preliminary meetings on topics including vaccine and treatment research and prevention of transmission will be held in September and October. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala will attend the summit, althou
Reduced Rate of Disease Development After HIV-2 Infection as Compared to HIV-1: Science (09/09/94) Vol. 265. No. 5178, P. 1587; Marlink, Richard; Kanki, Phyllis; Thior, Ibou, et al.; A study was conducted of infected female sex workers in Senegal from 1985 to 1993 to determine the differences of infection and disease between HIV-1 and HIV-2. Although HIV-1 is more prevalent worldwide, HIV-2 is dominant in many countries in West Africa and has been present in some of these populations since the 1960
AIDS: Still the Issue: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 80; Osborn, Torie; Advocate columnist Torie Osborn writes that the homophobic degaying of AIDS, which has begun to prevail in the allocation of prevention funds, must be reversed. Although gay men represent 80 percent of the infected population, only 8 percent of all prevention dollars are currently being allocated to them. Another trend
India Says No to Sex Ed in Schools: United Press International (09/22/94); Jain, Neelam; The Human Resource Ministry in India has vetoed plans to introduce sex education in India s schools. The ministry said that a classroom was not the right place to explain human sexuality. Social and cultural taboos in India create a restrictive environment for open sex education. AIDS prevention programs have not had m
Red Cross Bypasses U.S. Ban on Import of Certain Plasma: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/22/94) P. A10; Coutts, Jane; The Canadian Red Cross, in an attempt to circumvent the U.S. ban on the import of blood plasma, has changed procedures in blood centers across Canada to free up more plasma, which is separated from whole blood after it is donated for shipment to the United States . In doing this, the CRC ensures a steady supply of
China Fears Quiet Spread of AIDS: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/23/94) P. A2; Tofani, Loretta; Experts in China fear that AIDS is slowly spreading, largely undetected, among both homosexuals and heterosexuals. They are worried that the spread could cause an epidemic that would affect huge numbers of people. A total of 1,535 people in China have tested HIV-positive, but Qi Xiaoqiu, deputy director of the Departme
Washington Wire: AIDS Risks Are Among Health Worries for U.S. Troops in Haiti: Wall Street Journal (09/23/94) P. A1; Shafer, Ronald G.; In Haiti , approximately 70 percent of the prostitutes are believed to be infected with HIV, as well as 6 to 8 percent of healthy-looking young adults. American troops have been issued a 15-page manual that includes a drawing of the healthy U.S. soldier who says no to sex. The Pentagon has cautioned soldiers not to co
Hill to Bar Funds for Programs Promoting Sex: Washington Post (09/23/94) P. A20; Congressional negotiators agreed Thursday to prohibit the use of federal education money for programs that directly promote sexual activity or for the distribution of condoms in the nation s schools. They did eliminate the anti-gay provisions that Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) had pushed. The agreement also states that
Woman, Wrongly Told She Had AIDS Virus, Wins Big Jury Award: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/23/94) P. C9; Testa, Karen; A woman who gave up her children and planned to commit suicide has been awarded $600,000 for her pain and suffering when she was misdiagnosed as being HIV-positive. The woman gave legal custody of her children to her mother and would not let them hug her because, for two years, she thought she was infected. She sued th
Man With AIDS Settles With Texas Dentist: Baltimore Sun (09/23/94) P. 15A; A Texas man who tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS will receive $100,000 in damages and penalties from a dentist who refused to continue to treat him. The Castle Dental Center was sued by the Department of Justice for alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Federal law prohibits discrimina
California AIDS Legislation--Action Alerts: AIDS Treatment News (09/02/94) No. 206, P. 7; Both the California House and Senate have passed a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana as a medical treatment to counter the effects of AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, glaucoma, and other conditions. If passed by Gov. Wilson, marijuana would change from being a Schedule I drug with no medical use to a Sched
Portrait of a Centerfold: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 41; Kort, Michele; Rebekka Armstrong, Playboy s September 1986 Playmate of the Month, has used the time since her calendar days to work with people who are HIV-positive and educate those who are not. She was a volunteer at a Women for Positive Living weekend in August after she participated in a similar seminar in February. Armstrong dis
Bad Example: Nature (09/08/94) Vol. 371, No. 6493, P. 97; Martin, John F.; Dr. Kary Mullis, Nobel prize winner for chemistry in 1993, spoke at the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation in Toledo last April. He addressed his theories about why AIDS is not caused by HIV. In a letter to the editors of Nature, John Martin, chairman of the society, relat
Clearance From the FDA to Market the FACSCount System; the First Dedicated System for Monitoring Patients With HIV Infection.: Business Wire (09/20/94); Becton Dickinson and Company has announced that it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market in the United States its FACSCount System, which is used for in vitro diagnostic purposes. It is the first clinical system dedicated to obtaining absolute counts of CD4, CD8, and CD3 T lymphocytes,
S. African Health Minister Warns of HIV Rise: Reuters (09/21/94); The spread of HIV had almost doubled each year since 1991, said South African Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma on Wednesday. In 1991, 1.3 percent of the South African population was infected with HIV. In 1992, the number rose to 2.42 percent, and in 1993, the figure was 4.25 percent. Zuma said that if this pattern contin
How to Break the Link Between Drugs and AIDS: Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/21/94) P. A15; Chapman, Stephen; An increasing number of drug users are becoming infected with HIV, but only recently have elected officials begun to treat this problem with the necessary attention. Last year, drug addicts and their partners made up 30 percent of all new AIDS cases. The risk of AIDS comes not from drug use, but as a result of a law en
Red Cross Urged to Quit Blood Business: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/21/94) P. A4; Picard, Andre; When Dr. Raymond Guevin, former head of the Montreal blood centre, testified before the Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada on Tuesday, he stated that the Canadian Red Cross Society lacks the leadership and the credibility to be involved in both the blood system and social programs. He proposed that t
Town Supports Boy With HIV: Boston Globe (09/21/94) P. 23; A 12-year-old Rhode Island boy, who announced to his classmates that he is HIV-positive, was cheered by about 70 people from his town of Coventry during an informational hearing. The goal of the hearing was to alleviate any fears residents might have about getting the virus from the boy.
Barbara Fassbinder Dies at 40; Nurse With AIDS Traced to Job: New York Times (09/22/94) P. D23; Hilchey, Tim; Barbara Fassbinder, one of the first medical professionals to become infected with HIV while working, died on Tuesday at the age of 40 from AIDS-related complications. In 1986, Ms. Fassbinder became infected while helping treat a patient in the emergency room of Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien, Wis. She did not k
Across the USA: Alabama: USA Today (09/22/94) P. 11A; AIDS is the third-greatest killer of men in Alabama aged 25 to 44, after accidents and heart disease, says a report from the state Department of Health. The total number of reported AIDS cases rose to 2,851 in September.
Are Researchers Racing Toward Success, or Crawling?: Science (09/02/94) Vol. 265, No. 5177, P. 1373; Cohen, Jon; A growing number of AIDS researchers conclude that there never has been a race to develop an AIDS vaccine--that the race was mostly noise and posturing at scientific meetings. Pharmaceutical companies are not putting money and time into AIDS vaccines because the market in developed countries is likely to be much smalle
Major Lymph-Node Study Examines AZT, ddI Effects: AIDS Treatment News (09/02/94) No. 206, P. 2; DATRI-003, conducted by the Division of AIDS Treatment Research Initiative--a division of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases--is the largest study so far of lymph-node biopsies. The research is important because HIV infection is extremely active in the lymph nodes. The 32 patients, who were
National Color Can Make a Difference Day: Salon Clients Can Help Make a Difference in the Fight Against AIDS: PRNewswire (09/19/94); By making a hair cut appointment on September 24, 1994, clients at certain salons can help raise money and awareness for AIDS by participating in Clairol Professional s Second Annual National Color Can Make a Difference Day. Since its beginning three years ago, the program has raised over $300,000 for the American Foun
International Murex Launches Enhanced HIV Test into Global Markets: PRNewswire (09/19/94); International Murex Technologies Corporation announced the introduction of an enhanced HIV blood screening test, based on Murex s existing Wellcozyme HIV 1+2 test. It will be marketed to clinical laboratories and blood banks in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East pending registration with each country. Murex re
Med Students to Teach AIDS Class: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (09/19/94) P. 3S; Billingsly, Linda; Approximately one-third of the biology students at Rockwood s Marquette High School in Missouri will be able to volunteer for a two-day class called Students Teaching About AIDS to Students. The purpose of the class is to prevent transmission of HIV in adolescents, since they are the age group that is most at risk. Med
Three Ex-French Ministers to Face Court on AIDS: Reuters (09/20/94); Three former French government ministers will face a special parliamentary court this month in an investigation into whether they were linked to blood transfusions that infected thousands of hemophiliacs with HIV. The court will place the three men under formal investigation, which is often a formal move toward a trial
$370,000 More Awarded in Blood Case: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/20/94) P. A6; The Canadian Red Cross, Dr. Stanley Bain, and the Toronto Hospital have been ordered to pay Rochelle Pitman approximately $370,000, about 60 percent of the court costs she incurred in a civil action against them. In March, Mrs. Pitman and her family were awarded $630,000 in a ruling that found the CRC et al. negligent
Red Cross Slow in Screening, Panel Told: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/20/94) P. A3; Picard, Andre; The Canadian Red Cross did not ask specific questions to screen out high-risk blood donors until 1985, even though a Montreal baby was infected, in early 1983, with HIV after receiving a transfusion. During those two years, the CRC relied on its nurses flair for intuition to identify high- risk donors, said Dr. Raymond
Red Cross Told in 1983 to Screen Donors: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/20/94) P. A2; Picard, Andre; According to documents filed at a public inquiry, the Canadian Red Cross was told by its own lawyer on March 29, 1983 that it had a moral and legal obligation ... to eliminate high-risk blood donors, even if it did not have proof that they were transmitting HIV. Red Cross scientists continued to rely on self-exclusion
U.S. Bioscience Inc.: Wall Street Journal (09/21/94) P. A5; U.S. Bioscience announced Tuesday that it received approval from the European Economic Community to sell Ethyol and NeuTrexin in Europe. Ethyol, still under review by the Food and Drug Administration, is an infection-fighting drug. NeuTrexin is a treatment for pnuemocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS patients and was
AIDS Medicine & Miracles--Seventh Annual Conference, Boulder, Colorado, September 29-October 2: AIDS Treatment News (09/02/94) No. 206, P. 7; AIDS Medicine & Miracles, a conference to be held in Boulder, Colo., will focus on creating a supportive, healing, retreat environment for AIDS patients, their families, and caregivers. Speakers include Martin Delaney and Dr. Joan Borysenko.
These Legs (or Stilts) Are Made for Walking; Soul Mates Enters AIDS Walk on Stilts: PR Newswire (09/19/94); Over 20,000 people will participate in the 10th Annual AIDS Walk in Los Angeles on Sunday. A four-man stilt-walking group representing the LA-based productions company, Soul Mates will also walk the 6.2 mile course. The group is also a band and will play the trombone, trumpet, accordion, percussion, and sousaphone whil
Hemophiliac With AIDS Accused of Sex Attack on Minor: Reuters (09/19/94); One of three hemophiliac brothers, who became internationally known when they were not permitted to attend school because they were HIV-positive, may be charged with sexual battery. A 15 year-old acquaintance of Robert Ray said that he tried to make her perform oral sex in a Florida parking lot last February, but that
Italian Gets AIDS Virus in Fight, Researcher Says: Reuters (09/19/94); An Italian man fighting with his HIV-positive elder brother in 1992 has become infected with HIV. The younger brother had no recognized high-risk factors for HIV. Dr. Giuseppe Ippolito said that he was able to identify the HIV as the exact strain of that in the Italian man s brother. This strain is extremely rare and r
Zimbabwe Human Rights Group Attacks AIDS Ban Law: Reuters (09/19/94); The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace attacked demands by some Zimbabwe legislators at a parliamentary seminar on AIDS for laws to ban foreigners infected with HIV from entering the country. Mike Auret, director of CCJP, said the laws would infringe on people s human rights and would also severely undermine the
Delaware Valley's Federal HIV Planning Council Supports Demands to Expand Experimental Treatment Access for Women with HIV: PR Newswire (09/19/94); The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium is giving its full support to a list of demands to be presented to the FDA today. The Coalitions said it was compelled to join in the call for equalization of HIV/AIDS treatments because it is harder for women to access experimental treatments than men. The action at the FDA is sponsor
Court Awards $728,770 in Discrimination Suit: Reuters (09/19/94); The Educational Testing Service Inc. was found guilty of discriminating against an employee who has AIDS, which is in violation of state law requiring employers to accommodate workers with disabilities. The judge found that the plaintiff s legitimate needs include time for doctor s appointments and time off when he was
World Roundup: AIDS in Cuba: USA Today (09/20/94) P. 10A; HIV has infected 1,077 people in communist-ruled Cuba , reports the newspaper Trabajadores. Of those infected, 299 have developed AIDS.
European Blood Rules Could Cut US Exports: Journal of Commerce (09/20/94) P. 1A; Ruzicka, Milan; Although U.S. blood and blood products have not been implicated, their export to Europe could meet with difficulties as Western Europe launches safety regulations to prevent the spread of AIDS. Germany , the leading importer of U.S. blood products, is leading the drive after a recent rash of blood-screening scandals in
37% of Female Undergrads Had Unsafe Sex in Prior Year; 21% Took HIV Test, Survey Reveals: PR Newswire (09/12/94); A Glamour magazine survey of 994 female undergraduates reveals that 37 percent of them had unsafe sex in the past academic year, and 21 percent took an HIV test. The Glamour College Survey, which was conducted this past spring to determine information on coeds lives during the past school year, also reveals that 40 per
Gay Former Mayor Dies: United Press International (09/17/94); One of the United States most openly gay politicians, former Key West Mayor Richard Heyman, has died of AIDS at age 59. Heyman served two two-year terms beginning in 1983 and again in 1987. In an interview last week, Heyman maintained that his political goals were unrelated to his sexual preference and said, I didn t r
India to Host Biology Conference: United Press International (09/17/94); Next week, more than 2,000 scientists from 62 countries will attend the 16th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in New Delhi, India . Key issues include AIDS research, genetics, and population control. Lectures will be delivered by various international experts, as well as Nobel laureates Dr.
Epidemics Rage Unchecked in Rwanda: Reuters (09/17/94); Esipisu, Manoah; Upon returning from a two-day fact-finding mission in Rwanda , World Health Organization Director-General Hiroshi Nakajima said that the country was suffering from severe shortages of medical staff, medicines, and money. Blood transfusion services are not functioning and blood is no longer being screened for HIV.
An Unsparing Look at AIDS: Boston Globe (09/16/94) P. 63; Sherman, Betsy; Fast Trip, Long Drop is back at the Harvard Film Archive after its debut in the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The video is film-maker Gregg Bordowitz s personal account of coping with being HIV-positive and the outlook of a potential early death. With a great range of emotions and attitudes, Bordowitz addresses his f
AIDS Action Committee, MBTA in New Dispute Over Condom Ads: Boston Globe (09/16/94) P. 37; Palmer Jr., Thomas C.; The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has rejected an AIDS Action Committee ad aimed at women. The ad carries quotations from a fictional Elly K, who knows how to get a man to wear a condom. This controversy comes just three weeks before a federal appeals court hearing in Boston over several condom ads that th
Lifeline: In the Cards: USA Today (09/19/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; San Francisco-based retailer Under One Roof, which gives all of its profits to AIDS organizations, is offering holiday cards and gifts that have been created by volunteer artists. The retailer s goal is to raise $200,000 by the end of the year.
Across the USA: Florida: USA Today (09/19/94) P. 6A; During lectures at senior centers, officials in Broward County, Fla., plan to distribute decks of playing cards that carry information about HIV and AIDS.
Minorities Seek More Action to Halt AIDS Spread: New York Times (09/19/94) P. A14; Leaders at a four-day meeting in Washington, D.C., urged the Clinton administration to do more to control the spread of AIDS among minorities. Cornelius Baker of the National Association of People With AIDS said that clinical trials of possible treatments often did not include black and Hispanic participants and that m
AIDS Blood Firm Used Wine to Lure Vagrants for Donations: Reuters (09/13/94); A former laboratory assistant has testified that UB Plasma, a German company accused of selling HIV-tainted blood products, used wine to entice the homeless to donate blood. The employee claims that two executives drank with candidate donors to reassure them and to ensure that they returned frequently to donate blood.
Gay AIDS Campaigns Underfunded--U.S. Campaigner Release at 7 p.m. EDT: Reuters (09/15/94); Money used to promote safe sex education by less vulnerable groups than gay men is endangering the war against AIDS, says Ron Stall, associate professor at California University s Center for AIDS Prevention Studies. In California during the early 1990s, while the gay male population accounted for almost 85 percent of A
British Aid for Zimbabwe's Fight Against AIDS: Reuters (09/15/94); Britain gave Zimbabwe a grant of $13.8 million Thursday to help it fight the spread of AIDS. Local health officials say that approximately 600,000 to 800,000 of the 10 million inhabitants of Zimbabwe are infected with HIV. Zimbabwe says that $90 million is needed to fund a five-year program that focuses on the care and
Widow of AIDS Activist Has Same Illness: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/15/94) P. A6; Janet Conners, widow of activist Randy Conners, announced Wednesday that she has full-blown AIDS. Mr. Conners, who died Tuesday, convinced the Canadian government to compensate people who contracted AIDS through tainted blood transfusions and their families. At the announcement, Mrs. Conners spoke of her happy times wi
Auction Shines Without Stars: Washington Times (09/15/94) P. C14; Staggs, Jeffrey; Although only a few stars appeared at a celebrity auction to benefit AIDSWalk 94, the auction was considered a success. Organizers of the auction, which took place Tuesday night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Washington, D.C., hoped to equal the $25,000 raised through ticket sales. Both the sold-out auction and AIDSWalk will
Inmates Show High HIV Rates: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/15/94) P. A4; Taylor, Paul; British Columbia researchers have found that at least 1 percent of men and 3.3 percent of women in the province s prisons are infected with HIV. If the pattern is the same throughout Canada , as the researchers believe, then the HIV- infected concentration is unique to the prisons, as only 0.1 percent of the general Ca
Ottawa Too Slow with Blood Information, Provinces Say: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/15/94) P. A5; Coutts, Jane; Canadian provincial and territorial health ministers attending a meeting Wednesday demanded to be kept better informed on the problems of the Canadian blood system. The health ministers were as surprised as the citizens when they heard that last week the United States had barred some Canadian blood products from enteri
Vietnam Figures Suggest AIDS Spreading: Reuters (09/16/94); According to data released today, HIV in Vietnam--which used to be found mainly in prostitutes and drug addicts--has begun to spread to the general population. The National AIDS Committee reported the cases of two female government employees and one of their children--groups previously thought to be at low risk. The Vi
Citizens Arrest Halts Distribution of Clean Needles: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (09/16/94) P. B3; Daunt, Tina; Three volunteers of the Los Angeles group Clean Needles Now were booked and released Wednesday night after being placed under citizens arrest by neighborhood activists for violating state needle distribution laws. The action comes just one week after L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan declared a state of emergency to allow nee
Cancer and Infectious Disease Experts to Meet in Montreal: PR Newswire (09/12/94); The world s top experts in cancer and infectious diseases will assemble in Montreal for the 19th International Congress of Chemotherapy, July 16-21, 1995. The biannual meeting, drawing more than 10,000 scientists and physicians from over 90 countries, will focus on important discoveries in chemotherapy --which is incre
Reality Female Condom Debuts in U.S.: PRNewswire (09/13/94); In a press conference scheduled for Sept. 21, The Female Health Company will announce the consumer and professional introduction of the Reality female condom. Health professionals and the public will be acquainted with Reality through advertising and a community outreach program. The Reality female condom, which provid
Vatican Rejects Part of U.N. Plan: United Press International (09/13/94); Huggins, Michael; The Vatican accepted approximately half of the United Nation s 20-year Program of Action at the U.N. Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, but rejected the rest of the document because it deals with abortion, condoms, and sex education for adolescents. Chapters not approved by the Vatican included those ad
Woman Pleads Guilty in AIDS Case: United Press International (09/14/94); Illinois resident Shirley Noone pleaded guilty to knowingly exposing her husband to HIV without his knowledge and will be charged with criminal transmission of HIV. A 1989 Illinois law makes unprotected intercourse illegal when one partner is infected and the other does not know. Noone was sentenced to four to six year
Former Editor in Beaumont Dies of AIDS: Houston Chronicle (09/14/94) P. 15A; Tim Halley, an award-winning writer and former assistant city editor, has died of AIDS at age 35. In 1992, he wrote a first -person account of his fight against AIDS that appeared in a special section of the Beaumont Enterprise. The section won local, state, and national awards--including the American Medical Associati
Tainted-Blood Victim Fought for Compensation: Toronto Globe and Mail (09/14/94) P. A23; Picard, Andre; Randy Conners, a man whose battle with AIDS prompted a $139 million compensation package for the 1,000 Canadian recipients of tainted blood products, has died of the disease at age 38. Conners, a hemophiliac who received HIV from Factor 8 before it was heat-treated, publicized his story and used his notoriety to persua
Judge Wants Records of Woman With AIDS: Chicago Tribune (09/14/94) P. 1-3; A Michigan judge has ordered that the records of a woman charged with violating the state s AIDS disclosure law--which makes it illegal for HIV-positive persons to have intercourse without first informing partners of their conditions--be released to the court. Brenda Jensen s physician has argued that doctor-patient co
Evaluating AIDS Drugs: Washington Post (09/15/94) P. A16; This week the Food and Drug Administration held hearings to determine if changes are necessary in procedures used since 992 that provide accelerated access to AIDS drugs. Critics say that follow-up studies should be enforced by the FDA to effectively determine the success of the treatment. The Washington Post editors
Award Upheld for Tenant with AIDS: Washington Times (09/15/94) P. C3; Seigle, Greg; The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has upheld a 1993 ruling ordering the Joel Truitt Management company to pay $35,000 to one of its former tenants, Jay Condren, who has AIDS. The ruling found that the company refused to make any repairs on the man s apartment because he had AIDS. A 1991 note to Condren said tha
Champions Dedicated to Helping Others: PR Newswire (09/12/94); The Champions Tour, the first 35-and-over competitive men s tennis circuit, has been receiving acclaim for its work both on and off the court. Each of its 12 tournaments includes programs that focus on local charities by raising funds and awareness and donating the players personal time. The Champions Tour, while in Hi
Epitope Files Response to FDA Form 483: PRNewswire (09/13/94); Epitope Inc. has filed with the Food and Drug Administration a response to the report of a facilities inspection team that studied Epitope s facilities over a three-week period ending August 26. The FDA Form 483 Report consisted of 17 observations mainly related to technical manufacturing issues dealing with Epitope s
KSU Starts AIDS Prevent Project: United Press International (09/13/94); Kent State University researchers announced Tuesday that they would team up with Summa Health System of Akron to start an AIDS prevention program involving single women. The program is described as the first to include participation by boyfriends, family members, and friends. The five-year, 93.8 percent federally funde
Medizone's Blood Decontamination Technology Receives Third Stage of Funding by the Canadian Defense Department: Business Wire (09/12/94); Medizone International, Inc. announced Tuesday that the Canadian Defense Department would fund the third stage of research into the use of Medizone s proprietary blood decontamination technology to prevent transfusion-related disease transmission in a live monkey model. The company s technology is being studied as a pr
Los Angeles Endorses Needle Exchange to Fight AIDS: Reuters (09/13/94); The Los Angeles City Council on Monday approved an emergency AIDS declaration by Mayor Richard Riordan that will allow a citywide hypodermic needle exchange program. Mayor Riordan made this move, which will permit the city to ignore state laws prohibiting the exchange of drug paraphernalia, in an effort to fight the sw
Canton to Curb Infectious Diseases: United Press International (09/14/94); Canton, in southern China , is planning to draft regulations that would control the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera and malaria. While no new cases of AIDS have been reported, the draft regulations are under discussion because of the likelihood that the number of AIDS cases and the affected area will incr
For HIV-Positive, Cards Hit the Right Note: USA Today (09/14/94) P. 6D; Painter, Kim; In the last two years, Shari Anderson, an HIV-positive woman from Hanover Park, Ill., has sent over 5,000 greeting cards to approximately 200 HIV-infected people. Thousands more have been mailed through organizations. Anderson sends out blank cards, with only her Heart Spaces logo, to volunteers at churches, schools, h
LaBelle Ad Urges Minorities to Seek Treatment for HIV: Baltimore Sun (09/14/94) P. 8D; Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle is featured in a bilingual ad campaign announced Tuesday that encourages HIV-infected minorities to seek preventative treatment for AIDS-related pneumonia. The National Minority AIDS Council s campaign is the first designed to keep HIV-positive people healthy for as long as possible.
C.D.C. Office on Women: New York Times (09/14/94) P. C10; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is forming the Office of Women s Health to make sure that women s health issues are fully recognized by the government. The office will be in charge of programs at the CDC that pertain to women s issues, said CDC director David Satcher, including research into female-contr
Correction from AIDS Daily Summary, 09/09/94: Blacks Far More Likely Than Whites to Have AIDS, Agency Says: New York Times (09/09/94) P. A16; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that black women are almost 15 times more likely than white women to develop AIDS, and that black men are five times more likely than white men to have the disease. The agency said that 55 percent of the 106,949 reported cases of AIDS in the
Get Real--When It Comes to Sex, It's Time for the Government to Grow Up, A Prestigious Medical Group Says: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 26; Bull, Chris; An Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee delivered a report titled AIDS and Behavior: An Integrated Approach to the White House and Congress on July 27. The committee said that dramatic steps must be taken to curtail the transmission of HIV because development of a possible cure or vaccine is still years away. The repo
Shifting AIDS Research Back to Basics: American Medical News (09/05/94) Vol. 37, No. 33, P. 1; Pinkney, Deborah Shelton; Two distinct views emerged at the 10th International Conference on AIDS. One view complained that HIV research has come to a halt, as shown by the lack of recent new information. The other view pointed to progress being made in understanding HIV and its effects on the immune system--which is necessary in developing via
Denial Among HIV-Affected Children: Focus (08/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 8; Three case studies from a home for inner-city children show that denial is one way that youths who have an HIV-infected parent temporarily ignore any related pain and embarrassment. The group foster home housed African-American and Hispanic children between the ages of 12 and 18. In 1990, three children out of 220 livi
HBO Documentary to Honor Tennis Great Arthur Ashe: PR Newswire (09/12/94); An HBO Sports Documentary, Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World, will be premiered tonight at an event co-hosted by Ambassador Andrew Young, The Task Force for Child Survival and Development, and HBO. Ashe was known as a civil rights crusader, an advocate of people with AIDS, and an opponent of South African apartheid, in
Canada Vows to Clean Up Blood System: Reuters (09/12/94); Willmer, Tanya; In response to a damning U.S. report on the safety of a Toronto blood donor center, Canada announced Monday that it would improve its blood collection system. The U.S. report caused some Canadian plasma to be barred from entering the United States until the Canadian Red Cross meets its safety and quality regulations an
Couples Using Condoms Are Safer: Baltimore Sun (09/13/94) P. 5D; Margolis, Simeon; While abstinence is the most certain way to avoid HIV infection, couples that always use condoms during intercourse are safer, says Dr. Simeon Margolis, professor of medicine and biological chemistry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He cites a European study that followed HIV-negative people who had a stable relati
Two Firms Try to Turn Thalidomide From Horror to Hope: Washington Post (09/13/94) P. D1; Day, Kathleen; EntreMed Inc. and Andrulis Pharmaceuticals Corp. are leading the campaign to reinstate thalidomide as a useful drug. EntreMed is working with doctors from Harvard Medical School and an affiliated children s hospital to investigate thalidomide s effectiveness in halting a common type of blindness. Andrulis, which claims
Don't Expect New AIDS Drug Soon, Maker Tells FDA: Washington Post (09/13/94) P. A19; Saquinavir, an experimental drug anticipated by AIDS patients, will not be available outside of clinical trials until at least mid-1995, say manufacturer F. Hoffmann La Roche & Co. The news comes as the FDA holds hearings on whether the government should allow faster access to new treatments. Saquinavir, a first in
HIV Sufferers and Relatives Bare Anguish: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/13/94) P. A1; Shaw, Donna; Why did the nation allow us and our loved ones to contract AIDS from contaminated hemophilia medicine? was the question asked by mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and more at a public hearing held by the Institute of Medicine s Committee to Study HIV Transmission Through Blood Products. The committee was formed to de
Directly Observed Therapy for Tuberculosis in New York City: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 435; Klein, Susan J.; DiFerdinando Jr., George T.; Naizby, Brenda E. et. al.; In a letter to the editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association , Drs. Klein, DeFerdinando, and Naizby address a previously published study conducted by Bloch et al. on drug-resistant tuberculosis and the current TB epidemic in New York City. Klein et al. call to attention the New York State Department of
HIV, TB Present Deadly Combination: American Medical News (09/05/94) Vol. 37, No. 33, P. 33; Pinkney, Deborah Shelton; Experts at the 10th International Conference on AIDS warned that AIDS and TB could kill up to 15 million people during the next few years. Asia, which accounts for two-thirds of the world s TB cases, has an even bleaker outlook because it has experienced a large increase in HIV cases in the past year. Almost a third of
AIDS: $35 Million in Carrots and Sticks: U.S. News & World Report (09/12/94) Vol. 117, No. 10, P. 25; Although the U.S. government has put billions of dollars into AIDS research during the past decade, some critics claim these research dollars were imprudently spent. Last week, NIH, the nation s largest funder of AIDS research, announced a program that would fund research on highly experimental treatments. By 1998, NIH
Bob Nelson Appointed Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for Catholic Charities: Business Wire (09/09/94); Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco announced the appointment of Bob Nelson as director of Public Policy and Advocacy in San Mateo, Marin, and San Francisco counties. Nelson has been at Catholic Charities for over seven years, most recently as manager of HIV Direct Services. He also sits on the Ryan
Vatican Takes Low-Key Position on Contraceptives: Reuters (09/11/94); Pullella, Philip; Although the Vatican assumed a low-key position on contraceptives at the U.N. population conference in Cairo, the Catholic Church says this does not indicate a change in its position prohibiting them. Vatican observers were surprised that, in pre-conference meetings, language that promoted condoms was not modified or f
Women Suffer Most From AIDS, Conference Told: Reuters (09/09/94); Eltahawy, Mona; AIDS activists accused the U.N. population conference on Friday of ignoring the increasingly devastating effect the disease is having on women around the globe. Women activists also told a non-governmental organizations panel discussion that family planning programs do not adequately inform women about ways to protect
Africans Try to Break Silence on AIDS Even as Ailment Consumes Their Continent: Los Angeles Times (09/11/94) P. A20; Dadson, Amba; In Africa, where 10 million of the world s 16 million HIV infection cases have occurred, silence is helping the disease to spread. Many Africans cannot bring themselves to discuss AIDS because of powerful social forces, such as modesty and shame, which also keeps them from seeing their doctors. Now, in
Credibility of Red Cross Doubted: Globe and Mail (09/08/94) P. A7; Picard, Andre; Groups representing Canadian users of blood products say that the Canadian Red Cross has no place building a $150-million blood fractionation plant, if it cannot meet the U.S. and Canadian blood collection standards. Fractionation is a highly technical and scientific operation and plants must adhere to the most stringe
F.D.A. Debate on Speedy Access to AIDS Drugs is Reopening: New York Times (09/12/94) P. A13; Kolata, Gina; Three years ago, prodded by AIDS advocates, the FDA relaxed its approval process for new AIDS drugs so that they could enter the market faster. Although many researchers thought it unwise to waive the requirement that the drug be clinically proven, the FDA decision quickly resulted in available drugs, as the advocates
Studies Uphold Antiviral Strategy: Better to Add Than Switch: AIDS Alert (09/94) Vol. 9, No. 9, P. 121; Findings presented at the 10th International AIDS Conference in Yokohama, Japan , show that use of AZT delays progression of AIDS no more than two years and offers no additional benefit for patients with CD4 counts above 500. These results add to recent data showing that a combination of drugs taken earlier may be the
The Invisible Lesbian Face of AIDS: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 633, P. 45; Guly, Christopher; Activists complain that there is an absence of research on lesbians with AIDS. Nick Bollman of Funders Concerned About AIDS, says the public face of the AIDS epidemic is likely to concentrate only on homosexual men. But AIDS is also a real threat to women, straight or lesbian, Bollman adds, because HIV comes through se
Major FDA Public Meeting on Early Access, Accelerated Approval, September 12-13: AIDS Treatment News (08/19/94) No. 205, P. 5; The FDA has scheduled a two-day public meeting of the Antiviral Advisory Committee to review its accelerated approval system. The meeting will be held Sept. 12-13, and will begin with a history of early availability of drugs-- especially in regards to oncology, along with parallel track and treatment INDs in their appl
AIDS...Again: Nature (09/01/94) Vol. 371, No.6492, P. 2; The younger generation of gay men is passing on AIDS with negligent abandon, say the editors of Nature. Whereas the older generation of homosexual males modified their sexual habits because of AIDS, the young people continue to practice unsafe sex--even though they know they are at risk. Epidemiologists at the Universi
To Fight AIDS, California Cities Pointedly Skirt State Drug Laws: Washington Post (09/09/94) P. A24; Spolar, Christine; Although California is one of 10 states in the nation that ban needle exchanges, many of its larger cities are declaring emergencies to circumvent the law. Earlier this week, Los Angeles followed the lead of other cities, such as Oakland and Berkeley, and asked its police to disregard state needle laws so that private
Some HIV Strains May Lead to AIDS Faster--Doctors: Reuters (09/09/94); Doctors from the University of New South Wales in Australia said that some HIV strains progress to AIDS much faster than others. The doctors reached this conclusion after studying 25 people who contracted HIV through transfusions of tainted blood on known dates. Those who received blood from donors who developed AIDS i
AIDS Charity Sees Dangers to Third World Doctors: Reuters (09/09/94); Twenty-five percent of doctors who spend their lives in high- risk developing countries risk acquiring AIDS, says Patrick Dixon, of the British AIDS charity AIDS Care, Education and Training (ACET). Dixon bases his warning on the assumption that one quarter of hospital patients in countries like Uganda a
Slower AIDS Virus Traced: Washington Post (09/09/94) P. A20; Scientists studying prostitutes in Senegal have found that HIV -2 causes AIDS much less often than HIV-1, which is prevalent in the United States . Women registered as commercial sex workers were examined and treated for diseases twice a year over eight years. During a five-year period, four women out of 32 who had HIV
Blacks Far More Likely Than Whites to Have AIDS, Agency Says: New York Times (09/09/94) P. A16; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that black women are almost 15 times more likely than white women to develop AIDS, and that black men are five times more likely than white men to have the disease. The agency said that 55 percent of the 106,949 reported cases of AIDS in the
Yokohama Conference Overview: AIDS Treatment News (08/19/94) No. 205, P. 1; James, John S.; The 10th International Conference on AIDS revealed quite a bit of progress in research, but no definite treatment or cure for the disease. Perhaps the most significant development is the testing for HIV RNA with the quantitative PCR or the branched DNA assay, which can tell how much virus is in the blood plasma. This m
Should I Consider a Viatical Settlement?: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 49; Mickens, Ed; HIV-positive people who are considering a viatical settlement- -selling their life insurance for cash--generally must fulfill two conditions before a company will buy: a sound policy held for more than two years and a viable medical prognosis stating that the patient has less than two years left to live. Individual pol
Female-to-Female Sexual Contact and HIV Transmission: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 433; Chu, Susan Y.; Conti, Lisa; Schable, Barbara A. et al.; A surveillance project was conducted based on interviews with 1122 women who were reported with HIV/AIDS between January 1990 and September 1993. The study revealed that 61 women had sex with other women in the past five years and 55 of those had sexual contact with men during that same period. Of that group, 28 percen
Hard-Hitting Comic on AIDS Wins Kudos from Teen-Agers: Nikkei Weekly (08/22/94) Vol. 32, No. 1,634, P. B14; Jo, a popular comic in Geneva, is helping to educate young people about AIDS. The comic s protagonist is an ordinary girl who becomes infected with AIDS and eventually dies. At age 18, young Swiss receive copies of Jo from the municipal government of Geneva. Because of its popularity, the comic is also exported to
Embattled Oakland University Researcher Holds News Conference: PR Newswire (09/07/94); Suspended Oakland University researcher G. Rasul Chaudhry, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences will hold a press conference on Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. Chaudhry, an internationally known biomedical researcher, has worked at Oakland University in HIV-related research since 1989. In 1993, he was ordered to stop his rese
AIDS Quilt Will Be Displayed at Goucher: Baltimore Sun (09/08/94) P. 10E; Dorsey, John; A student-organized project will bring more than 700 panels of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt to Goucher College Sept. 16-18. Films and lectures are being held this week as part of the effort to improve AIDS awareness at the college and in society. The quilt, started in 1987, now consists of more than 27,000 pan
Across the USA: Georgia: USA Today (09/08/94) P. 9A; A Georgia court has ruled that Morrison Dental Associates is responsible for Ron Marasco, a dentist who did not reveal that he had AIDS. The court awarded $850,000 to 495 patients of the now-deceased doctor, none of whom has tested positive for HIV.
Nationline: AIDS Fight: Investor's Business Daily (09/08/94) P. A1; The Los Angeles City Council will vote on Tuesday on whether to support Mayor Richard Riordan s emergency declaration to allow distribution of syringes to drug users. City AIDS coordinator Fred Eggan says that 9 percent of the city s injection drug users have been infected with HIV. He calls the needle exchange program
FDA Closes U.S. Border to Canadian Blood Plasma: Washington Post (09/08/94) P. A32; Swardson, Anne; Citing violations of American safety regulations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered the Canadian Red Cross to stop sending some of its blood products to the United States for processing. Even though there are no indications that Toronto blood bank s products ever entered the U.S. blood supply, the Canad
Under Surveillance: Zvonko Pavelic: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 18; Zvonko Pavelic, a former police officer recruited for the defense team of accused murderer O.J. Simpson, has filed a disability claim against the Los Angeles Police Department for what he says is AIDS-based discrimination. Pavelic contends that when he left the apartment in 1992, he was suffering from asthma and hepati
Barron's: "Do We Have Too Many Drugs for AIDS?": AIDS Treatment News (08/19/94) No. 205, P. 4; James, John S.; AIDS Treatment News editor and publisher John S. James contends that an Aug. 15 article in Barron s, entitled Rushing to Judgment, presents only one side on the debate over accelerated FDA approval for AIDS drugs. James argues that the article could be harmful for AIDS research if investors are scared away by hints tha
Rushing to Judgment: Barron's (08/15/94) Vol. 74, No. 33, P. 23; Edward A. Wyatt; Only a few years ago, AIDS activists urged the FDA to speed up its approval process for AIDS drugs, resulting in the loosening of FDA approval standards. Some of those same activists are now joining physicians and drug companies in the push to do away with the accelerated approval program. They claim that the program
Free AIDS Info: Men's Fitness (09/94) Vol. 10, No. 9, P. 116; Community Prescription Service, a mail-order discount drug business specializing in HIV concerns, offers InfoPack. The quarterly newsletter provides a summary of recent medical studies, information on new drugs, and hints for self-care. Copies are available free of charge by calling 800-842-0502.
Measurement of CD4: Percentage: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 434; Olson, Patrick E.; Wallace, Mark R.; Naval Medical Center (et al.); Dr. Paul A. Volberding recently described the discovery of a stronger correlation between clinical stage and CD4 percentage than between clinical stage and absolute CD4 cell count. Volberding suggests that CD4 percentage is a more stable marker of progression. Many clinicians are not aware that the process of derivatio
BC-AIDS-Zimbabwe: Reuters (09/06/94); Mdlongwa, Francis; AIDS has killed thousands and infected nearly one million Zimbabweans, making it what one doctor has called a threat to mankind greater than the bubonic plague. Condoms have become the highest-selling product in the country because of AIDS, but the disease has also prompted some bizarre changes. Insurance companies are
In the Nation: Los Angeles Mayor Aids Needle Exchange Programs: Baltimore Sun (09/07/94) P. 11A; Stating that AIDS had reached epidemic proportions, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan declared a local state of emergency Tuesday in an effort to circumvent state law and permit the distribution of clean needles to drug users to continue without interference from police. Riordan directed the city attorney and police de
Liposome Seeks Approval of its AIDS-Cancer Drug: Wall Street Journal (09/07/94) P. A6; Liposome Technology Inc. has filed a new drug application with the FDA for its version of a medication for Kaposi s sarcoma, an AIDS-related cancer, for patients who do not respond to chemotherapy. The active ingredient, doxorubicin hydrochloride, is already widely available, but the company wants to deliver it with
U.S. AIDS Research Switches Focus to Boost Immune System: Washington Times (09/07/94) P. A6; Krieger, Lisa M.; The federal government has promised to allocate $25 million over the next four years for the development of innovative strategies to genetically attack HIV through the body s immune system. The studies will be conducted at medical centers selected by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease--including S
Regulating Syringe Exchange Programs: A Cautionary Note: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 431; Des Jarlais, Don C.; Paone, Denise; Friedman, Samuel R. et al.; The predominant mode of HIV transmission in the United States is through intravenous drug use. Syringe-exchange programs (SEPs), which are designed to reduce the risk of HIV infection by providing clean needles to drug users, have been shown to be effective in other countries and could be useful in the United States. H
Japanese AIDS Activists Adopt a Milder Form of Protest: Science (08/19/94) Vol. 265, No. 5175, P. 1029; Cohen, Jon; Japanese AIDS activists are not as visible or outspoken as their American counterparts, despite their belief that the government s official statistics on HIV and AIDS are well below actual numbers. The official figures are low because Japanese citizens are frequently afraid to be tested for HIV because of a law requiri
Infectious Diseases in Competitive Sports: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 436; Dorman, John M.; In a letter to the editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association , Dr. John M. Dorman of Stanford University elaborates on a recent article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on infectious diseases in competitive sports. Dorman notes that although the article did include a short section on H
Human Growth Hormone Reverses Wasting in Clinical Trial: AIDS Treatment News (08/19/94) No. 25, P. 1; James, John S.; A study sponsored by Serono Laboratories Inc. has shown that human growth hormone can reverse the drastic weight loss that kills many patients with advanced AIDS. The growth hormone, currently marketed as Protropin by Genentech Inc. and Humatrope by Eli Lilly and Co., is the first treatment that has been proven to
Cocaine and HIV Prevalence in an Alcohol Treatment Center: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 435; Epstein, Ronald; Avins, Andrew L.; Woods, William J. et. al.; Dr. Ronald Epstein of the University of Rochester in New York challenges a study on HIV in an urban public alcohol treatment center that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Dr. Andrew Avins and colleagues. In concluding that HIV was much more common in the urban setting than among the ge
Publicizing AIDS Data Early and Often: Science (08/19/94) Vol. 265, No. 5175, P. 1023; Stone, Richard; Officials at the National Institutes of Health are considering the creation of an electronic bulletin board for information and results sharing among scientists conducting AIDS research. Scientists would post non-peer-reviewed abstracts on the Internet. The goal would be to reduce the amount of money being spent on unp
AIDS Grants: USA Today (09/02/94) P. 2D; NIH will divide $25 million in grants between six institutions to research alternative treatments aimed at strengthening the immune system and genetically attacking HIV. Human trials must begin by at least the third year of the four-year grants. The six institutions include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in
HIV Risk Factor Shifting in Inner Cities: Washington Post--Health (09/06/94) P. 5; Evans, Sandra; A study conducted at the Harlem Hospital Center and published in August s Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Women indicates that sexual transmission may have overtaken intravenous drug use as the primary HIV risk factor in the inner cities. The researchers found that only 21 percent of the HIV-positive women who ga
A Measure for Death: Potential Years Lost: Washington Post--Health (09/06/94) P. 5; Colburn, Don; Because of the leading causes of death in this country have wide disparities in the average age of the affected group, public health experts have devised a new measure that is weighted toward causes of death in young people. The new measure is called YPLL-65, which stands for years of potential life lost before age 65.
Immunology: 'Vaccine Cocktail' Lifts Hopes: Washington Post (09/05/94) P. A2; Raul Andino of the University of California at San Francisco and colleagues published findings in the Sept. 2 edition of Science magazine indicating the possible discovery of a vaccine cocktail that could be effective against many diseases. Andino inserted particles from other viruses into a polio virus and injected th
How a Flu Molecule Stands on its Head To Infect Human Cells: New York Times (09/06/94) P. C3; Hilchey, Tim; Researchers Frederick M. Hughson from Harvard, Per A. Bullough from Britain s Medical Research Council, and John J. Skehel from the National Institute for Medical Research in London announced the results of their collaborative study in the journal Nature last week. Their key discovery was the structure of the protein h
Study Adds to Fears of Blood Recipients: Toronto Globe and Mail (08/31/94) P. A3; Picard, Andre; The Laboratory Centre for Disease Control in Canada estimates that 940 to 1,440 people may have been infected with HIV through transfusions between 1978 to 1985--two to three times the number of people originally thought to be infected. In addition, as many as 245 people may still be unaware of their HIV-positive stat
Iraq Testing All Travelers for AIDS at Jordan Border: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/01/94) P. A9; In an effort to prevent AIDS from reaching Iraq , the Iraqi Embassy in Amman, Jordan , reports that Iraq officials have started testing travelers for the AIDS virus at its border crossing with Jordan. United Nations officials say the number of A
Turks Say AIDS Not For Them, Doctors See Problem: Reuters (09/01/94); Marcus, Aliza; Although many Turks believe conservative values protect them from AIDS, doctors say tourism, prostitution, and a changing world distort that view. But doctors say the only conservative aspect about Turkey is its unwillingness to candidly discuss the disease. Studies over the past two years show that Turks are uninforme
Gladstone Institute Researchers Create Multi-Purpose Vaccine Capable of Generating Immune Response to HIV: Business Wire (09/01/94); Researchers from UC San Francisco have inserted two HIV genes into the poliovirus vaccine to create a new vaccine capable of generating in an immune response in animals to HIV. The decades-old Sabin polio vaccine was used as a vehicle to deliver key proteins to specific targets in the body, where they could generate an
Sites Awarded, Renewed for Community-Based AIDS Trials: PR Newswire (09/01/94); The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded funding to four new sites and 12 incumbent sites to study promising HIV therapies as part of the community-based clinical trials network. The first-year funding for the 16 five-year awards is approximately $12 million. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.,
CDC Says AIDS Case Remains Unsolved: United Press International (09/01/94); Dr. Harold Jaffe, director of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention s division on HIV/AIDS, says the agency has no direct evidence of criminal intent concerning the dental practice of Florida Dr. David Acer. Officials linked six cases of HIV infection to Acer in 1990. According to investigators, transmissi
Female Condom to Get Disease Trials in City: Philadelphia Inquirer (09/02/94) P. A1; Belluck, Pam; Collins, Huntly; On Tuesday a health department committee approved two tests on the female condom, to start in the fall, involving patients at the department s sexually transmitted disease clinic. The first study, funded by the condom s manufacturer, Female Health Co., would attempt to ascertain whether the female condom would protect
AIDS Vaccine Doubted: Washington Post (09/02/94) P. A10; A study conducted by Sally M. Blower and Angela R. McLean of Oxford University and published in Friday s Science magazine showed it to be nearly impossible for a vaccine alone to conquer AIDS. Using the gay community in San Francisco as a model, Blower and McLean found that the number of HIV cases in that community cou
$25 Million Committed by U.S. for Alternatives to AIDS Drug Therapy: Washington Post (09/02/94) P. A19; The federal government has promised $25 million for the investigation of alternatives to drug therapy for the treatment of AIDS, to be split among the New England Medical Center, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Stanford University, and t
Announcements, Notes: Kaposi's Sarcoma--Major Overview Published: AIDS Treatment News (08/05/94) No. 204, P. 8; Michael Marco and Marty Majchrowicz have released The KS Project Report: Current Issues in Research & Treatment of Kaposi s Sarcoma, an 85-page report that gives a comprehensive overview of conventional treatments, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and research on the disease. The report includes interviews with 25 oncol
Transmission of Zidovudine-Resistant HIV During a Bloody Fight: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, No. 6, P. 432; Ippolito, Giuseppe; Del Poggio, Paolo; Arici, Claudio et al.; Ippolito et al. report a case of probable HIV transmission during a bloody fight. A 29-year-old source patient (subject 1), who formerly injected drugs, has had AIDS since June 1991. During an argument in February 1992 at a house where both subjects were living, his brother (subject 2) attacked subject 1 by continuousl
RiboGene Awarded Three SBIR Grants to Study Role of Translation in Viral Diseases: Business Wire (08/31/94); RiboGene Inc. announced on Wednesday that it has been awarded three Small Business Innovative Research grants, funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and administered by the National Institutes of Health. The first grant will be used to develop an assay for PKR, an interferon-induced protein known to have ant
Doctors' Strike Compounds Medical Decay in Kenya: Reuters (08/31/94); Esipisu, Manoah; Medical services in Kenya have fallen to a bare minimum since a doctors strike began on June 16. Strike leader Givans Ateka said that the government should spend more on medical facilities and drugs, and give doctors better pay and housing. Health Minister Joshuah Angatya said he cannot negotiate with the doctors; secr
Brothels May Close on Buddhist Holidays: United Press International (08/31/94); Ehrlich, Richard S.; In an effort to slow the spread of AIDS throughout the country, Thailand s Health Ministry announced Wednesday that it will ask the Interior Ministry--which coordinates the police--to close commercial sex establishments during Buddhist holidays. Such a move would be bad for the sex industry, since Buddhist holidays gen
Researcher Says Florida Dentist Was Serial Killer: Reuters (08/31/94); Dr. Leonard Horowitz, a Harvard graduate researcher and authority in behavioral science, has conducted a three-year study on the Florida dentist suspected of transmitting AIDS to six of his patients. The study is based on previously unreported medical and legal documents, as well as media and other interviews with the
Epitope Shares Gain on HIV Detection Device Patent: Reuters (09/01/94); Epitope Inc. s shares climbed 87.5 cents Wednesday morning following the company s announcement that it has received a fifth patent for its OraSure oral specimen collection device for the detection of HIV. The company also announced a pending application to the FDA for the sale of OraSure for HIV testing.
Across the USA: North Carolina: USA Today (09/01/94) P. 6A; A judge in Raleigh, N.C., ruled that the state must continue to provide anonymous AIDS screening until a panel can hear evidence on whether anonymous testing is more effective in preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS than confidential testing, which is endorsed by the state Health Department as being more effective.
Florida's Shame: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 18; Florida s child-protection system failed a 12-year-old girl examined by at least 45 doctors and dentists--all of whom failed to diagnose her with AIDS, concluded a four-month investigation by the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. The unidentified girl wasn t diagnosed with AIDS until she was check
Seven Statewide Meetings Will Solicit Public Recommendations for the Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (GACHA) 1994 Annual Report: PRNewswire (08/30/94); The Washington State Department of Health announced seven statewide meetings to be held Sept. 20 through Oct. 5. to solicit public recommendations for the 1994 annual report of the Governor s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. The council advises the Governor on prevention and care issues. More than 5,500 people have been d
Swiss Red Cross Collaborating With HemaSure Inc.: PRNewswire (08/30/94); HemaSure Inc. announced on Tuesday that it is teaming up with ZLB Central Laboratory, Blood Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross, to develop the Leukovir Filter, which is designed to remove methylene blue from virally inactivated plasma. The methylene blue can then be transfused into patients to inactivate viruse
Progenics Pharmaceuticals Awarded NIH Grant for Development of Imaging Agent for HIV Infection: PRNewswire (08/30/94); The National Institutes of Health has awarded Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. an $80,000 grant under Phase I of its Small Business Innovation Research Program. The funding goes toward the development of ProScan-A, an imaging agent designed for the detection of the HIV in its asymptomatic period. It can also help doctors
Doctor with AIDS Did Not Prove Bias: United Press International (08/30/94); An appellate court yesterday upheld a federal judge s dismissal of a lawsuit brought by the estate of a physician with AIDS which alleged that the FBI violated handicap discrimination laws by refusing to refer agents to the physician for medical examinations in 1988. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the
Food Notes: Wine for a Cause: New York Times (08/31/94) P. C8; Fabricant, Florence; Lenz Vineyards in Peconic, L.I., is marketing its 1992 chardonnay in special bottling to benefit the AIDS Resource Center, an organization which provides housing for AIDS patients. The bottles, which have neck labels resembling the red AIDS ribbon, cost $9.99 each; $3 from each sale will be donated to the center.
Girl Who Thinks She Has AIDS Ordered to Trial in Biting Guard: New York Times (08/31/94) P. B6; Sullivan, Joseph F.; Judge J. Wilson Noden in Trenton, N.J., has ordered 17-year- old Nilieta Bethea to be tried as an adult in on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault for biting a juvenile- detention officer at the Mercer County Youth House last March. Craig J. Hubert, an assistant Mercer County prosecutor, said Bethea belie
Federal Workplaces Opened to AIDS Walkathon Appeal: Washington Times (08/31/94) P. A3; Larson, Ruth; Federal employees are being asked while at work to participate in or contribute to an AIDS walkathon in Washington, D.C., on September 24. In the past, only the annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) has been allowed to solicit federal employees on the job, but those restrictions were waived by the White House s AIDS p
Aiming at AIDS: American Druggist (08/94) Vol. 210, No. 4, P. 35; Shannon, Jacqueline; Pharmacists Paul Stephan, Greg Aspacher, Steven Chang, David Zeiger, and Steve Bryant were all disturbed by the poor quality of pharmacy care received by AIDS patients, and each responded separately by developing pharmacies specializing in AIDS treatment. All of these pharmacies maintain information sources specificall
Stavudine (d4T) for HIV: American Pharmacy (08/94) Vol. 34, No. 8, P. 9; The FDA has granted approval to Bristol-Myers Squibb s anti- HIV drug Stavudine because it was shown to be effective on a surrogate endpoint and satisfied an unmet medical need. Like the other three approved HIV antivirals, stavudine is a nucleoside analog thought to slow the progression of the virus by blocking replic
U.S. Teens Know the Score, But Take Risks: Insight (09/05/94) Vol. 10, No. 36, P. 29; Wetzstein, Cheryl; High-risk sexual activity between males represents the greatest number of AIDS cases among Americans between the ages of 13 and 21, according to a study by the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. Despite scoring high awareness of AIDS, more than 60 percent of the 239 young men surveyed continue to participate
AIDS Chief Promises a Shift Towards Basic Research: Nature (08/18/94) Vol. 370, No. 6490, P. 494; Swinbanks, David; Describing basic research as the engine that will drive the entire AIDS research enterprise forward, William E. Paul-- director of the Office of AIDS Research at NIH--announced that the United States will realign its fight against the disease to focus on such broad-based research. He reaffirmed NIH s commitment to clin
Mexican Homosexual Granted U.S. Asylum Dies of AIDS: Reuters (08/30/94); The San Francisco law firm of Marc van der Hout announced on Monday that Ariel Da Silva, a Mexican native previously known by the pseudonym of Jose Garcia, died of AIDS at the age of 36. Da Silva was the first immigrant granted political asylum based on persecution due to his homosexuality. His lawyers said that Da Sil
Celgene Announces Financial Results for Second Quarter; Chiral Product Revenues Increased for Fifth Consecutive Quarter: Business Wire (08/29/94); Despite the announcement that revenues for the second quarter ended June 30 were down from the same period last year, Celgene Corp. has made some advances. For example, the company is poised to initiate Phase II clinical trials of Synovir, its thalidomide-based treatment for cachexia in AIDS patients. Findings presente
The Condom King Curbs Population Growth: United Press International (08/30/94); Hail, John; Meechai Viravaidya, founder and board chairman of the private Population and Community Development Association, has been credited with making substantial gains in slowing Thailand s population growth through the promotion of condoms and other family planning methods. Viravaidya estimates that the widespread use of cond
Thai Parents Force Children Into Prostitution: United Press International (08/30/94); Ehrlich, Richard S.; Saisuree Chutikul, Thailand s top women s rights activist, says that Thai parents often force their children to become prostitutes and don t care if they contract AIDS. More than 700,000 Thais already are infected with HIV. United Nations officials report that Thailand s increasing infection rate is among the fastest i
Firms Add Domestic Partner Benefits for Competitive Edge: Corporate Cashflow (08/94) Vol. 15, No. 9, P. 6; In quest of a better image and better talent, companies are increasingly seeking domestic partner benefits for their employees. Blue Cross/Blue Shield MA-Inc. is currently the largest U.S. health insurer to provide domestic partner coverage to customers and employees. Blue Cross s Susan Leahy explains that, In a vastly
HIV Therapy: An Pharmacist's Guide to Understanding: American Druggist (08/94) Vol. 210, No. 4, P. 53; Tejani, Shamim; As the rate of HIV infection continues to increase, it is becoming more important for pharmacists to contribute to public HIV/AIDS education. Pharmacists should inform patients about HIV transmission routes, safety precautions, disease progression, and therapies. One of the pharmacist s most important roles is to couns
Under Surveillance: The AIDS Awareness Day: Advocate (09/06/94) No. 633, P. 18; An AIDS Awareness Day sponsored by the San Francisco Giants on July 31 generated more than $50,000 for AIDS organizations.
...As Japanese Taunt Comes Under Attack: Nature (08/18/94) Vol. 370, No. 6490, P. 494; Yuichi Shiokawa, head of the organizing committee of the 10th International Conference on AIDS, found himself in hot water after blaming the Americanization of Japanese sexual mores for the spread of AIDS in his country. Shiokawa originally made the comment last month at a press conference, and was later asked to clari
Wellcome Group Opens China Offices: Journal of Commerce (08/29/94) P. 8B; Officials announced on Friday that Wellcome has opened representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, to pave the way for investments in China . Wellcome will donate 1.5 million yuan to a three-year AIDS education program in China.
FBI Probing Alleged AIDS Treatment Scam--Newspaper: Reuters (08/29/94); According to an article in Saturday s edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the FBI confirmed its investigation of several area physicians affiliated with a home health-care company that has been accused of inflating the medical bills of critically ill people, including AIDS patients. Michael Alan Booth filed su
Ashe Event: Many Stars, One Cause: New York Times (08/29/94) P. C7; Family, friends, and admirers of Arthur Ashe convened Sunday at the third annual Arthur Ashe AIDS Tennis Challenge at the National Tennis Center. The Challenge is hosted by the United States Tennis Association and benefits the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS. Established by Ashe in September 1992, the Fou
Across the USA: Maryland: USA Today (08/29/94) P. 6A; The Maryland Health Department is conducting an audit of Baltimore s AIDS surveillance methods because the statewide tally of AIDS cases appears to be higher than the reported 4,000 cases. The failure of doctors and others to report new cases is being blamed for the low report, which could cause the state and city to l
In San Francisco, Grim AIDS Cycle Poised for Encore: Washington Post (08/29/94) P. A1; Hamilton, William; The community mobilization effort described in Randy Shilts book And the Band Played On was largely successful in combating the AIDS epidemic that ravaged San Francisco, which counted 8,000 HIV-positive men in 1982 and 8,851 AIDS cases in 1992. However, recent studies show the disease on the rise again, infecting 18 pe
Medical Care for Injection-Drug Users With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (08/17/94) Vol. 331, No. 7, P. 450; O'Connor, Patrick G.; Selwyn, Peter A.; Schottenfeld, Richard S.; Intravenous drug use has emerged as an important risk factor for HIV infection, which has become quite prevalent among the user populations in North and South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. In providing care to infected injection-drug users, physicians must address important clinical and psychosocial issues relat
WHO Calls Attention to TB, AIDS, and Aging Health Issues: Nation's Health (08/24/94) Vol. 24, No. 7, P. 14; The World Health Organization reported that almost two-thirds of HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa occur in people under 25. WHO estimates predict that current HIV-related trends could create a social disaster in an area of the world that already suffers heavily from population and health problems. At a June meeting
FDA Tackles HIV Testing Kits: Nation's Health (08/94) Vol. 24, No. 7, P. 5; The FDA s Blood Products Advisory Committee listened to public testimony from care providers, AIDS activists, and biomedical industry representatives in a recent meeting on pending applications for home HIV sample collection kits and saliva sample collection kits. Manufacturers of the saliva kit-- which is designed for
AIDS In the Workplace: Business Insurance (08/22/94) Vol. 28, No. 34, P. 14; Wojcik, Joanne; Daniel Emerson of Bose, McKinney & Evans told a recent American Bar Assn. annual meeting that no uniform policy is a reliable form of protection from liabilities for employers with HIV-positive employees. He advised employers to meet with the employee immediately upon learning of the infection and to fashion an ind
Wanted: A Shot in the Arm: Economist (08/24/94) Vol. 332, No. 7877, P. 63; Duke University researcher Dani Bolognesi reported that there are currently no vaccines against the HIV virus that show promise. Critics countered that there are vaccines but no willingness to test them--specifically, genetically engineered versions of the protein gp120 manufactured by Genentech and Biocine, a join
Thai Children Need Better Human Rights: United Press International (08/25/94); Utumporn, Pichayaporn; Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand , who is also the special United Nations rapporteur on the sale of children, said on Thursday that Thailand must revise its laws concerning the rights of children with AIDS. Specifically, Vitit complained that Thai children were not granted life, priva
SEC Sues Texas Firm, Chief in AIDS Insurance Scam: Reuters (08/25/94); Ramos, Gene; The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil suit in Washington, D.C., federal court against Life Partners Inc. and its chairman, Brian Pardo. The suit alleges that the Waco, Texas, outfit illegally sold millions of dollars in securities created from death benefits under the life insurance policies of AIDS
Japan to Offer Help on AIDS: United Press International (08/26/94); The Japanese government will send a team of medical experts to Egypt , Kenya , the Philipines, and Indonesia by the end of the year, to ascertain what kinds of projects are most appropriate for these countries in the effort to fight AIDS. The plan is part of an aid package between Japan and the
The Cause of AIDS: Issues in Science and Technology (Summer 1994) Vol. 10, No. 4, P. 18; Root-Bernstein, Robert; In response to Wanda K. Jones and James Curran s review of his book Rethinking AIDS: The Tragic Cost of Premature Consensus, Robert Root-Bernstein feels that the book s estimated 2,000 references rebut claims by Curran and Jones that Root-Bernstein s arguments are overstated and strained. He also says his critics gros
Wellness Spirituality in Homosexual Men with HIV Infection: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/94- 08/94) Vol. 5, No. 4, P. 28; Kendall, Judy; The AIDS epidemic has spawned a plethora of community- sponsored support programs designed to help people cope with the various dimensions of the disease. Building a network of people who value and support each other is regarded by the authors of numerous studies as an important part of caring for infected persons. Dr.
Experts, Senate Favor HIV Testing of Sex Offenders: AIDS Alert (08/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 111; The Working Group on HIV Testing, Counseling, and Prophylaxis- -a panel of 16 legal and medical experts--has recommended HIV testing and counseling guidelines which include the hotly debated policy of limited mandatory testing of rape suspects. Group member Dr. Kenneth Mayer explains that ...there may be special circum
What Heterosexual Adults Believe About Condoms: New England Journal of Medicine (08/11/94) Vol. 331, No. 6, P. 406; Choi, Kyung-Hee; Rickman, Richard; Catania, Joseph A.; Using data from a telephone poll of residents in 23 urban areas in the United States with a high prevalence of AIDS, Catania et al. surveyed 5,331 heterosexual adults aged 18 to 49 about their beliefs concerning condoms. Most acknowledged condoms as an effective method for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. F
Questions and Answers: Smoking Cessation in Patients With HIV: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/17/94) Vol. 272, No. 7, P. 564; Chaisson, Richard E.; Conflicting studies have made it unclear whether cigarette smoking hastens progression of AIDS among HIV patients, notes Dr. Richard E. Chaisson of Johns Hopkins University. Because it has been linked to rapid depletion of CD4 cells, and an increase in respiratory tract infections among infected persons, Chaisson says
Meals for People With AIDS: Washington Post (08/25/94) P. D.C.5; Foods and Friends is a volunteer agency in Washington, D.C. that delivers nutritious meals to AIDS patients. The organization is currently emphasizing fund-raising and volunteer recruitment.
Regulation of Body Piercing Goes to Wilson: United Press International (08/24/94); The California Assembly has passed legislation that would impose new regulations on body piercing and tattooing. Supporters of the measure say the use of unsterilized needles in both body piercing and tattooing could spread the HIV. The bill is now on the desk of Gov. Pete Wilson, awaiting his signature to become law.
Mom Dying of AIDS Finds Home for her Dearest Treasures: Chicago Tribune (08/24/94) P. 1-1; Talalay, Sarah; Karen Smith, a 34-year-old mother of five residing in Elgin, Ill., is dying of AIDS. Concern that her children would be separated after her death led her to find them a new mother. AIDS rights advocates say there is a need for AIDS-infected parents to plan for their children s future. They cite a 1992
Indonesia May Have 2.5 Million People With HIV by 2000: Reuters (08/25/94); Indonesian Health Minister Suyudi warns that the Asian nation may have as many as 2.5 million people HIV carriers by the end of the decade. Suyudi hopes to keep the figure around 600,000 through intense efforts. Indonesia plans to build a special hospital for HIV patients.
Burroughs Welcomes Bucks: Men's Fitness (09/94) Vol. 10, No. 9, P. 116; Burroughs Wellcome is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for over-the-counter status for acyclovir , an antiviral drug currently sold by prescription only under the brand name Zovirax . The drug is a staple for AIDS patients, who tend to acquire herpes infections such as shingles and
The Risk of HIV Infection in a National Sample of Women With Injection Drug-Using Partners: American Journal of Public Health (08/94) Vol. 84, No. 8, P. 1243; Tortu, Stephanie; Beardsley, Mark; Deren, Sherry et al.; Women with intravenous drug-using partners are at high risk for HIV infection, and are the most rapidly growing segment of adults with AIDS in the United States . Tortu et al. studied a sample of 5,162 heterosexual women who were interviewed and given the option of undergoing HIV testing. Statistical analyses separate
A Longitudinal Study of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Heterosexual Partners: New England Journal of Medicine (08/11/94) Vol. 331, No. 6, P. 341; de Vincenzi, Isabelle; De Vincenzi and colleagues at the European Study Group on Heterosexual Transmission of HIV conducted a study of HIV- negative individuals whose only risk for infection was their steady heterosexual relationships with infected partners. A total of 304 HIV-negative participants were interviewed, tested, and counseled eve
Fear of AIDS Enough for Suit Under FELA: National Law Journal (08/22/94) Vol. 16, No. 51, P. B3; Fear of AIDS is grounds to sue for negligent infliction of emotional distress under the Federal Employers Liability Act, the 2d U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last month. The court held that FELA encompasses a cause of action for fear of acquiring HIV, provided that the basis for the claim is a physical injury. In
AIDS Charity Trek in Japan Threatened by Theft: Reuters (08/23/94); The theft of over 200,000 yen ($2,040) may result in the cancellation of a planned charity trek across Japan by an Australian and a Canadian to raise money for AIDS research. The money was stolen on Sunday from a van accompanying trekkers Philip Byrnes and Rob McMullan, who are cycling and running across Japan in an ef
Survey: UK Condom Sales Swell: United Press International (08/23/94); Gould, Paul; Residents of Great Britain bought a record 158 million condoms last year. A survey by the market research company Mintel found that protection against HIV is the highest-rated function of the condom, followed by protection against other sexually transmitted diseases. Contraception was placed fourth on respondents list
Researchers Find Golden AIDS Chemical: United Press International (08/23/94); Researchers Katherine Tepperman and Richard Elder say dicyanogold, a combination of gold and cyanide produced in human cells when they react to certain arthritis drugs, appears to slow the reproduction of HIV. If the results are confirmed by future research, Tepperman and Elder say gold could become the most significan
Thai Man Imprisoned for Assault Over AIDS Claim: Reuters (08/24/94); Suriya Thuraphan of Thailand was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of a prostitute who told him she had infected him AIDS. The woman told Thuraphan after they had sex that he was now infected with HIV. Thuraphan responded by stabbing and wounding the woman. It is not known whether either the wom
AIDS Prevention Programs Do Work: Issues in Science and Technology (Summer 1994) Vol. 10, No. 4, P. 16; Curran, James W.; Holtgrave, David R.; Guinan, Mary E.; Curran et al. refute the contentions of Philipson et al. that HIV prevention programs are ineffective. Philipson et al. s economic model, say Curran and colleagues, is based on faulty reasoning. In their article, Why AIDS Prevention Programs Don t Work, the authors argue that humans learn about the risks of HIV infecti
Zidovudine and the Quality of Life: New England Journal of Medicine (08/04/94) Vol. 331, No. 5, P. 332; Berman, Daniel S.; Wenglin, Barry D.; Lenderking, William R. et al.; Drs. Daniel S. Berman and Barry D. Wenglin challenge Lenderking et al. s conclusions that the side effects of zidovudine make its use questionable in treating HIV patients. They contend that zidovudine alone or combined with other therapy, with proper monitoring and dosages, has an important role in the treatment of HI
HIV Home Testing Fraught With Potential Problems: AIDS Alert (08/94) Vol. 9, No. 8, P. 107; As the Food and Drug Administration contemplates approval of HIV home testing kits, it must grapple with not only safety and reliability issues, but also with a number of public health concerns. The agency is worried, for example, that other members of a household may be exposed to contaminated blood or kit materials.
Chubb Fosters AIDS Awareness With Education: National Underwriter (08/08/94) No. 32, P. 6; Cox, Brian; Since implementing its mandatory employee AIDS education and awareness program in 1987, Warren, N.J.-based Chubb Corp. has been exemplary in its efforts to mitigate the impact of the disease on business. The program, which includes a two-hour seminar, as well as distribution of a video and educational pamphlets, is bas
AIDSWatch: Employer Medical Bills Disputed: Men's Fitness (08/94) Vol. 10, No. 8, P. 108; Contrary to popular belief, employers costs are not being stifled by the cost of their workers AIDS care, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An AIDS patient s medical bills average between $85,000 and $120,000 over five years; however, a typical large employer only pays about $17,0
The Ever-Expanding Plague: Newsweek (08/22/94) Vol. 124, No. 8, P. 37; Cowley, Geoffrey; Hager, Mary; One of the main concerns to emerge from the 10th International Conference on AIDS, the first ever hosted by an Asian nation, is the ever-widening scope of the disease, especially in Asia. HIV infections in some parts of Asia are now increasing more rapidly than anywhere else in the world, said Dr. Michael Merson of the
HIV-Positive Reservist May Be Restricted: National Law Journal (08/22/94) Vol. 16, No. 51, P. B21; The National Guard acted appropriately when it restricted an HIV-positive reservist to a non-deployable position, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on July 14. In Charles v. Rice, Oscar Charles--who tested positive for the virus after serving more than two decades in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and
Live Music Concert to Benefit LIFEbeat, the Music Industry's Organization to Fight AIDS: Business Wire (08/22/94); Music video channel VH-1 will this Saturday premiere a 90- minute special entitled VH-1 Presents the Beat Goes On -- The LIFEbeat Benefit 1994. The live music concert will benefit LIFEbeat, the music industry s organization to fight AIDS, which provides grants to individuals and AIDS service producers. Featured perform
Where Teens Can Learn About AIDS: Washington Post--Health (08/23/94) P. 13; Jordan, Fran; What About AIDS is an exhibit on display until Sept. 12 at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. It combines scientific data and personal accounts in a special education program that includes a history of AIDS and photos documenting one woman s struggle with the disease. Also featured is a bilingual video on AID
AIDS at Work: Nation's Business (08/94) Vol. 82, No. 8, P. 12; Firms seeking assistance in dealing with AIDS in the workplace can look to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has--in conjunction with the business sector--developed a manager s kit for that express purpose. It offers information on policy development, employee education, legal issues, insurance, and
From the Food and Drug Administration: Combination Tuberculosis Drug Approved: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/03/94) Vol. 272, No. 5, P. 344; The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to a cocktail of rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide for the treatment of tuberculosis. Health experts expect the triple therapy to reduce the number of patients who do not adhere to the standard long-term multidrug regimen for treating TB--a problem that has been
Reverse Logic: Smart Drugs Target HIV and a Herpes Virus: Science News (08/06/94) Vol. 146, No. 6, P. 88; Fackelmann, Kathy A.; A new category of drugs, called antisense drugs, may be able to target a specific disease without causing significant side effects, but neither the efficacy nor the safety of such drugs has yet been proven. An antisense drug is made from a sequence of nucleotides that mirrors that of a target nucleic acid, such as RNA,
Sheffield Medical Technologies Files Investigational New Drug Application for Human Clinical Trials on Its RBC-CD4 Project for HIV: Business Wire (08/19/94); Medical development company Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. has filed an Investigational New Drug application with the Food and Drug Administration seeking permission to begin a Phase I/II human clinical trial of its red blood cell CD4 electroinsertion technology (RBC-CD4) for use as a therapeutic against HIV. The
Calif. Lawmakers OK Marijuana Bill: Boston Globe (08/20/94) P. 16; The California state Assembly has approved the nation s first bill calling for doctors to be allowed to prescribe marijuana to chronically ill patients, according to Chad Randolph, an aide to state Sen. Milton Marks--the San Francisco Democrat who authored the bill. The legislation had already passed the state Senate a
New Jersey Drops Health Workers AIDS Notification Plan: Reuters (08/19/94); New Jersey has abandoned a proposal requiring that health care workers undergo AIDS testing and inform patients if they test positive. Health Commissioner Leonard Fishman told reporters that out of 31 states surveyed by the department, only two-- Maryland and Arkansas--made testing of health care workers obligatory. I
Federal Agency Brings AIDS Discrimination Suit Based on Disabilities Act: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (08/20/94); The Houston district office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed an AIDS discrimination lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The suit alleges that Joe Puga, former head of purchasing for Chemtech International Corp., was fired because he has HIV. The plaintiff is seeking reinstatement,
Positive Tattoos Bare HIV Status By Design: USA Today (08/22/94) P. 1D; Snead, Elizabeth; HIV tattoos are the latest method HIV-positive people have been using to disclose their condition to friends, family, and the general public. According to Richard Perez-Feria, editor of Poz magazine, the tattoos are very empowering. They are pushing people out of that last closet, he says. Health experts say tattooing
Biochemistry: Nutrient May Control HIV: Washington Post (08/22/94) P. A2; According to findings published last week in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry by researchers from the University of Georgia , the HIV virus depletes the body of the trace mineral selenium because it depends upon selenium to trigger its growth. These findings suggest that nutritional status may be a factor in some HIV
Racial Differences in the Use of Drug Therapy for HIV Disease: New England Journal of Medicine (08/04/94) Vol. 331, No. 5, P. 333; Simon, Paul A.; Sorvillo, Frank J.; Lapin, Richard K.; In Moore et al. s study at an HIV clinic in Baltimore, the findings suggested that black patients were less likely than white patients to have received previous antiretroviral therapy or prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Although Moore et al. gathered data from patient reports and accompanying m
Funding Proposal Shot in Arm for HIV Prevention in Drug Users: AIDS Alert (08/94) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 115; Although President Clinton s budget proposal for 1995 would not boost funding for HIV prevention, it does include a new $345 million treatment initiative that could substantially increase HIV prevention and drug treatment services for the country s estimated 2.7 million hard-core drug addicts. Intravenous drug use repr
French Ministers Face Public Trial in HIV Blood Affair: Nature (07/28/94) Vol. 370, No. 6487, P. 243; Butler, Declan; Fresh debate over who was responsible for the distribution of HIV-contaminated blood to French hemophiliacs in the mid-1980s surfaced in July as the Court of Justice of the Republic decided to allow charges to be heard against three former socialist ministers. Driven by repeated failed attempts to try the officials, th
Groundbreaking AIDS Study Examines Attitudes of Older Gays: Business Wire (08/08/94); A study conducted by Golden Gate University Professor Leonard Kooperman has found that gay and bisexual men between the ages of 50 and 80 have a high level of accurate knowledge regarding HIV-transmission and tend to engage in lower-risk sexual behavior. Kooperman said the survey of 191 gay and bisexual older men showe
Body Puts Up Strong Fight Against HIV at First: Reuters (08/10/94); Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and colleagues report that HIV-infected individuals put up a strong immune resistance initially, but quickly slacken that resistance. The researchers found a large increase in the numbers of T-cells soon after infection in six patients studi
Modernization of Japanese Birth Control Policies Advocated: Business Wire (08/18/94); In a policy forum article in the Aug. 19 issue of Science, Carl Djerassi and Mariko Jitsukawa say Japan should modernize its birth control policies and practices, and legalize oral contraceptives and morning-after pills. Such a move, they write, would be highly beneficial to the people of Japan, particularly its women,
Local Basketball Stars and Former Players Team Up With Portland Youth Groups: Business Wire (08/10/94); Winning Against AIDS, a collaboration for HIV/AIDS prevention education by the National Basketball Players Association and the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, will take place in Portland, Ore. today from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The outreach effort features professional athletes and their spouses, alo
Transmission by Caregiver Is Rare: USA Today (08/19/94) P. 1D; While contracting the HIV in a hospital or in a doctor s or dentist s office is exceedingly rare, a few such cases have been reported. Routine needle re-use in the Soviet Union and Romania several years ago caused the infection of many infants. In addition, four Australian women were infected in a surgeon s office. In
Baby Infected With HIV in NYC Hospital: USA Today (08/19/94) P. 1D; Painter, Kim; Health authorities in New York City report that a baby boy who entered a city hospital for an eye infection apparently contracted HIV inside the facility. Investigators are unsure of how the infection occurred, but the facts suggest a lapse in routine precautions against patient-to-patient transmission. The study is re
Coast to Coast Digest: Pillar House Hosts Fund-Raiser: Nation's Restaurant News (07/25/94) Vol. 28, No. 29, P. 11; The Pillar House restaurant will host a benefit dinner on Oct. 22 to raise money for the Foundation for Children with AIDS. The Boston-based charity benefits HIV-positive and drug- affected children and their families. At $150 a plate, the four-course meal will be prepared by Pillar House executive chef Kevin Cromwell
'Lack of Behaviour Studies Is Hampering AIDS Prevention': Nature (08/04/94) Vol. 370, No. 6488, P. 316; Gavaghan, Helen; The United States should allocate federal funds to conduct a national survey that would fill the gaps in existing knowledge on sexual practices and intravenous drug use, and their correlation to HIV infection, says a panel of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine. Past requests for federal funds for any survey
Weighing HIV Vaccine Trials: Science (08/05/94) Vol. 265, No. 5173, P. 735; Holden, Constance; The World Health Organization will hold a meeting in September to debate the merits of conducting large-scale clinical HIV vaccine trials--which some researchers say do not have much of a chance of being proven effective. The meeting follows the June decision of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease
First Oral Vaccine Study Launched in Baltimore and Rochester, NY: AIDS Alert (08/94) Vol.8, No. 9, P. 119; Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the University of Rochester (NY) are recruiting 16 healthy, uninfected volunteers to participate in the first study of an oral AIDS vaccine designed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. The single-dose Multicomponent Global AIDS Vaccine consists of a time-released powder mixe
Industry's '93 AIDS Claims Rose Slightly to $1.5 Billion: National Underwriter (08/08/94) No. 32, P. 1; Cox, Brian; Despite the merciless spread of AIDS throughout the world, life and health insurers expect to continue receiving relatively few AIDS-related claims. We have claims, but they re controllable, says Dr. Robert Gleeson of Northwestern Mutual Life, Minneapolis. Companies are not in dire straits. The country s insurers paid
So Long, Condom Cowboy: Newsweek (08/15/94) Vol. 124, No. 7, P. 8; The Wyoming state health department depicted a condom on horseback waving a cowboy hat as the logo for its AIDS hot line, but Gov. Mike Sullivan earlier this month threw out the symbol. His action was prompted by a letter campaign, which called the condom cowboy an obscene parody of the state symbol portraying a bronco
Catholic Charities' HIV Program Gains Donated Satellite Pantry: Business Wire (08/17/94); Catholic Charities of San Francisco has established a northern San Mateo County satellite pantry for its new HIV Food and Emergency Services Program, which distributes food, grocery, and transportation vouchers to area residents infected with HIV. Homedco of Northern California has provided the program with office and
Woman Wins Award After False AIDS Test: United Press International (08/16/94); An Ohio Court has awarded a Cincinnati woman $100,000 in a medical negligence lawsuit against the University of Cincinnati and Hoxworth Blood Center over inaccurate HIV test results. Andrea Beth Alfarano Kennedy, a former nursing assistant at University Hospital, accidentally stuck herself with a used syringe in July 1
AIDS Devouring Africa Even as Awareness Grows: Washington Post (08/18/94) P. A1; Okie, Susan; The African AIDS epidemic is causing a tide of illness that cannot be corralled. Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest hospital in sub-Saharan Africa, say AIDS cases have doubled in the last year and that the majority of patients in the hospital s medical wards suffer from AIDS- related infections. There i
Risking Everything? Risk Behavior, Behavior Change, and AIDS: Science (07/15/94) Vol. 265, No. 5170, P. 341; Aggleton, Peter; O'Reilly, Kevin; Slutkin, Gary et al.; Since HIV was first identified in 1983, scientists have spent considerable time and money in efforts to learn more about the virus and its effects. Although a cure or effective vaccine still eludes researchers, behavior change has been shown to be a potentially effective strategy for curbing the spread of HIV. Behavior
HIV Patients Appear Vulnerable to Bloodstream Infections: AIDS Alert (07/94) Vol. 9, No. 7, P. 103; The high rate of bloodstream infections in hospitalized HIV patients highlights the need for health care workers to follow proper techniques for central line site preparation, say officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A study of HIV patients in five medical centers indicates that primary bloodstr
Letters to the Editor: Public Health and Mothers' Rights: Washington Post (08/17/94) P. A18; Saltzberg, Sheri; In a letter to the editors of the New York Times, Brooklyn Pediatric AIDS Network Director Sheri Saltzberg, president of the National AIDS Policy Center for Children, Youth & Families, takes issue with Nat Hentoff s July 30 op-ed column, Who Owns AIDS? Hentoff s Piece, Saltzberg writes, contains several factual err
German Lab Worker Says Blood Poorly Checked for AIDS: Reuters (08/16/94); Gunhild Jacobus, a laboratory assistant at Germany s UB- Plasma, which is accused of selling blood products tainted with HIV, told a German court on Tuesday that the company did not properly check blood samples. Jacobus said the company, which was shut down in October of last year, pooled blood plasma since October 198
Chiron Opens Clinical Reference Testing Laboratory for Quantitation of HIV RNA: Business Wire (08/16/94); Chiron Corp. has begun offering a service to physicians for the quantitation of HIV RNA from patient samples containing the virus. The service utilizes Chiron s branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification technology. Scientists believe that HIV RNA quantitation may have clinical value in predicting the progression of HIV-
Obituaries: John Stuban--AIDS Activist: Washington Post (08/17/94) P. C8; AIDS activist John Stuban, the founder of ACT UP Baltimore, died of the disease at his Baltimore home August 15. He was 38.
Don't Call It AIDS: New York Times (08/17/94) P. A19; Stoddard, Tom; Tom Stoddard, an attorney on the board of directors of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, writes that while medical science has made major gains in fighting AIDS, the federal government and the media have largely ignored these successes. Reports coming out of the recent AIDS conference in Yokohama focused only
AIDS Activists Take Role in Czar Search: Washington Times (08/17/94) P. A3; Bedard, Paul; The Clinton administration faces difficulty in finding a new AIDS czar, with potential candidates reportedly turning down the job and AIDS activists calling for the position to be elevated to Cabinet status. Since former AIDS policy director Kristine Gebbie stepped down last month, many top candidates for the position-
High HIV Levels Raise Risk to Newborns, 2 Studies Show: New York Times (08/17/94) P. C8; Altman, Lawrence K.; Two new studies show that the chance of an HIV-positive pregnant woman infecting her baby with HIV increases with the amount of the virus in her blood. The studies, conducted at the New York State Health Department and New York University, are said to be the first to measure the amount of HIV in a mother and her child
HIV And Anal Cancer; Anal Pap Smears, Early Treatment, Recommended for High-Risk Men & Women: AIDS Treatment News (07/22/94) P. 2; Smith, Denny; Joel Palefsky, M.D. and his staff at the University of California has been surveying possible increases in precancerous changes in anal tissue that might occur in people who have both the human papilloma virus(HPV), which causes genital and anal warts, and HIV. His observations, boosted by other similar studies, start
Firms Start to Focus on AIDS Education: Nikkei Weekly (07/25/94) Vol. 32, No. 1630, P. 21; Kurosaka, Yukinobu; As the number of HIV/AIDS patients in Japan totaled 3,317 at the end of April, more and more Japanese businesses discovered that ignoring the disease will not make it disappear. About two years ago, a movement seeking to curb the spread of AIDS began in Japanese business circles. Companies gave employees AIDS-preventio
Infections by Health Worker Spur Tuberculosis Warning: Toronto Globe and Mail (08/12/94) P. A5; Feschuck, Scott; Tuberculosis is a growing concern in North America, with AIDS patients being among the most likely to contract it. Health officials in Alberta, Canada , are searching for people who may have come into contact with a health-care worker diagnosed with tuberculosis. The health-care worker, believed to be a doctor, has lik
Forever on Call: Los Angeles Times (08/14/94) P. E1; Glionna, John; Dr. Scott Hitt specializes in AIDS treatment as a partner in the Pacific Oaks Medical Group, one of the country s largest private health-care providers for HIV patients. Hitt treats more than 600 HIV-positive people and another 250 with full- blown AIDS. Hitt is also a gay activist and has recently been mentioned as a
Pay Heed to Women, Say AIDS Activists: Boston Globe (08/15/94) P. 25; The inattention to special problems of AIDS among women and the lack of research on important AIDS-related questions such as mother-child transmission has prompted greater demands for female input in the battle against the deadly disease. The female agenda includes demands for research into the effects on women of the
The Unyielding AIDS Epidemic: New York Times (08/13/94) P. A20; The fight against AIDS will have to be fought for a very long time, warn the editors of the New York Times. The international AIDS conference in Japan has highlighted the dangers of a major breakout of the disease in several Asian nations, including India , Thailand , and
D.C. AIDS Program Offers 3 New Drugs: Washington Post (08/16/94) P. B6; The District of Columbia has added diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomatil), dronabinol (Marinol), and megestrol acetate (Megace) to its list of free medications given to AIDS patients without medical insurance. According to Peter Hawley, medical director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, Marinol is an appetite stimulant, Loma
Counting the Cost of AIDS: Washington Post (Health) (08/16/94) P. 8; Brown, David; Measuring the impact of AIDS worldwide is a difficult dilemma for health economists. While estimates of the large financial impact of the epidemic helps coax people into greater action, these huge numbers can obscure some of AIDS most important effects. For example, while AIDS may not significantly reduce a nation s ec
Female Condom, Reality, Introduced to U.S. Drugstores: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/16/94) P. A3; Sakson, Steve; Wisconsin Pharmacal Co. plans to put its female condom on sale for the first time this month at drugstore counters nationwide. The condom, which is named Reality, comes in a small white box, with pages of instructions and 11 diagrams. Wisconsin Pharmacal plans a $4 million ad campaign emphasizing the condom s role in p
An Anti-HIV Vitamin: Science (07/15/94) Vol. 265, No. 5170, P. 314; Studies have demonstrated that HIV-positive pregnant women transmit the virus to their infants 10 to 40 percent of the time, provoking questions as to why some babies become infected and others do not. A recent study in Malawi suggests that vitamin A deficiency, which is known to compromise the immune system, may influ
AIDS Researchers--What Can They Say?: U.S. News & World Report (08/08/94) Vol. 117, No. 6, P. 18; Researchers are dismayed that so few breakthroughs have occurred in the decade between the first global AIDS research conference in Atlanta in 1985 and the 10th conference being held Aug. 7-12 in Yokahama, Japan . Nearly one million AIDS cases have been reported to the World Health Organization ,
Elton John to Present Intimate Evening of Music: Entertainment Wire (08/11/94); Elton John will perform in Beverly Hills, California, four nights in September to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation Inc. John founded the Foundation in 1993 to raise funds for direct patient care and AIDS prevention education. The Foundation raised $1.65 million in its first year, a figure that was matched through
Indian Cop Rapes for AIDS Cure: United Press International (08/14/94); An Indian police constable accused of raping and murdering a young girl in New Delhi, India, asserts he committed the crime to cure his case of AIDS. The police officer claimed he thought sexual intercourse with a virgin would cure him of AIDS. An independent estimate finds that more than a million cases of HIV occur e
Aspirin May Inhibit HIV, Researchers Say: Reuters (08/11/94); Yale researchers report that ordinary aspirin may keep HIV- infected people from getting full-blown AIDS. The researchers found that aspirin and its chemical precursor, sodium salicylate, block a protein which plays a critical role in triggering the body s front-line immune response. By inhibiting this protein in two t
ACT-UP High on Hyatt: Washington Times (08/11/94) P. 5; ACT-UP is considering endorsing Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Joel Hyatt despite the firing of an AIDS victim from his Hyatt Legal Services firm. That story was depicted in the movie Philadelphia. Hyatt has apologized for the incident, which occurred seven years ago. ACT-UP officials say Hyatt may now be more sensit
Pathologist Says Gee-Whiz Bullets Are AIDS Threat: Reuters (08/12/94); Varnard Adams, medical examiner in Tampa, Florida, warns that the police department s use of high-tech dum dum bullets creates an AIDS risk for doctors who perform autopsies. The bullets expand after entering the human body. Adams protested the use of the bullets after a bullet cut a doctor performing an autopsy.
Case for AIDS Vaccine Trials: Financial Times (08/15/94) P. 13; The editors of the Financial Times note that prospects for an AIDS vaccine are seriously hampered by the refusal of the United States to start trials of those vaccines that have been developed. With the epidemic continuing to accelerate in Africa and Asia, greater risks must be taken in developing areas than would be a
HIV is Spread in Asia by the Sex Industry and its Captives: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/15/94) P. A1; Collins, Huntly; The multibillion-dollar sex trade industry in Asia is seen as a key reason HIV is spreading so rapidly in that continent. A recent United Nations report found that tens of thousands of women and girls are unable to resist possible exposure to HIV. Women from Taiwan , Korea, and the
Verigen Presents Clinical Studies for an HIV Treatment: PRNewswire (08/11/94); Richard Thorn, senior director of research and development at Verigen Inc., presented data this week at the 10th International Conference on AIDS indicating some success in the testing of Verigen s intravenously formulated immunoglobulin G (IgG) therapeutic PASSHIV-1. The evidence shows that this therapy is not a cure
Agouron Pharmaceutical Inc. Shares Rise After Favorable Report on AIDS Drug: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (08/11/94); Agouron Pharmaceuticals shares climbed about 18 percent after the company announced that the compound AG1343 could disrupt HIV replication and appears to stop the replication of HIV strains that have otherwise been found drug-resistant. Agouron expects human testing to begin in this year s final quarter. In spite of
Libel Lawsuit Target Says She Meant No Harm: Richmond Times-Dispatch (08/11/94) P. B4; Doris Sheppard, a Dublin, Va., woman targeted in a $10 million libel lawsuit by Pulaski dentist Gus Vlahos, says she meant no harm by showing colleagues and family members a flier falsely claiming he has AIDS. Sheppard s attorney, Jimmy Turk, says his client was shocked at the repercussions she faces because she showed
Radio's Rave Reception for Reba's Angle on AIDS: USA Today (08/12/94) P. 4D; Zimmerman, David; She Thinks His Name Was John, country singer Reba McEntire s new song about a woman dying from AIDS, was considered to be released as a single, but the record is still becoming a hit. The song, which reflects the musings of a desperately ill woman obsessed with the memory of a one-night stand she had years before, was
Drug Users to Begin Exchanging Needles: Baltimore Sun (08/12/94) P. 1B; Banisky, Sandy; After years of heated controversy and debate, a needle exchange program is set to begin this morning in Baltimore, Md., where AIDS is spreading rapidly among the city s 48,000 intravenous drug users. About one-fourth of the addicts are HIV-positive, and three-quarters of new AIDS cases in Baltimore last year were cause
AIDS Programs to Spur Global Condom Demand: USA Today (08/12/94) P. 1D; Levy, Doug; Based on predictions that the global demand for condoms will increase as more countries launch AIDS prevention campaigns, World Health Organization researcher Dr. Patrick Friel calculates that health programs throughout the world will need between 860 million and 2 billion condoms per year over the next decade. Current
Companies Unprepared to Cope With Aids: Financial Times (08/12/94) P. 12; Cramb, Gordon; Most multinational companies are not properly equipped to deal with AIDS in the workplace, according to a Harvard survey of 27 large firms with headquarters in 15 nations. The study found that nearly all of the companies had discussed the issue with managers, and two-thirds had implemented AIDS prevention programs for
AIDS Summit Ends With a Last Look at Weight of Prejudice: USA Today (08/12/94) P. 3D; Levy, Doug; The 10th International Conference on AIDS concluded Thursday in Yokohama, Japan , as participants reflected on the scientific and social progress--and lack thereof--since the AIDS onslaught began in 1981. As conference-goers inside of the Pacifico Yokohama conference center discussed avenues to end discrimination again
AIDS Conference Concludes Without Promise of Hope: Baltimore Sun (08/12/94) P. 4A; A summary of the 3,500 reports presented this week at the 10th International Conference on AIDS yielded the same gloomy conclusion: There is no cure, no vaccine, and no effective treatment for AIDS--and there won t be any time in the near future. Anyone with HIV won t find much solace in this meeting, said Dr. Mervyn S
Community to Have Say on AIDS Center: Washington Post (08/11/94) P. D.C.5; Young, Vincent; Officials from the Whitman-Walker Clinic and community leaders in Ward 8 of the District of Columbia have decided to resolve their differences and cooperate in the selection of a location for a new AIDS facility. The two sides squared off when the clinic failed to consult that community about its plans to construct a n
Washington & World: Investor's Business Daily (08/11/94) P. A1; The youngest HIV-infected patients will be among the first to receive the latest and most dramatic treatment, say researchers at the 10th International Conference on AIDS. The new approach is a form of genetic manipulation that arms blood cells with a protein that kills viruses.
A Call for Needle Exchange Funding: USA Today (08/11/94) P. 1D; Levy, Doug; The United States must implement needle exchanges or similar programs to reduce the rate of AIDS transmission among intravenous drug users, insist experts attending the 10th International Conference on AIDS in Yokohama, Japan . Current law prohibits federal funding for needle exchange programs unless the government dec
AIDS-Related Diagnostic Tools Start to Help in Understanding the Disease: Wall Street Journal (08/11/94) P. B6; Hamilton, David P.; New AIDS-related diagnostic tools, known as direct-viral assays, are providing an unprecedented peek at how the disease invades and destroys the human body. Researchers have previously assessed the progression of HIV infection primarily through observance of cells and proteins in a patient s immune system--a method tha
Rapid Rise of AIDS in Asia Aggravating Risk of Tuberculosis: New York Times (08/11/94) P. A16; The rapid spread of AIDS in Asia promises to unleash an even larger tuberculosis epidemic on the world s most populous continent, warns the World Health Organization . Speaking at a news conference at the 10th International Conference on AIDS, WHO s Dr. Arata Kochi said the collision of the two diseases would create a
Summit to Call for End to HIV Travel Restrictions: Reuters (08/11/94); Although French Health Minister Simone Veil hopes that an AIDS summit scheduled in Paris this December will push for an end to travel restrictions for HIV patients, she admits that some countries may refuse to lift existing bans. We know that this will not be implemented all over the world, she concedes. What we want i
New Drugs Said to Show Promise in Fight Against the AIDS Virus: New York Times (08/11/94) P. A16; Pollack, Andrew; A new class of drugs called protease inhibitors could be the newest weapon in the war against AIDS, scientists said in Yokohama, Japan , on Wednesday, but the usefulness of these drugs is questionable. There are now about six versions of protease inhibitors being tested on patients and about 20 others in early developm
Growth Drug Prevents AIDS Wasting: United Press International (08/11/94); Kelly, Janis; Researchers announced in Yokohama, Japan , on Thursday that a growth hormone manufactured by Serono Laboratories could be effective in fighting the drastic weight loss common among AIDS patients. The drug, which has been submitted to the FDA for approval as an investigational new drug, has been shown to convert fatty t
H.I.V. Settlement Is Rejected: New York Times (08/11/94) P. D15; Two groups representing hemophiliacs who acquired HIV through contaminated blood products have declined a proposed $160 million settlement with Baxter International Inc. and Rhone- Poulenc Rorer Inc. Under that pact, the two companies would pay about $30,000 to each of the 5,000 to 6,000 individual who contracted the v
AIDS Research Progress Stymied by Narrow Focus, Critics Charge: Scientist (07/11/94) Vol. 8, No. 14, P. 1; Hoke, Franklin; Some scientists blame the narrow focus on fundamental HIV investigations by the NIH leadership, which controls most of the funding for AIDS projects, for what they say is sluggish progress in AIDS research. With the second decade of the epidemic underway, and no cure in sight, these researchers say it is time to broade
Conference to Focus on Asian Epidemic, Perinatal Infection: AIDS Alert (07/94) Vol. 9, No. 7, P. 100; When the 10th International Conference on AIDS convenes in Yokohoma, Japan , Aug. 7-12, participants will focus on the wildfire spread of HIV in Asia, new advances in perinatal transmission, vaccine trials, and a growing dearth of AIDS caregivers. Hosted by an Asian nation for the very first time, the conference is exp
US Activists Slam Clinton at AIDS Conference: Reuters (08/08/94); Representatives of ACT UP/New York attending the 10th International Conference on AIDS on Monday issued an AIDS report card, which they said President Clinton had flunked. The activists gave Clinton F grades for research, for failing to collaborate with other heads of state on a global response to the disease, and for
AIDS Gene Therapy Hits Virus, Helps Body: United Press International (08/10/94); Kelly, Janis; On Wednesday, Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal and Dr. Philip Greenburg presented research that could help in the fight against AIDS. Wong-Staal s research group has put genes into cells that destroy the RNA of the HIV virus, creating cells that can successfully fight the virus even after it has gotten in. Greenburg and his asso
AIDS Drugs Not Getting to Women: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/09/94) P. A1; Collins, Huntly; A large number of HIV-infected American women are not receiving the medication needed to slow disease progression or to fend off serious secondary infections. Many women may be suffering needlessly and dying earlier than they would if they were receiving treatment, according to Dr. Kenneth Mayer, who is spearheading an
Dentist Sues Woman for $10 Million in Libel Suit: Richmond Times-Dispatch (08/09/94) P. B3; Dr. Gus Vlahos, a Virginia dentist, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against a woman who allegedly circulated fake documents asserting that Vlahos has AIDS and sometimes places his patients at risk for infection by failing to wear protective gloves. The suit charges Doris Sheppard of Dublin with two counts of libel and
Prostitute: Men Force Sex Minus Condoms: United Press International (08/10/94); Commercial sex workers navigated the discussion on the fourth day of the 10th International Conference on AIDS, as they testified that they are regularly deprived of basic human rights. They said this treatment hampers global efforts to control the AIDS epidemic. The prostitutes also complained that at the previous AID
Pushing for Tests of AIDS Vaccines: USA Today (08/10/94) P. 1D; Levy, Doug; Scientists participating at the 10th International Conference on AIDS this week in Yokohama, Japan , are trying to convince American health authorities that candidate vaccines are ready for large-scale testing. Early studies indicate that at least two experimental vaccines--from Genentech
U.S. Official to Shift Funds Toward Basic AIDS Research: New York Times (08/10/94) P. A9; Pollack, Andrew; Dr. William E. Paul, federal coordinator of AIDS research in the United States , announced at the 10th International Conference on AIDS that he would shave spending on clinical trials of potential new drugs and allocate more money for the revitalization and expansion of basic AIDS research. As efforts to develop new t
Registration Lags for Japan's AIDS Meeting: Science (07/29/94) Vol. 265, No. 5172, P. 595; It appears that the 10th annual AIDS conference taking place Aug. 7-12 in Yokahama, Japan , will be less populous than ones held in recent years. At the end of July, not even 6,000 had registered--compared to the 14,000 people who participated at last year s conference in Berlin. The downturn in attendance is especiall
Medarex Bispecific Neutralizes Broad Variety of Clinical HIV Strains: HealthWire (08/08/94); Scientific collaborators of Medarex, Inc. announced on Monday the results of their study with Dr. Herve Raoul, Dr. Aloise Mabondzo, and colleagues in the laboratory of Professor Dominique Dormont of the Laboratoire de Neuropathologie Experimentale et Neurovirologie of C.E.A. in France . The results, presented at the
Old Drugs May Have Value Against AIDS: United Press International (08/08/94); Kelly, Janis; At the Tenth International Conference on AIDS, Dr. Robert Gallo from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Dr. Jay Levy from the University of California, and Dr. Luc Montagnier of France s Institut Pasteur all recommended the study of old drugs as potential treatments for the AIDS virus. Gallo urged the study of a hormo
World AIDS Conference Concentrates on Prevention: Washington Times (08/09/94) P. A13; Witter, Willis; Despite more than a decade of research and the billions of dollars spent on prevention, a record 6,000 people acquire HIV each day, Dr. Michael Merson of the World Health Organization s Global Program on AIDS told more than 10,000 experts attending the 10th International Conference on AIDS. The agency predicts that the
Educating Elderly on AIDS: New York Times (08/09/94) P. A14; AIDS patients over age 60 comprise a small--and largely ignored--fraction of the total AIDS population, accounting for three percent of nationwide cases reported through 1993. That number, however, is increasing at a swifter rate than among other age groups, health officials report. According to Dr. William Adler of th
Some Live Long-Term With HIV: USA Today (08/09/94) P. 1A; Levy, Doug; HIV infection may not always be a death sentence, according to Dr. Susan Buchbinder, a researcher whose study includes infected men who remain healthy after more than 15 years. Buchbinder, of the San Francisco Public Health Department, studied 601 HIV-positive gay men since 1979--seven percent of whom had nearly normal
New Variants of AIDS Virus Found That Aren't Detected by Some Tests: Wall Street Journal (08/09/94) P. B8; Hamilton, David P.; Researchers at the 10th International Conference on AIDS reported the discovery of several new strains of HIV, known as HIV-1 subtype O, which can elude detection by some commonly used blood tests. The new viruses are genetically different from more well-known strains of the virus, so they sometimes are not detected by
FDA Approves AZT for AIDS Pregnant Women: Reuters (08/09/94); The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the antiviral drug zidovudine ( AZT ) for use in preventing maternal -infant transmission of HIV. The drug, manufactured by Burroughs Wellcome Co., is now recommended as part of a regimen that includes oral AZT beginning 14 to 34 weeks after gestation, intravenous admi
FDA Approves Drug ddC as Single AIDS Treatment: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/09/94) P. A10; The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval for zalcitabine, or ddC , as a single-drug treatment for HIV infection. The drug is sold under the brand name HIVID by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. HIVID previously was approved only for use in combination with Burroughs Wellcome Co.
AZT Drug Delays Progression of AIDS, But No Cure: Reuters (08/05/94); Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco released findings on Friday, showing that AZT delays but does not halt the onset of AIDS in HIV-infected patients. The findings were based on data compiled from 1,565 HIV-infected subjects who had not yet developed symptoms of full-blown AIDS. Paul Volberdin
Success With AIDS Drug Combinations: United Press International (08/07/94); Kelly, Janice; On Sunday, the opening day of the 10th International Conference on AIDS, Dr. Neil Graham of Johns Hopkins University reported his findings that AIDS patients who were treated with more than one drug had a 34 percent higher chance of survival during the 2.7 years of the study than those who took one drug at a time. The
Experimental Vaccine for AIDS Is Safe, Study Says: Baltimore Sun (08/06/94) P. 7A; MN rgp 120, an experimental AIDS vaccine, elicits a strong antibody response against HIV in uninfected persons and is safe to use, report researchers at the St. Louis University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Many of the 57 participants in the study developed HIV antibodies after receiving tw
Thai Prison System Overwhelmed by AIDS Crisis: Reuters (08/08/94); On average, one person per day dies within Thai prisons as the system is flooded with AIDS cases. According to Chon Lerwitvorapong, a physician at the Klong Prem facility in Bangkok, official estimates citing about 400 HIV-infected inmates in the prison are much lower than the actual number, since authorities cannot fo
HIV Cases Up 1 Million in Asia: USA Today (08/08/94) P. 1A; Levy, Doug; AIDS is spreading at an alarming rate in Asia and, in some countries, has advanced from intravenous drug users and commercial sex workers to the general population. Health experts informed the 10th International Conference on AIDS in Yokohama, Japan , that quick action on the part of Asian governments could halt the su
Lone Japanese Crusader Lifts Conference: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/08/94) P. A3; Collins, Huntly; In Japan , host of the 10th International Conference on AIDS, so much shame and stigma is attached to the disease that there is only one man in the country who will publicly admit that he is infected. That man, 25-year-old Toshihiro Oishi, drew thunderous applause as he spoke yesterday at the opening of the conference.
Lifeline: Women and AIDS: USA Today (08/08/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene; Despite sluggish research, women can still protect themselves against AIDS, said Columbia University researcher Zena Stein, speaking at the International Conference on AIDS in Yokohama, Japan . Stein said that the Reality female condom, as well as cervical caps and diaphragms used with the widely available spermicide N
Hemophiliacs With AIDS May Reject Settlement: Wall Street Journal (08/08/94) P. B6; A Chicago judge s decision on Friday allows hemophiliacs who contracted HIV through blood-clotting medications during the 1980s to opt out of a $160 million settlement offered by Baxter International and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., two manufacturers of the products. Judge John F. Grady ruled that the question of negligen
Japan Opens AIDS Forum; Note of Gloom: New York Times (08/08/94) P. A2; The 10th International Conference on AIDS opened yesterday in Yokohama, Japan , with a warning from a top health official that the disease will be an integral part of the human condition for a very long time. Dr. Peter Piot, president of the International AIDS society, pointed out that attempts to develop preventative
Expanding the AIDS Arsenal: U.S. News & World Report (07/11/94) Vol. 117, No. 2, P. 67; The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a fourth drug to fight HIV infection. AIDS patients who cannot tolerate or no longer benefit from AZT , ddI, or ddC will now be able to take Stavudine , or D4T, which belongs to the
More on the Declining Age at HIV Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (07/14/94) Vol. 331, No. 2, P. 134; Hughes-Davis, T.H.; A new physician in 1983 would have likely waited longer before documenting his or her first case of AIDS than would have a new doctor in 1993, deducts T.H. Hughes-Davies, F.R.C.P. In the same vein, today s patient is apt to contract HIV after fewer exposures now than 15 years ago, Hugh-Davies adds. Therefore, the decli
HIV Infection Rises Among London's Pregnant Women: Reuters (08/04/94); Laboratory figures, published in the British medical journal Lancet, demonstrate that the rate of HIV infection among pregnant women in London has spiked upward from one in 560 in January 1990 to one in 380 in June 1993. The researchers concluded, however, that The prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women is
Patient Suing Doctor for Running Unauthorized Test for AIDS Virus: Chicago Tribune (08/04/94) P. 1-7; Fegelman, Andrew; Dr. Nadira Alikhan, a physician who ordered an HIV test despite the objections of her patient, did not violate an Illinois state law requiring patient consent for testing and disclosure of results, ruled Cook County Circuit Judge Sidney Jones III on Wednesday. Jones also said he doubted that Alikhan breached confidenti
AIDS Patient Battling Adams Bank Dies: Washington Times (08/05/94) P. B8; Munroe, Tony; James Michael Layne Hall, an AIDS patient entangled in a two- year legal battle with Adams National Bank, died yesterday of complications of the disease before the case could be settled. Hall, 30, sued the Washington, D.C., bank, claiming that his 1991 dismissal was an illegal attempt to reduce health insurance costs.
EU Funds China AIDS Project: United Press International (08/05/94); The European Union today granted China $2 million to train doctors and technicians how to treat AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Although the incidence of AIDS in China is still relatively low, with 1,174 documented cases out of a population of 1.18 billion, the country s record level of STD cases is almos
Suit by Fired Lawyer With HIV Survives a Challenge: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/05/94) P. B2; Slobodzian, Joseph A.; HIV patients not exhibiting disease symptoms can still be considered disabled under the Americans With Disabilities Act, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Gawthrop 3d ruled yesterday. In doing so, Gawthrop refused to dismiss a suit against the Philadelphia law firm of Kohn, Nast & Graf by an attorney who claims he was
Aids Under Review: Financial Times (08/05/94) P. 8; Abrahams, Paul; The market for HIV/AIDS treatments in the six biggest industrialized nations--the United States , Japan , Germany , France , Italy , and the UK--should increase more than five-fold over the next decade, according to a report by Pharma Strategy
World Wire: Trial in German AIDS Case Opens: Wall Street Journal (08/05/94) P. A6; Proceedings began yesterday in the trial of five former officials of UB Plasma, the now-defunct German blood-products firm, for their role in the sale of contaminated plasma from 1987 to 1993. The prosecution contends that at least three people contracted AIDS after using products supplied by UB Plasma, which authoriti
Twist at Prof Allain's Appeal: Lancet (07/09/94) Vol. 344, No. 8915, P. 120; Bader, Jean-Mitchel; The Supreme Court of Paris recently rejected an appeal by Prof. J.P. Allain against his conviction stemming from France s HIV scandal. The court also ruled against an application by the prosecution to change the charge against Allain to that of willful poisoning, saying that new evidence was needed to demonstrate inten
Scientists Say HIV and Herpes May Be Linked: Washington Blade (07/08/94) Vol. 25, No. 28, P. 27; van Hertum, Aras; Two clinical trials indicating that HIV patients who take both AZT and the herpes drug acyclovir have longer survival rates than those who take only AZT has renewed interest in an early theory that herpes viruses act as co-factors in HIV infection and stimulate the spread of the virus in the body.
Hemophiliac Wins AIDS Suit: National Law Journal (07/11/94) Vol. 16, No. 5, P. A8; In a precedent-setting ruling, the American Association of Blood Banks was ordered to pay $570,000 to 67-year-old William Snyder, who contracted AIDS through a transfusion in 1984. While an AIDS test did not become available until 1985, Snyder s attorney argued that the association knew as early as 1983 of a surrogate
AIDS Cases in India Said Grossly Understated: Reuters (08/03/94); The number of AIDS cases reported in India is a gross underestimate, and the disease could present a significant threat given the dearth of resources to cope with the epidemic, reported a group of Indian professors at the Institute of Economic Growth. The actual number of people with AIDS could be as high as 10,000, th
AIDS Seen Becoming Number One Killer in Thailand: Reuters (08/03/94); AIDS could become the leading cause of death in Thailand by the end of the century, according to a report by Thai health experts. The number of children whose parents will die as a result of the disease will become an increasing problem, they said. The first AIDS case was reported in Thailand 10 years ago, and since th
Former Prostitute Given Japanese Visa: United Press International (08/03/94); In an exemption to regulations prohibiting commercial sex workers and drug users from entering Japan , the country has granted a special travel permit to a former British prostitute so that she may attend the 10th International Conference on AIDS next week. Justice Minister Isao Maeda said he approved the permit becaus
Gebbie Exits Via AIDS Home: Richmond Times-Dispatch (08/03/94) P. A1; Billingsley, Anna Barron; Kristine M. Gebbie s final act in her role as national AIDS policy coordinator was to make an appearance in Richmond, Va., to try to rake up support for two new AIDS residences that have sparked local controversy. She appeared on behalf of the Richmond AIDS Ministry, which owns the two homes. Since the project began, n
Houstonian With AIDS Files Federal Fair Housing Complaint: Houston Chronicle (08/03/94) P. 23A; Robinson, James; A 33-year-old Houston man with AIDS filed a federal fair housing complaint against Community Management Co. and its owner, G.W. Ralston, after he was asked not to use the swimming pool at Southwinds Apartments. The problem was that you had sores on your body that were bothersome to people, that scared them in their stu
Hoping for a New Life Free of HIV: USA Today (08/04/94) P. 1D; Painter, Kim; HIV-positive women--faced with the risk of infecting their babies as well as the threat to their own fragile health--are changing the way they make decisions regarding motherhood, thanks to recent developments. Doctors say that only about 25 percent of infected women transmit HIV to their infants, compared to estimates
No News on Sunday: Nature (07/07/94) Vol. 370, No. 6484, P. 1; A series of new developments suggests that the London Sunday Times appears to have quieted its controversial campaign endorsing the belief that HIV does not have a causal role in the development of AIDS. The paper s editor, Andrew Neil, is now with Fox Television in the United States , and Neville Hodgkinson, the autho
WHO Warns of Global TB Epidemic: Washington Blade (07/08/94) Vol. 25, No. 28, P. 12; Unless tuberculosis becomes a funding priority, 30 million people will die from the infection in the next decade, the World Health Organization warned recently. TB is spreading with particular speed among the HIV population, according to a WHO report. In 1990, it said, four percent of TB patients were also infected wit
From the Food and Drug Administration: FDA to Sponsor Workshop on HIV Detection During 'Window' Period in Donor Screening: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/03/94) Vol. 272, No. 5, P. 344; Nightingale, Stuart L.; The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a conference for Sept. 26-28 to explore the possible use of polymerase chain reaction and other gene amplification techniques to improve viral detection during the seronegative window phase of HIV infection. Although donor deferral and donor screening practices have helped
Hugh Hefner: Los Angeles Times (08/03/94) P. A12; Proffitt, Steve; Asked how the reality of AIDS has influenced the philosophy of his magazine, Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner notes that the publication is based on informed sexuality. Playboy began to publish AIDS-related editorials before any other national magazine, according to Hefner. He recalls a cover story, AIDS--Now We Are All At Ri
How a Determined Young Man Built a Camp for AIDS Children: Wall Street Journal (08/03/94) P. B1; Murray, Matt; When the 10-year-old son of a friend was squeezed out of a California summer camp for kids with HIV/AIDS, Neil Willenson set out to start his own camp. He called doctors, charities, newspapers, and community leaders for advice and publicity. The 23-year-old activist delved into his own savings, solicited money from fri
18 Percent of H.I.V.-Infected Hemophiliacs May Stay Free of AIDS for 25 Years: New York Times (08/03/94) P. C10; Brody, Jane E.; A significant minority of HIV-infected hemophiliac men may survive for as long as a quarter of a century before developing AIDS, say British researchers. The team at the Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine in London based its conclusion on an ongoing study of 111 patients who have been monitored since contractin
AIDS Costs Insurers $1.52 Billion: Washington Times (08/03/94) P. B7; Based on data from 372 companies, the American Council of Life Insurance calculated that health and life insurers in the United States doled out $1.52 billion last year in claims directly related to AIDS patients. The total was up from the $1.41 billion paid out in 1992.
Shalala Aide Named Temporary AIDS Chief: Baltimore Sun (08/03/94) P. 11A; President Clinton has appointed Patricia Fleming to act as interim national AIDS policy coordinator. Fleming formerly served as an assistant specializing in AIDS and public health issues to the late New York representative Ted Weiss, and is presently a special assistant to Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. S
2 Firms to Pay HIV-Infected Hemophiliacs: Philadelphia Inquirer (08/03/94) P. A1; Shaw, Donna; In a move that limits but does not completely eliminate future litigation against them, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc. and Baxter International Inc. will contribute as much as $160 million to a fund for hemophiliacs who acquired HIV infection from blood- clotting products manufactured by the companies. As many as 6,000 infe
Gebbie and Grassroots: Toward a Mass-Movement Organizing Style: A Commentary: AIDS Treatment News (07/22/94) P. 6; James, John S.; The author, who is the editor and publisher of AIDS Treatment News, believes that the resignation of Kristine Gebbie, former National AIDS Coordinator, will not attack the root of the problems that afflict federal AIDS policy, and he discusses a possible solution. suggests that the AIDS and the gay communities haven t
Old Drugs May Yet Control Resistant TB: United Press International (07/29/94); Emerson, Eva; Schuster, Larry; Calming fears that tuberculosis had become super-resistant, scientists at France s Pasteur Institute say it is poor treatment--rather than a challenging new strain--that is causing the emergence of drug-resistant TB. While investigating how multi-resistant strains of the infection defy antibiotics, the French researche
New Probe of Jailed French Official Sparks Furor: Reuters (07/29/94); Arieff, Irwin; A new investigation of former French government health official Michael Garretta, who is already serving time in prison for his part in the country s contaminated blood tragedy, has sparked outrage among French judges, lawyers, and AIDS activists. The debate squares off friends and relatives of hundreds of HIV-infected
European Meeting Says Decriminalize Prostitution: Reuters (07/30/94); Prostitutes, health workers, and policy makers from more than 30 countries, who recently held a three-day conference to discuss health and the sex industry, will urge the European Commission and the World Health Organization to decriminalize prostitution. Contrary to public assumptions, prostitutes are not riddled wit
Clinic Ordered to Pay Damages in AIDS Fraud Case: Reuters (07/30/94); In what is probably the country s first medical fraud case involving AIDS, a Superior Court jury has ordered the Medical Center of North Hollywood, Calif., to pay $1.8 million in damages to two patients who received unconventional treatment for the disease. Dr. Valentine Birds and Dr. Ranjindra Sethi were found to have
Summer Shot: Richmond Times-Dispatch (08/01/94) P. C3; The federal government has kicked off a nationwide effort to urge HIV/AIDS patients, senior citizens, diabetics, and heart or lung disease patients to receive a pneumonia vaccination. The need for immunization is especially urgent given the new drug-resistant strains of the bacteria. Pneumonia sickens more than 200,000
AIDS Epidemic Seen Threatening "Asian Promise": Reuters (08/02/94); Liquicia, Rosario; As a booming commercial sex industry and widespread intravenous drug use hasten the spread of AIDS in Asia, the epidemic is an obstacle to the area s growth and progress, said speakers at a Tuesday meeting sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. According to economist Myo Thant, the first cases of AIDS were reported i
Mandatory 'Safe Sex' Training a Legacy of AIDS Czar Gebbie: Washington Times (08/02/94) P. A8; Larson, Ruth; Although Kristine M. Gebbie s tenure as national AIDS policy coordinator ends today, she leaves behind a mandate for all federal employees to receive safe sex training. More than 2 million workers will have received the AIDS at Work training by Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, but some public health advocates are challenging wh
Australia Seeking 30 Patients of HIV Doctor: Reuters (08/02/94); Australian health authorities have launched a search for 30 of the 149 women who underwent operations performed by a surgeon now identified as HIV-positive. The New South Wales health department is employing police, government agencies, a toll- free telephone hotline, and the media in an effort to locate the women. Acc
AIDS Co-Culprit Wreaks Havoc: Men's Fitness (08/94) Vol. 10, No. 8, P. 108; AIDS researchers are beginning to focus on some of the viruses that take advantage and cause severe illness when HIV weakens the immune system, especially HHV-6. While generally harmless in healthy individuals, the virus can cause widespread organ damage among people who have AIDS. In one study, scientists looked at 34
Situation Angry, But Not Hopeless: Men's Fitness (08/94) Vol. 10, No. 8, P. 108; A study of 53 New York City men who had been diagnosed with AIDS for at least three years sought to determine if AIDS patients are largely suicidal. Only six percent experienced persistent depression, and both of the two men who attempted suicide had tried to do so before being diagnosed. In general, the researchers fo
Who Owns AIDS: Washington Post (07/30/94) P. A17; Hentoff, Nat; The defeat of Democratic New York State assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn s bill, which would require the state to tell mothers if their newborns are HIV-infected, raises the question of when the right to privacy should no longer be first priority. Mayersohn s bill was prevented from coming to the assembly and Senate floo
AIDS Conference to Confront Emerging Asian Plight: Reuters (08/01/94); Moffett, Sebastian; While sub-Saharan Africa is the home of two-thirds of today s AIDS cases, Asia may one day have more AIDS cases than any other region in the world. Until 1988, Asia was, for the most part, untouched by the deadly disease. However, the World Health Organization calculates that Asia s 2.5 million AIDS cases will quadrupl
Program Places Those With AIDS in Family Settings to Receive Care: Baltimore Sun (08/01/94) P. 1B; Selby, Holly; Baltimore s C.A.R.E./Project Home program places AIDS patients who otherwise would be homeless or forced to stay in nursing homes in private residences or helps them live in their own homes. The state-funded program, perhaps the only one of its kind in the country, recently was named a finalist for the Ford Foundation/
Trying to Hit a Home Run Against AIDS: New York Times (08/01/94) P. C7; Fainaru, Mark; Major League Baseball s San Francisco Giants became the first big-league professional sports club to sponsor an AIDS-benefit program on Sunday, when it held Until There s a Cure Day prior to the team s game with the Colorado Rockies at Candlestick Park. The pre-game ceremony featured a speech by Mary Fisher, the HIV-in
$2.7 Million Awarded in AIDS Treatment Fraud: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (08/01/94) P. B2; Colker, David; A Los Angeles Superior Court jury has ordered North Hollywood Medical Center to pay total damages of $2.7 million for its role in the administering of the controversial drug Viroxan to five AIDS patients. The jury found the hospital, as well as two physicians, liable for negligence, conspiracy, fraud, as well as violat
What Happened to the War on AIDS?: Business Week (07/25/94) No. 3382, P. 34; Carey, John; As a presidential contender, Bill Clinton promised AIDS activists to make the epidemic a national priority, to mount major new prevention efforts, and to increase funding for research, prevention, and care. He also vowed to appoint an AIDS czar to head the battle against HIV. Kristine Gebbie was named to the position,
New AIDS Scandal Probe Targets Jailed Ex-Official: Reuters (07/28/94); A former government official serving time for his part in France s 1985 contaminated-blood tragedy is the target of a second probe. Michael Garretta, ex-director of the National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS), was convicted of fraud and criminal negligence, and is now under investigation for charges that he poisoned
Thousands of New AIDS Cases in Thailand: United Press International (07/28/94); A total of 1,146 new cases of AIDS were documented in Thailand in the first half of 1994, according to the country s Public Health Ministry. The new cases raised the number of AIDS patients to have been treated in Thai hospitals to 8,584 and the death toll to 2,682. The new total--which consisted of 980 men and 166 wom
Ann Landers: Washington Post (07/29/94) P. D5; Landers, Ann; In response to a letter from a concerned 24-year-old virgin, advice columnist Ann Landers reminds the public that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a flu shot can sometimes cause an Elisa test for HIV to yield positive results. The best course of action, says Landers, is to undergo a second
Kelly's Record Solid on AIDS, Gay Issues: Washington Times (07/29/94) P. C2; Oldham Jr., Frank; Although some have called District of Columbia Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly s track record on AIDS a poor one, Frank Oldham Jr. argues that her record is, in fact, solid. Oldham, who recently resigned as executive director of the D.C. Agency for HIV/AIDS, lauds Kelly as a symbol of the District s fight for survival during
Needle Exchange Ban: Washington Post (07/29/94) P. A3; The Institute of Medicine, saying that needle exchange programs appear to do more good than harm, recommended the removal of a ban on government-financed needle swaps designed to curb the spread of AIDS.
Conflicting State Regulations on HIV Query Try US Insurers: Journal of Commerce (07/29/94) P. 7A; Beller, Margo D.; The American insurance industry is plagued by clashing state laws governing whether companies may ask life or health insurance applicants if they have ever tested HIV-positive. According to Debbie Chase, a spokesperson for the American Council of Life Insurance in Washington, 24 states currently prohibit life insurers
AIDS Question Would Be Omitted Under Insurer Proposal by UK Group: Journal of Commerce (07/29/94) P. 7A; MacLeod, Helen; The Association of British Insurers has recommended a revision to life insurance proposal forms that would erase the section inquiring if the applicant had ever been tested for HIV/AIDS-- regardless of the results--or received counseling for AIDS or another sexually transmitted disease. The question was placed on the f
HIV and Babies: USA Today (07/29/94) P. 1D; An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended agency approval for the use of the AIDS drug AZT in HIV-positive pregnant women. If the recommendation is accepted, many physicians may begin to prescribe the drug. Some already do, based on preliminary research finding that AZT cut mater
Conference to Focus on Asian Epidemic, Perinatal Infection: AIDS Alert (07/94) Vol. 9, No. 7, P. 100; When the 10th International Conference on AIDS convenes in Yokohoma, Japan , Aug. 7-12, participants will focus on the wildfire spread of HIV in Asia, new advances in perinatal transmission, vaccine trials, and a growing dearth of AIDS caregivers. Hosted by an Asian nation for the very first time, the conference is exp
Tracking Tainted-Blood Recipients Hit-And-Miss in N.S.: Toronto Globe and Mail (07/27/94) P. A7; Attempts in 1986 to track down Nova Scotia patients who contracted HIV through blood transfusions were not greatly successful, Dr. Pierre Lavigne told the Krever inquiry. According to statistics, 23 of 65 recipients could not be located. Lavigne, who was then the province s contagious- disease expert, attributed the me
Drug Use Means Increased HIV in British Prisons: Reuters (07/27/94); Widespread drug use in British prisons places inmates at high risk for HIV infection, according to a new report funded by the AIDS charity, Alert. Many prisoners are injecting drugs and the risk of HIV infection is enormous as needles are endlessly reused, the study revealed. It also found that many drugs, including he
Australian Man Jailed for Exaggerating AIDS Claim: Reuters (07/28/94); An HIV-positive Australian man who exaggerated the extent of his condition in an attempt to get out of prison was sentenced to four years in jail for fraud and two years for knowingly fabricating medical evidence. Scott Sutherland, 30, was convicted last December on 43 charges of defrauding $77,000, but received a susp
State Plans to Give Phila. $415,000 for AIDS Home: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/28/94) P. B2; As officials in Philadelphia devise a long-term plan to keep open the city s AIDS nursing home, the state will provide $415,000 to help run Betak in the meantime, the governor s office announced. The funds are in addition to Pennsylvania s June contribution of $100,000 that was used to maintain Betak operations through
AIDS May Not Develop For 20 Years in HIV Sufferer: Reuters (07/28/94); As many as one quarter of HIV patients will survive for two decades without progressing to AIDS, say researchers. Based on a study of hemophiliac men who acquired the virus through blood transfusions, the researchers developed a model to predict if and when the men would develop AIDS. The subjects were followed for at
U.S. Sees Fewer Reported AIDS Cases: Washington Times (07/28/94) P. A3; Price, Joyce; The number of AIDS cases reported in the United States in the first half of 1994 is much lower than the figure for the year earlier period. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37,529 new AIDS cases were reported between Jan. 1 and June 30, compared to 59,979 cases reported for the same period l
Lack of Studies Found to Limit AIDS Research: New York Times (07/28/94) P. A18; Hilts, Philip J.; A committee of the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, released a report concluding that a lack of studies on sexual behavior and drug abuse have hampered progress in the fight against AIDS. Basic research on behavior modification has not yet been conducted on the necessary level, it said.
Charges Brought in HIV Disclosure Case: Chicago Tribune (07/27/94) P. 1-3; A Michigan woman who was quarantined in 1992 for having unprotected sex without informing partners of her HIV-positive status now faces criminal charges for allegedly repeating the behavior. Brenda Jensen, 33, was charged with three counts of violating the state s AIDS disclosure law, which requires HIV patients to rev
British Insurers Change AIDS Question: United Press International (07/26/94); The Association of British Insurers suggests that companies simply ask applicants if they have ever had a positive HIV or AIDS test, instead of requiring information about negative HIV test results or previous AIDS counseling.
Chicago Tribune On the Law Column: A Thank You: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (07/26/94); Crawford, Bill; Greensburg, Jan Crawford; Shawn Smith, who claims he was fired from his job at Dovenmuehle Mortgage Inc. in Schaumburg because he has AIDS, was one of the first to file suit against an employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case was settled out of court when Dovenmuehle agreed to pay Smith $160,000 in damages and back pay, rein
Japan Says It Has 71 More AIDS Victims, Carriers: Reuters (07/26/94); An official of the Japanese Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that the country confirmed 71 new HIV/AIDS patients-- 46 of whom were Japanese--in May and June. The figure excludes individuals who acquired the virus through blood transfusions. As of the end of June, Japan has a total of 764 AIDS patients and 3,075 HIV
Freed of Life Sentence, Md. Man Heads Home: Washington Post (07/27/94) P. B1; Mooar, Brian; Christopher Clugston, incarcerated for more than a decade for a murder he says he did not commit, was released from a Florida prison after the state governor granted him executive clemency amid increasing evidence of his innocence. Although he is now a free man, Clugston will remain a prisoner of the HIV infection he a
Safeskin Gloves Find Growing Market in Health Care Industry: Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (07/27/94); Engineer Neil Braverman started Safeskin--the first company to market hypoallergenic examination gloves--in response to the concerns of health-care professionals who were worried about contracting infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis B. Although more doctors, nurses, and dentists were using latex gloves, supp
Marketing Female Condom Is a Challenge: Wall Street Journal (07/27/94) P. B4; Goldman, Kevin; Marketing the first female condom, due in American stores next month, will not be an easy task. Sales of over-the-counter female contraceptives, including spermicidal sponges, jellies, and foams, have been falling at a steady pace, according to Towne-Oller Associates. And, despite an aggressive advertising campaign by
Gores to Participate in AIDS Fund-Raiser: Washington Times (07/27/94) P. C5; Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, will lead the parade of AIDS education and prevention advocates in the annual AIDSWALK, scheduled for Sept. 24. Washington, D.C., Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, and various members of Congress will also be in attendance. Organizers expect 40,000 p
Team Finds HIV Immune System Booster: United Press International (07/27/94); Japanese scientists announced that their collaborative HIV research with an Australian team may support a disease- fighting strategy that calls for the injection of patients with their own lymphocytes. The method is based on the premise that lymphocytes attack foreign invaders in the body-- but that quantities of these
PML Treatment Update, Peptide T Possibility: AIDS Treatment News (06/17/94) No. 201, P. 3; James, John S.; Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a relatively uncommon brain infection diagnosed in only about one percent of AIDS patients, usually in the late stages of disease. Many cases, however, are misdiagnosed--usually as toxoplasmosis or lymphoma. Because there is neither a cure, nor any FDA-approved treatm
Substance Use and HIV-Related Sexual Behaviors Among US High School Students: Are They Related?: American Journal of Public Health (07/94) Vol. 84, No. 7, P. 1116; Lowry, Richard; Holtzman, Deborah; Truman, Benedict I. et al.; Lowry et al. set out to determine whether use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, or hard drugs is linked to the likelihood of sexual behaviors that increase risk for HIV among adolescents. They used the 1990 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey to gather self-reported data from 11,631 high school students across the
Rubbered Out: Adweek--Eastern Edition (07/18/94) Vol. 35, No. 29, P. 22; ; Schone, Mark; The AIDS epidemic warrants the need for safe sex, but condom manufacturers--who are presented with a prime opportunity to enhance product awareness--have taken a low-key approach to advertising, spending only $2 million each year as an industry. Condom makers have, it seems, economic and cultural reasons for not purcha
Obituaries: James F. O'Neil, Social Worker and AIDS Activist: Chicago Tribune (07/25/94) P. 1-10; Mills, Steve; Chicago AIDS activist James F. O Neil, 38, died of complications related to the disease on July 22. O Neil founded the Jonah Project, a program to fill Christmas stockings for AIDS patients at Cook County Hospital. He was also active with the speakers bureau of the Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center, and the AI
Area AIDS Group's Party Something to Bark About: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (07/25/94) P. 2B; Linsalata, Phil; Sunday was a Picnic in the Park, an afternoon of music, magicians, clowns, and other amusement that benefited the St. Louis Effort for AIDS. Admission to the event was free, but sales from food and amusement provided the primary source of revenue. PAWS, or Pets Are Wonderful Support, was one of several AIDS organizatio
Zimbabwe to Punish People Infecting Others With AIDS: Reuters (07/25/94); The Zimbabwean government is drafting legislation to punish AIDS patients who knowingly infect others. According to Health Minister Timothy Stamps, the law would target rapists, as well as prisoners who force other inmates to have sex. The country has 800,000 documented AIDS cases in a population of 10 million.
NEA Budget Sliced Over Bloodletting: Washington Post (07/26/94) P. E1; Trescott, Jacqueline; The Senate voted yesterday against a bill proposed by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) that would have barred the National Endowment for the Arts from funding any kind of mutilation or bloodletting. The legislation was sparked by the March performance of HIV-positive artist Ron Athey, whose show involves carving symbols into
Consultation: Washington Post (Health) (07/26/94) P. 12; Siwek, Jay; The National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) offers a fax-on-demand service that provides timely information about health and treatment services, insurance and benefits, legal issues, and other HIV-related issues. The group s documents, which include listings of additional resources, are updated each month to r
The Woman Who Would Not Be 'Czar': Washington Post (Health) (07/26/94) P. 7; Colburn, Don; National AIDS Policy Coordinator Kristine M. Gebbie, who will relinquish the position next week following a 13-month tenure marked by criticism, says one of her biggest problems was the persistence of the media and others in calling her the AIDS czar. Gebbie s role was, in fact, nothing close to czar- like. She and her
More on the Declining Age at HIV Infection: New England Journal of Medicine (07/14/94) Vol. 331, No. 2, P. 134; Hughes-Davies, T.H.; A new physician in 1983 would have likely waited longer before documenting his or her first case of AIDS than would have a new doctor in 1993, deducts T.H. Hughes-Davies, F.R.C.P. In the same vein, today s patient is apt to contract HIV after fewer exposures now than 15 years ago, Hugh-Davies adds. Therefore, the decli
France Wins Larger Share of Patent Royalties After AIDS Test Dispute: Nature (07/14/94) Vol. 370, No. 6485, P. 85; Macilwain, Colin; In what the French are viewing as a victory, the Pasteur Institute will now receive a greater share of patent royalties from AIDS tests developed jointly with scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The American facility conceded that the test kit that it developed used a virus provided by the French cent
AIDS Funding Fight Reaches 'Crisis' State: Washington Blade (07/15/94) Vol. 25, No. 29, P. 1; Campbell, Kristina; AIDS lobbyists continue to press a key Senate appropriations subcommittee to raise AIDS funding above the levels approved by the House of Representatives. While lobbyists were pleased with the House s $63 million increase over this year s AIDS allocation for prevention efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Pre
AIDS Indicator: Newsweek (07/25/94) Vol. 124, No. 4, P. 2; One indication that an invasion of Haiti is impending is the gathering of American troops to receive the traditional predeployment lecture on avoiding AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Haiti, according to health experts, has the highest rate of AIDS in the Caribbean, and it is transmitted primarily through
A Private-Sector AIDS Vaccine? Don't Hold Your Breath: Washington Post (07/19/94) P. A17; Francis, Donald P.; Kennedy, Donald; The need for an AIDS vaccine is uncontested and the research capability to develop one is present; however, AIDS experts say the current effort is small, due to the absence of adequate economic incentives. Pharmaceutical companies avoid development of preventive vaccines because they sell at low prices, are not very pr
Researchers Say Tuberculosis Rules Too Costly: Reuters (07/20/94); Researchers at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville contend that new federal regulations concerning the prevention of tuberculosis among health workers would be too expensive and not very effective. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is requiring the use of special respirator masks and
Catholic Charities Expands Services to San Franciscans With HIV: Business Wire (07/21/94); A $500,000 grant from the federal Ryan White CARE fund will allow Catholic Charities, the non-profit human services arm of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, to expand services to HIV- infected San Franciscans. The Direct Services program, which was implemented in 1985, already helps more than 160 individuals each year
Money Talk: Selling an Insurance Policy for Cash: Los Angeles Times (07/24/94) P. D5; Lazzareschi, Carla; An entire industry has been built around the concept of viatical settlements--the sale of life insurance policies by AIDS patients and other individuals with life-threatening conditions in order to have money to live comfortably. Before making such major decisions, however, terminally ill persons should consider severa
Black May Be Tapped for AIDS Post: Washington Times (07/25/94) P. A1; Bedard, Paul; With AIDS currently striking black men more so than any other segment of the population, the Clinton administration s replacement for Kristine Gebbie as National AIDS Policy Coordinator is likely to be an African-American, say insiders. The appointee is not, however, likely to be HIV-infected. The White House s search