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Cases Linked to AZT Show Difficulty
of Tracking Rare Side Effects *
Washington Post (09/20/93) P. A3
Brown, David

More than six years after its introduction to the market, the
world's most popular AIDS drug is under scrutiny due to newfound
evidence of toxicity. Several unexplained deaths of patients
taking AZT alerted health officials that AZT and other nucleoside
analogs appear to induce liver damage and lactic acidosis, a
buildup of metabolic byproducts in cells. The drugs also seem to
poison mitochondria, the energy-producing structures that are
part of nearly every cell. The toxic side effects are relatively
rare. Of the 300,000 patients who have taken AZT, only 65 cases
indicated liver disease or lactic acidosis, according to
Burroughs Wellcome Co., the manufacturer of AZT. The latent
recognition of AZT toxicity highlights the difficulty in
identifying rare side effects of drugs, especially in very ill
patients. Although there were cases of liver failure in AZT
patients as far back as 1988, toxicity was not suspected because
HIV can damage the liver, and AIDS patients are vulnerable to
liver infection. Scientists are still uncertain if the side
effects are directly caused by nucleoside analogs, or if there
are other causes. This week, researchers, drug company
representatives, and government regulators will meet in
Rockville, Md., to discuss the problem.


AIDS Walk *
Associated Press (09/18/93)

Washington--The Clinton administration's new health care system
guarantees "health security" for people infected with HIV/AIDS,
promised Tipper Gore Saturday at the 1993 capital "Aidswalk."
"In many ways, AIDS and other chronic diseases represent the
ultimate test of a reformed health care system," said Gore, wife
of Vice President Al Gore, as she kicked off the event. Sources
said that over 10,000 participants marched in the walk, raising
over $1.25 million for local AIDS education, research, and care.
The event was sponsored by the Whitman-Walker Clinic.


Cortech Begins Preclinical Development of Compounds
for Sulfa Allergy Treatment in AIDS Patients *
PR Newswire (09/16/93)

Denver--Cortech Inc., a Denver-based biopharmaceutical company,
has begun preclinical development of a series of compounds to
treat the allergic reaction to sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in AIDS
patients. SMX combined with another antimicrobial, trimethoprim,
is premium therapy for prevention and treatment of Pneumocystis
carinii pneumonia (PCP), one of the most common opportunistic
infections associated with AIDS. Furthermore, it is inexpensive,
easy to administer, and effective. Twenty-five percent of AIDS
patients, however, are unable to tolerate the drug, and another
60 percent experience adverse effects. This allergic reaction to
SMX results in turning to less effective, more expensive methods
of treatment. Researchers believe that the allergy is caused by
antibodies formed against the drug. Studies, which show that the
Cortech compounds block antibody production to SMX in animals,
are encouraging; however, this does not necessarily mean that the
compounds will have the equivalent effect on humans.


Uganda--AIDS *
Associated Press (09/17/93)
Wasswa, Henry

Kampala, Uganda--Indifference and multiple sex partners due to
polygamy and promiscuity are the two main factors that contribute
to Uganda's plight as one of the nations hardest hit by AIDS.
Now, the Ugandan government is leading African countries in the
fight against the disease. A seven-year-old AIDS control
program, the first established in Africa, conducts an aggressive
awareness campaign and condom distribution program. But Ugandans
still are not realizing the implications of AIDS, according to
health experts, who say that Ugandans must improve their sexual
behavior. Since AIDS was first diagnosed in the country, about
1.9 million people have been infected, and more than 450,000 have
died. Officials believe another 315,000 people have full-blown
AIDS.


Mayor's Management Report Released *
United Press International (09/17/93)

New York--The final city management report of New York Mayor
David Dinkins reviewed the fiscal year, and compared
accomplishments to goals for that term. Dinkins' report stated
that 13,629 individuals infected with the AIDS virus received
city services in fiscal year 1993, a figure three times the
number of AIDS patients treated in 1990. The mayor's report also
noted that 12 communicare clinics were opened for general health
care.


AIDS Said Threatening Zambian Copper Industry *
Reuters (09/16/93)

Lusaka--Officials at the World Health Organization predict that
by the turn of the century, AIDS will have a dramatic effect on
Zambia's largest copper producer, as well as on other labor
segments. WHO medical officer J.A. Kalilani told an AIDS
workshop in Lusaka that Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines'
51,000-member work force would be dramatically reduced because
AIDS will have infected as much as 30 percent of employees.
Kalilani, citing a WHO study, reported that commercial and
subsistence farming throughout sub-Saharan Africa would also
suffer from the spread of the disease. The impact on these
systems will force a shift away from labor-intensive and cash
crops, Kalilani said. WHO estimates that there are 1 million
adult cases of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, about 60 percent of
the global total.


Boy, 12, Arrested for Prostitution *
United Press International (09/19/93)

Cleveland--A 12-year-old Cleveland boy who was arrested for
prostitution was not carrying condoms to reduce his chances of
becoming infected with AIDS or other sexually transmitted
diseases. The child had been soliciting male clients in the same
neighborhood for at least four months. The arresting officer and
his partner talked with the boy for nearly two hours after the
arrest to try to find out why he had turned to prostitution, and
to explain to him the danger in what he was doing.


HIV Policy Targets Health Personnel *
National Underwriter (09/13/93) No. 37, P. 7
Koco, Linda

A growing number of companies now offer HIV Asset Guard --
insurance to healthcare providers and other professionals who are
at risk for infection. Issued by Reliable Life of St. Louis, the
contract provides that a lump sum of money be paid if an
individual is diagnosed as HIV positive. The amount of $100,000,
$250,000, or $500,000, depending on group classification, is paid
upon proof of HIV infection. The group-issued insurance targets
groups with greater-than-normal exposure to the virus, such as
hospital employees, police officers, and fire personnel, etc.


The Three Ps of HIV Management: Paps,
Pelvic Exams, Polcoscopies *
AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 139

Because cervical cancer has been added to the new AIDS case
definition, physicians are becoming more aware of the importance
of gynecological care. The pap smear can be a valuable tool of
prevention because it detects cervical cancer and other
gynecological abnormalities which are often associated with HIV.
Likewise, the pelvic examination is effective in screening for
sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal discharges, warts, and
ulcers, all of which may be related to an HIV infection. The
link between HIV and STD is concrete enough that some researchers
say that the presence of an STD should automatically alert a
person to the possibility of HIV.


September 21, 1993


Disputed AIDS Study Delaye *
Financial Times (Great Britain) (09/21/93) P. 8

Publication of the complete results of a controversial AIDS drug
study has been delayed by the Medical Research Council. The
council disclosed in April that preliminary data in the study
indicated that AZT, the most common treatment for HIV/AIDS, is
not effective in delaying the development of AIDS in patients
infected with HIV.


AIDS Drug *
Associated Press (09/21/93)

Rockville, Md.--A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee
is recommending approval of a single-drug AIDS therapy. The drug
ddC, sold under the brand name HIVID by Hoffman-LaRoche Inc., has
previously been authorized for use with AZT, another AIDS drug.
If approved by the FDA, however, HIVID would be removed from this
conditional status to full approval. It would become the third
drug approved for single-drug treatment against AIDS, following
AZT and ddI, or didanonsine. All three drugs attack AIDS by
inhibiting the virus' ability to reproduce. The three have also
proven toxic, and patients who take one drug may not take the
others.


Breaking the Silence on AIDS *
Investor's Business Daily (09/21/93) P. 4

While many corporations have shied from AIDS education and
discussion in the workplace, Motorola Inc. is one company that is
attempting to be more open about the disease. Henry Provost,
Motorola's employee relations director, said that the company
feels that secretiveness about employees with AIDS who abruptly
fall ill and leave work is more harmful than helpful. The
company tries to make it easier for employees with AIDS to work
for as long as possible. Motorola has also improved its AIDS
education program.


Zimbabwe Witchdoctors Boosted by AIDS Epidemic *
Reuters (09/21/93)
Mdlongwa, Franci

Harare--While the AIDS epidemic continues to stump leading
medical researchers worldwide, a handful of witchdoctors in
Zimbabwe are claim to have herbal cures that heal the infected.
"I have and I can cure AIDS--no one can doubt that," brags one of
the more famous witchdoctors. But critics do doubt; in fact,
they insist that these traditional healers are merely taking
advantage of the pain of others for personal profit. In an
effort to prevent false hopes among the AIDS population,
government health officials are ordering tests of the herbs to
determine their possible effects. In addition, the government
wants to test patients of witchdoctors both before and after
treatment. Health Minister Timothy Stamps admitted that his
country is trying to avoid a "Kemron" situation, referring to a
Kenyan-made drug that was labeled an AIDS cure in 1989, but was
later ruled ineffective by the World Health Organization.


Law on Marriage, AIDS Is Voided *
Boston Globe (09/20/93) P. 6

U.S. District Judge Aldon J. Anderson recently ruled that a 1987
Utah law prohibiting the marriage of people with AIDS is a
violation of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. This
legislation dictates that no public entity may discriminate
against a person with a physical or mental impairment limiting
major life activities. Anderson contended that AIDS is a
physical impairment. He also found that the statute violates the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The suit to have the law dismissed
was brought on behalf of two couples whose children would be
deemed illegitimate should their parents' marriages be annulled.


China Imposes AIDS Test on Returning Mainlanders *
Reuters (09/20/93)

Hong Kong--China is subjecting passport holders returning to the
country to random AIDS tests, reported a Beijing newspaper.
People who want to live in China for longer than one year or who
have been gone for longer than three months have to take drug
tests, said an official at the State Health and Quarantine
Department in Beijing. After a Hong Kong resident complained of
being forced to take an AIDS test, the tests were discontinued in
February for Hong Kong residents visiting the neighboring
province of Guangdong. But the tests continued for Chinese
residents of the colony. Professional circles in Hong Kong
condemn the practice as ineffective, insensitive, inconvenient,
and potentially dangerous.


Tainted-Blood Probe Launched *
Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/17/93) P. A1
Cernetig, Miro

All 10 Canadian provinces have indicated that they support the
initiation of a government probe to determine how more than 1,000
people were infected with HIV via donated blood before screening
for the virus began in 1985. Quebec, however, has still not
officially committed to the estimated $2.5 million inquiry, said
Federal Health Minister Mary Collins, possibly due to the cost,
scope, and jurisdiction of the probe. Collins disclosed that if
Quebec does not participate voluntarily, the commissioner of the
inquiry would still be able to subpoena the province's officials
for testimony and evidence. In conjunction with the probe, a
task force has been created to review the "mandate, organization,
management, operations, financing, and regulation of all
activities connected with the blood system," said a spokesperson.


Staten Island Can't Secede From AIDS *
New York Times (09/19/93) P. 45
Clines, Francis X.

As inhabitants of Staten Island ponder secession from New York
City, they know that such a move will direct attention their
way--and not for the expected reasons. Should Staten Island
break from the mainland, it will automatically be catapulted to
the rank of second among the state's leading AIDS cities. There
are 1,015 cases of AIDS, 5,000 cases of HIV infection, and 100
HIV-positive inmates at the local correctional facility. With
statistics dictating 333 per 100,000 adults have the disease, the
island's active rate of AIDS is about one-third that of the city.
Diane Arneth, director of the Staten Island AIDS Task Force, says
that the island is not necessarily a gay-friendly place, but that
many homosexuals with AIDS are coming back home to live out their
final days. Of an outburst she once heard at a meeting to "put
all those AIDS people on an island to die," Arneth says "Of
course they meant a different island."


AIDS Research Reviews *
Lancet (09/11/93) Vol. 342, No. 8872, P. 668
Lifson, Alan R.

The latest volume, number three, of AIDS Research Reviews
includes a series of specialized articles written by experts
about HIV, the host response, and possibilities for preventing
infection. The articles, presented in scientific sections,
describe specific advances and current issues in each of five
disciplines, which include immunology and vaccine development.
The book aims to present current research related to preventive
or therapeutic campaigns against AIDS, with an emphasis on
vaccines.


September 22, 1993


12 Troupes Take Steps Against AIDS *
Chicago Tribune (09/21/93) P. 1-14
Hanson, Cynthia

A "Dance For Life" fundraiser Saturday night at Chicago's
Athenaeum Theatre raised over $40,000 for a local AIDS
organization. A dozen local troupes presented jazz, tap, ballet,
and modern dance performances to a capacity audience of 925
people. Proceeds benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.


Disease Detection International to Supply 1.2 Million Tests
in Brasilian Federal (AIDS) Program for the State
of Sao Paulo, Brasil *
PR Newswire (09/20/93)

Irvine, Calif.--Disease Detection International, Inc. was
informed by its Brasilian joint venture, DDI do Brasil, that the
companies have been awarded a federal order for 1.2 million
SeroCard HIV-1 tests to be used by the government of Sao Paulo.
The tests will be used, through the Department of Health, to test
Brazil's low-income population. DDI President and CEO H. Thad
Morris describes the seven-minute SeroCard HIV-1 as "fast,
accurate, simple to perform...and one of the most cost effective
means to assess one's immune status." Disease Detection
International, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets a series
of diagnostic tests for infectious and sexually transmitted
diseases.


New CDC Head Fights AIDS With Education, Not Politics *
American Medical News (09/13/93) Vol. 36, No. 34, P. 5
Hearn, Wayne

Dr. David Satcher, the next director of the Centers for Disease
Control, says that he will not allow politics to affect the
agency's efforts to promote AIDS prevention and education.
Satcher, who has presided as president of Meharry Medical College
in Nashville, Tenn., since 1982, will become on Jan. 1 the first
African-American to hold this position. Quoting from the
autobiography of late tennis star Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS
earlier this year, Satcher said, "...when our children ask us
someday what we did to help solve the AIDS crisis, we want to be
able to say we did not allow political, cultural and religious
differences to get in the way of attacking with full force."
AIDS activists, who have become dissatisfied with the CDC's
efforts under current director Dr. William Roper, are optimistic
about Satcher's appointment.


AIDS Orphans: Africa's Lost Generation *
World Watch (09/93-10/93) Vol. 6, No. 5, P. 10
Sachs, Aaron

While the AIDS epidemic is rampant worldwide, in Africa it is
threatening not only the population's health, but its basic
social structure as well. AIDS is affecting family life, a fact
reflected in the rising number of orphans who have lost one or
both parents to the disease. The number of children whose
mothers died from AIDS is well over two million. The children
are abandoned by relatives, who cling to social stigma that often
accompanies AIDS. They fear accusations of homosexuality or
promiscuity; yet, in Africa, the disease is primarily transmitted
in a heterosexual fashion, usually between husbands and wives.
The family also shuns AIDS orphans because they fear contagion;
yet, only about 30 percent of babies born to HIV-positive mothers
contract the disease. Rejected and alone, these children often
wander the countryside, struggling to secure their physical and
emotional needs. Shifts in attitude and community coping
strategies are needed to provide the necessary financial and
social support to manage the orphan crisis.


Tuberculosis and HIV Infection *
Lancet (09/11/93) Vol. 342, No. 8872, P. 676
John, T. Jacob; Kaur, Amitinder; Babu, P. George

Tuberculosis is not necessarily an opportunistic infection of
AIDS in HIV-infected persons in countries where TB is highly
endemic, assert researchers from Christian Medical College and
Hospital in India. Kaur et al. diagnosed a patient who had HIV
infection, pulmonary TB, chronic fever, weight loss, and a CD4
count of 89. They administered anti-TB treatment to the patient,
who subsequently recovered from TB, gained weight, increased his
CD4 count to 762, and has remained healthy for the past five
years. Kaur et al. contend that their case, as well as the Zaire
study, demonstrate that TB alone, or coupled with a low CD4
count, is not evidence enough for a diagnosis of AIDS in
HIV-infected patients.


DNCB Treatment Today *
AIDS Treatment News (09/03/93) No. 182, P. 3
Gilden, Dave

Past excitement over an AIDS treatment using a chemical called
dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) is apparently being revived. Seven
years ago, scores of AIDS patients were using DNCB which, when
painted on a small patch of skin, triggers a reaction much like
that to poison ivy. By causing an immune system response, DNCB
in theory counters HIV and helps to control opportunistic
infections. The excitement over the chemical eventually died
down but is now on the rise again, partly due to the testimony of
a journalist for a gay publication who says that his AIDS
condition has reversed since he first started using DNCB in July
1992. Except for the notions of a few other enthusiasts and
researchers, there is actually very little evidence to suggest
who might benefit from DNCB and under what circumstances.


HIV-1 Inhibition by a Peptide *
Nature (09/09/93) Vol.365, No. 6442, P. 113
Jiang, Shibo et al.

Peptides from virus envelope glycoproteins may have an antiviral
effect, according to studies. Jiang et al. of the New York Blood
Center say that peptides inhibit infection by other strains of
HIV-1 and, at a certain level, inhibit HIV replication
completely. The mechanism through which the peptides inhibit HIV
is still being investigated, but the theory is that the peptide
blocks HIV fusion with uninfected cells or infected cells with
uninfected cells. The peptide has homologous and heterologous
HIV antiviral activity, and no known toxic effect on cells. It
is, therefore, another possibility for AIDS treatment, contend
Jiang et al.


'Oh My God, It Could Be Me' *
Maclean's (09/06/93) Vol. 106, No. 36, P. 42
Nemeth, Mary and Driedger, Sharon Doyle

The World Health Organization estimates that by the year 2000,
women will make up half of the world's new cases of AIDS, and the
disease is already beginning to take its toll on Canadian women.
The federal Laboratory Centre for Disease Control reports that
406 women aged 15 or older have been diagnosed with AIDS since
1981, accounting for six percent of the nation's cases. Until
recently, most female cases of AIDS in the United States stemmed
from intravenous drug use; however, the most significant risk
factor for Canadian women has always been heterosexual activity.
Diagnosis for both American and Canadian women, officials say, is
delayed, often because of differences in symptoms. HIV-positive
women tend to experience mostly gynecological problems, and
rarely get Kaposi's sarcoma, a skin cancer common among male AIDS
patients.


Planned Sexual Behaviour of Young Australian
Visitors to Thailand *
Journal of the American Medical Association
(09/15/93) Vol. 270, No. 11, P. 1309
Mulhall, Brian P. et al.

An Australian study was conducted to evaluate knowledge about
AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases among young
Australians visiting Thailand. Of the 213 participants who were
traveling without a spouse or partner, only 34 percent claimed
that they definitely did not intend to have sex. Of those who
might, more men said that they would have sex with a Thai
national, while more women said that they would sleep with
another Australian tourist. Eighty-two percent of the sample
insisted that they would use condoms 100 percent of the time.
The study concluded that many young Australians who visit
Thailand are likely to have sex. This conclusion underlines the
need for prevention and education programs to control the spread
of AIDS.


September 23, 1993


NMAC Applauds President Clinton's Commitment
to Health Care Reform *
PR Newswire (09/22/93)

Washington, D.C.--The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)
praised President Clinton for making health care reform a
priority in this country and, in doing so, for addressing the
needs of people with HIV and AIDS. NMAC, as well as the rest of
the AIDS community, has applauded the president's reform package,
which eliminates pre-existing conditions as grounds for exclusion
from health insurance. For people infected with the AIDS virus,
that condition has meant an inability to seek other jobs for fear
of losing their health insurance. NMAC will continue to advocate
more specific measures as it tries to ensure that the health care
needs of persons with HIV and AIDS are served.


Magic Johnson Gives Deposition in AIDS Suit *
USA Today (09/23/93) P. 9C

Basketball legend Magic Johnson and Waymer Moore, the woman who
is suing him on the grounds that he infected her with HIV, are
giving depositions this week in Kalamazoo, Mich. Johnson spent
the last two days in a hotel answering questions from lawyers.
His accuser is expected to arrive for her deposition later this
week. Lawyers on both sides argue that the other party is
blocking access to pretrial information. In April, Moore's
lawyers complained that Johnson's lawyers refused to name persons
with whom the athlete had sex between 1982 and 1990. They also
want to know who treated Johnson since 1977 and where he was
treated, as well as the identities of any other women who claimed
the athlete infected them. The trial is scheduled to begin on
March 7, 1994.


Where People With AIDS Find Comfort *
Boston Globe (09/22/93) P. 17
Negri, Gloria

While many people with AIDS face pain and humiliation from
society in general, New Englanders with the disease can find
refuge in the Boston Living Center. Initially a peer support
group, the center was implemented about four years ago and now
has 900 members. Full-time staff offer quilting, jewelry making,
art, massage therapy, Zen meditation, holistic medicine, health
and legal seminars, and more. Volunteers give haircuts and
manicures. A free lunch is served Tuesdays through Fridays,
prepared by a professional chef who turns food donations into
"edible, nutritious, and different" meals. Most importantly,
perhaps, the Living Center creates a forum for people with AIDS
to meet and talk in a place where they feel safe and loved. "We
prefer to think of HIV as a life challenge as opposed to a death
sentence," said Mariel Gonzales, the center's development
director, of the hopeful aura that surrounds the center. Because
most members are supported by Medicare or welfare programs, there
is no fee to join the center, which is primarily supported by the
State Department of Public Health and private contributions.


Battling AIDS *
Restaurants USA (09/93) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. 28
Batty, Jennifer

With the stigma surrounding AIDS and public ignorance about how
it is transmitted, one industry that is highly scrutinized is
foodservice. The Centers for Disease Control repeatedly remind
people that AIDS cannot be contracted through sweat, tears,
toilet seats, phones, forks, and certainly not from eating food
prepared by an individual infected with the virus. Yet anxiety
and misconception persist. One company, DAKA International,
Inc., cared enough to address this problem, and even earned an
award from the Business Enterprise Trust "for its courage in
implementing an aggressive AIDS education program in an industry
highly vulnerable to public fears and misconceptions about the
disease." DAKA's AIDS education program was launched in 1987,
and now includes a counseling office, a hotline, a flexible
sick-leave and disability policy, a supportive benefits package,
and education seminars. Many other foodservice companies, out of
necessity, are likely to follow suit in providing AIDS education
programs in their workplace. According to the National
Leadership Coalition on AIDS, about two-thirds of large
businesses, and nearly one in 10 small businesses have already
encountered employees with HIV or AIDS.


Prayer, Meditation, Exercise, and Special Diets: Behaviors of
the Hardy Person With HIV/AIDS"
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
(07/93-09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 18
(Carson, Verna Benner)

Anecdotal testimony has tied long-term survival of the AIDS virus
with certain spiritual and health-promoting behaviors, as well as
participation in AIDS-related activities. To determine if
quantitative research would support these theories, Verna Benner
Carson studied 100 such subjects who completed Kobasa's Personal
Views Survey, a measure of hardiness. Her findings indicated a
positive correlation between hardiness and the use of prayer and
meditation. Similarly, participation in health-promoting
behaviors such as exercise, vitamins, and special diets were also
positively linked to hardiness. Participation in AIDS-related
activities, however, showed no relationship with hardiness.
Overall, individuals with higher scores on the hardiness scale
also had higher perceptions of their physical, emotional, and
spiritual health.


Natural History Trials Addressing Special Needs of Women *
AIDS Alert (09/93) Vol. 8, No. 9, P. 137

An upcoming five-year study aims to identify factors that affect
the progression of AIDS in women. The study, funded by the
Centers for Disease Control, will involve 200 HIV-positive women
and 100 high-risk women each at four different locations
nationwide. This probe into the natural history of AIDS in women
will have a gynecological focus, allowing clinicians a better
grasp on the virus' impact on vaginal candidiasis, pelvic
inflammatory disease, herpes, genital warts, etc. The study will
also measure survival, psycho-social issues, access to health
care, and quality of life.


Charting HIV Care *
American Medical News (09/20/93) Vol. 36, No. 35, P. 14

The federal government has earmarked $15 million to find out more
about where, how, and from whom those with HIV can receive health
care. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research will launch
the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS). The
foundation of the study draws from a similar study in 1992 of
2,090 men, women, and children in 10 cities.


Who Should Fill the Care Gap in HIV Disease? *
Lancet (09/18/93) Vol. 342, No.8873, P. 726
Mansfield, Simon and Singh, Surinder

Like with many other chronic diseases, it is appropriate for the
community to serve as the setting for primary care of those with
HIV/AIDS, according to Dr. Surinder Singh of the Royal Free
Hospital School of Medicine in London and Dr. Simon Mansfield of
Westminster Hospital in London. However, they explain, negative
perceptions of HIV-infected patients towards primary care and the
prevailing attitudes of some general practitioners make high
quality primary care service difficult. Patients often perceive
in general practitioners a lack of confidentiality, empathy, and
knowledge about the disease. In turn, Mansfield and Singh assert
that hospitals often fail to see that better care can be achieved
through sharing the burden. In addition, hospitals lack
non-acute care skills, and inadequate education and support for
community care-givers hampers primary care. The doctors insist
that gaps in the care of patients with HIV will persist until
policy-makers, health-strategists, patients, and the like examine
these challenges.


September 24, 1993


Statement of the National Association of People With AIDS
on President Clinton's National Health Care Proposal *
PR Newswire (09/23/93)

Washington--The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA)
has announced its support of President Clinton's health care
reform package. NAPWA said in a release yesterday that Clinton's
initiative would help the country overcome hurdles to obtaining
effective health care for people with AIDS. The release cited
access to health insurance, medicine, and adequate health care as
primary challenges for infected persons. According to NAPWA,
nearly half of all people with HIV/AIDS encounter difficulty in
securing group health insurance, Medicaid, Social Security
Disability, and other entitlements. In addition, said the
release, many people with AIDS are discriminated against because
of HIV status, and nearly one quarter of AIDS patients perceive a
fearful attitude in health care workers because of the disease.
NAPWA called for a comprehensive health plan, available to all
Americans, including services crucial to those with AIDS or other
chronic diseases, and a system that embraces confidentiality,
civil rights protection, and consumer advocacy and management.


IDC's Virotech Unit Executes Letter of Intent
With Organetics, Ltd. *
PR Newswire (09/23/93)

Minneapolis--Two companies, which both direct their activities
toward treatments for AIDS and other immune-deficient disorders,
are considering either a merger or a strategic alliance.
Virotech Inc., a medical research company, has executed a letter
of intent with Organetics Ltd., a developer of medical devices.
Virotech's most recent research projects have included whole-body
hypothermia, or heat, as an alternative therapy to stimulate the
immune system and kill certain viruses. Organetics has spent
nearly four years developing a portable, integrated system that
has three main applications, one of which is whole-body
hypothermia. The device raises blood temperature which, in turn,
elevates the body's core temperature. While the procedure has
yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in
America, whole-body hypothermia has been used recently on some
AIDS patients in Europe. Long-term results have been
exceptionally favorable in certain patients in Italy.


Smash Hit for AIDS *
United Press International (09/23/93)
Kuklenski, Valerie

Past and present tennis stars participated in an exhibition
Wednesday in Los Angeles to raise money for singer Elton John's
AIDS Foundation. The very first "Smash Hits" World Team Tennis
tournament was attended by celebrities from all arenas, including
comedian Jay Leno, singer Sheena Easton, actress Judith Light,
Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton, gymnast Bart Conner, and
rock musician Eddie Van Halen. The stars converged to watch
Elton John and Billie Jean King square off their teams in
lightweight competition. Players included Chris Evert, John
McEnroe, Tracy Austin, Jimmy Connors, and Martina Navratilova.
King said that tennis legend Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS
earlier this year, "woke up the tennis world." She said, "We
want to take care of the people who have AIDS. We want to be
there for them."


HIV2 and AIDS *
Pharmacist (09/93) Vol. 18, No. 9, P. 100

The government has mandated that all donated blood be screened
not only for HIV-1 but also for HIV-2, a new strain of the virus
that has spread to the United States from Africa. HIV-2 differs
from HIV-1 in that it progresses towards AIDS at a much slower
rate. Once AIDS does develop, however, it exhibits identical
symptoms and progresses at the same speed. Also, pregnant women
with HIV-2 are less likely to transmit the virus to their unborn
infants. Anyone who was involved in an AIDS high-risk activity,
but tested negative for HIV-1, should be tested for HIV-2.


Report to Cite AIDS as Threat to Farmworker Families *
Nation's Health (09/93) Vol. 23, No. 8, P. 3

A December report by the National Commission to Prevent Infant
Mortality will illustrate how the AIDS epidemic affects migrant
and seasonal farmworker families. Early studies indicate that
this group is often forgotten while other populations are
targeted for AIDS prevention and education programs. There is
also evidence that farmworkers are carrying the virus home to
their native countries at the end of the season. The
commission's report will also discuss how health care workers can
help prevent the spread of AIDS and improve treatment for migrant
farmworkers and their families. The recommendations stem from a
panel of experts on women and infants' HIV/AIDS issues and
farmworker health issues who developed a list of what is needed
to protect these families from AIDS, especially young women and
children.


Howard University College of Nursing Graduate Studies
Subspecialty in HIV/AIDS: The First Year *
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
(07/93-09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 46
Nicholas, Doris E.

The AIDS epidemic is disproportionately affecting disenfranchised
groups, in particular the African-American community. The
nation's capital, which consists largely of people of color, has
the ninth highest annual rate of AIDS in the country last year.
Howard University, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., has
taken the initiative in preparing future nurses for leadership
roles in HIV/AIDS nursing. The university's College of Nursing
has introduced a three-course subspecialty dealing with AIDS into
the master's program. The first segment stresses prevention in
specific groups, such as gay and bisexual men, injecting drug
users, young people, and low-income groups. The second class
deals with early detection and treatment of HIV-infected
patients. The third course revolves around treatment of
opportunistic infections in patients who have developed AIDS.
While enrollment in the classes, which began in July 1992, have
been consistently small, it demonstrates a true interest on the
part of students to specialize in this area. The main barrier to
larger enrollment seems to be the financial problems students
must encounter to stay in the graduate program.


Health Care Under the Americans With Disabilities Act *
CompFlash (08/93) P. 7

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has recently released
several provisions dealing with the Americans with Disability
Act, one of which states that employers cannot refuse to hire
persons with disabilities out of fear that they will influence
the employer's health care costs. The provisions, which also
require that disabled employees be given "equal access" to any
health care benefits provided to other employees, expand to
include the needs of persons with AIDS. The day after issuing
the provisions, the EEOC filed its first lawsuit on behalf of an
AIDS patient, who was denied health coverage by the construction
union named in the case. The New York Times said that the new
provisions will have the greatest impact on small businesses and
union management funds with small budgets, resulting in some
businesses dropping health care altogether.


Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the Treatment of Debilitating
Fatigue Associated With HIV/AIDS *
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
(07/93-09/93) Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 33
Reillo, Michelle R.

While antiviral drugs may relieve some of the symptoms
experienced by AIDS patients, they do little to reduce the
debilitating fatigue associated with the virus. Michelle R.
Reillo, a clinical nurse at the Maryland Medical Center in
Bethesda, Md., tested 25 HIV-infected patients with hyperbaric
oxygen therapy as a treatment for such fatigue. Patients
received 100 percent oxygen at two atmospheres of absolute
pressure. The five who were treated only with surface air showed
no improvement until switched to 100 percent oxygen. Reillo's
results showed that all subjects reported significant
improvements within one month of the treatment. Patients
expressed higher energy levels, a reduced need for daytime sleep,
improved CD4/CD8 ratios, and weight gain or stabilization.
Overall, 19 of the 25 participants showed no clinical progression
or development of opportunistic infection. Reillo concluded that
hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a viable treatment for the fatigue
often found in patients with AIDS.


Three-Year Randomised Study of High-Purity or
Intermediate-Purity Factor VIII Concentrates in Symptom-Free
HIV-Seropositive Haemophiliacs: Effects on Immune Status *
Lancet (09/18/93) Vol. 342, No. 8873, P. 700
Seremetis, Stephanie et al.

A group of researchers used monoclonal-antibody-purified factor
VIII concentrates to test their hypothesis that the use of the
concentrates in HIV-positive hemophiliacs would change the rate
of deterioration of the immune function. Seremetis et al.
studied 60 HIV patients with hemophilia, all of whom were
symptom-free, for the three-year study. Participants received
either a monoclonal-antibody-purified product or an
intermediate-purity product. The results showed that the group
receiving the monoclonal-antibody-purified product maintained
stable CD4 counts, while the other group experienced a
significant drop in CD4 level. Seremetis et al. conclude that
the use of high-purity concentrates in asymptomatic, HIV-positive
hemophiliacs is beneficial, and should be considered by doctors
when making therapeutic decisions.


NOTE: Compilation by Michael Tidmus : AIDSwire. All rights reserved.
Permission
is granted to republish on electronic media for which no fee is charged,
provided the complete text of this notice is attached to any republished
portion
or portions.

* From the AIDS Daily Summary. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
(CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse has made this information available as a
public service only. Providing this information does not constitute
endorsement
by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction
of
this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold. Copyright 1993,
Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD.

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