Archive-Name: aids-faq1
Last-Modified: 10 Nov 1993

Welcome to the sci.med.aids, the international newsgroup on the Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (see Q1.1 `What is sci.med.aids?' for more
details).

This article, called the sci.med.aids "FAQ", answers frequently asked
questions about AIDS and the sci.med.aids newsgroup.  The FAQ is posted
monthly to sci.med.aids and related newsgroups.  If you are new to
sci.med.aids, please read it before posting articles or responses.  If you
are a sci.med.aids veteran, please skim the FAQ occasionally.  You may
find something new here.

Please contribute to the sci.med.aids FAQ.  Currently there are some
gaping holes.  Send suggested changes to aids-request@cs.ucla.edu.  You
don't have to format it: just send it.

You can skip to a particular question by searching for `Question n.n'.
See Q9.2 `Formats in which this FAQ is available' for details of where to
get the PostScript and Emacs Info versions of this document.

===============================================================================

Contents

 Section 1.  Introduction and General Information
 Q1.1        What is sci.med.aids?
 Q1.2        Discussion topics.
 Q1.3        Sci.med.aids distribution.
 Q1.4        Subscribing and unsubscribe to sci.med.aids.
 Q1.5        What is a moderated newsgroup?
 Q1.6        Editorial guidelines.
 Q1.7        How do I submit a posting?
 Q1.8        The moderators.
 Q1.9        Cooperative moderation.
 Q1.10       Discussing sci.med.aids moderation policies.

 Section 2.  How to prevent infection.
 Q2.1        How is AIDS transmitted?
 Q2.2        How effective are condoms?
 Q2.3        How do you minimize your odds of getting infected?
 Q2.4        How risky is a blood transfusion?
 Q2.5        Can mosquitoes transmit AIDS?
 Q2.6        What about other insect bites?
 Q2.7        Is there even a remote chance of insect transmission?

 Section 3.  Confidentiality.
 Q3.1        How is blood tested in the United States?
 Q3.2        What if a blood-bank finds out you are HIV positive?

 Section 4.  Treatment options.
 Q4.1        General treatment information.
 Q4.2        AIDS and Opportunistic Infections.
 Q4.3        Guide to Social Security Benefits.
 Q4.4        What if you can't afford AZT?
 Q4.5        What about DNCB? (please contribute)

 Section 5.  The common debates.
 Q5.1        What are Strecker and Segal's theories that HIV is manmade?
 Q5.2        Other conspiracy theories.
 Q5.3        Duesberg's Risk-Group Theory
 Q5.4        Contaminated polio vaccine? (please contribute)
 Q5.5        Who is Lorraine Day? (please contribute)

 Section 6.  Internet resources.
 Q6.1        Ben Gardiner's Gopher AIDS Database
 Q6.2        CDC AIDS Public Information Dataset.
 Q6.3        HIVNET/AEGIS Gateway (BETA VERSION)
 Q6.4        Other USENET newsgroups.

 Section 7.  Other Electronic Information Sources.
 Q7.1        Ben Gardiner's list of AIDS BBSes.
 Q7.2        National AIDS Clearinghouse Guide to AIDS BBSes.
 Q7.3        National Library of Medicine AIDSLINE (please contribute)
 Q7.4        Commercial Bulletin Boards
 Q7.5        Reappraisal of the HIV-AIDS Hypothesis.
 Q7.6        Lesbian/Gay Scholars Directory.

 Section 8.  Non-Electronic Information Sources.
 Q8.1        Phone Information about AIDS.
 Q8.2        Phone Information about AIDS drug trials.
 Q8.3        US Social Security: Information for Organizations

 Section 9.  Administrative information and acknowledgements
 Q9.1        Feedback is invited
 Q9.2        Formats in which this FAQ is available
 Q9.3        Authorship and acknowledgements

===============================================================================

Section 1.  Introduction and General Information

 Q1.1        What is sci.med.aids?
 Q1.2        Discussion topics.
 Q1.3        Sci.med.aids distribution.
 Q1.4        Subscribing and unsubscribe to sci.med.aids.
 Q1.5        What is a moderated newsgroup?
 Q1.6        Editorial guidelines.
 Q1.7        How do I submit a posting?
 Q1.8        The moderators.
 Q1.9        Cooperative moderation.
 Q1.10       Discussing sci.med.aids moderation policies.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.1.  What is sci.med.aids?

"sci.med.aids" is a USENET newsgroup which discusses AIDS and HIV.  A
gateway forwards articles posted to sci.med.aids to a BITNET listserv
mailing list called AIDS.

Thousands read sci.med.aids, including people with HIV infections,
published authors, researchers, public health officials, and interested
individuals.  It is carried in several countries, particularly in the
Americas and Europe.

Sci.med.aids is moderated by a team.  When you submit an article to
sci.med.aids, it must be approved by a member of the moderation team.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.2.  Discussion topics.

Sci.med.aids covers topics of interest to people with AIDS (Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome), their friends, relatives, and loved ones,
AIDS service providers, educators and researchers, and the general public.

Some common topics are
  Causes of AIDS and opportunistic infections.
  Vaccines for AIDS.
  Treatments or cures for AIDS and opportunistic infections.
  AIDS prevention and education.

Sci.med.aids carries some regular magazines.  Here's a current list:
  CDC AIDS Daily Summary
  AIDS Treatment News
  The Veterans Administration AIDS Info Newsletter

If you have the time to add to this list, we invite you to contribute (if
you obtain copyright permission, of course).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.3.  Sci.med.aids distribution.

Sci.med.aids is distributed as a USENET newsgroup, where it has
approximately 40,000 readers.  At one time USENET was carried primarily at
research and educational institutions, but that is changing; a number of
commercial services now carry USENET.

Here is a breakdown of comparable newsgroups, for the month of September
1993.  You can obtain a full list of network traffic by anonymous ftp from

  ftp.uu.net:/usenet/news.lists/USENET_Readership_report_for_Sep_93.Z

        +-- Estimated total number of people who read the group, worldwide.
        |     +-- Actual number of readers in sampled population
        |     |     +-- Propagation: how many sites receive this group at all
        |     |     |      +-- Recent traffic (messages per month)
        |     |     |      |      +-- Recent traffic (kilobytes per month)
        |     |     |      |      |      +-- Crossposting percentage
        |     |     |      |      |      |    +-- Cost ratio: $US/month/rdr
        |     |     |      |      |      |    |      +-- Share: % of newsrders
        |     |     |      |      |      |    |      |   who read this group.
        V     V     V      V      V      V    V      V

  39 110000  1700   76%  3845  6418.0     6%  0.07   3.6%  soc.motss 
  77  96000  1420   67%  1885  3541.1    11%  0.04   3.0%  alt.drugs 
 131  81000  1203   80%  1571  4064.6    13%  0.06   2.6%  sci.med 
 231  65000   961   61%  1269  2863.5     6%  0.04   2.0% 
alt.politics.homosexuality 
 558  44000   647   66%   282   760.5    38%  0.02   1.4%  talk.politics.drugs 
---------------------------------------------------------
 605  41000   615   78%   383  1556.0     2%  0.05   1.3%  sci.med.aids 
---------------------------------------------------------
 724  37000   545   68%   512  1053.6    12%  0.03   1.2%  sci.med.nutrition 
 729  37000   542   77%    53    96.0    12%  0.00   1.2%  sci.med.physics 
 880  32000   481   43%   436  1033.5     8%  0.02   1.0%  alt.homosexual 
1202  25000   370   41%   326   529.6     9%  0.01   0.8%  alt.drugs.caffeine 
1320  22000   332   21%    27    62.4     4%  0.00   0.7%  alt.sex.homosexual
1343  22000   326   66%    48    89.1     7%  0.00   0.7%  sci.med.occupational

1398  21000   314   35%   182  2557.2     0%  0.07   0.7%  bit.listserv.gaynet 
1412  21000   310   56%   145   510.1     0%  0.02   0.7%  sci.med.telemedicine

1425  21000   307   59%    97   353.2     0%  0.02   0.7%  sci.med.dentistry 
1559  19000   276   48%    99   138.4     8%  0.01   0.6%  sci.med.pharmacy 
1685  17000   254   42%   235   378.1     0%  0.02   0.5%  alt.med.cfs 
1888  14000   213   13%    12    29.3   100%  0.00   0.5%  clari.news.law.drugs
1916  14000   207   38%     5    19.7    20%  0.00   0.4%  bionet.molbio.hiv 
2449   3500    52   11%    55    97.5     6%  0.01   0.1%  de.sci.medizin 

Sci.med.aids is also distributed as electronic mail by the AIDS listserv.
Mail is not as convenient a way to read sci.med.aids as is a newgroup, but
mail is available at more sites (including Compuserve, America Online,
MCImail, ATTmail and many institutions which have Internet gateways).

In additional to these primary distributions, sci.med.aids is
redistributed by various bulletin boards and mail gateways.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.4.  Subscribing and unsubscribe to sci.med.aids.

The answer to this question depends on your system.  You may have to ask
your local system administrator.  Here are some guidelines valid on many
systems:

* You may have USENET on your system, especially if you run UNIX or VMS.
  Here are some commands to try:  "rn", "trn", "xrn", "nn", "tin".  If
  they work, try joining the newsgroup "sci.med.aids".

  That might not work, since some sites limit the newsgroups they receive.
  All is not lost: you can get sci.med.aids by e-mail.

* If USENET is not available you can get sci.med.aids by e-mail.  Send a
  mail message to listserv@rutvm1.rutgers.edu.  The message body should
  contain just the following command:
    subscribe aids <yourname>

  Type in your real name (not your e-mail address) instead of <yourname>.
  A complete message might look like this:
    To: listserv@rutvm1.rutgers.edu
    Subject: 

    subscribe aids Joe Smith 

  To unsubscribe, send a message to listserv@rutvm1.rutgers.edu containing
  the text
    unsubscribe aids

  Please unsubscribe before your account expires.  The moderators get all
  sorts of junk mail if you don't.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.5.  What is a moderated newsgroup?

A moderated newsgroup is one in which all postings must be approved by a
moderator before being distributed.  The purpose of moderation is to
restrict what can appear.  Postings which do not adhere to the guidelines
for the group will be rejected.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.6.  Editorial guidelines.



As with any newsgroup, read sci.med.aids for a few days before posting, to
see if your question has been answered already, and to get a feel for the
tone of the group.

Postings to sci.med.aids should:

* Write on topics directly relevant to AIDS, HIV, or related topics.

* Unconventional medical/research claims must be accompanied by references
  to the popular press (i.e., major newspaper, magazine, etc.) or
  scientific press (i.e., Science, Nature, Lancet, Scientific American,
  Cell, Brain Research, etc.).

  We require references for unconventional medical/research claims,
  because some therapies carry with them potential danger.  Some
  unconventional medical/research claims are fallacious.  Without this
  policy, sci.med.aids would have printed several dangerous and
  undocumented therapies by now.

* Political, sociological opinion/analysis articles are acceptable.  The
  interpretation, and even the existence, of this particular policy
  continues to be the subject of internal debate among the moderators.

  However, in the past we have printed articles holding both popular and
  unpopular opinions on topics like "Quarantining HIV Positives" or "who
  did Clinton appoint to the AIDS Task Force."

* Refrain from personally attacking other participants.  For example, do
  not call someone an 'idiot' or say they are 'biased'.  Instead, point
  out the flaws in their argument.  If you find yourself getting angry at
  a poster, and construct a reply, please try to remember this rule.

  It is often useful to wait a day to see what other reactions have been
  posted before sending something off in anger.

* Send one line "quips" as personal mail to the original submitter, rather
  than posting.

* When posing a question to a previous poster, reconsider whether the
  question needs to be posted.  Perhaps you could ask the question by
  e-mail and request a posted response.

* Do not invoke religion.

* Do not break copyright laws.  Reprints of articles from other sources
  must include a statement of permission to reprint.  An exception is made
  for abstracts of articles from scientific journals, which are not
  usually restricted.  If you can't get reprint permission, excerpt or
  summarize the article.

* Do not construct an article with more than 20% text from a previous
  article, unless it is very old (i.e., months old).  The best approach
  when constructing a response is to tersely summarize the article to
  which you respond, in square brackets.  For example,

    In article <11233@sci.med.aids>, Dan Greening wrote:
    > [reasons to not include too much of a prior article]

    Also, don't forget that many people get this stuff by mail, so 
    huge inclusions clog hundreds of mailboxes, including mine.  Thanks.

* Do not duplicate something which has recently appeared.

The moderators don't always agree on what's acceptable and what's not.

If an article is rejected, you should receive a note from the moderator
saying why.  These notes, and other discussions about the running of
sci.med.aids will be distributed on the aids-d mailing list (see Q1.10
`Discussing sci.med.aids moderation policies.').

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.7.  How do I submit a posting?

This depends on the software you are using.  On many USENET systems, you
can use the command
  postnews

You can also post by sending your article as e-mail to aids@cs.ucla.edu.

Because sci.med.aids is moderated, your submission will not appear
immediately.  Sometimes the delay is very short; often it may be 24 hours.
It depends on network delays and how busy the moderators are.  A tickler
program reminds us of postings older than 48 hours.

IMPORTANT:  Whether you use postnews or e-mail, please format your article
exactly the way you want it to appear in the newsgroup.  Because our
moderation software is somewhat unpolished, editing out notes to the
moderators in a posting is quite tedious.  If you must communicate
directly with the moderators, send a note to aids-request@cs.ucla.edu.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.8.  The moderators.

Three people currently moderate sci.med.aids.  They are
  Phil Miller       Professor, Biostatistics, Washington University
  Jack Hamilton     Interested layperson
  Dan Greening      Founder sci.med.aids, Director AppWare C++, Novell
  Michelle Murrain  Health issues researcher, Professor, Hampshire College

Phil and Jack do most of the moderation.  Dan repairs the moderation
software.  Phil is probably the most liberal moderator, Dan the most
restrictive, Jack in-between.  Michelle is new, so it's too early to tell.

Various individuals have been moderators in the past, including
  David Dodell       Founder, Grand Rounds fidonet echo, Dentist
  Steve Dyer         Writer, Gay Community News, Software Consultant
  Alan Wexelblat     Freelance writer, ethicist
  Tom Lincoln        Informatics Director, USC Medical Center
  Craig Werner       MD/PhD Student, Albert Einstein School of Medicine
  Will Doherty       Gay Activist, technical writer Sun Microsystems

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.9.  Cooperative moderation.

Cooperative moderation seeks to limit the burn-out associated with
newsgroup moderation, by sharing the workload among several moderators.
In addition, it provides a more balanced treatment of contentious issues.

An early paper on the sci.med.aids cooperative moderation scheme is

D.R. Greening and A.D. Wexelblat, Experiences with Cooperative Moderation
of a USENET Newsgroup, Proceedings of the 1989 ACM/IEEE Workshop on
Applied Computing.

available by FTP from
  cs.ucla.edu:pub/aids.paper.ps.Z

This paper is also available from the UCLA Computer Science Department as
a technical report.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1.10.  Discussing sci.med.aids moderation policies.

A separate mailing list, aids-d, has been set up for the moderators and
for people who interested in how sci.med.aids is run.  Most readers will
not be interested in aids-d; its purpose is internal discussion rather
than information dissemination, and most articles on aids-d are examples
of what moderation has filtered out.  If you want to subscribe, send email
to aids-d-request@sti.com.

===============================================================================

Section 2.  How to prevent infection.

 Q2.1        How is AIDS transmitted?
 Q2.2        How effective are condoms?
 Q2.3        How do you minimize your odds of getting infected?
 Q2.4        How risky is a blood transfusion?
 Q2.5        Can mosquitoes transmit AIDS?
 Q2.6        What about other insect bites?
 Q2.7        Is there even a remote chance of insect transmission?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.1.  How is AIDS transmitted?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Its Transmission
CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse

Research has revealed a great deal of valuable medical, scientific, and
public health information about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and
acquired immmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).  The ways in which HIV can be
transmitted have been clearly identified.  Unfortunately, some widely
dispersed information does not reflect the conclusions of scientific
findings.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides
the following information to help correct a few commonly held
misperceptions about HIV.

Transmission

HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by needle-sharing
among injecting drug users, or, less commonly (and now very rarely in
countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies), through
transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors.  Babies born to
HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth, or through
breast-feeding after birth.

In the health-care setting, workers have been infected with HIV after
being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood or, less
frequently, after infected blood gets into the worker's bloodstream
through an open cut or splashes into a mucous membrane (e.g., eyes or
inside of the nose).  There has been only one demonstrated instance of
patients being infected by a health-care worker; this involved HIV
transmission from an infected dentist to five patients.  Investigations
have been completed involving more than 15,000 patients of 32 HIV-infected
doctors and dentists, and no other cases of this type of transmission have
been identified.

Some people fear that HIV might be transmitted in other ways; however, no
scientific evidence to support any of these fears has been found.  If HIV
were being transmitted through other routes (for example, through air or
insects), the pattern of reported AIDS cases would be much different from
what has been observed, and cases would be occurring much more frequently
in persons who report no identified risk for infection.  All reported
cases suggesting new or potentially unknown routes of transmission are
promptly and thoroughly investigated by state and local health departments
with the assistance, guidance, and laboratory support from CDC; no
additional routes of transmission have been recorded, despite a national
sentinel system designed to detect just such an occurrence.

The following paragraphs specifically address some of the more common
misperceptions about HIV transmission.

HIV in the Environment

Scientists and medical authorities agree that HIV does not survive well in
the environment, making the possibility of environmental transmission
remote.  HIV is found in varying concentrations or amounts in blood,
semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, saliva, and tears.  (See below, Saliva,
Tears, and Sweat.)  In order to obtain data on the survival of HIV,
laboratory studies have required the use of artificially high
concentrations of laboratory-grown virus.  Although these unnatural
concentrations of HIV can be kept alive under precisely controlled and
limited laboratory conditions, CDC studies have showned that drying of
even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the number of infectious
viruses by 90 to 99 percent within several hours.  Since the HIV
concentrations used in laboratory studies are much higher than those
actually found in blood or other specimens, drying of HIV- infected human
blood or other body fluids reduces the theoretical risk of environmental
transmission to that which has been observed- -essentially zero.
Incorrect interpretation of conclusions drawn from laboratory studies have
alarmed people unnecessarily.  Results from laboratory studies should not
be used to determine specific personal risk of infection because 1) the
amount of virus studied is not found in human specimens or anyplace else
in nature, and 2) no one has been identified with HIV due to contact with
an environmental surface; Additionally, since HIV is unable to reproduce
outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so
under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions, it does
not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

Households, Offices, and Workplaces

Studies of thousands of households where families have lived with and
cared for AIDS patients have found no instances of nonsexual transmission,
despite the sharing of kitchen, laundry, and bathroom facilities, meals,
eating utensils, and drinking cups and glasses.  If HIV is not transmitted
in these settings, where repeated and prolonged contact occurs,
transmission is even less likely in other settings, such as schools and
offices.

Similarly, there is no known risk of HIV transmission to co- workers,
clients, or consumers from contact in industries such as food service
establishments (see information on survival of HIV in the environment).
Food service workers known to be infected with HIV need not be restricted
from work unless they have other infections or illinesses (such as
diarrhea or hepatitis A) for which any food service worker, regardless of
HIV infection status, should be restricted; The Public Health Service


recommends that all food service workers follow recommended standards and
practices of good personal hygiene and food sanitation.

Kissing

Casual contact through closed-mouth or "social" kissing is not a risk for
transmission of HIV.  Because of the theoretical potential for contact
with blood during "French" or open-mouthed kissing, CDC recommends against
engaging in this activity with an infected person.  However, no case of
AIDS reported to CDC can be attributed to transmission through any kind of
kissing.

Saliva, Tears, and Sweat

HIV has been found in saliva and tears in only minute quantities from some
AIDS patients.  It is important to understand that finding a small amount
of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that HIV can be
transmitted by that body fluid.  HIV has not been recovered from the sweat
of HIV-infected persons.  Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never
been shown to result in transmission of HIV.

Insects

From the onset of the HIV epidemic, there has been concern about
transmission of the virus by biting and blood-sucking insects.  However,
studies conducted by researchers at CDC and elsewhere have shown no
evidence of HIV transmission through insects--even in areas where there
are many cases of AIDS and large populations of insects such as
mosquitoes.  Lack of such outbreaks, despite intense efforts to detect
them, supports the conclusion that HIV is not transmitted by insects.

The results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior
indiciate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own
or a previous victim's blood into the new victim.  Rather, it injects
saliva.  Such diseases as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through
the saliva of specific species of mosquitoes.  However, HIV lives for only
a short time inside an insect and, unlike organisms that are transmitted
via insect bites, HIV does not reproduce (and, therefore, cannot survive)
in insects.  Thus, even if the virus enters a mosquito or another sucking
or biting insect, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit
HIV to the next human it feeds on or bites.

There is also no reason to fear that a biting or blood-sucking insect,
such as a mosquito, could transmit HIV from one person to another through
HIV-infected blood left on its mouth parts.  Two factors combine to make
infection by this route extremely unlikely-- first, infected people do not
have constant, high levels of HIV in their bloodstreams and, second,
insect mouth parts do not retain large amounts of blood on their surfaces.
Further, scientists who study insects have determined that biting insects
normally do not travel from one person to the next immediately after
ingesting blood.

Effectiveness of Condoms

The proper and consistent use of latex condoms when engaging in sexual
intercourse--vaginal, anal, or oral--can greatly reduce a person's risk of
acquiring or transmitting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
infection.

Under laboratory conditions, viruses occasionally have been shown to pass
through natural membrane ("skin" or lambskin) condoms, which contain
natural pores and are therefore not recommended for disease prevention.
On the other hand, laboratory studies have consistently demonstrated that
latex condoms provide a highly effective mechanical barrier to HIV.

In order for condoms to provide maximum protection, they must be used
consistently (every time) and correctly.  Incorrect use contributes to the
possibility that the condom could leak or break.  Proper use should
include the following:

* Put on the condom as soon as erection occurs and before any sexual
  contact (vaginal, anal, or oral).

* Leave space at the tip of the condom.

* Use only water-based lubricants.  (Oil-based lubricants can weaken the
  condom.)

* Hold the condom firmly to keep it from slipping off and withdraw from
  the partner immediately after ejaculation.

When condoms are used reliably, they have been shown to prevent pregnancy
up to 98 percent of the time among couples using them as their only method
of contraception.  Similarly, numerous studies among sexually active
people have demonstrated that a properly used latex condom provides a high
degree of protection against a variety of sexually transmitted diseases,
including HIV infection.

Condoms are classified as medical devices and are regulated by the Food
and Drug Administration.  Each latex condom manufactured in the United
States is tested for defects, including holes, before it is packaged, and
several studies clearly show that condom breakage rates in this country
are less than 2 percent.  Even when condoms do break, one study showed
that more than half of such breaks occurred prior to ejaculation.

Latex condoms can provide up to 98-99 percent protection against pregnancy
and most sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, but only
if they are used consistently and correctly.

For more detailed information about condoms, see CDC's fact sheet, "The
Role of Condoms in Preventing HIV Infection and Other Sexually Transmitted
Diseases."

The Public Health Service Response

The U.S.  Public Health Service is committed to providing the scientific
community and the public with accurate and objective information about HIV
infection and AIDS.  It is vital that clear information on HIV infection
and AIDS be readily available to help prevent further transmission of the
virus and to allay fears and prejudices caused by misinformation.  In
addition to research on the virus and its transmission, the PHS program to
prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS includes counseling, testing, and
education.  Through these programs, individuals who have engaged in
high-risk behaviors can receive voluntary HIV-antibody testing for
themselves and their partners, and those found to be infected can be
counseled regarding preventive services and treatment options, as well as
how to prevent transmission to others.

For more information:

            CDC National AIDS Hotline:    1-800-342-AIDS
                  Spanish:                1-800-344-7432
                  Deaf:                   1-800-243-7889

            CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse
            P.O. Box 6003
            Rockville, MD 20849-6003

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.2.  How effective are condoms?

Update: Barrier Protection against Sexual Diseases
CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse

Although refraining from intercourse with infected partners remains the
most effective strategy for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the Public
Health Service also has recommended condom use as part of its strategy.
Since CDC summarized the effectiveness of condom use in preventing HIV
infection and other STDs in 1988 (1), additional information has become
available, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved a
polyurethane "female condom." This report updates laboratory and
epidemiologic information regarding the effectiveness of condoms in
preventing HIV infection and other STDs and the role of spermicides used
adjunctively with condoms. *

Two reviews summarizing the use of latex condoms among serodiscordant
heterosexual couples (i.e., in which one partner is HIV positive and the
other HIV negative) indicated that using latex condoms substantially
reduces the risk for HIV transmission (2,3). In addition, two subsequent
studies of serodiscordant couples confirmed this finding and emphasized
the importance of consistent (i.e., use of a condom with each act of
intercourse) and correct condom use (4,5).  In one study of serodiscordant
couples, none of 123 partners who used condoms consistently seroconverted;
in comparison, 12 (10%) of 122 seronegative partners who used condoms
inconsistently became infected (4). In another study of serodiscordant
couples (with seronegative female partners of HIV-infected men), three
(2%) of 171 consistent condom users seroconverted, compared with eight
(15%) of 55 inconsistent condom users. When person-years at risk were
considered, the rate for HIV transmission among couples reporting
consistent condom use was 1.1 per 100 person-years of observation,
compared with 9.7 among inconsistent users (5).  Condom use reduces the
risk for gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, genital ulcers,
and pelvic inflammatory disease (2). In addition, intact latex condoms
provide a continuous mechanical barrier to HIV, HSV, hepatitis B virus
(HBV), Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2).  A recent
laboratory study (6) indicated that latex condoms are an effective
mechanical barrier to fluid containing HIV-sized particles.  Three
prospective studies in developed countries indicated that condoms are
unlikely to break or slip during proper use. Reported breakage rates in
the studies were 2% or less for vaginal or anal intercourse (2).  One
study reported complete slippage off the penis during intercourse for one
(0.4%) of 237 condoms and complete slippage off the penis during
withdrawal for one (0.4%) of 237 condoms (7).  Laboratory studies indicate
that the female condom (Reality (trademark) **) -- a lubricated
polyurethane sheath with a ring on each end that is inserted into the
vagina -- is an effective mechanical barrier to viruses, including HIV. No
clinical studies have been completed to define protection from HIV
infection or other STDs. However, an evaluation of the female condom's
effectiveness in pregnancy prevention was conducted during a 6-month
period for 147 women in the United States. The estimated 12-month failure
rate for pregnancy prevention among the 147 women was 26%. Of the 86 women
who used this condom consistently and correctly, the estimated 12-month
failure rate was 11%.  Laboratory studies indicate that nonoxynol-9, a
nonionic surfactant used as a spermicide, inactivates HIV and other
sexually transmitted pathogens. In a cohort study among women, vaginal use
of nonoxynol-9 without condoms reduced risk for gonorrhea by 89%; in
another cohort study among women, vaginal use of nonoxynol-9 without
condoms reduced risk for gonorrhea by 24% and chlamydial infection by 22%
(2). No reports indicate that nonoxynol-9 used alone without condoms is
effective for preventing sexual transmission of HIV.  Furthermore, one
randomized controlled trial among prostitutes in Kenya found no protection
against HIV infection with use of a vaginal sponge containing a high dose
of nonoxynol-9 (2). No studies have shown that nonoxynol-9 used with a
condom increases the protection provided by condom use alone against HIV
infection.

Reported by: Food and Drug Administration. Center for Population Research,
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National
Institutes of Health. Office of the Associate Director for HIV/AIDS; Div
of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion; Div of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV Prevention,
National Center for Prevention Svcs; Div of HIV/AIDS, National Center for
Infectious Diseases, CDC.

Editorial Note: This report indicates that latex condoms are highly
effective for preventing HIV infection and other STDs when used
consistently and correctly. Condom availability is essential in assuring
consistent use. Men and women relying on condoms for prevention of HIV
infection or other STDs should carry condoms or have them readily
available.

Correct use of a latex condom requires 1) using a new condom with each act
of intercourse; 2) carefully handling the condom to avoid damaging it with
fingernails, teeth, or other sharp objects; 3) putting on the condom after
the penis is erect and before any genital contact with the partner; 4)
ensuring no air is trapped in the tip of the condom; 5) ensuring adequate
lubrication during intercourse, possibly requiring use of exogenous
lubricants; 6) using only water-based lubricants (e.g., K-Y jelly
(trademark) or glycerine) with latex condoms (oil-based lubricants (e.g.,
petroleum jelly, shortening, mineral oil, massage oils, body lotions, or
cooking oil) that can weaken latex should never be used); and 7) holding
the condom firmly against the base of the penis during withdrawal and
withdrawing while the penis is still erect to prevent slippage.

Condoms should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and
should not be used after the expiration date. Condoms in damaged packages
or condoms that show obvious signs of deterioration (e.g., brittleness,
stickiness, or discoloration) should not be used regardless of their
expiration date.

Natural-membrane condoms may not offer the same level of protection
against sexually transmitted viruses as latex condoms. Unlike latex,
natural- membrane condoms have naturally occurring pores that are small
enough to prevent passage of sperm but large enough to allow passage of
viruses in laboratory studies (2).

The effectiveness of spermicides in preventing HIV transmission is
unknown. Spermicides used in the vagina may offer some protection against
cervical gonorrhea and chlamydia. No data exist to indicate that condoms
lubricated with spermicides are more effective than other lubricated
condoms in protecting against the transmission of HIV infection and other
STDs.  Therefore, latex condoms with or without spermicides are
recommended.

The most effective way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection and
other STDs is to avoid sexual intercourse with an infected partner. If a
person chooses to have sexual intercourse with a partner whose infection
status is unknown or who is infected with HIV or other STDs, men should
use a new latex condom with each act of intercourse.  When a male condom


cannot be used, couples should consider using a female condom.

Data from the 1988 National Survey of Family Growth underscore the
importance of consistent and correct use of contraceptive methods in
pregnancy prevention (8). For example, the typical failure rate during the
first year of use was 8% for oral contraceptives, 15% for male condoms,
and 26% for periodic abstinence. In comparison, persons who always abstain
will have a zero failure rate, women who always use oral contraceptives
will have a near-zero (0.1%) failure rate, and consistent male condom
users will have a 2% failure rate (9). For prevention of HIV infection and
STDs, as with pregnancy prevention, consistent and correct use is crucial.

The determinants of proper condom use are complex and incompletely
understood. Better understanding of both individual and societal factors
will contribute to prevention efforts that support persons in reducing
their risks for infection. Prevention messages must highlight the
importance of consistent and correct condom use (10).

References

1. CDC. Condoms for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. MMWR
1988;37:133-7.

2. Cates W, Stone KM. Family planning, sexually transmitted diseases, and
contraceptive choice: a literature update. Fam Plann Perspect
1992;24:75-84.

3. Weller SC. A meta-analysis of condom effectiveness in reducing sexually
transmitted HIV. Soc Sci Med 1993;1635-44.

4. DeVincenzi I, European Study Group on Heterosexual Transmission of HIV.
Heterosexual transmission of HIV in a European cohort of couples (Abstract
no.  WS-CO2-1). Vol 1. IXth International Conference on AIDS/IVth STD
World Congress. Berlin, June 9, 1993:83.

5. Saracco A, Musicco M, Nicolosi A, et al. Man-to-woman sexual
transmission of HIV: longitudinal study of 343 steady partners of infected
men. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1993;6:497-502.

6. Carey RF, Herman WA, Retta SM, Rinaldi JE, Herman BA, Athey TW.
Effectiveness of latex condoms as a barrier to human immunodeficiency
virus- sized particles under conditions of simulated use. Sex Transm Dis
1992;19:230- 4.

7. Trussell JE, Warner DL, Hatcher R. Condom performance during vaginal
intercourse: comparison of Trojan-Enz (trademark) and Tactylon (trademark)
condoms. Contraception 1992;45:11-9.

8. Jones EF, Forrest JD. Contraceptive failure rates based on the 1988
NSFG.  Fam Plann Perspect 1992;24:12-9.

9. Trussell J, Hatcher RA, Cates W, Stewart FH, Kost K. Contraceptive
failure in the United States: an update. Stud Fam Plann 1990;21:51-4.

10. Roper WL, Peterson HB, Curran JW. Commentary: condoms and HIV/STD
prevention -- clarifying the message. Am J Public Health 1993;83:501-3.

* Single copies of this report will be available free until August 6,
1994, from the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville,
MD 20849- 6003; telephone (800) 458-5231.

** Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply
endorsement by the Public Health Service or the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.3.  How do you minimize your odds of getting infected?

"Playing the AIDS Odds" (21 Oct 93)

Robert S. Walker, Ph.D.            Phone: (210)224-9172
Emeritus professor                 Internet: rwalker@trinity.edu
Trinity University, Pol.Sci.
715 Stadium Drive                  office: 128 Main Plaza, No.310
San Antonio, TX 78212                      San Antonio, TX, 78205


Everyone worries about the degree of transmission-risk involved in various
activities.  Can you get infected from mutual masturbation? From fisting?
From using poppers? From this and from that?  The real question is, "Is it
possible to provide answers with sufficient precision to allow an
individual confidently to assess risk and modify behavior in specific
situations?"  The answer is "No."  No one knows enough about either sexual
or drug behaviors, and their relation to HIV sero- conversion, to speak
with assurance.  But this doesn't mean that meaningful recommendations are
out of the question.

Those interested in risk assessment might read two articles representing
different approaches.  First: Michael Shernoff, "Integrat- ing Safer Sex
Counseling into Social Work Practice,  Social Casework: The Journal of
Contemporary Social Work, vol. 69 (1988), pp. 334-339.  The author offers
a scaled list of 30 sexual behaviors from abstinence through fisting to
condomless, receptive anal intercourse.  The list is graded from "least
likely" to transmit virus to "most likely."  Some of the relative rankings
are arguable, but the biggest problem is that the intervals of the "risk"
scale are not equal.  For example, #29 is "vaginal intercourse to orgasm
without condoms," #30 is "anal inter- course to orgasm without condoms;"
these two are separated by the same scaler distance as abstinence (no.1)
and solitary masturbation (no.2).  But everyone agrees that, anal
intercourse is many times more dangerous than vaginal for the receptive
partner, not just "one interval" more dangerous.  Such lists are not too
useful; I doubt that any subscriber to this list needs to be told that
solitary masturbation is safer than receptive anal intercourse.   Further,
until a lot more is known about the relationships between specific
behaviors and sero-conversion, the intervals cannot be meaningfully
quantified.

The second article is Norman Hearst and Stephen B. Hulley, "Heterosexual
AIDS," Journal of the American Medical Association, April 22, 1988.  The
authors calculate probabilities for HIV transmission for different
parameters (such as: the area's seroprevalence rate, the infectiousness of
a partner, the condom/spermicide failure rate, and the number of sexual
encounters).  The "odds" of transmission with different parameters (such
as: 500 encounters, .01 condoms failure rate, area seroprevalence of
.0001, and so forth) are then projected.  The resulting odds range from a
"low" of 1 chance in 5 billion to a "high" of 1 transmission in 500
encounters.  In the lowest risk example, there is 1 in 5 billion chance
that HIV will be transmitted when: (1) your partner tests negative; (2)
he/she has no history of high-risk behavior; (3) condoms are used in
intercourse, and the condom failure rate is .01; (4) the area
seroprevalence rate is 0.000001, (5) the infectivity value is 0.002; and
(6) there is only one sexual encounter.

As behavioral guides, neither approach is very helpful. When the possible
sex or drug scenarios become as disparate as they are in real-life
situations, and when the odds resemble your chances of winning a major
lottery, then stating intervals or odds does not provide much more than a
illusion of knowledge and resulting security.

I suggest a different approach to thinking about risk.  First, do not
worry about practices for which there is no documentation of transmission
(as distinct from speculation about it). If there is any risk in kissing,
masturbation, skinny-dipping or whatever, it is probably much less than
the chance of being hit by lightning - and few people worry about that.
Focus on those activities, like intercourse and/or injecting drugs, which
common sense tells you are risky, if for no other reason than that they
have a long history of transmitting other diseases (like syphilis or
hepatitis).  Such behaviors would clearly include injecting drug use
within a group, condomless anal and/or vaginal intercourse, and less
clearly oral sex, fisting, or any S&M practice that involved a possible
blood exchange.

Second, take into account the overall setting within sexual or drug
activity is taking place.  While it seems that we are all biologically at
equal risk, we do not face equal environmental risks.  While HIV
theoretically can spread uniformly from the North to the South pole, it
has not in fact done so. It is one thing to pick up someone at a bar in
Brahma, Oklahoma and another in San Francisco, California. The risk
involved in employing a prostitute in Des Moines is much less than in
Newark, NJ or Washington D.C. where the seroprevalence rate among
prostitutes is very high. Similarly, patronizing a Newark shooting gallery
or crack house is like asking for AIDS, but the risk of transmission
within the West Coast drug scene is much less. For area comparisons see
the Centers for Disease Control's quarterly HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report,
and/or Jonathan Mann et al, AIDS in the World, Harvard U. Press, 1993.

What I am suggesting is that some information plus common sense is a
better guide than current statistical or quasi-statistical statements
about relative risk.  This will remain the case until a great deal more
empiric data is amassed about some of our most private behaviors.  If you
are a person who does not feel comfortable without precise, reliable,
quantified guidelines, then your only course is to abstain from activities
wherein there is a possibility of transmission.  There are many
mood-altering substances that do not require injection, and a lot of
sexual behavior that does not involve penetration and fluid exchange.

With respect to non-sex or drug modes of transmission, all one can say is
that there have been no documented cases of transmission through insect
bites, shared utensils, shared occupational space or equipment, food
handling, and so on.  Theoretical risks for an infinite number of imagined
scenarios can be computed, but in the actual world there are no data
supporting transmission in these scenarios.  An excellent survey of 14
principal articles searching for data on other routes of transmission can
be found in: Robyn R.N Gershon et al, "The Risk of Transmission of HIV-1
Through Non-Percutaneous, Non-Sexual Modes: A Review," Department of
Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Epidemiology, The Johns
Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, distribut- ed by
New York City's Gay Men's Health Crisis, AIDS Clinical Update, October 1,
1990.  There have been cases of transmission through transfusions
/transplants of contaminated whole blood, blood products, donor organs,
and dental work.  The only thing one can do is to be aware of the
possibility, and make sure that those who treat you take all precautions.

Currently, the only way to load the dice in your favor is to use common
sense in any situation wherein someone else's body fluids might be
introduced into yours through sexual or drug behaviors.  If one can
foresee that there would be opportunity for fluid exchange - blood, semen,
vaginal secretions - then a large measure of safety can be had from the
use of condoms (see: Condom Faq) and/or your own works for injecting
drugs.  The only safer course - and it is an honorable and intelligent one
- would be to abstain from such activities altogether.

What must be kept in mind is that the risk of HIV transmission is totally
unlike the risk of losing at the races.  Because you cannot recoup the
loss represented by infection, you ought not think of the "odds" in the
same way.  In fact, it is better not to focus on the so- called "odds" at
all. Given that (1) infection almost always leads to AIDS (estimates=95%),
and (2) that AIDS almost always leads to death (estimates=99%), people
must now think of sex or injecting drug use as an all-or-nothing game, .
Each time you play, there are only two possible outcomes.  If you win you
have, perhaps, enjoyed a pleasant encounter; if you lose, you die.  And
each time you play without regard to common sense evaluation and personal
protection, you enhance the possibility that you will lose.  Its as simple
as that.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.4.  How risky is a blood transfusion?

The following October 15, 1993 United Press International article, was
summarized in the CDC AIDS Daily News Summary.

"CDC Study Finds Five Transfusion-Related AIDS Cases Per Year"  United
Press International (10/25/93)

Miami Beach, Fla.--Since screening for HIV began in 1985, very few people
have become infected with the virus via blood transfusions, according to
experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The rate of
transfusion-related AIDS cases rose steadily from 1978 to 1984, then fell
dramatically when testing began in 1985, said the CDC.  Officials report
that between 1986 and 1991, the number of such cases may have been as low
as five per year.  "While the risk of getting AIDS from a transfusion is
not zero, this study corroborates other CDC research and published data
indicating that the risk is extremely low," said Dr. Arthur J.
Silvergleid, president of the American Association of Blood Banks.  A
total of 4,619 individuals are believed to have been infected through the
blood supply.  Each year in the United States, about 4 million people
receive blood transfusions.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.5.  Can mosquitoes transmit AIDS?

Please see Q2.1 `How is AIDS transmitted?' for general information about
insects and AIDS transmission.

Malaria is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.  Why can't AIDS
be transmitted this way?

Plasmodium, the protozoan that causes malaria, is highly specialized to
infect through a mosquito vector. The gametocytes ingested by the mosquito
from an infected host undergo a further stage of development and give rise
to sporozoites.  These migrate through the insects body until they reach
the salivary glands . They are then injected into a new host by the
mosquito along with its saliva which is an anti-coagulant and needed to
stop clotting.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.6.  What about other insect bites?



From: "Natural History", July 1991, p. 54:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the deadly epidemic caused by
the HIV virus, is most often transmitted by contaminated hypodermic
needles or sexual contact. Since mosquitos feed on human blood and may
attack a series of individuals, the question arises: can you get AIDS from
a mosquito bite?

According to Jonathan F. Day, of the University of Florida's Medical
Entomology Laboratory, insects can transmit viruses in two ways,
mechanically and biologically. With mechanical transmission, infected
blood on the insect's mouthparts might be carried to another host while
the blood is still fresh and the virus still alive. Infection by this
means is possible but highly unlikely, because mosquitos seldom have fresh
blood on the outside of their mouthparts. Mechanical transmission does
occur in horses, however, with equine infectious anemia, a virus closely
related to AIDS and transmitted by horseflies. These flies are "pool
feeders"; their bite causes a small puddle of blood to form, and they
immerse their mouthparts, head, and front legs while lapping it up. If
disturbed, however, they quickly move on to another horse, where the fresh
blood of the two hosts may mingle. Blood-feeding mosquitos are much neater
and more surgical; they insert a tube for drawing blood, and by the time
they are ready for their next meal, even on a second host following an
interrupted meal, any viruses from their first meal are safely stored away
in their midgut.

With biological transmission, the pathogen must complete a portion of its
life cycle within the carrier, or vector species. Protozoans that cause
malaria, for instance, go through an extremely complex cycle within the
mosquito, eventually congregating in the salivary glands, from which they
may infect avian, primate, rodent, or reptilian hosts, depending on the
malaria species. The HIV virus, however, does not replicate or develop in
the mosquito; once in the insect's gut, the virus quickly dies. Repeated
studies since 1986 show that AIDS-infected blood fed to mosquitos and
other arthopods does not live to be passed on and that, fortunately, there
is no biological-transmission cycle of AIDS in blood-feeding arthopods,
which frequently ingest the virus as part of their blood meal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 2.7.  Is there even a remote chance of insect transmission?

An interesting paper is:

                Do Insects Transmit Aids?
                by Lawrence Miike

                Health Program;  Office of Technology Assessment
                United States Congress;  Washington D.C.  20510-8025
                September 1987 -- A Staff Paper in OTA's Series on
                                  AIDS-Related Issues

                For sale by the Superintendent of Documents
                U.S. Government Printing Office
                Washington, D.C.  20402

This paper indicates that "The conditions necessary for successful
transmission of HIV through insect bites, and the probabilities of their
occurring, rule out the possiblility of insect transmission of HIV
infection as a significant factor in the way AIDS is spread.  If insect
transmission is occurring at all, each case would be a rare and unusual
event."

Miike suggests that there are two theoretical mechanisms by which biting
insects might transmit HIV infections:  1).  biological (insect's saliva
to person's blood) and 2).  mechanical (HIV-infected person's fresh blood
to another's blood).  Based on experimental results, they were able to
rule out biological transmission.  This leaves mechanical transmission
during interrupted feeding as a viable mechanism.  So it COULD happen;
HOWEVER...

"The probability of HIV transmission from an insect bite would be
calculated by multiplying (not adding, because each event's probability is
independent of each other) the following factors: 1) how frequently
interrupted feeding occurs, 2) the probability the the insect had bitten
an HIV-infected person prior to biting an uninfected person, and 3) the
probability that the insect bite contained enough HIV to transmit
infection."

"The frequency of interrupted feeding depends on the type of insect; in
general, the larger the insect and the more painful the bite -- such as
horse flies -- the greater the probability that interrupted feeding will
occur.  Other bites, such as from mosquitoes and bedbugs, are usually
unnoticed and therefore usually uninterrupted.  With others, such as
ticks, if their feeding is interrupted, the probability of quickly
transferring to another person is extremely low."

"In mechanical transmission, the maximum amount of HIV that insects would
be able to transfer would be the amount of virus in the blood they had
ingested prior to biting an uninfected person.  Experience with viruses
actually transferred in this manner has shown that the amount of blood
that might be transferred is limited to the amount of blood on the
insect's mouthparts (on the order of 1/100,000 of a milliliter of blood).
An uninfected person would also have to be bitten within an hour of the
insect's biting an infected person; and both infected and uninfected
persons would have to be in close proximity to each other (a few hundred
feet for mosquitoes and biting flies, in the same household for bedbugs),
or else the insect will not have an opportunity to transfer to another
person if its feeding was interrupted."

"Most HIV-infected persons (70-80 percent) do not have detectable levels
of infectious virus in their blood.  Those that do have measurable HIV
have very low levels, much below the levels that are needed for insect
transmission of other viral diseases.  Only rarely does an HIV-infected
person have a blood virus level that might contain enough infectious HIV
for insect transmission."

There you go... it seems that you CAN become HIV-infected via a mosquito
bite.  Then again, you CAN also win the multi-million dollar lotto game
five times consecutively!  8-)  I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about
either of those.



******************************************************************************



Archive-Name: aids-faq2
Last-Modified: 10 Nov 1993

===============================================================================

Section 3.  Confidentiality.

 Q3.1        How is blood tested in the United States?
 Q3.2        What if a blood-bank finds out you are HIV positive?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 3.1.  How is blood tested in the United States?

All blood products in the U.S. are screened by ELISA assays for several
infectious agents, including: HIV 1/2, HTLV I/II, HBV, HCV, Syphillis,
Hepatitis B core, and a liver enzyme ALT, indicative of hepatic
infections.  Some blood donations are also tested for CMV, a more common
virus that has devestating effects in immunocompromised individuals, such
as cancer patients and transplant recipients.

In addition to these laboratories, all donors are screened through
questionaires that meet or exceed FDA requirements.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 3.2.  What if a blood-bank finds out you are HIV positive?

The Red Cross and other blood banks routinely test blood donations for HIV
antibodies.

The Red Cross has specifically asked that people not use blood donation as
a way of finding out if they are HIV+.  If you think you might be
infected, go get a blood test.  Many cities offer free anonymous HIV
testing.  Contact your local public health service office for details.

This is particularly important if you think you might have been infected
within the last six months, since there's the risk that you are indeed
infected, but do not yet have antibodies to HIV.

Blood donation is a fine thing to do--but how will you feel if you donate,
then a month later you find out through some other means that you're HIV+?
We're supposed to be making a gift of life, not death.

The following article discusses how blood banks use the information, if
you have tested positive for HIV antibodies.  In addition to your possible
role in killing another person, donating blood to obtain a free HIV test
also risks your anonymity.

From: McCullough J. The nation's changing blood supply system. JAMA.  1993
May;269(17):2239-45.

"The coded identity of potential or actual blood donors who are found to
be unsuitable on the basis of medical history or laboratory testing is
entered into a donor referral registry (DDR).  Before each donated unit of
blood is made available for use, the coded identity of the donor is
checked against the DDR to ensure that the donor has not been found to be
unsuitable during a previous donation.  Although potentially infectious
donors are so informed and asked not to give blood in the future, this
DDR check is thought to improve the safety of the blood supply by serving
as an additional way of identifying potentially infectious blood should
these donors return.  The American Red Cross operates a single DDR with
information from all of its 47 reginal centers.  However, other blood
banks' DDRs act only locally since there is no requirement that different
blood banks in the same or neighboring communities exchange this DDR
information.  The operation of these DDRs costs money, consumes experts'
time, and has the potential for many abuses such as failure to obtain
informed consent and breeches of confidentiality.  The value of a DDR in
improving the safety of the blood supply has not been established.  An
analysis of the value of thse DDRs should be conducted, and based on the
results, DDRs should be either eliminated or refined into an appropriate
system."

See also: Grossman BJ. Springer KM. Blood donor deferral registries:
highlights of a conference. Transfusion. 1992;32:868-72.

===============================================================================

Section 4.  Treatment options.

 Q4.1        General treatment information.
 Q4.2        AIDS and Opportunistic Infections.
 Q4.3        Guide to Social Security Benefits.
 Q4.4        What if you can't afford AZT?
 Q4.5        What about DNCB? (please contribute)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 4.1.  General treatment information.

[This article was published in AIDSFILE, 1993 Sept, Vol. 7, No. 3, p. 1-3.
(Copyright 1993  The Regents of the University of California).  The
Regents grant permission for material in AIDSFILE to be reprinted for use
by nonprofit educational institutions for scholarly or instructional
purposes only, provided that (1) the author and AIDSFILE are identified;
(2) proper notice of the copyright appears on each copy; (3) copies are
distributed at or below cost.]

     Review of Clinical Guidelines - Antiretroviral Therapy
                     Paul A. Volberding, MD
  
                          Introduction

     A number of new observations have been made recently concerning
antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.  Although new data is always
welcome, lately it seems to cause as much confusion as clarification.
Caregivers for patients with HIV disease continue to recognize the
established benefits of antiretroviral therapy, but new uncertainties have
been introduced.  These uncertainties mean that we must consider the new
information in order to make the best use of available treatments at the
same time that we appreciate their limitations.  Those who care for
patients with HIV disease also anticipate the introduction of new classes
of drugs, and we are beginning to determine how we might use these
additional agents in our patient care.

                  Review of Clinical Guidelines

     Antiretroviral therapy clearly has shown activity in delaying the
progression and death of patients with HIV infection, especially when
therapy has been tested in patients with more advanced disease.  But even
in asymptomatic HIV infection there is a general agreement of at least a
transient clinical benefit from the use of nucleoside analog therapy.
It is clear also that antiretroviral therapy improves various laboratory
markers of the disease, including immunologic and virologic disease
markers, such as CD4 cell counts and HIV p24 antigen levels.  Further
evidence of the clinical activity of these drugs comes from trials showing
a second period of benefit when therapy is changed to a
non-cross-resistant agent, for example, switching from zidovudine to ddI.
In addition, we are encouraged by symptomatic improvement in patients with
advanced disease who are started on antiretroviral drugs.  Also, many
retrospective epidemiology studies continue to show a survival advantage
in patients taking these drugs.       Despite continuing agreement on some
of the benefits of antiretroviral therapy, we also face growing
uncertainties.  Recent studies have shown no survival advantage when
antiretroviral drugs are used in asymptomatic HIV infection, and any
benefit in slowing clinical progression seems to disappear when zidovudine
monotherapy, at least, is given for a prolonged period.  Questions
continue as well about the degree of benefit of antiretroviral therapy for
patients with advanced HIV disease.  Early clinical trials of zidovudine,
for example, were done before the routine used of PCP prophylaxis, which,
by itself, delays progression to that common indicator of AIDS.
Questions about the current status of antiretroviral therapy include:
Which drug or combination is superior as initial therapy? When should this
initial therapy begin?  What is the duration of the benefit from initial
count fell below 300.  When zidovudine monotherapy is begun in patients
with CD4 counts under 300, the additional option of switching to ddI
monotherapy after a fixed interval was raised, but again this interval was
not defined.       Once zidovudine monotherapy has been used, and when it
is no longer felt to be effective for an individual, secondary therapy
must be initiated.  The choice of this therapy, however, is also
uncertain.  In moderate disease, with CD4 cell counts below 300, switching
to ddI was superior to continuing with zidovudine in ACTG trials 116a and
116b/117, while switching to ddC was not of benefit in ACTG 155.  On the
other hand, from data gathered in CPCRA Trial 002, in patients with more
advanced disease, ddI and ddC were equivalent in secondary treatment of
patients previously treated with zidovudine who had progressed despite
taking that drug or who were intolerant of zidovudine toxicity.  In fact,
ddC had a slight but significant superiority compared to ddI in terms of
survival in this trial.       It was hoped that combination therapy
following zidovudine would be beneficial but questions have been raised
following the results of ACTG 155.  In this study, patients previously
treated with zidovudine with CD4 cells below 300 were randomized to stay
on zidovudine, start ddC monotherapy, or begin zidovudine and ddC
combination therapy.       Overall, there was no difference in clinical
progression or survival among the three study arms.  When the baseline CD4
counts are examined, however, it was found that combination therapy was
superior in patients with higher CD4 cell counts, especially between 150
and 300.  Therefore, it might seem advisable not to delay the introduction
of combination therapy until patients have very advanced disease but
rather to use such therapy earlier in the disease course.  Whether
zidovudine and ddI would be as good as zidovudine and ddC has not been
investigated.

Newer Classes of Drugs

     Along with new data on existing therapies, more information is
available now on newer classes of drugs.  These include nucleoside


analogs, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease
inhibitors, and the tat inhibitor.

Nucleoside Analogs.  New nucleoside analogs in clinical investigation
include d4T (stavudine) and 3TC.  d4T has been much more extensively
studied and appears effective in raising CD4 count and lowering HIV p24
antigen in a number of Phase 1 trials.  It appears safe.  Although cases
of pancreatitis have been reported, they seem to be extremely rare.
Neuropathy is the main toxicity but, again, it appears to be somewhat less
than with ddI or ddC.  d4T may not be suitable for combination with
zidovudine as the two drugs have a negative interaction limiting their
activation within the cell.  On the other hand, d4T is a well-tolerated
drug and may prove to be an alternative to one or more of the existing
nucleosides.  3TC also appear safe and may be able to help restore
sensitivity to zidovudine when the patient's HIV has become resistant.

Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors.  The non-nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors, including nevirapine and the Merck "L" drug,
were recently thought to have limited value because they induce high-level
drug resistance so rapidly.  At the Berlin conference, however, one report
showed that by increasing the dosage of nevirapine to 400 mg daily, a dose
well above the level of resistance, prolonged benefit might be achieved.
Also, it was shown that combining zidovudine with nevirapine delays the
onset of nevirapine resistance.  Thus, these drugs may still find a place
in clinical medicine.       At the same time, convergent therapy, using
three drugs together, was disappointing because of simultaneous resistance
to zidovudine, ddI and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Protease Inhibitors.  Protease inhibitors seem to be gaining some ground.
In Phase 1 trials, several of these compounds have evident antiretroviral
activity, which was reflected in decreasing HIV p24 and increasing CD4
cell counts.  Clinical benefits have not been established nor has the
activity of these drugs used in combination with zidovudine been
described.  Because several structurally different protease inhibitors are
being developed by different drug companies, it is hoped that at least one
of these compounds will become more widely available soon for clinical
use.  Tat.  While the protease inhibitors appear encouraging, tat
inhibitors appear to be clinically inactive.  In Phase 1 trials of the
Hoffman LaRoche tat inhibitor, little or no antiretroviral activity was
seen and it is probably that this class of drugs will not be developed
further.

Summary

     Given this complex and seemingly confusing information, what
recommendations can be given to the clinician?  Most important is to
individualize the decision-making and to consider the desires of the
patient even more than previously.  Some patients gravitate easily to more
aggressive therapy, while others prefer a more conservative therapeutic
approach.  With the former, initiating therapy at or even above 500 CD4
counts, perhaps even with a combination of zidovudine and ddI, may be
considered.  For more conservative patients, however, following the
recommendations of the Concorde study may in order.  In other words, defer
the initiation of zidovudine monotherapy until the onset of clinical
symptoms.       Once the choice of initial therapy has been made, all
other recommendations must also be individualized.  No firm data are
available to guide the decision about how long to continue a therapy or
even about what to use next.  Most of these options have not been compared
directly in clinical trials.  It would seem advisable to continue therapy
longer in patients with relatively earlier disease when therapy is
initiated.  On the other hand, if patients have more advanced disease, for
example, are symptomatic or have CD4 cell counts below 300 when therapy is
begun, then a more rapid alteration of therapy to a non-cross-resistant
drug or combination should be considered.  The goal in each patient is to
continue effective antiretroviral therapy for as long as possible,
discontinuing the therapy if further benefits appear impossible.
Although the results of recent clinical trials are disappointing in some
respects, it nevertheless is important to have these data.  Only then can
we adjust our expectations and our patients' expectations of
antiretroviral treatment and learn how to make the best use of the drugs
that we have available.  Recognizing the increasing need for the
development of new classes of more effective drugs in combinations, we
must still seek to maintain the optimism that enables progress in our
patients' care.

     Dr. Volberding is a UC San Francisco professor of medicine and
Director, UCSF AIDS Program at San Francisco General Hospital.

References: ZDV and The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (1989-93):

Aweeka FT.  Gambertoglio JG.  et al.  Pharmacokinetics of concomitantly
administered foscarnet and zidovudine for treatment of human
immunodeficiency virus infection (AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol
053).  Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy.  36(8):1773-8, 1992 Aug.

Fischl MA.  Richman DD.  et al.  The safety and efficacy of zidovudine
(AZT) in the treatment of subjects with mildly symptomatic human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection.  A double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group [see comments].
Annals of Internal Medicine.  112(10):727-37, 1990 May 15. [Editor's Note:
This article reports the results of ACTG 106.]

Fischl MA.  Parker CB.  et al. A randomized controlled trial of a reduced
daily dose of zidovudine in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group.  New England Journal of
Medicine.  323(15): 1009-14, 1990 Oct 11.

Gelber RD.  Lenderking WR.  et al.  Quality-of-life evaluation in a
clinical trial of zidovudine therapy in patients with mildly symptomatic
HIV infection. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group.  Annals of Internal
Medicine.  116(12 Pt 1):961-6, 1992 Jun 15.

Hochster H.  Dieterich D.  et al.  Toxicity of combined ganciclovir and
zidovudine for cytomegalovirus disease associated with AIDS.  An AIDS
Clinical Trials Group Study.  Annals of Internal Medicine.  113(2):111-7,
1990 Jul 15.



******************************************************************************



Archive-Name: aids-faq4
Last-Modified: 10 Nov 1993

===============================================================================

Section 6.  Internet resources.

 Q6.1        Ben Gardiner's Gopher AIDS Database
 Q6.2        CDC AIDS Public Information Dataset.
 Q6.3        HIVNET/AEGIS Gateway (BETA VERSION)
 Q6.4        Other USENET newsgroups.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 6.1.  Ben Gardiner's Gopher AIDS Database

The 'gopher' system provides convenient menu-driven access to a wealth of
arcana--and valuable information--on the Internet.  Daily, more and more
resources are made available in gopherspace.  Generally, your local gopher
client (if one is installed) will be available by typing 'gopher' at your
system prompt; your local system administrator should be able to provide
further details.  Local gopher clients in turn allow convenient access to
other remote gopher clients throughout the Internet.

One of the most valuable gopher resources for AIDS-related information is
the mirror of Ben Gardiner's AIDS-Info BBS database (also available by
direct modem dialup -- see below section).  This database exists on the
University of California at San Francisco Experimental Gopher.  It may be
reached either, (1) through the menu system of your local gopher:
     -->  More Gophers and Other Internet Services/
     -->  All Registered Gophers/
     -->  North America/
     -->  USA/
     -->  california/
     -->  University of California - San Francisco, UCSFYI/
     -->  Computers and Networking Guide to Services at UCSF/
     -->  Questions, Answers and Information about Everything/
     -->  Databases (including Ben Gardiner's AIDS BBS database)/

or, (2) by typing 'gopher itsa.ucsf.edu', and going through the final
three menus.  However, these particular menus are subject to change.

The most convenient means of reaching the database is by adding the below
information to your '.gopherrc' file.  This will set a bookmark in your
personal gopher for the AIDS-Info BBS, which may be reached by typing 'v'
from anywhere within the gopher system.  The information to add, using
your favorite system editor, is:

Type=1
Name=Databases (including Ben Gardiner's AIDS BBS database)
Path=1/.i/.q/.d
Host=itsa.ucsf.edu
Port=70

The University of California at San Francisco Experimental Gopher also
provides gopher gateways to a wide variety of Biology and Medical resource
gophers.  The UCSF gopher may be reached as described above ('gopher
itsa.ucsf.edu'), or most simply by adding the following to your
'.gopherrc' file:

Type=1
Name=Bio and Medical Gophers and Info. Sites
Path=1/Bio and Medical Gophers and Info. Sites
Host=itsa.ucsf.edu
Port=70

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 6.2.  CDC AIDS Public Information Dataset.

You can get the CDC AIDS public information Dataset via anonymous ftp.
Michelle Murrain has set up a small AIDS ftp site, which has the most
recent dataset (data through 1992). She gets each year's version (usually
in June-July) and puts it there. It contains a line of data on each
individual, including transmission category, OIs diagnosed, date of
diagnosis, etc.  If you send her your snail mail address she'll send you a
copy of the guide to the dataset.

Michelle has used the dataset to analyze differences in OI prevalence in
women and men (J Women's Health - out soon) and is now in the process of
looking at ethnic and gender differences in survival, especially at
whether everybody has benefited from recent improvements in survival with
AIDS.

The ftp site is:

  dawn.hampshire.edu:AIDS


The name of the file is PIDS92Q4.DAT (BEWARE the file is 16 MB!!) There is
also a Women and AIDS bibliography there.  If anyone has resources they
would like to share with folks via FTP let her know and she'll be glad to
add them.  Contact Michelle Murrain via

  mmurrain@HAMP.HAMPSHIRE.EDU


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 6.3.  HIVNET/AEGIS Gateway (BETA VERSION)

After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, the gateway for the HIVNET/AEGIS
message areas is about to go into testing.  If you are interested, I would
like to invite you to be part of our test group.

Thank you for your interest in the HIVNET/AEGIS mailing lists.  HIVNET is,
as you probably know, a network for HIV and AIDS information and
discussion.  HIVNET is primarily based in Europe and, together with our
sister organization, AEGIS, based in the US and reaching to other
continents as well, try to make as much free information available as
possible.  We distribute both message areas (analogous to Usenet
newsgroups) and files, containing periodicals such as Aids Treatment News
and the CDC Aids Daily Summary, as well as one-shot documents and reports.

HIVNET and AEGIS have been based on Fido protocols and technology,
allowing low-cost entry into the net.  The file distribution capabilities
of Fidonet have been put to good use as well.

For this test period, we are gatewaying the following areas to mailing
lists, based at NLnet.  NLnet, the commercial Internet provider in the
Netherlands, has been kind enough to subsidize our connectivity.  For the
time being, we do NOT wish to distribute these areas as newsgroups, out of
concern for the signal to noise ratio.  Up until now, these groups have
all been extremely high signal in comparison with areas such as
sci.med.aids.  In the future, if the demand grows enough, we will look
into distribution as a separate hierarchy.

The configuration is still be tested, so please feel free to report any
anomalies.  The lists are all resident on inter.nl.net.  The available
lists are:

Fido area       List name               Source  Description
---------       ---------               ------  -----------
AIDS.DATA                               AEGIS   Read-only - data postings
AIDS.DIALOGUE   hiv-aids-dialogue       AEGIS   Discussion area
AIDS.DRUGS                              AEGIS   Read-only - NLM Drug desc.
AIDS.SPIRITUAL  hiv-aids-spiritual      AEGIS   Spiritual discussion
AIDS.TRIALS                             AEGIS   Read-only - NLM Drug trials
AIDS.WOMEN      hiv-aids-women          AEGIS   Discussion of women's issues
 
AIDS.NL         hiv-aids-nl             HIVNET  Dutch language discussion and
                                                data
 
AIDS.FR         hiv-aids-fr             HIVNET  French language discussion and
                                                data
 
HIVNET.GER      hiv-hivnet-ger          HIVNET  German language discussion and
                                                data
 
AIDS/ARC        hiv-aids-arc            FIDONET Discussion - from Fidonet
                                                backbone
 
INTERNET        hiv-internet            HIVNET  Discussion and announcements
                                                about the lists and gateway

If anyone should have an article for submission to AIDS.DATA, it should be
sent to hiv-aids-data, which will forward it on to the moderator.

Please send me a list of which lists you want to join.  After the setup,
to join a list or unsubscribe, send a message to the -request address,
such as hiv-aids-dialogue-request@inter.nl.net.  Submissions go to the
list name at inter.nl.net, i.e., hiv-aids-dialogue@inter.nl.net.

The file base should be available within the month via anonymous FTP and
gopher.  There will be a facility to receive announcements of new files.
If you wish to join this list as well, let me know.

A few notes about the lists and gateway:

* E-mail replies to individuals are not really possible at this time, due
  to limitations in the gatewaying software.  At the bottom of this
  document is a list of working addresses.

* The volume on some groups can be pretty high, such as hiv-aids-data.  Be
  warned!  it is, however, a very useful source of information.

* The gateway itself, at least for the time being, is a ramshackle,
  Rube-Goldbergesque collection of PD software (FredGate, Waffle), Fido
  software (Gecho, FrontDoor) and Perl scripts, all running on a poor
  386SX in my work room.  Later I hope to move the whole thing to a
  FreeBSD Unix box.

First I have to find a machine to develop it on!

Any questions can be addressed to either the hiv-internet list (by
preference), or to me personally at matthew@ic.uva.nl.  I am automatically
connecting everybody to the hiv-internet list, at least during the test
phase.

Thank you for your interest!
Best regards,
Matthew
 
Working e-mail addresses:
 
Matthew Lewis           matthew@hivnet.org
Tjerk Zweers            Tjerk.Zweers@amsterdam.hivnet.org (aids.data
moderator)
Sister Mary Elizabeth   Mary.Elizabeth@aegis.hivnet.org (aids.data moderator)
Jan Langenberg          Jan.Langenberg@amsterdam.hivnet.org (aids.nl overseer)
Lucas Vermaat           Lucas.Vermaat@limburg.hivnet.org (sysop, HIVNET board)
Ron Dixon               Ron.Dixon@london.hivnet.org (sysop)
 

Any of the users at the following BBS systems in HIVNET are reachable at
the address of the system, with the FULL NAME as user name, with '.'
instead of spaces:
 
Fido                    Internet
----                    --------
1:103/927               aegis.hivnet.org
2:25/555                london.hivnet.org
2:280/413               amsterdam.hivnet.org
2:280/419               hivnet.org
2:284/306               limburg.hivnet.org
 
Other systems may follow, as the gateway is expanded.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 6.4.  Other USENET newsgroups.

Questions about AIDS come up occasionally in sci.med and soc.motss.  The
newsgroup bionet.molbio.hiv may or may not be available at your site--it
discusses technical issues related to the molecular biology of HIV.  As
with any newsgroup, including sci.med.aids, you should read these for a
few days before posting, to see if your question has been answered
already, and to get a feel for the tone of the group.

===============================================================================

Section 7.  Other Electronic Information Sources.

 Q7.1        Ben Gardiner's list of AIDS BBSes.
 Q7.2        National AIDS Clearinghouse Guide to AIDS BBSes.
 Q7.3        National Library of Medicine AIDSLINE (please contribute)
 Q7.4        Commercial Bulletin Boards
 Q7.5        Reappraisal of the HIV-AIDS Hypothesis.
 Q7.6        Lesbian/Gay Scholars Directory.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 7.1.  Ben Gardiner's list of AIDS BBSes.

The below list of Bulletin Board Systems is taken from Ben Gardiner's
AIDS-Info BBS.  First is a summary of telephone numbers, followed by
writeups on some of the specific services.



Subject: New Black Bag BBS List
Date: Dec  7 1991  (760 lines)

AIDSBBS.LST        AIDS Bulletin Boards Systems (BBS)               7-4-91

 Phone Number  |  Name of Service -   |   Baud |Rates or Other Information
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(415) 626-1246 |AIDS Info BBS      SFO|300/2400|Free, can be an alias
(512) 444-9908 |HEALTH-LINK        AUS|300/2400|Free, can be an alias
(302) 731-1998 |Black Bag BBS       DE|300/1200|List of Medical BBSs &...
(215) 755-1917 |ECB Systems           |300/2400|Free, can be an alias
(602) 235-9653 |St. Joseph's Hosp. PHX|300/1200|Free, Medical BBS
(703) 578-4542 |GLIB                VA|300/2400|Free, Donations/Over 18
(718) 849-1614 |BACKROOM           NYC|300/2400|Charge, Gay BBS/ Gaycomm
(800) 926-2792 |NAPWA-Link         DCA|300/2400|Charge, 8 Toll Free Lines
(206) 323-4420 |Seattle AIDS Info  SEA|300/1200|Free, can be an alias
(213) 825-3736 |UCLA-DAIMP (AIDS)  LAX|300/2400|Free, can be an alias
(800) 825-3736 |UCLA-DAIMP (AIDS)  LAX|300/2400|Free, Toll Free-CA only
(504) 584-1654 |Tulane Med. Ctr.   BTR|300/9600|Free
(516) 842-7518 |Utopian Quest       NY|300/1200|Free, $$ or Services
(212) 686-5248 |Utopian Quest      NYC|300/1200|Free, $$ or Services
(214) 247-5609 |AIDS Info. Exch.   HOU|300/1200|Free, Login: Type AIDS
(214) 247-2367 | "     "     "      " |300/2400|  "     "      "    "
(214) 247-8432 | "     "     "      " |300/2400|  "     "      "    "
(214) 247-8437 | "     "     "      " |300/2400|  "     "      "    "
(202) 639-8735 |HRCF NET           DCA|300/2400|Free, can be alias
(206) 543-3719 |U. of Wash. HHS    SEA|300/9600|Free, can be alias
(415) 863-9697 |FOG CITY           SFO|300/2400|Free, Use Name: AIDS INFO
(404) 351-9757 |Medical Forum      ATL|300/2400|Free
(518) 783-7251 |CCMC-AIDS             |300/2400|Free
(415) 863-9718 |AIDS Action BBS    SFO|300/2400|Free
(519) 822-0896 |AIDS Info - Canada    |300/2400|Free
(604) 681-0670 |Questor Project-Canada|300/2400|Free
(800) 245-2601 |HOTFLASH           STL|300/2400|Charge/GayCom
(803) 252-6103 |Paragon             SC|300/2400|Charge/Gaycom
(713) 521-2191 |Exchange BBS       HOU|300/2400|Charge/Gaycom
(316) 269-4208 |Land of Awes        KS|300/2400|Charge/Gaycom
(800) 522-6388 |CDC AIDS Lab Info  ATL|300/2400|Registration for labs
(617) 245-9464 |Doug's Den         BOU|300/2400|Charge/GayCom
(301) 235-4651 |Harbor Bytes       BLT|300/2400|Charge/GayCom
(514) 597-2409 |S-TEK         Montreal|300/2400|Charge/GayCom
(201) 968-7883 |The Super Stud      NJ|300/2400|Charge/GayCom
(708) 694-4298 |The Lambda Zone    CHI|300/2400|Charge/GayCom

[Copyright Ben Gardiner, 1993, for AIDS Info BBS, San Francisco,
California, U.S.A., 1-415-626-1246, source of this file.  Only
non-commercial reproduction is permitted.]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 7.2.  National AIDS Clearinghouse Guide to AIDS BBSes.

Subject: Guide to AIDS BBSes
Date: Apr  2 1993  (396 lines)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse

                    A SELECTED GUIDE TO AIDS-RELATED
                       ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARDS
INTRODUCTION

This is a guide to representative electronic bulletin boards containing
information about HIV infection and AIDS. This guide is not a complete
listing of all AIDS-related electronic bulletin boards, but has been
prepared as an introduction to the subject and can be used as a starting
point to locate information. This document was prepared by the CDC
National AIDS Clearinghouse; please notify the CDC Clearinghouse with any
updates or additions. Inclusion of a service does not imply endorsement by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC Clearinghouse, or
any other organization.

Electronic bulletin board systems, often called BBS's or bulletin boards,
are computerized information services that are accessed by using a
computer, modem, and telephone line. BBS's meet today's demands for
current news on HIV infection and AIDS and provide a convenient means for
information exchange among professionals, volunteers, and individuals
involved in the fight against AIDS.

BBS's can consist of any of the following features: electronic mail,
bulletin board forums, searchable databases, and transferrable information
files. Electronic mail is a convenient way of sending private messages to
others using the same system. Bulletin board forums, sometimes called
conferences, are interactive systems for posting public messages to groups
of users connected to the same system. Searchable databases can sometimes
be accessed through BBSs, providing a quick means of obtaining specific
information such as bibliographic references, full-text articles, and
information about organizations. Text files of information can be
downloaded from most BBS's, then later edited and/or printed at the user's
computer.

Many BBS's provide gateways to national forums. Messages posted on these
forums are "echoed" on networks linking BBS's throughout the country. Some
examples of these forums include the FidoNet AIDS/ARC forum, the UseNet
SCI.MED.AIDS newsgroup (available on all Internet nodes as the AIDS
listserv), the GayComm Talk About AIDS forum, and the AIDS Education and
General Information Service (AEGIS) network's AIDS.DATA and AIDS.DIALOG.

To access a BBS, your computer (IBM-compatible or Macintosh) must be
equipped with a modem (external or internal; 2400+ baud recommended) and
communications software (such as ProComm, CrossTalk, or Red Ryder). The
modem must be connected to the computer and to a phone line. It is
preferable, but not necessary, to use a phone jack separate from any
telephones; the phone and the modem can use the same phone line, but not
simultaneously.

CDC NAC ONLINE

CDC NAC ONLINE is the computerized information network of the CDC National
AIDS Clearinghouse and gives AIDS-related organizations direct
computerized access to the CDC Clearinghouse and its information and
bulletin board services. It contains the latest news and announcements
about many critical AIDS- and HIV-related issues, including prevention and
education campaigns, treatment and clinical trials, legislation and
regulation, and upcoming events. CDC NAC ONLINE provides direct access to
CDC Clearinghouse databases such as the Resources and Services Database of
organizations providing AIDS-related services. The system also features
electronic mail, interactive bulletin board forums, and is the original
source of the AIDS Daily Summary newsclipping service.

CDC NAC ONLINE users include U.S. Public Health Service agencies,
universities, health administrators, community-based organizations, and
other professionals working in the fight against AIDS. CDC NAC ONLINE is a
free service for qualified non-profit organizations and can be accessed by
dialing a toll-free number. For a registration form or more information,
call the CDC Clearinghouse at (800) 458-5231.

OTHER SERVICES

Unless otherwise stated, services are free. The phone number listed at the
top right of each record is the data-line that can be dialed with a modem.

AIDS Info BBS. . . . . . . . . . . . .San Francisco, CA;  (415) 626-1246
    AIDS Info BBS is a long-established comprehensive electronic bulletin
board targeted primarily to HIV-positive individuals, persons with AIDS,
and others concerned about HIV infection. It contains hundreds of articles
including AIDS Treatment News, electronic mail, and an open forum. Anyone
can access AIDS Info BBS free. For more information, contact Ben Gardiner,
AIDS Info BBS, P.O. Box 1528, San Francisco, CA 94101.

AIDSQUEST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Atlanta, GA;  (404) 377-9563
    AIDSQUEST is an electronic bulletin board provided by AIDS Weekly
publishers for AIDS Weekly newsletter subscribers. AIDSQUEST replaces AIDS
Weekly Infoline, an electronic bulletin board that was previously
available to any caller. AIDSQUEST includes DAITA, the Database of
Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Therapies for AIDS, articles from AIDS
Weekly, statistics from CDC, an interactive forum, and the UseNet echo of
SCI.MED.AIDS. Anyone can obtain information about AIDSQUEST by connecting
online to the above number. For more information, contact AIDS Weekly,
P.O. Box 5528, Atlanta, GA 30307-0528, (404) 377-8895.

Black Bag BBS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wilmington, DE;  (302) 994-3772
    Black Bag BBS, a member of the AEGIS network, is an electronic
bulletin board containing information about many medical topics including
HIV/AIDS. The Black Bag Medical BBS List is a comprehensive list of
medical-related electronic bulletin boards in the United States and
abroad. Black Bag BBS also includes AIDS Treatment News, AIDS statistics
and the FidoNet echo of the AIDS National Discussion. Donations are
encouraged, but anyone can access Black Bag BBS free. For more
information, contact Edward Del Grosso, MD, 1 Ball Farm Way, Wilmington,
DE  19808.

Boston AIDS Consortium SPIN. . . . . . . . . Boston, MA;  (617) 432-2511
    SPIN, or Service Provider Information Network, is maintained by the
Boston AIDS Consortium. It includes AIDS Treatment News, statistics from
CDC, and other AIDS-related information. Anyone can access SPIN by
connecting online to and typing the username "spin."  For more
information, contact
Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02112,
(617) 432-0885.

Breaking Walls; Building Bridges . . . . . . Concord, CA; (510) 827-0804
    Breaking Walls; Building Bridges is sponsored by the Diablo Valley
Metropolitan Community Church and includes general MCC information as well
as AIDS dialog and files, including the AIDS Daily Summary.  It serves the
Oakland/East San Francisco Bay area and is a member of the AEGIS network.
For more information, contact Breaking Walls; Building Bridges, Diablo
Balley Metropolitan Community Church, P.O. Box 139, Concord, CA  94522-
0139.

CAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Subscription Only
    CAIN is the Computerized AIDS Information Network sponsored by the
state of California. CAIN contains electronic mail, an interactive
bulletin board forum, and databases of upcoming events, educational
materials, organizations, and articles. It resides on the Delphi network;
charges for connect time are billed by Delphi. For more information,
contact CAIN, 1625 N. Hudson Ave., Los Angeles, CA  90028-9998,
(213) 993-7416.

Can We Talk - Chicago. . . . . . . . . . . .Chicago, IL;  (312) 588-0587
    Can We Talk - Chicago (CWT) is a publicly accessible, privately
operated system. It contains many newsletters, government information, and
articles. It offers connections up to 9600 baud. For more information,
contact Eddie V, Sysop, Can We Talk - Chicago, 3943 N. Whipple St.,
Chicago, IL  60618-3519.

CESAR Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, DC;  (301) 403-8343
    Administered by the Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of
Maryland, College Park and supported by Governor Schaefer's Drug and
Alcohol Abuse Commission. Includes Maryland AIDS statistics. Within
Maryland, call (800) 84-CESAR. For more information, contact Center for
Substance Abuse Research, 4321 Hartwick Road, Suite 501, College Park, MD
20740, (301) 403-8329.

CHEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  By Subscription Only
    CHEN is the Comprehensive Health Education Network sponsored by the
Council of Chief State School Officers. It contains general information
about HIV issues related to schools. It includes the biweekly HIV/AIDS
Education Bulletin Board newsletter. Use of CHEN is free to qualified
organizations; however, the purchase of IBM PSINet software is necessary.
For more information, contact Council of Chief State School Officers, One
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC  20001-1431, (202)
408-5505.

Critical Path AIDS Project BBS . . . . Philadelphia, PA;  (215) 563-7160
    The Critical Path AIDS Project has developed an electronic bulletin
board for persons with AIDS, researchers, health-care providers, and
others. It includes an extensive series of forums, downloadable files
including primarily resource and treatment information. Anyone can access
the system free by typing "BBS" when first connecting to the system. A
9600-baud connection can be made by dialing (215) 463-7162. A user's
manual is available. For more information, contact Critical Path AIDS
Project, 2062 Lombard St., Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 545-2212.

FDA Electronic Bulletin Board  . . . . . . . .Toll-free;  (800) 222-0185
    The Food and Drug Administration operates a publicly accessible
electronic bulletin board. Included are press releases related to AIDS,
such as those announcing new drug approvals. To access, dial the above
modem and enter "BBS" at the "Login" prompt. Local users in the Washington
DC metro area should call (301) 227-6849. Those on an FTS2000 line should
dial FTS-394-6849 or 394-5657. There is no charge and users can connect at
up to 9600 baud. A users manual and technical support are also available.
For more information contact the FDA Press Office, Parklawn Building, 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857.

Fog City BBS . . . . . . . . . . . . San Francisco, CA;  (415) 863-9697
    Fog City BBS, a member of the AEGIS network, includes many articles,
general information, and the GayComm Talk About AIDS forum. Although a
subscription fee is charged for full membership, anyone can call Fog City
BBS for free AIDS information by connecting online to and logging on as
"AIDS INFO" when prompted for first and last name. For more information,
contact Fog City BBS, 584 Castro Street #184, San Francisco, CA
94114-2588, Fax: (415) 863-9718.

GLIB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, DC;  (703) 578-GLIB
    GLIB, the Gay & Lesbian Information Bureau, is maintained by the
Community Educational Services Foundation. It includes treatment
information and the GayComm Talk About AIDS echo. Subscription fees vary
and may not be required in some cases. GLIB is also available through Bell


Atlantic's IntelliGate Service. Anyone can obtain information about GLIB
by connecting online as a visitor. For more information, contact Community
Educational Services Foundation, P.O. Box 636, Arlington, VA 22216, (703)
379-4568.

HEEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kenney, LA;  (504) 443-5546
    HEEF is the Health Education Electronic Forum, which replaces the
Tulane Medical Center's BBS. A $2.00 subscription fee is requested. Anyone
can register on HEEF by connecting and logging on as a visitor. For more
information, contact Lifestyle and Health Promotion, 59 Monterey Dr.,
Kenner, LA 70065-3142.

HIV/AIDS Information BBS . . . .San Juan Capistrano, CA;  (714) 248-2836
    HIV/AIDS Information BBS is the hub of the AIDS Education and General
Information System (AEGIS), a growing network of HIV-related electronic
bulletin boards (see last page). It includes many newsletters and hundreds
of files that can be downloaded. It also echoes FidoNet and other
networks, and is available via PC Pursuit. Anyone can access HIV/AIDS
Information BBS free at connections up to 9600 baud. For more information,
contact Sister Mary Elizabeth, Sisters of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, P.O.
Box 184, San Juan Capistrano, CA  92693-0184.

HNS HIV-NET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tollfree;  (800) 788-4118
    HNS HIV-NET, sponsored by Home Nutrition Services, is an electronic
bulletin board for physicians and other health-care professionals treating
HIV-positive patients and those with AIDS.  It contains hundreds of files
of newsletter articles, bibliographies, and graphics files of pictures of
opportunistic infections.  There are also a number of different forums,
corresponding to different health-care professions.  Interested users
should dial the data line to register.  After being validated or registered
by the sysop, they can call back.  For more information, contact John Owens,
MD, HNS HIV-NET BBS, 9037 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX  77054.

The Houston Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . .Houston, TX;  (713) 521-2191
    The Houston Exchange, a member of the AEGIS network, contains
information from the Houston Clinical Research Network, an affiliate of
the Montrose Clinic. Anyone can access the Houston Exchange free. For more
information, contact Houston Clinical Research Network, 4211 Graustark,
Houston, TX  77006, (713) 528-5554.

LEGALNET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Petersburg, FL;  (813) 343-0797
    The Stetson University College of Law's Legal Information Network
sponsors an online discussion area and a selection of files relating to
legal HIV issues. Anyone can access LEGALNET free with connections up to
9600 baud. For more information, contact Stetson University College of
Law, 1401 61st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, (813) 343-0797.

LPIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  By Subscription Only
    LPIES is the Laboratory Performance Information Exchange System
sponsored by CDC's Public Health Program Practice Office and is available
free to HIV testing laboratories and related organizations. Qualified
users can register by connecting online to (800) 522-6388. For more
information, contact Program Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 12794, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27709, (800) 322-4383.

NAPWA-Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, DC;  (703) 998-3144
    NAPWA-Link is the electronic bulletin board of the National
Association of People With AIDS and is part of the network maintained by
the Community Educational Services Foundation (see GLIB). NAPWA-Link
contains electronic mail, announcements, and databases of news articles,
drug interactions, and organizations. Users must pay a fee; several
membership plans are available. Anyone can connect for online information
about NAPWA and NAPWA-Link by logging on as a visitor. For more
information, contact the National Association of People with AIDS, P.O.
Box 34056, Washington, DC 20043, (202) 898-0414.

NCJRS BBS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, DC;  (301) 738-8895
    The NCJRS BBS is the electronic bulletin board of the National
Criminal Justice Reference Service. It includes information about
publications and services available from the National Institute of Justice
AIDS Clearinghouse, such as information about HIV and incarceration.
Anyone can access NCJRS BBS free. For more information, contact National
Criminal Justice Reference Service, P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-
6000, (800) 851-3420.

OASH BBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, DC;  (202) 690-5423
    OASH BBS is the free and publicly accessible electronic bulletin board
of the U.S. Public Health Service, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Health, National AIDS Program Office. It distributes many files of AIDS-
related information from the federal government, including the AIDS Daily
Summary, Federal Register announcements for funding, and the National
Library of Medicine's AIDS Bibliography. OASH BBS has electronic mail,
public forums, and file transfer. Anyone can access OASH BBS free;
connections up to 9600 baud are available. For more information, contact
National AIDS Program Office, Hubert Humphrey Bldg. Room 729-H, 200
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC  20201, (202) 690-6248.

Ohio AIDS/HIV BBS. . . . . . . . . . . . . Columbus, OH;  (614) 279-7709
    Ohio AIDS/HIV BBS is a relatively new system that branched off from
the Mystic Christian & Recovery BBS. It is a member of the AEGIS network.
Connections up to 9600 baud are available. For more information, contact
Michael Kelly, Sysop, Ohio AIDS/HIV Info BBS, P.O. Box 2970, Columbus, OH
43216.

Public Health Network  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Subscription Only
    The Public Health Network is produced for public health administrators
by the Public Health Foundation and contains information posted by a
number of U.S. Public Health Service agencies including CDC, the National
Institute for Drug Abuse, and the Health Resources and Services
Administration. A subscription is required and connect fees are charged.
For more information, contact Chris Frank, Public Health Foundation, 1220
L St., NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 898-5600.

Questor  . . . . . . . . . . . British Columbia, Canada;  (604) 681-0670
    Questor is UseNet system (for Unix users) that echoes the UseNet
SCI.MED.AIDS discussion. Anyone can access Questor free by connecting
online to the above number.

Seattle AIDS Information BBS . . . . . . . .Seattle, WA;  (206) 323-4420
    Seattle AIDS Information BBS, a member of the AEGIS network, is
targeted to persons with AIDS and HIV infection. It contains electronic
mail, bulletin board forums, and hundreds of articles available for
viewing and file transfer. Donations are encouraged, but anyone can access
Seattle AIDS Information BBS free. For more information, contact Seattle
AIDS Information BBS, 1202 E. Pike, Suite 658, Seattle, WA 98122-3918.

888 Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richmond, VA;  (804) 266-0212
    888 Online is a member of the AEGIS network and includes all AEGIS
files as well as interactive forums. Files can be searched by words in
their text. 888 Online also includes information related to alternative
lifestyles and recovery. For more information, contact Bill Smith, 888
Online BBS, P.O. Box 15885, Richmond, VA  23227-5885.


AEGIS

Listed below are the network affiliates of the AIDS Education and General
Information System (AEGIS).  These BBSs echo messages and exchange files
of HIV/AIDS information, including the AIDS Daily Summary.  The AEGIS
network is also linked to a similar network in Europe called HIVNET.
Anyone can log on anonymously to an AEGIS BBS for free.  Other BBS
services interested in joining AEGIS should contact Sister Mary Elizabeth
of the HIV/AIDS Information BBS (which see).

                        AEGIS NETWORK AFFILIATES

State         BBS Name                         Fidonet Node   Phone Number
Arizona       The Meat Rack BBS                1:114/188      602.273.6956
California    Breaking Walls; Building Bridges 1:161/203      510.827.0804
California    The Task Force                   1:161/513      707.746.6091
California    Fog City BBS                     1:125/100      415.863.9697
California    The Clovis Co of Fresno          1:205/48       209.323.7583
California    HIV/AIDS Info BBS                1:103/927      714.248.2836
Colorado      Telepeople                       1:104/69       303.426.1866
Colorado      The Denver Exchange              1:104/909      303.623.4965
Delaware      Black Bag Medical BBS            1:150/140      302.994.3772
Florida       MOTSS BBS of Satellite Beach     1:374/41       407.779.0058
Florida       Aftermidnite BBS / Tampa         1:377/43       813.831.7587
Massachusetts The Den                          1:101/225      617.662.6969
Minnesota     Drag-Net / Andover               1:282/1007     612.753.1943
Missouri      Doc in the Box                   1:289/8        314.893.6099
Missouri      KC AIDS InfoLink                 1:280/14       816.561.1187
Nevada        Las Vegas AIDS Info BBS          1:209/238      702.658.3591
New York      Brooklyn College ONLINE!         1:278/0        718.951.4631
New York      The Erie Canal BBS               1:2608/31      315.445.4710
North Carolina The Isolated Pawn / Durham      1:3641/281     919.471.1440
Ohio           The Mystic Christian            1:226/520      614.279.7709
Oklahoma       The Looking Glass BBS / Tulsa   1:170/706      918.743.1268
Tennessee     Riverside BBS                    1:123/424      901.452.6832
Texas         The Houston Exchange             1:106/20       713.521.2191
Texas         Puss-N-Boots / Grand Prairie     1:124/3103     214.641.1822
Texas         AIDS Chat Line / Grand Prairie   1:130/55       214.256.5586
Texas         Loaves & Fishes BBS              8:3000/7       512.444.8790
Virginia      888 Online                       1:264/190      804.266.0212
Washington    Seattle AIDS Info BBS                           206.323.4420
Ontario       Mother's Board / Ottawa          1:243/38       613.728.4122
Quebec        EC / Bellefeuille, Pq            1:242/90       514.433.1105
Australia     SouthMed of Sydney Net           3:712/700      61.2.583.1027
NOTES

Several publicly accessible commercial networks have AIDS-related forums,
such as The Well [Whole Earth 'Lectronic Network, online registration:
(415) 322-7398]; GEnie [the General Electric Network for Information
Exchange, voice phone: (800) 638-9636]; and CompuServe [voice phone: (800)
848-8990].

There are also several database vendors that provide gateway access to
AIDS-related databases, including the National Library of Medicine [voice
phone: (800) 638-8480]; BRS Search Services [(a division of Maxwell
Online; voice phone: (800) 456-7248]; and DIALOG [voice phone: (800)
334-2564].  More information about AIDS-related databases can be obtained
by calling a Reference Specialist at the CDC Clearinghouse, (800)
458-5231.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 7.3.  National Library of Medicine AIDSLINE (please contribute)

If you know how to obtain access to this service, please contribute
instructions to the FAQ (e-mail to aids-request@cs.ucla.edu).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 7.4.  Commercial Bulletin Boards

There are AIDS-related areas on Compuserve and America Online.  (we need
details: how to contact Compuserve and America Online, what the newsgroups
are called, etc.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 7.5.  Reappraisal of the HIV-AIDS Hypothesis.

Please see Q5.3 `Duesberg's Risk-Group Theory' for introductory
information on this question.

The Group for the Scientific Reappraisal of the HIV/AIDS Hypothesis
(hereafter just 'Group' for short) is an organization of scientists,
AIDS-activists and educators, and other concerned persons, currently
numbering around four hundred.  As their name indicates, the Group wishes
for the scientific community to reexamine an hypothesis which they believe
to have been prematurely, dogmatically, and even dangerously, accepted.
Many or most of the best known AIDS-skeptics are members of the Group,
including Peter Duesberg, Robert Root-Bernstein, John Lauritsen, Eleni
Eleopoulos, Michael Callen, Jad Adams and Kary Mullis.  The Group may be
contacted at 2040 Polk St. Suite 321, San Francisco, CA 94109 USA; Fax:
415-775-1379.  The Group publishes a newsletter entitled Rethinking AIDS,
for which a $25/year donation is requested.

The Group came into existence as a result of efforts to get the following
four sentence letter published in a number of prominent scientific
journals, including Nature, Science, JAMA, The New England Journal of
Medicine, and Lancet.  As of October 1993, all have refused to do so.
 
     "It is widely believed by the general public that a retrovirus
     called HIV causes the group of diseases called AIDS.  Many
     biomedical scientists now question this hypothesis.  We propose
     that a thorough reappraisal of the existing evidence for and
     against this hypothesis be conducted by a suitable independent
     group.  We further propose that critical epidemiological studies
     be devised and undertaken."

The members of the Group do not necessarily agree with each other on the
precise nature and causes of "AIDS;" all they automatically have in common
is disbelief that HIV (sole) causation of AIDS has been scientifically
established.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 7.6.  Lesbian/Gay Scholars Directory.

From: "Louie Crew" <lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu>
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 93 11:06:05 EST

I have compiled an E-Mail Directory of Lesbigay Scholars, with now more
than 195 persons listed.  To be included, fill out the form below and 
return it to me:   
 
              lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu

Do NOT send by snail mail. 



The E-Directory helps lesbigay scholars connect regarding on-going
manuscripts, conferences, and other scholarly projects.   I send
the Directory to all who agree to be listed, with updates individual
by individual.

I also make available to one e-mail address by which those listed  
can post announcements of interest to the entire group.  But this is  
not a discussion list per se--rather, a resource list.
 
Please share this announcement with any friends who might be interested
and with any other e-networks where forthright lesbigay scholars might 
assemble qua scholars.
 
Thank you.
 
Louie Crew
Author/editor of _The Gay Academic_ and 950+ others
Co-founder of the Lesgay Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English
Founder of Integrity, the lesgay justice ministry of the Episcopal Church
Academic Foundations Department, Rutgers University/Newark
(Snail mail:   P. O. Box 30, Newark, NJ 07101)
============================================================================
                 Entry Form for E-Directory of Lesbigay Scholars
Name:
 
Institutional affiliation:
       Department:
       Position:
E-mail address(es):
Snail mail:
Phone(s)
FAX:
 
Citations of a sample of yr. previous lesbigay scholarly projects:
 
List/description of yr. on-going lesbigay scholarly projects: 

===============================================================================

Section 8.  Non-Electronic Information Sources.

 Q8.1        Phone Information about AIDS.
 Q8.2        Phone Information about AIDS drug trials.
 Q8.3        US Social Security: Information for Organizations

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 8.1.  Phone Information about AIDS.

For general information about AIDS and referrals to other AIDS information
sources, call

            CDC National AIDS Hotline:    1-800-342-AIDS
                  Spanish:                1-800-344-7432
                  Deaf:                   1-800-243-7889


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 8.2.  Phone Information about AIDS drug trials.

You can obtain information about ongoing AIDS drug trials in the United
States by calling the AIDS Trials hotline at

    1-800-TRIALSA


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 8.3.  US Social Security: Information for Organizations

SSA is committed to disseminating information about its benefit programs
to as wide an audience as possible.  If your organization has a
newsletter, electronic bulletin board, informational database, or other
system for housing and disseminating information to people living with
AIDS and their caregivers, SSA would like to know about it.  SSA wants to
work with you to share information about Social Security benefit programs
and eligibility criteria.  SSA will share or exhibit public information
materials if you will inform them of any meetings/conferences.  Also, if
you believe your staff could benefit from an in-service training program
covering SSDI/SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, and other topics, please inform
SSA.

SSA looks forward to a continuing partnership with your organization to
inform the thousands of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS about
the benefits available through Social Security.  If you have any
questions, or have any additional public information needs, contact Robert
G. Goldstraw, Social Insurance Affairs Specialist (AIDS Outreach), Social
Security Administration, Baltimore MD 21235.  Telephone: (410) 965-4064.

===============================================================================

Section 9.  Administrative information and acknowledgements

 Q9.1        Feedback is invited
 Q9.2        Formats in which this FAQ is available
 Q9.3        Authorship and acknowledgements

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 9.1.  Feedback is invited

Please send me your comments on this FAQ.

We accept submissions for the FAQ in any format; All contributions
comments and corrections are gratefully received.

Please send them to aids-request@cs.ucla.edu.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 9.2.  Formats in which this FAQ is available

This document is available as ASCII text, an Emacs Info document and
PostScript.  We currently make only the ASCII text available as a posting.
We are working on establishing a sci.med.aids archive where the other
formats will be stored.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 9.3.  Authorship and acknowledgements

The following people contributed to this FAQ:

Dan Greening assembled and edited this document.  Jack Hamilton wrote the
introduction and first section.  Phil Miller offered periodic edits.  Anne
Wilson forwarded many valuable articles from the CDC National AIDS
Clearinghouse.

Robert Walker wrote the section on minimizing the risk of HIV infection.
Michael Howe's sci.med.aids response regarding blood banks is reproduced
here.  Paul M. Karagianis <KARYPM@SJUVM.BITNET> contributed archives
answering question about mosquito transmission.  Iain Nicholson, who works
on Plasmodium falciparum, wrote the section on malaria.  Vince Hammer
wrote the review of ``Do Insects Transmit AIDS?''

Michael Howe provided references for the question "Does HIV cause AIDS?",
and has scanned several documents for this FAQ.  Ken Shirriff
<shirriff@sprite.berkeley.edu) wrote the sections on Peter Duesberg, and
on Strecker and Segal's theories that HIV is synthetic.  Eric Raymond
<esr@snark.thyrsus.com> wrote about the USSR disinformation campaign.

Rob James wrote a description of the US blood testing process.  David
Wright wrote the reasons why we should not donate blood to get a free HIV
test.

David Mertz wrote the section on internet access to the gopher database.
Michelle Murrain wrote the section on the CDC patient data FTP site.



******************************************************************************

