1999

Net Filters Will Block Safe Sex Information: Australian Associated Press (10/21/99); Lienert, Sam; In Australia , AIDS educators are worried that new federal guidelines for the Internet could restrict information pertaining to safe sex and sex education. The new laws, which are set to take effect next year, restrict access to violent or sexually explicit material. Victorian AIDS Council peer education officer Kenton
Health Department to Discuss HIV-Exposure Notification: Albuquerque Journal Online (10/20/99); Jadrnak, Jackie; In New Mexico, the state Department of Health was slated to hold on Wednesday a statewide teleconference to discuss the protocol for notifying people they may have been exposed to HIV. Carol Horwitz, an HIV/AIDS planner with the department of health, notes that while the state usually informs the sexual partners of tho
HIV Infection May Hit 1M By Year's End: South China Morning Post Online; The growing rate of HIV infection in China has officials calling for increased HIV prevention education. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the government predicted Thursday that over 1 million mainlanders could have HIV by the end of 1999. The report noted that experts estimate that 70 percent of China s HIV patient
UN Agency on AIDS Urges Broad-Based Effort Against Disease: Africa News Online (10/20/99); Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, is urging leaders of Latin American and Caribbean nations to speak out against the AIDS epidemic. At a two-day meeting in Havana on Wednesday, Piot highlighted the need for a broad-based response to HIV and noted the importance of schoo
Bush: Marijuana Laws Up to States: Washington Post (10/22/99) P. B7; Hsu, Spencer S.; Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Republican presidential frontrunner, believes that individual states should decide whether to ban the medical use of marijuana. Although a campaign spokesman said Bush personally opposes the use of marijuana for medical purposes, he does support states rights on the issue. Alaska, Ari
Fighting Tuberculosis: Financial Times (10/21/99) P. 28; Houlder, Vanessa; A collaboration between scientists from the United States and Russia is working to design a new biochip technology that will help in identifying particular strains of tuberculosis (TB), with the hope of improving the efficacy of antibiotics. TB takes a long time to treat, and antibiotic-resistant strains have developed
AIDS Conference to Discuss Rapid Pace of Disease in Asia: Boston Globe Online (10/22/99); Gecker, Jocelyn; The 5th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific will begin Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, focusing on how to control the AIDS epidemic in the region. While many of the world s HIV-infected individuals reside in Africa, Asia may be the next area with an explosion of AIDS, with about 7 million people in the Asi
At-Birth Immunisation Against Hepatitis B Using a Novel Pre- Filled Immunisation Device Stored Outside the Cold Chain: Vaccine Online (10/14/99) Vol. 18, Nos. 5 and 6, P. 498; Otto, Bradley F.; Suarnawa, I. Made; Stewart, Tony; et al.; Researchers studied the immunogenicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine in the UniJect injection device in a cohort of infants in Bali. The pre-filled, non-reusable device can be stored at tropical temperatures for up to one month. The infants received their first dose of HBV vaccine either from UniJect stored outsid
Preaching Chastity in the Classroom: Time (10/18/99) Vol. 154, No. 16, P. 79; Morse, Jodie; A publicly funded group in McLennan County, Texas, has launched an abstinence-only program of sex education for teenagers. Lecturer Eric Tooley does not talk about using condoms to prevent pregnancy and disease, but instead he tells students that condoms often fail, making abstinence the only way to truly protect again
Alarming Leprosy and Tuberculosis Situation in DRC: PANA Wire Service (10/20/99); The fifth annual meeting of National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drew attention to high rates of leprosy and tuberculosis in the country. According to a study presented at the conference, both diseases have low detection rates. Factors contributing to the diseases
HHV8 Gene Identified That May Speed Progression of Kaposi's Sarcoma: Reuters Health Information Services (10/20/99); European researchers recently reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that a human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) gene appears to speed the progression of Kaposi s sarcoma (KS). Led by Dr. Michael Sturzl of the Institute for Molecular Virology in Neuherberg, Germany , scientists studied 14 KS biopsy specimens, a
New York State Liable for TB Misdiagnosis: Law News Network Online (10/20/99); Spencer, Gary; A Court of Claims judge in New York has ruled in favor of an elderly woman who was treated for four months after receiving a misdiagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The judge said that a mislabeled lab specimen appeared to be at fault, rejecting arguments that the woman s physician did not confirm the first report with a se
Needle-Stick Law Ok'd: Lancaster Intelligencer Journal Online (10/21/99); Delaney, Gil; In Pennsylvania, the state House has approved legislation that would require hospitals that are publicly owned and operated to use safer technology to protect workers from needle stick injuries. The law would require the use of retractable needles during the injection or retrieval of bodily fluids. Reducing the number
Online HIV Counseling Offered by Home Access Health: Reuters Health Information Services (10/20/99); The first real-time online counseling services for people with concerns about HIV and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are being made available via a joint effort from Home Access Health Corp. and FaceTime Communications. The confidential service, which can be accessed from the Home Access Health Internet site, will enable
Ky. Opposed in Plan to Alter AIDS Reporting: Cincinnati Enquirer Online (10/21/99); Vela, Susan; In Kentucky, the state Task Force of HIV-AIDS Prevention, Services, and Financing has proposed a plan to report the names of individuals who test positive for HIV, but the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is against the idea. The proposal for a name-based HIV reporting system, already used in 32 states, would be a
Drug Cuts Amount of Hepatitis B Virus in Blood: Reuters (10/21/99); Glaxo Wellcome s lamivudine can lower levels of the hepatitis B virus in the blood, according to a new study sponsored by the drug maker. In the study, which appears in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, 52 percent of patients given lamivudine responded to the drug, versus 23 percent of the patie
Call to Buy Nevirapine for Developing Countries: Nature Medicine (10/99) Vol. 5, No. 10, P. 1093; Renault, Beatrice; Birmingham, Karen; The results of a joint trial between the United States and Uganda , called HIVNET012, indicate that the drug nevirapine can reduce perinatal HIV transmission by 47 percent. As a result, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation recently put a full-page advertisement in the New Yor
ABT-378 Early Access Program Begins: AIDS Treatment News (10/01/99) No. 328, P. 1; James, John S.; An early access program is providing Abbott Laboratories ABT- 378/r to a limited number of patients outside of clinical trials. A restricted drug supply makes the entry criteria rigid--patients must have failed two or more protease- inhibitor regimens and have a CD4 count under 50 or have had an opportunistic infection
Many Physicians Fail to Recognize Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (10/19/99); French researchers performed a cross-sectional survey of 290 HIV-infected patients to compare reported symptoms with the treatments prescribed. The study, published in the October issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, determined that physicians treating HIV patients need to be better at identifying patie
New York City Raised Illegal Obstacles to AIDS Welfare Grants, Top State Court Rules: New York Times (10/20/99) P. A29; Hernandez, Raymond; The New York State Court of Appeals ruled unanimously Tuesday that New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani s administration created illegal obstacles for HIV patients in order to receive public assistance. The court ruled that the city must stop the rigorous screening process for HIV or AIDS patients who apply for welfare
UMDNJ Awarded $4.3M to Study TB Treatment: Bergen Record Online (10/19/99); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has selected the New Jersey Medical School National Tuberculosis Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) as one of 13 sites for the TB Trials Consortium. The UMDNJ received $4.3 million in federal funding to develop better tuberculosis trea
CDC Awards Funds to Universities for Research: M2 Presswire (10/19/99); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday $12.5 million in grants to fund 50 research projects to take place at academic health, research centers, and university programs throughout the United States . The funding, part of the CDC s Prevention Research Initiative, will go towards research on seve
"US Pledges Increased Financial Aid to Nigeria: Boston Globe Online (10/20/99) P. A8; Wright, Jonathan; U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has vowed to substantially increase U.S. financial aid to Nigeria , to possibly $100 million, in response to the country s unexpected transition to democracy. Albright spoke with Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo Tuesday on an official visit to African countries. Nigeria cu
VaxGen Vaccine Trial Gets $8 Million in US Government Funding: Bloomberg News Service (10/19/99); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide supplemental support to five trial sites in VaxGen s U.S. Phase III trial of AIDSVAX. CDC will contribute approximately $2 million annually to the selected sites over the next four years. These funds will be distributed to the trial sites directly, not to VaxG
Hospital Group Challenges New Law on HIV Tests: New York Times (10/20/99) P. A26; The Connecticut Hospital Association has filed a federal lawsuit to change a new state law that requires HIV testing for newborns or their mothers. Under the law, which took effect Oct. 1, either the mother or the infant must be tested for HIV; if the mother refuses to be tested, the baby must be screened. The associat
Ecological Analysis of Ethnic Differences in Relation Between Tuberculosis and Poverty: British Medical Journal Online (10/16/99) Vol.319, No. 7216, P. 1031; Hawker, Jeremy; Bakhshi, Surinder; Ali, Shaukat; et al.; British researchers have found a strong association between poverty levels and tuberculosis (TB) in the White population of Birmingham. The scientists studied more than 1,500 reported cases of TB between 1989 and 1993, basing their conclusions of rates of TB and measures of deprivation. The data showed no link between
Ryan White Foundation Is Shutting Down: Philadelphia Inquirer (10/19//99) P. A2; The Ryan White Foundation will close this month, the result of decreasing donations. Jeanne White-Ginder, the founder of the organization named for her son, who died nearly a decade ago after contracting HIV through contaminated blood-clotting products, said she now plans to join AIDS Action. There, she will lead a new
Teen Sex Report Puts Spotlight on Georgia Town: Washington Times (10/19/99) P. A10; Tonight s episode of the PBS series Frontline will focus on a 1996 syphilis outbreak in which 17 Rockdale County, Georgia teenagers were infected and 250 more received medical treatment. The documentary, which features interviews with teenagers who discuss their sexual behavior, has upset some community leaders and par
Coretta King's Thread of Hope: Speaking Out on AIDS, Blacks: USA Today (10/19/99) P. 9D; Sternberg, Steve; Coretta Scott King, the civil rights activist and widow of Martin Luther King Jr., spoke recently at the beginning of a major AIDS prevention effort taking place at historically African American colleges throughout the country. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is the focus of the prevention effort, which will focus on the AIDS
Increased Demand Sapping Blood Banks: USA Today (10/19/99) P. 1D; David, Robert; The American Red Cross reports that the nation s blood supply is not increasing enough to keep up with demand. The demand for blood is up 11 percent and is still growing, in part because of rising numbers of liver transplants for those with hepatitis C and transfusions for those with sickle cell anemia. A survey by Ame
Across the USA: Arizona: USA Today (10/19/99) P. 8A; Arizona health officials are warning that syphilis is returning to Maricopa County, which had the fifth highest caseload in the United States last year, according to a newspaper report. The county recorded more than 364 cases of syphilis in 1998, and over 340 people the Phoenix area have been diagnosed with the sexuall
Emergency Treatment to Stop AIDS Virus: New York Times (10/19/99) P. D7; France, David; AIDS doctors are increasingly using an experimental treatment in an effort to prevent HIV infection in persons who were recently exposed to the virus after participating in unsafe sex. Post-exposure prophylaxis uses the standard drugs taken by individuals with AIDS, including the antiretrovirals
For Hepatitis C, a Test and a Quiz: New York Times (10/19/99) P. D8; A new Internet quiz can help individuals determine if they are at risk for having hepatitis C. The American Liver Foundation is providing both the test and free home hepatitis C test kits as part of National Hepatitis Awareness Week. An estimated 300,000 Americans may have been exposed to the virus via contaminated blo
Hepatitis C Behind Bars: USA Today (10/19/99) P. 1D; Fackelmann, Kathleen; An estimated 4 million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), with between 20 percent to 60 percent of the nation s 2 million prisoners infected. This makes the virus a particularly serious health concern as inmates are released. According to Theodore Hammett, a researcher for the Massachusetts health
European Commission Proposes New Strategy Against HIV/AIDS: Lancet (10/16/99) Vol. 354, No. 9187, P. 1367; Glass, Nigel; Participants at the Third Annual Conference on Healthcare Resource Allocation for HIV/AIDS learned how the European Commission (EC) is working to provide direct financial aid for developing HIV vaccines. Lieve Franson, EC Policy Advisor on HIV/AIDS, explained, We are trying to prove that there is a potential market for
The Wrong Rights: Newsweek (10/11/99) Vol. 134, No.15, P. 92; Bloom, Barry R.; The dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, Barry R. Bloom, believes that prevention is the best kind of healthcare. In an article in Newsweek, Bloom asserts that citizens deserve the most accurate information medical science can provide on how to promote health and prevent illness. Other rights include those for
Cambodia PM Backs Mandatory Condom Use in Brothels: Reuters (10/16/99); The soaring rate of HIV infection in Cambodia has prompted Prime Minister Hun Sen to support efforts for mandatory condom use in brothels throughout the country. Cambodia has approximately 180,000 cases of HIV, with an estimated 100 new infections per day. Prostitution--which is illegal in Cambodia--is helping to sprea
Tuberculosis Rate on the Rise in Russia: Itar Wire Service (10/15/99); The number of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Russia continues to increase. According to sources in the Health Ministry, more than 42,000 new cases were recorded in the first half of 1999; however, experts say the number is probably much higher. Of particular concern are insufficient supplies of TB treatments and the eme
We Must Fund the Scientific Revolution: Washington Post (10/18/99) P. A19; Gingrich, Newt; In a commentary, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich asserts that the federal budget for scientific research should be doubled over the next five years. No other federal expenditure would create more jobs and wealth or do more to strengthen our world leadership, protect the environment, and promote better health and edu
Congress Ready to Double Spending on Abstinence Campaign: Nando Times Online (10/18/99); Lowy, Joan; The House Appropriations Committee has added an additional $50 million to next year s budget to support the Department of Health and Human Service s Adolescent and Family Life program, which provides grants to local programs that promote sexual abstinence for teenagers until marriage. A similar abstinence program aimed
Eastern Shore Syphilis Cases Up Sharply, Defying State Trend, Health Officials Say: Washington Times (10/18/99) P. C1; Honawar, Vaishali; The number of primary and secondary syphilis cases on the Eastern Shore of Maryland reached 54 last year, up from 11 cases in 1996. The overall rate for Maryland dropped by more than 25 percent, but both the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland recorded increases. The number of syphilis cases in Southern Maryland increa
Disease by Disease: AIDS, Infectious Diseases: Wall Street Journal--Health & Medicine (10/18/99) P. R4; Winslow, Ron; Langreth, Robert; Waldholz, Michael; Medical advances are helping to improve the outlook for many patients, leading to possible changes in treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of leading diseases. Combination drug therapy, for example, has resulted in a significant reduction in the AIDS mortality rate. The drugs, however, do not appear to have the ability
A Tactic Against Tuberculosis: USA Today (10/18/99) P. 4D; Friend, Tim; The use of DNA chip technology will be tested next year to determine whether it can detect tuberculosis (TB) infection and identify the specific strain. Biochips are pieces of glass that contain genes that interact with the DNA of the material that is placed on the them. The Argonne National Laboratory, a federally fun
Beijing HIV Vaccine Meeting to Go Ahead: Nature Medicine (10/99) Vol. 5, No. 10, P. 1097; Watanabe, Myrna; China will host in November its first international HIV vaccine conference. Funding for the meeting reportedly will come from the European Biotechnology Node for Interaction with China, the Office of AIDS Research at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the Joint United N
6 Migrants Infected: Toronto Sun Online (10/15/99); Godfrey, Tom; Six Chinese refugees who arrived at Pearson Airport in Toronto, Canada , are being held at a detention center after testing positive for tuberculosis. The patients, part of a group of 22 refugees, were detained for lack of identification. The six individuals have been separated from other inmates at the Malton detentio
Appeal in Blood Case: CNews Online (10/14/99); The Canadian Red Cross Society will appeal a ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal that said two families of individuals infected with HIV through contaminated blood should receive C$800,000 each for damages. The families both lost relatives to AIDS after they received HIV-tainted blood following surgery or treatment.
Head of U.N. Population Fund Says More Money Needed for Programs: Boston Globe Online (10/14/99); Dr. Nafis Sadik, head of the United Nations Population Fund, called attention Thursday to the need for increased funding of population programs. Speaking at a day-long population conference in Boston, Sadik mentioned the drop in the population growth rate and also noted that more funding is needed to maintain progress
Evidence Found for Parallel HIV-1 and HHV-8 Epidemics in Homosexual Men in US: Reuters Health Information Services (10/14/99); A study in the October issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases has found evidence for simultaneous epidemics of HIV- 1 and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) infection in the United States during the early 1980s. The researchers took samples from a cohort of 245 homosexual men living in New York City or Washington, D.C.,
Medical Tests on Inmates Reassessed: Las Vegas Sun Online (10/15/99); Leading health, prison, and legal experts are meeting in Rhode Island this week to discuss draft guidelines that would allow HIV-infected prisoners the chance to participate in research trial and experimental treatments. According to conference organizer Dr. Anne De Groot, co-chair of the HIV/Prison Project at the Brow
French Doctors Charity Wins Nobel Peace Prize: Reuters (10/15/99); Heneghan, Tom; Medecins sans Frontiers, a French medical aid group, has won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize after being nominated several times. The group known as MsF, or Doctors without Borders, was founded in 1971 during the Biafran civil war and now has 23 offices worldwide. The organization s budget totals more than $250 million, con
NAACP Launches Campaign to Reduce AIDS in Blacks: Baltimore Sun (10/14/99) P. 8A; Texeira, Erin; The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a number of corporations plan to release a series of videos this week focusing on HIV and AIDS, including prevention methods and treatments. Three documentaries that run 30 to 60 minutes long will show powerful, graphic depictions of AIDS patien
U.S. Bioscience Suspends Test of AIDS Drug Lodenosine: Wall Street Journal (10/15/99) P. B2; Winslow, Ron; Just three weeks after agreeing to be acquired by MedImmune, U.S. Bioscience Thursday said it halted clinical trials of its AIDS drug lodenosine because one patient died and others exhibited signs of potential liver or kidney damage. Company officials noted that all patients in the trial have stopped using lodenosine a
Are European-Specific Guidelines Needed for Prevention of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-1?: Lancet (10/09/99) Vol. 354, No. 9186, P. 1305; Yazdanpanah, Yazdan; Goldie, Sue J.; Salamon, Roger; et al.; A letter to the editor of the Lancet discusses the need for European-specific guidelines for the prevention of opportunistic infections in HIV-1-infected patients. Researchers surveyed 49 coordinators of AIDS surveillance in the World Health Organization European region. Of the 30 coordinators who responded, 14 percent
Life-Threatening Interactions Between HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors and the Illicit Drugs MDMA and Gamma- Hydroxybutyrate: Archives of Internal Medicine Online (10/11/99) Vol. 159, No. 18, P. 2221; Harrington, Robert D.; Woodward, Jane A.; Hooton, Thomas M.; et al.; Protease inhibitors used to treat HIV-1 infection have been helpful in lowering morbidity and mortality associated with the infection. Many of these drugs, however, inhibit or induce the hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P450 systems. As a result of that association, the protease inhibitors could impact the remo
Bill Aims to Curb Global Spread of TB: Nation's Health (10/99) Vol. 29, No. 9, P. 5; Two senators, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Gordon Smith (R- Ore.), have introduced the International Tuberculosis Control Act of 1999, a bill that would give $60 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development for expansion of its tuberculosis (TB) control program. According to the World Health Organizat
Angolan AIDS Situation Worrying: PANA Wire Service (10/13/99); The director of the Angolan National AIDS Program, Dulcina Serrano, said Tuesday that HIV will continue to spread in Angola because of increasing prostitution, poverty, and lack of education about the disease. A lack of funding is also problematic. Free condoms may not be the answer either, as they are reportedly being
Funds Pledged to Help Women With AIDS, Dollars Will Go to Minority Communities: San Francisco Chronicle Online (10/12/99) P. A9; A new proposal in Los Angeles asks to spend $8.3 million in federal housing subsidies for minorities with AIDS, using funds provided earlier this year from the Clinton administration. According to Wanda Jones, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for health, federal officials anticipate a high level of money for AIDS progra
HAART Prolongs Time to Kaposi's Sarcoma Treatment Failure: Reuters Health Information Services (10/13/99); A retrospective study conducted by U.K. researchers has found that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) delays the onset of Kaposi s sarcoma (KS) treatment failure in patients with HIV. The study, published in the November issue of AIDS, evaluated 78 HIV-infected patients previously treated for KS who were put
US Black Leaders React: Boston Globe Online (10/13/99) P. A1; Haygood, Wil; The AIDS epidemic in Africa has prompted African American leaders in the United States to address the crisis. Former congressman Ron Dellums, head of the advocacy group Constituency for Africa, wants to call attention in America to Africa s AIDS problem. In addition, Eugene Rivers of the 21st Century Group is planning
HIV/AIDS Devastating Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Reuters Health Information Services (10/13/99); The HIV/AIDS epidemic is taking its toll on the economies of many African nations. A study conducted by the International Labor Office in Rwanda , Tanzania , Uganda , and Zambia shows that 80 percent of people aged 20 to 49 are infected with HIV.
Breast Cancer Resolution Approved: Las Vegas Sun Online (10/14/99); The House Commerce Committee approved on Wednesday a resolution expressing the House s support for education, early detection, and treatment for breast cancer. Legislation pending in the House would help uninsured women who have too much money for Medicaid and are too young for Medicare pay for cervical and breast canc
Exogenous Reinfection as a Cause of Recurrent Tuberculosis After Curative Treatment: New England Journal of Medicine Online (10/14/99) Vol. 341, No. 16, P. 1174; Van Rie, Annelies; Warren, Robin; Richardson, Madeleine; et al.; A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that, in an area with a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB), exogenous reinfection seems to be leading cause of postprimary TB after a previous cure. Of 16 South Africans who had a relapse of pulmonary TB after curative treatment for postprimary TB, 12 were re
The Unmet Challenges of Hepatitis C: Scientific American (10/99) Vol. 281, No. 4, P. 80; Di Bisceglie, Adrian M.; Bacon, Bruce R.; The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is present in almost 4 million Americans, about 1.8 percent of the U.S. adult population. Most of these people are unaware they have the virus--a chief cause of chronic liver disease-and many who do know are unsure of the source of their infection. In the United States alone, approximate
South African Activists Against AIDS Notification: Reuters (10/12/99); Geduld, Shellee; Members of AIDS organizations do not want to make HIV a notifiable disease in South Africa because it could put patients at risk for discrimination and make them less likely to be treated. The groups said Tuesday that requiring people to inform their friends and families that they have HIV could keep women from reporti
Continental Scourge: Washington Post (10/13/99) P. A25; Duggan, Ann; Sub-Saharan Africa has the worst rate of HIV infection in the world, with almost 4 million new infections in 1998. In a commentary in the Washington Post, Sister Ann Duggan, AIDS response coordinator for Catholic Relief Services, calls for more than funds to fight the AIDS epidemic in Africa. HIV and AIDS are having de
Efforts to Ease World Poverty Urged: Las Vegas Sun Online (10/12/99); President Clinton, speaking about the world s population reaching 6 billion, said Tuesday that his administration has invested about $6 billion in health and population programs for more than 100 countries, and the United States would continue to help. These program have focused on such issues as HIV prevention and fam
Costs of Antiretroviral Drugs Dramatically Increase in US: Reuters Health Information Services (10/12/99); According to a study led by Dr. Abid Rahman with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the costs of AIDS treatment rose 434 percent for the VA between 1992 and 1998. At the Third International Conference on Healthcare Resource Allocation for HIV/AIDS and Other Life-Threatening Illnesses in Austria
Index of Cultural Indicators Sees Trends 'Decidedly Mixed': Washington Times (10/12/99) P. A10; Wetzstein, Cheryl; William J. Bennett s Index of Leading Cultural Indicators: American Society at the End of the Twentieth Century shows that many positive changes occurred in the 1990s, while many social problems became worse. The improvements include decreases in crime, welfare rolls, murders, drunk driving deaths, AIDS cases, and abor
Do Ask, Do Tell, S.F. Ad Campaign Advises Gay Men: San Francisco Chronicle Online (10/11/99) P. A17; Herscher, Elaine; A new advertising campaign from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation encourages gay men to ask their sexual partners about their HIV status. According to experts, many gay men guess or assume their partners status, do not talk about it, and do not use condoms. Studies from the AIDS Foundation and the University of Califor
Older Women With HIV Face Stereotypes About Their Age, Sexual Activity: Boston Globe Online (10/12/99); Williams, Dara Akiko; HIV-positive women over the age of 45 say they are being stigmatized both because of their age and HIV status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 percent of the people living with HIV or AIDS in United States last year were over 45, and 13 percent of that number were women. In additio
Vulcan Ventures' Paul Allen Invests $25 Million More: Wall Street Journal (10/13/99) P. B6; Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft Corp., has invested $25 million more in HIV vaccine developer VaxGen . Allen increased his stake from 8 percent to 22 percent, as VaxGen conducts a late-stage clinical trial of its AIDSvax vaccine. VaxGen noted that Allen s investment, which was made through his firm Vulcan Venture
Ambitious Clinical Trial Stirs Debate: Science (09/24/99) Vol. 285, No. 5436, P. 2039; Cohen, Jon; The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will fund a massive trial of an AIDS treatment during the next five years. The $43 million study has been thoroughly reviewed and rejected once previously, and many researchers still believe its results will not be helpful in developing HIV treatment. NI
Low-Dose Ritonavir Extends Half-Life of Indinavir: Reuters Health Information Services (10/08/99); A new study in the journal AIDS indicates that adding ritonavir to indinavir in a twice-daily dosing regimen increases the pharmacokinetic profile of indinavir. Scientists from the Netherlands evaluated three cocktail variations in 12 patients infected
South African Company Offers Anti-AIDS Insurance for Rape Victims: Fox News Online (10/11/99); Wakin, Daniel J.; South Africa s CGU Insurance Ltd. is offering a new policy to treat rape victims who may have contracted HIV. The policy will provide one month of antiretroviral drugs, a year of AIDS tests, and counseling. About 3.6 million South Africans have AIDS, and 64,000 women and girls are raped each year in the country. The ne
Treatments Improve, But Hepatitis C Still a Threat: Boston Globe Online (10/11/99) P. D1; Foreman, Judy; Although there are new treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the disease still poses a threat and is the No. 1 cause for liver transplantation. An estimated 3 million Americans have the virus, and many are unaware of their infection. The virus can go undetected for years, causing severe liver damage. The vi
UNAIDS Again Calls on Private Sector to Address AIDS in the Developing World: Reuters Health Information Services (10/11/99); Officials with the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS see a great need for the private sector to help control the AIDS epidemic in developing nations. Three areas in which the private sector can help are implementing vertical transmission prevention programs, developing vaccines, and improving access to treatment
Inexpensive Hydroxyurea/Didanosine Combination Controls HIV Long Term: Reuters Health Information Services (10/11/99); A recent study published in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses by American and Italian researchers has found that HIV infection can be suppressed with hydroxyurea and didanosine. The study found that in 12 HIV-infected patients, treatment with the inexpensive combination can reduce viremia and that the an
Study of Sex Differences in AIDS Care Launched: Reuters (10/12/99); A new 48-week study announced at the National Conference on Women and HIV/AIDS will compare differences between the sexes in treating HIV. The trial, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck & Co. , will compare 100 women and 100 men who have had no success with current drug therapies. All participants in the s
Across the USA: Massachusetts: USA Today (10/12/99) P. 12A; In Massachusetts, activists fighting HIV and hepatitis C are considering asking a judge to declare a public health crisis, so that needle exchange programs can be legalized statewide. Officials have not taken full advantage a six-year-old pilot program that allows 10 communities in the state to begin exchange programs,
1M Infected With HIV in West Pacific: Las Vegas Sun Online (10/12/99); The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1 million people in the Western Pacific have HIV, with the infection rate rising quickly in many nations. The number of HIV infections in the region could surpass 1.5 million next year, according to WHO officials. We should not be complacent as the danger of expa
Health Officials Set Sights on Syphilis: Washington Post--Health (10/12/99) P. 9; Okie, Susan; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a new campaign to eliminate syphilis in the United States . The disease is at a historic low rate, with the number of new syphilis cases reported last year 19 percent lower than that reported in 1997 and 86 percent lower than the number reported in 1990. Judi
Commentary: Human Rights Is a U.S. Problem, Too: The Case of Women and HIV: American Journal of Public Health (10/99) Vol. 89, No. 10, P. 1479; Gollub, Erica L.; In a commentary, Erica L. Gollub, a member of the Center for Studies of Addiction in Pennsylvania, asserts that new antiretroviral therapies used to slow the AIDS epidemic are not reaching women as much as men. Heterosexuals were not considered most at risk when AIDS first struck, and women are paying because of it. Go
Health--Development: More Commitment Needed in [Fight Against AIDS]: IPS Wire (10/07/99); According to the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ), nations across the globe have become complacent about the risks of AIDS and should develop better policies and combine resources to stem the spread of HIV. The organization, which is in the midst of developing a new plan for the 2001-2005 period, sai
Economic Consequences of AIDS to be Discussed: Nando Times Online (10/10/99); Rama, Catherine; Africa s development is being hit hard by the AIDS epidemic, and the slow growth of sub-Saharan Africa is hurting the workforce. One in four working-age adults in Zimbabwe and Botswana is infected with HIV. In addition, the International Labor Organization estimates that 15 percent of civil servants in
S. African Leader Urges Action to Halt AIDS Crisis: Reuters (10/08/99); According to South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, the AIDS pandemic in South Africa needs more attention and better use of prevention methods. In South Africa, an estimated 3 million people have HIV, with 1,500 new infections a day. At the launch of a new AIDS awareness initiative by the South African Broadcastin
TB Testing for Hurricane Evacuees Being Investigated: Savannah Morning News Online (10/10/99); Landers, Mary; A man evacuated from Hurricane Floyd to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Health officials are now trying to determine which other evacuees should be tested for TB; testing has already been advised for Houston County workers and other rescue workers. Chi
New Methods of Preventing AIDS Urgently Needed: Reuters Health Information Services (10/08/99); Researchers warned last week that it is becoming increasingly important for women to be able to protect themselves against HIV infection, as heterosexual contact is the most common means of transmission in the world. A conference on Biomedical Means for Preventing Sexual Transmission of HIV, held in New York, focused o
AIDS and the African: Boston Globe Online (10/10/99) P. A1; Shillinger, Kurt; The AIDS epidemic is killing millions of Africans every year, with more than 22.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone infected. The global epicenter of the epidemic is five southern African countries: Namibia , Botswana , Zimbabwe , Swaziland , and
Forum to Discuss Protecting Prison Inmates as Drug Test Subjects: Boston Globe Online (10/11/99) P. A3; Whitaker, Robert; AIDS doctors, ethicists, lawyers, prisoner advocates, and others will meet at Brown University this week to discuss draft recommendations for using prisoners as subjects for a late-stage trials of AIDS drugs. Although there are not very many such trials being conducted at present, physicians and advocates say more shou
Syphilis Cases Decline in Baltimore: Washington Post (10/11/99) P. B3; New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the number of syphilis cases in Baltimore, which ranks No. 1 among U.S. cities in incidences of the disease, dropped 31 percent in 1998. There were 456 cases reported last year, versus 665 in 1997. City health commissioner Peter Beilenson
Mandatory HIV Testing of Infants and Rates of Follow-Up Care: American Journal of Public Health (10/99) Vol. 89, No. 10, P. 1583; Wilson, Tracey E.; Minkoff, Howard; In a research letter, researchers from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn discuss the rates of follow-up care for babies whose mothers were required by law to be tested for HIV. Two groups were surveyed, both before and after legislation was passed. Women were more likely to volunteer
Primary and Secondary Syphilis--United States, 1998: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (10/08/99) Vol. 48, No. 39, P. 873; Syphilis rates have declined an additional 19 percent in 1998, paving the way toward the nation s goal of elimination. The national rate of 2.6 cases per 100,000 population, a drop from 3.2 cases in 1997, is the lowest level ever recorded, according to new data released today. The article reports that less than 1 perce
Kazakhstan Registers [Nearly] 1,000 HIV-Infected People: Itar Wire Service (10/07/99); A total of 958 cases of HIV infection have been recorded in Kazakhstan , according to Turar Chaklikov, managing director of the AIDS Center. Of that number, 80 percent are injection drug users, and most are between the ages of 15 and 29. The number of women infected is also rising, accounting for 28 percent of the tota
Doctors Warn TB Spread in Far East: Itar Wire Service (10/08/99); The spread of tuberculosis in Russia s Far Eastern region of Primorye is reaching almost epidemic proportions. A report calculates an 8 percent to 10 percent yearly growth of new TB cases since 1992. The number of cases among teenagers is up 47 percent in the last two years, in large part because few patients are isola
Minister Details Grim Russian Prison Statistics: Reuters (10/07/99); Russia s justice minister, Yury Chaika, recently discussed the problems of the prison system with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, noting that 97,000 inmates have tuberculosis (TB). Russia has one of the world s highest incarceration rates per head, with many jail cells far below internationally accepted standards. The I
Patients Contracted HIV Through Red Cross Blood: Kyodo News Service (10/07/99); The Japanese Red Cross Society announced Thursday that contaminated blood donated through the Red Cross has infected one person with HIV, and another individual may have also contracted the virus from the same blood. The screening process apparently did not catch the virus before it was given to two patients, because t
Ackerman Orders Volunteer Screening: Washington Post (10/08/99) P. B1; Strauss, Valerie; Washington, D.C. School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has ordered all school volunteers be fingerprinted as a background check and also to be tested for tuberculosis (TB). These strict regional measures come at time when three school employees were convicted of child sexual abuse. TB tests have been required by the D.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Gives $4 Million to the Population Council: Boston Globe Online (10/07/99); The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has reportedly given a $4 million grant to the Population Council in order to assess and develop a microbicide for women that protects against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The microbicide under study is PC-515, a non-contraceptive compound that is compatible with th
NIH's Varmus to Resign at End of Year: Washington Post (10/08/99) P. A27; Weiss, Rick; Dr. Harold Varmus, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1993, announced Thursday plans to resign at the end of the year. He is to be president and chief executive officer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Varmus presidentially appointed position is thus open at a time of extrem
Evidence of AIDS-Related Mortality in Mumbai, India (Research Letter): Lancet (10/02/99) Vol. 354, No. 9185, P. 1175; Hira, Subhash K.; Rao, Arni S.R. Srinivasa; Thaneker, Jairaj; The AIDS epidemic in India is severe, and growing. In the city of Mumbai, where the estimated population is 12 million, there has been an exponential increase in the number of HIV cases over the last 10 years. Most infections are the result of heterosexual transmission. A growth-rate model made shows that the annual de
Unrecognised Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Bacteraemia Among Hospital Inpatients in Less Developed Countries: Lancet (10/02/99) Vol. 354, No. 9185, P. 1159; McDonald, L. Clifford; Archibald, Lennox K.; Rheanpumikankit, Sunthorn; et al.; A study led by L. Clifford McDonald of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteremia often goes unrecognized among patients hospitalized in less developed nations. A total of 344 patients were enrolled in an infectious diseases hospital in Thailand and in a ge
Univ. of Minn. to Get AIDS Drug Royalties From Glaxo: Reuters (10/06/99); Glaxo Wellcome has agreed to settle a patent lawsuit and pay the University of Minnesota royalties for Ziagen , an AIDS drug. The sum could rise to about $300 million. Glaxo said it would pay the university 5 percent of the first $300 million of annual global sales; the rate would rise to 10 percent when sal
Venezuela Lacks Resources to Deal With HIV Cases: Comtex Online (10/06/99); Limited resources allow the Venezuelan government to supply treatment to only about 3 percent of the country s 100,000 HIV-infected individuals, according to Leoncio Barrios, head of the Venezuelan AIDS control and prevention program. Priority will be given to children, mothers, and pregnant women. Barrios noted that i
Higher Beta-2-Microglobulin Levels Seen in HIV-Positive Pregnant Women: Reuters Health Information Services (10/06/99); A study published in the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that HIV-positive pregnant women have higher beta(2)-microglobulin levels than pregnant women who do not have HIV. The beta levels held steady over the course of pregnancy and HIV. According to the researchers, from the New Jersey Medical School
Prevalence of Genetic Subtypes of HIV Infection Estimated in US Military Personnel: Reuters Health Information Services (10/06/99); Researchers report that U.S. military personnel with early HIV infection often have non-subtype B infection and drug- resistant mutations. Seven of 95 HIV-infected personnel surveyed were infected with HIV subtype E, while eight of 31 treatment-naive subjects had virus with at least one resistance mutation. Sexual enco
14 AIDS Protesters Arrested: Washington Post (10/07/99) P. B2; Fourteen AIDS protesters were arrested in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for disrupting traffic as they called for more affordable AIDS treatments in developing countries. In all, about 300 protesters marched from Farragut Square to the office of U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky. While officials in some na
A Breakthrough in Stopping HIV: USA Today (10/07/99) P. 10D; Sternberg, Steve; A report in the current issue of Cell shows a new approach in stopping HIV from overtaking white blood cells. Researchers, led by Peter Kim from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, have found eight molecules that could kee
House Holds Hearing on Blood Safety and Supply: CNN Online (10/06/99); A congressional hearing was held Wednesday to discuss the safety and availability of the U.S. blood supply. The United States blood supply may be too low to meet demand next year, according to a recent report from the National Blood Data Resource Center. The General Accounting Office last month said that while there is
Women Put at Risk by Secret Infidelity: USA Today (10/07/99) P. 1D; Rubin, Rita; Millions of American women wrongly think they are not at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease because their partners are supposedly monogamous, according to new research. A report from the Alan Guttmacher Institute in the journal Family Planning Perspectives reveals that almost 3.5 million women were wro
In Fighting Over HIV-Positive Personnel in the Indian Navy: Lancet (10/02/99) Vol. 354, No.9185, P. 1187; Kumar, Sanjay; The Indian Navy has recorded 6,000 cases of HIV infection. While symptomatic patients are automatically invalided out, according to a senior naval medical officer, HIV-infected personnel without symptoms are assigned to non-combat duties. This policy has led to allegations of discrimination. Officials from India s Navy
The Looming Threat of AIDS and HIV in Latin America: Lancet (10/02/99) Vol. 354, No. 9185, P. 1187; Snell, Janet; Latin America is seeing an increase in HIV cases, especially among women and children. At a conference in Ecuador this summer, participants were told that there are high rates of infection in countries including Brazil and Mexico , but the prevalence of HIV
Russia Has 19,000 HIV-Infected: Report: Itar Wire Service (10/05/99); Russian experts from the centers for treatment and prevention of AIDS estimated Tuesday that there are approximately 19,000 HIV-infected individuals in Russia. According to Alexander Goliusov, the chief HIV/AIDS prevention specialist in Russia s Health Ministry, although the number is much lower than that of other coun
Hepatitis C Poses Pricey Health Mess: Albuquerque Journal Online (10/04/99); Jadrnak, Jackie; Treating all of the hepatitis C (HCV) cases in New Mexico could cost the state between $400 million and $600 million. An estimated 31,000 people in the state are infected, compared to about 2,000 residents with HIV. The interferon/ribavirin combination therapy is 40 percent effective for HCV; however, the drugs are exp
Hepatitis C Tests to Be Encouraged: Blood Transfusions of 1989-98 at Issue: Richmond Times-Dispatch Online (10/05/99); Kelly, Deborah; In Virginia, up to 700 individuals in the Richmond area who had blood transfusions between 1989 and 1998 will soon receive letters suggesting they be tested for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hospitals nationwide are informing former patients who received blood from infected donors during these years. The Food and Drug A
South Africa's Condom Shortage Poses Threat to AIDS Prevention Program: Nando Times Online (10/05/99); Cohen, Mike; AIDS workers say that a lack of condoms in parts of South Africa is threatening the government s HIV prevention program. Many AIDS centers are running low on condoms, which are now being batch-tested by the South African Bureau of Standards. More than 150 million condoms are distributed by the government each year.
FDA Says Immunex's AIDS Claims Are 'Misleading': Reuters (10/05/99); Richwine, Lisa; Immunex Corp. has been warned by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) that its claims about the cancer drug Leukine helping fight HIV are misleading. An Immunex press release in May said that a Phase III clinical trial found that Leukine helps keep HIV levels down and enabled patients to take combination drug thera
BioChem Pharma Bets It Can Grow by Going It Alone: Wall Street Journal (10/06/99) P. B4; In 10 years, BioChem Pharma, maker of the AIDS drug 3TC , has managed to transform itself from a little-known biotechnology concern into a well-known company. Although 3TC s total sales topped $800 million last year, BioChem Pharma has reaped only a small percentage of those gains because it licensed the compound to
AIDS Deaths, Homicides, Teen Birth Rates Fall in US: Reuters Health Information Services (10/05/99); Macron, Doug; A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s National Center for Health Statistics Tuesday shows that the age-adjusted HIV mortality rate in the United States declined 21 percent last year. A CDC spokesperson noted that while there has been a drop in AIDS deaths, there has been no similar type
CDC Allocates $32 Million for HIV Prevention: Boston Globe Online (10/06/99); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that it has allocated $32 million to increase HIV prevention efforts in minority communities. According to statistics, one in 50 African-American men and one in 160 African-American women is infected with HIV. In addition, Hispanics account for 20 percent
Allo-Immunization Elicits CD8 T Cell-Derived Chemokines, HIV Suppressor Factors and Resistance to HIV Infection in Women: Nature Medicine (09/99) Vol. 5, No. 9, P. 1004; Wang, Yufei; Tao, Louisa; Mitchell, Elaine; et al.; British researchers studied the possibility of an anti-HIV allogeneic-based vaccine in women who were allo-immunized with their partners mononuclear leukocytes to prevent spontaneous recurrent abortion. The team observed upregulation in the levels of CD8 cell-derived suppressor factor activity, RANTES, and the macropha
Patient Satisfaction With Care at Directly Observed Therapy Programs for Tuberculosis in New York City: American Journal of Public Health (10/99) Vol. 89, No. 10, P. 1567; Davidson, Harriet; Smirnoff, Meg; An increase in the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in New York has resulted in a need to address patient satisfaction with TB care using directly observed therapy programs, or DOT. Because TB treatment can be long and difficult, the New York State Department in New York City launched in 1992 an initiative that includ
Drug Cocktail for AIDS Being Tested in China: CNN Online (10/04/99); MacKinnon, Rebecca; Under a clinical trial in China , where an estimated 400,000 people are infected with HIV, 24 AIDS patients will receive combination drug therapy. Dr. Cao Yunzhen, who brought the drugs to China from the United States , said she hopes American pharmaceutical firms will make their products more affordable for developing
Expert: Tainted Blood Infecting Thousands With Disease: Calgary Herald Online (10/01/99); Blood donations made in many countries that belong to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are contaminated by HIV and hepatitis, causing infections in thousands of people every year. Just 16 of the 35 PAHO member countries screen all their blood samples for HIV and hepatitis. Also, screening is not always sensi
Hepatitis C Is on the Rise With Emergency Workers: New York Times (10/02/99) P. A11; Finkelstein, Katherine E.; In the past three years, at least six New York City emergency medical workers have been diagnosed with hepatitis C virus infection. Patrick Bahnken, president of the union for the city s emergency medical workers, said, We are alarmed by the increase in hepatitis-C positive conversions among our members. Symptoms for h
Skin Testing Not Accurate for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Children: Reuters Health Information Services (10/04/99); Screening for tuberculosis (TB) using tuberculin skin testing is less effective in HIV-infected children than in uninfected children, according to new research from South Africa . A study in the September issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal found that tuberculin reactivity was substantially lower at all c
FDA Panel Says Overseas HIV Studies Acceptable: Reuters Health Information Services (10/04/99); On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration s Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee debated the issue of how to conduct drug studies that try to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. While U.S. studies probably will not be conducted because the incidence of HIV in newborns and pediatric AIDS cases have dropped signifi
Court Allows Karate School HIV Rule: Washington Post (10/05/99) P. B7; White, Josh; The U.S. Supreme Court will not review the ruling in a 1996 case of a Richmond area karate school that prohibited an HIV- positive boy from taking combat-style classes. In February, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted that federal law prohibits discrimination against people with AIDS, but the law cannot force t
CDC Announces $7 Million in Grants to Curb HIV Among Prison Inmates: Boston Globe Online (10/05/99); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday $7 million in grants to help establish HIV prevention programs in prisons. A total of seven states--New Jersey, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Georgia , and New York--will receive between $900,000 and $1.1 million each. Dr. Helene Gayle, dir
India Fast-Tracks Vaccine Candidates: Nature Medicine (09/99) Vol. 5, No. 9, P. 970; Jayaraman, K.S.; India has a new $4 million program to produce within three years vaccines for communicable diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and AIDS. The Indian government has designated funds for vaccines and given the task to the Department of Biotechnology. The ambitious plan invo
Notes From the Field: TB Net Tracking Network Provides Continuity of Care for Mobile TB Patients: American Journal of Public Health (10/99) Vol. 89, No. 10, P. 1581; Harlow, Todd; Tuberculosis (TB) is difficult to treat in migrant farmers and other mobile workers, because there has not been a system for keeping track of and referring patients to other facilities as they travel. In order to improve the system, the Migrant Clinicians Network has launched a tracking/referral project called TB Net.
UK Millions Fight AIDS and Polio: BBC News Online (09/30/99); The International Development Secretary of the United Kingdom , Clare Short, announced a 14 million pound donation from the UK Government for an HIV vaccine program, along with a 20 million pound investment to help immunize children in less organized countries against polio. The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative is
Romania to Stop Medication for 10,000 HIV Patients: Reuters (10/01/99); A Romanian health official said Friday that budget cuts last month will soon force physicians to stop giving free drugs to 10,000 Romanians infected with HIV. The majority of those patients are children, said Dr. Vladimir Strainu, manager of Bucharest s hospital for infectious diseases. Under cuts in the 1999 budget re
Cats Might Be Used to Test Novel Anti-HIV Drugs: Reuters Health Information Services (10/01/99); Studying feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may help researchers fight HIV in humans. Dr. Herman Egberink of Utrecht University in the Netherlands reported in the Journal of Virology that anti-HIV bicyclams can inhibit viral replication of FIV in feline kidney cells. The researchers noted that the study s results refl
$50 Million to Help Fight Cancer: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online (10/01/99); Paulson, Tom; A $50 million, five-year grant made by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention will help improve cervical cancer detection and prevention in many poor countries, such as Mexico , India , and Peru .
Researchers Present Plan for Testing of AIDS Vaccine: Boston Globe Online (10/03/99); Scientists at the Medical Research Foundation have asked the Health Ministry of Trinidad and Tobago to allow the testing of a potential AIDS vaccine on 40 subjects. According to the researchers formal proposal, the experimental vaccine transf
Most Hepatitis C Patients Miss Benefit of New Drug: Australian Associated Press (10/04/99); Rouse, Rada; A new drug combination for the treatment of hepatitis C is available to only about 1,000 Australians, under funding by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. However, an expert claims that as much as two thirds of the country s hepatitis C patients could benefit from the drug cocktail that combines interferon and ribaviri
The Significance of the Persistent Presence of Acid-Fast Bacilli in Sputum Smears in Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Chest Online (09/99) Vol. 11, No. 3, P. 726; Al-Moamary, Mohamed S.; Black, William; Bessuille, Elaine; et al.; In an effort to determine the prevalence of persisting positive sputum smears in tuberculosis (TB) patients, researchers conducted a population-based, historical cohort study in British Columbia. The study, which involved 428 patients with culture-proven pulmonary TB with acid-fast bacilli (AFB)-positive sputum, also s
Urine Antibody Tests: New Insights Into the Dynamics of HIV-1 Infection: Clinical Chemistry (09/99) Vol. 45, No. 9, P. 1602; Urnovitz, Howard B.; Sturge, Jerrilyn C.; Gottfried, Toby D.; et al.; Researchers from Calypte Biomedical conducted nearly 26,000 HIV-1 urine antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screening tests on paired urine and blood specimens taken from high- and low- risk individuals infected with HIV-1. In a cohort of about 12,000 patients, the tests--which were confirmed by Western blot--showed that
HIV-1 Nef Mediates Lymphocyte Chemotaxis and Activation by Infected Macrophages: Nature Medicine (09/99) Vol. 5, No. 9, P. 997; Swingler, S.; Mann, A.; Jacque, J.-M.; et al.; Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center recently reported that Nef promotes the production of two CC-chemokines, macrophage inflammatory proteins 1(alpha) and 1(beta), by HIV-1-infected macrophages. The chemotaxis and activation of resting T lymphocytes were induced by supernatants from Nef-expr
AIDS Emergency Declared Among County's Minorities: Los Angeles Times Online (09/29/99); Rabin, Jeffrey L.; Stewart, Jocelyn Y.; The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has declared an emergency, calling on governments to pay for augmented medical care for minorities with HIV/AIDS. Minority communities have been hit hard by the AIDS epidemic and 68 percent of newly diagnosed cases in L.A. County affect African Americans and Latinos. These AI
HIV rgp120 Vaccine Does Not Influence Vertical HIV Transmission: Reuters Health Information Services (09/29/99); HIV-envelope-based vaccine rgp120 does not prevent women from passing HIV to their babies, according to a Vanderbilt School of Medicine study published in the October issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. It is safe for pregnant women, and has mild side effects. However, it does not provide greater immune respon
Cidofovir Effective for HIV-Related Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis: Reuters Health Information Services (09/29/99); The antiviral drug cidofovir successfully treated a German HIV-infected drug user suffering from outer retinal necrosis, affecting his vision in the right eye, according to a University of Bonn and University of Frankfurt study published in the September issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The man was treated with f
AIDS Epidemic Striking Women and Children More in Americas: Boston Globe (09/29/99); Faul, Michelle; More AIDS victims are female in Latin America and the Caribbean. These women are passing on HIV to their children at a rate of 400 in 20,000 newborns, which is nearly 15 percent of those infected. The infected females in Trinidad are mostly young, between the ages of 15 and 25. According to the PAHO, 1.
Studies Show How Outbreaks Sneak Past Doctors: Reuters (09/29/99); Fox, Maggie; Contaminated soap bottles, saline solutions, and dialysis equipment can infect healthcare patients and workers with deadly viruses. Hospitals are infecting patients after they receive treatment, as in the case of a man in England who had pneumonia and then died from a malaria infection given to him by another patient;
World: South Asia India AIDS Alert: BBC News Online (10/01/99); Sewell, Helen; Researchers in India believe the estimated number of people in India with AIDS is far below the actual number. Four million people were thought to have HIV, but unreliable records make this number inaccurate. According to the United Nations, India has more AIDS cases than any other country, with Bombay affected especia
AIDS, Poverty Set to Dominate Regional Summit: Reuters (10/01/99); The third Southern African International Dialogue (SAID) forum will concentrate on the region s poverty, AIDS, and economy. SAID will last three days in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe , where 15 heads of state and about 400 business delegates will meet. Both business leaders and politicians attending SAID plan to focus on ec
Researchers Find Possible AIDS Virus Achilles' Heel: Reuters (09/30/99); Emery, Gene; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers think they have found HIV s weak spot-- a pocket on the surface of HIV which is vulnerable during the infection process. The spot is described as a cavity on the surface that is hidden until HIV tries to attach to a healthy cell
Uganda Gives Lessons in Stemming the AIDS Epidemic: Nature Medicine (09/99) Vol. 5, No. 9, P. 963; Uganda has seen a decline in the number of HIV-infected pregnant women in the past seven years, World Bank statistics show. An editorial in Nature Medicine asserts that other African countries should look closely at Uganda s success and then reevaluate their own AIDS strategies. Uganda s anti-AIDS campaign features o
Drug Use and HIV/AIDS in Burma: Lancet (09/25/99) Vol. 354, No. 9184, P. 1119; Chelala, Cesar; Beyrer, Chris; The HIV epidemic in Burma is spreading because of the rising numbers of people using heroin and sharing needles. Lack of healthcare is a major problem there, and the mortality rate for infants is given by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF as 81 per 1000 live births. Opium poppy fields create easy access t
Contagion: New Yorker (09/13/99) Vol. 75, No. 26, P. 34; Groopman, Jerome; Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States and Europe. Experts note that the virus, which can lead to cervical cancer, is more easily transmitted than some other STDs, because HPV rests in both the outer skin and inner cells lining the vagina, cervix, anus, and
Research Supports Aggressive Treatment for HIV-Infected Babies: American Medical News (09/13/99) Vol. 42, No. 34, P. 22; Moran, Mark; HIV-infected babies may benefit from antiretroviral drugs given closer to the time of delivery. The rapid progression of HIV in infected newborns makes quick treatment essential. T cells rapidly generate after birth as the baby grows; following this theory, the baby needs anti-AIDS drugs immediately to prevent the viru
Biological Treatment Approaches, Including Tat Toxoid Vaccine: Interview with Robert Gallo, M.D.: AIDS Treatment News (09/17/99) No. 327, P. 1; James, John S.; In an interview with AIDS Treatment News, Dr. Robert C. Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland, discusses several issues, including the possibility of developing a Tat toxoid vaccine for HIV. The 1999 International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology: A Symposium on HIV/
Kissei to Start Japan Sales of Glaxo Wellcome HIV Drug Tomorrow: Bloomberg News (09/30/99); Kissei Pharmaceutical announced it would begin selling Glaxo Wellcome s Agenerase , a treatment for HIV, in Japan on Friday. The twice-daily drug, the 13th approved for the treatment of HIV in Japan, will be sold in the country under the name Prozei for a price of 106.1 yen per pill.
UK Gives 14 Million Pounds to AIDS Vaccine Initiative, FT Reports: Bloomberg News (09/30/99); The government of the United Kingdom will donate about $23 million to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to help fund research for test vaccines for HIV. This is the first major government grant for the New York-based organization.
Treating Sexually Transmitted Diseases Does Not Reduce HIV Incidence in Mature HIV Epidemics, Study Says: US Newswire (09/29/99); A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health followed East African adults aged 15 to 59 who were interviewed five times about sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms and tested for HIV. The study found that HIV infection usually occurs with no STD symptoms, so therefore treating STDs is unlikely
Baboon Liver Passes Virus to Man: Reuters (09/29/99); Fox, Maggie; An experimental transplant of a baboon liver to an HIV patient failed when the liver infected the man with a baboon herpes virus called cytomegalovirus ( CMV ). The patient, who had hepatitis B, died after two months with the new liver. Baboon CMV was not thought to be able to infect humans; however, this failed proce
AIDS Virus Rebounds When Drugs Withdrawn: United Press International (09/29/99); Susman, Ed; Aggressive drug therapy for AIDS, when halted, does not prevent detectable levels of HIV from forming. The virus rebounds quickly when highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is discontinued, and in a study by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, all the patient
AIDS Pandemic Seen as Worsening Next Century: Reuters (09/30/99); Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, predicts in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that the HIV epidemic will be much worse in the 21st century, unless treatments progress. New cases are growing at an alarming rate in developing countries, esp
Effects of HIV Counseling and Testing on Sexual Risk Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review of Published Research, 1985-1997: American Journal of Public Health (09/99) Vol 89, No. 9, P. 1397; Weinhardt, Lance S.; Carey, Michael P.; Johnson, Blair T.; et al.; Researchers from Syracuse University investigated whether HIV counseling and testing (HIV-CT) results in reductions in sexual risk behavior. The team conducted a meta-analysis of 27 published studies involving nearly 20,000 individuals. According to the data, HIV-infected participants and HIV- serodiscordant couples de
The End of L'Affaire: POZ (09/99) No. 51, P. 62; Ireland, Doug; The HIV-tainted blood scandal that rocked France had sordid roots in politics and profit that are barely touched upon now that the primary players in the affair have been acquitted. Between 1982 and 1985, 6,000 people were infected with HIV through tainted blood transfusions. Over 1,500 of those people, many child-age
Progress Against AIDS Stalls, in Prevention and Treatment: American Medical News (09/20/99) Vol. 42, No. 35, P. 24; Shelton, Deborah L.; New statistics suggest that while the number of AIDS deaths in the United States continues to fall, the trend appears to have slowed. Combination antiretroviral drug regimens are in large part responsible for lowering the number of AIDS deaths. However, Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Photodynamic Therapy Provides Safe Palliative Therapy for HIV- Related KS: Reuters Health Information Services (09/27/99); Photofrin photodynamic therapy has shown itself to be safe and effective for patients with HIV-related cutaneous Kaposi s sarcoma (KS). A study by Dr. Zale Bernstein and associates at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, published in the Sept. 10 issue of AIDS, tested 25 subjects, and found that 32.5 percent c
DuPont Says New Compounds Fight Mutant HIV: Reuters (09/27/99); Preclinical trials of four new compounds made by DuPont Pharmaceuticals show they are more effective than existing drugs in fighting mutant strains of HIV. The new compounds could help infected people who do not respond to standard treatments because of viral resistance or other reasons. The compounds, however, have no
Healthy Child Born After HIV-Infected Insemination and PEP Administration: Reuters Health Information Services (09/27/99); An Australian woman, artificially inseminated by a gay donor who was unknowingly seroconverting to HIV-positive, was given postexposure antiretroviral therapy. She and her infant did not become infected with HIV after using antiretroviral prophylaxis for 9 weeks. After two years, both the child and the mother remain he
FDA Says Abbott Laboratories Assay Kit Doesn't Comply With Quality Standards: Wall Street Journal (09/29/99) P. B8; Burton, Thomas M.; The U.S. FDA recently warned Abbott Laboratories that the company s diagnostic manufacturing facility near North Chicago, Ill., does not meet federal quality-assurance guidelines and could be shut down unless an agreement concerning the problems is reached soon. The facility produces about $1.5 billion in diagnostic e
AIDS Epidemic Slows World Population Growth: Report: Calgary Herald News Online (09/29/99); Bueckert, Dennis; The AIDS epidemic is killing so many people in Africa that it will slow world population growth, according to a report by the Worldwatch Institute. Researchers are surprised that African mortality rates will have such an effect, but estimate that in many African countries one fifth of their adult population will die in
Some HIV Drugs May Cause Birth Defects: Reuters (09/29/99); Two drugs used to treat HIV can cause potential birth defects and should not be used by pregnant women. Protease inhibitors ritonavir and indinavir caused some baby rats to be born missing an eye. Additionally, the baby rats developed hair and teeth slower than normal.
Researchers Unveil New Contraceptives: Bergen Record Online (09/29/99); Padawer, Ruth; Fields, Julie; The creation of two new contraceptives was announced at an international conference on reproductive medicine: one is a pill for men and the other a gel for women that also helps prevents HIV. The pill for men is a drug called nifedipine, widely used to treat high blood pressure, and it interferes with the sperm binding
Scientists Creating 'Invisible' Condoms: Boston Globe Online (09/29/99); Hsu, Karen; A new gel product using microbicides is being researched as a contraceptive which, when applied before sex, protects against HIV and possibly sexually transmitted diseases. Although a marketable date is years away, the gel is a potential solution to stopping the HIV-infection rate of sexually active women, who now numb
Misjudged Threat: Time (09/13/99) Vol. 154, No. 11, P. 88; Smith, Ian,; The number of AIDS deaths may still be falling, but the past few years decrease is slowing down at an alarming rate and may reach a stand-still. Findings recently presented at an HIV-prevention conference in Atlanta, hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that one of the chief groups at risk for
800,000 to Die of AIDS Before 2010: Africa News Online (09/24/99); Shivute, Oswald; In Namibia , an estimated 800,000 people will die from AIDS by 2010. In June 1999, the total number of HIV cases was 60,460, with pregnant women composing an average of 17.4 percent of the national total. Twenty-four new graduates of HIV-AIDS counseling and care at Oshakati State Hospital were warned of witch doctors f
HIV Risk Behavior Common in Brazil: Reuters Health Information Services (09/23/99); Ober, Tracey; Only one in four Brazilians used a condom during sex in the last 12 months, a total of about 24 percent of the population. Also, more Brazilians are having sex before they reach age 15- - 47 percent of men and 32 percent of women. These numbers suggest that better prevention strategies are necessary, especially with Br
Unsafe Sex Reported on the Rise Among Gays: Seattle Times Online (09/26/99); King, Warren; Many gay men who know the rhetoric of AIDS prevention are not taking precautions for safe-sex. In Washington state s King County, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted diseases among gay men, demonstrating a lack of protected sex. Drug therapy has made AIDS seem like a controllable disease, reducing the de
Help Is Far Off for Black AIDS Patients: Los Angeles Times Online (09/26/99); Stewart, Jocelyn Y.; African Americans with HIV have few places to turn to for housing in Los Angeles black neighborhoods. Only a fraction of the millions of federal dollars set aside for housing people with HIV in Los Angeles County is used to form facilities in black neighborhoods. With the highest rate of AIDS in the country, outside of
Merck Begins Trials for Once-Daily Dosage Crixivan: Dow Jones News (09/27/99); Connolly, Cressida; Once-daily doses of Merck s Crixivan were able to produce the same drug levels in the blood as the approved dosing when used in combination with the protease inhibitor Ritonavir , according to a pharmacokinetic study presented Monday by Merck at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agen
Case of Fictitious HIV Reported: Reuters Health Information Services (09/27/99); Kerr, Martha; Clinicians at the Lahey Clinic in Boston treated a middle-aged woman with a suppurating middle ear infection who claimed she was HIV-positive. She was treated with antibiotics and finally triple-drug antiretroviral therapy over the span of six years, but did not respond to treatments. She resisted being tested for HIV,
High Rate of Bacterial Infection Reported for HIV-Infected Women: Reuters Health Information Services (09/27/99); Women with HIV and CD4 counts below 200 cells per microliter are eight times more likely to have had pneumonia than HIV- negative women, according to September s issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Such bacterial infections occur more frequently in HIV-positive women and are chief causes of mortality for infected wo
Gilead AIDS Drug Shows Promise Against Resistance: Wall Street Journal (09/28/99) P. B17; King, Ralph T., Jr.; Waldholz, Michael; Burton, Thomas M.; Gilead Sciences has created the AIDS drug tenofovir, which has a high antiviral effect with no toxicity in trial patients resistant to common AIDS therapies. New drugs are greatly needed as resistance grows among long-treated AIDS patients. Tenofovir works more effectively because it is chemically
Stopping Medication OK for AIDS Infection: United Press International Science News (09/27/99); Susman, Ed; With new AIDS therapies helping patients immune systems, doctors believe that AIDS patients can quit taking medications to prevent opportunistic infections. The risk of contracting Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is extremely low if the patient takes antiretroviral therapy, according to a study supported by the Natio
AIDS Outlook Grim Despite Drugs, Experts Say: Reuters (09/28/99); Fox, Maggie; Multi-drug treatments for AIDS are beginning to fall short of their anticipated effectiveness, although the CDC revealed that HIV killed 20 percent fewer people in 1998 than in 1997. Toxic side-effects from treatment and drug-resistant strains of the virus are two unavoidable problems facing AIDS patients, who also dea
Nonprotease AIDS Cocktails Promising-U.S. Study: Reuters (09/28/99); Kahn, Michael; Researchers presented findings Monday at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy that showed AIDS-drug cocktails that do not include protease inhibitors can be effective in helping patients without the complications that often result from protease inhibitor drugs. In the 48-week study, rese
Fewer Walk the Walk Against AIDS: Washington Post (09/27/99) P. B2; Murphy, Caryle; The Whitman-Walker Clinic s 13th annual AIDS Walk raised from $1.2 million to $1.5 million for AIDS patients, with over 22,000 people participating. Last year about 28,000 people took part, and activists suspect the 21 percent decline is a sign that too many people believe the disease is under control. However, to keep
S. Africa Drugs Dispute Simmers Despite U.S. Deal: Reuters (09/23/99); Sithole, Emelia; Although the United States and South Africa struck a deal concerning AIDS drug patent rights and averted a trade war, South Africa is still battling the issue. South African drug companies and industry analysts call the deal misleading and say it was simply struck to facilitate President Thabo Mbeki s first visit to th
Glaxo Says New HIV Combination Therapies Show Positive Results: Bloomberg News (09/27/99); A new combination therapy consisting of Epivir , Retrovir, and Glaxo Wellcome s Agenerase was effective in reducing the viral loads below the level of detection in 93 percent of untreated AIDS patients treated for 48 weeks, compared to 42 percent in the placebo group, according to a study prese
Old Law Being Used to Stop Prostitutes From Spreading HIV: Tampa Tribune Online (09/25/99); A five-year-old law in Florida is being used to curb the spread of HIV by prostitutes. The law passed in 1994 states that an HIV-positive person who offers sex for money and knows that they are exposing others to the virus is committing a felony. Undercover police have already charged two women within three weeks. The
Over Two Million Kenyans Have AIDS, Officials Say: Reuters (09/26/99); Over two million people in Kenya have AIDS, with more than 100,000 being children under five. AIDS cases continue to increase in Kenya, and estimates project that by the year 2005, 2.5 million will have died from AIDS. In 1998, about 14 percent of the population was affected by AIDS.
BioChem's dOTC Can Cut HIV Levels by Factor of 10, Study Says: Bloomberg News (09/26/99); BioChem, a biotechnology company that developed AIDS therapy Epivir , revealed that the experimental AIDS drug dOTC, made by BioChem Pharma, has been shown to reduce the levels of HIV in blood by at least a factor of 10. The drug is called a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and is effective when taken one time per day.
TB Cases in 1998 Total More Than 44,000: Kyodo News Service (09/24/99); There were 44,016 tuberculosis cases in Japan in 1998, according to a survey by Japan s Health and Welfare Ministry and of those patients, 2,795 died. The increase in TB cases is quickly growing, and the number of deaths from TB is rising as well. In 1998, most TB patients were over age 50, and 36 percent were over 70.
AIDS Drug Works Against Malaria, Study Finds: Reuters (09/27/99); A study appearing in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene shows that a Glaxo Wellcome drug used to treat AIDS-related infections, Malarone, protects people from becoming infected with malaria after they are bitten by a mosquito carrying the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Not only is Malarone 100 perc
Vaccines Do Not Cause Diabetes, Study Finds: Reuters (09/27/99); A controversy over potential hazards of immunizations has led to some debate about the safety of certain vaccines, but researchers have found no evidence that vaccines are harmful. Those voicing concern about dangerous vaccines have said that vaccines like the one for Hepatitis B can cause juvenile diabetes, but scient
It Costs $17,600 a Year to Treat HIV in U.S.-Study: Reuters (09/27/99); The cost to treat a person with three to four drugs for HIV is $17,600 a year. The multi-drug treatment being used is called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which keeps the virus level extremely low. A study by Caro Research, an independent consulting firm in Massachusetts, showed that HAART reduced the c
Will Wild Chimp Pee Tell All About HIV?: New Scientist (09/11/99) Vol.163, No.2203, P. 25; Brown, Phyllida; To learn more about the origins of HIV, researchers are studying the urine of wild chimpanzees. Compared to captive chimpanzees, which were taken from the wild while very young, wild chimps are more likely to carry a sexually transmitted virus. Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is closely related to HIV, and by compa
Notice to Readers: Satellite Broadcast on HIV Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (09/24/99) Vol. 48, No. 37, P. 831; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Training Network will sponsor on Thursday, November 18, 1999, at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST, a satellite broadcast, HIV Prevention with Faith Communities and Communities of Color. The broadcast will highlight activities and resources for HIV prevention with
First National AIDS Forum Opens: PANA Wire Service (09/23/99); Senegal s first national forum on AIDS research opened this week to discuss the state of HIV-related studies and suggest new directions for research. Participants will focus on issues including bio-clinics, prevention, counseling, and obstacles in HIV/AIDS research. The three-day conference is being sponsored by the Na
Minister Calls for Strategies to Curb AIDS Spread: Africa News Service (09/24/99); Mwaniki, Mike; Kenya s Office of the President minister, Marsden Madoka, recently asserted that there is a critical need to stem the spread of HIV among police officers. Although figures of police officers who have died from the scourge are not readily available, it was a fact that the police force has lost many officers to the pande
PCP Prophylaxis Can Be Discontinued After HAART-Induced CD4 Cell Increase: Reuters Health Information Services (09/23/99); A report in the September 10 issue of AIDS suggests that prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) could be stopped in HIV-infected individuals who have an increase in CD4 cell counts to over 200 cells per microliter. Danish researchers studied 219 consecutive HIV-infected patients who halted the therapy aft
Multidrug-Resistant TB Associated With Poor Survival in HIV- Infected Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (09/23/99); Italian researchers report that the median survival time among HIV-infected individuals following a diagnosis of multidrug- resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is about 50 percent lower than that for HIV-infected patients with TB that responds to treatment. More than 300 cases of culture-proven TB in HIV- positive patients
Cantab Releases Positive Results for Herpes Vaccine: Bloomberg News Service (09/23/99); Cantab Pharmaceuticals, a U.K.-based biotechnology company, said Thursday a Phase I trial involving its new vaccine and treatment for genital herpes , called Disc HSV, was successful and showed the product had an excellent safety profile. The company, which is developing the vaccine in cooperation with
Alarming Rise in Sex Diseases: New Zealand Press Online (09/24/99); In Wellington, New Zealand , rates of sexually transmitted diseases are rising at alarming rates. Over the past six months, there has been a 400 percent increase in HIV cases, according to the Wellington Independent Practice Association. Cases of gonorrhea have increased 50 percent, with an average of one case diagnose
Indian Government Re-Evaluates AIDS Control: Lancet (09/18/99) Vol. 354, No. 9183, P. 1010; Sharma, Dinesh C; AIDS programs in India will change during the next five years from a focus on awareness to prevention of the disease. The Indian government is also working to decrease the number of HIV transmissions from blood transfusions and hopes to increase voluntary blood donations to 60 percent. Donated blood will be tested for
WHO Gives Southeast Asia a Health Warning: Lancet (09/18/99) Vol. 354, No. 9183, P. 1010; Kumar, Sanjay; The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that the number of AIDS cases in southeast Asia rose 40 percent in the past two years. The overwhelming majority of these cases were in Thailand , Myanmar , and India , and experts at the WHO s 52nd Regional Committe
South African Children the Forgotten Victims of AIDS: Reuters (09/22/99); By 2005, over 1 million children in South Africa will be parentless as a result of the AIDS epidemic. Mary Caesar, who is national coordinator for the AIDS Legal Network, is calling for legislation to protect children affected by AIDS. On Wednesday, experts told the South African parliament that an estimated 1.1 millio
Future: Cancer Cured; Poverty Lingers: United Press International (09/22/99); A poll conducted by National Family Opinion Research for the Billennium Organizing Committee, a marketing group in Chicago, anticipates that in the upcoming 100 years cancer will be cured. The survey of 1,000 Americans found that 50 percent expect a cure for cancer by the end of the next century, while 42 percent belie
New UCSF Research Center Will Focus on HIV at Molecular Level: Reuters Health Information Services (09/22/99); A new $7 million grant to the University of California at San Francisco AIDS Research Institute will allow for increased research on HIV prevention, including vaccine development. Researchers want to focus on how and to what extent drug- resistant HIV is being transmitted, along with molecular and cellular interactions
TB Cases Rise in Kenya's Nyanza Province: PANA Wire Service (09/22/99); Kenyan health officials report that the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Nyanza Province skyrocketed from 1,192 infections at the beginning of the decade to 8,342 infections in 1998. Medical services director Dr. Richard Otieno Muga attributed the significantly increased rates to the rising number of HIV and AIDS c
World's Population Is Expected to Top 6 Billion Next Month: New York Times (09/23/99) P. A5; The United Nations (UN) has forecast that the world s population will hit 6 billion people in October. The UN s State of the World Population Report 1999 notes that population growth in Africa is the highest, rising to 767 million since 1960, although the AIDS epidemic has taken its toll. While the UN said that many co
Gates Donation to Be Used to Combat Cervical Cancer: Wall Street Journal (09/23/99) P. C16; Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has given $50 million to be used for screening and treating cervical cancer in developing countries, where access to testing is not always available, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced. PAHO and other organizations, including the International Agency for Research on Canc
Researchers See Wart Virus as Probable Cause of Some Cancers: Boston Globe Online (09/23/99) P. A20; Fox, Maggie; Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York said Wednesday that the human wart virus helps cause cancer by inhibiting the proteins necessary for cells to divide and differentiate. The scientists report in the Journal of the European Molecular Biology Organization that the virus appears to use
Free Markets Leave Women Worse Off, UNICEF Says: New York Times (09/23/99) P. A5; Olson, Elizabeth; A new study from the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) shows that since the collapse of Communism, women and girls in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are now worse off. The report found that many women are unemployed for the first time, while the life expectancy of women in 16 of the 27 countries studi
Tuberculosis in Russia: Lancet (09/18/99) Vol. 354, No. 9183, P. 1036; Oswald, George R.; Afanasicv, Nikita Yu; Cegielski, J. Peter; et al.; In a letter to the editor of the Lancet, researchers from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discuss a July 3 article about the difficulties of accurately reporting tuberculosis (TB) rates in Russia . Nicholas Banatvala, of Medical Emergency Relief Internati
Inverse Association Between BCG Immunisation and Intestinal Nematode Infestation Among HIV-1-Positive Individuals in Uganda (Research Letter): Lancet (09/18/99) Vol. 354, No. 9183, P. 1000; Elliott, Alison M.; Nakiyingi, Jessica; Quigley, Maria A.; New research from Uganda suggests that people who have received BCG immunization may not be as susceptible to worms. The researchers studied more than 1,300 HIV-1-infected adults at the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the AIDS Support Organization in Entebbe. A total of 103 of the subjects, who were enrolled in a t
ANC Launch of HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign: Africa News Service (09/21/99); South Africa s African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu- Natal will begin this week an aggressive HIV/AIDS awareness effort. Coinciding with that launch in Durban, former President Nelson Mandela will introduce the ANC s national HIV/AIDS program in Johannesburg. The campaign will focus on prevention, getting people
HIV-Infected Individuals Benefit From Flu Vaccine: Reuters Health Information Services (09/21/99); Investigators from the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Diego have concluded that the flu vaccine is extremely effective in HIV-1-infected individuals. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, is the first to research the clinical efficacy of the influenza vaccine among HIV-infected patients. According
Psychosocial and Demographic Factors Linked With HIV Therapy Adherence: Reuters Health Information Services (09/21/99); New research from Spanish investigators suggests that individuals who are depressed and who have a perceived lack of social support have difficulty adhering to antiretroviral drug therapies for HIV infection. The team studied 366 HIV- infected patients over the course of six months; all patients completed a questionnai
Thai AIDS Worries Don't Inspire Condom Use: Reuters (09/21/99); The Durex Global Safe Sex Survey shows that nearly 90 percent of young people in Thailand said that the risk of HIV infection has affected their sexual behavior, although only 23 percent used a condom during their first sexual encounter. In addition, 15 percent of Thai respondents said they limited the number of sexual
Brazilians Seen Lowering Guard on AIDS Safety: Reuters (09/21/99); Ober, Tracey; A new report shows that nearly half of Brazilian men and about one-third of Brazilian women had sexual intercourse before 15 years of age. The government report also showed that 76 percent of the population did not use a condom during sex in the last year. The study, commissioned by Brazil s health ministry, noted that
Clinton Encourages U.N. to Continue Intervening in Humanitarian Conflicts: Wall Street Journal (09/22/99) P. B9; Cummings, Jeanne; President Clinton addressed the United Nations on Tuesday, as the world body opened its 54th session in New York. Clinton touched on a number of issues in his speech, notably calling for further development of vaccines against malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases that are prevalent in developing countries. Th
Reduced Antiretroviral Drug Susceptibility Among Patients With Primary HIV Infection: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/22/99- 09/29/99) Vol. 282, No. 12, P. 1142; Little, Susan J.; Daar, Eric S.; D'Aquila, Richard T.; et al.; Researchers from the University of California at San Diego conducted a retrospective analysis of 141 patients and found that three were infected with HIV with a more than tenfold resistance to one or more AIDS drugs. More than one-quarter of the patients showed a reduced susceptibility of greater than 2.5 to 10 times t
HIV-1 Drug Resistance in Newly Infected Individuals: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/22/99- 09/29/99) Vol. 282, No. 12, P. 1135; Boden, Daniel; Hurley, Arlene; Zhang, Linqi; et al.; Researchers report that they found a 16.3 percent prevalence of HIV-1 variants with known resistance-conferring genotypes to any antiretroviral drug in a group of newly infected patients from New York and Los Angeles. Of the 67 patients for whom resistance could be tested, approximately 27 percent were at least threefo
Parents Appeal Against HIV Ruling: BBC News Online (09/21/99); The parents of a couple whose daughter was ordered to be tested for HIV are trying to appeal that decision. The High Court held that it was in the best interests of the infant, whose mother is HIV positive, to be screened for HIV. The parents oppose testing and believe it could result in further state intervention in h
Health Tips: Early Treatment May Be Best for HIV-Related Dementia: United Press International (09/20/99); Wasowicz, Lidia; Findings published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, suggest that the early phases of HIV- related dementia may be treatable. According to the research, highly active antiretroviral therapy can undo chemical changes and brain damage that stem from HIV infection. Study author Dr. Linda Cha
Tolerance Induction to Nevirapine Successful for Some HIV- Infected Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (09/20/99); French scientists say that tolerance can be induced in some HIV patients who have developed nevirapine-related cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions. The researchers, from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Montpellier, note that hypersensitivity reactions to medications are not unusual for HIV-infected individuals
Oral Azithromycin Equivalent to Intramuscular Penicillin for Syphilis Prevention: Reuters Health Information Services (09/21/99); New research suggests that one oral dose of azithromycin could be as effective as intramuscular injections of penicillin G benzathine for the prevention of syphilis in people exposed to infected sex partners. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, involved 96 individuals who had recently been exposed
Preaching Prevention: Florida Times-Union Online (09/21/99); Mattson, Marcia; Dr. Robert G. Brooks, Florida s new health secretary, stated Monday that public health officials need to emphasize disease prevention, a focus that would include teaching abstinence. At a statewide abstinence educators conference in Jacksonville, Brooks pointed out that while teenage pregnancy rates are falling, survey
Sex Survey Finds More Girls Are Fast, Forward: Edmonton Sun Online (09/21/99); Bergot, Nicole; The annual Durex Condoms Global Sex Survey reveals that an increasing number of young women know what they want in terms of sex. In addition, the survey of more than 4,000 young people found that British youths have sex an average of 133 times annually, followed by 128 times in the United States and 113 times in
State Says HIV Reporting Is Short on Data: Boston Globe Online (09/21/99); A more standardized method of reporting HIV cases is needed in Connecticut because the existing system does not supply enough data about how the virus is transmitted, according to state health officials. A total of 352 HIV infections were reported in Connecticut during the first six months of the year; however, officia
Encouraging HIV-Positive People to Participate in Clinical Trials: British Medical Journal Online (09/18/99) Vol. 319, No. 7212, P. 787b; Williams, Jeffrey H.; There are several reasons why it is becoming more difficult to recruit patients for clinical trials of AIDS drugs in the United Kingdom . In a letter to the editor of the British Medical Journal, Jeffrey H. Williams, health promotion officer for the Terrence Higgins Trust in London, notes that there are only so many tr
Fishermen Losing Fight Against AIDS: Africa News Online (09/17/99); Ouko, Pamela; Researchers say that fishermen in Lake Victoria are particularly vulnerable to HIV. A report presented at a recent seminar in Mbita, Kenya , noted that residents of the Suba District still follow such practices as forced early marriages of girls, wife inheritance, and aversion to HIV prevention methods such as condoms.
AIDS Forecast to Break 200,000 Barrier by 2000: Africa News Online (09/17/99); Amupadhi, Tangeni; New estimates forecast that Namibia will have recorded more than 200,000 HIV infections by year-end. The National AIDS Coordination Program listed over 60,000 cases of HIV between 1988 and June 1999, with more than 7,000 HIV infections recorded in the first half this year. However, because the statistics do not include
Researchers Say AIDS Vaccine in Sight: Africa News Service (09/17/99); Kayaya, Musengwa; The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative predicts that it may be possible to develop vaccines against AIDS within the next five or six years. Organization president Seth Berkley explained, We think that with the current research work we are ... doing with our partners in various places, we could soon develop a safe, e
Call for More Funding for Family Planning: Fox News Online (09/17/99); A new report calls for increased commitment throughout the world to financing family planning efforts. The report, published in Johns Hopkins University s Population Reports, notes that the programs are critical to help reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and to lower infant and maternal mortality rates.
UK Couple Flees After HIV Test Ordered: Fox News Online (09/18/99); Rather than have their daughter tested for HIV, a British couple has reportedly fled the country. London s High Court ruled earlier this month that the five-month-old girl, who is being breastfed, must be tested because her mother is infected with HIV. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the couple is against HIV
Teens Alert Peers to the Perils of HIV: Los Angeles Times Online (09/18/99); Gorman, Anna; A new program for teenagers in California s Ventura County trained area high school students to talk to their peers about HIV prevention. The teenagers were educated about HIV and AIDS, talked with an HIV-positive patient, and practiced talking to other teens about prevention. The students now give one-hour talks to te
On the Trail of Hepatitis C: USA Today (09/20/99) P. 6D; A program launched last year began testing emergency room patients for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Under the program, patients entering the emergency rooms of participating hospitals are tested for HCV, and the results are posted-- without the patients names--on the Internet. According to Alan Zelicoff of Sandia Natio
U.S., South Africa End Trade Battle Over AIDS Drugs: Wall Street Journal (09/20/99) P. B6; Davis, Bob; In a move to settle a trade fight concerning AIDS drugs, South Africa has agreed in writing to make sure its new laws do not violate international rules on intellectual property. Although South African health officials have long stated they would not infringe on the international agreements, the pledge had previously o
UNAIDS to Publish HIV-Vaccine-Trial Ethics Guidance: Lancet (09/11/99) Vol. 354, No. 9182, P. 923; Ramsay, Sarah; The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS has prepared a document on ethical considerations in HIV vaccine research. Like the first document that attempted to develop universally acceptable ethical guidelines, no consensus was reached. The first version was presented last June at a meeting of UNAIDS ,
High Prevalence of Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infection in Women Entering Jails and Juvenile Detention Centers--Chicago, Birmingham, and San Francisco, 1998: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (09/17/99) Vol. 48, No. 36, P. 793; Researchers attempted to determine the feasibility of testing women in corrections facilities for chlamydial and gonococcal infection using urine tests. They also assessed the prevalences of the two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The researchers found that a large percentage of women entering corrections facilit
Zambia Says Debt Relief Crucial in Fighting AIDS: Reuters (09/16/99); Esipisu, Manoah; Zambian officials said Thursday that substantial debt relief is needed to free up the necessary resources to respond to the AIDS epidemic. The country s real gross domestic product per capita dropped 5 percent in 1998, while inflation soared 30.6 percent at year-end from 18.6 percent in 1997. Finance Minister Katele Ka
New Study Finds 536,000 Brazilians HIV Infected: Reuters (09/16/99); New statistics from the Brazilian Health Ministry show that 536,000 of the nation s 165 million people are infected with HIV. According to the study, 0.61 percent of the population has HIV, with the majority of the infections--330,600--located in the southeast part of the country. The ministry noted that the new figure
Proteins May Hold New Anti-TB Weapons: Fox News Online (09/16/99); Researchers from the University of Wales announced Wednesday that five proteins in the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium may be useful in treating, diagnosing, and preventing the disease. Although the research is still preliminary, the scientists suggested the proteins might be used to create vaccines that would protect peop
HHS Awards $3.9 Million to Improve HIV/AIDS Care: U.S. Newswire (09/16/99); The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $3.9 million in planning grants in an effort to increase HIV/AIDS care to African-Americans and people in rural and underserved regions. In announcing the awards, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said, These grants will help address two key challenges of
Partnership Seeks to Create Comprehensive National AIDS Programs in Africa: Reuters Health Information Services (09/16/99); In an effort to boost international efforts and resources in Africa s battle against AIDS, a partnership has been formed between African governments, international groups, UNAIDS , UNICEF, the UN Development Program, the World Health Organization , and the World Bank. The International Partnership Against AIDS in Afri
African AIDS Summit Ends With Appeal to Leaders: CNN Online (09/17/99); As the 11th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases came to a close on Thursday, experts called on African governments to be more aggressive in the fight against AIDS. While costly AIDS drugs are out of reach for most Africans, conference participants also noted that some governments and dono
Prevalence and Correlates of Survival Sex Among Runaway and Homeless Youth: American Journal of Public Health (09/99) Vol. 89, No. 9, P. 1406; Greene, Jody M.; Ennett, Susan T.; Ringwalt, Christopher L.; In an effort to assess the prevalence and correlates of survival sex among runaway and homeless youths, researchers from the Research Triangle Institute and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studied more than 600 youths in shelters and over 500 on the streets. The report shows that more than one-quarter o
Uganda Imports 10 Million Condoms: Kyodo News Service (09/16/99); In an effort to prevent a shortage caused by bureaucratic delays and increasing use in the face of the AIDS epidemic, the Ugandan government has imported 10 million condoms. The prophylactics will be distributed free of charge in hospitals beginning next month. Officials noted that approximately 80 million condoms are
M.L. Labs Permitted to Do AIDS Drug Test in U.S.: Reuters (09/16/99); The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given England s M.L. Laboratories permission to conduct intermediate Phase II tests of its Viraldon AIDS drug. The study will involve late-stage AIDS patients who will receive the treatment every other day for eight weeks. Phase II/III trials of the drug are currently being con
AIDS in Cambodia Said as Lethal as Pol Pot Regime: Reuters (09/16/99); Cambodian officials announced Thursday that HIV could be as deadly for the country as the radical Khmer Rouge regime, when 1.7 million people were killed between 1975 and 1979 during the rule of Pol Pot. An estimated 100 Cambodians contract HIV daily, and 180,000 people are already infected with the virus. Unprotected
AIDS Killing Teachers in Central African Republic: Kyodo News Service (09/15/99); A United Nations Children s Fund study released Wednesday found that AIDS is the leading cause of death among teachers in the Central African Republic . More than 85 percent of teachers deaths for which the causes were determined were attributed to AIDS in 1996 and 1997. In addition, the study noted that a shortage of
Scientists Look for New Drugs in Old Plants: CNN Online (09/15/99); British researchers are studying a variety of plants to help find new treatments for potent and re-emerging diseases like tuberculosis (TB), obesity, and Alzheimer s. One of the most promising lines of such research is the use of bluebells to treat TB, which kills 3 million people a year. Daffodils are also being studi
Government Funds HIV Vaccine Development Using Equine Encephalitis Vector: Reuters Health Information Services (09/15/99); The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded a five-year, $12 million grant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to develop an HIV vaccine that uses a modified version of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE). Preliminary animal studies of the method found that the modifi
US to Extend $41.5 Million Loan for India AIDS Project: Reuters (09/15/99); The U.S. Agency for International Development has agreed to loan India $41.5 million to help control sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. The seven-year effort will be focused on Maharashtra, which is located in the western part of the country, and will be conducted by the National AIDS Control Organization an
AIDS Eclipses War, Orphaning Millions of Children, U.N. Says: Washington Times (09/16/99) P. A14; Shaw, Angus; Officials from the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) said Wednesday that as a result of the AIDS epidemic, some 13 million African children will be orphaned within the next 18 months. At the 11th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Lusaka, Zambia , UNICEF head Carol Bellamy st
Hepatitis C Trial: Journal of the American Medical Association (09/15/99) Vol. 282, No. 11, P. 1028; Stephenson, Joan; A $28 million trial of antiviral drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is being sponsored by the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The eight-year study will be conducted at nine centers throughout the United States . Researchers hope to determine whether l
Prevalence and Clinical Outcome of Hepatitis C Infection in Children Who Underwent Cardiac Surgery Before the Implementation of Blood-Donor Screening: New England Journal of Medicine (09/16/99) Vol. 341, No. 12, P. 866; Vogt, Manfred; Lang, Thomas; Frosner, Gert; et al.; German researchers studied 458 children who underwent cardiac surgery prior to 1991, when blood-donor screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) began in Germany . The patients, who were compared to 458 controls, never had blood transfusions and none of their mothers had antibodies to hepatitis C (anti- HCV). According to
Region's New HIV Cases Level Off: CNews Online (www.canoe.ca) (09/15/99); Murray, Caroline; Statistics show that the number of new HIV infections in Canada s Ottawa-Carleton region has plateaued. A total of 143 new HIV infections were reported to the area s health department last year, nearly one-third of which were among homosexual men. Heterosexual sex and injection drug use were also cited as key methods o
AIDS Experts Cautiously Welcome UK Vaccine Test: Reuters (09/14/99); Conti, Domenico; Participants at the 11th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases gave cautious praise to news that an HIV vaccine will be tested in Britain. Researchers, led by Professor Andrew McMichael of John Radcliffe University in Oxford, announced earlier this week they would launch next year safety tr
"World Bank Approves $191 Million Loan to India for AIDS Control: Bloomberg News Service (09/14/99); India s government has signed an agreement with the World Bank to borrow $191 million in an effort to stem the spread of HIV. A statement from the Ministry of Finance said the funds will be used to lower the rate of growth of HIV/AIDS infection in India and [strengthen] the capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS. The five-yea
World Bank to Increase Funding in Africa: Reuters (09/14/99); Esipisu, Manoah; The World Bank has announced a significant increase in its funding for AIDS programs in Africa. According to World Bank official Callisto Madavo, a large portion of the International Development Association s (IDA s) $3 billion annual budget will be devoted to the war on AIDS in Africa, although no specific sum was men
State Health Agency Honors 130th Year, Disease Rate Drop: Boston Globe Online (www.boston.com/globe) (09/15/99) P. B7; Hsu, Karen; In celebration of its 130th birthday today, Massachusett s Department of Health (DPH) is citing the success of vaccination programs and sanitation to help bring infectious diseases like measles and polio closer to their end. The DPH notes that rates of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have also declined in recent yea
S. Africans Know About AIDS But Spurn Protection: Fox News Online (www.foxnews.com) (09/14/99); A new demographic and health survey shows that although 87 percent of South Africans sampled know that condoms could help protect them from HIV, only 22 percent had ever used the prophylactics. In addition, approximately 12 percent of the nearly 5,700 men aged 15 or higher surveyed reported symptoms of sexually transmi
AIDS Spreading to Teenage Girls in Parts of Africa: Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (09/15/99) P. B1; Waldholz, Michael; A new report has found high rates of HIV infection among teenage girls in parts of Africa and suggests that the girls are contracting the virus from older men. The study, which involved 8,000 men and women in four African towns, found that between 15 percent and 23 percent of the teenage girls in two of the towns were
Efficacy of Azithromycin in Prevention of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia: A Randomised Trial: Lancet (www.thelancet.com) (09/11/99) Vol. 354, No. 9182, P. 891; Dunne, Michael W.; Bozzette, Samuel; McCutchan, J. Allen; et al.; New research suggests that using azithromycin as prophylaxis for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) offers extra protection against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) infection in addition to standard PCP prophylaxis. The prospective, randomized trial compared azithromycin, rifabutin, and a combination of the two drug
Admission Trends in a Rural South African Hospital During the Early Years of the HIV Epidemic: Journal of the American Medical Association (www.jama.com) (09/15/99) Vol. 282, No. 11, P. 1087; Floyd, Katherine; Reid, R. Alasdair; Wilkinson, David; et al.; Researchers conducted a retrospective study to determine the effect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the demand for inpatient hospital care in rural South Africa . At the 450-bed hospital that serves Hlabisa District, HIV seroprevalence among antenatal clinic patients was 29 percent in 1998, up from 4 percent in 1992. The
Topic of Cancer: POZ (09/99) No. 51, P. 97; Lands, Lark; A 13-year longitudinal study of 3,616 people with AIDS revealed that almost 25 percent developed some form of cancer. Kaposi s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin s disease were common and expected. However, the prevalence of Hodgkins disease and unusual varieties of lip and skin cancers was worrisome. Andrew Grulich, author of th
Pressure Builds for Cervical Cancer Test: BBC News Online (09/10/99); New research supports the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) tests in addition to Pap smears for women. The study, funded by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, investigated the use of HPV tests and standard smear tests in nearly 3,000 U.K. women over the age of 35. According to the data, the HPV test identified 95 perce
Russia's HIV Rate Up 70 Percent So Far in '99: Minneapolis Star Tribune Online (09/12/99); Statistics show that the number of HIV infections in Russia soared 70 percent in the first eight months of 1999. According to the Interfax news agency, most of the new HIV infections in Moscow were among drug users.
Light This Candle: Boston Globe Online (09/12/99) P. J1; Warsh, David; In a commentary in the Boston Globe, David Warsh suggests creating an international vaccine board. He notes that malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV take about 7 million lives each year, and that the overwhelming majority of malaria cases and new HIV infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa. While most pharmaceutical companie
TV Teaches College Students Casual Sex Is Ok, Study Finds: Washington Times (09/13/99) P. A8; Wetzstein, Cheryl; A new report from the University of Michigan suggests that college students who believe that sex is expected in a relationship may developed that notion from television. According to the study, which was published in the August issue of the Journal of Sex Research, young women who see as few as 22 hours of television e
World Bank Pledges to Fight AIDS in Africa: PANA Wire Service (09/12/99); Kayaya, Musengwa; A senior World Bank official said Sunday that the institution has allocated additional resources to fight AIDS in Africa. According to Callisto Madavo, the bank s regional director for Africa, the World Bank has declared AIDS the foremost threat to Africa s development initiatives. At the 11th International Conference
UN Official Says World Too Slow on AIDS: Reuters (09/13/99); Esipisu, Manoah; UNAIDS head Peter Piot announced Sunday that 50 percent of newborn babies in Africa are infected with HIV. Piot noted that AIDS has had profound effects throughout the continent, significantly reducing productivity and life expectancy. The official also asserted that the world has been too slow to respond to the epid
The World: Africa AIDS Epidemic: USA Today (09/13/99) P. 12A; Nordwall, Smita P.; Nine African nations have declared AIDS a national disaster in their countries. At the 11th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (ICASA) in Lusaka, Zambia , officials from Burkina Faso , Lesotho , Malawi ,
Lamivudine (3TC) Resistance in HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Involves Steric Hindrance With Beta-Branched Amino Acids: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Online (08/31/99) Vol. 96, No. 18, P. 10027; Sarafianos, Stefan G.; Das, Kalyan; Clark Jr., Arthur D.; et al.; Researchers established the crystal structures of the 3TC- resistant mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (M184I) both with and without a DNA/DNA template-primer. Without a DNA substrate, the authors note the wild-type and mutant forms are very similar; however, an analysis of the crystal structures of M184I mutant and w
Inadvertent Use of Bicillin C-R for Treatment of Syphilis-- Maryland, 1998: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (09/10/99) Vol. 48, No. 35, P. 777; Three benzathine penicillin G-containing products are currently available in the United States : Bicillin(tm) L-A, Bicillin(tm) C-R, and Bicillin(tm) C-R 900/300. Only Bicillin L-A is indicated for syphilis. Due to the similarities in proprietary name, packaging, and labeling, Bicillin C-R and Bicillin L-A may easily b
Resurgent Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Disease Among Men Who Have Sex With Men--King County, Washington, 1997-1999: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (09/10/99) Vol. 48, No. 35, P. 773; Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia have increased among men who have sex with men (MSM) in King County, Washington, which includes Seattle. This resurgence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among MSM reinforces trends recently documented in other parts of the country. By 1996, infectious syphilis had been eliminat
Correction to 9/09/99 Prevention News: D.C. Life Improves for Children: Washington Post (09/09/99) P. A10; Goldstein, Avram; [The Washington Post ran a correction on the D.C. Kids Count Collaborative s report on children in the District of Columbia. The number of new pediatric AIDS cases did not increase dramatically in 1998. The corrected statistics have been inserted into the previous abstract.] A new report suggests that life has improved
UNAIDS Makes Full Use of ICASA: Africa News Service (09/09/99); Chonya, Marjorie; The United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) is training staff members of the International Conference on AIDS/HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (ICASA) about issues related to the epidemic. According to UNAIDS training officer Philippe Gasquet, the staff is being instructed about HIV/AIDS issues at both
Cambodians Use One Million Condoms Per Month: Kyodo News Service (09/09/99); Kea, Puy; Poverty and a lack of sex education have contributed to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases in Cambodia . According to Population Services International, which is in charge of distributing condoms in the country, 1 million of the prophylactics are used each month. However, Dy Narong Rith of Cambodia s National
Ricky Ray Advocates Rally for Funding: Reuters Health Information Services (09/09/99); Rovner, Julie; AIDS advocates gathered in Washington this week to lobby for funding for payments authorized under the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act last year. Under the act, each of the approximately 7,500 hemophiliacs who contracted HIV through contaminated clotting factor and the families of those who have already died are t
AIDS-Defining Conditions Among UK Women Vary by Ethnic Group: Reuters Health Information Services (09/09/99); Members of the MRC Collaborative Study of HIV Infection in Women report that AIDS-defining conditions vary by ethnic group for women at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom and Ireland . The researchers studied approximately 500 women being treated at 15 GUM clinics between 1
U.S. Industry to Drop AIDS Drug Lawsuit Against South Africa: New York Times (09/10/99) P. A3; Lewis, Neil A.; More than 40 drug companies that filed suit against South Africa regarding the sale of AIDS drugs said Thursday they will not pursue the lawsuit. The companies had been pushing to repeal a South African law that would allow patients to buy cheaper drugs, arguing that their patents would be jeopardized if the law was im
Neurologic, Neurocognitive, and Brain Growth Outcomes in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children Receiving Different Nucleoside Antiretroviral Regimens: Pediatrics Online (09/99) Vol. 104, No. 3, P. e32; Raskino, Claire; Pearson, Deborah A.; Baker, Carol J.; et al.; U.S. researchers recently reported a study that compared three different nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor regimens to determine their effects on the central nervous system of HIV-infected children who exhibit symptoms of the disease. The regimens compared were zidovudine (ZDV) monotherapy, didanosine (ddI) mo
Card Helps Curb TB Rates in Homeless: Oregonian Online (09/03/99); Koglin, Oz Hopkins; In Oregon, the Multnomah County Health Department is using blue cards to help control the spread of tuberculosis (TB) among the homeless. The cards serve as proof that a homeless person in Portland s Burnside area, which has the highest TB rate in the state, has passed a TB test. A person showing the card is allowed ac
Insisting on Condoms Strengthens Relationship: Reuters Health Information Services (09/08/99); New research in The Journal of Adolescence shows that requesting a new sex partner to use a condom brings more respect into the relationship, contrary to previous beliefs. Whereas previous studies had found that many people may be embarrassed to suggest using the prophylactics for fear that their partners might think t
Antiretroviral Implant Under Development to Prevent Postnatal HIV Transmission: Reuters Health Information Services (09/08/99); Mitchell, Deborah; Researchers reported at the second conference on Global Strategies for the Prevention of HIV Transmission from Mothers to Infants in Montreal last weekend that a subcutaneous implant that provides antiretroviral therapy may be developed into an alternate method for reducing the rate of late postnatal HIV transmission.
R600 Million AIDS Drug Deal Sealed: Africa News Service (09/08/99); Caelers, Di; Roughly three months after Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a plan to commit 600 million rand to fight AIDS and HIV in Africa, the company has signed an agreement with South Africa concerning the implementation of the program. South Africa s health department announced last weekend that the drug maker would participate i
Bristol-Myers Wins FDA Approval for Combined Use of Two HIV Drugs: Investor's Business Daily (09/09/99) P. A2; The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two AIDS drugs from Bristol-Myers Squibb for use both with each other and with other AIDS treatments. The two reverse transcriptase inhibitors, Zerit and Videx , have been used on their own since the early part
Zimbabwe Loses Ground to AIDS Epidemic: Washington Times (09/09/99) P. A19; Statistics show that AIDS is taking the lives of at least 1,200 people in Zimbabwe each week, and the mortality rate is predicted to quadruple by the year 2010. The lack of space in cemeteries has spurred a public campaign to support cremation, which is considered taboo under traditional beliefs. The United Nations es
D.C. Life Improves for Children: Washington Post (09/09/99) P. A10; Goldstein, Avram; A new report suggests that life has improved for children in Washington, D.C., but the number of children with AIDS or chlamydia has increased. According to the annual report of the D.C. Kids Count Collaborative, there was a 17 percent decline in the number of children in the city between 1990 and 1997. The researchers
A Movable Epidemic: New York Times (09/09/99) P. C1; Morrow, David J.; Drug makers involved in HIV research are now making a concerted effort to educate hard-to-reach women about the virus, a move that starkly contrasts their attitude a few years ago. Glaxo Wellcome , for instance, recently awarded $700,000 in grants for several programs, including outreach efforts to educate women in pri
Cost Effectiveness of Single-Dose Nevirapine Regimen for Mothers and Babies to Decrease Vertical HIV-1 Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lancet (09/04/99) Vol. 354, No. 9181, P. 803; Marseille, Elliot; Kahn, James G.; Mmiro, Francis; et al.; To determine the cost effectiveness of the HIVNET 012 single- dose nevirapine regimen as a way to reduce perinatal HIV-1 transmission, researchers used a hypothetical cohort of 20,000 pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. The primary outcome measures were program cost, number of pediatric HIV-1 cases averted, cost per
Intrapartum and Neonatal Single-Dose Nevirapine Compared With Zidovudine for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV-1 in Kampala, Uganda: HIVNET 012 Randomised Trial: Lancet (09/04/99) Vol. 354, No. 9181, P. 795; Guay, Laura A.; Musoke, Philippa; Fleming, Thomas; et al.; A multicenter team of researchers has found that nevirapine reduced the risk of HIV-1 transmission by almost half during the first 14 to 16 weeks of life in a breastfeeding population. More than 600 HIV-1-infected women at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda , were studied. The women recei
Balms for the Poor: Economist (08/14/99) Vol. 352, No. 8132, P. 63; In the United States and Europe, consumers spend nearly $220 billion each year on prescription drugs, which is good reason for the drug companies to develop new remedies and keep drug store shelves stocked. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drug companies spend nearly $56 billion on health research; bu
AIDS Sufferers Need More Information, Not New Laws: Africa News Service (09/07/99); At a conference of people living with HIV in Namibia , participants asserted that HIV-infected individuals must be involved in the development of AIDS policies. Delegates to the meeting, sponsored by Catholic AIDS Action, also agreed that increased prevention strategies are needed, as the available AIDS drugs are too e
Aggressive Anti-AIDS Program Needed: Africa News Service (09/07/99); A mid-term review by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and others calls for a more aggressive effort against AIDS in Botswana . According to Macharia Kamau, UNDP s resident representative, The challenge right now is for Botswana to try to move from building a pretty high level of awareness to a program that
Lamivudine Particularly Useful in Dual HIV/HBV Infection: Reuters Health Information Services (09/07/99); A report in the September issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases concludes that lamivudine is an effective treatment for HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in individuals coinfected with the viruses. Members of the CAESAR trial, which includes participants from Canada , Australia , Europe
Detergent-Containing Gel Effective Against HIV in Vitro: Reuters Health Information Services (09/07/99); Research presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta last week suggests that a gel containing sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a detergent, may help lower the transmission of HIV, herpes simplex viruses, and other sexually transmitted diseases. The study, conducted by Sylvie Roy and others at Laval Unive
Cambodia Plans Condom Program to Combat High AIDS Rate: Nando Times Online (09/06/99); Cambodian officials announced Monday that they plan to enforce condom use in the country s brothels. Statistics from the Health Ministry s HIV/AIDS Control Center indicate that about 100 new HIV infections occur in Cambodia every day, up significantly from last year s estimates of 50 to 70 new cases a day. Health offic
Zimbabwe AIDS Epidemic Seen Worsened by Poverty: Reuters (09/08/99); Mutizwa, Godfrey; Economic analysts say that increasing poverty in Zimbabwe is fueling the AIDS epidemic in the country. At the monthly meeting of the Economic Society of Zimbabwe on Tuesday, speakers condemned the lack of government leadership in fighting HIV, which infects one-quarter of the nation s 12.5 million people, according to
New N.J. Law Mandates Reporting of Hepatitis C: Philadelphia Inquirer Online (09/08/99); A new law in New Jersey requires doctors and hospitals to report all cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to the state Department of Health and Senior Service. Experts note that there is not an outbreak of the disease; the law is part of an effort to identify existing infections, the majority of which occurred tw
Over a Decade of Experience With a Yeast Recombinant Hepatitis B Vaccine: Vaccine Online (08/20/99) Vol. 18, Nos. 1 and 2, P. 57; Assad, Safary; Francis, Andre; Researchers from SmithKline Beecham Biologicals reviewed published studies on the yeast recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, Engerix-B. The reports found the vaccine to be safe, with only minor local symptoms, and highly immunogenic in both monitored clinical tests and in field conditions. The authors note that a high prot
Channeling Hollywood: American Medical News (08/23/99) Vol. 42, No. 32, P. 9; Gianelli, Diane M.; Public health officials are increasingly turning to television and Hollywood to disseminate health-related messages. The Kaiser Family Foundation, which is trying to get safer sex depictions on screen, sponsors occasional briefings on sexual health issues for Hollywood writers and producers through the Media Project.
Takeda Chem to Delay Clinical Testing of AIDS Drug: Reuters (09/03/99); Takeda Chemical Industries announced plans to postpone clinical testing of its TAK-779 AIDS drug in the United States , following an order from the Food and Drug Administration that a Takeda subsidiary amend testing plans it filed earlier this year. Clinical testing of the drug was slated to start in August, but the co
Health Tips: Gene May Be Linked to AIDS-Related Lymphomas: United Press International (09/06/99); Wasowicz, Lidia; A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that the T-cell leukemia gene may be associated with non-Hodgkin s lymphoma in AIDS patients. The researchers, led by Dr. Michael Teitell of the University of California at Los Angeles Jonsson Cancer Center, said the findings could lead to a ta
27 Get TB From Man in Ishikawa Prefecture: Kyodo News Service (09/03/99); Japanese health officials announced Friday that 27 people appear to have contracted tuberculosis (TB) from a young man in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. The man was originally diagnosed with the flu, but tests conducted last month revealed he had TB. None of the 27 individuals, all colleagues and friends of th
Asian Health Officials Meet in Bangladesh: Reuters (09/06/99); A six-day meeting is being held in Bangladesh this week to discuss the threat of AIDS, malnutrition, and other health problems in the region. At the opening of the conference, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina noted that an estimated 7 million people in the South
Semen Exposure Common With Female Condom Use: Reuters Health Information Services (09/06/99); Research presented last week at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta linked use of the female condom to fairly high rates of semen exposure. Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trained 210 American women at low risk for sexually transmitted diseases to use the female condom. The
Girl Must Be Tested for HIV, Judge Rules: Reuters (09/03/99); London s High Court ruled Friday that an infant born to an HIV-infected woman must be tested for the virus, contrary to the wishes of her parents. Social workers in Camden had filed an order that the four-month-old baby should be tested, arguing that if she is found to be infected, she could benefit from available medi
Needle Exchanges Work: Washington Post (09/07/99) P. A18; Radwin, Jerome J.; Rosenfeld, Allan; In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post, Jerome J. Radwin and Allan Rosenfeld write in support of needle exchange programs. Radwin, CEO of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and Rosenfeld, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, note that two Canadian studies recently found
AIDS Outbreak Feared for U.S. Tribes: New York Times (09/07/99) P. D7; France, David; Some public health officials are concerned that the AIDS epidemic is about to take off among Native Americans in the United States . Ron Rowell, executive director of the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, said, We know HIV is being transmitted on the reservations, but the tribal leaders are just not payi
Spain Offers Free HIV Tests to Pregnant Women: Lancet (08/28/99) Vol. 354, No. 9180, P. 754; Bosch, Xavier; The Spanish Ministry of Health is offering voluntary and anonymous HIV tests to all pregnant women free of charge. The initiative is part of an effort to educate women about the risks of vertical HIV transmission and give health care officials the leverage to convince pregnant women to be tested for the virus. Vertical
Congenital Syphilis--United States, 1998: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (09/03/99) Vol. 48, No. 34, P. 757; New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the rate of mother-to-child syphilis dropped 78.2 percent between 1992 and 1998. A total of 801 congenital syphilis cases were reported last year, for a rate of 20.6 infections per 100,000 live births. The majority of the cases were the resul
AIDS-Resistant Prostitutes May Hold the Key to a Vaccine: Sydney Morning Herald Online (09/02/99); Gough, David; British and Kenyan scientists have developed an experimental HIV vaccine based on studies of more than 50 prostitutes in Africa who have repeatedly tested negative for HIV, despite continued exposure to the virus. According to Dr. Omu Anzala, a senior laboratory technician with the University of Nairobi researchers, ab
Weak Immigration Laws Threaten Canada's Health, Security, Says Reform: CNews Online (09/02/99); Leon Benoit, an immigration critic in Canada s Reform party, asserted Thursday that Canada s lax immigration laws are endangering both the health and security of the country. According to Benoit, The consequences [of Canada s weak immigration laws] are Canadians facing increased health risks through diseases like tuber
Anti-HIV 'BufferGel' Safe in Humans: Reuters Health Information Services (09/02/99); A study presented this week at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta indicated that BufferGel, a vaginal gel being tested to prevent HIV infection, seems to be nontoxic but further research is needed. The researchers, led by Dr. Kenneth H. Mayer at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, studied 16 ce
Renewed Efforts Needed Against Vertical Transmission Worldwide: Reuters Health Information Services (09/02/99); Participants at the second conference on Global Strategies for the Prevention of HIV Transmission for Mothers to Infants in Montreal estimate that, unless preventive steps are taken immediately, there will be 1 million new cases of HIV in infants born to infected women by 2003. Statistics show high rates of HIV infecti
A Fight Against TB: Washington Post (09/03/99) P. A26; Deaton, Dana M.; In a letter to the editor, Dana M. Deaton comments on an Aug. 10 Washington Post article about the threat of tuberculosis (TB). While Deaton, project manager for the Princeton Project 55 Tuberculosis Initiative, questions the appropriateness of the title, Science Races to Stem TB s Threat, she notes that the article is
Biggest Health Insurer Reverses Position, Now Covers New Pap Smear Test: Boston Globe Online (09/03/99); Galewitz, Phil; Aetna, the United States largest insurer, announced Thursday that it will now cover the ThinPrep Pap Test, a better but more expensive screen for cervical cancer. Although an Aetna official said last year that ThinPrep did not appear to be worth the additional expense, the company now believes that, based on unpublishe
Researchers Say Cheap Drug Cuts HIV Risk to Babies: Reuters (09/03/99); According to new research in The Lancet, a single dose of nevirapine administered to a mother and her infant is better at preventing vertical transmission of HIV than several doses of Glaxo Wellcome s zidovudine. Moreover, nevirapine is significantly cheaper--at $4 per dose for both mother and infant--than the multiple
Inmates in Irish Prisons Face Drug Abuse and Disease: Lancet (08/28/99) Vol. 354, No. 9180, P. 753; Birchard, Karen; A report from the Department of Community Health and General Practice at Trinity College in Dublin says that at least 20 percent of injection drug users in Irish prisons began injecting while in custody. The study was designed to investigate levels of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in Southern Ireland s prisoners.
HIV Infection Rates in Japan Projected to Increase: Lancet (08/28/99) Vol. 354, No. 9180, P. 754; Watts, Jonathan; Officials from Japan s Health and Welfare Ministry predict that the number of Japanese infected with HIV will more than double by 2003. According to a new report, there will be an estimated 15,400 Japanese with HIV by 2003, compared to 7,320 at the end of 1998. The researchers say that most of the HIV cases would be in
ADAP Fund Officials Predict Shortfall That Threatens Lives of HIV Patients: AIDS Alert (09/99) Vol. 14, No. 9, P. 97; Officials from the Working Group of the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) say that some states may have to cut off or restrict access to HIV drugs if Congress does not add $90.2 million to the ADAP budget. While Congress has been relatively generous with the ADAP budget, increases in funding have not kept up with th
South African Health Industry to Count Cost of AIDS: Reuters (09/01/99); Bull, Alister; Old Mutual Healthcare, a major healthcare provider in South Africa , estimates that the cost of AIDS care in the country could reach $3.8 billion a year by 2009. South African officials recently warned that by 2005, an estimated 5 million residents would have HIV and more than 1 million children will have been orphaned
Many Convicts Lack Healthcare: Reuters Health Information Services (09/01/99); An article in the September issue of the Journal of Health Care Finance indicates that most of the United States nearly 6 million convicted criminals do not have access to healthcare insurance. The lack of access to healthcare has broad implications when one considers that HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis are prevalent
New Rapid HIV Tests as Accurate as Standard Immunoassays: Reuters Health Information Services (09/01/99); Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied the accuracy of rapid HIV tests against standard HIV tests currently in use. Dr. Bernard M. Branson and colleagues tested five of the new HIV detection products from manufacturers Capillus, Hemastrip, Quix, Unigold, and Genetic System EIA. The rese
Cell Directed Antibody May Offer Complementary Postexposure HIV Prophylaxis: Reuters Health Information Services (09/01/99); Researchers from United Biomedical Inc. studied the neutralizing activity of B4, an anti-receptor-complex monoclonal antibody, against HIV in hu-peripheral blood leukocyte-severe combined immunodeficient mice and chimpanzees after exposure to HIV. Dr. Chang Yi Wang said that the B4 anti-HIV receptor antibody appeared t
Davis Offers Deal on Needle-Exchange Bill: San Francisco Examiner Online (09/01/99) P. A1; Salladay, Robert; In a last-minute compromise, California Governor Gray Davis said Wednesday he would sign a bill that would permit needle exchange programs in California--but only if local permission has been granted and with emergency orders. This turnaround pleased many activists who feared Davis would simply veto the bill. Currently
Across the USA: South Dakota: USA Today (09/02/99) P. 9A; Health officials in South Dakota are concerned over an increase in reported HIV cases this year. As of June 30, the state had registered 17 new cases of HIV--the same number of infections reported in all of 1998. The majority of the new infections are in men.
Conference Highlights Downside to Good News About AIDS: Boston Globe Online (09/02/99); Bynum, Russ; The National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta closed Wednesday with speakers emphasizing that new drug treatments alone cannot halt the AIDS epidemic. While new medications are allowing HIV and AIDS patients to live longer and healthier lives, the drugs do not keep people from getting infected. The new HIV infectio
The Experience of Pain in Persons With HIV/AIDS: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (09/99- 10/99) Vol. 10, No. 8, P. 59; Laschinger, Susan J.; Fothergill-Bourbonnais, Frances; Canadian researchers studied the phenomenon of pain in HIV- infected individuals. The study was based on open-ended interviews on pain with 22 HIV-infected patients. The subjects descriptions of pain fell into four general categories: physical pain, painful losses, the pain of not knowing, and social pain. Pain was str
Helping the Poorest: Economist (08/14/99) Vol. 352, No. 8132, P. 11; Roughly 98 percent of the children who do not live beyond their fifth birthday reside in developing countries. In addition, about 95 percent of those infected with HIV live in poor nations, while diseases like tuberculosis (TB), malaria, measles, tetanus, and whooping cough are likely to kill many of those in poor nati
Health Short of Condoms: Africa News Online (08/31/99); Sources in Uganda s health ministry say that the country is facing a condom shortage. Officials say the annual demand for condoms in Uganda has grown to 80 million. The country s success in fighting HIV has largely been attributed to increased condom use. The condom shortage is blamed on bureaucratic delays and a chang
Unsafe Sex Wreaking Havoc Among Youth: Africa News Service (08/31/99); Studies show that many Zambian youth are having sexual intercourse at an early age and are practicing unsafe sex. A 1997 Care International report found that 17 percent of youths in Zambia s urban township have had sex by the time they are 10 years old, while the 1996 Demographic Health Survey revealed that 75 percent
Bay State TB Levels Low, But Rising: MSNBC Online (09/01/99); The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the rate of tuberculosis (TB) infections is rising in Massachusetts, but it is still below the national average. There was a 5 percent increase in TB cases in the state between 1997 and 1998. Massachusetts has 4.7 TB cases per 100,000 p
African Americans Hard Hit by HIV/AIDS: Reuters Health Information Services (08/31/99); Reports released at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta show that the African-American community is being particularly hard hit by HIV and AIDS. Death rates from AIDS were 10 times higher for African Americans than for whites in 1998. In addition, the rate of new AIDS cases is 10 times higher for African
Circumcision Reduces Risk of HIV/AIDS: Reuters (09/01/99); Blomfield, Adrian; New research indicates that male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV. European and African researchers found that uncircumcised men were at least three times more likely to contract HIV than circumcised men. Western Africa has a lower incidence of HIV than eastern and central Africa, a differ
Young, Nonwhite, Female, and Complacent About AIDS.: New York Times (09/01/99) P. A14; Steinhauer, Jennifer; A report presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference this week indicates that new HIV infections are increasingly occurring among minority gay men, heterosexual women, and the young. Many healthcare providers in clinical practices say that those findings are consistent with their own observations. Teenagers see
AIDS Drugs Linked to Attitudes on Safe Sex: Boston Globe Online (09/01/99) P. A12; Bynum, Russ; Researchers from the University of Southern California report that the drug cocktails used to treat AIDS may have negatively affected the attitudes of many gay men towards safe sex. The study, presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference, showed that men who felt confident about the effectiveness of AIDS drugs w
Much More AIDS in Prisons Than in General Population: New York Times (09/01/99) P. A14; Altman, Lawrence K.; At the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, Dr. Theodore Hammett of the private research and consulting firm Abt Associates reported Tuesday that the prevalence of AIDS among U.S. prisoners is five times that of the general population. Dr. Hammett, who conducted the study for the National Commission on Correc
Chemokine Control of HIV-1 Infection: Nature (08/19/99) Vol. 400, No. 6746, P. 723; Mellado, Mario; Rodriguez-Frade, Jose Miguel; Vila-Coro, Antonio J.; et al.; Spanish researchers report that in the chemokine response, heterodimerization can occur between the CCR2V64I receptor--a mutant form of the CCR2 receptor--and the CCR5 or CXCR4 chemokine receptor. The authors suggest that their findings may help explain why HIV-1-infected patients with the CCR2V64I mutation progress to
New Practice Guideline Could Change UTI Care: American Medical News (08/23/99) Vol. 42, No. 32, P. 25; Moran, Mark; A study by researchers at the Group Health Cooperative of the Puget Sound (GHCPS) suggests that triage and the prescription of antibiotics over the telephone for women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) produces favorable outcomes in some populations, and saves money. The researchers used a three-day re
HIV/AIDS Hits Zambia's Deaf: Africa News Service (08/30/99); Phiri, Brighton; Officials from Zambia s National Association for the Deaf (ZAFOD) say that deaf people have among the highest rates of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in the country. The reason for this, the officials suggested, is that deaf people in Zambia are cut off from information about HIV prevention and safe sex pra
African Officials Meet to Assess Regional Health: Africa News Service (08/30/99); Namibian President Sam Nujoma has called on participants at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) regional committee on Africa to spend more time and money in dealing with the continent s diseases. Speaking at the opening of the forum Monday, Nujoma noted that Africa has a disproportionate burden of
AIDS Conference Focuses on Transactivating Protein: Maryland Daily Record (08/31/99) P. 1; Burden, Lisa; A conference being hosted at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) in Baltimore this week is focusing on the role of transactivating protein (Tat) in HIV infection. Tat, which is found in the body only after HIV infection, is required for both replication and transmission of the virus. Studies have shown that chemicall
Rats May Be Carriers of Hepatitis E Virus: Washington Post--Health (08/31/99) P. 5; Okie, Susan; A new study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene suggests that rats may be carriers of the hepatitis E virus (HEV). Robert H. Purcell, chief of the hepatitis viruses section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and a team of researchers tested rats from inner-city Baltimore,
New Test Provides Information on HIV Epidemic: Reuters Health Information Services (08/30/99); The Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversions (STARHS), a new test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allows public health experts to better track trends in HIV infection. STARHS consist of a standard test that can detect HIV antibodies within a month of infection and another
U.S. Sees High HIV Risk Among Young Gay Males: Reuters (08/30/99); A study conducted in Baltimore, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle has found high rates of HIV and unsafe sex among young gay males, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday. The survey of gay boys and men between the ages of 15 and 22 revealed that 7 percent were in
As the AIDS Death Rate Levels Off, Complacency Is the Enemy: USA Today (08/31/99) P. 4D; Facklemann, Kathleen; In an interview with USA Today, Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, said that drug resistance, poor adherence to medication regimens, and treatment failures are, in part, responsible for the slowing of the decline in AIDS death
Focusing on Prevention in Fight Against AIDS: New York Times (08/31/99) P. D5; Altman, Lawrence K.; At a conference sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 17 other organizations, scientists reported Monday that death rates from AIDS in the United States appear to be falling less quickly than they did between 1995 and 1997. The number of AIDS deaths nationwide dropped 42 percent between 1
Rapid Infection of Oral Mucosal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue With Simian Immunodeficiency Virus: Science (08/20/99) Vol. 285, No. 5431, P. 1261; Stahl-Hennig, Christiane; Steinman, Ralph M.; Tenner-Racz, Klara; et al.; German investigators observed the progression of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in macaques, when pathogenic SIV was applied atraumatically to their tonsils. The virus spread rapidly from the tonsils to other lymphoid tissues. While progression was relatively slow the third day after infection, it sped up and reac
UAB Docs Working on New HIV Battler: Birmingham Business Journal Online (08/23/99); Park, Jennifer; Scientists from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have initiated clinical trials of a new fusion inhibitor HIV drug that they anticipate will be able to fight the virus before it enters healthy cells. The compound, called T-1249, consists of a protein that inhibits the process through which the virus attaches t
5,000 New Cases of HIV Infection in Russia in First Half of 1999: Russia Today Online (08/30/99); New statistics indicate there were 5,000 new cases of HIV in Russia during the first six months of 1999, compared to 3,500 new HIV infections for all of 1998. According to the Interfax news agency, the Federal AIDS Center estimated there could be 1 million HIV infections in the country by 2002. The report did not prov
Davis May Defy Poll, Veto Needle Exchange: San Francisco Examiner (08/27/99); Salladay, Robert; California Gov. Davis appears poised to veto a bill that would legalize needle exchange programs in the state. While the governor has not commented publicly on the bill, he has indicated to lawmakers that he does not favor it. Davis is required to sign or veto the measure within the next nine days. The bill would allow
Drug-Resistant HIV-1 Detected in Substantial Number of Primary Infections: Reuters Health Information Services (08/27/99); European researchers report an increased number of drug- resistant primary HIV-1 infections in the August 28 issue of The Lancet. The investigators studied 82 antiretroviral-naive individuals with primary HIV-1 infection between 1996 and 1998 at the Geneva AIDS Center. According to the research, 9 percent of the subjec
Patents: Researchers Marshal More Effective Weapons in the Battle to Contain a Tuberculosis Resurgence: New York Times (08/30/99) P. C9; Riordan, Teresa; Dr. Robert Ledley, a National Medal of Technology winner, has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a new tuberculosis (TB) test that uses luciferase, an enzyme that makes fireflies glow. The TB bacterium is injected with luciferase, which lights up as long as the bacterium is metabolizing
Scientist Says Racism Plays Role in AIDS Death Rate: Reuters (08/30/99); Preston, June Dr. Helen Gayle, director of the Centers for Disease Control and; Prevention s National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, said that poverty and racism play are key factors in regards to who contracts HIV and who receives effective treatment for the disease. Speaking at the National HIV Prevention Conference, Dr. Gayle pointed out that there is a strong association between pover
Complacency About HIV Growing Among Those Seen Most at Risk: Washington (08/30/99) P. A9; The first-ever National HIV Prevention Conference, sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and 17 other organizations, opened this weekend in Atlanta. The four-day conference will cover the latest patterns in HIV and AIDS deaths, as well as infection rates for the general population. At the meeting,
Paronychia of the Great Toes Associated With Protease Inhibitors: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (08/15/99) Vol. 56, No. 16, P. 1674; Kang-Birken, S. Lena; Prichard, John G.; Although protease inhibitors have been successful in extending the lives of patients infected with HIV, the drugs benefits have been lessened by complications, including hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and peripheral lipodystrophy. In addition, a recent study has linked use of
Association of the CCR5 Delta 32 Mutation With Improved Response to Antiretroviral Therapy: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/99) Vol. 282, No. 8, P. 734; Valdez, Hernan; Purvis, Scott F.; Lederman, Michael M.; et al.; Investigators studied the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on 113 patients with the CCR5 delta 32 mutation. The CCR5 delta 32 allele is found primarily among whites. In the study, a treatment regimen that included an HIV-1 protease inhibitor was given to white patients with CCR5wt (wild type)/delt
Progress Toward the Elimination of Tuberculosis--United States, 1998: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (08/27/99) Vol. 48, No. 33, P. 732; In 1998, there were 18,361 cases of active tuberculosis (TB) disease reported in the United States , declining 8 percent from 19,851 cases in 1997. This overall decline for the sixth straight year provides continued evidence that the United States has recovered from the resurgence of TB, which began in the 1980s. Howe
Ukranian Gets Compensation for AIDS Virus Infection: Russia Today Online (08/25/99); A Ukrainian man has been awarded $90,000 in compensation after he was accidentally infected with HIV during a blood transfusion. Officials in the Ukrainian health ministry lauded the award, saying that it should encourage others to fight for their rights. Yuri Chebotar contracted the virus during an operation in Novoar
HIV-Test Ruling on Baby Will Be Made Public: PA News (08/26/99); Colley, Jans; The British High Court judge presiding over a case that will determine whether a mother and father will be forced to give their child an HIV test said that the ruling will be made public. The case arose when social workers said the child must be tested for HIV, against her parents wishes, because her mother is infected
Very Low Viral Load Is Rare During Natural History of HIV Infection: Reuters Health Information Services (08/26/99); A report in the August issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases indicates that HIV-infected people with HIV RNA loads below 40 copies/mL are more likely to become long-term nonprogressors than those with higher viral loads. French researchers monitored a group of 111 people with HIV for 10 years, none of whom had ta
HIV-1 Does Not Infect Human Oocytes: Reuters Health Information Services (08/26/99); Italian investigators inoculated with cell free HIV-1 four mature, unfertilized oocytes from HIV-1-negative women. The researchers found there was no evidence of HIV DNA production and no sign of oocyte particles associated with HIV-1. In addition, no HIV-1 specific receptors were found on the mature oocytes or follicu
Study: More Having Unprotected Sex: United Press International (08/26/99); Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco say that the number of homosexual men having unprotected sex has increased significantly in recent years. The researchers studied 510 participants in the 1992 San Francisco Young Men s Health Study, screening them for HIV and asking them to answer questionnai
Bill Gates's Bet: Do for Vaccines What He Did for Software: Wall Street Journal (08/27/99) P. B1; Bank, David; Microsoft head Bill Gates has reportedly made an informal commitment to provide $750 million during the next five years to purchase vaccines for over 25 million children in almost 70 developing countries. So far, Mr. Gates has contributed over $17.1 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, including a $6 billi
Search for Cross-Species Transmission of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus in Patients Treated With Living Pig Tissue: Science (08/20/99) Vol. 285, No. 5431, P. 1236; Paradis, Khazal; Langford, Gillian; Long, Zhifeng; et al.; While researchers have made great strides in their efforts to use pig organs for transplantation into humans, they continue to move cautiously because of the unknown risk of cross- species transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). Researchers from Novartis Imutran Ltd. and the Centers for Disease Control an
Treatment of High-Risk Cervical Cancer: New England Journal of Medicine (08/26/99) Vol. 341, No. 9, P. 696; Morris, Mitchell; Eifel, Patricia J.; In a letter to the editor, Drs. Mitchell Morris and Patricia J. Eifel of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center note that shorter treatment time for high-risk cervical cancer is associated with better health outcomes. The doctors, who conducted a study of treatment for high-risk cervical cancer, also say t
Women's Beliefs About Breastfeeding and Transmission of AIDS in Rural Cote d'Ivoire: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/99) Vol. 282, No. 8, P. 733; Kunii, Osamu; Shibuya, Kenji; Japanese researchers investigated knowledge and perception of HIV and AIDS and the practice of breastfeeding in the western villages in Cote d Ivoire . The study included structured and in-depth interviews of over 150 individuals. The researchers found that 70 percent of respondents had heard of AIDS, about 95 percent
Nonprofits Get $350K for AIDS Services: United Press International (08/25/99); Kaiser Permanente is giving $350,000 to 64 nonprofit institutions that provide food, laundry services, and mental health care for people with HIV or AIDS in California. The AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County in Irvine will receive $20,000, the largest grant. Among the other institutions receiving grants are New
AIDS Medicine Fund Is Running Short: Wichita Eagle Online (08/26/99); Shideler, Karen; The Kansas Department of Health and Environment expects that federal funds that provide money for low-income Kansans to receive AIDS drugs will fall about $280,000 short. Kansas received approximately $1.97 million from the federal Ryan White fund this year. One of the proposed solutions for the deficit is capping enro
Mortality Remains High After TB Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (08/25/99); According to a multicenter group of researchers in South Africa , directly observed treatment of tuberculosis (TB) reduces rates of TB relapse in both HIV-positive and HIV- negative patients. The probability of relapse in both groups after 18 months was 5 percent. However, the researchers report that the probability of
Zambia Acquires AIDS Test Kits for Expectant Mothers: PANA Wire Service (08/25/99); Kayaya, Musengwa; Zambia s HIV Mother-to-Child Working Group is receiving HIV testing kits and supplies under a grant contract from the Japanese government. Chewe Luo, the group coordinator, said that 20 percent of the pregnant women tested for HIV were found to have the virus. Health officials note that 30 percent to 40 percent of thes
Malawi Records No HIV-2 Cases: PANA Wire Service (08/25/99); Tenthani, Raphael; AIDS experts in Malawi report that no one in the country has been diagnosed with HIV-2, the predominant HIV strain in West Africa. In contrast, Mozambique , one of Malawi s neighbors, has recorded many cases of HIV-2. Roy Hauya, the deputy director of Malawi s National AIDS Control Program, noted: We live almost toget
Virus Blamed for All Cervical Cancers: BBC News Online (08/25/99); A new study by British researchers suggests that all cervical cancers may be linked with human papillomavirus (HPV). The investigators found that HPV was present in 99.7 percent of cervical cancer tumors taken from 1,000 women studied. However, researchers note that having HPV does not necessarily mean a person will de
Minister Predicts Six Million South Africans With HIV: CNN Interactive Online (08/25/99); South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang estimated Wednesday that 6 million South Africans will have HIV by 2005. In addition, the minister predicted that the disease will have orphaned 1 million children by that time. Tshabalala-Msimang said that 1,600 South Africans are infected with HIV daily, and most
Increase in Treatment for Heroin Addiction: New York Times (08/26/99) P. A14; Government officials say that Americans are increasingly using treatment centers for addiction to heroin and other opiates rather than cocaine. The number of people using treatment centers for heroin and other opiates rose by 29 percent between 1992 and 1997, while admissions for cocaine users dropped 17 percent during
When Is Breastfeeding Not Best?: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/99) Vol. 282, No. 8, P. 781; Fowler, Mary Glenn; Bertolli, Jeanne; Nieburg, Philip; et al.; While rates of mother-to-child HIV transmission have declined markedly in the United States and Europe, the problem continues to worsen in many developing countries. In sub- Saharan Africa, there are 1,600 new perinatal HIV infections each day. Short-course zidovudine trials in Thailand
Obstetrical Outcomes Among Women With Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis: New England Journal of Medicine (08/26/99) Vol. 341, No. 9, P. 645; Jana, Narayan; Vasishta, Kala; Saha, Subhas C.; et al.; A multicenter team of researchers studied extrapulmonary tuberculosis in 33 pregnant women throughout pregnancy and labor. The investigators also followed the perinatal outcome of the women and their infants. The study, conducted between 1983 and 1993, compared the antenatal complications, intrapartum events, and perin
Japan Gives Zambia K158 Million: Africa News Online (08/24/99); The Japanese government has presented 78.4 million kwachas to the Zambia Mother to Child HIV transmission working group and K78.9 million to the Zambia Tuberculosis and Leprosy Trust. The funds given to the first group will be spent on feasibility studies for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Lusaka
World Bank: AIDS Vaccine: M2 Presswire (08/24/99); A recent meeting sponsored by the World Bank s AIDS Vaccine Task Force drew senior policy members, donors, and non- governmental organizations to New Delhi to discuss how to speed up the development of an AIDS vaccine. The group called on the World Bank to continue its campaign to spur the development and support for a
93 Test Positive for Tuberculosis: Oklahoman Online (08/24/99); Klinka, Karen; Officials from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department announced that over 1,075 patrons of the Dob & Win Mini Bingo bingo parlor in Oklahoma City have been given skin tests for tuberculosis (TB). Officials initiated the tests after one patron was diagnosed with active TB. So far, 93 of the people tested have ha
Rutgers Study of AIDS Protein Wins a New Grant: Philadelphia Inquirer Online (08/25/99); The National Institutes of Health has awarded Edward Arnold, a scientist at Rutgers University, almost $7 million in federal funds to continue his study of the reverse transcriptase protein. Reverse transcriptase is the molecule targeted by AIDS drugs like AZT , ddI,
With Infection Rates Down, HIV Services Still Needed: Minneapolis Star-Tribune Online (08/25/99); Jewell, Anthony; Although new HIV infection rates in Wisconsin have been Declining steadily, the overall number of people with HIV or AIDS in the state is growing. New treatments, like antiretroviral therapy, are keeping people with AIDS alive longer. The number of new AIDS cases reported in Wisconsin dropped from 499 in 1992 to 189 in
Calif. Senate OKs Needle Exchange: Las Vegas Sun Online (08/24/99); The California legislature has sent a bill to Gov. Gray Davis that would allow cities and counties in the state to establish needle exchange programs for drug addicts. Currently, Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Marin County have adopted emergency ordinances that allow them to run needle exchanges.
Privacy Questions Raised in Cases of Syphilis Linked to Chat Room: New York Times (08/25/99) P. A1; Nieves, Evelyn; Following an outbreak of syphilis in San Francisco that was traced to an Internet chat room, public health officials and online service providers are reviewing people s right to privacy online. Some of the men who met through the America Online (AOL) chat room network and contracted syphilis know their partners only th
Effect of Circumcision on Incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Prospective Cohort Study of Trucking Company Employees in Kenya: Journal of Infectious Diseases Online (08/99) Vol. 180, No. 2, P. 330; Lavreys, Ludo; Rakwar, Joel P.; Thompson, Mary Lou; et al.; Investigators studied a cohort of 746 HIV-1 seronegative Trucking company employees to determine the role of circumcision status on acquisition of HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted infections. A total of 43 men acquired HIV-1 antibodies during follow-up. According to the report, the annual incidence of HIV-1 infecti
HIV Transmission Through Breast Feeding: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/25/99) Vol. 282, No. 8, P. 744; Miotti, Paolo G.; Taha, Taha E.T.; Kumwenda, Newton I.; et al.; A multicenter team studied the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding in 672 infants born to HIV-infected women in Malawi who had not received antiretroviral therapy during or after pregnancy. The prospective cohort study was conducted between 1994 and 1997, with follow-up for 24 months. Reporting in the August
CDC Offers Satellite Broadcast on HIV Prevention (November 18, 1999): Organizations Encouraged to Set Up Viewing Locations and Advertise to HIV Prevention Partners: CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention; Organizations interested in offering this satellite broadcast to their staff and community partners are encouraged to set up viewing sites and advertise to potential viewers as early as possible. HIV Prevention With Faith Communities and Communities of Color, a satellite broadcast, is scheduled to air Thursday, Novembe
Orphans of the Virus: Economist (08/14/99) Vol. 352, No. 8132, P. 35; In Zambia , where only the wealthiest people can afford proper HIV treatment, the number of AIDS-related deaths has severely worsened the poverty of survivors. Often, those who die are mothers and bread-winners. An estimated 13 percent to 50 percent of Zambian children have lost one or both parents, usually because of
Nonadherence to HAART Regimen Common in Pediatric HIV-Infected Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (08/19/99); A study by physicians at the University of Maryland in Baltimore reveals that while highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is effective in children who can tolerate it, the success of the treatment depends on adherence to the regimen. The researchers, who report their findings in the August issue of the Pediatric
AIDS Demonstration Ends in Arrests: Washington Post (08/24/99) P. B2; Secret Service agents arrested on Monday five AIDS activists who had chained themselves to a fence outside the Old Executive Building in Washington, D.C. The demonstration was organized by the group AIDS Drugs for Africa. Four of the activists were charged with unlawful assembly or refusing to leave, and a fifth was ch
Inpatient AIDS Mortality Higher at Inexperienced Hospitals: Reuters Health Information Services (08/23/99); New research suggests that mortality among AIDS patients is higher in hospitals that have less experience with treating HIV compared to patients hospitalized in facilities that treat more AIDS patients. Published in the August issue of the American Journal of Medicine, the report found a 9 percent unadjusted mortality
Baby in HIV Court Struggle: BBC News Online (08/23/99); The British High Court will decide this week whether local authorities have the right to force two parents to have their baby tested for HIV. The infant s mother is HIV-positive and has known her own HIV status for several years. The parents, who are strong believers in alternative medicine, feel that if the child test
Black Groups Turn Focus to AIDS Fight: Boston Globe Online (08/23/99) P. A1; Neufeld, Sara; African-American church leaders, spurred on by the high rates of HIV and AIDS in their communities, are joining together to educate their congregations about HIV. Congregations are beginning to team up with the government and AIDS groups to fight the spread of HIV among African Americans. In 1997, African Americans mad
3rd Recipient Tests Negative for HIV: Results Leave Blood Bank Officials Hopeful: Richmond Times-Dispatch Online (08/24/99); Hostetler, A.J.; Officials from Virginia Blood Services say that a third recipient of blood from a man linked to an HIV-tainted blood donation has tested negative for the virus. So far, only one recipient of the tainted blood has tested positive for HIV. The donor gave blood last February, during a window period in which the virus cann
Syphilis Outbreak Traced to Internet Chat Room: San Jose Mercury News Online (08/24/99); Krieger, Lisa M.; San Francisco public health officials have linked a syphilis outbreak in the city to an America Online chat room. According to the experts, the outbreak was traced to at least seven men who met through the SFM4M (San Francisco Men for Men) chat room. Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, director of the San Francisco Department of
Price Tag for Schering-Plough Drug Angers Activists: Wall Street Journal (08/24/99) P. B6; Waldholz, Michael; Even though Schering-Plough s combination therapy for hepatitis C, called Rebetron, significantly reduces viral levels in up to 40 percent of patients, health advocates are critical of the therapy s high price--about $18,000 for a year of treatment--and the company s unwillingness to sell the two drugs in the combinati
Alopecia Associated With Indinavir Therapy: New England Journal of Medicine (08/19/99) Vol. 341, N. 8, P. 618; Bouscarat, Fabrice; Prevot, Marie-Helene; Matheron, Sophie; In the August 19th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, French researchers describe cases of alopecia associated with indinavir therapy. Between March 1997 and March 1998, the team saw 10 homosexual men with HIV who presented with hair loss. The median age of the men was 40, their mean CD4 lymphocyte count was
AIDS Education at Schools 'Is Crucial': Africa News Service (08/20/99); Maletsky, Christof; The Namibian Presidential Commission on Education, Culture, and Training says that a planned Ministry of Lifelong Learning should have a task force to ensure the adequate implementation of HIV/AIDS education in schools. If the ministry is created, it should disseminate information on HIV/AIDS at each level of schooling
Home Collection HIV Testing May Reach Some High-Risk Individuals: Reuters Health Information Services (08/20/99); A study of San Francisco residents tested for HIV indicates that those who use home collection HIV testing methods have an overall lower risk profile than those who are tested at anonymous publicly funded sites. The study, published in the August 15th issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, also f
Miracles Only Hope in Nigeria Tragedy: Reuters (08/23/99); Tostevin, Matthew; Health experts say that lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS may place Nigerians at particular risk for the epidemic. Based on data from 1995 and 1996, UNAIDS estimates that 6 percent of Nigeria s sexually active population, aged between 15 and 49, is infected with HIV; however, that number could rise to 10 percent by
Free Needles: HIV and AIDS: Washington Post (08/23/99) P. A16; Souder, Mark; In a letter to the editor, Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) asserts that anti-HIV programs targeting intravenous drug users need not include needle exchange programs to be effective. Souder says that outreach and educational efforts have been proven to reduce drug use, without providing drug paraphernalia to users. He points
Drugs for AIDS in Africa: New York Times (08/23/99) P. A18; An editorial in the New York Times argues that pharmaceutical companies concerned about profits have been the motivating force behind the American government s efforts to prevent developing nations from producing cheaper AIDS drugs. While drug makers claim the high prices and patent protection are needed to ensure the
D.C. Won't List HIV Patients By Name: Washington Post Online (08/23/99); Horwitz, Sari; District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced Friday that the city will use a unique identifier system to report HIV infections rather than names. AIDS is the leading cause of death among District residents between the age of 25 and 44. There were 186 cases of AIDS per 100,000 residents in 1998. While the Ce
'Building a Comfort Zone' With Clients at Risk of HIV: Los Angeles Times Online (08/23/99); Warren, Peter M.; HIV intervention programs are beginning to tailor their message to high-risk groups. Over the years, prevention groups have realized that in order to be effective, counselors must be culturally sensitive and linguistically compatible. In Orange County, California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is provi
Gates Adds $6 Billion to Vaccine Effort: Wall Street Journal (08/23/99) P. A2; Bank, David; A new $6 billion donation from Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is expected to fuel a vaccine initiative to fight diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. An article in Newsweek also reveals that the William H. Gates Foundation and the Gates Learning Foundation have been consolidated and will now be known as the
High Rates of Transmission of Subtype E Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Among Heterosexual Couples in Northern Thailand: Role of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Immune Compromise: Journal of Infectious Diseases Online (08/99) 180, No. 2, P. 337; Nelson, Kenrad E.; Rungruengthanakit, Kittipong; Margolick, Joseph; et al.; Researchers investigated the transmission of HIV-1 subtype E in 467 heterosexual couples in Thailand . The men were infected with HIV-1, and the women had no other risk factor for the virus besides sexual intercourse with their partners. Of the 467 women, 46.3 percent were positive for HIV-1 at baseline. More than hal
1999 USPHS/IDSA Guidelines for the Prevention of Opportunistic Infections in Persons Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Morbidity and Mortality Recommendations and Reports (08/20/99) Vol. 48, No. RR-10,; In March of this year, the U.S. Public Health Service and the Infectious Diseases Society of America reconvened the Prevention of Opportunistic Infections Working Group to review current recommendations for the prevention of opportunistic infections (OIs) in people infected with HIV. Members of the OI Working Group inc
Tuberculosis Crisis: New Scientist (08/07/99) Vol. 163, No. 2198, P. 5; Japan recently declared a tuberculosis (TB) emergency after findings showed the country has a higher incidence of the disease than any other member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Figures from the World Health Organization indicated there were 33.6 tuberculosis cases per 100,000 peo
HIV Protease Inhibitor Therapy Reduces CMV Retinitis Risk: Reuters Health Information Services (08/19/99); Members of the Spanish CMV-AIDS Study Group investigated the effects of protease inhibitors on the acquisition of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 172 HIV-infected individuals. Reporting in the August 20th issue of AIDS, the investigators say that the cumulative incidence of CMV retinitis in those using protease inhibitors was
AIDS Awareness Crucial for Youths' Future: Africa News Service (08/19/99); Joseph Maina Mungai, chairman of Kenya s National AIDS Committee, recently asserted that it is necessary to invest in youth in order to successfully combat AIDS. Mungai emphasized that youths must be educated about the disease to help establish a population that is free of AIDS and drug abuse. According to Mungai, Keny
Efficacy of Recombinant IL-2 in Slowing HIV Disease Investigated: Reuters Health Information Services (08/19/99); The Chiron Corp. announced that enrollment has begun for a phase III clinical trial of aldesleukin, a recombinant form of interleukin-2. Subjects will receive either aldesleukin in combination with standard antiretroviral therapy or a placebo with standard antiretroviral therapy. Phase II clinical trials of aldesleukin
Study on AIDS Prevention Will Include Hub Gay Men: Boston Herald Online (08/20/99); Weber, David; A study to determine how to prevent homosexual men from taking risks that might expose them to HIV will be conducted in Boston, as well as in Denver, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Chicago. According to Dr. Margaret Chesney, a San Francisco-based researcher of behavioral medicine, the study s results will change
Vitamin A Deficiency Not Associated With Risk of Vertical HIV- 1 Transmission: Reuters Health Information Services (08/19/99); Members of the Women and Infants Study Group examined the relationship between vitamin A deficiency and the risk of vertical HIV-1 transmission. The study involved 449 HIV-1- infected women who had their vitamin A levels measured during the third trimester of pregnancy. The researchers, who report their findings in the
Study Bolsters Case for Pig-Donor Tests: New York Times (08/20/99) P. A14; Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; Roughly 62,000 Americans are now waiting for human organ transplants, but because the supply of such organs is tight, researchers have been investigating ways to engineer pig organs with human genes. Yet regulatory authorities in the United States and Britain have refused to allow whole organ transplants from pigs unti
The ALBI Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Stavudine Plus Didanosine With Zidovudine Plus Lamivudine and a Regimen Alternating Both Combinations in Previously Untreated Patients Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Journal of Infectious Diseases Online (08/99) Vol. 180, No. 2, P. 351; Molina, Jean-Michel; Chene, Genevieve; Ferchal, Francoise; et al.; The efficacy of three treatments-- stavudine plus didanosine, zidovudine plus lamivudine, and a regimen alternating both drugs--was studied in 151 treatment naive individuals infected with HIV-1. Group 1 received stavudine plus didanosine, while group 2 received zidovudine plus lamivudine, and group 3 received stavudin
Correction to 08/17/99 Prevention News Update: Infant Growth After In Utero Exposure to Zidovudine: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/99) Vol. 282, No. 6, P. 527; Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo; Agostoni, Carlo; D'Auria, Enza; et al.; [An error in the third sentence incorrectly indicated that HIV-infected children were the subjects of the study.] The following is the correct abstract: Italian researchers (Zucotti et al.) compared the growth progress of uninfected infants whose HIV-infected mothers received oral zidovudine from the 14th week of gesta
Beat Hep B, Go Eat a Potato: Business Week (08/09/99) No. 3641, P. 89; Wright, Evelyn L.; Clinical trials of a hepatitis B vaccine delivered using a genetically engineered potato have been launched by researchers from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Cornell University. The vaccine-bearing potato must be eaten raw, but it does not require refrigeration like the existing hepatitis B vaccine. The current
CCR5 Delta 32 May Protect Against AIDS Dementia Complex: Reuters Health Information Services (08/18/99); Investigators reporting in the September issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases suggest that the CCR5 delta 32 mutation may offer protection against AIDS dementia complex. According to the team, heterozygosity for CCR5 delta 32 is associated with limited cell surface expression of CCR5, reduced non- syncytium-indu
Nonoxynol-9 Film Use May Enhance HIV Transmission Risk: Reuters Health Information Services (08/18/99); A report in the August 20th issue of AIDS warns that nonoxynol-9 film may increase the risk of HIV transmission. Investigators observed 20 female sex workers in South Africa who used nonoxynol-9 film in a phase I, randomized, double- blinded, crossover trial. There were no statistically significant differences between
Several Simple, Rapid HIV Screening Tests Have Adequate Sensitivity Levels: Reuters Health Information Services (08/18/99); Researchers at the Central Public Health Laboratory in London compared the results of 13 simple/rapid test devices (S/RTDs) designed to detect antibodies to HIV-1 or HIV-2 against conventional enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). The investigators used 92 specimens from four HIV categories to evaluate the 13 tests. The team fou
10 Percent of Keiyo Residents Are HIV Positive: Africa News Service (08/18/99); Statistics show that 10 percent of people in Kenya s Keiyo district have tested positive for HIV. According to Dr. Gideon Toromo, the area s medical health officer, 158 Keiyo residents have been diagnosed with HIV. Kenya s Ministry of Health plans to spend 6 million shillings on training community workers to care for H
Improved Pap Test Resisted by Insurers: Cincinnati Enquirer Online (08/19/99); MacDonald, Sue; Approximately 150 insurers representing 100 million people have adopted the ThinPrep Pap test. The test, which is used to screen for cervical cancer, has been proven more effective than the older, more common Pap smear. Federal health regulators last year lauded the ThinPrep test as significantly more effective than th
Study Sheds New Light on How HIV Infects Cells: Reuters (08/19/99); Reaney, Patricia; Researchers from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid have discovered why the onset of AIDS is delayed in some people. A mutant receptor for the chemokine CCR2 blocks the entry of HIV into cells through the CCR5 and CXCR4 receptors. Previously, scientists were aware that people with mutant CCR2 receptors took longer to d
AIDS Prevention as Global Mission: Washington Post (08/19/99) P. A19; Weiss, Rick; Peggy Johnston, associate director for vaccine and prevention research in the division of AIDS and the assistant director for HIV vaccines at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has a long history in HIV research. Distrust and cultural barriers have made fighting HIV difficult in some are
The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States, 1988 Through 1994: New England Journal of Medicine (08/19/99) Vol. 341, No. 8, P. 556; Alter, Miriam J.; Kruszon-Moran, Deanna; Nainan, Omana V.; et al.; A report in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that approximately 2.7 million people in the United States live with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested serum samples from 21,241 people ages six and older, who participated in the third National
Mayor Brown, AIDS Is a Problem in the City: Houston Chronicle (08/16/99) P. 18A; Campbell, James T.; In a city wracked by the AIDS epidemic, one man is making a difference. Minister Melvin Lewis is tackling HIV in the African American community. Facing ostracism from fellow ministers who believe that speaking about sex from the pulpit is taboo, Mr. Lewis is dealing with HIV education head-on. Mr. Lewis preaches abstin
HIV Load Is Primary Correlate for Oropharyngeal Candida Colonization: Reuters Health Information Services (08/16/99); Researchers from Duke University in North Carolina performed a cross-sectional study to determine clinical factors correlated with yeast colonization of the oropharynx in people with HIV. Investigators studied five variables, including: CD4 lymphocyte counts, plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, history of prior fungal infections,
Bid to Aid Sex Workers: Africa News Service (08/16/99); Mwaniki, Mike; In an effort to curb the spread of HIV and help commercial sex workers, the Kenyan Forum for the Rehabilitation of Sex Workers is seeking to provide young prostitutes with interest- free soft loans. The program will target about 40,000 young prostitutes between the ages of 15 and 24. Most new HIV- infections in Kenya a
Rates of HIV-Related CMV Retinitis Drop in Paris: Reuters Health Information Services (08/16/99); Dr. Isabelle Cochereau and colleagues from the Hopital Bichat have determined that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduces the percentage of patients with HIV-related cytomegalovirus ( CMV ). Reporting in the August issue of the American Journal of Opthamology, investigators studied the rate of HIV-related
World: Africa Hope for Uganda AIDS Vaccine: BBC News Online (08/16/99); An AIDS vaccine trial in Uganda is yielding promising results. Investigators in Kampala say that 20 subjects receiving the vaccine have developed antibodies to HIV, compared to 20 people receiving a placebo who did not develop antibodies. In Uganda, 30 percent of people in urban areas have HIV, and 10 percent of those
A Precious Child With a Special Burden: Washington Post (08/18/99) P. A1; Frazier, Lisa; Precious Thomas, an HIV-positive eight-year-old African- American girl, has become a symbol in the Washington, D.C., area for children with AIDS. African-American children are disproportionately affected by HIV. As such, Precious Thomas calls attention to the plight of children with HIV, especially in the African-Ameri
Cops Blood Fight Moves to Ottawa: Edmonton Sun Online (08/18/99); Bradley, Kim; Dr. Keith Martin, an emergency room doctor in British Columbia, has proposed a bill that would give emergency workers the right to demand HIV tests from people who may have put them at risk for blood-borne diseases. Bill C-483 would give police officers and hospital staff the legal right to take blood samples from peop
HIV Load Reflects Current Immune Suppression in Late-Stage Disease: Reuters Health Information Services (08/17/99); Dr. Eric A. Engels and colleagues explored the relationship between HIV viral load during late stages of the disease in hemophiliacs. Investigators conducted a retrospective study of HIV-positive hemophiliacs who had CD4 counts of less than 200/uL at baseline. The report, published in the August 17th issue of the Annal
Boston Police Detective Takes 'AIDS Cocktail' After Needle Prick: Boston Herald Online (08/18/99); Weber, David; A Boston narcotic detective must take the AIDS cocktail, a mixture of anti-AIDS drugs that can help to prevent the spread of HIV, for 28 days after a needlestick incident occurred during the search of a suspect s pocketbook. After completion of the medication regimen, the detective must wait approximately six months be
AIDS Research Yields Bounty of Science Advances: Los Angeles Times (08/18/99) P. A1; Cimons, Marlene; While some health advocates complain that too much money is spent on AIDS research while diseases that affect more people receive less research funding, AIDS researchers point out that much of their research has contributed to the development of treatments for a wide range of ailments, such as hepatitis B and influenza
Global Burden of Tuberculosis: Journal of the American Medical Association Online (08/18/99); Dye, Christoper; Scheele, Suzanne; Dolin, Paul; et al.; A World Health Organization (WHO)-sponsored study investigated the global burden of tuberculosis (TB). Officials from the WHO chose a panel of 86 TB experts and epidemiologists, who collaborated with country experts and personnel from the WHO. Researchers studied the risk, prevalence, and incidence of Mycobacterium tub
Closing in on an HIV Vaccine?: Business Week (08/09/99) No. 3641, P. 41; Barrett, Amy; Carey, John; Dawley, Heidi; Merck & Co. is planning to launch human trials of an AIDS vaccine by the end of this year. The new vaccine utilizes direct injection of HIV DNA. Experts say that the current vaccine candidate will likely have to be modified during testing. Delivery of HIV genes to human cells forms the basis of most new AIDS vacc
Hepatitis C in the Spotlight at Vietnam Veterans Event: Los Angeles Times (08/15/99) P. A6; Warren, Peter M.; Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been shown to turn up in former service members who use Veterans Administration facilities at four times the rate of other people in the United States , a situation that was highlighted at this year s Vietnam Veterans of America convention. The convention was full of booths offering informa
Belief That AIDS Is Myth Cripples Efforts in Africa: Mercury Center Online (08/13/99); Tucker, Neely; AIDS activists fear the belief that AIDS is a myth may cripple the effects of prevention and treatment programs. El Hadj Sy, a Senegalese sociologist for the United Nations AIDS Program for Central and Southern Africa, believes that denial about AIDS has moved from the private arena to the professional arena. Denial an
Screening Girls for Abstinence in South Africa: New York Times (08/17/99) P. A3; Daley, Suzanne; The practice of testing virginity is reviving in parts of South Africa , due to the increased rates of child abuse, teen pregnancy, and HIV infection. Supporters of virginity testing say that it is a way to enforce abstinence and curb the spread of HIV. If a girl or young woman is examined and believed to have a sexual
Japan's HIV Cases Seen Doubling by 2003, Japan Times Says: Bloomberg News Service (08/17/99); Japan s Health and Welfare Ministry estimates that HIV cases in the country will double to over 15,000 by the end of 2003. Figures from 1998 put the number of HIV-infected people in Japan at 1,598, although public health officials believe that the true number of HIV-infected Japanese could be closer to 7,300. Additiona
UK Initiates Universal Perinatal HIV Screening: Reuters Health Information Services (08/16/99); Health Minister Tessa Jowell stated that HIV tests will be offered to all pregnant women in the United Kingdom . The initiative is aimed at reducing the perinatal transmission of HIV. Women may begin a combination of treatments which can reduce the chances of vertical transmission of HIV from one in six to approximatel
TB Fights Back: Washington Post Health (08/17/99) P. 10; Tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection that kills between 1.5 million and 2 million people a year, is becoming resistant to many common treatments in some areas. Experts warn that an international health effort must be undertaken to ensure that drug-resistant forms of TB do not become more common. It is difficult and
In U.S., Patients Play Role in Antibiotic Resistance: Washington Post Health (08/17/99) P. 12; Okie, Susan; Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are concerned that antibiotics are being prescribed too freely, and that people are failing to adhere to the medication regimens assigned to them. Poor prescription practices, and irresponsible adherence to medication regimens are primary causal factor
Tuberculosis Ravages Philippine Slums: British Medical Journal Online (08/14/99); Wallerstein, Claire; Public health officials in the Philippines say that within 40 years, 90 percent of the country s population may become infected with tuberculosis (TB) if strategies are not implemented to stop the spread of the disease. As many as 39 percent of children between the ages of five and nine are infected with TB in the coun
Infant Growth After In Utero Exposure to Zidovudine: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/99) Vol. 282, No. 6, P. 527; Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo; Agostoni, Carlo; D'Auria, Enza; et al.; Italian researchers compared the growth progress of uninfected infants whose HIV-infected mothers received oral zidovudine from the 14th week of gestation and intravenous zidovudine during delivery or who did not receive treatment.. Weight for age (WA) and length for age (LA) were calculated according to National Cente
Charges Dropped in Killing of South African AIDS Activist: CNN Interactive (08/15/99); The charges against the four youths implicated in the beating death of South African AIDS activist Gugu Dlamini have been dropped. Dlamini was beaten to death after she disclosed that she was HIV-positive on radio and television. Those infected with HIV or AIDS tend to keep their illness unknown, because the infected a
Statewide HIV/AIDS Disease Management Program to Open in Florida: Reuters Health Information Services (08/13/99); The AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Florida s Agency for Health Care Administration are teaming up to launch the nation s largest HIV/AIDS disease management program. The program, dubbed Positive Healthcare/Florida, will enroll 7,500 HIV- positive Medicaid recipients in Florida. Positive Healthcare/Florida will provide
Williams Considers Listing HIV Names: Washington Post (08/16/99) P. B1; Goldstein, Avram; Anthony A. Williams, mayor of the District of Columbia, is considering a names-reporting system for people with HIV. D.C. has compiled a database of the names of people with AIDS in a confidential database for years, but has never registered the names of those with HIV before. A proposed alternative reporting system wo
CD4 Cell Counts Predict Viral Rebound During HAART: Reuters Health Information Services (08/13/99); A report in the August issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases indicates that HIV-infected people with higher CD4 counts are less likely to have viral rebounds when receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A European multi-center team used the Kaplan-Meier method to evaluate 558 HIV-infected people w
UNAIDS Calls for Greater Involvement By HIV-Infected People In Fighting Epidemic: Reuters Health Information Services (08/13/99); Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS , urged the involvement of HIV-infected people in fighting the epidemic. Dr. Piot, speaking at the Ninth International Conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS, stated that the involvement of HIV-infected people in anti-AIDS campaigns could help end prejudice and discrimin
Man Arrested for AIDS Cure Claims: New York Times (08/14/99) P. B14; Neumeister, Larry; Alfred Flores, a convicted murderer and the president of Las Vegas-based New Technologies & Concepts Inc., was arrested last Thursday on charges of fraud stemming from claims that the company had developed a cure for AIDS. The entirely false information was distributed via a number of press releases aimed at stockh
AIDS Vaccine to Be Tested on People: Philadelphia Inquirer Online (08/16/99); Collins, Huntly; Merck researchers are getting ready to initiate human clinical trials of an AIDS vaccine that yielded promising results in tests with monkeys. Researchers hope the naked DNA vaccine can encourage some immune-system cells that appear important in the body s defense against HIV. Although the animal studies are promising,
CDC Unveils Anti-Tuberculosis Plan: New York Newsday Online (08/13/99); Mays, Patricia J.; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a strategic plan for fighting tuberculosis (TB) in the United States . The report urges development of a new TB vaccine, because the current vaccine is ineffective in adults. Rifapetine, a new anti-TB drug, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration las
Hepatitis B Vaccination in Infancy in the Gambia: Vaccine Online (08/06/99) Vol. 17, Nos. 23 and 24, P. 2946; Viviani, S.; Jack, A.; Hall, A.J.; et al.; An international team of researchers studied the efficacy of infant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination against infection and carriage of the virus in those nine years of age. Investigators compared nine year-old children who were vaccinated to those who were not vaccinated. Only 8 percent of the vaccinated children co
More Effective HBV Therapy: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/99) Vol. 282, No. 6, P. 519; A report in the July issue of Hepatology indicates that administering interferon alfa to people infected with hepatitis B (HBV) for 32 weeks is sometimes more effective for patients than 16-week schedules. Following 16 weeks of standard therapy with interferon alfa, researchers chose half of the patients who were still
Tuberculosis Elimination Revisited: Obstacles, Opportunities, and a Renewed Commitment --- Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET): MMWR Recommendations and Reports (08/13/99); In 1989, CDC and the Advisory Council for the Elimination Of Tuberculosis (ACET) issued A Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States . Since then, the United States has experienced a resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) followed by a successful mobilization against the epidemic. Because the natu
Zambian Women Shun Female Condoms: PANA Wire Service (08/12/99); Chipungu, Joel; The Zambian Society for Family Health launched the female Condom in the country in October 1997. Statistics show, however, that only 25 percent of Zambian women who use modern methods of contraception use the female condom. Gender activists believe the female condom has failed to catch on in the country because of men
Young Women Advised to Avoid Douching: Reuters Health Information Services (08/12/99); A study published in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine recommends that teenage girls and young women refrain from douching, as the practice may increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancy, and bacterial vaginosis. Although douching has not been definitively link
UN Sponsors Mozambican AIDS Campaign for Youths: Africa News Service (08/12/99); Mangwiro, Charles; Mozambique plans to launch a mass-media campaign to educate the nation s youth about HIV. The initiative, which uses funding from the United Nations, is modeled on successful HIV and sexually transmitted disease programs in Uganda . The effort is intended to supplement existing HIV/AIDS programs.
Russia's Vorkuta on the Brink of Tuberculosis Epidemic: Itar Wire Service (08/12/99); Russian health officials fear that the city of Vorkuta may be nearing a tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. During the second half of the 1990s, the incidence of TB among Vorkuta children increased 7.2 times and rose two-fold among adults. Groups that are at increased risk include public sector workers, students, pensioners, a
Britain to Offer Pregnant Women AIDS Tests: Reuters (08/13/99); British Health Minister Tessa Jowell has announced that Britain will offer all pregnant women HIV tests. Jowell noted that while Britain has implemented successful HIV prevention programs, perinatal transmission of HIV remains a serious problem in the country. The Health Department said that the new tests would be admi
FDA Cites Better Reporting by Blood Industry: Richmond Times-Dispatch Online (08/13/99); Hostetler, A.J.; The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has suggested that the increasing number of incidents involving possibly tainted or mishandled blood may have come to light because the blood industry has become more careful about reporting them. The FDA requires blood banks and related industries to report all errors that occu
Across the USA: Georgia: USA Today (08/13/99) P. 10A; African Americans represent 28 percent of Georgia s population, but last year they made up nearly three-quarters of the state s newly reported AIDS cases, according to new data. In 1990, African Americans made up 49 percent of new AIDS cases in Georgia. Of the state s 1,325 new AIDS cases in 1998, 976 were in African A
Federal Plan Unveiled to Fight Tuberculosis: New York Times (08/13/99) P. A11; Federal health authorities have released a report that outlines strategies for fighting tuberculosis (TB) in the United States and emphasizes the need for a new TB vaccine. Health officials say it is crucial that long-term sources of private and public money be channeled into the development of a new vaccine. The study
Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Protease Inhibitors in Clinical Practice: Archives of Internal Medicine Online (08/09/99-08/23/99) Vol. 159, P. 1771; Valdez, Hernan; Lederman, Michael M.; Woolley, Ian; et al.; A new report reveals that over 50 percent of the HIV-infected patients who started a drug regimen that included protease inhibitors in an academic clinical practice did not achieve durable suppression of viral replication. The researchers studied 366 patients in a university-affiliated HIV clinic between June 1995 and
Site-Specific Vaccines: Discover (09/99) Vol. 20, No. 9, P. 30; Microbiologists from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, and Laval University in Quebec City have developed a gonorrhea vaccine made from proteins in the gonorrhea bacterium. The vaccine was sprayed into the noses of mice, allowing it access into the body via the mucosa. White blood cells in the no
China: 70 Percent of Intravenous Drug Users Are HIV Positive: Inside China Today Online (08/07/99); A recent report in the China Daily stated that in some parts of China, 70 percent of injection drug users are infected with HIV. The majority of HIV cases related to injection drug use were located in Yunnan, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Guangdong, Henan, and Hebei. There were 11,170 reported HIV cases in China by year-end 1998;
Namibians Cautioned Over Rapid Spread of AIDS: PANA Wire Service (08/11/99); Ikeh, Goddy; Mandiangu Nsugu, Karas Regional Medical Officer, has warned Namibians that they must change their sexual behavior if they are to effectively combat the spread of HIV. Speaking at the Ecumenical AIDS Prayer Day on Sunday, Nsugu noted that 17 percent of Namibians have HIV. Nsugu said that 90 percent of Namibians know how
Malawi Seeks to Prosecute Reckless HIV Transmitters: PANA Wire Service (08/11/99); Tenthani, Raphael; Malawi s Commission on Criminal Justice System is considering toughening laws on individuals who engage in behavior likely to spread HIV. The commission has recommended stiffer penalties for crimes such as rape and defilement that are expected to eventually include provisions about the transmission of HIV. Officials fr
23 Contract TB at Hokkaido Hospital: Kyodo Wire Service (08/12/99); Japanese officials report that 23 people, including one doctor, have been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at a hospital in Abashiri. Thus far, the doctor is the only one of the patients to display symptoms of TB. Officials tested 320 people at the hospital for TB after being notified that a patient who had been transf
HIV Infection Goes Down in Nakuru--Official: Africa News Online (08/12/99); Rosemary Nzissi, the coordinator of the HIV and sexually transmitted diseases program in the Nakuru district of Kenya , says rates of HIV/AIDS have declined in the district since implementing the World Bank s syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STI) initiative. The program focuses on providing bett
Moderate HIV/STD Prevalence Reported Among Prevention Program Participants: Reuters Health Information Services (08/11/99); A report published in the August issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases suggests that needle-exchange program sites may be ideal venues for sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV prevention programs. Canadian researchers found that, generally, the prevalence of HIV and STDs among program participants was moderate,
Old AIDS Case Challenges Chimpanzee Link: CNN Interactive Online (08/12/99); Tissue taken from a teenage male prostitute who died three decades ago in a St. Louis hospital challenges the theory that HIV jumped the species barrier from chimpanzees to humans, according to new research. The boy was hospitalized in 1968 with mysterious symptoms that were later diagnosed as Kaposi s sarcoma. Tests o
Gore Hopes New AIDS Pact Will Help Shake Protesters: Wall Street Journal (08/12/99) P. A24; Davis, Bob; Vice President Al Gore has suggested a deal with South Africa under which the African nation would agree to a written statement that its new drug law will not violate intellectual property rights. The agreement is a part of Gore s efforts to satisfy protesters who have been dogging the candidate along the campaign trai
Advances in the Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/99) Vol. 282, No. 6, P. 511; Koff, Raymond S.; Hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), and coinfections with HBV and hepatitis D (HDV) account for approximately 90 percent of chronic viral hepatitis cases in the United States . Serologic studies indicate that the prevalence of chronic HCV and HBV infection are 1.8 percent and 0.42 percent, respectively; HDV is relati
Mixed Feedings May Boost Infant HIV Risk: Fox News Online (08/09/99); New research in the Lancet indicates that HIV-positive women who both breastfeed their children and give them formula may place their children at higher risk for HIV than those who simply breastfeed. In the study of 549 babies born to HIV- infected mothers in South Africa , 18.8 percent of the babies who were never bre
Drug Resistance a Deadly Threat, Doctors Warned: South China Morning Post Online (08/11/99); Lee, Ella; The World Health Organization s (WHO s) Klaus Stohr is warning doctors to be careful about prescribing vancomycin. Increasing resistance to some drugs has raised concerns that some diseases may become resistant to the only medications available to treat them. According to the WHO, over 60 percent of gonorrhea cases in
ZCC Call for AIDS Lessons in Schools and Colleges: Africa News Service (08/10/99); Saluseki, Bivan; The Zambia Counseling Council (ZCC) has asked the Ministry of Health to consider integrating HIV/AIDS education into all learning institutions. The ZCC says that such an approach would bring HIV/AIDS education to a wider audience and help fight the AIDS pandemic. In addition, the ZCC encourages relevant government inst
Facing a Global AIDS Crisis: Washington Post (08/11/99) P. A19; Lyman, Princeton N.; In a commentary, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa , Princeton N. Lyman says that the toll HIV is taking in the developing world can be reduced via programs that stem the perinatal transmission of the virus. Lyman asserts that most African countries would be unable to administer the complex use of AIDS cocktails
NSW: Anti-Wart Vaccines Set for Australian Trials: Australian Associated Press (08/11/99); Rouse, Rada; Australian researchers say that an experimental vaccine for human papilloma virus (HPV) has demonstrated surprising success. The vaccine uses non-infectious virus-like particles (VLPs) and generated both antibodies and a cellular immune responses. All participants in the study had an immune response to the VLPs at the
Correlation of Quantitative Bone Marrow and Blood Cultures in AIDS Patients with Disseminated Mycobacterium Avium Complex Infection: Journal of Infectious Diseases (08/99) Vol. 180, No. 2, P. 438; Hafner, Richard; Inderlied, Clark B.; Peterson, Dolores M.; et al.; Researchers have concluded that there is no distinct correlation between Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in the bone marrow and blood samples of HIV-infected individuals. They did, however, find a high correlation between MAC loads in the bilateral bone marrow biopsy samples of seven patients. During therap
Can Perinatal HIV Infection Be Eliminated in the United States?: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/99) Vol. 282, No. 6, P. 577; Mofenson, Lynne M.; In an editorial, Dr. Lynne M. Mofenson discusses the potential for eliminating perinatal HIV in the United States . Dr. Mofenson, of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, points out that although antiretroviral regimens and elective cesarean births present go
Trends in Perinatal Transmission of HIV/AIDS in the United States: Journal of the American Medical Association (08/11/99) Vol. 282, No. 6, P. 531; Lindegren, Mary Lou; Byers Jr., Robert H.; Thomas, Pauline; et al.; Researchers from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention investigated trends in the incidence of perinatal AIDS and associated factors. The group also studied the effect of recommendations made by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) regarding prenatal HIV testing and zidovudine therapy to reduce perinatal HIV tr
Sexual Abuse Mars Gains by South African Women: CNN Interactive Online (08/09/99); While South Africa has passed much legislation regarding women s rights, the sexual abuse of women in the country remains a large problem. A survey by the Commission for Gender Equality showed that 14 percent of men said that there are times when a man must hit his wife, over a third said that rape occurs due to a woma
VIC: Blood Supply Crisis Following Tragic HIV Infection: Australian Associated Press (08/10/99); Blood donations in Victoria, Australia , have dwindled from 1,000 units a day to below 900 following the infection of a Melbourne schoolgirl with HIV from a blood transfusion. Victorian hospitals are appealing for blood donors to become more active. According to public health officials in Victoria, the chances of contr
China's Two Main Cities to Get Condom Machines: Reuters (08/10/99); Beijing and Shanghai will receive condom machines for the first time this week in an effort to reinforce goals of population control and to prevent the spread of HIV. A total of 90 machines will be placed in locales ranging from residential areas to subway stations. The installation of the condom machines follows a pil
Once-Daily ddI Is Just as Effective as Twice-Daily ddI: Reuters Health Information Services (08/09/99); A report in the July 30th issue of AIDS indicates that once- daily dosing of didanosine in combination with stavudine is as effective in reducing levels of HIV-1 RNA and increasing CD4 T-cell counts as twice-daily dosing. Furthermore, the effects of antiretroviral treatment were sustained in patients in both groups at
Health--Japan: Rash of TB Cases Worries Officials: IPS Wire (08/09/99); Public health officials in Japan say that a new rash of tuberculosis (TB) infections in the country is being caused by a drug-resistant strain of the disease. The government declared tuberculosis a state emergency two weeks ago, after the national TB rate rose for the first time in 42 years. Official records put the in
FED: Frozen Body Shows First US AIDS Case in 1969: Australian Associated Press (08/10/99); Silmalis, Linda; Scientists have determined that the first recorded AIDS case in the United States was that of a teenage prostitute who died 1969. Frozen tissue samples of the 15-year-old, who died from Kaposi s sarcoma, revealed HIV antibodies. The findings, presented at the 11th International Congress of Virology in Sydney, suggest t
Across the USA: Maryland: USA Today (08/10/99) P. 7A; Experts from Cuba are studying Baltimore official s efforts To stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the city. So far, the Cuban doctors have observed a needle exchange program and an STD clinic operating in the city. Cuba recorded 144 cases of syphilis per 100,000 people in 1996, compared with 80
Science Races to Stem TB's Threat: Washington Post (08/10/99) P. A1; Okie, Susan; Tuberculosis (TB), one of the world s deadliest infections, kills between 1.5 million and 2 million people a year. The rise of drug-resistant strains of TB could raise the death toll even higher. In the United States , 40 percent of new TB cases reported in 1997 were in people born in other countries, versus 22 percent
Atovaquone Suspension Compared With Aerosolized Pentamidine for Prevention of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Subjects Intolerant of Trimethoprim or Sulfonamides: Journal of Infectious Diseases Online (08/99) Vol. 180, No. 2, P. 369; Chan, Charles; Montaner, Julio; Lefebvre, Eric-Albert; et al.; Researchers from Toronto Hospital, Glaxo Wellcome , and elsewhere studied the efficacy of atovaquone suspensions versus aerosolized pentamidine for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-infected individuals who are intolerant to trimethoprim, sulfonamides, or both drugs. There were no significa
Toronto Will Be Site of XVth International AIDS Conference: Reuters Health Information Services (08/06/99); Mitchell, Deborah; Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock announced last week that Toronto will be the site for the 15th International AIDS Conference in 2004. Dr. Mark A. Wainberg, president of the International AIDS Society (IAS) and director of the McGill AIDS Center, will be the committee chair for the conference. Dr. Wainberg explained
NSW: Scientists Announce Breakthrough on Herpes: Australian Associated Press (08/08/99); Australian scientists have announced that the drug Valtrex has provided effective, long-term suppression of genital herpes . The antiviral drug is taken in a single daily dose. Valtrex has been shown to substantially reduce the number of genital herpes recurrences in patients. Herpes affects over 100 million people wor
Uganda, SA Sign AIDS Pact: Africa News Service (08/06/99); Uganda and South Africa have signed an agreement to work together to fight HIV. Areas of collaboration will include development of HIV vaccines, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, drug research, drug procurement and distribution, and HIV surveillance. The two countries hope to procure AIDS drugs at lowe
Scottish Hemophiliacs Took Infected Blood Products Until 1987: Bloomberg News Service (08/06/99); The British Broadcasting Corp. has reported that as many as 50 percent of Scotland s 600 hemophiliacs may have contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood products, despite assurances from the government that the products were safe. Scotland introduced a heat treatment system to kill pathogens in blood products in 1
Central Blood Bank Recalls Blood: United Press International (08/06/99); The New York Blood Center (NYBC) has asked the Central Blood Bank to voluntarily recall 1,379 blood components distributed for transfusions between 1993 and 1996. The move to recall the blood products was prompted by concerns by the Food and Drug Administration that the NYBC did not perform tests on the donated blood i
HIV Infections Attributable to Syphilis Could Be Eliminated in US: Reuters Health Information Services (08/06/99); A study in the July 30th issue of AIDS indicates that approximately 1,000 new cases of HIV acquired through heterosexual sex in 1996 can be attributed to syphilis. Dr. Harrell W. Chesson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues note that sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis increase the l
Cambodia Faces Rapid Spread of AIDS: Nando Times Online (08/08/99); Longstreath, David; Cambodia has the highest rate of HIV infection in Asia, with the country s thriving commercial sex industry often cited as the primary source of the virus spread. The first case of HIV infection in Cambodia was diagnosed in 1991, and more than 8,000 Cambodians died from AIDS last year, according to Prime Minister Hun
Microbe's Map of Migration: Washington Post (08/09/99) P. A7; Brown, David; The JC virus, which almost everyone acquires as a child, can become a fatal pathogen in some people who are immunocompromised. In people with damaged immune systems, the virus can lose DNA in an important area of its genome, causing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML, which is similar to multiple scl
Impaired Antibody Response After Immunization of HIV-Infected Individuals With the Polysaccharide Vaccine Against Salmonella Typhi (Typhim-Vi): Vaccine Online (08/06/99) Vol. 17, Nos. 23 and 24, P. 2941; Kroon, Frank P.; Van Dissel, Jaap T.; Ravensbergen, Elisabeth; et al.; Researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands studied the antibody response of HIV-infected individuals after vaccination against Salmonella typhi (Typhim-Vi). The researchers found that the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was correlated with antibody response after vaccination with the polysacc
Exercise Training May Improve HIV-Related Fat Redistribution: Reuters Health Information Services (08/04/99); A new report from Tufts University s Dr. Ronenn Roubenoff and colleagues suggests that exercise training may help treat AIDS-related lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy, which is associated with protease inhibitor treatment for HIV, causes reallocation of the body s visceral fat. The condition may increase the patient s risk
Fear, Poor AIDS Funding Hurts African-Americans: Reuters (08/04/99); Beasley, Deena; Dr. Stephen Thomas, director of the Institute of Minority Health Research at Emory University s School of Public Health, said Wednesday that African Americans could benefit by taking advantage of the care infrastructure that is already in place. Speaking at the first in a series of forums on AIDS and the African-Americ
New Test Identifies AIDS Virus: Minneapolis Star-Tribune Online (08/05/99); Officials from the Milwaukee Blood Center say that nucleic acid technology (NAT) detected a case of HIV infection in experimental laboratory tests two weeks earlier than conventional HIV tests. NAT can detect HIV within five days of infection, compared to the p24 antigen test, which requires about 16 days. Milwaukee ha
White and Asian Women Don't Fit Doctors' Stereotypes of HIV Victims, Researchers Say: Nando Times Online (08/04/99); Miller, Michael; A study published Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, a special journal from the American Psychological Association, suggests that doctors often fail to offer white or Asian women HIV tests or compile sexual history profiles for these women because of cultural stereotypes about patients at risk for HIV.
U.S. Not a Puppet of Drug Companies, Envoy Says: Reuters (08/04/99); Stoddard, Ed; At a news conference on Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa James A. Joseph stated that the U.S. government is not a puppet of large domestic drug companies. The United States is concerned that South Africa may break international trade laws if it uses compulsory licensing or parallel imports to make AIDS drugs
Needle Exchanges Save Lives: Washington Post (08/05/99) P. A22; Wilson-Byrom, Mary; In a letter to the editor, Mary Wilson-Byrom, interim president and CEO of the National AIDS Fund, asserts that needle exchange programs have proven effective in reducing the incidence of HIV in areas where they are instituted. Furthermore, studies in the United States have shown that needle exchange programs do not ha
District Loses Ground on Mandates: Washington Post (08/05/99) P. B5; Lipton, Eric; A joint House-Senate conference committee has voted to uphold a ban on city spending for the legalization of marijuana for medical use and for needle exchange programs in the District of Columbia s budget bill. Some members of the committee were concerned that needle exchanges might increase drug use without doing much
Reducing the Risk of Maternal-Infant Transmission of HIV by Attacking the Virus: New England Journal of Medicine (08/05/99) Vol. 341, No. 6, P. 441; Rogers, Martha F.; Shaffer, Nathan; New research further indicates that the maternal plasma level of viral RNA is one of the key predictors of both intrauterine and intrapartum HIV transmission, write Drs. Martha F. Rogers and Nathan Shaffer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an editorial. When considered with data from
Maternal Levels of Plasma Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I RNA and the Risk of Perinatal Transmission: New England Journal of Medicine (08/05/99) Vol. 341, No. 6, P. 394; Garcia, Patricia M.; Kalish, Leslie A.; Pitt, Jane; et al.; New findings from the Women and Infants Transmission Study Group suggests that the level of plasma HIV-1 RNA in HIV-1- infected pregnant women predicts the likelihood but not the time of perinatal virus transmission. The researchers measured plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in HIV-infected women who had singleton pregnancies an
Risk Factors for Perinatal Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I in Women Treated With Zidovudine: New England Journal of Medicine (08/05/99) Vol.341, No. 6, P. 385; Mofenson, Lynne M.; Lambert, John S.; Stiehm, E. Richard; et al.; The Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study 185 Team explored the effects of obstetrical, maternal, virologic, immunologic, and infant-related variables on the risk of perinatal HIV-1 transmission in women and their infants, all of whom had been treated with zidovudine. Univariate analyses revealed that several fact
New Web Site from the White House Office of National AIDS Policy: White House Office of National AIDS Policy; A new web site from the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) addresses the national and international HIV/AIDS pandemic. The site includes the latest ONAP news; information about ONAP s accomplishments, special events, publications, and staff; related Web links; and information about HIV/AIDS funding. Pres
Conners Wants Broader Blood Ban: CNews Online (www.canoe.ca) (07/23/99); Canadian AIDS activist Janet Conners is calling for a wider ban on blood donors in Canada . Health Canada has proposed a ban on donated blood from anyone who has spent more than six months in England over the last 19 years in an effort to keep Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease out of its blood supply; but Conners said the agen
Resistance to Gonorrhea Drugs Worries Dar Researchers: Africa News Online (08/03/99); Researchers from the Muhimbili College of Health Sciences at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania have found that drug-resistant gonorrhea in the Dar-es-Salaam region is increasing. The researchers report notes that absolute resistance of gonorrhea to cotrimoxazole, Tanzania s first- line gonorrhea medication, s
Cambodians Call for Legal, Regulated Sex Trade: Nando Times Online (www.nando.com) (08/03/99); Fontaine, Chris; The Cambodian government is considering legalizing prostitution in an effort to more tightly control safe sex practices within the profession. At a recent health forum, Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed that prostitution be legalized if the government and police could not stop the proliferation of the business. According
Health--Latin America: Curable Diseases Go Untreated: IPS Wire (08/02/99); Treatable diseases like tuberculosis (TB), measles, and pneumonia continue to be a problem in Latin America. In 1997, there were 23.6 cases of TB per 100,000 people in Mexico , 12.4 per 100,000 in Argentina , and 42.1 per 100,000 in Peru .
FED: Blood Transfusions to Become Safer From April: Australian Associated Press (08/04/99); McGuirk, Rod; The Australian government announced this week that it will Spend A$14 million a year to use nucleic acid amplification to test the nation s blood supply. The new system can detect hepatitis C and HIV about 11 days after infection, compared to as long as 24 days using other screening methods. Health Minister Michael Woo
South African Government Orders Female Condoms to Fight HIV Epidemic: Reuters Health Information Services (08/03/99); Officials from the Female Health Co. report that the South African province of Mpumalanga has ordered 900,000 female condoms. Early releases of the female condom in the province were accepted well by both men and women. The order, which is to be delivered in September, is supported by an agreement between
Spark of Sexual Attraction Burns Brighter With Age: USA Today (www.usatoday.com) (08/04/99) P. 1D; Phan, Aimee; A new study by the American Association of Retired Persons indicates that older Americans lead happy, and generally active, sex lives. The survey, mailed to 1,384 people 45 years of age and older, found that 54 percent of older Americans are extremely or somewhat satisfied with their sex lives. Of men between the ages
Access and Use of Medications in HIV Disease: Health Services Research (04/99) Vol. 34, No. 1, P. 723; Smith, Scott R.; Kirking, Duane M.; Investigators explored how measures of access to medical care relate to out-patient use of antiretroviral and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) medications in a cohort of HIV- infected individuals. The study featured a panel survey of 1,586 respondents, participants in the AIDS Costs and Services Utilization Survey
Pathogenesis of PI-Related Diabetes Resembles Diabetes Type 2: Reuters Health Information Services (08/02/99); Researchers have found that the development of diabetes in HIV-positive patients using protease inhibitors is similar to non-insulin-dependent diabetes type 2, with limited insulin action in the periphery. The study, published in the July 1st issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, followed 47 men
Involve Men in Sexual Reproductive Health: Africa News Service (08/02/99); Christopher Pasomba, assistant labor commissioner in the Zambian Ministry of Labor and Social Security, is encouraging programs that would involve men in sexual and reproductive health issues. Speaking at a seminar for Planned Parenthood of Zambia recently, Pasomba called upon the government and non-governmental organi
British Government Gives Grant: Africa News Service (08/02/99); The British government is donating 80 million Kenyan shillings for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Kenya s Nyanza Province. Officials hope that the grant will help to reduce rates of new HIV infections by limiting the prevalence of STDs. Donald W. Dickerson, of the Futures Group Europe and head
World Bank Launches HIV/AIDS Action Plan: Africa News Online (07/31/99); Gachamba, Chege Wa; The World Bank launched last week an Intensifying Action Against HIV/AIDS in Africa: Responding to a Development Crisis plan. The program attempts to provide more resources and technical support for mainstream HIV projects in all areas; encourage people to view HIV as a key development issue in the region; target aggre
Clinic Helps Poor Stay on HIV Drugs: San Francisco Examiner Online (08/02/99) P. A1; Torassa, Ulysses; Action Point in San Francisco is hoping to follow in the foot steps of a former area tuberculosis clinic that aggressively fought the disease by offering patients incentives to stay on their medication and insured that they took their medicine on schedule. Action Point provides needy HIV patients with their required me
Suspect Plasma Shipped Abroad: Richmond Times-Dispatch Online (08/03/99); Hostetler, A.J.; Red Cross officials have confirmed that plasma from blood shipped abroad from the Virginia Blood Service may have been taken from a donor infected with HIV. Although donated plasma is treated with extreme heat and chemicals to detoxify it, there is a very small chance that some viruses may remain. Switzerland s ZLB Cen
Number of AIDS Deaths, Cases, Fall in Maine: Boston Globe Online (08/03/99); The Maine Bureau of Public Health reports that 14 new AIDS cases were diagnosed in the first half of 1999, compared with 33 during all of 1998. According to the report, there were 11 AIDS-related deaths in Maine last year, down from 70 in 1995; there were no AIDS deaths in the first six months of 1999. The report noted
Study Finds Many AIDS Patients Upbeat: Los Angeles Times (08/03/99) P. A6; Researchers from the University of Cincinnati report that nearly 50 percent of HIV-infected patients interviewed at the Cincinnati Medical Center said their quality of life increased after learning they had contracted the virus that causes AIDS. The researchers preliminary findings, which are published in the August 3r
Hepatitis B Virus Transgenic Mouse Model of Chronic Liver Disease: Nature Medicine (08/99) Vol. 5, No. 8, P. 907; Larkin, Jonathan; Clayton, Marcy; Sun, Bill; et al.; Researchers created a transgenic severe immunodeficiency mouse that was positive for the hepatitis B virus (HBV), using the pTKHH2 plasmid containing the head-to-tail EcoR1 dimer of HBV DNA in chimpanzees. The mouse, created as an analog for chronic human infections, expressed HBV gene expression and replication. The a
Forum on AIDS Draws Officials From Local, State, and Federal Government: Kansas City Star Online (07/31/99); Malamanig, Christine; Sandra Thurman, director of the U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy, asserted Saturday that leadership and compassion are two key qualities for dealing with the AIDS epidemic. Speaking at the AIDS Now and in the New Millennium forum hosted by the National Association of People With AIDS, Thurman said that effective app
Condoms Dubbed 'Fashion Failure': BBC News Online (07/30/99); Rising rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted disease have prompted officials to launch a new safe sex advertising campaign in Britain. The Family Planning Association (FPA) and Health Education Authority will launch the campaign August 2 in 600 clubs and pubs throughout Britain. Officials say that many women rega
TB Drug Defaulters Risk Being Locked Up: South African Sunday Times Online (08/01/99); Heard, Janet; Dr. Ivan Toms, director of health services in Cape Town, South Africa , has cautioned that residents with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) who fail to take their medication may be incarcerated under provisions in the Health Act. An estimated 20 percent of TB patients in the country default on their drug treatment.
In Sydney Some Overdose, but in New York HIV Takes Its Toll: Australian Associated Press (08/01/99); Joint research conducted by scientists from the University of New South Wales and the U.S. National Development and Research Institutes indicates that a zero tolerance policy for illicit drug use in New York has exacerbated the spread of HIV in drug users and their children. Investigators followed a matched group of he
HIV Screening Saving Lives: CBC News Online (08/01/99); In Alberta, Canada , a voluntary HIV screening program for pregnant women is saving lives and millions of dollars in healthcare costs. Launched last September, the screening program attempts to detect HIV before a mother can pass it on to her fetus. The program allows doctors to begin drug treatment in HIV-infected pre
Health Tips: Cesarean Delivery Best for HIV+ Women: United Press International (08/02/99); Manning, Elizabeth; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a recommendation that pregnant HIV-positive women consider having a cesarean delivery two weeks before the anticipated birth date of their child. Studies suggest that women who have a cesarean delivery two weeks before their child s anticipated b
Heroin Batch Linked to 3 Men's Deaths: Boston Globe Online (08/02/99) P. B4; A batch of heroin dubbed Me Salve has been linked to the deaths of three drug addicts in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Officials say the deaths are evidence that heroin use is gaining popularity in Western Massachusetts. Experts also cite significantly increased traffic at Northampton s needle exchange program as evidence th
Immunogenicity of Three Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Protein Conjugate Vaccines in HIV Seropositive Adults and Analysis of Predictors of Vaccine Response: Vaccine Online (07/16/99) Vol. 17, No. 22, P. 2779; Dockrell, David H.; Poland, Gregory A.; Steckelberg, James M.; et al.; HIV-positive adults may be at higher risk of infection by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) than those who are seronegative for HIV. Protein conjugate vaccines have been shown to elicit protective levels of antibodies against Hib in both immunocompetent infants and in HIV-positive infants. Investigators studied the i
The Death and Resurrection of Tuberculosis: Nature Medicine (08/99) Vol. 5, No. 8,; Bloom, Barry R.; McKinney, John D.; Tuberculosis (TB) has proven particularly difficult to conquer because of its ability to survive despite prolonged chemotherapy, note Barry R. Bloom, of the Harvard School of Public Health, and John D. McKinney, of Rockefeller University, in a commentary. DNA vaccines, used in combination with chemotherapy or alone, ap
CCA Offers Parolees AIDS Drugs: Tennessean Online (07/26/99); Snyder, Bill; The Nashville-based Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and Stadtlers Pharmacy have collaborated on a pilot program that gives AIDS drugs and social service contracts to HIV- infected parolees to keep them out of jail and the hospital. The program--launched at the Metro Detention Facility in Nashville--gives parol
Female Condom Joins Battle Against AIDS in Third World: Lexington Herald-Leader Online (07/24/99); McNeil Jr., Donald G.; The female condom is gaining acceptance among men and women in 34 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, a key drawback of the female condom is its price, which is about 20 times higher than the price of male condoms. Another obstacle to their use is that some people find female condoms unsightly. A spo
AIDS Threatens to Bury South Africa's Mining Industry: Reuters (07/28/99); Schuettler, Darren; AIDS activist Janina Slawski, who convened the Actuarial Society of South Africa s AIDS Committee, said Wednesday that AIDS may kill up to 10 percent of South Africa s mining workforce a year. HIV rates among the miners are between 7 percent and 17 percent higher than those of other population groups, she said. By 2004
Pulmonary TB Killed Over 102 Patients in Mauritius: PANA Wire Service (07/28/99); Since the beginning of 1999, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) has taken the lives of 102 people at Poudre d Or hospital in Port- Louis, Mauritius . A total of 111 cases of pulmonary TB were reported on the island in 1998. Officials note that four new cases of TB have recently been diagnosed in teenagers located in the south
HIV-Infected Women Have Lower Than Average Prenatal Care Rates: Reuters Health Information Services (07/28/99); A study published in the July 1st issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes indicates that HIV- infected women have inadequate or no prenatal care more often than the general population. Dr. Amy Lansky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues examined changes in the rates of p
Man Guilty of Spreading HIV Says He Had Hundreds of Sex Partners: New York Times (07/25/99) P. A19; Cooper, Michael; In his first extended interview since his case attracted national attention in 1997, Nushawn J. Williams, a Brooklyn man who may have infected over a dozen young women and girls with HIV, said recently he may have had sexual intercourse with up to 300 women. Williams is serving a 12-year prison sentence for statutory r
Safe Sex, With Style: Washington Post (07/29/99) P. B4; Goldstein, Avram; The District of Columbia has launched a program to distribute condoms in 25 beauty salons located in primarily African American neighborhoods in the city. The condoms are kept in a black and gold compact that also contains a pamphlet on HIV prevention. The pilot program, which cost $10,000, may be expanded to more beau
Ramsey, Koop Urge Support of Needle Exchange: Washington Post (07/29/99) P. A9; In a bid to keep Congress from prohibiting the District of Columbia from spending funds on needle exchange programs, D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey and former surgeon general C. Everett Koop have written separate letters to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). Congress placed a ban on city spending for needle
Herpes Simplex Virus Vaccines--Why Don't Antibodies Protect?: Journal of the American Medical Association(07/28/99) Vol. 282, No. 4, P. 379; Mascola, John R.; The results of Lawrence Corey and colleagues studies on herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) vaccines underscore the importance of developing new vaccine strategies against the virus, notes John R. Mascola of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in a commentary. In Corey s studies, which are reported in the July 2
Up to 300,000 Russian Inmates to Go Free to Solve Prison Crowding: Nando Times Online (07/27/99); Russian officials have announced plans to release 300,000 prisoners over the next 18 months in an effort to relieve prison overcrowding. Overcrowding in Russian prisons has led to the rapid spread of disease such as tuberculosis (TB). In announcing the decision, Justice Minister Pavel Krasheninnikov said, When we sente
Heroin Use Area OK'd in Australia: Washington Times (07/28/99) P. A14; The Catholic Order of the Sisters of Charity will open a medically supervised heroin injecting room for 18 months in Sydney s Kings Cross district next year. Experts estimate that the room could have 50,000 visits and save 40 people from dying from drug overdoses. Australian officials also note that trials of compulsor
Many UK Surgeons Uninformed About Postexposure HIV Prophylaxis: Reuters Health Information Services (07/27/99); A report in the July 17th issue of the British Medical Journal indicates that while most occupational health departments in the United Kingdom have guidelines and resources for HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), few surgeons have full knowledge of the guidelines. Researchers found that all departments studied followed
TB Meeting Targets Women: BBC News Online (07/27/99); Health experts from South Asian countries are convening in Nepal for a three-day meeting on tuberculosis (TB) in the region. The meeting will focus on TB in women, a subject that experts say has been neglected due to widespread gender bias in the area. TB is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 15 a
Doctors Warn New Infant HIV Testing Will Scare Parents, Distract Mother: Boston Globe Online (07/28/99); A New York state requirement that requires pregnant women to have an HIV test before giving birth is sparking controversy. According to health officials, the requirement--which goes into effect on Sunday--will allow doctors to take appropriate measures to help prevent the infant from getting the disease if the mother i
Blood Bank Yet to Update HIV Testing: Washington Times (07/28/99) P. C4; Virginia Blood Services, the agency that collects most blood donations for central Virginia, has not yet implemented a nucleic acid test (NAT) for blood products recommended four months ago by the Food and Drug Administration. Currently, NAT is not required because it is experimental and there are still questions about
Induction of Mucosal Antibody Responses by Microsphere- Encapsulated Formalin-Inactivated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in a Male Urethral Challenge Model: Vaccine Online (07/99) Vol. 17, No. 22, P. 2817; Ishizaka, Sally T.; Israel, Zimra R.; Gettie, Agegnehu; et al.; Researchers immunized male rhesus macaques with microsphere- encapsulated formalin-inactivated SIV to test its immunogenicity and ability to protect against mucosal SIV challenge. Strong serum ELISA titers to SIV and evidence of local IgA responses in broncho-alveolar washes occurred after tracheal boosting in animals
Dating the Origin of HIV-1 Subtypes: Nature (07/22/99) Vol. 400, No. 6742, P. 325; Goudsmit, Jaap; Lukashov, Vladimir V.; Researchers from the Department of Human Retrovirology at the University of Amsterdam caution that precise dating of HIV-1 subtypes may not be prudent. Evolutionary rates of viruses are unlikely to be equal or constant over time, because they change due to factors like population bottlenecks and founder effects. While
Recombinant Glycoprotein Vaccine for the Prevention of Genital HSV-2 Infection: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/28/99) Vol. 282, No. 4, P. 331; Corey, Lawrence; Langenberg, Andria G.M.; Ashley, Rhoda; et al.; Investigators for the Chiron HSV Vaccine Study Group found that protection from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) will require vaccines to do more than induce high levels of specific neutralizing antibodies. The researchers conducted two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trials of a recombinant
CCR5 Genotype May Confer Resistance to Vertical HIV-1 Transmission: Reuters Health Information Services (07/26/99); Investigators believe that children who inherit the homozygous delta 32 CCR5 genotype may be protected from vertical HIV-1 infection. The homozygous delta 32 CCR5 genotype has been observed to confer resistance in adults. Dr. Sean Philpott, of the New York State Department of Health in Albany, and colleagues, investiga
Sex Disease Epidemic Sparks HIV Warning: Africa News Service (07/26/99); Caelers, Di; With 11 million cases of sexually transmitted infection treated each year in South Africa , health officials are aggressively emphasizing the need for better education and medical treatment. Dr. Priscilla Reddy, director of health promotion research for South Africa s Medical Research Council, noted that little attenti
A Hard Lesson on Risk of HIV in Blood Supply: Washington Post Online (07/24/99) P. B1; Goldstein, Avram; The infection of Cappy Young, a Virginia man, with HIV highlights concerns regarding a contaminated blood supply. Young learned in June that he contracted HIV through a contaminated blood transfusion. Federal blood safety officials are checking to see whether the organization that provided the blood, Virginia Blood Ser
Studying the Impact of AIDS on Women: Los Angeles Times Online (07/26/99); Jameson, Marnell; Gail Wyatt, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical School, and colleagues launched five years ago a study of 500 women to see how AIDS affects a woman s sexuality, psychology, and behavior. The Women and the Family Project, which includes both HIV- positive and HIV-negative wom
NIH Launches 8-Year Study of Hepatitis Drugs: Houston Chronicle (07/24/99) P. 21A; The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is launching an eight-year study of antiviral drug treatments for people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The $28 million clinical trial will investigate whether the drugs can slow or ha
Tuberculosis Vaccine Under Study: Washington Times (07/25/99) P. D2; An experimental tuberculosis (TB) vaccine successfully reduced the number of TB bacteria in mice heavily infected with the disease, according to researchers from the National Institute for Medical Research in London, the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil , and elsewhere. The researchers, reporting in the July 15 issue
Japan Works to Prevent Tuberculosis Outbreak: Nando Times Online (07/26/99); Japanese Health Minister Sohei Miyashita, speaking to representatives from 28 government and medical organizations, declared on Monday a state of emergency over the country s tuberculosis (TB) crisis. The number of TB cases in Japan reached 42,715 in 1997, up 243 from the previous year. In addition, there were 2,742 TB
Australian Girl Gets HIV From Screened Blood: Reuters (07/27/99); An Australian girl has contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, the first such incident since the country began screening the blood supply in 1985. The Australian Red Cross said that the infected blood slipped through the screening because the blood was tested before antibodies could be detected. Officials say that
Third Millennium Challenge: Hepatitis C: Journal of the American Medical Association (07/21/99) Vol. 282, No. 3, P. 221; Friedrich, M.J.; An estimated 4 million people in the United States and 200 million people worldwide may carry the hepatitis C virus (HCV). As such, HCV will likely be a serious public health threat well into the 21st century. HCV is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, and it causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular
Bug Bugaboo: POZ (08/99) 50, P. 66; Servilio, John; Parasites pose a diagnostic problem, since many do not present symptoms but cause hidden damage. San Francisco AIDS specialist Jon Kaiser suggests that all people with HIV receive annual screening for parasites. Dr. Kaiser says that as many of 30 percent of his new patients test positive for parasites. When the B cells
First Nosocomial Drug-Resistant TB Outbreak Seen in HIV- Infected Patients in South Africa: Reuters Health Information Services (07/23/99); South African researchers detail the first nosocomial multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outbreak among HIV- infected people in South Africa in the July issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The six patients, located in the Johannesburg area, were diagnosed with MDR-TB through DNA finger-printing while in treat
Ban on AZT to Pregnant Women Under Review: Africa News Service (07/23/99); Barrell, Howard; South Africa s new minister of health, Dr. Manto Tshabalala- Msimang, is reconsidering the country s ban on giving AZT to pregnant women to help prevent perinatal transmission of HIV. Tshabalala-Msimang will also review studies of the antiretroviral drug nevirapine
High-Risk Behaviors Common Among HIV-Infected Subjects in Rural Alabama: Reuters Health Information Services (07/23/99); Dr. John F. Beltrami, of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, and colleagues report in the July issue of the Southern Medical Journal that many HIV-infected people living in the rural areas of Alabama engage in high-risk behaviors and have inadequate health insurance. The study found that only 10 percent of 417 s
Delegation to Study Uganda's Anti-AIDS Strategy: Nando Times Online (07/24/99); Reber, Pat; South Africa s health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, and a large delegation will travel to Uganda in August to study the country s strategy for fighting AIDS. According to a World Bank study, Uganda is the only African country in which HIV/AIDS rates are declining, down to about half the level of a decade ago. Uga
Federally Funded Programs Generally Adhere to HIV Treatment Guidelines: Reuters Health Information Services (07/23/99); A report in the July 1st issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes indicates that 85 percent of federally funded HIV treatment facilities follow antiretroviral treatment guidelines for measurement of HIV plasma RNA, Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis, anti-Toxoplasma antibody testing, and Pap smears. D
Civil War Inoculates Angola From AIDS Epidemic: Washington Post Online (07/25/99); Jeter, Jon; Analysts say that Angola s 25-year civil war may have helped curb the spread of HIV within the country. Angola has been unable to provide sanitized food and water, so there has not been much international traffic entering the country. Statistics show that 3.8 percent of Angola s population was infected with HIV last ye
UNICEF Ranks Children Least Likely to Survive: Washington Times (07/26/99) P. A14; McFarland, Janet; According to a United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) report released last Thursday, children from sub-Saharan countries like Angola , Sierra Leone , and Somalia are least likely to survive. UNICEF used a new child-risk index to calculate dangers to children using the following criteria: weight, acces
Measurement of Sputum Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Messenger RNA as a Surrogate for Response to Chemotherapy: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (07/99) Vol. 160, No. 1, P. 203; Desjardin, Lucy E.; Perkins, Mark D.; Wolski, Kathy; et al.; In an effort to identify surrogate markers for response to chemotherapy, researchers from the United States and Brazil measured levels of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 85B messenger RNA (mRNA), 16S ribosomal RNA, and IS6110DNA found in patients sputa. According to the authors, the quick disappearance of M.
Bacterial Infection Increases Miscarriage Risk: Reuters (07/22/99); Investigators from Leeds General Infirmary in England, say that bacterial vaginosis could increase the risk of miscarriage nearly two-fold in the first trimester of pregnancy. Reporting in the British Medical Journal, Dr. Susan Ralph and colleagues studied 850 women undergoing fertility treatment, nearly 25 percent of
Mauritius to Screen 20,000 Pregnant Women Against HIV: PANA Wire Service (07/22/99); Tenthani, Raphael; Mauritian health minister Kishore Deerpalsingh, speaking at the National Screening Program for AIDS and Perinatal HIV Transmission, announced that the country will test 20,000 pregnant women for HIV each year. Deerpalsingh estimated that some 30 percent of the pregnant women in developing countries carry HIV and that n
Romania to See New Communist-Era HIV Cases: Reuters (07/22/99); Adrian Streinu Cercel, head of Romania s AIDS commission, announced Thursday that 161 children infected with HIV during the communist era have been diagnosed this year. Nearly 6,500 cases of HIV and AIDS have been recorded among Romanian children born before the fall of communism in 1989. Streinu Cercel predicted that
HIV-1 Subtype F May Be Spreading in U.S.: Reuters Health Information Services (07/22/99); A report in the May/June issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases suggests that HIV-1 subtype F may be becoming an important strain in Puerto Rico . Researchers from Puerto Rico and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluated HIV-1 strain variations in 63 asymptomatic sex workers from 12 Puerto Rican communit
U.S. Defines Policy on AIDS Drugs for South Africa: Reuters (07/22/99); Richwine, Lisa; Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Joseph Papovich told a congressional panel Thursday that the United States supports South Africa s attempts to use compulsory licensing or parallel importation measures to obtain AIDS drugs, as long as it does not infringe on drug makers patents. Compulsory licensing allows local man
U.S. Cities Report Changing Rates of Infectious Disease.: Reuters Health Information Services (07/22/99); The National Public Health and Hospital Institute has released a report, The Social and Health Landscape of Urban and Suburban America, that compares several indicators of living conditions to the health of U.S. residents in various urban settings. The report shows at least a 25 percent decline in the AIDS rates of mos
AIDS Is Top Killer in Southern, Eastern Africa: Washington Post (07/23/99) P. A22; The United Nations Children s Fund reported Thursday that AIDS took the lives of 1.4 million people in eastern and southern Africa in 1998. UNICEF s annual report on AIDS details how the disease has overtaken armed conflict as the leading killer in the region. AIDS has orphaned 6 million children in eastern and souther
Synthesis and Immunologic Characterisation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Lipoarabinomannan Specific Oligosaccharide-- Protein Conjugates: Vaccine Online (07/16/99) Vol. 17, No. 22, P. 2853; Hamasur, Beston; Kallenius, Gunilla; Svenson, Stefan B.; Swedish researchers synthesized and immunologically characterized immunogenic lipoarabinomannan (LAM)-specific oligosaccharide protein conjugates. The researchers derived the oligosaccharides from LAM purified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv and covalently conjugated to tetanus toxoid and cross-reactive mutant d
Name-Based Reporting of HIV-Positive Test Results as a Deterrent to Testing: American Journal of Public Health (07/99) Vol. 89, No. 7, P. 1097; Woods, William J.; Dilley, James W.; Lihatsh, Tania; et al.; Name-based reporting of HIV may undermine efforts toward HIV surveillance and testing if no attempt is made to change attitudes about the procedure, according to new research. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, gave 130 high-risk, male, repeat testers information on the benefits of name-based
Improved Condom Use Urged to Reduce Disease: Nation's Health (07/99) Vol. 29, No. 6, P. 14; A recent study from Johns Hopkins University asserts that in order to stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, worldwide condom use should triple to about 24 billion condoms. According to the report s authors, there are several reasons why people do not use condoms, including cost and a percepti
Tongue Piercing 'Can Be Fatal': BBC News Online (07/21/99); The British Dental Association (BDA) is warning that the trendy practice of tongue piercing can be dangerous. The group said tongue piercing can result in infections, speech and breathing difficulties, and broken teeth. In addition, the BDA noted that if the piercing equipment is not sterilized, there is a risk of HIV
Infectious Diseases on the Rise in Zambia: Africa News Online (07/21/99); Phiri, Reuben; Dr. Francis Kasolo, head of the virology project at Zambia s University Teaching Hospital (UTH), discussed this week Zambia s top medical issues. According to Kasolo, 80 percent of Zambia s medical problems are due to infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and diarrhea. Kasolo also asserted that the country nee
Helping Couples With HIV Have Babies: A Medical Dilemma: Minneapolis Star Tribune Online (07/21/99); Lerner, Maura; Doctors are increasingly being faced by the dilemma of whether or not to help a couple, in which one partner has HIV, have a baby. If a doctor encourages the couple, there is a chance that the mother or newborn may contract HIV. However, a procedure called sperm washing may provide a solution. Sperm washing separates s
AIDS Weighs on Zimbabwe's Health System: Reuters (07/21/99); Mapenzauswa, Stella; Zimbabwe s minister of health and child welfare said Wednesday that up to 50 percent of the country s healthcare budget is used to fight AIDS. Minister Timothy Stamps pointed out that healthcare funding has declined over the past decade, and he said the health ministry requires separate funding for AIDS. The official a
Report Finds Syphilis on the Road to Eradication in Santa Clara County: Contra Costa Times Online (07/21/99); Krieger, Lisa M.; According The Social and Health Landscape of Urban and Suburban America, a public health report released Wednesday, syphilis is on the decline in Santa Clara County, Calif. There were only eight confirmed cases of syphilis in the county in 1998, down from 69 a decade ago. The rate of syphilis in Santa Clara is 0.3 case
Experts From Former USSR Learn to Detect, Combat TB: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Online (07/22/99); Peters, Doug; Two members of Russia s Volgograd Medical Academy have joined Dr. Yelena Khromova, a fellow at Emory University, to study tuberculosis at Arkansas Department of Health. Rates of TB in Russia have increased substantially since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. According to the World Health Organization , Russi
The Impact of HIV Infection on Mycobacterium Kansasii Disease in South African Gold Miners: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Online (07/99) Vol. 160, No. 1, P. 10; Corbett, Elizabeth L.; Churchyard, Gavin J.; Hay, Malcolm; et al.; An international team of scientists investigated the effect of HIV on Mycobacterium kansasii disease in a retrospective study of South African miners. The study included 43 HIV-positive and 202 HIV-negative miners. The data showed that individuals with M. kansasii had unusually high CD4 counts, but mortality during tre
Metronidazole-Resistant Vaginal Trichomoniasis--An Emerging Problem: New England Journal of Medicine (07/22/99) Vol. 341, No. 4, P. 292; Sobel, Jack D.; Nagappan, Vijayalakshmi; Nyirjesy, Paul; In a letter to the editor, Dr. Jack D. Sobel, of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and colleagues discuss a disturbing trend in trichomonal resistance to metronidazole in clinics in Detroit and Philadelphia. Over the past two years, Sobel et al. diagnosed 17 cases of vaginal trichomoniasis resistant to met
TB Test Dropped From List: Cincinnati Post Online (07/20/99); Campbell, Laurel; In Ohio, Hamilton County children will no longer be tested for tuberculosis when they enter kindergarten in the fall. Officials say the low prevalence of TB in the region--only 25 to 30 cases of active TB each year for the past five years-- was a key element in the decision to drop the test. TB testing in areas with a
Report Blames UK Clinic for Hepatitis B Outbreak: Reuters (07/20/99); The Barnet Health Authority and Britain s Public Health Authority have traced an outbreak of hepatitis B to the Finchely Medical Centre, an alternative medicine clinic in London. The outbreak, which resulted in the infection of 60 people with hepatitis B two years ago, is being attributed to a bottle of saline solution
AIDS, Drugs Cash Cut Despite Crisis Fears: South China Morning Post Online (07/21/99); Watkin, Huw; Vietnam is reportedly cutting funds for fighting HIV from $4 million to $3.5 million. The government is also cutting its anti-prostitution budget to $2.1 million, nearly half of the amount earmarked for the task in 1997. Drug abuse programs will see their funding cut to $2.5 million, 10 percent lower than the budget
Multicenter Group to Research Best HIV Prevention Counseling Intervention: Reuters Health Information Services (07/20/99); Researchers from San Francisco, New York City, and four other major metropolitan areas are collaborating to launch EXPLORE, a study that aims to determine the most effective counseling methods for reducing high-risk behaviors for HIV infection. The study will compare an HIV risk reduction counseling strategy created by
No TB Outbreak in Prisons, Says State Health Division Chief: Honolulu Star-Bulletin Online (07/21/99); Altonn, Helen; Officials from Hawaii s Health Department say the state s prisons have not had a tuberculosis outbreak. Authorities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly became concerned over the situation in Hawaii s prisons after learning of reports that several hundred inmates in the state were infected with
Maxwell Says Its Technology Kills Viruses: Wall Street Journal (07/21/99) P. B7; Rundle, Rhonda L.; Maxwell Technologies has announced that its PureBright technology is undergoing third-party tests to determine whether it can kill viruses that contaminate blood products and biopharmaceuticals. The technology, which uses a very intense pulse of white light, could be used on plasma products, but not whole blood. Maxwel
D.C. Home Rule Scores Victories: Needle Measures: Washington Post (07/21/99) P. A1; Lipton, Eric; The House Appropriations Committee endorsed a plan Tuesday that would allow the District of Columbia to spend its own money on needle-exchange programs. The Senate already approved a version of the D.C. budget that does not include bans on spending for needle-exchange programs in the District. Reps. James P. Moran Jr.
Epitope Insertion Into Variable Loops of HIV-1 Gp120 as a Potential Means to Improve Immunogenicity of Viral Envelope Protein: Vaccine Online (07/16/99) Vol. 17, No. 22, P. 2862; Liang, Xiaoping; Munshi, Sonal; Shendure, Jay; et al.; Scientists from Merck Research Laboratories and Duke University Medical Center examined a set of HIV-1 IIIB Env mutants carrying a linear gp41 epitope insertion in the V1, V2, V3, or V4 variable loop. The study showed that while insertion of the epitope was well tolerated in the V1, V2, and V4 loops, insertion of the e
Tuberculosis Prevention in Methadone Maintenance Clinics: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Online (07/99) Vol. 160, No. 1, P. 178; Snyder, David C.; Paz, E. Antonio; Mohle-Boetani, Janet C.; et al.; California researchers observed completion rates of tuberculosis screening, medical evaluation, preventative therapy, and the number of TB cases and deaths in five San Francisco methadone clinics to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a program to provide screening for TB and directly observed prevent
Gonorrhea Control 'Fraying,' Report Shows: Australian Associated Press (07/20/99); Rouse, Rada; Dr. John Tapsall, director of the Sydney World Health Organization , is warning that rates of gonorrhea increased 50 percent in Australia s New South Wales and Victoria over the past year. Tapsall noted, however, that a more disturbing point in the annual Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Program report is that up to
Drop in Donations Puts AIDS Groups at Risk: Chicago Tribune Online (07/19/99); Swanson, Stevenson; A new survey by Funders Concerned About AIDS, a New York group, reveals a 21 percent decline in the number of donors making HIV or AIDS grants since 1997. The study, which involved 276 foundations and corporate givers, also found that the number of grants of $50,000 or more dropped 22 percent in the same period. In add
Study Looks at HIV 'Cocktail': Star Tribune Online (07/20/99); Loviglio, Joann; A study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine indicates that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) appears to be more effective in clinical trials than in the real world. The report, published in this week s issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, followed 273 people receiving HAART as out
AIDS Seen as National Security Threat: USA Today (07/20/99) P. 7A; Sternberg, Steve; Health and intelligence officials are concerned that the spread of HIV may undermine political and social stability worldwide, especially in Africa. Former CIA director John Deutch notes that AIDS can constrain the economic growth of a country, as well as inhibit its ability to introduce social programs. Growing number
Baffling Hepatitis Virus Is Isolated, Scientists Say: New York Times (07/20/99) P. D4; Altman, Lawrence K.; Dr. Daniele Primi, an Italian scientist, may have identified a new hepatitis virus. Studying 600 stored blood samples, Dr. Primi linked the virus to a form of hepatitis with no known viral cause. The new virus was also found in patients with viruses that cause AIDS and hepatitis. Dr. Primi has yet to submit his work to
Gore Seeks Funds to Fight AIDS in Africa: Washington Post (07/20/99) P. A4; Vice President Gore announced Monday that the Clinton administration is seeking $100 million more to fight AIDS in Africa. Speaking with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Gore said that $48 million would be earmarked for HIV education, counseling, and blood screening. Attention will also be given to proposed investments in nutr
The Pathophysiology of Pulmonary Diffusion Impairment in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Online (07/99) Vol. 160, No. 1, P. 272; Diaz, Philip T.; King, Mark A.; Pacht, Eric R.; et al.; HIV-infected individuals often develop unexplained reactions to pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO). Recent data has shown that reductions in DLCO predict the subsequent development of opportunistic pneumonia. Investigators from Ohio State University used high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest and a se
Elimination and Reintroduction of Primary and Secondary Syphilis: American Journal of Public Health (07/99) Vol. 89, No. 7, P. 1093; Williams, Laura A.; Klausner, Jeffrey D.; Whittington, William L.H.; et al.; Researchers studied the factors involved in the epidemic spread, elimination, and subsequent reintroduction of syphilis in King County, Wash., between 1987 and 1998. The investigators, who were all at the University of Washington, Seattle, at the time, noted that during the epidemic spread phase of the outbreak, only 1
Teen Group in Sri Lanka Provides Counseling for Peers: Reuters (07/16/99); Ten Sri Lankan teenagers have joined together to educate their peers about sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV and AIDS. Sri Lankan officials say the number of teenagers seeking help treatment for STDs has risen in recent years; however, specific figures were not provided. The teen educators plan to hold a
HIV May Complicate Global Measles Eradication Efforts: Reuters Health Information Services (07/16/99); A report in the July issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests that high rates of HIV in certain regions may hamper efforts to eliminate measles. According to Dr. William J. Moss, of Johns Hopkins University, and colleagues, a review of relevant literature suggests that primary and secondary failure of the measles
Report: California Gains Ground Against TB: United Press International (07/16/99); California s Legislative Analyst s Office reported Friday that the number of tuberculosis cases in the state declined 28 percent between 1992 and 1998. In addition, the state s TB rate--or number of cases per 100,000 people--fell 32 percent during the same period, compared with a 35 percent drop throughout the
Law Sought for Testing of Needle Assailants: Boston Globe Online (07/19/99) P. B1; Rakowsky, Judy; Massachusetts law enforcement officials are pushing for legislation that would mandate HIV testing for anyone who bites, scratches, or spits at public safety workers in the state. State law currently prohibits anyone from being forcibly tested for HIV, except in rare cases mandated by a judge. Officials at Boston Medic
Aspirin Coating Kills HIV, Could Block Sexual Diseases: USA Today (07/19/99) P. 1D; Sternberg, Steve; Researchers have found a chemical that may protect women from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The investigators, who reported their findings in the journal Biologicals, found that cellulose acetate phthalate, a chemical that coats aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs, completely kills HIV, herpes virus
Africa AIDS Crisis Becomes a Higher Priority for U.S.: USA Today (07/19/99) P. 11A; Sternberg, Steve; In a statement planned for today, Vice President Al Gore will announce the Clinton administration s plan to help curb the spread of HIV throughout the world. The White House is seeking an additional $100 million next year for global HIV prevention and treatment. Officials say that more than two- thirds of those funds w
Intranasal Immunization With Chlamydia Trachomatis, Serovar E, Protects From Subsequent Vaginal Challenge With the Homologous Serovar: Vaccine Online (07/16/99) Vol. 17, No. 22, P. 2901; Peterson, Ellena M.; You, John Z.; Motin, Vladimir; et al.; Researchers vaccinated mice against a vaginal challenge with Chlamydia trachomatis. The animals were immunized intranasally or intraperitoneally with inclusion forming units (IFU) of C. trachomatis, serovar E, and intranasally with inactivated IFUs of serovar E. The mice immunized intranasally with viable serovar E dis
Tuberculosis and the HIV Epidemic: Increasing Annual Risk of Tuberculosis Infection in Kenya, 1986-1996: American Journal of Public Health (07/99) Vol. 89, No. 7, P. 1078; Odhiambo, J.A.; Borgdorff, M.W.; Kiambih, F.M.; et al.; Researchers recommend that countries with a rising prevalence of HIV infection add additional resources for TB control. Investigators administered tuberculin surveys in primary schools in 12 Kenyan districts between 1986 and 1990, and between 1994 and 1996. The districts were divided based on the year in which TB notif
Trends in AIDS Among Hispanics in the United States, 1991-1996: American Journal of Public Health (07/99) Vol. 89, No. 7, P. 1104; Klevens, Ruth Monina; Diaz, Theresa; Fleming, Patricia Lehan; et al.; In an effort to determine recent trends in AIDS among Hispanics in the United States , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied the number of AIDS cases among Hispanics using linear regression. Between 1991 and 1996, 19 percent of the 415,864 individuals diagnosed with AIDS were Hispanic. Two-thirds of th
Patients May Claim--Lawyer: New Zealand Press Online (07/15/99); Van Beynen, Martin; In New Zealand , individuals who became stressed as the result of the infection scare at Christchurch Hospital may be entitled to compensation, according to a local lawyer. It s basically pretty clear that patients can claim for mental injury caused by the anguish experienced between the time they were informed of the
Humoral Response to Influenza Vaccine Poor Among HIV-Infected Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (07/15/99); Polish researchers are recommending that all HIV-infected individuals should be vaccinated against influenza. According to research published in the June issue of Clinical Drug Investigation, the scientists found that the proportion of patients with antihemagglutinin antibody titers greater than 1:40 when the study beg
Health--Kenya: Sex and AIDS Education Still Controversial: IPS Wire (07/14/99); Sex education for teenagers in Kenya has been largely stymied by the protests of religious groups. Teenagers are taught that abstinence is the best method of safe sex, and nothing is mentioned about other contraceptives, like condoms. A recent study showed that only 6 percent of Kenyan women and 21 percent of Kenyan me
'Abstinence Plus': Washington Post (07/16/99) P. A23; Dionne Jr., E.J.; In a commentary, E.J. Dionne Jr. discusses the flak Texas Gov. George W. Bush has come under for his promotion of abstinence- only programs for teenagers. Citing Doug Kirby, a senior research analyst at ETR Associates in California, Dionne points out that abstinence-only programs have been shown to be largely ineffecti
Heterosexuals Focus of HIV Risk Concerns Due to New B.C. Statistics: Calgary Herald Online (07/16/99); New statistics from British Columbia s Center for Disease Control show that new HIV infections from heterosexual contact accounted for 21.5 percent of new infections in 1998, compared to 7.9 percent in 1993. Last year, 89 heterosexuals tested positive for HIV in British Columbia, up from 35 people five years ago. Throu
Once Down, NAACP in Fighting Form: Washington Post (07/16/99) P. A3; Fletcher, Michael A.; Officials from the NAACP announced this week new issues on which the organization will focus. Speakers at the 90th annual convention of the NAACP highlighted the need for stricter gun controls and more positive African-American role models on the nation s major networks. In addition, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Alb
Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Initiative: Analysis of the First Two Annual Reports: British Medical Journal (07/03/99) Vol. 319, No. 7201, P. 16; Williams, L. M.; Lowe, S.; Love, E. M.; et al.; Researchers investigated reports of death or major complications after blood transfusion between October 1996 and September 1998 in hospitals throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland . Subjects included those who died or experienced acute and delayed transfusion reactions, acute lung injury, graf
Mode of Delivery and the Risk of Vertical Transmission of HIV- 1: New England Journal of Medicine (07/15/99) Vol. 341, No. 3, P. 206; Read, Jennifer S.; In a letter to the editor for the International Perinatal HIV Group, Dr. Jennifer S. Read, of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, responds to several letters regarding the group s recent meta-analysis of the risk of HIV-1 transmission and elective cesarean delivery. Dr. Read notes that the log
Congress, OSHA Finally Join Fight to Mandate Needle Safety Precautions: AIDS Alert (07/99) Vol. 14, No. 7, P. 73; The third sentence of the original abstract inaccurately used he word needless when it should have used the word needle- less. The corrected version is as follows: Congress and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are pushing for new legislation to reduce the thousands of needle stick injuries healt
Optimism Helps HIV-Positive People Maintain Health: Reuters Health Information Services (07/14/99); Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, suggest that hope and a positive outlook may slow the development of AIDS symptoms in bereaved HIV-positive men. Reporting in the July issue of the journal Health Psychology, the investigators followed 72 asymptomatic HIV-infected men who had either realistic
Rubella Immunity Maintained During HIV Progression: Reuters Health Information Services (07/14/99); A report in the July issue of the Journal of Medical Virology indicates that HIV-positive patients with a pre-existing mature antibody response to rubella may not need to be vaccinated against the disease again. To determine if rubella immunity is compromised as HIV-infected patients progress to AIDS-related complex an
African Countries to Discuss Health Reforms: PANA Wire Service Online (07/14/99); A three-day meeting will be held in Mozambique next week to discuss healthcare reforms in Africa. The forum, to be attended by representatives from 19 African nations, is part of the United Nations Special Initiative for Africa. Topics to be covered include prioritization of programs for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis
AIDS, Poverty to Cut Malawi Life Expectancy by 2010: PANA Wire Service (07/14/99); Tenthani, Raphael; The United Nations Development Program estimates that life expectancy for people in nine sub-Saharan nations, including Malawi , will drop by 20 years beginning in 2010. Officials attribute the decline to the impact of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and globalization. UNDP s John Wayem said, It is estimated that these nine countri
Health Board Approves HIV Tracking Plan: Oregon Live NewsFlash/Oregonian Online (07/15/99); George, Hunter T.; The Washington State Board of Health has adopted a new method for tracking the spread of HIV. Effective Sept. 1, the new system will require the names of HIV-infected people to be reported to county health officials for epidemiological tracking. The names will be changed into unique codes and forwarded to the State Dep
DNA Vaccine May Boost Treatment of TB Disease: Financial Times (www.ft.com) (07/15/99) P. 8; A team of researchers from the United Kingdom , Brazil , and Switzerland has discovered that a vaccine made of DNA segments can increase the efficiency of the immune system and could boost the treatment of tuberculosis. The vaccine was originally designed to prevent infection.
A Low-Cost Way to Cut Mother-to-Child HIV?: Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (07/15/99) P. A4; Brown, David; Researchers from Uganda and the United States have found an effective and inexpensive way to reduce vertical transmission of HIV. A single-dose regimen of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor nevirapine costs only about $3. During the study, 300 Ugandan women were given
UK Inquiry Should Establish Why Contaminated Blood Products Were Given to People With Haemophilia: British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com) (07/03/99) Vol. 319, No. 7201, P. 52; Pappenheim, Karin; In a letter to the editor, Karin Pappenheim, chief executive of the British Hemophilia Society, asserts that officials in the United Kingdom should hold an inquiry into infections caused by tainted blood prior to 1986. The United Kingdom has 4,800 hemophiliacs who contracted hepatitis C virus through contaminated blood
HIV Positive People Not Complying With Treatment: Australian Broadcasting Corp. News (07/13/99); Australia s Queensland AIDS Council says that HIV treatment programs are being hindered by widespread non-compliance. Officials at AIDS Council Gold Coast suggested that non- compliance with complex HIV treatment regimens often occurs because of the difficulties of adhering when at work or in other social contexts. The
HIV Responsible for Prevalence of Tuberculosis: Africa News Service (07/12/99); The spread of HIV has contributed greatly to the re-emergence of tuberculosis worldwide. Those countries with high rates of concurrent HIV and TB include Nigeria , Kenya , Zimbabwe , Uganda , Tanzania ,
Delayed or Prolonged Ventilation Suggests Poor Prognosis in HIV-Related PCP: Reuters Health Information Services (07/13/99); A report published in the June issue of Critical Care Medicine indicates that the need for mechanical ventilation after initial therapy failure and the need for lengthy mechanical ventilation are key markers for a poor three-month prognosis in HIV-infected patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). While the o
Relative Increase in AIDS Dementia Suggests Poor CNS Efficacy of Antiretrovirals: Reuters Health Information Services (07/13/99); Australian researchers report in the journal AIDS that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is less effective in preventing AIDS dementia complex than other AIDS-related conditions. Investigators followed patients receiving HAART from 1995 to 1997, and found that illnesses related to AIDS dementia complex rose
Researchers Seek 'Heroes' in AIDS War: Dallas Morning News Online (07/14/99); Griffin, Laura; Finding volunteers for phase III testing of VaxGen s HIV vaccine is proving difficult. Researchers in Dallas have enrolled in just a few months more than half of the 300 volunteers they are looking for in the city; however, other cities have not been that successful after a year. According to researchers, there are a v
AIDS Vaccine Induces Responses in Trial: Wall Street Journal (07/14/99) P. C14; Pasteur Merieux Connaught announced that its new HIV vaccine induced immune responses in patients during phase II trials. Speaking at a conference of the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, representatives from the company said that 90 percent of patients receiving the combination vaccine developed
Effect of Zidovudine on Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission and Maternal Viral Load: Lancet (07/10/99) Vol. 354, No. 9173, P. 156; Shapiro, David E.; Sperling, Rhoda S.; Coombs, Robert W.; et al.; In response to a March 6 report by Shaffer et al. on a randomized placebo-controlled trial of a short-course of antenatal zidovudine in Thailand , researchers for the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 076 Study Group compare data from their analyses to Shaffer s. Whereas short-course zidovudine lowered perinatal tra
Testing Time as Resistant HIV-1 Faces Next Wave of Attack: Lancet (07/10/99) Vol. 354, No. 9173, P. 135; Mellors, John; The Third International Workshop on Drug Resistance and Treatment Strategies demonstrated progress in understanding HIV-1 drug resistance. Participants at the meeting, held June 23-29 in San Diego, also heard new epidemiological and trial data in support of resistance testing. Researchers from the University of Miami a
India Research Opportunities, Price and Patent Problems: Interview With David Scondras: AIDS Treatment News (06/18/99) No. 321, P. 1; James, John S.; In an interview with AIDS Treatment News, David Scondras, president of Search for a Cure, discusses his recent trip to India . Scondras notes that public health officials, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and CEOs of drug firms in Maharashta are compiling lists of potential treatments they would like to research
Low HIV Load Only Major Virologic Characteristic of Long-Term Nonprogressors: Reuters Health Information Services (07/12/99); French researchers have concluded that the only distinctive virologic parameters that distinguish HIV-infected long-term nonprogressors (LTNP) from those who do progress are lower viral loads and isolation rates. The researchers, who studied 68 LTNPs and nine slow progressors, found that the median viral load was 6,000
AIDS Test Turnout Lacking: Only 33 Volunteer to Take Vaccine: Florida Times-Union Online (07/13/99); Witte, Griff; VaxGen s test of its experimental AIDS vaccine, AIDSvax, has only recruited 33 volunteers in Jacksonville, Fla., raising concern among developers about the lack of interest. The study had expected to include 150 Jacksonville residents, and the enrollment period is tentatively slated to end by September.
State Health Care Workers Await Needle Regulations: Alabama Live NewsFlash Online (07/13/99); In anticipation of federal law changes that would require safety devices to help guard against accidental needlesticks, Alabama health care workers are already taking preventive measures. The state Department of Health is investigating the cost of using safety devices in its clinics, and many hospitals use the devices
Meridian Gets FDA Approval for Herpes Test: Cincinnati Enquirer Online (07/13/99); The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Meridian Diagnostic s application to market two diagnostic tests for the herpes simplex virus. The blood tests are able to distinguish oral herpes from genital herpes , the company said.
Roche Makes Deal With Trimeris to Test Two Drugs for AIDS: Wall Street Journal (07/13/99) P. B9B; Roche Holding recently established a joint development agreement with Trimeris to conduct human clinical trials and complete development of two new AIDS drugs, T-20 and T-1249. The companies will split research costs and earnings from the drugs in the United States and Canada , but Roche will hold gl
In Africa, a Deadly Silence About AIDS Is Lifting: New York Times (07/13/99) P. D7; Altman, Lawrence K.; African leaders are increasingly working to fight the spread of HIV, says UNAIDS head Dr. Peter Piot. Recent meetings with leaders of 10 African nations indicated a change in attitudes about the disease, according to Piot, with leaders admitting their problems and requesting assistance.
Whither Mycobacterium Vaccae?: Lancet (07/10/99) Vol. 354, No. 9173, P. 90; Reichman, Lee B.; The findings of the Durban Immunotherapy Trial Group, published in the July 10th issue of the Lancet, show that Mycobacterium vaccae has very little effect on tuberculosis. However, Lee B. Reichman of the New Jersey Medical School, National Tuberculosis Center in Newark, notes that there are still unanswered questions.
Immunotherapy With Mycobacterium Vaccae in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial: Lancet (07/10/99) Vol. 354, No. 9173, P. 116; Researchers for the Durban Immunotherapy Trial Group investigated the addition of Mycobacterium vaccae, a non- pathogenic environmental mycobacterium, to standard short- course anti-tuberculosis drug therapy. As part of the study, patients with newly diagnosed TB were randomly assigned an injection of M vaccae or a pla
Some UTIs Could Be Treated Over the Phone: Fox News Online (07/09/99); Seattle researchers have concluded that some uncomplicated cases of urinary tract infection in women could be treated over the telephone. The scientists noted that because most of the infections are fairly easily treated with a prescribed course of antibiotics, the lab tests and doctor expenses related to uncomplicated
Scientists Sues U. of C.: Chicago Sun-Times Online (07/09/99); Lawrence, Curtis; A former University of Chicago researcher has filed a multi- million-dollar lawsuit, alleging that one of the school s professors stole her work for a herpes simplex vaccine. The suit claims that Joany Chou identified a previously unknown herpes simplex gene and then developed a mutant of that gene that was then employ
HIV Patients' Names Would Be Coded for Privacy: Everett Daily Herald Online (07/12/99); The Washington State Board of Health is considering a plan to change the way in which HIV infections are reported in the state. Under the proposal, physicians and other healthcare workers would have to report new HIV infections to the local health district within seven days, while patients who had already been diagnose
World Bank Intensifies African Action Against AIDS: Reuters (07/09/99); The World Bank plans to take more aggressive action against AIDS in Africa, spending $8 million a year for five years, officials said Friday. Bank official Robert Calderisi noted that AIDS is no longer solely a health problem, but a development crisis that is particularly affecting Africa. Working with governments and
France: Paper Cites Coverup on HIV-Tainted Blood: Boston Globe (07/10/99) P. A5; A Paris newspaper reported last week that French officials covered up a contaminated blood scandal for fear of lawsuits spurred by media pressure. According to Le Parisien, which reprinted an internal memo from the Health Ministry in 1989, a top official cautioned against publicly warning transfusion recipients that so
South Africa: AIDS Causing Drop in Life Expectancy: Boston Globe (07/10/99) P. A5; South Africa s Department of Welfare and Population Development announced Friday that unless the AIDS epidemic is slowed, the average life expectancy in the country will fall to 40 years by 2008, down from 60. According to the government s estimates, 3.6 million South Africans carry HIV, with up to 25 percent of adults
Number of Chinese With HIV Rises, State-Run Paper Reports: Dallas Morning News Online (07/10/99); China s Yangcheng Evening News reported Friday that the number of HIV-infected people in the country has passed 400,000. The paper, citing Health Ministry sources, said that many of the patients are drug addicts living in rural areas, and the number of sexually transmitted diseases is also on the rise. A total of 83 pe
Airline Passenger Being Tested for TB: Washington Post (07/12/99) P. B3; Officials from Reagan National Airport said that a 61-year-old man who flew into the airport is being tested for tuberculosis. The man flew in from New York on a Trans World Express flight on Saturday night. As a precaution, airline officials are warning the crew and all passengers about their possible risk of infectio
Survival Differences Associated With Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in Maryland Patients With AIDS, 1987-1994: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (07/01/99) Vol. 56, No. 13, P. 1314; Wutoh, Anthony K.; Hidalgo, Julia; Rhee, Walter; et al.; In a study sponsored by Roche Pharma Business, researchers compared the efficacy of ganciclovir, foscarnet, and a combination of the two in the treatment of AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus ( CMV ) retinitis. Researchers reviewed the medical records of adult AIDS patients with CMV retinitis who sought treatment at a
Names Reporting Fallout Continues in States' Battles: AIDS Alert (07/99) Vol. 14, No. 7, P. 78; The guidelines recommending name reporting of HIV infection, which were released last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have provoked a wide range of responses nationwide. Political battles are being waged in over a dozen states about the introduction of names-reporting laws. More stringent laws
Glaxo Wellcome Wins European Approval for New AIDS Drug Ziagen: Bloomberg News Service (07/09/99); The European Union granted permission to Glaxo Wellcome to sell Ziagen , a new AIDS treatment that can be taken twice daily. When used in combination with Epivir and Retrovir, the reverse transcriptase inhibitor is as effective as the triple combin
Nearly 200 Soldiers Test Positive for AIDS Virus: Russia Today Online (www.russiatoday.com) (07/08/99); Russian officials report that 180 Russian military personnel have tested positive for HIV. The report says that 98 of the troops became infected by sharing needles when using illegal drugs. Russia, which recorded its first HIV infection 12 years ago, has recorded more than 15,500 HIV cases. Experts expect that within t
Japan to Issue Official Warning on Tuberculosis: Reuters (07/09/99); Japanese authorities plan to issue a public health warning about tuberculosis in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading further. Officials say that Japan s aging population and lack of awareness about TB have contributed to its re-emergence. In 1997, the number of Japanese infected with TB rose for the first t
Red Cross Names Healy President: Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (07/09/99) P. A3; Loose, Cindy; Dr. Bernadine Healy, dean of the college of medicine and public health at Ohio State University, has been chosen as the new president of the American Red Cross. Healy was the first female director of the National Institutes of Health and was the first woman named science advisor to the White House. Healy is the first m
Human Genome Find May Be Used to Treat AIDS, Other Diseases: Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (07/09/99) P. B2; Researchers at Human Genome Sciences report the discovery of a naturally occurring protein, called Blys, that may be useful against AIDS and other immune disorders. Blys stimulates the production of antibodies when injected into the blood. The protein could serve as an immune booster that would increase the effectivene
AIDS Drive to Focus More on Drug Users: Washington Times (www.washtimes.com) (07/09/99) P. C6; A Maryland advisory panel has decided that intravenous drug users, women, and young people must be targeted more aggressively for HIV education, and prevention programs must be tailored to the various regions in the state. Maryland has the fourth highest AIDS case rate in the nation, with 1,629 cases per 100,000 people
Satcher: Churches Have Been Silent on Sex: Washington Times (www.washtimes.com) (07/09/99) P. A3; Witham, Larry; U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, speaking at a conference organized by the Black Church Initiative of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, said Thursday that the failure of religions to address sexual issues has allowed AIDS and other diseases to run rampant among minorities. AIDS has become increasingly
Replication of Subgenomic Hepatitis C Virus RNAs in a Hepatoma Cell Line: Science (www.sciencemag.org) (07/02/99) Vol. 285, No. 5424, P. 110; Lohmann, V.; Korner, F.; Koch, J. -O.; et al.; Although scientists are now more knowledgeable about genome structure and individual viral proteins, studies on hepatitis C virus replication and pathogenesis have been hindered by the scarcity of reliable and efficient cell culture systems. Researchers note that a full-length consensus genome was cloned from a viral R
Inhibition of the Interferon-Inducible Protein Kinase PKR by HCV E2 Protein: Science (www.sciencemag.org) (07/02/99) Vol. 285, No. 5424, P. 107; Taylor, Deborah R.; Shi, Stephanie T.; Romano, Patrick R.; et al.; Most samples of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections fail to succumb to interferon, the only existing therapy. Scientists, however, do not yet understand the mechanism behind the resistance. U.S. scientists show that the HCV envelope protein E2 consists of a sequence that is exactly the same as the phosphorylation si
Teen Seeks Free AIDS Counseling for Clifton: Bergen Record Online (07/08/99); Chadwick, John; New Jersey teenager Katherine Kuebler has teamed up with Clifton Councilwoman Gloria Kolodziej to make free HIV testing and counseling services available to the public. Clifton recorded 144 cases of AIDS, up from 133 in 1997. Kuebler and Kolodziej met through a program that pairs students with local government official
HIV Infection Alarming in Kenyan Cities: PANA Wire Service (07/07/08); A health report released by the Kenyan Ministry of Health says that 15 percent of people living in Kenya s two largest cities, Nairobi and Mombassa, are living with HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of HIV among Kenyan adults has risen 9 percent, with a 32 percent prevalence rate among those between the ages of 15 and 49 in som
Unlimited HIV Drug Access Appears to Be Cost-Effective: Reuters Health Information Services (07/07/99); Swiss researchers report in the June 18th issue of AIDS that unlimited access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can result in significant gains in productivity, despite increased healthcare spending. Investigators conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis on the basis of projected survival, with data provid
TB, HIV Co-Infection Rising in Swaziland: PANA Wire Service (07/07/99); Magombo, Nelson; Close to 60 percent of people with HIV/AIDS in Swaziland also have tuberculosis, according to officials. Swaziland has experienced a significant increase in TB cases since the late 1980s, and people with TB fill the nation s hospitals. Officials say that, due to confidentiality concerns, many HIV- infected individuals
Latin American Briefs: Sao Paulo, Brazil: Newsday Online (07/07/99); Officials from the Hospital das Clinicas in Belo Horizonte, Brazil , announced Wednesday that over 20 percent of 540 people who tested positive for HIV at the institution between August 1998 and May 1999, may not be infected with the virus. Officials say the mix up was caused by mistaken mixing of healthy blood samples
US Pediatrics and OB/Gyn Groups Support Universal Prenatal HIV Testing: Reuters Health Information Services (07/07/99); The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have announced their support for universal HIV testing and patient notification as a standard part of prenatal care. The societies based their recommendations on a report from the Institute of Medicine, which also backed univ
Talking to Kids About Sexual Limits: Washington Post (07/08/99) P. C4; Stepp, Laura Sessions; Adults, from doctors to parents, seem to have trouble talking about sex with children, especially about things other than intercourse. Experts agree that input and feedback from parents are most crucial to kids. Children will turn to peers only after parental assistance has proven unavailable or inadequate, according t
Parents Are Alarmed by an Unsettling New Fad in Middle Schools: Oral Sex: Washington Post (07/08/99) P. A1; Stepp, Laura Sessions; Oral sex seems, increasingly, to be a casual substitute for intercourse in some middle schools in the Washington, D.C. area. School and health officials report an increasing incidence of casual oral sex episodes both in and out of school. Some middle schoolers seem to see oral sex as a safe alternative to intercourse a
Risk of HIV Related Kaposi's Sarcoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma With Potent Antiretroviral Therapy: Prospective Cohort Study: British Medical Journal (07/03/99) Vol. 319, No. 7201, P. 23; Ledergerber, Bruno; Telenti, Amalio; Egger, Matthias; Researchers followed a cohort of people with advanced HIV in Switzerland to in investigate the effect of antiretroviral therapy on AIDS-related Kaposi s sarcoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Potent antiretroviral therapy was administered gradually starting in 1995. The researchers found that the incidence of new AIDS cond
Churches Fight Chronic Diseases: Africa News Service (07/06/99); In Zambia , 13 churches have joined together to form the Chawama Interfaith Community Home-based Care (CIHC), which is dedicated to fighting chronic diseases in Lusaka s Chawama township. Members intend to visit houses, identifying people with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis, and giving them w
Sperm Fears Spark Hunt: Toronto Sun Online (07/06/99); Lee-Shanok, Philip; Canadian health officials are trying to find 95 women who may have been exposed to untested sperm at a Calgary fertility clinic. The concern is that semen from the late 1980s that was used for artificial insemination could have been tainted with HIV or hepatitis C virus. The clinic did not screen frozen donated sperm u
Rapid HIV Testing and Treatment at Delivery Is Cost-Effective: Reuters Health Information Services (07/06/99); Use of a highly sensitive rapid HIV-antibody test for women in labor who have not had prenatal care or whose serostatus is unknown may help reduce the number of vertical HIV infections and be cost-effective. Any women found to be HIV-positive could then be administered a course of intravenous zidovudine, which greatly
New AIDS Cases Go Up: Orlando Sentinel Online (07/06/99); Pedicini, Sandra; There were 105 new AIDS cases reported in Florida s Volusia County in the first five months of 1999, up from 42 in 1998. State health department officials believe the perceived increase is mainly due to improved reporting methods. In addition, AIDS patients may be moving to Florida to take advantage of better services
Babies of HIV-Positive Moms at Increased Risk for Accidental Death: Reuters Health Information Services (07/06/99); A study published in the online version of the journal Pediatrics indicates that babies born to HIV-infected women are at greater risk for sudden or traumatic death than babies born to HIV-negative women. The researchers, led by Dr. Thomas J. Starc of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, followed 121 child
Genital Herpes Outbreaks May Decrease Over Time: Reuters Health Information Services (07/06/99); Seattle researchers have found that some 50 percent of patients studied had at least two fewer recurrences of genital herpes in the fifth year of the infection, as opposed to the first year. However, 25 percent of those studied had more recurrences in the fifth year, suggesting that the behavior of genital herpes can v
Pelosi Seeks Subsidies for AIDS Vaccine Effort: San Francisco Examiner Online (07/06/99); Holland, Judy; In an effort to encourage biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms to develop vaccines against three deadly diseases, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) have introduced legislation that would provide a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the money invested in creating vaccines for AIDS, malaria,
Minority AIDS Unit Gets Grant: Florida Times-Union Online (07/07/99); Witte, Griff; Florida has awarded the Minority AIDS Coalition of Jacksonville a $50,000 grant, and the coalition could receive $50,000 more for next year if the programs it implements are successful. The coalition--which is attempting to stem the spread of HIV among minorities--intends to hire new staffers, broaden condom distributi
Interleukin-4 Receptor-Directed Cytotoxin Therapy of AIDS- Associated Kaposi's Sarcoma Tumors in Xenograft Model: Nature Medicine (07/99) Vol. 5, No. 7, P. 817; Husain, Syed R.; Kreitman, Robert J.; Pastan, Ira; et al.; Food and Drug Administration and National Cancer Institute investigators report that intratumoral, intraperitoneal, and intravenous administration of interleukin-4 toxin (IL-4(38- 37)-PE38KDEL) in nude mice with subcutaneous AIDS-related Kaposi s sarcoma (AIDS-KS) tumors resulted in a significant dose-dependent anti-tu
"Judge Rules Gay Prisoners Should Be Provided Condoms: Vancouver Sun Online (07/06/99); A British judge has ruled that condoms should be supplied to homosexual prisoners if they would otherwise engage in unsafe sex. Former prisoner Glen Fielding, who had waged a long campaign for provision of condoms to prisoners, was the catalyst for the decision. In 1995 the British Prisoner Service sent a letter to pri
Syphilis Incidence Down Among Teens: Ann Arbor News Online (07/05/99); Schulz, Karen; The Michigan Department of Community Health reports that rates of syphilis among 10- to 19-years-olds are down about 78 percent in the state since 1993. Rates of syphilis infection are down 80 percent for males and 76 percent for females. Health officials attribute the drop to increased condom use, abstinence, and HIV/
New TB Cases in Japan in 1999 total at least 13,9000: Kyodo News Service (07/04/99); Incomplete data compiled by Kyodo News for the first quarter of 1999 indicate that there are at least 13,908 newly registered tuberculosis patients in Japan . Twelve prefectures have reported cases of possible mass infections, including Tokyo s Teikyo University Hospital and a junior high school in Kochi prefecture. Fi
In Myanmar, Officials Raise Alarm on AIDS: Fox News Online (07/05/99); Myanmar has announced that it is aggressively moving to address the spread of AIDS. Official statistics from 1997 show there were 10,000 HIV-infected people in Myanmar, with 2,000 people with AIDS. The World Health Organization believes, however, that there are more HIV and AIDS patients than the statistics show.
Anonymous and Confidential HIV Testing Both Effective: Reuters Health Information Services (07/05/99); A study released in the June issue of AIDS Patient Care and STDs indicates that there is no difference between men who receive anonymous HIV testing as opposed to confidential testing, in regards to returning for counseling and partner notification. According to researchers from the Washington University School of Medi
Nations OK Growth Curbs: Boston Globe (07/03/99) P. A4; Winfield, Nicole; Despite protests from a number of conservative countries and the Vatican, delegates from 180 countries overwhelmingly approved measures involving greater access to abortion and sex education in an effort to slow world population growth. Women s groups were pleased with the outcome because it enlists government aid in p
Across the USA: Maryland: USA Today (07/06/99) P. 8A; Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health have found that nine out of 10 Baltimore drug users who share needles are infected with the hepatitis C virus. Among young addicts who have used drugs for less than five years, the rate of infection is 58 percent. There are an estimated 59,000 intraven
No Gay Man Deemed Fit to Give Blood: Washington Post (07/06/99) P. B1; Goldstein, Avram; Debate continues to rage in the United States over whether men who have sex with men should be able to contribute to the nation s blood supply. U.S. blood banks have been asking men whether they have had sex with men since 1985; however, current research shows that gay men are no longer the group with the fastest-growi
Intervention for Hyperlipidemia Associated With Protease Inhibitors: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/99- 08/99) Vol. 10, No. 4, P. 55; Melroe, N. Holly; Kopaczewski, Jessica; Henry, Keith; et al.; Recent studies have indicated that protease inhibitors may raise lipids to levels that pose an extremely serious health risk. Researchers conducted a study to determine whether interventions outlined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Guidelines would be effective in reducing protease inhibitor-relate
World Bank to Fund AIDS Project in Bangladesh: Reuters (06/30/99); In an effort to stem the transmission of HIV among prostitutes and injection drug users in Bangladesh , the World Bank has announced plans to finance a program related to that issue. Statistics show the country has recorded only 100 cases of AIDS; however, the World Bank s Mieko Nishimizu noted that commercial sex, the
Female Condom to Be Introduced in Luanda: PANA Wire Service (07/01/99); The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) announced that the Femidom, a female condom, will be introduced in Luanda, Angola , on July 11th as part of World Population Week. UNFPA s Joao Bosco Feres also noted that his organization and the Angolan government were discussing importing and marketing the fe
Health Clinics Looking for Money Now That Federal Tap Has Run Dry: Columbus Dispatch Online (07/01/99); Somerson, Mark D.; Officials at the Ohio Department of Health are facing a funding crisis, as state money for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases has largely dried up. While Ohio law requires free services for STDs, the General Assembly did not earmark any money for the mandate and federal funds that used to be used for STD tr
Transplant Recipients With Hepatitis C Do Well With Livers From Infected Donors: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Online (06/30/99); Srikameswaran, Anita; A study of 200 liver transplants between 1992 and 1995 found that 89 percent of hepatitis C infected patients who receive a hepatitis C-infected livers were alive a year after the operation, compared with 88 percent of those who received a healthy liver. Five years afterward, 72 percent of those with infected livers we
Advances Are Reported in Studying and Fighting Hepatitis C: Boston Globe Online (07/02/99) P. A5; Fox, Maggie; Two reports published in the journal Science mark important developments in the study of hepatitis C. A group from Howard Hughes Medical Institute found that hepatitis C produces a protein, E2, which prevents the immune system from attacking the virus. In a second study, German researchers reported creating a hepatitis
126 Women's Groups Attack Vatican's Stance on Population Plan: New York Times (07/02/99) P. A4; Lewis, Paul; An open letter was presented to the Vatican on Thursday, authored by representatives from 126 women s organizations worldwide. The letter, which took the form of questions, was given to Vatican officials at a conference to review the progress of the Cairo population growth plan. The letter asked how the Vatican could w
Russia: AIDS Hits Moscow: New York Times (07/02/99) P. A6; Russia s official AIDS prevention center has reported a twelve-fold increase in new HIV cases in Moscow and its surrounding suburbs over the past six months compared with the same time period last year. The increased incidence of HIV in and around Moscow is considered epidemic level. Previously, Kaliningrad had the lar
HIV, Pregnancy, and Zidovudine: What do Women Know?: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (07/99- 08/99) Vol. 10, No. 4, P. 41; Vitiello, Mary Ann; Smeltzer, Suzanne C.; Use of the drug zidovudine ( AZT ) by pregnant women with HIV, has been shown to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV by two-thirds. Investigators surveyed over 200 HIV- infected women at clinical and non-clinical sites to assess their knowledge in the prophylactic use of AZT. Over half (63.7 percent) of w
AIDS Umbrella Group Awards $1.1 Million: Chicago Tribune Online (06/30/99); The AIDS Foundation of Chicago has allocated $1.1 million, in $5,000 to $50,000 increments, to 57 area organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services and care. The awards are prized by the organizations, because they are allowed to decide how to spend the money. The funds are especially welcome at a time when private and
The Big Yawn, Or How the Pill Made Its Way to Japan: Wall Street Journal (07/01/99) P. A1; Ono, Yumiko; The approval of the birth control pill in Japan has not resulted in a massive sexual revolution, because women there already have a great deal of sexual freedom. Debate raged for nine years over legalization of the pill in Japan, with legislators voicing their fears over everything from the spread of HIV to potential s
Scientists Say Too Few Are Volunteering for AIDS Vaccine: Minneapolis Star-Tribune Online (07/01/99); Lerner, Maura; In Minnesota, Twin Cities researchers are having trouble enlisting people for VaxGen s HIV vaccine trials. So far there are 130 volunteers but the goal is 300. According to the researchers, volunteers appear reluctant to sign on, in part, because AIDS seems more manageable to many and because of reservations about the
Wider Availability of Female Condoms Planned for Developing Countries: Reuters Health Information Services (06/30/99); Phase II of an effort by UNAIDS to distribute female condoms manufactured by the Female Health Co. has begun. UNAIDS plans to purchase 400,00 condoms for distribution in AIDS prevention programs in 14 sub-Saharan and Southeast Asian nations. UNAIDS has already distributed 6 million female condoms in 16 developing count
How to Spread HIV in D.C.: Washington Post (07/01/99) P. A28; An editorial in the Washington Post supports needle-exchange programs in the District of Columbia. The District has the highest rate of new HIV infections in the country, while the AIDS death rate in the city is seven times the national average. As if this weren t tragic enough, the editors note, the city also has to c
Cervical Cancer May Run in Families: BBC News Online (06/30/99); A study published in the journal Nature indicates that some women may be genetically predisposed to cervical cancer. The study examined why some women with human papillomavirus (HPV) develop cervical cancer, while others do not. Investigators found that HPV-infected women with mothers or sisters with cervical cancer, o
Family Planning, AIDS Top UN Assembly Agenda: Boston Globe Online (07/01/99) P. A11; McCool, Grant; United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned the UN General Assembly Wednesday that more work needs to be done to develop family planning, eliminate maternal deaths, and fight AIDS worldwide. World leaders, speaking at a meeting to review the progress of the 1994 Cairo plan on population and development, debated
F.D.A. Approves Abbott AIDS Drug: New York Times (07/01/99) P. C8; Nearly a year after Abbott had to halt the sale of the capsule form of Norvir because of production-related problems, the company said Wednesday it won Food and Drug Administration permission to sell a soft-gelatin capsule form of the AIDS drug. Since last July, Norvir has been available only in liquid form, but Abbott
Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Liver Disease: New England Journal of Medicine (07/01/99) Vol. 341, No. 1, P. 22; Cacciola, Irene; Pollicino, Teresa; Squadrito, Giovanni; et al.; The prevalence and clinical significance of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV), in which patients have no detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), in individuals with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) liver disease are not known. To investigate, researchers studied HBV DNA and serum samples in 200 patients with hepatitis C
Australia Honours World AIDS Research Pioneer: Australian Associated Press (06/30/99); Australian Health Minister Michael Wooldridge announced the creation of an A$250,000 scholarship fund to help fight AIDS. The fund was created in honor of Jonathan Mann, who served as director of the World Health Organization s global program on AIDS between 1986 and 1990. Mann and his wife, AIDS vaccine researcher Mar
Has Risk of AIDS Really Decreased?: New York Times (06/30/99) P. A28; Braff, Jeffrey P.; In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, Jeffrey P. Braff discusses viewpoints on risk sexual behavior and HIV. Braff points out that while a recent New York City survey of gay men and HIV indicates that risky sexual behavior is declining, many anecdotal reports and small studies suggest that the number of homo
Lawmaker Hits Abstinence Programs: Washington Times (06/30/99) P. A4; Wetzstein,; Cheryl Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.), chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on human resources, called into doubt Tuesday funding for abstinence-only programs. These kids live in a mixed-message world and to have a program that is not capable of talking about both [abstinence and contraception] is a weakn
Vial of Tuberculosis Bacteria Stolen: Washington Times (06/30/99) P. A6; A doctor s bag containing a vial of tuberculosis bacteria was stolen Monday from a researcher s room at Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco. Police plan to search trash bins in the area and will warn local homeless about the bag and vial. Richard Lee, of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, notes that the b
Gore Cites Conditional Support for S. African AIDS Drug Bid: Boston Globe Online (06/30/99) P. A12; Richwine, Lisa; Vice President Al Gore released a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus stating that he backs South Africa s attempt to get cheaper AIDS drugs, as long as the country complies with international trade regulations. The letter is, in part, a response to AIDS activists who have disrupted Gore s recent campaign appearan
A Conference Splits Sharply on Limiting Population: New York Times (06/30/99) P. A5; Lewis, Paul; A 180-nation conference is trying to maintain its focus on the so-called Cairo population growth strategy, which was designed in 1994. The Cairo strategy was a program devised to limit population growth by improving the social status and health of young women and men. The Cairo strategy aimed to allow population growth
Group Finds a Way to Offer a Hepatitis C Drug for Less: New York Times (06/30/99) P. A14; Grady, Denise; The Hepatitis C Action and Advocacy Coalition, a patients group in San Francisco, reports that effective July 9, people with hepatitis C will be able to order the drug Ribavirin from a pharmacy in Pittsburgh for $225 a month--about 80 percent less than what manufacturer Schering-Plough s version costs. July 9 marks the
Translating Clinical Trial Results Into Practice: The Effect of an AIDS Clinical Trial on Prescribed Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV-Infected Women: Annals of Internal Medicine Online (06/15/99) Vol. 130, No. 12, P. 979; Turner, Barbara J.; Newschaffer, Craig J.; Zhang, Daozhi; et al.; Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group (PACTG) Protocol 076 proved extremely effective in preventing vertical HIV transmission. The remarkable success of PACTG 076 prompted efforts to educate laypersons and professionals about the trials. Investigators from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Phil
Fatty Gel Compound Kills HIV Virus In Lab Studies: Reuters (06/29/99); Researchers from the Institute of Biology at the University of Iceland report that a simple fat, monocaprin, when dissolved in a gel, can destroy HIV, herpes viruses, and gonorrhea bacterium within a minute, and chlamydia within five minutes. The scientists, who report their findings in the journal Sexually Transmitted
Alpine County Has Yet to Report an AIDS Case: Sacramento Bee Online (06/28/99); Hubert, Cynthia; Alpine County is the only county in California that has not reported any cases of AIDS since the state began keeping statistics on the disease in 1981. In addition, the county health department has had only one person come in for HIV testing in recent years. Health officials warn that the statistics may be misleading,
HIV Testing Day Draws Few as City Celebrates: San Antonio Express-News Online (06/27/99); As San Antonio residents celebrated the Spurs winning their first National Basketball Association Championship, the turn- out for National HIV Testing Day in the area was not large. According to a specialist for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the San Pedro Office had about 20 people show up during its af
Migrant Working Fuels South African AIDS Crisis: Reuters (06/29/99); A combination of migrant working populations and high rates of sexually transmitted diseases are contributing to the rising incidence of HIV in South Africa , according to Quarraisha Abdool Karim of the Center for Epidemiological Research in Durban. Also, in an editorial in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections,
Seminal HIV May Persist Despite Response to HAART: Reuters Health Information Services (06/28/99); A study published in the June issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases underscores that HIV DNA and protease inhibitor- resistant mutations can emerge in the semen of patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV. Investigators found that 9 percent of HIV-infected men studied had detectable cell-
Don't Legalize Those Drugs: Washington Post (06/29/99) P. A15; McCaffrey, Barry R.; In a commentary, Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, outlines the danger of legalizing drugs. To support his argument, McCaffrey notes that substance abuse destroys families, that drug addicts are responsible for a disproportionate percentage of violent and income-generating crimes
Across the USA: Florida: USA Today (06/29/99) P. 13A; In an effort to better educate their congregations about the virus, 10 African-American churches in Florida are now offering HIV testing as part of their services. Nearly half of all AIDS cases reported in Miami-Dade County since 1981 have been in African Americans, statistics show.
Time to Genotype for Selection of Antiretroviral Regimens in Previously Treated Patients?: Lancet (06/26/99) Vol. 353, No. 9171, P. 2173; Falloon, Judith; In a commentary, Judith Falloon, of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reviews the use of genotyping in creating effective antiretroviral regimens for HIV-infected patients. Falloon cites the VIRADAPT trial, which showed that a treatment regimen designed by genotyping resulted in much more prog
Drug-Resistance Genotyping in HIV-1 Therapy: The VIRADAPT Randomised Controlled Trial: Lancet (06/26/99) Vol. 353, No. 9171, P. 2195; Durant, J.; Clevenbergh, P.; Halfon, P.; et al.; French researchers examined the efficacy of genotypic resistance-analysis when creating medication therapy for patients with drug-resistant HIV-1. Patients were similar in risk factors, age, sex, previous treatment, CD4-cell count, and HIV-1 viral load. Forty-three of the patients received treatment according to standa
The Political Scientist: New Yorker (06/07/99) Vol. 75, No. 14, P. 66; Fallows, James; Since 1993, when Harold Varmus became head of the National Institutes of Health, the agency s budget has grown from almost $11 billion to about $16 billion. Varmus, who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize for his work on cancer-causing genes, is committed to basic science--something he acknowledges is unpredictable but also qu
Amprenavir Available in Oral Solution: Reuters Health Information Services (06/25/99); Vertex Pharmaceuticals has announced that Amprenavir ( Agenerase ) is now available in a flavored oral solution. Researchers note that the oral solution was easy to administer and generally well tolerated. Dr. Joseph A. Church, of Children s Hospital in Los Angeles, said the oral solution appea
NSW: Debate Rages Over Controversial Needle Exchange Program: Australian Associated Press (06/27/99); The Ashfield needle exchange program in Sydney, Australia , is moving from its present location after officials at a nearby primary school found used syringes in the playground. The program has become the center of a political battle because of the incident. Health Minister Craig Knowles said the program would be reope
Test Improves Drug Choice for HIV patients: Reuters (06/24/99); French researchers have found that genotyping in patients with mutant HIV strains allows doctors to offer patients the most effective treatments. Doctors selected 108 patients not responding to triple-combination therapy. Three months after prescribing medication therapy using genotype testing for treatment guidelines,
37 Hospital Workers Contract Tuberculosis From Doctor: Kyodo News Service (06/27/99); A doctor in Tokyo s Teikyo University hospital may have infected 37 healthcare workers at the institution with tuberculosis. The doctor contracted tuberculosis sometime last summer, and continued to work, unknowing of his condition. After a positive tuberculosis test in January of this year, the Health and Welfare Mini
UN's Annan Urges Big Business to Help Fight AIDS: Reuters (06/25/99); Evans, Dominic; United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on big business to lend a hand in fighting HIV in developing countries. On Friday, Annan said the epidemic is eliminating economic gains in developing nations and the economic impact could spread. Noting a survey which concluded that AIDS is likely to cause a 15 pe
Across the USA: Idaho: USA Today (06/28/99) P. 12A; An increase in the number of new HIV infections in northern Idaho is spurring state health officials to call on individuals, particularly those at high risk, to be tested for the virus. The Panhandle Health District recorded six new cases of HIV infection in the past three months, compared to the usual one case in that
New York Study Finds Gay Men Using Safer Sex: New York Times (06/28/99) P. A1; Altman, Lawrence K.; A survey conducted by New York city officials and Gay Men s Health Crisis (GMHC) last year indicates that homosexual men in New York City are significantly cutting back on risky sexual behavior. The study involved 7,650 gay and bisexual men between the ages of 12 and 88 in New York City. About one in seven participants
South Africa Must Admit That HIV/AIDS Is Its Greatest Enemy: British Medical Journal Online (06/19/99) Vol. 318, No. 7199, P. 1700; Wainberg, Mark A.; In a letter to the editor, Mark A. Wainberg, president of the International AIDS Society, asserts that Glaxo Wellcome s price for zidovudine in South Africa is a standard for industry cooperation with developing countries, costing just a fraction of the price of the drug in Western nations in effort to stem the perinat
Anonymous or Confidential HIV Counseling and Voluntary Testing in Federally Funded Testing Sites--United States, 1995-1997: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (06/25/99) Vol. 48, No. 24, P. 509; To make HIV testing as accessible as possible, CDC strongly supports the availability of both anonymous and confidential testing options. This analysis of data on over 7 million HIV tests performed between 1995 and 1997 finds a high prevalence of HIV in both anonymous counseling and testing sites (2 percent) and confid
Clarification to the 6/24/99 HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update: Campaign to Educate About a Silent Killer in Southern Florida: MSNBC Online (06/24/99); The third sentence of the original abstract inadvertently implied that hepatitis C could be contracted through blood donations. The corrected version is as follows: Officials in Florida s Miami-Dade and Broward counties are launching a publicity campaign to warn people about hepatitis C. The campaign will include signs
Report: Overall Hawaii Residents Healthiest in Nation: Honolulu Star-Bulletin Online (06/23/99); Altonn, Helen; The fourth edition of Health Trends in Hawaii: A Profile of the Health Care System finds Hawaii residents to be generally more healthy than mainlanders, with some worrying exceptions. Rates of hepatitis A and C were higher than national rates in 1997, with the prevalence of hepatitis C almost 11 times higher. Also in 1
Global HIV Prevention Efforts Should Include Female Condoms: Reuters Health Information Services (06/24/99); UNAIDS officials are urging donors, non-governmental organizations, and the international community to push for more widespread distribution of the female condom. To that end, the organization is working with manufacturer The Female Health Co.; and thus far 6 million female condoms have been supplied at a reduced cos
Annan Warns of Growing Global Threat From AIDS: Times of London Online (06/25/99); Binyon, Michael; United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to issue the West a warning today regarding the continuing threat posed by AIDS. In a lecture dedicated to the memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, Annan will remind the audience that AIDS is Africa s biggest killer, taking 5,000 lives a day. AIDS has also signific
Report Says Old Diseases Re-Emerging In Africa: Africa News Online (06/24/99); The World Disaster Report 1999, released Thursday by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warns that older diseases are re-emerging and spreading in Africa. Diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, meningitis, and measles are coming to the fore because of a weak public health infr
Many U.S. Teens Unaware of HIV Risk: Reuters Health Information Services (06/24/99); A new report released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that American teenagers are well aware of HIV prevention, but some still engage in risky behavior. The study was a product of focus groups and interviews with teens at risk in Miami, Houston, New York, and Newark, N.J. The report also noted that i
Trade Agency Finds Web Slippery With Snake Oil: New York Times (06/25/99) P. A16; Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on medical deception on the Internet through its Operation Cure All. On two health claims surf days in 1997 and 1998, investigators from around the world located 400 sites per session that had questionable offers. Phony cures were being offered for 30 diseases--including AI
Prevention of Vertical Transmission of HIV: Analysis of Cost Effectiveness of Options Available in South Africa: British Medical Journal Online (06/19/99) Vol. 318, No. 7199, P. 1650; Soderlund, Neil; Zwi, Karen; Kinghorn, Anthony; et al.; In an effort to measure the cost effectiveness of vertical HIV transmission prevention methods, researchers used a mathematical simulation model for four formula feeding strategies, three antiretroviral regimens, and a combination of formula feeding and antiretroviral therapy on a cohort of 20,000 South African pregnan
Liberia Records 326 AIDS Cases in 12 Years: PANA Wire Service (06/23/99); Kahler, Peter; Liberia has recorded 326 cases of AIDS in the last 12 years, with about a third of the patients in the capital Monrovia. Health minister Peter Coleman noted a particularly high prevalence among 20- to 29-year-olds and a higher infection rate among women than men. Participants at a strategic planning workshop suggeste
AIDS Conference Calls for Spread of Information in Middle East: CNN Interactive Online (06/23/99); A conference organized by the King Faisal Hospital and Research Center, the World Health Organization , and the Saudi Health Ministry concluded that increased AIDS education initiatives must target the Middle East. Cases of HIV and AIDS are low in the Middle East, with only 19,000 people newly infected in North Africa
Massachusetts: TB Cases Up Slightly in '98: Boston Globe Online (06/23/99) P. F8; The Massachusetts Public Health Department reports that the number of tuberculosis cases in the state rose slightly last year. There were 283 cases of TB in 1998, compared with 268 in 1997. In 1998 there were 4.7 cases of TB per 100,000 population, compared to 4.45 cases in 100,000 in the previous year. Overall, the in
Campaign to Educate About a Silent Killer in Southern Florida: MSNBC Online (06/24/99); Officials in Florida s Miami-Dade and Broward counties are launching a publicity campaign to warn people about hepatitis C. The campaign will include signs about hepatitis C on billboards, the sides of buses, and in doctors offices. Officials warn that hepatitis C can be contracted through blood donations prior to 1992
Prevention Efforts Needed Against 'Second Wave' of Pediatric AIDS: Reuters Health Information Services (06/23/99); Physicians at Texas Children s Hospital warn that a second wave of pediatric AIDS looms on the horizon. New antiretroviral therapies have helped to substantially reduce vertical HIV transmission; but Dr. William Shearer notes that while the drugs may have lured some adolescents into feeling safe, almost one third of in
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs Face Shortfall: Reuters Health Information Services (06/23/99); Participants at a Capitol Hill briefing earlier this week heard that the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) will face a funding shortfall of $113 million this year and will need an additional $90.2 million for the year 2000. The ADAP Working Group--which sponsored the briefing--said that 26 states had to limit assista
WHO Urges Africa to Declare AIDS Emergency: Reuters (06/23/99); Officials from the World Health Organization are urging African nations to declare the AIDS epidemic an emergency. The WHO hopes that the formal declaration will focus attention on the problem in Africa and help bring in additional international resources. WHO regional head Dr. Ibrahim Samba noted that Africa has 70 pe
New Drug From Pharmacia May Fight Resistant AIDS Strains: Wall Street Journal (06/24/99) P. B2; Waldholz, Michael; Researchers from Pharmacia & Upjohn and the Belgian biotechnology firm Virco report that a protease inhibitor being developed by Pharmacia is active against many strains of HIV, including some that are resistant to other anti-HIV drugs. The drug, tripranavir, has performed beyond all expectations in laboratory tes
Anonymous HIV Testing and Medical Care: Journal of the American Medical Association (06/23/99- 06/30/99) Vol. 281, No. 24, P. 2282; Levi, Jeffrey; Bindman, Andrew B.; Osmond, Dennis; et al.; One key issue that may be obscured in the debate over anonymous versus confidential HIV testing is why patients are learning of their infection so late in disease progression, asserts George Washington University s Jeffrey Levi in a letter to the editor. A recent article by Bindman et al. discussed the need to maintain
The Field of Vaccine Candidates: American Medical News (06/14/99) Vol. 42, No. 22, P. 38; Shelton, Deborah L.; There are about 40 experimental HIV vaccines in clinical trials worldwide, although AIDSvax has progressed the farthest. For fiscal year 1999, the National Institutes of Health is spending $194 million in an effort to find a viable vaccine. The most common approach to a vaccine involves putting HIV genes into canarypox
Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough Raises Hopes: PA News (06/23/99); Linden, Mary; A new vaccine against cervical cancer could provide immunity against human papillomavirus, which is responsible for 95 percent of cervical cancers in women. The current vaccine, being developed at the Medical College of Georgia , not only serves as a prophylaxis against HPV, it also appears to kill the virus in some wh
AIDS Activists Meet White House Aide on Africa: Reuters (06/23/99); AIDS activists met with White House AIDS Policy Director Sandra Thurman on Tuesday to discuss strategies for fighting the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The activists said they were pleased the White House listened to their concerns, and they planned to meet again next week. However, activist Eric Sawyer said AIDS groups wou
World Bank Behind Drive to Develop Cheap AIDS Vaccine for the Poor: Sydney Morning Herald Online (06/22/99); Elliot, Larry; The World Bank is proffering a US$5 billion package to pharmaceutical companies willing to help develop a cheap HIV vaccine for those in the developing world. The offer underscores the bank s belief that HIV is a serious threat to efforts to eliminating world poverty. Many pharmaceutical companies have balked at develo
Breakthrough Offers New Hope for AIDS Vaccine: Nando Times Online (06/22/99); An international team of researchers has found a link between HIV and key proteins the virus uses to attack cells, and they have developed a vaccine based on their discovery. HIV requires receptors, including the CD4 receptor and CCR5 proteins, for access into cells. Tests revealed a very close link between CCR5 and CD
UN Calls for Boosting AIDS Protection for Women: Reuters (06/22/99); UNAIDS officials are calling for more aggressive research into anti-HIV microbicidal gels for women. The agency said Tuesday that it has sponsored clinical trials of an anti-HIV microbicide in Benin , Ivory Coast , South Africa , and
Health Ministry to Issue Warning Over TB Outbreak: Daily Yomiuri Online (06/23/99); The Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry is implementing new programs to fight the spread of tuberculosis, especially among the elderly. The number of TB patients between 1992 and 1996 remained stable at 40,000; However, the number escalated to 42,715 in 1997--the first year-on-year increase in 38 years. Most new tuber
Variations in the Care of HIV-Infected Adults in the United States: Journal of the American Medical Association Online (06/23/99- 06/30/99) Vol. 281, P. 2305; Shapiro; Martin F.; Morton, Sally C.; McCaffrey, Daniel F.; et al.; A study conducted by the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Consortium has found that access to care for those with HIV has improved since 1996, but it remains sub-optimal. The cohort study followed 2,864 respondents between 1996 and 1998. Specifically, inferior patterns of care were observed for African Americans and H
HIV Viral Load in Breast Milk and Mastitis May Increase Vertical Transmission Risk: Reuters Health Information Services (06/21/99); A multinational team of researchers has concluded that detectable HIV-1 levels in breast milk, as well as mastitis, seem to raise the risk of vertical virus transmission via breast-feeding. The researchers studied 334 HIV-infected women at antenatal clinics in Blantyre, Malawi . Compared to the women whose children wer
AIDS Screening: Washington Post--Health (06/22/99) P. 20; Donovan, Carrie; Up to 25 percent of the estimated 650,000 to 900,000 HIV- infected individuals in the United States may be unaware of their infection. To that end, over 10,000 community groups throughout the country will offer HIV testing and counseling this week.
World Bank Says Bangladesh Can Prevent AIDS: Reuters (06/22/99); An AIDS epidemic can still be prevented in Bangladesh , where only about 100 cases have been recorded, according to a World Bank official. Speaking at a recent AIDS seminar, Frederick Temple, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh noted that immediate preventative actions could guard against an AIDS epidemic, altho
Women's AIDS Fight Puts Condoms on the Streets: Washington Post (06/22/99) P. A8; Frazier, Lisa; In Washington, D.C., a program called Healthy Choices, Healthy Sisters seeks to promote safe sex for women. The peer-education program, from Family and Medical Counseling Service, a local health clinic, features a 10-week training program in which trainees go to drug rehabilitation houses and other locations to hold sa
Facing Delicate Issues of Life, Love and HIV: Washington Post (06/22/99) P. A1; Frazier, Lisa; The number of female AIDS patients in the United States has increased significantly in recent years, from 7 percent of all AIDS cases in 1985 to 22 percent in 1997, show Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Within that group, African-American women accounted for the majority (60 percent) of the AIDS c
WHO Targets Health, Poverty: Washington Times (06/22/99) P. A13; Skrlec, Jasminka; At the 26th annual Global Health Conference on Monday, World Health Organization Director Gro Harlem Brundtland promoted a worldwide effort to reduce poverty in developing nations and improve global health. According to Brundtland, four key issues the WHO will confront in the coming decade are lowering mortality from d
Antenatal HIV Testing: Assessment of a Routine Voluntary Approach: British Medical Journal Online (06/19/99) Vol. 318, No. 7199, P. 1660; Simpson, Wendy M.; Johnstone, Frank D.; Goldberg, David J.; et al.; Scottish researchers studying uptake of antenatal HIV testing report most women surveyed thought that routine HIV screening should be performed during pregnancy. Of the 924 studied, about 88 percent were tested for HIV and one woman already known to be infected was, thus, not tested again. The prevalence of HIV infecti
Universal HIV Screening of Pregnant Women in England: Cost Effectiveness Analysis: British Medical Journal Online (06/19/99) Vol. 318, No. 7199, P. 1656; Postma, M.J.; Beck, E.J.; Mandalia, S.; et al.; Universal, voluntary antenatal HIV screening is a cost- effective intervention that should be adopted in the London area, conclude researchers from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom . A cost analysis found that the estimated direct lifetime medical and social care costs of childhood HIV infection totaled 178,000 p
Diagnosis, Prediction, and Natural Course of HIV-1 Protease- Inhibitor-Associated Lipodystrophy, Hyperlipidaemia, and Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Study: Lancet (06/19/99) Vol. 353, No. 9170, P. 2093; Carr, Andrew; Samaras, Katherine; Thorisdottir, Anna; et al.; Australian researchers investigated the natural course of lipodystrophy associated with long-term therapy for HIV-1 infection that includes a protease inhibitor. The condition was measured by questionnaire, physical exams, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The study, which involved 113 patients who were taking HIV-
Giving R600 Million to Fight AIDS Not as Easy as It Seems: Africa News Service (06/17/99); Despite Bristol-Myers Squibb s pledge last month to donate 600 million rand over the next five years for AIDS research in several African countries, including Botswana and Lesotho , government officials in South Africa recently said they would not accept the help until several details could be finalized
AIDS Protesters Vow to Follow Gore Campaign Trail: Reuters (06/18/99); Richwine, Lisa; Unless Vice President Al Gore pledges to support a South African law intended to provide patients with less expensive drugs, AIDS activists say they will continue to draw attention to the issue throughout his campaign for president. The activists claims that Gore is working on behalf of U.S. drug firms to keep South Af
French Ex-Minister Cited in New AIDS Blood Probe: Reuters (06/18/99); French magistrates formally have placed former Health Minister Claude Evin under investigation for suspected manslaughter in the on-going trials of the contaminated-blood scandal of the 1980s. According to justice sources, the charges follow a complaint from the parents of a young woman who died from AIDS in 1991 after
AIDS Vaccine to Be Tested: CNews Online (06/18/99); Up to 100 homosexual and bisexual men in Montreal are to participate in the North American tests of the experimental AIDSvax vaccine. According to Dr. Jean Vincelette, early results from 700 people who received the first version of the vaccine are promising. However, Vincelette said he was reluctant to promote the vacc
Prisons Draft Treatment Plans for Inmates With Hepatitis C: Dallas Morning News Online (06/18/99); Beil, Laura; Texas officials established a tentative plan last week to provide testing and treatment for the thousands of inmates thought to be infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). A report issued during a meeting of the Correctional Managed Health Care Advisory Committee on Thursday estimated that more than 28 percent of pri
G-7 Summit Offers Poor Nations Plan for Substantial Debt Relief: Washington Post (06/19/99) P. A1; Babington, Charles; At the summit meeting of the Group of Seven leading industrialized democracies on Friday, participants agreed upon a program that could eliminate up to $90 billion in debts owed by more than 30 poor nations. The debt relief was contingent upon the countries directing the savings primarily to education and health effort
FTC Warns Against Home HIV Tests: Washington Post (06/19/99) P. A8; The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning about some home HIV tests sold over the Internet. In a consumer alert, the agency cautioned, Using one of these kits could give a person who might be infected with HIV the false impression that he or she is not infected. FTC tests showed that, when a known HIV-infe
AIDS Patients to Share Treatment Data On Line: USA Today (06/21/99) P. 5D; Appleby, Julie; The Treatment Data Project is launching today what could develop into the largest private database of private medical records online. The program aims to have AIDS patients share their experiences in the ever-changing treatment arena so benefits and problems with any therapies could possibly be identified without waiti
Inhibition of HIV Replication by Dominant Negative Mutants of Sam68, a Functional Homolog of HIV-1 Rev.: Nature Medicine (06/99) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 635; Reddy, Thipparthi R.; Xu, Weidong; Mau, Jonathan K.L.; et al.; A study of Sam68 (Src-associated protein in mitosis) and a mutant Rev protein, RevM10, indicate potential methods for viral gene therapy. Investigators found that Sam68 specifically interacts with the Rev response element (RRE) and can partially replace and synergize with Rev in RRE-mediated gene expression and virus r
Notice to Readers: National HIV Testing Day--June 27, 1999: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (06/18/99) Vol. 48, No. 23, P. 496; National HIV Testing Day, started by the National Association of People with AIDS in 1995, will be held this year on June 27. The purpose of National HIV Testing Day is to inform the public about HIV testing and counseling, while encouraging people to be tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will host
Notice to Readers: Opening of Nonoccupational HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis Registry: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (06/18/99) Vol. 48, No. 23, P. 496; The National Nonoccupational HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Registry opened for enrollment on June 7th. The purpose of the registry is to monitor episodes of potential HIV exposure due to sexual contact, intravenous drug use, and other non-occupational events. Those who enroll are not required to have received anti
California Develops TB Guide: Nation's Health (06/99) Vol. 29, No. 5, P. 8; The California Department of Health Services and the Tuberculosis Controllers Association have developed the Joint Guidelines for Tuberculosis Treatment in California in response to the state s growing problem with TB. The guidelines are adapted from recommendations of the American Thoracic Society and the Centers for
Phone Cards to Be Used in AIDS Awareness Program: Los Angeles Times Online (06/17/99); The California State Department of Health Services is nearly tripling the number of telephone calling cards it is offering counties and other agencies for AIDS prevention. The calling cards provide 10 minutes of free long-distance time but first require users to listen to a 15-second AIDS prevention message. The state
Health: Call for Universal Antenatal HIV Screening: BBC News Online (06/18/99); Researchers from Imperial College in London and the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands are calling for universal voluntary antenatal HIV screening for pregnant women in the London area and other areas of the United Kingdom where HIV prevalence is high. HIV-positive women who
AIDS Activists Dog Gore a 2nd Day: Washington Post (06/18/99) P. A12; Babcock, Charles R.; Connoly, Ceci; AIDS activists have disrupted Vice President Al Gore s presidential campaign tour for a second day in a row. Gore has been accused by activists of favoring the profiteering of drug companies over saving the lives of HIV-infected individuals in South Africa . At issue is Gore s involvement in a dispute with the South Af
The War on Disease Is Worth Fighting: Washington Post (06/18/99) P. C11; Mann, Judy; Washington Post columnist Judy Mann discusses the findings of the World Health Organization s study on the economic burden of disease. Mann notes the WHO s warning that many diseases, including tuberculosis, are developing drug resistance. WHO official David Heymann noted that whereas five years ago there was very litt
WHO: Diseases That Kill Millions Can Be Stopped: Washington Post (06/18/99) P. A24; Brown, David; The World Health Organization announced Thursday that infectious diseases are responsible for 48 percent of deaths worldwide in people under age 45 and most of these diseases could be easily prevented or treated. The burden of infectious diseases is particularly heavy for the developing world, where it is a serious imp
An Unusual Cluster of Cases of Castleman's Disease During Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy for AIDS: New England Journal of Medicine (06/17/99) Vol.340, No. 24, P. 1923; Zietz, Christian; Bogner, Johannes R.; Goebel, Frank-Detlef; et al.; Castleman s Disease, a lymphatic hyperplasia, has two variants: hyaline vascular and the plasma cell type. In a letter to the editor, researchers from Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich report that they observed a clustering of rapidly progressing multicentric Castleman s disease of the plasma-cell type. All of th
Increasing Probability of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HHV- 8 With Increasing Maternal Antibody Titer for HHV-8: New England Medical Journal (06/17/99) Vol. 340, No. 24, P. 1923; Sitas, Freddy; Newton, Robert; Boshoff, Chris; In a follow-up to their recent study, Freddy Sitas, of the South African Institute for Medical Research, and colleagues report in a letter to the editor that they investigated the effect of maternal titer of antibody to human herpesvirus 8 on mother-to-child transmission. The team s previous research showed that 42 per
Tembo Advises African States to Fight HIV/AIDS: Africa News Online (06/16/99); Malupenga, Amos; Zambia s vice president, Christon Tembo, has called on African governments to collaborate in the fight against HIV, because the disease does not honor national boundaries. Speaking at a dinner he hosted for the International Steering Committee of the 11th International Conference on AIDS and STDs in Africa, Tembo encou
Alberta Unveils Three-Year Plan to Battle HIV: CNews Online (06/16/99); In Canada , the Alberta government is focusing a three-year anti-AIDS plan for young people, aboriginals, and injection drug users. The plan will attempt to give aboriginals better access to HIV care. It will also organize groups in different levels of the government to collaborate on projects dealing with HIV/AIDS, an
World Bank to Give India $411.7 Million for Projects: Reuters (06/16/99); The World Bank has announced plans to supply India with $411.7 million to help fund HIV/AIDS and other projects. The bank will give India $191 million in credit for the second part of its HIV/AIDS project, and India will cover the rest of the funding for the $229 million project. The remainder of the funds will go to a
Brazil's Top AIDS Official Urges Sex Education for Preschoolers: Fox News Online (06/16/99); Lehman, Stan; Pedro Chequer, coordinator of the Brazilian Health Ministry s AIDS prevention program, is encouraging sex education for children, beginning at age four, in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV. Chequer asserts that such education would limit the spread of HIV in teenagers and reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies
HHS Announces Three Sites for Special Crisis Response Teams to Battle HIV/AIDS in Minority Communities: U.S. Newswire (06/16/99); The Department of Health and Human Services is dispatching Crisis Response Teams to deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS in the minority and ethnic communities of 11 U.S. cities, beginning with Philadelphia, Detroit, and Miami. The effort is part of a collaboration between the Congressional Black Caucus and HHS, dedicated
Senate Approves Health Care for Disabled: New York Times (06/17/99) P. A26; Pear, Robert; The Senate passed the Work Incentives Improvement Act in a vote of 99 to 0 on Wednesday. The bill, which garnered bipartisan support, discourages discrimination against people with disabilities in the workplace and gives America s 8 million disabled individuals incentive to take higher paying jobs. Provisions in the bi
Evaluating the Burden of Disease and Spending the Research Dollars of the National Institutes of Health: New England Journal of Medicine (06/17/99) Vol. 340, No. 24, P. 1914; Varmus, Harold; In an editorial, National Institutes of Health Director Harold Varmus addresses key issues in the Gross et al. study on research funding from NIH and the burden of disease. Varmus notes that due to a strong record of accomplishments, NIH has received generous federal funding. Along with the funding has come increased s
The Relation Between Funding by the National Institutes of Health and the Burden of Disease: New England Journal of Medicine (06/17/99) Vol. 340, No. 24, P. 1881; Gross, Cary P.; Anderson, Gerard F.; Powe, Neil R.; The Institute of Medicine funded a study of the relationship between the amount of disease specific research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health and the burden of disease. The cross-sectional study examined the following variables: total mortality; years of life lost; number of hospital days in 1994;
Human Herpesvirus 8 and Kaposi's Sarcoma--Some Answers, More Questions: New England Journal of Medicine (06/17/99) Vol. 340, No. 24, P. 1912; Jaffe, Harold W.; Pellet, Phillip E.; In an editorial, Drs. Harold W. Jaffe and Philip E. Pellet, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discuss the implications of the study published in the same issue of the New England Journal of Medicine on human herpesvirus 8 and Kaposi s sarcoma. The study, conducted by Freddy Sitas et al., opened the fie
Antibodies Against Human Herpesvirus 8 in Black South African Patients With Cancer: New England Journal of Medicine Vol. 340, No. 24, P. 1863; Sitas, Freddy; Carrara, Henri; Beral, Valerie; et al.; Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been linked to Kaposi s sarcoma, but factors involved in transmission, relationships with other cancers, and its interaction with HIV-1 are undefined. Using logistic-regression models, researchers investigated the relationship between sociodemographic factors, behavioral factors, type of
Doctors Taking on Hepatitis C: Albuquerque Journal Online (06/14/99); Jadrnak, Jackie; Health care workers, social service agencies, managed care companies, and consumers will convene in Albuquerque, N.M., on October 1 to discuss the growing hepatitis C problem in the state. New Mexico s hepatitis C registry has recorded more than 10,000 cases of infection; however, some estimates place the number of HCV
Pioneering Australian Research Offers Hope on HIV: Australian Associated Press (06/16/99); Willis, Katrina; Researchers at the Australian National University s John Curtin School of Medical Research reportedly have developed a drug that blocks HIV in laboratory tests. The drug locks onto ion channels, which normally allow for the transfer of charged particles and viruses. The novel mechanism used in the AIDS drug could also
Heroin More Accessible Than Beer, Says Health Advocate: CNews Online (06/15/99); Meissner, Dirk; Bud Osborn, a representative for the Vancouver-Richmond Health Board, asserted Tuesday that heroin is cheaper and easier for teenagers to procure than alcohol. According to Osborn, heroin can be bought for C$3 in Vancouver. Drugs have been a major problem in British Columbia, with more than 371 people dying from overdo
Details of Deal Agreed for Canada Tainted Blood Victims: Reuters (06/15/99); Remy, Julie; Canadians who were infected with the hepatitis C virus between 1986 and 1990 have reached a C$1.2 billion settlement with federal, provincial, and territorial governments. Under the agreement, an estimated 10,000 individuals are eligible for between C$10,000 and C$1 million, according to Toronto lawyer Harvey Strosberg
AIDS Programs Refocus on Outreach to Blacks: Activists, Church Leaders Talk of Prevention: San Francisco Chronicle Online (06/15/99) P. A2; Faced with disproportionate rates of HIV infection among African Americans, U.S. health officials are refocusing their efforts and trying new AIDS prevention approaches in African- American communities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing $9 million to church-based organizations and other grou
Most Fear Spread of Disease: USA Today (06/16/99) P. 5A; Sternberg, Steve; A study sponsored by the Global Health Council (GHC) reveals that nearly 85 percent of Americans fear the global spread of AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, among other infectious diseases. In addition, 90 percent of respondents agree that fighting a disease at its source is the best approach, while 85 percent say tha
Relevance of AIDS Treatment With Two Nucleoside Analogues Alone: Lancet (06/12/99) Vol. 353, No. 9169, P. 1989; Weidle, P.J.; Mbidde, E.; Djomand, G.; et al.; New research regarding the use of zidovudine alone or in combination with didanosine or zalcitabine offers useful data on treatment with two nucleoside analogue drugs to extending survival and slowing HIV progression, write researchers in a Lancet commentary. The researchers--from the Centers for Disease Control and Pr
Zidovudine, Didanosine, and Zalcitabine in the Treatment of HIV Infection: Meta-Analyses of the Randomised Evidence: Lancet (06/12/99) Vol. 353, No. 9169, P. 2014; The HIV Trialists Collaborative Group, which was formed in 1995 to conduct meta-analyses of randomized trials of antiretroviral therapy, assessed individual patient data and tabular data from all randomized tests of zidovudine, didanosine, and zalcitabine. The researchers found that immediate use of zidovudine cut dise
Decline in Total Serum IgE After Treatment for Tuberculosis: Lancet (06/12/99) Vol. 353, No. 9169, P. 2030; Adams, J.F.A.; Scholvinck, E.H.; Gie, R.P.; et al.; South African researchers report pronounced and consistent reductions in levels of serum IgE, a marker of a type-2 immune response to intestinal parasites, following successful treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which produces a type-1 response. Type 1 and Type 2 responses inhibit each other. The prospective stud
CMV Resistance to Ganciclovir No More Likely With Oral Administration: Reuters Health Information Services (06/14/99); In a report in the June issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers conclude that cytomegalovirus does not become significantly more resistant through the use of orally administered ganciclovir, as opposed to intravenously administered ganciclovir. Evidence gathered in four clinical studies of oral gancicl
Cason: They Don't Feel His Pain: Ventura County Star Online (06/13/99); Cason, Colleen; Genentech , a San Francisco biotechnology firm, is discontinuing production of its Recombinant Nerve Growth Factor (rhNGF) drug after company studies showed the product did not help diabetic neuropathy. However, a study by the National Institutes of Health s AIDS Clinical Trials Group found the drug was very effectiv
JC Virus in CSF Predictive of Survival in AIDS Patients With PML: Reuters Health Information Services (06/14/99); Researchers report in the June issue of the Annals of Neurology a significant correlation between concentrations of JC virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and clinical outcomes in AIDS patients with progressive leukoencephalopathy (PML). Investigators used semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure cerebr
Body Composition Abnormalities Noted in HIV-Positive Women Independent of PI Use: Reuters Health Information Services (06/14/99); Investigators have found evidence that a number of metabolic abnormalities found in HIV-positive women may be unrelated to the use of protease inhibitors . Hyperinsulinemia and truncal adiposity have been observed in HIV-infected women prior to initiation of protease inhibitor therapy. The report in the June issue of
Children Bear Brunt of Poverty: Africa News Service (06/14/99); Falling immunization coverage and malnutrition have given Malawi one of the highest infant mortality rates in Africa. Infant mortality rates are 133 per 1,000 live births, and the under-five mortality rate is 234 of 1,000 live births. In addition, many children are orphaned by AIDS. According to Malawi s health minist
African Meeting on HIV/AIDS and STDs Opens: Africa News Online (06/14/99); A five-day meeting opened in Accra, Ghana , on Monday to discuss how to address the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in Africa. Representatives from six different countries--including Ghana, Tanzania , Uganda , and South Africa--met with officials from the
Medical Workers Push for Safer Hypodermic Needles: Newsday Online (06/15/99); A coalition of healthcare workers in New York is pushing for mandatory use of safe needles to reduce the risk of needle stick injuries for healthcare professionals. Nearly 1 million healthcare workers experience needle stick injuries a year, and almost 1,000 of them contract a blood-borne disease such as HIV, hepatitis
Control of SHIV-89.6P-Infection of Cynomologus Monkeys by HIV- 1 Tat Protein Vaccine: Nature Medicine (06/99) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 643; Cafaro, Aurelio; Caputo, Antonella; Fracasso, Claudio; et al.; A team of Italian, Swedish, and Dutch researchers report that vaccination of cynomologus monkeys with a biologically active HIV-1 Tat protein is safe and decreases infections with simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-89.6P to undetectable levels. The process also generated humoral and cellular specific immune res
AIDS Drugs: Giving It a Rest: Business Week (05/14/99) No. 3633, P. 94; Carey, John; Some AIDS patients are participating in an unusual strategy of fighting HIV in which they take carefully monitored breaks from their complex drug regimens. The primary force behind this approach is the recognition that existing treatments cannot eliminate HIV. Recent data, for example, indicates that it could take up t
Involve Public on Anti-AIDS Work--Luo: Africa News Service (06/13/99); Zambian Health Minister Nkandu Luo is encouraging AIDS activists and health officials to involve the general public in their workshops and policy deliberations. Luo said the public is a necessary component of any policy decision. AIDS activists and Zambian health officials will be drafting a policy document on approach
AIDS to Claim 200,000 This Year: Africa News Service (06/13/99); Mwaniki, Mike; Philemon Mwaisaka, Health Permanent Secretary of Kenya , announced that 200,000 Kenyans will die of AIDS this year, greatly increasing the number of AIDS orphans in the country. There are an estimated 300,000 children orphaned by the disease, at present. Mwaisaka lauded a recent United Nations conference in Geneva that
More Than One Million Needles to Be Handed Out: Australian Broadcasting Corp. News Online (06/09/99); The Tasmanian State needle-exchange program expects to hand out over 1 million needles and syringes this year, more than doubling the breadth of the program. Critics say that the increased demand for clean needles is evidence of how the program promotes intravenous drug use. However, Health Minister Judy Jackson says t
Double-Mutant HSV Vaccine Protects Animals Against Genital Herpes: Reuters Health Information Services (06/11/99); In a report in the June 8th Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. David M. Knipe and colleagues, from Children s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, announced progress in the development of a safe vaccine for genital herpes . The vaccine is a mutant herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV- 2) strain, created by introd
Need for an Effective AIDS Vaccine Is Growing More Urgent: Miami Herald Online (06/11/99); Critics say that efforts to create a successful AIDS vaccine have been hampered by several factors. These include bureaucracy at the National Institutes of Health, the pharmaceutical industry s concern about whether AIDS vaccines will generate profits, AIDS advocates who do not emphasize the importance of vaccines, saf
Americas: AIDS on the Rise Among Over-50s: BBC News Online (06/11/99); Thomas, Phillipa; With increasing divorce rates and longevity, HIV rates among the elderly in the United States are growing. Currently, one of 10 AIDS patients in the United States is a person over 50. However in places with high concentrations of the elderly, such as Florida, one in six AIDS cases is person over 50. In response to thi
Zimbabwe: Disease Prevention Accord: New York Times (06/12/99) P. A5; The World Health Organization announced that 15 Southern African and Indian Ocean countries have approved a plan for disease prevention and control. The plan, formed after five days of deliberation in Zimbabwe , is intended to combat many diseases, including AIDS, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, polio, meningitis, meas
Mother Jailed When She Refuses TB Medication: USA Today (06/14/99); Ritter, John; The story of Hongkham Souvannarath, a 51-year-old Laotian immigrant who was jailed in Fresno County, Calif., for refusing tuberculosis medication, highlights the conflict between public health and civil liberties. Souvannarath has a drug-resistant strain of TB, and Fresno officials say that they put Souvannarath in jai
Effect of Interleukin-2 on the Pool of Latently Infected, Resting CD4 T Cells in HIV-1 Infected Patients Receiving Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy: Nature Medicine (06/99) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 651; Chun, Tae-Wook; Engel, Delphine; Mizell, Stephanie B.; et al.; Pools of latently infected CD4 T cells are proving the greatest stumbling block to eradicating HIV. These latently infected CD4 cells can exist for a long time, and it has been postulated that it would require up to 60 years of antiretroviral therapy to destroy all traces of HIV. Some cytokines, such as interleukin (Il
Migration Helps Spread Tuberculosis: Futurist (6/99-7/99) Vol. 33, No. 6, P. 12; Researchers from Texas A&M University report that incidence of tuberculosis in some Texas counties declined over the course of a year. Geography professor Bakama BakamaNume suggests that because the patients probably were not cured in such a short period of time, it is likely that they migrated. BakamaNume notes, t
Gender Bulletin: UNICEF Considers New Agenda: PANA Wire Service (06/10/99); Hule, Jerome; The UNICEF executive board is drawing up an agenda for children that it will follow for at least the next decade. Board members are focusing on basic education, a safe and nurturing environment, and protecting children from preventable death. UNICEF has been successful in a number of areas, including the nearly complet
Russia Opens Prison for Inmates Infected With AIDS Virus: Russia Today (06/11/99); Russia has opened a prison in Tver for inmates infected with HIV. The two-story facility accommodates 200 prisoners and gives them access to doctors and a psychiatrist. Many of the HIV-infected prisoners are drug addicts who can benefit from the medical care available at the facility. Russia has recorded an estimate
Case of Gay Blood Donor Raises Questions in Commons: CNews Online (06/10/99); In Canada , Ottawa police may file criminal charges against Joel Pinon, a gay activist who lied about his sexual orientation on a questionnaire when donating blood. Hema- Quebec and Canadian Blood Services reject blood from men who have sex with men, because they are at high risk for HIV infection. Officials at the bl
Soros Warns of Drug-Resistant Russian TB: Toronto Globe and Mail Online (06/10/99); York, Geoffrey; According to American financier and philanthropist George Soros, it will cost over $475 million to contain Russia s tuberculosis epidemic. Russia s prisons are proving the most fertile breeding ground for tuberculosis worldwide, with an estimated 2 million Russians carrying a new drug-resistant TB strain in the next de
GBV-C/HGV Transmission Possible With Virus Inactivated Clotting Factors: Reuters Health Information Services (06/10/99); A report in the May issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that hemophilic children who are HIV- positive may become infected with GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) regardless of virus-inactivated clotting factor concentrates. In a longitudinal study, investigators found that 20.4 percent of th
U-M Researcher's AIDS Vaccine Hunt Centered in Md.: Ann Arbor News Online (06/10/99); Kellogg, Sarah; Dr. Gary Nabel, from the University of Michigan, has been appointed director of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center, located at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. Nabel has been lauded for his work on AIDS, cancer, and Ebola. The center, which will start work on the creation of an AIDS vaccin
Ryan White AIDS Foundation Close to Broke: Boston Globe Online (06/11/99) P. A3; Abejo, Jerry; The Ryan White Foundation, established after the AIDS death of its 18-year-old namesake, has hit hard times due to a lack of funds. The foundation, which was created to promote AIDS education, has seen both funding and celebrity promotions drop of since its opening in 1990. Mark Maddox, chairman of the group s board, s
U.S. Response Inadequate to Spread of AIDS in Africa: USA Today (06/11/99) P. 25A; Leahy, Patrick; In a letter to the editor, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praises USA Today s recent coverage of AIDS in Africa. Leahy notes that AIDS infects 22.5 million in Africa--more people than the population of Texas--and that Asia is similarly affected. With HIV spreading an additional 10 percent each year, the senator points out
AIDS Affects 14 Percent of Kenyan Adults: Africa News Online (06/09/99); Officials from the Kenyan Health Ministry announced Wednesday that between 13 percent and 14 percent of Kenyan adults are infected with HIV. According to the report, the majority of new infections are in youths aged 15 through 19, with young women particularly at risk. In Kenya, 700,000 people have died of AIDS, and ex
HIV-2 Tat Activation-Response RNA Decoy Inhibits HIV-1 Replication: Reuters Health Information Services (06/09/99); Beaulieu, Michelle; Researchers report in the June issue of the Journal of Virology that an HIV-2 Tat activation-response RNA (TAR-2) decoy may work as a powerful inhibitor of HIV-1 transcription and replication. When TAR is overexpressed, it binds to the Tat protein, inhibiting HIV transcription. The relationship between the Tat protein
Mothers-to-Be 'Should Be Offered HIV Test': BBC News (06/09/99); A report appearing in the Royal Study of Medicine Journal questions whether HIV-testing in pregnant women should be mandatory. The researchers, who studied the testing policies of 15 European Community nations, found that parts of Great Britain that just offer HIV screening have acceptance rates so low that the program
Should Doctors Sacrifice One Life to Save Many?: New York Times (06/10/99) P. A30; Lurie, Peter; In a letter to the editor, Peter Lurie, a medical researcher at Public Citizen, responds to ethics questions raised by Cornell s AIDS research program in Haiti . Specifically, Lurie cites studies on mother-to-infant HIV transmission being done in southern Africa that are supported by the National Institutes of Health,
Tuberculosis Cases Balloon in Russia, Could Spread: CNN Interactive (06/09/99); The World Health Organization s executive director for communicable diseases, David Heymann, warned on Wednesday that the tuberculosis epidemic in Russia could spread to other nations. Current statistics place tuberculosis rates in Russia at two to four times those in Central Europe. Almost 25,000 people in Russia die
CDC: New Data Show AIDS Patients Less Likely to Be Hospitalized: M2 Presswire (06/09/99); New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) indicates that rates of hospitalization for HIV-infected patients in the United States are declining. There were 71,000 fewer hospitalizations of HIV-positive people in 1997 than in 1995, measuring a drop of
$30M Research Center Will Strive for AIDS Vaccine by 2007: USA Today (06/10/99) P. 10D; Sternberg, Steve; President Clinton unveiled on Wednesday the cornerstone for the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Center, an institution dedicated to finding an AIDS vaccine by the year 2007. The $30 million facility, located at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., will be staffed by 100 medical researchers and will emphas
Confronting the HIV Pandemic: Science (06/04/99) No. 5420, Vol. 284, P. 1619; Nathanson, Neal; Auerbach, Judith D.; In an editorial, Neal Nathanson and Judith D. Auerbach, of the Office of AIDS Research at the National Institutes of Health, discuss NIH s new HIV prevention research program. The program is a multidisciplinary approach, combining behavioral science, social science, and biological methods, to fight the spread of HIV.
Interaction of E1 and hSNF5 Proteins Stimulates Replication of Human Papillomavirus DNA: Nature (06/03/99) Vol. 399, No. 6735, P. 487; Lee, Daeyoup; Sohn, Hekwang; Kalpana, Ganjam V.; et al.; In mammals, viruses tend to use parts of their host s cellular DNA replication means to facilitate the replication of their own genomes. Such appropriation allows the virus to be used as a way to characterize factors that partake of cellular DNA replication. Scientists here describe the cellular factor involved in huma
Russia-Turned-Raunchy Rouses Backlash Against Sexual Freedoms: Fox News Online (06/08/99); The Soviet collapse created a sexual revolution in Russia but may have opened a Pandora s box of ills for a country unprepared to deal with it. As a result, promiscuity, coupled with lack of education, have resulted in burgeoning rates of sexually transmitted diseases. There are an estimated 262 syphilis cases per 100,
MRI Can Quantify Body Composition Changes in HIV Patients: Reuters Health Information Services (06/08/99); A report published in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition associates truncal enlargement in HIV patients with significant increases in visceral adipose tissue. Investigators used magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in their examinations. The researchers note that vis
Combination Approaches 'Ideal' In Patients With AIDS Wasting Syndrome: Reuters Health Information Services (06/08/99); AIDS-related wasting syndrome remains a serious problem for patients with the disease. A report in the June 3rd Issue of the New England Journal of Medicine outlines a good approach to the syndrome. Physicians managing patients with AIDS- related wasting should conduct a nutritional evaluation; apply specific nutrition
Health--Zimbabwe: Female Condom Registers Little Interest: Africa Information Afrique (06/08/99); Surveys indicate that the female condom is not very popular in Zimbabwe , with less than 2 percent of respondees reporting that they had ever used them. According to the surveys, the average female condom user is better educated, more likely to be single, and have fewer children than non-users and male condom users. Ho
Iran Court Proceedings to Start in Blood Scandal: Reuters (06/08/99); Court proceedings will start this week against the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, which has been charged with being criminally negligent in screening blood purchased from a French pharmaceutical company in 1994. An article in the Tehran Times quoted Ahmad Qavidal, the head of Iran s Hemophiliac Association, as
HIV-Positive Nurse Urges Safer Needles: Las Vegas Sun (06/08/99); Lisa Black, a registered nurse in Reno, Nevada, has become a spokesperson for the Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act of 1999. Black contracted HIV after a needlestick injury she received while treating a man with AIDS. The act, introduced to the Senate by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and to the House by Rep. Ma
Condom Use Low Among Those at High Risk for HIV: Reuters Health Information Services (06/08/99); Dr. John E. Anderson, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a multi-center group, report that nearly 80 percent of those at high-risk for HIV infection do not use condoms with their regular sex partner. The study, published in the June 1st issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes an
Crystal Structure of the Human Papillomavirus Type 18 E2 Activation Domain: Science (06/04/99) Vol. 284, No. 5420, P. 1673; Harris, Seth F.; Botchan, Michael R.; The E2 protein regulates viral transcription and DNA replication in papillomavirus via its interactions with cellular and viral proteins. The amino-terminal activation domain contains the residues that mediate contact between the E2 and other proteins. Researchers studying the crystal structure of the protease-resistan
Comparison of Subcutaneous and Intraveneous Interleukin-2 in Asymptomatic HIV-1 Infection: A Randomised Controlled Trial: Lancet (06/05/99) Vol. 353, No. 9168, P. 1923; Levy, Y; Capitant, C; Houhou, S; et al.; Investigators have found that continuous intravenous infusion of interleukin-2 therapy results in a sustained increase in CD4 T cells. The researchers conducted a randomized study to determine whether antiviral treatment alone or combined with different interleukin treatments would be a safer and more effective treatme
An AIDS Drug With a New M.O.: Business Week (05/31/99) No. 3631, P. 48; Licking, Ellen; Many researchers are optimistic about HE2000, a new anti-AIDS drug produced by Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals. Three monkeys infected with virulent strains of HIV were treated with HE2000, a synthetic version of the hormone DHEA. Although the drug did not completely eliminate the virus, the subjects lived twice as long as
Cheaper Treatment for HIV Likely to Be Cleared for Sale Soon: Bangkok Post Online (06/08/99); Assavanonda, Anjira; Regulatory officials in Thailand are expected sometime in June to grant marketing approval for the HIV drug efavirenz , also known as Sustiva , which could be available to patients within a few months, according to BLH Trading, the company that would distri
South Africa's Growing HIV Crisis: BBC News (06/07/99); Kirby, Alex; A study by the Worldwatch Institute indicates that South Africa s AIDS epidemic is one of the fastest growing in the world. An April survey showed that 22 percent of the population is infected, up from 14 percent in late 1997. Young adults have one of the highest infection rates, portending disaster for South Africa s
For Subjects in Haiti Study, Free AIDS Care Has a Price: New York Times (06/06/99) P. 1, Sect. 1; Bernstein, Nina; The ethics of research abroad is becoming a growing problem. Particularly since revelations about the Tuskeegee syphilis project in Alabama, research ethics have become paramount to investigators within the United States . However, allegations of unethical investigations abroad have thrown a shadow across U.S. internat
CDC Adds to Notifiable Diseases List: Fox News Online (06/07/99); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added cyclosporiasis, ehrlichiosis, and congenital syphilis to its list of 56 notifiable infectious diseases. Cyclosporiasis, often caused by imported vegetable and fruit products contaminated by Cyclospora bacteria, is characterized by diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Volunteers Not Hurrying to VaxGen Vaccine Test: Wall Street Journal (06/08/99) P. B13; VaxGen , which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin human testing of its AIDS vaccine a year ago, is having trouble signing up volunteers for its U.S. trials. The company, which is searching for a total of 5,000 participants, has only enrolled just over half that number thus far but expect
Silent, Tenacious Killer Ravages the Liver: USA Today (06/08/99) P. 6D; Davis, Robert; Researchers will convene at the National Institutes of Health this week for an international symposium on the elusive hepatitis C virus. The virus is more virulent than its cousins, hepatitis A and B, causing 70 percent of the 4 million infected individuals in the United States to develop chronic liver disease and kill
Millions Hit Hepatitis-C Deadline: USA Today (06/08/99) P. 1D; Davis, Robert; Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has proven difficult to follow and treat, because it can take years, even decades, for symptoms to develop. HCV takes the lives of up to 10,000 people annually; however, as the number of individuals who are infected but do not know it become sick, that number is set to increase. An estimated 4 m
Prevalence of Unprotected Sex Among Men With AIDS in Los Angeles County, California, 1995-1997: AIDS Online (05/28/99) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. 987; Simon, Paul A.; Thometz, Ellen; Bunch, J. Gordon; et al.; Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California evaluated the prevalence of unprotected sex among men with AIDS in Los Angeles County. Subjects included all men over 18 years of age whose HIV status was reported to the local health department and who participated in a standardized intervi
Between Women: Advocate (05/25/99) No. 786, P. 73; Rochman, Sue; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a research program on HIV-infected lesbians and other women who have sex with women. The study will use a virus matching technique to identify potential causes of transmission between women. The foundation for the study was set by the CDC s Lesbian HIV Issues
Puerto Rican Drug Users Have Higher HIV Risk Among Hispanics: Reuters Health Information Services (06/04/99); A report published in a recent issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology indicates that Puerto Ricans are at greater risk for contracting HIV than Mexicans and Mexican Americans. The study, which examined long-term drug users in the three groups, found that Puerto Ricans were
Incorporation of Zidovudine Into Human DNA May Denote Cancer Risk: Reuters Health Information Services (06/04/99); Dr. Ofelia A. Olivero, of the National Cancer Institute, and colleagues found zidovudine incorporated in the DNA leukocytes of HIV-infected patients who were treated with the drug. The presence of zidovudine in the DNA leukocytes suggests potential mutagenicity and tumorigenicity in the long-term for patients treated w
Anti-TB Program Worked Out for Russian Armed Forces: Itar Wire Service (06/04/99); The Russian military is instituting a comprehensive plan to combat the spread of tuberculosis within the armed forces, according to the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper. The initiative was prompted by a doubling of tuberculosis rates in the Russian military. The six-year anti-tuberculosis program aims to reduce incidence of t
AIDS Battle Facing Lethal Complacency: Boston Globe Online (06/06/99); Activists are concerned that the effects of AIDS education, which has flooded most communities, is being lost among attitudes of complacency and denial. Their fears are reflected in the sobering fact that young people are one of the fastest growing segments of the HIV-positive population. Experts point out that while d
U.S. Blood Donations Decline: Washington Post Online (06/06/99) P. A2; Goldstein, Avram; The National Blood Data Resource Center estimates that the United States will likely face a shortfall of 249,000 units of blood in the year 2000. The demand for blood is increasing as physicians increasingly use transfusions in organ transplants, complex surgical procedures, and aggressive cancer therapies. The project
Mann Award Goes to Refugee: Boston Globe Online (06/07/99) P. A7; Knox, Richard A.; Dr. Cynthia Maung is to be given the $25,000 Jonathan Mann Award for her system of health clinics in Thailand . Maung will be the first Mann awardee. A refugee herself, Maung ministers to 20,000 Burmese refugees along the Burma-Thailand border. The Mann Award commemorates the late Harvard professor, Jonathan Mann, who
Luc Montagnier's Paris Centre Goes Bankrupt: Nature (05/20/99) Vol.399, No. 6733, P. 193; A lack of funds is forcing the Luc Montagnier Centre in Paris to go into receivership. The facility, both an outpatient clinic for people testing HIV seropositive and research center, was established primarily with Sidaction, television fund-raiser. New funds may be generated due to the fact that the center is in recei
U.S. Plan for Consortium to Seek AIDS Vaccine: Nature (05/20/99) Vol. 399, No. 6733, P. 192; Gary Nabel, the director of the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center, is trying to set up a consortium of pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms to pool their intellectual resources into developing an AIDS vaccine. The consortium would be a forum for cooperative research and discussion on obs
Health Intervention May Save Thousands From TB: BBC News Online (06/03/99); Dr. John Lunn, a retired community health consultant in England, may have revolutionized tuberculosis inoculation through a new device he created. The BCG vaccine against tuberculosis must be precisely administered within the skin layer, but many people in developing countries do not have the technical expertise to giv
Nevirapine Interacts With Methadone and May Induce Opiate Withdrawal: Reuters Health Information Services (06/03/99); Researchers at Yale have found that nevirapine may cause withdrawal symptoms in HIV-infected patients receiving maintenance treatment with methadone. The investigators, who report their findings in the May 28 issue of AIDS, noted that seven patients developed withdrawal symptoms within seven days of beginning nevirapin
House Approves Limited HIV Testing: Oregon Live NewsFlash Online (06/04/99); The Oregon House approved on Thursday two bills involving HIV testing in crime or accident situations. One of the measures allows judges to order those accused of a crime to undergo HIV testing; the individual could also be tested for other communicable diseases if bodily fluids were transmitted. The second measure wou
Buddhist Says Leadership Crucial in Battle Against AIDS: PANA Wire Service Online (06/03/99); At a meeting of religious leaders in Dakar, Senegal , the Venerable Mettenando Bhikku, a Thai Buddhist monk, said the key to fighting AIDS may lie in religious leaders jointly developing a strategy to combat the disease. Bhikku noted that Buddhism does not bar use of condoms or birth control and that many in
HAART Can Be Administered With Chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Reuters Health Information Services (06/03/99); A report presented at the Third Annual National AIDS Malignancy Conference recommends the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) along with chemotherapy, when treating HIV-related non-Hodgkin s lymphoma . Investigators studied HIV-positive patients receiving a low-dose chemotherapy regimen and a high-dose
Digest: Insurance: Washington Post (06/04/99) P. E10; A panel from the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has ruled that insurance companies should have the ability to limit HIV-related healthcare coverage to below the $1 million cap placed on other illnesses. The ruling, which overturns a decision by a federal judge last year, said that a federal anti-discr
In AIDS Cities, Education Increases Condom Use, Cuts Sexual Activity: Washington Post (06/04/99) P. A18; A longitudinal study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that education efforts in eight major cities have boosted condom use and decreased sexual activity among high school students. The CDC dispensed surveys to over 40,000 public school students, grades nine through 12, in 1992, 1993, 1995, an
The Impact of Religion on Adherence With Antiretrovirals: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (05/99- 06/99) Vol. 10, No. 3, P. 99; Melbourne, Kathleen M.; In a letter to the editor, Kathleen Melbourne, of Coastal Medical in Rhode Island, details the case of a patient whose HIV medication regimen was disrupted by his religious beliefs. The 44-year-old Egyptian male was noted to have missed one- third of his prescribed indinavir doses. Investigation revealed that
Science & Health Bulletin: AIDS--Religion: PANA Wire Service (06/02/99); Masebu, Peter; Assane Diop, Senegal s health minister, asserted Wednesday that religious leaders could be key in achieving sexual behavior changes. Speaking at a three-day workshop in Dakar, Diop noted that the government has already launched an antiretrovirals program and introduced an alliance of medical experts and religious leade
HLA Class I Alleles Strongly Influence HIV-1 Disease Progression: Reuters Health Information Services (06/02/99); A study published in the June issue of the Journal of Immunology suggests that some human major histocompatibility complex (HLA) proteins may slow or hasten the speed at which HIV-1 progresses. The study observed 200 slow progressors and 75 fast progressors. Quantitative analysis showed that nonprogression was related
European Commission Approves Efavirenz for HIV: Reuters Health Information Services (06/02/99); The European Commission has approved the drug efavirenz ( Sustiva ) for once-daily HIV-1 treatment in people three years of age and older. EC officials say that efavirenz will help simplify medication regimens, as well as open up more treatment options in conjunction with other antiretroviral drugs.
AIDS Remains Serious Pandemic, U.S. Ambassador Warns: Africa News Service (06/02/99); Speaking at a recent Orientation Seminar on HIV/AIDS, sponsored by UNICEF/EOC-DICAC, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia David H. Shinn noted that although the Ethiopian government has taken a strong stance on HIV/AIDS in recent months, continued efforts must be made. In addition, Shinn outlined the three major components of U
Poll: Public Support for Sexuality Education: U.S. Newswire (06/02/99); Findings released by the Advocates for Youth and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States indicate that Americans overwhelmingly support sex education for students in junior high and high school. Concern over the transmission of HIV and various other sexually transmitted diseases seems to ha
Mad-Cow Fears Lead Panel to Urge Barring Some Blood Donors: Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (06/03/99) P. B16; An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration has recommended that American travelers who stayed in Great Britain for over six months between 1980 and 1996 should be barred from donating blood. The FDA panel is concerned about a possible risk that a human brain disease similar to bovine spongiform encephalopath
Japan Approves Use of the Pill: Financial Times (www.ft.com) (06/03/99) P. 4; Harney, Alexandra; Japan has approved the use of a low-dosage contraceptive pill, becoming the last country in the United Nations to do so. The move was partly prompted by outrage over the ministry s six- month deliberation to approve Viagra for men. Doctors prescribing the pill will be required to give women medical examinations, expl
Naturally Attenuated HIV--Lessons for AIDS Vaccines and Treatment: New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org) (06/03/99) Vol. 340, No. 22, P. 1756; Collins, Kathleen L.; Nabel, Gary J.; The findings of the Sydney Blood Bank Cohort Research Group, which studied a blood donor and eight transfusion recipients who were infected with the same attenuated strain of HIV with a mutation in the nef gene, offers an opportunity to investigate the effects of attenuated virus on disease progression. In an editorial
Immunologic and Virologic Status After 14 to 18 Years of Infection With an Attenuated Strain of HIV-1: New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org) (06/03/99) Vol. 340, No. 22, P. 1715; Learmont, Jennifer C.; Geczy, Andrew F.; Mills, John; et al.; A blood donor and eight transfusion recipients in Australia were infected prior to 1985 with an attenuated strain of HIV- 1. Now, researchers for the Sydney Blood Bank Cohort Research Group report longitudinal immunologic and virologic data for seven members of that group, some 14 to 18 years after infection. The anal
Results of IL-12 Pilot Study for AIDS-Related KS Encouraging: Reuters Health Information Services (06/01/99); Initial data suggests that Interleukin 12 (IL-12) proves effective in fighting AIDS-related Kaposi s sarcoma. Subjects self-administered escalating doses of IL-12 twice a week, utilizing a subcutaneous delivery system. The investigators found that seven of nine evaluable patients achieved a 50 percent drop in number or
Kenya's Population Growth Falls: PANA Wire Service Online (05/28/99); Kenya s population growth rate has fallen from 3.8 percent in 1978 to 2.5 percent in 1998. Data indicates that the birth rate has plummeted from 8.1 live births per woman in 1978, to 4.6 in 1998. Officials attribute these declines partially to increased use of contraceptives. However, Harold Wackman, the World Bank cou
Mothers, Babies Hit Hard: Africa News Online (06/01/99); Speaking on behalf of Namibia s Minister of Health, Minister of Youth and Sport Kapelwa Kabajani announced that mother-to- child HIV transmission is on the rise in Namibia. In some provinces, the prevalence of HIV among mothers-to-be is 34 percent. The official noted various factors that play a role in possible disease
R4 Million Boost for the Female Condom in Mpumalanga: Africa News Service (06/01/99); Hammond, Sharon; Dr. Kelvin Billinghurst, chief medical officer of the Mpumalanga Health and Welfare Department in South Africa , announced that R4 million has been allocated to facilitate the distribution of female condoms within the province. The female condom, which is inserted in the vagina and covers external genitalia, has gained
New Virus Found in California Blood Donors: Reuters Health Information Services (06/01/99); Researchers from the Sacramento Medical Foundation Center found that 6.7 percent of tested blood donors in Northern California are positive for the TT virus. The new virus was discovered in 1997 by Japanese researchers investigating patients who developed hepatitis after blood transfusions. Bernie R. Betlach et al. tes
A Plague of Rape: Chicago Tribune Online (06/01/99); Salopek, Paul; South Africa has one of the worst rape problems in the world. Police estimate that 32 of 100,000 women get raped each year; however, experts say the actual number of rapes could be much higher, because many cases are not reported. While rape crosses all class and racial lines in South Africa, it is worst among those
Hard Sell: Seniors Often Won't Believe AIDS Can Be a Threat to Them: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Online (06/01/99); Rouvalis, Christina; Senior citizens are the fastest growing group with AIDS nationwide. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a 22 percent jump in new AIDS cases among those 50 and older in 1996, compared to a 9 percent jump in those between the ages of 13 and 49. Currently, people with AIDS who are 50 and up repre
Japan May Approve the Pill Today; HIV Test May Be Required: Bloomberg News Service (06/02/99); Japan may approve the birth control pill today after nine years of deliberation. A spokesman for the Health and Welfare Ministry noted that if the drug is approved, women may have to be tested for HIV and consent to regular medical and gynecological exams, and doctors will have to warn patients that oral contraceptiv
Incorporation of Zidovudine Into Leukocyte DNA From HIV-1- Positive Adults and Pregnant Women, and Cord Blood From Infants Exposed in Utero: AIDS Online (05/28/99) Vol. 13, NO. 8, P. 919; Olivero, Ofelia A.; Shearer, Gene M.; Chougnet, Claire A.; et al.; Studies in mice have shown that the nucleoside analog 3 - azido-deoxythymidine (ZDV) is carcinogenic in newborn mice which come in contact with the chemical in utero. The compound also blends into newborn mouse DNA. Researchers here assess whether ZDV blends into human blood cell DNA from adults to newborn infants. The
Long Therapy Makes Patients Drop Out: Chemical & Engineering News (pubs.acs.org/cen) (05/17/99) Vol. 77, No. 20, P. 60; Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis are critical, but they do require time, which can prove problematic for some patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s Patricia M. Simone notes that it can be difficult to get patients to complete the full course of treatment, which can last six months or more. P
Woman Jailed 10 Months for Refusing TB Medicine: Los Angeles Times Online (www.latimes.com) (05/31/99); Arax, Mark; Hongkham Souvannarath, a native of Southeast Asia and mother of seven, was jailed in California s Fresno County for 10 months for refusing to take medication for tuberculosis. The woman was released last week, under house arrest, pending a July 15 hearing, following to the actions of public interest lawyers. County aut
AIDS Seen Threatening Mekong Growth Plan: Reuters (06/01/99); Birsel, Robert; The Asian Development Bank is launching an $8.2 million program to curb the spread of HIV in China , Myanmar , Laos , Thailand , Cambodia , and Vietna
One-Third of Texas Inmates May Have Hepatitis C: Dallas Morning News Online (www.dallasnews.com) (05/29/99); A preliminary study of prison inmates in Texas suggests that one-third, or about 42,000 people, may be infected with hepatitis C virus. The final study, based on a sample of 2,600 new inmates, will be released June 17. Officials expect initial treatment of the virus will cost the state about $65 million. Furthermore, a
Study Finds Nose Spray May Prevent Gonorrhea: Reuters (05/31/99); An experimental inhalant vaccine has been found to decrease colonization of the vagina by the bacteria that cause gonorrhea. Injected vaccines have failed to prevent gonorrhea because they do not create antibodies on the surface of the vagina. The inhalant vaccine, so far only tested on mice, reportedly cuts vaginal co
Nushawn's Girl's: Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (06/01/99) P. C1; Frey, Jennifer; When several teenage girls were diagnosed with HIV in small Chautauqua County, Richard Berke, county health commissioner, investigated. His questions led him to a total of 13 new HIV infections linked to one man, Nushawn Williams. Williams, who identified nearly 50 sexual partners to county health officials, infected s
Women's Disease Is Linked to Sexual Contact: New York Times (www.nyt.com) (06/01/99); A study released at a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology indicates that bacterial vaginosis may be transmitted sexually. Bacterial vaginosis destroys lactobacilli, a bacteria which maintains the acid level of the vagina. When lactobacilli are destroyed, the acidity of the vagina is lowered, making it an e
Prophylactic Cesarean Delivery for the Prevention of Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission: Journal of the American Medical Association (www.jama.com) (05/26/99) Vol. 281, No. 20, P. 1946; Stringer, Jeffrey S.A.; Rouse, Dwight J.; Goldenberg, Robert L.; There may be cause for restraint in using cesarean delivery to help prevent perinatal HIV transmission, assert researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The authors note that data from a meta-analysis conducted by the International Perinatal HIV Group may have led some obstetrical care providers to beli
Prevalence of Primary HIV Drug Resistance Among Seroconverters During an Explosive Outbreak of HIV Infection Among Injecting Drug Users: AIDS Online (www.aidsonline.com) (05/28/99) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. 981; Alexander, Christopher S.; Dong, Winnie; Schechter, Martin T.; et al.; Canadian investigators say the frequency of transmission of drug-resistant HIV among injecting drug users who recently contracted the virus is low. After studying 61 patients who seroconverted from HIV negative to positive between December 1997 and February 1998, the investigators found no evidence of drug-resistant st
A Cluster of HIV-Positive Young Women, Upstate New York, 1997- 1998: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (05/28/99) Vol 48, No. 20,; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently assisted the New York State Department of Health and the Chautauqua County Department of Health in an investigation of a cluster of HIV infections among young women, reportedly infected through heterosexual sex with the same man. Results of the investigation indic
Officials Probe Hyogo Clinic Over Dialysis Infection: Kyodo News Service (05/28/99); Officials from Japan s Health and Welfare Ministry are investigating allegations that a private clinic in Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture, delayed notifying authorities about patients infected with hepatitis B. In Japan, doctors are required to notify authorities of hepatitis B cases within seven days. So far two patients o
Age No Death Knell for Immune System, Study Finds: Reuters (05/27/99); Researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles have shown that the thymus, previously thought to shut down at puberty, continues to produce T-cells in humans until late in life. T-cells migrate from bone marrow to the thymus, where they are taught how to function properly, fighting off infections. The findi
Lack of Education May Be Barrier to HIV Protease Inhibitor Therapy: Reuters Health Information Services (05/27/99); Investigators from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science say that HIV-infected people with a college education and perception of overall improved health are more likely to receive protease inhibitor therapy. The study followed 1,034 HIV-infected patients at a large HIV/AIDS community service organizati
Increase in HIV Cases Expected: Indianapolis Star-News Online (05/28/99); Fahy, Joe; Health officials speaking at a hearing organized by the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and the Indiana Minority Health Coalition say that an outbreak of syphilis in primarily African-American neighborhoods of Indianapolis will likely result in an increased rate of HIV infection within the next two years. Syphilis cre
TB Rising Rapidly in Botswana: Africa News Service (05/27/99); Representatives from the World Health Organization , the Damien Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the government of Botswana have concluded that cases of tuberculosis are increasing in Botswana. There were over 7,200 cases of TB in Botswana in 1997 and 600 reported deaths, although the act
Scientists Search for Better Tuberculosis Vaccine: Nando Times Online (05/27/99); Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the current tuberculosis vaccine, may have evolved out of its usefulness, according to new research. The vaccine has widely varying rates of efficacy, from 70 percent in Great Britain to failure in South India . In the current issue of Science, researchers at McGill University Health Cent
Audit Reveals CDC Misled Congress About Funds: Washington Post (05/28/99) P. A33; Strauss, Valerie; A new audit, conducted by the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services, states that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used most of the funding cleared by Congress for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) on other areas of study. In response to the report, CDC Director Jeffrey P.
Control of HIV Despite Discontinuation of Antiretroviral Therapy: New England Journal of Medicine (05/27/99) Vol. 340, No. 21, P. 1683; Lisziewicz, Julianna; Rosenberg, Eric; Lieberman, Judy; et al.; In a letter to the editor, an international team of researchers discusses the potential for control of HIV without antiretroviral therapy. The authors cite the Berlin patient as an example of one who is doing fine after 19 months without antiretroviral treatment. Most interesting were the Berlin patient s HIV-specific
Residual HIV-1 Disease in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: New England Journal of Medicine (05/27/99) Vol. 340, No. 21, P. 1672; Pomerantz, Roger J.; In an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Roger J. Pomerantz, of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, discusses the potential for further research unveiled by two HIV studies published in the same issue of the journal. While it is clear that a reservoir of latent H
Science & Health Bulletin: Namibia--AIDS: PANA Wire Service (05/26/99); In a report to government officials, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders, Dr. Muiri Gidale, principal medical officer at Grootfontein State Hospital, Namibia , revealed that 40 people in Grootfontein have died of AIDS-related illnesses since January. Furthermore, 94 patients with AIDS are currently h
Planning Strategies Against HIV: Africa News Online (05/26/99); The International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) and the National Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda are hosting a six-day workshop at the Calendar Rest House in Kampala, to discuss how to cope with the virus. Linda Francis, a representative of the ICW, asserted that lack of equality for w
Few Risk Factors Identified for AIDS-Related Cryptococcal Meningitis: Reuters Health information Services (05/26/99); Investigators from Johns Hopkins University report in the May issue of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses that gender, race, and steroid exposure are unlikely to influence the risk of AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis. These factors have been thought to predispose one to the opportunistic infection. However, resea
Believing in Modern Medicine: Dallas Morning News Online (05/26/99); Results of a phone survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons show that about three-quarters of the 2,032 respondents believe that modern science would likely find cures to cancer, heart disease, and AIDS within the next 50 years. However, 63 percent of respondents claimed that they did not want to
Atomic View of Molecule Linked to AIDS: United Press International (05/26/99); Wasowicz, Lidia; Researchers have discovered the atomic structure of the molecule clathrin, a key target of HIV. Clathrin assembles itself within the cell membrane to carry nutrients, hormones, and CD4 immune molecules to spots in the body that require them, after which the molecule disassembles and recycles itself. Research has shown
NGOs Take Independent Stance on AIDS Project: Africa News Service (05/27/99); Maletsky, Christof; A number of non-governmental organizations in Namibia have said they are in favor of a new $100 million HIV/AIDS prevention program even though the nation s government has not embraced the project. The program--sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb--is now underway in Johannesburg and is planned for launch in Namibia,
AIDS Education Vital: USA Today (05/27/99) P. 14A; Wangila, Rhoi; Increased knowledge about HIV prevention is necessary to stem the spread of HIV, asserts Rhoi Wangila, founder and executive editor of the Ark Foundation in Africa. In a letter to the editor, Wangila praises USA Today for publicizing the plight of Africans faced with the AIDS epidemic. However, the author notes that AI
Persistence of HIV-1 Transcription in Peripheral-Blood Mononuclear Cells in Patients Receiving Potent Antiretroviral Therapy: New England Journal of Medicine (05/27/99) Vol. 340, No. 21, P. 1614; Furtado, Manohar R.; Callaway, Duncan S.; Phair, John P.; et al.; Potent antiretroviral therapy seems unable to eradicates latent HIV-1 reservoirs in CD4+ T cells. Researchers investigated the viral reservoir using cell-associated DNA and messenger RNA (mRNA), which are required components of HIV-1 replication. The subjects of the study were five men who had been infected with HIV-1
Quantifying Residual HIV-1 Replication in Patients Receiving Combination Antiretroviral Therapy: New England Journal of Medicine (05/27/99) Vol. 340, No. 21, P. 1605; Zhang, Linqi; Ramratnam, Bharat; Tenner-Racz, Klara; et al.; Although combination antiretroviral therapy has proven effective in suppressing plasma levels of HIV-1, it can miss the virus in latently infected resting memory CD4 lymphocytes. In a study, investigators looked at the competency of combination antiretroviral therapies for eliminating the virus in the body. The study e
A Coat of Elaborate Construction: Chemical & Engineering News (05/17/99) Vol. 77, No. 20, P. 56; The cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis includes a complex polymer linked to the plasma membrane. Colorado State University professor Patrick J. Brennan has described the cell envelope as a marvel of chemistry, an absolute treasure-house of unusual compounds. Some of the existing TB drugs target the cell wall,
Results Will Be Released Thursday at High School: Sun Herald Online (05/26/99); Austin, Vivian; Approximately 300 people have been scheduled for tuberculosis tests at Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi, after one student reported being infected with the bacteria. Preliminary results of the tests will be released Thursday, and full results will be released by Friday. Anyone testing positive for TB will be re
110 AIDS Patients, HIV Cases Reported in March: Kyodo News Service (05/25/99); Japan s Health and Welfare Ministry recorded 38 new AIDS cases and 72 new cases of HIV in March, bringing the total of reported HIV/AIDS cases in Japan up to 5,856. Officials attribute this leap in the incidence rate to a law, enacted last September, that categorizes all infectious diseases into four groups according t
Call for Mass Movement to Check AIDS: Hindu Online (05/24/99); Indian officials have started a two-day workshop to promote awareness of AIDS. Officials asserted that AIDS, particularly a problem in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, must be addressed not only by government initiatives, but by voluntary service and non-government organizations. Accordingly, the Health Department is using
One in Seven Make Visits to Prostitutes: South China Morning Post Online (05/26/99); Parwani, Audrey; A survey of 1,124 men in Hong Kong aged 18 to 60 indicate that one in seven men have sex with prostitutes. According to the survey, 45 percent of men engaging in sex with prostitutes have no steady partner and 14 percent are unfaithful to their partner. Lead investigator Dr. Lau Tak-fai noted that more than over one-qu
Condom Failure Linked With Infrequent Condom Use: Reuters Health Information Services (05/25/99); A study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology suggests that condom failure in men who have sex with men is linked to infrequent condom and lubricant use, as well as amphetamine and heavy alcohol consumption. The study surveyed nearly 2,600 HIV-seroneg
Health Tips: Dangers of Vaginal Infections: United Press International (05/25/99); Wasowicz, Lidia; A report presented at the Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Philadelphia called for more aggressive treatment and screening of sexually transmitted diseases for women and their sexual partners. Dr. James McGregor, a professor at the University of Colorado School of Me
WHO Refused Extra Funding: Financial Times (05/26/99) P. 8; Williams, Frances; Governments rejected on Tuesday the World Health Organization s request for additional funding. On the last day of the annual assembly of the agency s 191 members, participants approved a regular budget of $843 million for 2000-2001, which was the same amount allocated for 1998-1999. In response to the decision, WHO ge
The Relationship Between Social Support and Health in Gay Men With HIV/AIDS: An Integrative View: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (05/99- 06/99) Vol. 10, No. 3, P. 74; Hall, Vincent P.; A review of literature on the association between social support and health in homosexual men with HIV or AIDS suggests three divisions of research. These include studies that focus on the social networks of homosexual men and the role of significant others for social support; studies that deal with coping and its link
Prenatal Discussion of HIV Testing and Maternal HIV Testing-- 14 States, 1996-1997: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (05/21/99) Vol. 48, No. 19, P. 401; CDC reports that, based on survey data gathered during 1996 and 1997, HIV counseling and testing of pregnant women were common, although they varied. The factors by which they varied include the state, the type of prenatal health-care provider, the patient s Medicaid status, and maternal demographic characteristics. Th
HIV-Related PML Can Develop During Successful HAART: Reuters Health Information Services (05/24/99); HIV-infected patients undergoing highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) are still at risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). A study published in the May issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases tracked three patients who developed PML after four to 11 months of HAART. Investigators note that HAART ca
Survey Shows HIV Treatment Problems for Heterosexual Men: Australian Broadcasting Corp. News Online (05/24/99); Researchers from Australia s LaTrobe University say that heterosexual men with HIV may be under-treated. A survey of 143 HIV-infected heterosexual men suggests that this group is less likely to have regular viral load tests and is less likely to use new therapies to combat the disease. Investigators hope that new infor
Stress May Speed Progression to AIDS: Fox News Online (05/24/99); Dr. Jane Leserman, a psychiatric researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, links stress to the rate at which HIV-positive men progress to AIDS. Her team s report, published in the June issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, followed 82 HIV-positive men for 5.5 years, assessing them periodically for stres
Baby's Touch Pushed Policy Chief to Front-Line Fight: USA Today (05/24/99) P. 2D; Sternberg, Steve; Sandra Thurman, who was appointed director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy in 1997, began working with AIDS patients years ago after visiting an HIV-infected baby in a hospital in Atlanta. She says that addressing AIDS issues has been an uphill battle, fighting for budgets and approaches to public hea
Virus Makes Families Pay Twice: USA Today (05/24/99) P. 6D; Sternberg, Steve; Children are affected by HIV in Africa, even if they never become infected. According to UNAIDS , 25 percent of children in sub-Saharan Africa live in families in which at least one parent has HIV and is in need of medical care. Children are often affected in indirect ways when a parent has HIV, because parents cannot
HIV-1 Subtype C Linked to Greater Immunosuppression: Reuters Health Information Services (05/24/99); Mitchell, Deborah; A report in the May issue of the Journal of Virology indicates that immunodeficiency caused by HIV-1 subtype C may be more virulent than with other HIV-1 subtypes. Investigators measured the prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes, viral loads, and CD4 lymphocyte levels in 320 women from Nairobi, Kenya . Subtype C was uncommon
Dentist Denied Appeal in HIV-Patient Case: USA Today (05/25/99) P. 5A; The Supreme Court rejected Monday an appeal by dentist Randon Bragdon, who was charged with failing to treat an HIV-infected woman in his office. The Supreme Court ruled last year that HIV-infected individuals can sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bragdon claimed that filling the patient s cavity would ser
The Validity of Medical History, Classic Symptoms, and Chest Radiographs in Predicting Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Chest Online (05/99) Vol. 115, No. 5, P. 1248; Tattevin, Pierre; Casalino, Enrique; Fleury, Laurent; et al.; French researchers propose a prediction model for patients admitted with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 211 patients studied, 22 percent had culture-positive pulmonary TB, including about 15 percent with a positive smear. About 25 percent were infected with HIV. They note that the sensitivity of the respiratory i
More Teen AIDS Feared: London Free Press Online (05/23/99); Lem, Sharon; New statistics from Health Canada indicate that of all new HIV infections between 1990 and 1995, half occurred among individuals aged 23 or younger. Dr. Chris Archibald, chief of Health Canada s division of HIV/Epidemiology at the Centre for Disease Control, noted there is risky sexual behavior among the country s teen
Researchers Manage to Create Mouse With Human AIDS Virus: Nikkei Weekly (05/03/99) Vol. 37 No. 1874, P. 8; Teams from the Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have developed a mouse that is susceptible to HIV. In order to do this, the researchers used an immunodeficient mouse--which could not fend off foreign substances--and then immu
Tuberculosis: A Tough Adversary: Chemical & Engineering News (05/17/99) Vol. 77, No. 20, P. 52; Rouhi, A. Maureen; The prevalence of tuberculosis throughout the world has revived public health systems that were allowed to decline in the face of previous years drops in TB cases and mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is leading the effort to maintain the public health system that deals with the disease, allotti
Health--Kenya: Cultural Practices Hinder the Fight Against AIDS: IPS Wire (05/21/99); Customs and superstition may be exacerbating the spread of HIV in Kenya s Nyanza Province, which is home to about 20 percent of the country s nearly 84,000 reported AIDS cases. Cultural practices like polygamy, inheritance of wives, and sexual cleansing continue even in the face of soaring HIV infections. According to
Therapeutic Gp160 HIV-1 Vaccine Provides Little Benefit: Reuters Health Information Services (05/21/99); The Nordic VAC-04 Study Group has found no apparent clinical benefit of immunization with recombinant HIV-1 gp160 (rgp160). The study, published in the May 22nd issue of the Lancet, noted significantly fewer deaths in the vaccine group at six months, as compared to the placebo group; but at the end of the study, approx
FDA Finds Dialysis Center Problems: Newsday Online (05/21/99); Rotstein, Arthur H.; A total of 11 hospitals and dialysis centers in the United States have reported problems with their dialysis machines, following warnings from the Food and Drug Administration about faulty equipment. The FDA issued a warning last week that there was a chance of blood-borne pathogens being transferred between patients w
Minority of HIV-Infected Individuals Continue to Expose Others: Reuters Health Information Services (05/21/99); Dr. Patricia J. Kissinger, of Tulane University s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and colleagues are concerned that a minority of HIV-positive people who do not discuss their condition with partners, engage in unprotected sex, and have many partners may be predominantly to blame for the spread of HIV. A
Anti-AIDS Campaign Uses Gritty Words to Educate Youth: CNews Online (05/21/99); The Canadian AIDS Society s campaign, AIDS: Not in This Body, is taking a new approach to educating young people between the ages 14 and 24. Surveys have indicated that young people take straight and comprehensive talk about AIDS more seriously than information that hedges around the issue. Accordingly, the program wil
Time Bomb Ticks South of Sahara: USA Today (05/24/99) P. 1D; Sternberg, Steve; Sub-Saharan Africa has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic, with countries like South Africa , Zimbabwe , Zambia , and Uganda particularly hard-hit. Recently, Sandra Thurman, director of White House Office of National AIDS Policy, visited the area to bring attention t
Gonorrhea Incidence and HIV Testing and Counseling Among Adolescents and Young Adults Seen at a Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases: AIDS Online (05/28/99) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. 971; Chamot, Eric; Coughlin, Steven S.; Farley, Thomas A.; et al.; At a sexually transmitted disease clinic in New Orleans, researchers investigated the relationship between HIV testing and post-test counseling and a rise in gonorrhea incidence among adolescents and young adults. The historical cohort study involved more than 4,000 patients between the ages of 15 and 25 years of age d
U.K.'s Cantab Progresses on Genital Compounds: Reuters (05/20/99); The U.K .s Cantab said it anticipates a jointly developed compound targeting genital warts, TA-GW, will enter stage IIb clinical trials by mid-year. In addition, phase I studies of DISC HSV, a vaccine against genital herpes , is nearing completion. By the second half of the year,
Gender Bulletin: Zambia--Orphans: PANA Wire Service (05/20/99); Musopelo, Mumba; UNICEF s 1999 State of the World s Children Report says that the AIDS epidemic in Zambia has left 400,000 school-aged children orphaned, more than anywhere else in the world. According to the study, nearly three-quarters of the orphaned children in urban areas have lost their fathers, while 7 percent have lost their mo
Hospital Warns 3,000 of Possible Exposure to HIV: CNews Online (05/20/99); Officials at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Canada , are sending letters to 3,000 people about their potential exposure to HIV and hepatitis through improperly cleaned equipment. A technician was found to be using improper cleaning methods for components of a machine used in tests for esophageal acidity and
Drug Users Fuel Hepatitis Boom: BBC News Online (05/20/99); The British Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) has released figures indicating that cases of hepatitis B have risen in England by almost a third since 1998, to 855 cases from 652. Intravenous drug use has been cited as the most likely cause for almost 46 percent of these infections. An estimated 50,000 people in t
Officials Face Tainted Blood Trial: Waco Tribune-Herald Online (05/20/99); The French government will see Claude Evin, a former health minister, in court for his role in the 1980s health scandal that resulted in the infection of 4,000 people with HIV from tainted blood, report judicial sources. Evin is charged with not informing those who received the contaminated blood of their danger. The j
Heterosexual HIV Transmission Increasing in Scotland: Reuters Health Information Services (05/20/99); According to Dr. Alexander R. Mackenzie of the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, heterosexual transmission of HIV is on the rise in Scotland. In a retrospective study spanning 1985 through 1997, investigators found that in cases of HIV infection: 39 percent were due to homosexual transmission, 32 percent were due to heterosexu
Pregnant HIV-Infected Women Should Be Routinely Screened for TB: Reuters Health Information Services (05/20/99); Pregnant women with HIV should have tuberculin skin testing (TST) as part of their routine prenatal care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology this week, the CDC s Dr. Joann M. Schulte and colleagues reported findings of
OSHA to Consider New Rules on Needlestick Injuries: Fox News Online (05/21/99); Robinson, Melissa B.; The Occupational Safety and Health Organization announced Thursday that it may require hospitals and healthcare facilities to use safety devices to reduce needlestick injuries among workers. OSHA released a report, based on a survey of 400 healthcare employees, which asserts that safety devices are not used nearly enou
Impact of HIV Infection and AIDS on Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in South Africa in 2010: British Medical Journal Online (05/15/99) Vol. 318, No. 7194, P. 1351; Panz, Vanessa R.; Joffe, Barry I.; In a letter to the editor, researchers present an estimate of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in South Africa . The authors note that, according to some estimates, the prevalence of diabetes could reach 220 million people by 2010, compared to 124 million in 1997. As a result of AIDS,
Sexual Health of Teenagers in England and Wales: Analysis of National Data: British Medical Journal Online (05/15/99) Vol. 318, No. 7194, P. 1321; Nicoll, Angus; Catchpole, Mike; Cliffe, Susan; et al.; Researchers studying teenagers in England and Wales report that there is a great deal of room for improvement in the sexual health of these individuals. Statistics show that in 1996, teenage females represented one in five terminated pregnancies, but only 9 percent of births. Girls between the ages of 16 and 19 had the
AIDS Hits Indian Population With Monsoon Force: AIDS Alert-International Supplement (05/99) Vol. 14, No. 5, P. 1; HIV is taking India by storm, and some experts predict that the current level of infection will soon double. An estimated 5 million Indians are infected with HIV--a number greater than that found in any other country in absolute terms, although the infection rate is less than 1 percent. Johns Hopkins Robert C. Bolling
Government Spurns AIDS Programme: Africa News Service (05/18/99); The health ministry of Namibia has declined an offer to take part in a new $100 million AIDS prevention program being sponsored by an international pharmaceutical company that will seek to improve medical research on women and children and educate the community. Health ministry officials were recently quoted as saying
Congolese Minister Worried by Rising HIV Prevalence: PANA Wire Service Online (05/19/99); Alfred Leon Opimbat, the Republic of Congo s health minister, voiced concern Tuesday over the rising number of HIV and AIDS cases in the country. Opimbat is trying to revitalize the nation s National AIDS Programme, which was suspended due to a lack of funding and the country s 1995 civil war. Since 1996, the Republic
Drug Raids Increase Tuberculosis Risk, Says University Study: Sydney Morning Herald Online (05/19/99); Totaro, Paola; In a report at the Australasian Conference on Drugs Strategy in Adelaide recently, researchers from the University of New South Wales noted that police drug raids may put more people at risk for tuberculosis and exacerbate ills caused by drug use. As an example, the authors pointed to the tendency for drug users to sec
Brundtland Decries AIDS Scourge: PANA Wire Service Online (05/19/99); Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the World Health Organization , is calling for renewed energy and commitment in the war against AIDS, noting the damage the epidemic has caused, especially in Africa. In a speech to the 52nd session of the World Health Assembly on Tuesday, Brundtland pointed out that the devel
Condom Use Must Triple to Curb AIDS: PANA Wire Service Online (05/19/99); A new report issued by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, titled Closing the Gap, asserts that condom use should rise from the current 6 billion to 9 billion condoms a year to 24 billion in order to stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. With 333 million people newly infected with STDs
Burundi Launches Strategic Plan to Combat AIDS: PANA Wire Service Online (05/19/99); Burundi President Pierre Buyoya has launched an aggressive campaign against AIDS over the next four years. The first part of the plan will focus on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV; helping people living with HIV; and the provision of equipment, training, and epidemiological surveillance. F
House Panel Approves Health-Coverage Bill for Working Disabled: Wall Street Journal (05/20/99) P. B12; The Work Incentives Improvement Act has been unanimously approved by the House Commerce Committee. The bill--supported by both parties, President Clinton, and disability advocates-- extends Medicare to working disabled people, including those with HIV or AIDS, for 10 years. The measure, which would cost $800 million ov
Audio-Computer Interviewing to Measure Risk Behaviour for HIV Among Injecting Drug Users: A Quasi-Randomised Trial: Lancet (05/15/99) Vol. 353, No.9165, P. 1657; Des Jarlais, Don C.; Paone, Denise; Milliken, Judith; et al.; Researchers investigated the efficacy of audio-computer- assisted self-interviewing (audio-CASI) versus face-to-face interviewing for reporting HIV risk behavior in injecting drug users. Participants were randomly selected from a pool of injecting drug users involved in needle-exchange programs in four U.S. cities. The
Low Literacy Levels Correlated With Poor HIV Treatment Adherence: Reuters Health Information Services (05/18/99); In a study published in the May issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Dr. C. Kalichman, of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and colleagues noted a correlation between poor adherence to highly active antiretroviral drug regimens for HIV and low literacy. Investigators observed that more than 2
Congressional Hearings Look at Ending Mandatory Hepatitis B Vaccinations: Postnet Online (05/18/99); Lytle, Tamara; Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testified before Congress on Tuesday that the hepatitis B vaccine is safe and critical to stem the spread of the disease. In addition, Joel Alpert, head of the American Academy of Pediatrics, asserted that the disease is what puts a child at risk--not the immu
Vaccine Offers Hope on Genital Warts, Cervical Cancer: Australian Broadcasting Corp. Online (05/19/99); Australian researchers have developed a potential vaccine against human papilloma virus that is currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States . The vaccine was designed to fight the four main strains of HPV, which can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. With the vast majority of cervical cancer cases l
Pap Smear Can Help Cut Gays' Cancer Risk: San Francisco Examiner Online (05/18/99) P. A9; Torassa, Ulysses; Doctors may begin recommending Pap smears for men who engage in anal sex. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that Pap smears appear to be a cost-effective way to detect early signs of anal cancer in HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Anal cancer-- which is hard to detect bec
Call for Drug Summit to Focus on Hepatitis C Epidemic: Australian Associated Press (05/19/99); Lobbyists in Australia are calling for resources to be allocated for needle-exchange programs, due to the surge of hepatitis C infections in the country. According to Stuart Loveday, executive officer of the Hepatitis C Council of New South Wales, there are 30 new hepatitis C infections in Australia each day--most of w
Gore Told to Ease Up on Anti-South Africa Drugs War: Africa News Service (05/18/99); Caelers, Di; A number of international organizations, including Medicines Sans Frontieres, Health Action International, and Global Trade Watch, have come out in opposition to U.S. trade demands on South Africa regarding its efforts to acquire less expensive medicines. The organizations support a petition urging Vice President Al Go
Destroying Global Diseases: Seattle Times (05/18/99); King, Warren; The Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI) is currently engaging in studies aimed at destroying global diseases-- infectious diseases that have a significant impact worldwide-- including tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, and malaria. The incidence of infectious diseases is rising, with over 1 billion new cases and 17
AIDS Vaccine Development Makes Progress: Nando Times Online (05/18/99); Dr. Margaret Johnston, a researcher with the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, announced that findings from animal and clinical trials make the future development of an AIDS vaccine look hopeful. Speaking at Morgan University on Tuesday, Johnston noted that 60 experimental vaccines have been evalu
Some Bars to AIDS Vaccine Lie Outside the Lab: Baltimore Sun (05/19/99) P. 1A; Shane, Scott; Some experts are voicing concerns that, despite the treatment progress for AIDS patients in the developed world, the regimens are still too expensive for those in the Third World. South African minister Rev. Welcome Khumalo told AIDS experts at Morgan State University in Maryland Tuesday AIDS is a monster that swallows
Rate of HIV-1 RNA Rebound Upon Stopping Antiretroviral Therapy: AIDS Online (05/28/99) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. F59; Harrigan, Richard P.; Whaley, Mark; Montaner, Julio S. G.; In an effort to determine how quickly HIV-1 RNA returned in patients with undetectable viral levels when highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was halted, Canadian researchers analyzed six patients who stopped therapy because of lipodystrophy, narcotic overdose, sleeplessness, and/or high blood pressure. The res
Behavior Change Model Promotes HIV Drug Compliance, Safe Sex Practices: AIDS Alert (05/99) Vol. 14, No. 5, P. 49; A behavioral program for quitting smoking, developed at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, is being explored as a method to promote safe sex and increase the likelihood of compliance for people on complex HIV therapies. The model, traditionally used in psychotherapy, has six stages, several of which a patient
Patients From Sydney Clinic Should Get Virus Tests: Australian Associated Press (05/18/99); Australian officials are urging all people who underwent invasive procedures, such as acupuncture and surgery, at the Hallelujah Acupuncture and Medical Mission Centre in Campsie, to be tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The Central Sydney Area Health Service Public Health Unit issued the warning after disco
[Calif. Assembly Passes Needle Exchange Policy]: San Francisco Examiner Online (05/14/99); The California Assembly has approved regulations permitting legalization of needle-exchange programs in cities and counties, provided they are designed with input from the community. Currently, San Francisco and about 17 counties in California have instituted needle-exchange programs, but they are operating under the p
U.S. Top Court Upholds Military Officer's Discharge: Reuters (05/17/99); The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that the president and military officials have the right to dismiss an HIV-infected Air Force major who was convicted for having unprotected sex. The officer was convicted for disobeying an order from a superior to practice safe sex, to inform his sexual partners of his H
Anti-Angiogenesis Protein Effective Against AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma: Reuters Health Information Services (05/17/99); Dr. Parkash Gill, of the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and colleagues reported at the 35th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology this weekend that use of the anti-angiogenic protein IM862 resulted in a complete or major response in 37 percent of AIDS patients with advanced
Immune Response's Phase III Remune Trial to End: Reuters (05/17/99); Immune Response and partner Agouron Pharmaceuticals have been advised by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board to end a phase III study of its anti-HIV therapy Remune. The monitoring board advised termination of the trials because no significant differences were seen between placebo and treatment groups. Immune R
amfAR Awards $1.7 Million in Grants to Support Research on AIDS Vaccines and Immune Reconstitution: amfAR (05/17/99); The American Foundation for AIDS Research is providing $1.7 million in grants for research on AIDS vaccines and immune reconstitution. The group s awards consist of nine grants for AIDS vaccine research, totaling $953,031, and 10 grants for immune reconstitution, totaling $750,000. Those chosen to receive grants from a
Canada's Sperm Banks Being Tested: CNews Online (05/18/99); CTV News has reported that Health Canada is requiring Canada s 42 sperm banks to test all their stocks for safety. This move was prompted by allegations that three of Canada s sperm banks--Gamete Services of Toronto, Gamete Biology Laboratories of Hamilton, and the C.A.R.E. Centre in Mississauga--may not have been foll
Similar Rate of Disease Progression Among Individuals Infected With HIV-1 Genetic Subtypes A-D: AIDS Online (05/28/99) Vol. 13, No. 8, P. 901; Alaeus, Annette; Lidman, Knut; Bjorkman, Anders; et al.; Investigators from Sweden conducted a two-part study into whether the rate of disease progression demonstrates subtype- specific differences. One study compared 49 ethnic Africans to 49 ethnic Swedes regardless of the subtype of the infecting virus, while the other study compared 126 patients infected with different ge
UNM Widens Study of Vaccine to Prevent HPV: Albuquerque Journal Online (05/03/99); Jadrnak, Jackie; A phase II trial of a vaccine against human papillomavirus has begun at the University of New Mexico. Researcher Cosette Wheeler said the study will observe how effectively the vaccine prevents the disease in several thousand people. Currently, the vaccine is only being tested on women, but future tests will include me
Prevention Is Best Medicine: Chicago Sun-Times Online (05/16/99); Ritter, Jim; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently ranked the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century in the United States . These feats include vaccination, control of infectious diseases, safer food, healthier mothers and babies, and birth control. Although some parents have complained about t
U.S. Dept. of HHS: Second Annual AIDS Vaccine Day: M2 Presswire (05/14/99); The second annual AIDS Vaccine Day, to be held May 18, honors all those who have been instrumental in seeking an AIDS vaccine. All of us are indebted to the individuals on the front lines of the effort to find a safe and effective AIDS vaccine, stated National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anth
Faulty Condoms Still Circulating in South Africa Nearly 1 Year After Recall: Nando Times Online (05/16/99); In South Africa , a report in the Sunday Times says that faulty condoms, manufactured by Kenzo, are still being distributed in parts of the country. Kenzo condoms were recalled last July, when one in four was found to be faulty. A former government consultant noted, however, that the recall only brought in about 4.7 mi
Brazilian Patients May Have Received Tainted Blood: Reuters (05/15/99); As many as 8,400 Brazilians may have to be tested for HIV and hepatitis B following the discovery that a blood center failed to report tainted blood. While the blood bank destroyed the tainted units of blood, the center did not warn clinics that had already received some of the supply. According to Brazil s Health Mini
Many Asian American Men Unaware of HIV Risk: Reuters Health Information Services (05/14/99); A new report from the National Asian Women s Health Organization (NAWHO) suggests that many Asian-American men do not believe they are at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. According to the survey, 83 percent of Asian-American men feel they are not at risk for STDs and nearly half of the sexually act
Outbreak of TB Shows Looming Health Problem: Miami Herald Online (05/16/99); Acle, Ana; According to 1997 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater Miami ranks seventh nationwide for its rate of tuberculosis cases. Recent outbreaks of TB in Fienberg-Fisher Elementary School and Coral Gables Youth Center, both in Miami, have prompted parents to question whether school personne
New Targets in Campaigns to Halt AIDS: Washington Post (05/17/99) P. A1; Frazier, Lisa; New data indicates that adults over 50 are increasingly at risk for HIV infection. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that older people are much less likely to have protected sex than younger people, primarily because they do not see themselves as at-risk. According to the CDC, while t
Most Frequently Used Alternative and Complementary Therapies and Activities by Participants in the AMCOA Study: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (05/99- 06/99) Vol. 10, No. 3, P. 60; Greene, Kari B.; Berger, Jose; Reeves, Cherie; et al.; Investigators from Bastyr University AIDS Research Center looked at the most popular complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) that AIDS/HIV patients practice using data derived from peer-reviewed journals indexed in MedLine reported by 1,016 participants in the Alternative Medical Care Outcomes in AIDS (AMCOA) study
Notice to Readers: Availability for Public Comment of Draft Document, 1999 USPHS/IDSA Guidelines for the Prevention of Opportunistic Infections in Persons Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (05/14/99) Vol. 48, No. 18, P. 383; This year s USPHS/IDSA Guidelines for the Prevention of Opportunistic Infections in Persons Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus are currently available for public comment. The draft report features recommendations for the prevention of major parasitic, bacterial, fungal, and viral infections in HIV-infected indi
Takeda Chemical Discovers New AIDS Drug: Comtex Online (05/13/99); Japan s Takeda Chemicals and researchers at Kagoshima University have developed a novel AIDS drug that works in a manner different from existing AIDS treatments. The experimental compound prevents HIV from changing a protein into a receptor that facilitates the virus entrance into cells. Takeda said it could submit pre
Anti-AIDS Campaign Begins in Moscow: Itar Wire Service (05/14/99); EuroQuiltTour-99, a large-scale anti-AIDS action, begins in Moscow Friday, and will continue through cities in Russia , Byelorussia, Ukraine , and Poland . The effort was planned to coincide with the International Day of Memory of AIDS Victims, which was fir
Women Launch Anti-AIDS Campaign: PANA Wire Service Online (05/13/99); Phase two of South Africa s national AIDS campaign began Thursday, in the form of the On the Right Track HIV/AIDS train. The train, a moving AIDS conference, features discussions on AIDS, and is scheduled to meet delegates from the government, women s organizations, and the media. Phase two will highlight issues involv
South African Labor Leaders Told to Take AIDS Test: Reuters (05/14/99); Zwelinzima Vavi, deputy general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, has called on leading labor leaders to be tested for HIV and to reveal the results. Vavi says that although labor leaders cannot be forced to have the test, they should lead the way and give the rest of the country a good example t
Assembly Passes Needle Exchange Bill: United Press International (05/13/99); The California State Assembly has passed a bill authorizing needle-exchange programs in an effort to slow the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases. The bill, authored by Kerry Mazzoni (D-San Rafael), authorizes local governments to voluntarily implement needle and syringe exchange programs in their jurisdictions
Breakthrough Reduces STDs in Aborigines: Australian Associated Press (05/13/99); Mangnall, Valkerie; Penny Miller, of the Nganampa Health Council, announced that a culturally appropriate sexually transmitted disease program in Australia s aboriginal communities almost halved the rate of gonorrhea in Anangu Pitjantjatjara last year. The STD program, also successful in reducing rates of chlamydia and syphilis, will serv
AIDS Set to Become PNG's Biggest Killer Soon: Australian Associated Press (05/13/99); Chappelll, Trevor; Ludger Mond, health minister of Papua New Guinea , announced Thursday that AIDS will likely become the leading killer in that country s national capitol district within a year. A 1998 surveillance report of Papua New Guinea detailed an 83 percent increase of diagnosed HIV infections from 1997.
Spread of AIDS Virus Called Serious Threat to Stability of Asia, Africa: San Francisco Chronicle Online (05/13/99); Rosenberg, Africa; Lawmakers and researchers in the United States are warning that the AIDS epidemic in Africa and Asia may destabilize those regions. On Wednesday, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), the head of a congressional task force on the international scope of HIV/AIDS, cited statistics showing that infection rates in the militaries o
Rising Rate Not Linked to Prostitution: Bangkok Post Online (05/14/99); Santimetaneedol, Ampa; A new report from the Thai Public Health Ministry reveals that some 950,000 people in Thailand have contracted HIV, including 109,900 who developed AIDS. AIDS has taken the lives of over 30,000 Thais since 1984. More than 25 percent of all AIDS patients are between the ages of 25 and 29, 23.5 percent are 30 to 34 years
Protease Inhibitors Work Against HIV-1 Subtype C: AIDS Alert--International Supplement (05/99) Vol. 14, No. 5, P. 2; Stanford University researchers have concluded that protease inhibitors are effective against HIV-1 subtype C, possibly the most prevalent subtype in the world. The drugs were initially tested only on subtype B; however, subtype C is the strain thought to be responsible for the epidemics in Africa and
Fifty New Cases of AIDS in Mauritius: PANA Wire Service Online (05/12/99); Kishore Deerpalsingh, health minister of Mauritius , announced Tuesday that 50 new cases of AIDS have been recorded since July 1997. The first reported case of HIV in Mauritius was in 1989, and now some 200 citizens are currently HIV-positive. Officials say there is a system of surveillance for contagious diseases at p
Female Condoms Gain Ground in Francophone Africa: PANA Wire Service Online (05/12/99); Diop, Aida Soumare; The female condom appears to be growing in popularity in such places as Togo , Burkina Faso , and Cameroon . One doctor who specializes in reproductive health noted, Our objective is to protect the woman. So, if they like [the female condom] because it does not crack like the male condom, this is very enc
WHO Commends Swaziland for Open Stance on AIDS: PANA Wire Service Online (05/12/99); Dr. Ebrahim M. Samba, the World Health Organization regional director for Africa, has praised officials in Swaziland for publicly acknowledging that HIV/AIDS has become a national disaster. Samba says that such a statement will help focus governmental attention on the problem, as well as spur intervention by internatio
Manassas Youths Have the State's Highest STD Rate: Richmond-Times Dispatch (05/13/99) P. B4; New statistics from Virginia s department of social services indicate the city of Manassas has the highest teenage sexually transmitted disease rate in the state. In Manassas, 14.4 of 1,000 children between the ages 12 and 17 had an STD in 1997, compared to the statewide average of 7.6 cases per 1,000 teenagers.
AIDS Treatment Goes Suburban: Baltimore Sun (05/13/99) P. 1B; Apperson, Jay; In a move acknowledging the spread of HIV throughout Maryland, Chase Brexton Health Services, Johns Hopkins medical system AIDS clinic, is expanding its coverage from the city into su