The Arsenal Files 8/The Arsenal Files Collection #8 (Arsenal Computer) (1996).ISO/health/ad960905.txt

Text File | 1996-09-09 | 8KB | 148 lines

                     AIDS Daily Summary
                     September 5, 1996

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National
AIDS Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a
public service only. Providing this information does not
constitute endorsement by the CDC, the CDC National AIDS
Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this
text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC
National AIDS Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this
information. Copyright 1996, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD


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"The New 'Miracle' AIDS Drugs: A Dose of Hope and Hard Reality"
"2 More Groups to Forgo Next 'AIDS Ride'"
"Red Cross Lax in Screening, Court Told"
"The Ride of Their Lives"
"Zambian Sex Workers Reform"
"Attenuated AIDS Vaccine Candidate Reported"
"China Attacks AIDS Explosion"
"Saving Children From Sex"
"CMV Retinitis Monoclonal Antibody Trial Halted"
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"The New 'Miracle' AIDS Drugs: A Dose of Hope and Hard Reality"
Washington Post (09/05/96) P. A1; Kastor, Elizabeth
     While protease inhibitors--the new AIDS drugs being touted
as a near-miracle cure--are restoring strength to many patients,
they are expensive and difficult to take, and they do not work for
everyone.  The level of optimism in the AIDS community is the
highest it has ever been, however, due to studies that show the
drugs can lower the level of HIV in the blood to undetectable
levels.  The new drugs were approved by the Food and Drug
Administration quickly, under pressure from AIDS activists, with
less long term study.  AIDS experts warn that the drugs could fail
in the long term, but as scientific discussions play out among the
public rather than among scientists themselves, subtleties and
caution can be lost.

"2 More Groups to Forgo Next 'AIDS Ride'"
Philadelphia Inquirer (09/05/96) P. B1; Collins, Huntly
     Two of the three Philadelphia AIDS service organizations
that shared money raised by the recent
Philadelphia-to-Washington, D.C. bicycle ride announced Wednesday
that they will not participate in the ride planned for next year.
Paul Scoles, director of the board for Philadelphia Community
Health Alternatives, said the group would not take part due to
projected high overhead costs for the ride.  Meanwhile, a
representative for The AIDS Information Network explained that
organization had decided to pursue "other development
opportunities."  The June AIDS ride was criticized recently for
not fulfilling its fund-raising goal.  Of the $1.6 million raised
by riders, $1.3 million went to cover expenses.

"Red Cross Lax in Screening, Court Told"
Toronto Globe and Mail (09/04/96) P. A3; Downey, Donn
     The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is being sued for failing to
properly screen two blood donors who had sexual histories that
should have made them ineligible to donate blood according to
common precautions.  The estates of Alma Walker and Ronald
Osborne, who received blood donated by the two men in 1983 and
1985, respectively, and died of AIDS-related illnesses, are
alleging that the CRC was late and ineffective in implementing
proper donor-screening measures.  One of the blood donors was
openly gay and the other had been sexually active for eight years
before 1982.  Kenneth Arenson, lawyer for the estates, said the
CRC was more concerned about not appearing homophobic or racist
than about protecting the blood supply.

"The Ride of Their Lives"
Boston Globe (09/04/96) P. B1; Jacobs, Sally
     Of the more than 4,000 bicycle riders participating in the
second annual 300-mile Boston-to-New York AIDS Ride, about 50
have HIV or AIDS.  The riders, known as Positive Pedalers, are
taking part in the ride for personal reasons and in an attempt to
help change attitudes about people who have AIDS or HIV.  "I want
to show that people with full-blown AIDS can ride this kind of
distance and lead active, healthy lives," said Jeff Brooks, who
was diagnosed with AIDS two years ago.  The Positive Pedalers are
all male, in varying degrees of health.  The ride has also led
some people to disclose that they have HIV.

"Zambian Sex Workers Reform"
Africa News Service (09/05/96)
     A group of prostitutes in Zambia have turned from the sex
trade to more productive roles through a project established by
an AIDS expert.  The women receive counseling and training in
various skills, including tailoring.  Dr. Nkandu Luo, the only
Zambian female professor, explains that she started the project
to provide a positive contribution to the fight against the
disease, and she continues to recruit prostitutes with the help
of reformed women.

"Attenuated AIDS Vaccine Candidate Reported"
Reuters (09/04/96)
     A potentially safe and effective AIDS vaccine candidate is
described in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences.  Dr. H.W. Kestler and colleagues at the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation report that results of animal studies
suggest that a live vaccine of HIV, attenuated in the nef
protein, is the best candidate for a vaccine.

"China Attacks AIDS Explosion"
United Press International (09/04/96)
     Chinese health officials promised on Wednesday to increase
funding for HIV prevention to help slow the rapid spread of the
virus.  The number of HIV cases in China has tripled each year
since 1994.  The Ministry of Health will "upgrade laboratory
testing techniques and carry out extensive publicity to increase
public awareness of the risks," said Dai Zhicheng, director of
the ministry's disease control department.  Only half of the 30
provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities have
laboratories for confirming HIV, he said.  The ministry will hold
a national conference in October to increase awareness among
local officials, and the government has tripled its AIDS budget
to $1.8 million this year.

"Saving Children From Sex"
Economist (08/31/96) Vol. 340, No. 7981, P. 17
     The first World Congress Against the Commercial Exploitation
of Children, held in Stockholm recently, focused the world's
attention on the widespread prostitution of children.  Reports
from the meeting revealed that more than 1 million children are
forced into the global sex trade annually and that one-third of
child prostitutes in Asia are HIV-positive.  Although many
countries have passed laws that would allow their governments to
prosecute citizens for child exploitation in other countries,
these laws are difficult to enforce.  To end child prostitution,
both poor and rich countries need to establish and enforce laws
against child exploitation.  Many poor countries have inadequate
laws and ignore the problem because it offers a boost to tourism.
Wealthier countries can help by providing assistance and training
to police and children.

"CMV Retinitis Monoclonal Antibody Trial Halted"
Lancet (08/31/96) Vol. 348, No. 9027, P. 603; McCarthy, Michael
     A monoclonal antibody has been found to be ineffective
against cytomegalovirus (CMV) in a U.S. trial in AIDS patients.
A safety monitoring board halted the trial of MSL 109 after
determining that the antibody failed to slow disease progression.
In the study of 209 patients, those taking MSL 109 in addition to
their primary treatment showed no added benefit and had a higher
mortality rate than those taking a placebo.  MSL 109 is still
being tested in a treatment trial for AIDS patients with newly
diagnosed CMV retinitis and in a prevention trial for bone-marrow
transplant recipients.