NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #26/NN_1992_26.iso/spool/sci/med/aids/1984

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-09 | 14.4 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!ogicse!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ucla-cs!usenet
From: [e-mail] (Billi Goldberg)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: CDC Summary 11/9/92
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 9 Nov 92 15:21:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1992Nov9.165335.10665
Sender: [e-mail] (Mr Usenet)
Organization: unspecified
Lines: 210
Approved: [e-mail]
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Nntp-Posting-Host: sole.cs.ucla.edu
Archive-Number: 6430


                          AIDS Daily Summary
                          November 9, 1992
 The Centers for Disease Control (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 Clearinghouse,
or any other organization.  Reproduction  of this text is encouraged; however,
copies may not be sold.  Copyright 1992, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD
************************************************************************
 "Miles Seeks to License HIV Drug" Wall Street Journal (11/09/92), P. A5C
     Miles Inc. announced that it submitted an application to the Food and
Drug Administration for approval to license Gamimune-N, an  intravenous
immunoglobulin for treating HIV-positive children.  A study suggested that the
treatment reduced the viral, serious  bacterial, and minor bacterial
infections in HIV-positive  children.  The FDA approved Gamimune-N in 1986 for
patients  suffering from immune system disorders resulting from  chemotherapy,
severe burns, primary immunodeficiency, and  idiopathic thromocytopenic
purpura.

"Mitterrand to Fight Back in AIDS Row" Financial Times (11/09/92), P. 2
(Dawkins, William)
     French President Francois Mitterand is expected to speak tonight  on
television about the distribution of HIV-positive blood to  French
hemophiliacs.  Mitterand wants to use the television  interview to refute the
criticisms of Socialist ministers over  the AIDS scandal, which relates to a
period in 1985 when the  national blood transfusion service permitted tainted
blood to be  given to more than 1,200 hemophiliacs.  The president is believed
to be upset by what he considers right-wing efforts to win  political gains
from the misfortune.

"Rule on AIDS Test Spurs Debate in Israel" Philadelphia Inquirer (11/09/92),
P. B8
     Controversy erupted in Israel yesterday over the government's  decision
that foreigners in the country for more than three  months must test negative
for HIV or face expulsion.  The health, immigration and interior ministries
ruled that starting in  January, all tourists--who automatically receive
three-month  visas on arrival--must be tested for HIV to stay longer.  Any
person who tests HIV-positive must leave the country.  Israeli  doctors and
AIDS activists chastised the government ruling,  claiming it was
discriminatory and ineffective.  Yoram Lass, an  Israeli physician and member
of parliament from the ruling Labor  party, said he strongly objects to the
government ruling "because it creates prejudice against the ill."  However,
Moshe Mashiach,  director-general of the health ministry, said, "Israel is
obligated to defend its population ... so that the citizens of  Israel remain
at one of the lowest levels of incidence in the  world."  Yet thousands of
Israelis in their early 20s who travel  through the Americas and the Far East
after completing mandatory  army service will not be tested when they return.

"After Years of Denial, Asia Faces Scourge of AIDS" New York Times (11/08/92),
P. A1  (Shenon, Philip)
     Although AIDS has emerged late in Asia compared to many other  nations,
now researchers are convinced that the disease will kill more people on the
continent than on any other.  Conservative  predictions indicate that by the
end of the decade, more than one million Asians will contract HIV each year,
which is more than in all other nations combined.  Some scientists believe the
 infection rate in Asia will be closer to three or four million a  year, and
that tens of millions of Asians will become infected  and die of AIDS over the
next two decades.  Reliable estimates  say that at least 10 million Asians
will be HIV positive by the  year 2000.  The researchers say the disease could
threaten some  of Asia's strong economies and devastate other, less fortunate
Asian nations.  Currently, HIV is infecting Asian men and women  in equal
numbers, and is usually spread by Asian-to-Asian  heterosexual contact.  AIDS
experts express discouragement that  most Asian governments, with the notable
exception of the Thai  government and a few others, are doing little to
control the  epidemic.  Mechai Viravaidya, who until last month operated the
Thai government's aggressive anti-AIDS program, said that some  Asian
governments are "lying about the problem."  While these  countries have proof
or strong suspicions that the disease is  spreading rapidly across the
continent, he claims, they will not  warn the public.  Reasons for this
include fears that publicizing the AIDS threat will frighten away investors
and tourists.  Other governments are concerned that an open discussion of HIV
transmission will offend many local citizens.

"Scott W. McPherson, 33, Actor and Author of a Hit Stage Play" New York Times
(11/09/92), P. B9  (Lambert, Bruce)
     Scott W. McPherson, an actor and playwright, died of AIDS on  Saturday at
his home in Chicago, Ill.  McPherson, who was 33 when he died, wrote an
award-winning Off Broadway hit called,  "Marvin's Room."  Recently, he
finished the screenplay for the  film of "Marvin's Room" being produced by
Robert DeNiro.  The  play is about a woman, Bessie, who is dying of leukemia
and is  taking care of her father, Marvin, who is bedridden from terminal
cancer and strokes, and his sister, Ruth, whose spine is  disintegrating.
Although the play has a dark setting, it was  called "one of the funniest
plays of this year as well as one of  the wisest and most moving," by critic
Frank Rich of the New York Times.  While McPherson did not have AIDS when he
wrote the play, the epidemic inspired the plot.  He wrote for local television
 and acted in four theater companies after moving to Chicago.  One of the
plays he acted in was Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart."

"International AIDS Conference Opens in Indian Capital" United Press
International (11/09/92)
     New Delhi, India--An increased public awareness of AIDS is needed to help
eliminate the social stigma linked to the disease,  according to Indian Vice
President Kocheril R. Narayanan, who  spoke at an Asian-Pacific conference on
AIDS on Sunday.  The  meeting is intended to find ways to curb the rapid
spread of HIV  in a region which until recently viewed the disease as largely
a  Western problem.  Narayanan said the AIDS epidemic requires a
multi-pronged response including social action, education and  enhanced
medical research.  The four-day conference, involving  2,000 delegates, began
with Indian Public Health Minister Makhan  L. Fotedar demonstrating that HIV
can not be spread by casual  contact by shaking hands with HIV-positive
people.  Narayanan  stated that AIDS patients "need compassion and
understanding" and said it was unfair to treat them like lepers.  The World
Health  Organization recently named Thailand and India as nations in the
Asia-Pacific region most threatened by severe HIV infection  rates.  In India,
where health services already are close to  non-existent for a population of
850 million people, the  government has been reluctant to endorse programs for
prevention  and screening of HIV or to arrange medical care for AIDS
patients.  The highest prevalence of HIV in India has been  reported in the
two port cities of Bombay and Madras.  According  to a recent study, as many
as 30 percent of Bombay prostitutes  are HIV-positive.

"HIV-Positive Doctor Had Long Talk With Clinton About AIDS" United Press
International (11/06/92)
     Fort Worth, Texas--An HIV-positive AIDS specialist said she only
expected to receive a handshake from president-elect Bill Clinton when a
staffer asked her to meet with the presidential candidate  in August.  Patti
Wetzel said she was shocked when she was  ushered into a private room with
Clinton, where the Arkansas  governor got down to business and asked, "Now
Patti, what's the  answer to your question about AIDS?"  Wetzel, who
contracted HIV  from a tainted needle stick 14 months ago, said she and
Clinton  had a 20-minute "heart-to-heart" talk in which she recommended
strategies to secure funding for AIDS education, prevention, and  research.
The discussion arose after Wetzel spoke up during a  televised town hall-type
meeting held Aug. 25.  During the  telecast, Wetzel identified herself as a
person with AIDS and  asked Clinton how he would regulate money to fight the
disease.   Subsequently, Clinton told Wetzel off-camera that he "had friends
that had AIDS; he had buried friends with AIDS," said Wetzel.   She added, "He
was really aware of what the disease was like and  was very, very
sympathetic."  She said that Clinton appears to be dedicated to fighting the
epidemic.  Wetzel also stressed to  Clinton when she spoke with him in August
that the spread of HIV  can be controlled through education.

"Woman Suing 'Magic' Johnson for Allegedly Giving Her HIV" United Press
International (11/07/92)
     Former basketball star Magic Johnson denied knowingly infecting a woman
with HIV, one day after it was reported that she will sue  him for allegedly
transmitting the virus to her.  Johnson said  Friday, "I deny everything.  You
know that people are always  going to come out (with accusations).  That just
happens any time there's dollars involved."  ABC News' "Prime Time Live" first
 reported the suit, and Johnson admitted through his lawyer to  having sex
with the woman.  However, he is unsure whether he gave the virus to her, she
gave it to him, or neither.  The woman  claims Johnson infected her with HIV
when they had sex in June  1990.  Last week, when the suit was filed, her
attorneys  persuaded a federal magistrate to issue a gag order protect her
identity.  The sum the woman is seeking from Johnson is  undisclosed.
Johnson's attorney, Howard L. Weitzman, said, "It's a very sad situation, but
he does not believe he is responsible  for her condition.  We'll be defending
the lawsuit vigorously."   The woman, who is married and has a baby, has not
transmitted the virus to her family, said Weitzman.  Likewise, Johnson's wife
and child are also not infected with HIV.

"Female Condom Arrives in Europe" Advertising Age (10/26/92) Vol. 63, No. 44,
P.I-4 (Downer, Stephen)
     The first female condom is currently being released across Europe on its
way around the world after a U.K. launch last month.  The  manufacturer of
Femidom, Chartex International, has licensed  several major marketers,
including Wisconsin Pharmacal Co. in the U.S.  An ad for the female condom
stating, "Out now, in later,"  prompted such controversy among the staff at
The Daily Mail that  the ad was dropped from the newspaper only hours before
it was to be published.  But the ad was featured in other papers.  Chartex
Managing Director Bob Shire said, "Feedback from women and indeed men around
the world is that they like this product, and we feel  very confident of
success."  Alliance International U.K. created  the $2 million print, cinema,
and outdoor U.K. campaign.  It does not use spokespeople, just words set
against a variety of colors. The messages include: "Ooh yes!  Let your
passions run wild";  "Fashion, what women are choosing to wear this year"; and
"Johnny has had a sex change."  "Johnny" is the British slang for condom. The
ad effort was launched in six U.K. national newspapers Sept.  28.  Carl Shuck,
Chartex account director at Alliance, said, "I  went to great pains to make
sure it was not a controversial  campaign.  This ad had been approved by
[Daily Mail Ad Director]  Guy Ziller and by the managing editor."  Shuck
added, "We did  lots of research into the market and the attitudes of women
and  basically discovered that what women want is a very direct  approach [in
advertising]."

"More Aggressive Treatment of Pediatric HIV is Urged" American Medical News
(11/02/92) Vol. 35, No. 41, P. 7 (Staver, Sari)
     A top pediatric AIDS expert who spoke at the Fifth Annual AIDS  Update
Conference called for more aggressive treatment of HIV  infection.  Dr. James
Oleske, head of infectious diseases at the  University of Medicine and
Dentistry in Newark, N.J., said  physicians treating pediatric HIV patients
should consider  beginning antiviral treatment before the immune system shows
signs of deterioration, instead of after deterioration begins,  which is now
standard practice.  He also recommended that infants and children with HIV be
started on treatment as soon as they  test positive.  He said that HIV doctors
should consider giving  patients "every drug [available] in as high a dose as
possible."  He added that unwarranted treatment delays go beyond antiviral
therapy, criticizing doctors who wait until patients are  "starving to death"
before they order nutritional support.   Treatment delays existed until
pediatric experts realized that  CD4 levels in children did not equal those of
adults.  For  instance, while CD4 levels of 200 in adults warrant prophylaxis
against Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia, in children such  treatment begins
when their CD4 levels fall below 1,500.  Dr.  Oleske said antiviral treatment
should be started at CD4 counts  of 250 above those which trigger prophylaxis
against PCP.  This  means treatment of children under 1 year old should begin
when  their lymphocytes drop below 1,750; under 2, below 1,250; under  3,
below 1,000; and so on.  Antiviral treatment for children 6  and older can be
started at the same CD4 levels established for  adults.  Dr. Oleske said that
early treatment of HIV-positive  pediatric patients is urgent because the
disease progresses  faster in infants and children than in adults.

"News in Brief: Indiana" Advocate (11/03/92) No. 615, P. 25
     A nationwide government-sponsored study of sexual behavior is  necessary
to help direct anti-AIDS efforts, said Dr. June  Reinisch, director of the
Bloomington-based Kinsey Institute for  Sex Research, at the annual conference
of the National  Association of Women in Corrections and Juvenile Justice in
Indianapolis.  "We have no idea of what Americans are doing to  whom and how
often.  The only preventative for AIDS is behavioral change, and you can't
help people change behavior unless you know what they're doing," she said.