Subject: CDC Summary 3/18/93 Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1993 11:34:15 PST (159 lines) Archive-Number: 472 From: Billi Goldberg Note: Copyright 1993, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed. sold. Copyright 1992, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD AIDS Daily Summary March 18, 1993 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 Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold. Copyright 1992, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ===================================================================== "Area to Forgo $1 Million in AIDS Funds" Philadelphia Inquirer (03/18/93), P. B1 (Collins, Huntly) The Philadelphia area was denied the $3.5 million in federal funds it sought to expand medical services for poor people with AIDS, and settled instead for $2.5 million from the Ryan White CARE Act. The city expected to receive the full amount after having done well in last year's competition for the annual grants. Jeremiah J. White Jr., president of the AIDS Consortium of Philadelphia's board, said he hoped the city could recover its loss through supplemental funds promised by the Clinton administration via the Ryan White program. Some speculate that officials were afraid of a perceived conflict of interest on the AIDS consortium board. ===================================================================== "Baltimore Takes a Cue From AIDS, Honors Murder Victims With a Quilt" Baltimore Sun (03/18/93), P. 1B (Siegel, Eric) A special Memorial Quilt, patterned after the AIDS quilt and honoring Baltimore's hundreds of murder victims, will be officially unveiled at 6 p.m. Tuesday at a reception at the Department of Education. Those in attendance will include Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke. Like the AIDS quilt, the Memorial Quilt is a continuing endeavor in which other families can add panels at no expense. Tentative plans have the quilt being placed in a victim-witness assistance unit waiting room on the city courthouse's fourth floor. A similar quilt being created by a support group linked with the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office will also be unveiled at the same time. ===================================================================== "The AIDS Ban" Richmond Times-Dispatch (03/17/93), P. A8 The editors of the Richmond Times-Dispatch applaud the House of Representatives' vote to prohibit AIDS-infected immigrants from entering the United States. They point out that immigrants with other infectious diseases, like syphilis, are similarly banned, and assert that those suffering with AIDS should also be included. The editorial voiced support for Tom Bliley, Virginia's 7th District Congressman, who originated the motion. ===================================================================== "Sensible Needle Exchange" Baltimore Sun (03/18/93), P. 18A The editors of the Baltimore Sun have called on Maryland's General Assembly to pay special attention to a bill that, if approved, will create a pilot needle exchange program for intravenous drug users in Baltimore City. The editors cite several disturbing statistics to support their stand. Specifically, they contend that 42 percent of all Baltimore City AIDS cases are the result of illegal drug injections, and that 185 of the 200 children now being treated for HIV infection in the city's AIDS clinics were the result of injection drug use. The editors say that the proposed program would be carefully designed and closely monitored so as to not encourage drug use. They point to New Haven's needle exchange program as an example of how such a plan can be successful in getting used needles off the streets. ===================================================================== "Therion Will License Harvard AIDS Vaccine" Journal of Commerce (03/18/93), P. 7A Therion Biologics Corp. unveiled an agreement to license from Harvard University a "live" AIDS vaccine process that is considered promising. Therion, based in Cambridge, Mass., will work together with Harvard researchers to test a mix of virus strains for a vaccine that prompts an immune response but does not result in unforeseen long-term disorders. Therion is likely to be the first company to begin human studies based on live virus vaccines that are developed to provide long-lasting protection against infection. ===================================================================== "Better Treatments, Longer Lives" Time (03/22/93) Vol. 141, No. 12, P. 50 Making small advances in the treatment of secondary infections is a primary strategy of those trying to prolong the lives of AIDS patients. Drugs, such as AZT and ddI offer temporary treatments for HIV. In 1987, scientists found a treatment to prevent pneumocystis pneumonia, a secondary infection responsible for about 33 percent of AIDS deaths. At that time, doctors gave AIDS patients a drug called pentamidine. Now, the scientists have found pentamidine can reduce the recurrence of the pneumocystis when sprayed directly into the lungs. Bactrim and Septra are the trade names of an antibiotic that can effectively prevent the disease. Researchers have also made progress in developing a treatment for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), a disease similar to tuberculosis. The FDA has approved rifabutin, a drug that decreases by 65 percent the chance an AIDS patient will develop MAC. HIV can also affect the central nervous system, but some drugs can be partially or completely effective. Bactrim can prevent parasites that cause toxoplasmosis in the brain. Amphotericin B can fight against cryptococcal meningitis, a fungal infection of the brain, without causing nausea if administered in smaller doses and followed by fluconazole. ===================================================================== "Are Some People Immune to AIDS?" Time (03/22/93) Vol. 141, No. 12, P. 49 (Gorman, Christine) Researchers have discovered that some patients infected with HIV seem to resist the onset of AIDS, according to a recent study. However, scientists still do not know why this happens. At least 5 percent of the estimated 1 million people infected with HIV may never show symptoms of AIDS, the survey suggests. The study may help scientists discover a vaccine for AIDS. The researchers have found that resistance to the disease is not directly linked to proper diets, the lack of drug use, stress, or the absence of other sexually transmitted diseases. Scientists now believe that the resistance may result from peculiarities of the immune system or genetic factors. From the study, scientists have noticed that the patients without symptoms have stable CD4 counts above 500. The normal level of CD4 cells is 1,200, and patients have an increased risk of contracting a secondary illness if the level of CD4 cells falls below 200. The immunologists believe that those patients with CD4 counts above 500 have weak strains of HIV that strain immune systems, but not to the point that they succumb to infections. The immune systems develop the ability to fight against more powerful strains. ===================================================================== "Report on AIDS Impact Draws Intense Criticism" Advocate (03/09/93) No. 624, P. 25 (Bull, Chris) The recent release of a report by the National Research Council (NRC) evoked anger among AIDS advocates because its conclusion stated that AIDS was concentrated among socially marginalized groups and was likely to have little impact on American institutions. AIDS groups fear that public concern about the disease may be fading. David Rogers, cochairman of the National Commission on AIDS, said, "Many of us who have been working at the barricades on this disease have been trying to say that it is a crisis. Now this capable crew of people comes in with the blinders on and tells everyone not to worry anymore because it's only marginalized people who are affected." The report, "The Social Impact of AIDS in the United States," said those people most affected by AIDS are "beyond sight and attention of the majority of the population." The NRC is the research division of the National Academy of Sciences, a scientific group that is funded by the government and private sources. NRC chairman Albert R. Jonsen, a professor of medical history and ethics at the University of Washington in Seattle, said that the report is more of an AIDS awareness tactic, and many of the report's critics had misinterpreted its discoveries. He said, "The way we want people to read this report is that the epidemic appears to be getting worse in racial minority communities, which have fewer resources than the gay community to fight the disease. This is a disturbing new trend of social injustice we are trying to point out. We're not saying it's a good thing that people are not paying attention." ===================================================================== "News in Brief: New Jersey" Advocate (03/09/93) No. 624, P. 26 A New Jersey AIDS group is being investigated by the consumer affairs division of the state attorney general's office for allegations of financial misconduct, division officials said Jan. 27. The AIDS Research Foundation, which raises its money by placing 4,500 plastic canisters across the state, was accused of using only 8.5 percent of the funds it raises for AIDS service or research groups. The organization told donors that 68 percent of the funds were used for AIDS causes. The group's founder, Russell Frontera, denied the funds were misused but conceded that the 68 percent disbursement rate was not reached.