Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary Date: Thu Jan 2 12:43:47 PST 1997 (161 lines of text) From: National AIDS Info Clearinghouse Copyright 1997, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD AIDS Daily Summary January 2, 1997 The CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention makes available the following information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC. 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 1997, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ****************************************************** "FDA Approves Anemia Therapy" "Federal Warning on Medical Marijuana Leaves Physicians Feeling Intimidated" "Book Review: Gay and Conservative: It Can Be Done" "Abstinence Is Best Advice, But It's Just Not That Simple" "Workplace Attitudes Toward Those With HIV Improve Fitfully" "Federal Court Ruling: Infection With the AIDS Virus Not a Disability" "Science & Health Bulletin: Zimbabwe--Healers" "Nitric Oxide Link to AIDS Dementia" "Desert Flora Has Anti-HIV Aura" ****************************************************** "FDA Approves Anemia Therapy" Washington Times (01/02/97) P. A6; Price, Joyce A drug that stimulates red blood cell production in anemic patients before surgery and decreases the likelihood that a transfusion will be needed has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Procit, sold by Ortho Biotech, had previously been approved as a treatment for anemia related to chemotherapy and has been used for anemia resulting from the use of AZT by patients with HIV. The drug will be especially beneficial to patients undergoing orthopedic procedures, which put a high demand on the blood supply. "Federal Warning on Medical Marijuana Leaves Physicians Feeling Intimidated" Washington Post (01/01/97) P. A6; Claiborne, William Following the Clinton administration's warning Monday that doctors who prescribe marijuana to patients may face sanctions, physicians who supported the new law in California and Arizona say they will not jeopardize their careers. Possible penalties include the loss of licenses to write prescriptions or the exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid programs. "There's no way I can recommend it now without risking my livelihood. It's a threat to my license to write prescriptions, and if I can't write prescriptions, I'm out of business," said San Francisco's Dr. Richard Cohen, who had previously supported the ballot initiative to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. In addition, Dr. Victor Beer, who runs a clinic for patients with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles, said only one of his patients has asked for a recommendation to use marijuana. He said it would be "irresponsible" for him to risk his license for the patient. "Book Review: Gay and Conservative: It Can Be Done" New York Times (01/02/97) P. B20; Bernstein, Richard In "Life Is Not a Rehearsal," author David Brudnoy tells of how he was supported by kind people after he revealed that he was gay and had AIDS. Reviewer Richard Bernstein says the book illustrates the niceness of Americans, as well as the tolerance and sympathy felt for Brudnoy, a conservative radio talk show host in Boston. Bernstein applauds the book's honesty and inspiration. According to erroneous conventional thinking, Brudnoy was not supposed to be homosexual, since he was an outspoken conservative in liberal Boston. In his new book, Brudnoy writes about his teenage years and his emerging sexuality and recognition of his homosexuality. He also describes his illness and his acceptance of the disease. "Abstinence Is Best Advice, But It's Just Not That Simple" Richmond Times-Dispatch (01/02/97) P. E6; Graedon, Joe; Graedon, Teresa While abstinence is the only way to be completely safe from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancy, most American teenagers are sexually active. A recent Institute of Medicine report revealed that STDs are an epidemic in the United States, and that one-quarter of the 12 million cases reported each year are among adolescents. Countries with more open sex education have lower rates of STDs and unwanted pregnancy. Prevention methods, especially condom use, are less costly than treatment, and should be advocated. "Workplace Attitudes Toward Those With HIV Improve Fitfully" Boston Globe (12/31/96) P. D6; Lewis, Diane E. While most companies now have policies to protect HIV-positive employees from discrimination and guarantee complete medical coverage, many also require AIDS training programs to combat stereotyping and fears about the disease. Paul A. Ross, worldwide manager of the HIV/AIDS program at Digital Equipment, also offers AIDS training to other companies as a consultant. During the program, Ross explains how HIV is transmitted and how much it costs to treat, while also trying to help improve attitudes about the disease. "Federal Court Ruling: Infection With the AIDS Virus Not a Disability" Reuters (01/01/97) A federal court in North Carolina recently rejected the employment discrimination claim made by an asymptomatic HIV-positive man. The case marks the first time a court has ruled that HIV infection is not a disability. Fernando J. Cortes had sued a McDonald's restaurant, but the court ruled that he had not proved his claim that "he had a physical impairment that substantially limited a major life activity." "Science & Health Bulletin: Zimbabwe--Healers" PANA Wire Service (01/01/97) An organization representing traditional healers in Zimbabwe has threatened to levy sanctions against those who prescribe incest as an AIDS treatment. The president of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association said that members are encouraged to research AIDS cures, but that they should not make public claims that could be misleading. Despite warnings, some healers claim they have a cure and charge high fees to patients. "Nitric Oxide Link to AIDS Dementia" Lancet (12/21/96-12/28/96) Vol. 348, No. 9042, P. 1725; Aldridge, Susan AIDS dementia, which affects between 20 percent and 30 percent of all advanced AIDS patients, may be linked to an overproduction of nitric oxide. Valina Dawson and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University found that the brain tissue from patients who had AIDS dementia had eight times more nitric oxide synthase activity than HIV-1 negative controls. High levels of HIV-1's coat protein gp41 were also found in the patients with dementia, and animal research has shown that gp41 can induce nitric oxide synthase activity. Dawson said the findings could be applied to find a way to reduce AIDS dementia by blocking nitric oxide production. "Desert Flora Has Anti-HIV Aura" POZ (12/96-1/97) No. 19, P. 28 The creosote bush, used by Native Americans to treat maladies ranging from rheumatism to diarrhea, is being studied as a potential AIDS therapy by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The desert plant grows in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Researcher Fu Chih Huang discovered that a molecule in a chemical compound in the plant stopped the replication of HIV and herpes. In 1992, the compound disappeared from most drug stores after the Food and Drug Administration warned that the capsule form was associated with six cases of acute toxic hepatitis. A new leaf-resin concentrate of the plant, made by Western Biotech, is reportedly safer and more effective.