Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary Date: Wed Jan 29 13:14:09 PST 1997 (168 lines of text) From: National AIDS Info Clearinghouse Copyright 1997, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD AIDS Daily Summary January 29, 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 1996, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ****************************************************** "Hope and Caution on AIDS" "Rubber Gloves: Peril for Some" "Medicinal Use of Marijuana Gains Hearing" "3 Drug Makers Report Profits Better Than Forecast" "Across the USA: California, Vermont, Massachusetts" "Legislator Wants AIDS Test Before Marriage" "Beijing Stages Exhibition Against AIDS" "Family Planning Pill [in Ethiopia] by End of Year" "NYC Hospitals See Decline in AIDS Patients" "Why Grass Is Greener" ****************************************************** "Hope and Caution on AIDS" Washington Post (01/29/97) P. A20 Despite encouraging advancements in AIDS care, education and research efforts to fight the disease must be maintained, according to a Washington Post editorial. Pointing to the recent report that AIDS-related deaths in New York City declined from 7,046 in 1994 to 4,944 in 1996, the editors warn that such good news could result in carelessness and complacency. They also say that AIDS-related deaths increased slightly in San Francisco in 1996 but decreased by a small amount in Los Angeles. The encouraging figures are attributed to the new protease inhibitors, increased federal funding for AIDS drugs, and ongoing education efforts, but the editors note that the statistics mean little in parts of the developing world, where HIV is spreading rapidly and funds for treatment are often not available. "Rubber Gloves: Peril for Some" New York Times (01/29/97) P. C7; Robbins, Jim Allergies to latex, which in extreme cases can cause death, are an increasing problem for health care workers, fast-food servers, toll collectors, and police officers. Latex gloves became prevalent in many workplaces, especially in health care settings, in the 1980s when the threat of HIV infection became known. Researcher Dr. Margaret Fay, of the British latex-maker London International, reports that the number of people in the general population with the two types of latex allergies has now increased to 8 percent from 1 percent in 1980. At the same time, the number of dental workers with the allergies has increased from 7 percent to 40 percent and the number of other health care workers affected has risen from 3 percent to 20 percent. Some facilities have switched to latex gloves that are safer for sensitive workers. Powderless gloves or vinyl gloves are options for those with the allergies. "Medicinal Use of Marijuana Gains Hearing" Washington Post (01/29/97) P. A2 The Massachusetts Public Health Council agreed Tuesday to hold public hearings next month to discuss the merits of marijuana as a medical remedy. The Department of Public Health was given the authority to establish a program to research the medicinal use of the drug under a state law passed in 1991. A medical marijuana program would give patients legal access to the drug and protect them from arrest, but only marijuana grown by the federal government is legally allowed to be distributed for medical use. Thus far, the government has not agreed to supply the drug to Massachusetts or any of the 35 states with similar laws. "3 Drug Makers Report Profits Better Than Forecast" New York Times (01/29/97) P. D4; Freudenheim, Milt Three large pharmaceutical and health care companies reported surprisingly strong fourth-quarter results on Tuesday. Of those, Merck reported a 19 percent increase in sales, led by sales of $835 million for its cholesterol drug Zocor. Earnings rose 21.6 percent to $1.04 billion compared to earnings of $857.8 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The company's new AIDS drug Crixivan saw total sales of $100 million. "Across the USA: California, Vermont, Massachusetts" USA Today (01/29/97) P. 11A The San Francisco Cannabis Cultivators Club, which reopened earlier this month to provide marijuana for medicinal uses, is opening branches in San Jose, Sacramento, Arcadia, and Ukiah. Separately, a bill being considered by state lawmakers in Vermont would legalize physician-assisted suicide. Another measure, one that would ban the practice, is expected to be introduced this week. Finally, officials at Hoosac Valley High School in Adams, MA, are inviting health professionals to talk to students, staff, and parents about AIDS following the news that a student has the disease. "Legislator Wants AIDS Test Before Marriage" United Press International (01/29/97) Rep. Reynaldo Calay, of the Philippines, is advocating proposed legislation that would require couples seeking a marriage license to first be tested for HIV. The lawmaker says the proposal is an attempt to prevent the spread of HIV. "Beijing Stages Exhibition Against AIDS" Xinhua News Agency (01/29/97) Exhibits about HIV prevention and the current state of the epidemic in China are being presented in Zhongshan Park in Beijing. The event is being held by a coalition of organizations, including China AIDS, the Sexual Prevention and Treatment Association, and the Family Planning Publicity and Education Center. The project aims to educate people about the current number of HIV cases and the scientific basis of prevention efforts. "Family Planning Pill [in Ethiopia] by End of Year" Africa News Online (01/28/97) The Ethiopia Social Marketing Program, a unit of the non-profit DKT-Population Services International/Ethiopia, is introducing Wyeth-Ayerst's Duofem onto the Ethiopian market. The low-dose oral contraceptive will be called "Prudence" in Ethiopia and will be available in pharmacies, private clinics and hospitals, factory clinics, and drug shops. The organization, which is expanding its HIV prevention efforts to include family planning, hopes the pill will help lower the country's fertility rate. "NYC Hospitals See Decline in AIDS Patients" Crain's New York Business (01/20/97-01/26/97) Vol. 13, No. 3, P. 1; Benson, Barbara With the success of new AIDS therapies over the past year, New York hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices are seeing more and more empty beds and decreased revenues. If the downturn continues, some facilities may be forced to cut services and staff size. The number of AIDS patients hospitalized in New York on any given day was down to 1,402 in October, 42 percent lower than the peak reached in January 1993, according to the Greater New York Hospital Association. The past year saw the sharpest decline with the average number of patients dropping from 2,000 in July 1995. The average number of AIDS patient admissions and average hospital stay also decreased. Because the number of AIDS patients did not decrease, experts attribute the trend to better patient management, the rise in managed care, and the introduction of new treatments to prevent the opportunistic infections that previously sent AIDS patients to the hospital. More AIDS patients are being treated on an outpatient basis, but this trend hurts hospital revenues because "the outpatient side is not adequately reimbursed," notes Dr. Victoria Sharp, co-director of the AIDS program at Beth Israel Hospital. Facing declining revenues, AIDS doctors fear they will have to cut back staff and services. "Why Grass Is Greener" Business Week (01/20/97) No. 3510, P. 34; Stodghill, Ron II Marinol, made by Unimed Pharmaceuticals, is the only prescription drug that uses a synthetic compound based on THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, to stimulate appetite. Sales of Marinol reached $6.03 million in 1995. But AIDS patients who advocate the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes say Marinol acts too slowly and causes side effects. "I know so many people who get sick on the stuff," said John Hudson, director of Flower Therapy, a San Francisco company that supplies marijuana for medicinal purposes. Unimed claims that Marinol is safer than marijuana, because it does not contain carcinogens and is a controlled, clinical product. The drug is also covered by health maintenance organizations and Medicaid. Furthermore, at $120 to $140 a month, Marinol is less expensive than marijuana, which costs about $800 for two ounces. Unimed President and CEO Stephen M. Simes claims that the true motivation behind recent marijuana use initiatives is not "purely medical," saying that "many just want to use it recreationally."