Subject: CDC NCHSTP Daily News Update Date: Mon Feb 23 07:31:06 PST 1998 (173 lines) From: National AIDS Info Clearinghouse Copyright 1998, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD CDC NCHSTP Daily News Update February 23, 1998 The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC NCHSTP Daily News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Copyright 1998, Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. HEADLINES --------- GENERAL MEDIA "Officials Considering Ways to Spread Abstinence Message" "Clinton Seeks Improved Health for Minorities" "STD Programs Sometimes Inadequate in Developing Countries" "Acceptance of Hypothetical HIV Vaccine Low in College Survey" "China Offers Hotline on AIDS and Sexuality" "Tuberculin Skin Testing in Children Not Important in Low-Risk Cases" "The Outlook for Leading Vector-Based HIV Vaccines" **************************************************************** GENERAL MEDIA **************************************************************** "Officials Considering Ways to Spread Abstinence Message" Washington Post (02/23/98) P. D4 Amid objections from birth control groups, health officials in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia are investigating possible programs to promote abstinence among area teenagers. Local officials received almost $1.5 million in federal money to institute abstinence programs aimed at teaching "the social, psychological and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity." Michelle S. Davis, head of maternal and child care for the D.C. Department of Public Health, said she plans to promote abstinence by initiating a public campaign aimed at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. "Clinton Seeks Improved Health for Minorities" Washington Post (02/22/98) P. A22 President Clinton announced Saturday that he will seek measures to eliminate "racial and ethnic disparities in health care." The effort, which would cost $400 million over five years, would include a public awareness campaign and a national conference on minority health involving 136 philanthropic organizations to be held this spring. According to Surgeon General David Satcher, who is leading the effort, the proposal would grant some $30 million a year to 30 communities, allowing them to develop model health strategies. If approved by Congress, the remaining funds would be directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in six targeted areas: HIV/AIDS, child and adult immunizations, infant mortality, cancer screening and management, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. "STD Programs Sometimes Inadequate in Developing Countries" Reuters Health Information Services (02/20/98) According to a report published in the February issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, the regular use of condoms by female sex workers--but not periodic medical examinations--can greatly reduce the risk of sexually transmitted disease transmission. Dr. Jorge Sanchez of the National AIDS and STD Program in Peru and a multicenter team conducted a survey of female sex workers in Lima; the city offers free serologic testing for syphilis and cervical smears for gonococci, but does not offer medication or condoms to the women. The researchers found that program participation did not affect STD rates among the workers; however, women who reported consistent condom use showed decreased rates for gonorrhea and some other STDs. The researchers concluded that inadequate STD programs for female sex workers can be corrected, and can lead to increased condom use and decreased prevalence of the most curable STDs. "Acceptance of Hypothetical HIV Vaccine Low in College Survey" Reuters Health Information Services (02/20/98) A new survey of 222 college students suggests that many people may decide not to receive immunization against HIV if a vaccine becomes available. The survey--which addressed health benefits, vaccine characteristics, and the acceptability of hypothetical HIV vaccines--reflected vaccine acceptance for those who perceived themselves susceptible to the virus, and nonacceptance for those who fear vaccines or have no perceived risk for the virus. Efficacy of the proposed vaccine had a strong influence on acceptability, while age, gender, and race did not significantly affect the results. The researchers, from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, noted in the February issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases that for future vaccine programs to succeed, it is important to determine what health education methods would help to increase the acceptability of vaccination. "China Offers Hotline on AIDS and Sexuality" Nando Times Online (02/23/98) China has instituted a 24-hour hotline that provides information on the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The hotline was set up by the China Association for Control of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Experts estimate that China has 150,000 cases of HIV infection, primarily among drug users and prostitutes. "Tuberculin Skin Testing in Children Not Important in Low-Risk Cases" Infectious Diseases in Children (02/98) Vol. 11, No. 2, P. 13; Stephenson, Michelle Tuberculin skin tests for children at low risk of infection have not proven effective and may even be harmful due to a high rate of false positive results. Skin tests are useful in detecting TB in high-risk children, including those who have a family history of the disease, those who are born in a country with a high rate of infection, children who are around someone with HIV or who has been in prison within the last five years, foster children, and residents of high-prevalence areas. Because screening tests are also the definitive tests for TB infection, false positive results can lead to unnecessary clinic visits, drug treatments, X-rays, and family evaluations. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have de-emphasized routine screening over the past five years. Moreover, a recent University of California study found that TB testing is not cost effective unless prevalence is greater than 30 percent and treatment adherence is greater than 65 percent. "The Outlook for Leading Vector-Based HIV Vaccines" IAVI Report (01/98-03/98) Vol. 3, No 1, P. 5; Gold, David A number of recombinant vector-based HIV vaccines are now in, or will soon move into, human trials, including those using canarypox, fowlpox, vaccinia, adenovirus, and Salmonella typhi as vectors. Currently, several canarypox vaccines have been developed; three have been tested in human studies, while two others are set to enter phase I tests. An efficacy test of Pasteur-Merieux-Connaught's canarypox vaccine could start in the United States as early as next year if phase II trials of vCP205 and gp120 show promise in volunteers. Meanwhile, Australian experts are investigating the possibility of using fowlpox as a booster in combination with DNA; both the DNA and fowlpox vaccines express the env and gag HIV genes. Researcher Stephen Kent notes that animal tests show that the combination therapy produces better cell-mediated immunity than either vector by itself. The outlook for vaccinia vectors for use in an HIV vaccine is uncertain because they contain live poxvirus. Yet animal tests found that the vectors show substantial immunogenicity, and, when combined with a subunit boost, protect some monkeys against challenge. Adenovirus is also being evaluated as a possible vector for both HIV and cancer vaccines; however, because the vaccine could cause disease, and the way in which an adenovirus should be administered is not clear, the development of adenovirus HIV vaccines is not imminent. ***************************************************************** The AIDSNews Mailing List is maintained by the CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention. Regular postings include the CDC NCHSTP Daily News Update, conference announcements, clinical trials information, current funding opportunities, and selected MMWR articles. To SUBSCRIBE, send the command "subscribe aidsnews firstname lastname" to the address listproc@aspensys.com. To UNSUBSCRIBE, send the command "unsubscribe aidsnews" to the address listproc@aspensys.com. If you need assistance, please contact aidsinfo@cdcnac.org. *****************************************************************