From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CDC Summary 9/11/92
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6177
Organization: unspecified
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 07:39:16 PDT

                         AIDS Daily Summary
                         September 11, 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 
******************************************************************************
 "2 Researchers Accidentally Exposed to Monkeys' AIDS-Like Virus" New York 
Times (09/11/92), P. A26  (Altman, Lawrence K.)
     Federal health officials reported two scientists studying the  simian 
version of HIV were accidentally exposed to the virus in  different 
laboratories.  The officials said yesterday that they  were performing tests 
to elucidate whether the researchers had  become infected with the AIDS-like 
virus in monkeys, known as the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).  The two 
laboratory workers  developed antibodies to the virus, which does not 
necessarily  indicate that their immune systems will suffer as a result.   
Neither worker has shown any symptoms of an AIDS-like condition.  
Comprehensive laboratory testing has neglected to identify the  virus itself 
in either of the two researchers, the Centers for  Disease Control said in its 
weekly report.  If they are infected, they would be the first humans ever to 
be infected with SIV.  If  neither laboratory worker is found to be infected 
with the virus, despite the antibodies, the findings could indicate how the  
body's immune system might be able to fight off infection of an  
immunodeficiency virus.  In addition, the findings may provide  clues about 
how HIV might be weakened enough to produce immunity  without causing disease, 
which is essential in developing a  vaccine. 

"Use of an HIV Patient in Transplant Debated" Philadelphia Inquirer 
(09/11/92), P. A2  (Collins, Huntly)
     Controversy emerged yesterday over disclosures that the man who  died ten 
weeks after receiving a transplant of a baboon liver was HIV-positive.  Some 
medical ethicists argued that the University  of Pittsburgh Medical Center had 
unfairly taken advantage of  someone infected with HIV.  But others disagreed, 
saying that the anonymous patient was experiencing a desperate situation 
anyway  because he was infected with chronic hepatitis B, a fatal liver  
disease.  Although a human transplanted liver would have been  vulnerable to 
hepatitis B, a baboon's liver is immune to the  virus.  University officials 
defended their decision yesterday  saying they did not want to discriminate 
against an HIV-infected  patient.  They added that the man who received the 
baboon liver  signed a detailed consent form authorizing the transplant.  The  
school officially confirmed, for the first time, that the patient who died 
Sunday of a brain hemorrhage, was infected with HIV.   The patient, who they 
refused to name, had showed no sign of  AIDS.  The university added that the 
patient was doing seemingly  well after receiving the transplant June 26.  
Nevertheless, some  ethicists were skeptical about the Pittsburgh experiment, 
on  scientific grounds, indicating that the results might be  inaccurate 
because the patient was infected with HIV.  University officials refused to 
address the issue, but cited a 1988 study in which HIV-positive patients were 
more likely to reject a  transplanted organ than those not infected with HIV. 

"AIDS Plan for Boston Schools is Urged" Boston Globe (09/10/92), P. 36  
(Blake, Andrew)
     The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts requested Wednesday  that 
Mayor Raymond Flynn of Boston and School Superintendent Lois Harrison-Jones 
permit a comprehensive AIDS awareness program in  Boston schools.  The request 
comes a day after the Massachusetts  Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) 
submitted to requests to run  three ads in subway cars promoting condom usage.

The Action  Committee also advised that the city provide condoms for sexually 
active students.  Larry Kessler, the committee's executive  director, said, 
"The mayor has dragged his feet.  Ms. Jones has  dragged her feet and the 
school board is somewhere in the ozone  on this issue."  Flynn rebutted, "I 
have my own philosophy about  how AIDS awareness should be taught in the 
schools."  He added  that he tried to get the superintendent to adopt a 
program by Dr. Marian Howard of Emory University in Atlanta, called 
"Postponing  Sexual Involvement."  The curriculum addresses AIDS awareness and 
pregnancy prevention, but does not involve condom distribution.   Although the 
MBTA initially rejected the three condom ads on  subway cars as "too 
provocative,"  Kessler said the MBTA has  agreed to feature the ads free of 
charge during October. 

"Conservative Church Welcomes HIV-Positive People" United Press International 
(09/10/92)
     Richardson, Texas--A theologically-conservative church known for  its 
open-arms policy has admitted to its congregation a Baptist  minister whose 
wife and two children are HIV-positive.  Scott  Allen, the minister, and his 
family were virtually banned from  several area churches three years ago.  But 
the Richardson East  Church of Christ accepted them as members and enrolled 
one of  their sons in the church day-care center.  Allen's wife and one  of 
his sons have subsequently died of AIDS.  Senior Minister  Larry James and 
members of the predominantly white, evangelical  church have condemned racism 
and have spoken out on behalf of  homeless people.  James, who has led the 
church since 1980, said, "I think we're unique among evangelical churches.  
We're a  conservative, Bible-oriented church.  But we feel like when you  read 
the story of Jesus seriously with an eye on the newspaper,  you begin to get 
involved.  We're trying to do life-related  work."  James added that when the 
Allens were accepted, he let  other parents know that the day-care center 
would be an  "HIV-positive zone" in which all children would be treated  
equally.  Parents were given the option to withdraw their  children from the 
program if they wished, but none did.  Doctors  came to the church to educate 
parents about the risks of  contracting HIV.  Dr. Kevin Murphy, who has been 
referring  HIV-positive people to James' church since 1985, said Richardson  
East is one of the few churches he knows that welcomes AIDS  patients. 

"Growth in Heterosexual AIDS Transmission Noted" United Press International 
(09/10/92)
     Hong Kong--The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday reported a 
three-fold rise in heterosexual HIV transmission among people  in the Asia-
Pacific region, indicating the potential for a much  more rapid spread of the 
epidemic.  A total of 4,362 AIDS cases  in 21 Asia-Pacific nations and areas 
as of June 1 were revealed  at the 43rd annual session of the WHO Regional 
Committee for the  Western Pacific.  A WHO statement said, "While homosexual 
and  bisexual men account for about 75 percent of reported AIDS cases, the 
latest data... show a rising trend in the number of  heterosexually 
transmitted cases."  The WHO added, "Over the last two years, such cases have 
increased three-fold.  The increase in heterosexually transmitted cases will 
invariably lead to an  increase of HIV infection among women of childbearing 
age and, in the long run, among children."  The organization attributed part  
of the epidemic's spread to the shocking increase in the number  of HIV-
positive drug users in the region, especially in countries where opium is 
produced and readily available.  "With the high  volume of both people and 
illicit drugs circulating in this area, a rapid increase in the number of 
infected people can be  expected," said the WHO.  The 21 countries included in 
the WHO  report are Australia, Brunei, China, Fiji, French Polynesia,  Guam, 
Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, the Marshall  Islands, Micronesia, 
New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papau New  Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, 
Samoa, Singapore, and  Tonga. 

"Alternative and Traditional Medicines--Report from the VIII  International 
Conference: Clinical Trials and Observational  Studies" AIDS Treatment News 
(08/21/92) No. 157, P. 5  (Heyman, Jason)
     At the Eighth International Conference on AIDS in July clinical  trials 
and observational studies were presented on alternative  and traditional 
therapies to treat AIDS.  A small observational  study by Qingcal Zhang of the 
Sino Medical Institute of New York  on the use of extract of bitter melon, 
Momordica charantia,  showed a significant rise in T-cells.  The patient who 
had the  largest increase went from 480 T-cells to 1370 after treatment  for 
three years.  The patient with the smallest increase went  from 336 T-cells to 
446 over a period of 11 months.  The data was only collected from six patients 
and the study was not controlled or blinded, so t is difficult to make 
conclusions about this  potential treatment.  One other plant extract called 
Acemannan,  from the aloe vera plant was discussed at the conference.  The  
preliminary clinical trial tested Acemannan in combination with  AZT and found 
it to be safe.  However, the trial did not  demonstrate its efficacy.  Also, 
the average decline of T-cells  in patients after 24 weeks of therapy was 
almost 40 percent,  which is not very promising.  Another study introduced at 
the  meeting was on a traditional herbal remedy at the Traditional  Medicines 
Unit in Nasio, Tanzania was led by E. Lugakingira, a  traditional African 
doctor, along with L. Barongo, a  western-trained doctor.  They conducted a 
preliminary  uncontrolled clinical trial of 156 patients--80 percent exhibited 
clinical improvement.  The researchers say additional research  must be 
conducted to determine the active agents in the compound  they were using. 

"Alternative and Traditional Medicines--Report from VIII  International 
Conference: Prevalence of Alternative Therapies" AIDS Treatment News 
(08/21/92) No. 157, P. 5  (Heyman, Jason)
     Use of alternative therapies by women was specifically addressed  at the 
Eighth International Conference on AIDS in Amsterdam in  July.  Imani 
Harrington told of a study that involved 50  HIV-positive women who used 
alternative therapies.  All of the 50 infected women who were interviewed were 
engaging in some form of alternative or self-care activity, with women using 
many  alternative treatments for women-specific health problems that  are not 
sufficiently addressed by western allopathic medicine.   Rachel King, of the 
Project San Francisco in Kugali, examined  factors that determine the choice 
of traditional medicine versus  western allopathic medicine in HIV-positive 
women.  She  discovered that the majority of the women were using both forms 
of  health care.  The women use traditional medicine for treating  symptoms 
such as weight loss, weakness, nausea, and dermatitis.   Western medicine was 
used for exploratory medical tests and for  illnesses that were perceived to 
be internal.  Also, David Baker  and Richard Copeland of San Francisco 
identified the most  popular alternative treatments being used by HIV-positive 
gay men and emphasized the importance of using people with HIV and AIDS  as 
leads in the development of new treatments. 

"Straight Shooting From the Pros" Newsweek (09/14/92) Vol. 120, No. 11, P. 49
     Magic Johnson, who is fed up with the government's inadequate  efforts to 
fight AIDS, has developed an educational video about  the disease.  Johnson is 
also quitting the National Commission on AIDS to protest the Bush 
Administration's negligence on the  issue.  The video was made in conjunction 
with Arsenio Hall to  offer an unconventional approach to educating teens 
about AIDS.   Johnson and Hall provide 42 minutes of rock, rap, and comedy  
along with frank discussions about everything from HIV testing to how to 
properly put on a condom.  "Whether it's talking about  condoms or just 
deciding whether or not you're going to have sex, we have to talk about it," 
said Johnson.  The tape, which many  video stores will be renting-out free of 
charge, may be effective in getting teens to monitor their sexual behavior 
more closely. 

"Idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia" Lancet (09/05/92) Vol. 340, No. 8819, P. 
607  (Soriano, V. et al.)
     The Centers for Disease Control's working definition for  Idiopathic CD4+ 
T-lymphocytopenia (ICL) should formally exclude  many other conditions known 
to decrease CD4 + T cells and require persistent rather than transient CD4+ 
lymphocytopenia, write V.  Soriano of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in 
Madrid, Spain.   Dr. Laurence and colleagues in the Aug. 1 issue of the Lancet

describe five patients who showed signs of AIDS but lacked HIV  infection.  
AIDS-defining conditions in the absence of HIV have  been previously reported.

For example, more than 30 HIV-negative cases of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) have 
been found in people under 60 years of age, though none of the 
immunodeficiency, or CD4 cell  counts were normal.  Similar cases were 
reported at the Eighth  International Conference on AIDS in Amsterdam in July.

A  transient decline in CD4 cell counts appears to be frequent in  some 
infectious diseases.  Some depletion may occur in cytolysis  caused by the 
infectious agent or by cytokines or natural killer  cells.  But a drop in 
peripheral blood CD4 cell count usually  reflects sequestration of CD4 cells 
in lymph nodes and the  reticuloendothelial system as a part of the immune 
response to  infection.  Malnutrition, autoimmune diseases, thymoma, and  
diverse rare congenital disorders have been linked with acquired  
immunodeficiency, causing CD4 depletion by other mechanisms, the  researchers 
conclude. 

"No Needle is a Safe Needle" American Medical News (09/07/92) Vol. 35, No. 33, 
P. 1   (Voelker, Rebecca)
     Due to the threat of contracting bloodborne infections like HIV,  many 
changes will be occurring in the health-care setting.   Needleless intravenous 
systems are easy to use, with little  change in technique required, according 
to one of the first  comprehensive studies to evaluate new, safer medical 
equipment,  conducted by the New York state health department.  The study  
analyzed health-care workers' experiences with a variety of new  devices in 10 
hospitals across New York.  Participating  health-care workers gave 1,310 
evaluations fo 14 different  devices.  Linda Chiarello, RN, AIDS program 
manager at the New  York state health department, said two thirds of the 
health-care  workers were comfortable using needleless IV systems employing  
blunted cannulas and reflux valves after one or two times.  About 96 percent 
of the participants were at ease with the systems  after using them three to 
five times, and  more than 75 percent  said needleless IV systems prompted 
limited or no change in  professional technique.  Also, when participants were 
questioned  about how they liked an IV catheter with a protective needle  
housing, over 50 percent said they would feel comfortable using  it after 
three to five times.  Participants rated syringes with  needle guards high in 
perceived safety, but about a fifth of the  participants found them difficult 
to use. 

"News in Brief: Indiana" Advocate (09/08/92) No. 611, P. 25
     Indiana health officials are ill-equipped to face the dramatic  increase 
in the number of AIDS cases that are expected in the  state during the next 
ten years, said the director of the AIDS  division at the state department of 
health on July 27.  The  official, Howard J. Hess, said, "If we are correct 
and 80 percent of the people who are infected with HIV in Indiana don't know  
they are infected, the number of cases we're presently dealing  with are only 
a small number of the cases that are out there."   He added, "the system that 
is working now is always a step away  from being overwhelmed by new numbers."  
By July 1, about 1,566  AIDS cases had been reported across the state, and an 
additional  1,826 Indiana residents were reported to be HIV-positive. 

"News in Brief: Michigan" Advocate (09//08/92) No. 611, P. 25
     Laws enacted in Michigan which protect against disability-based  bias 
apply to individuals who experience discrimination because  they are falsely 
believed to have AIDS, ruled the state supreme  court in Lansing on Aug. 4.  
Kostas Lagoudakis, a Coldwater  restaurant owner, violated the law by telling 
an employee that he had heard rumors that she had AIDS and could no longer 
work for  him unless she could prove that she did not have the disease, the 
court decided.  The employee tested negative for HIV.  Lagoudakis argued that 
the antibias ordinance applied only to people who are actually disabled. 

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