From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CDC Summary 9/10/92
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6176
Organization: unspecified
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 07:36:34 PDT

                         AIDS Daily Summary
                         September 10, 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 
******************************************************************************
 "Around the Nation: Baboon-Liver Patient Said to Have Been Infected With HIV" 
Washington Post (09/10/92), P. A10
     The man who lived with a baboon liver transplant for ten weeks  and died 
on Sunday was infected with HIV, reported authorities  yesterday.  The 
decision to use a patient who is HIV-positive was chastised by some medical 
ethicists who said that such patients  might be more willing to risk dangerous 
treatment.  Richard  Cohen, chairman of the medical panel which granted 
approval for  the operation, said the virus "was another confounding variable.

We didn't think, since he didn't have active AIDS, it would make  any 
difference."  But Michael Grodin, a Boston University  professor who heads a 
similar review panel in Boston, said, "This guy was the most vulnerable of 
vulnerable patients.  Dying  patients should not be used."  The man, who 
remains unidentified, was age 35 when he died on Sunday at the University of 
Pittsburgh Medical center after experiencing bleeding inside the skull.   
Related Stories: USA Today (09/10) P. 1A; Baltimore Sun (09/10) P. 12 A 

"Video Brings Out the Stars for Frank Discussion of AIDS" Baltimore Sun 
(09/10/92), P. 1C
     Magic Johnson's new video "Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS  and You" 
has been released for viewing.  The video is about 42  minutes and was 
produced by Arsenio Hall and Paramount Home Video as a public service.  Dealer 
cost is being held to $8.50.   Paramount has vowed to donate its profits to 
the Magic Johnson  Foundation, an AIDS organization, and is urging stores to 
sell  "Time Out" for less than $10 and rent it at no charge.  Although  the 
topic is murky, the tape manages to be somewhat upbeat  through its 
interviews, discussion groups, testimonies, lecture,  and music videos.  The 
video features celebrity walk-ons like Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, Luke Perry, 
Paula Abdul, Neil Patrick  Harris, and several others who come in and out of 
the picture.   But the most poignant of all messages comes from the people who

have HIV/AIDS and tell their plight with the disease.  Two young  mothers, one 
of whom transmitted her infection to her yet-to-be  born infant, tell their 
stories of what it's like to live with  HIV infection.  Another young man with 
HIV reminds the audience  of how ignorant it is to rely on stereotypes to 
determine if  someone has the infection.  The tape also demonstrates how to  
properly use a condom involving a teenage discussion group.  One  girl holds 
out two fingers, while another shows how to open the  package, unroll the 
condom, and slip it on.  In addition, the  tape reveals some frightening 
statistics of the AIDS epidemic.

"T Backs Off From Fight Over Ads" Boston Globe (09/09/92), P. 27  (Blake, 
Andrew)
     The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, criticized for  censoring 
subway advertisements that encourage condom use to  prevent HIV infection, 
reversed its stance Tuesday, saying it  will not allow the use of three 
advertisements it considers "too  provocative."  After the AIDS Action 
Committee of Massachusetts  assailed the MBTA for rejecting three advertising 
posters of  seven the group submitted, the reversal emerged.  Another four  
are currently featured in subway cars.  The posters depict  rolled-up condoms 
outside of their packages, in addition to  messages that include some double 
meanings.  One of those the  MBTA rejected says, "It'll grow on you," followed 
by text that  says, "Use a latex condom.  You'll get used to it.  It's thin,  
stretchable, and the best way to prevent AIDS."  MBTA spokesman  Peter Dimond 
said general manager John J. Haley Jr. never  rejected the ads but instead 
returned them to the AIDS Action  Committee for additional review.  But 
earlier Tuesday, Dimond had indicated that senior MBTA managers believed the 
three posters  were offensive because "The T is working hard to build 
ridership, to encourage more people to take the T.  We don't want to see  
anything that would discourage people from using public  transportation."  
However, Larry Kessler, executive director of  the AIDS Action Committee, 
chastised MBTA executives, "Our public officials do a great disservice to the 
public by censoring the  kind of life-saving information people need to 
protect themselves from HIV infection."

"Insurance Briefs: AGF Says AIDS Levy Must Not be Precedent" Journal of 
Commerce (09/10/92), P. 10A
     Chairman of French Insurer Assurance Generales de France, Michel  Albert, 
cautioned Wednesday that a one-time payment by French  insurers to those who 
contracted HIV via contaminated blood  transfusions must not set a precedent.  
He discouraged  transforming insurance into "a substitute for social 
security."   AGF, the second largest state-owned insurer in France,  
contributed to a 1.2 billion-franc levy imposed on French  insurers last year 
to help compensate for those people who  contracted HIV through tainted blood 
transfusions.  Albert made  his comments at the conclusion of the 36th 
"Rendez-Vous de  Septembre" reinsurers conference in Monte Carlo. 

"TB Cases in Prisons on Rise, ACLU Says" Philadelphia Inquirer (09/10/92), P. 
B1  (Cohn, Gary)
     Pennsylvania's 24,400-inmate prison system now holds more than 34 cases 
of tuberculosis, or two times the number of cases reported  earlier, according 
to records cited in federal court yesterday by the American Civil Liberties 
Union.  The revelation occurred as  ACLU asked U.S. District Judge Jan E. 
DuBois to require the state to make drastic improvements for screening and 
treating TB.  A  total of 21 of the 34 cases have been detected since 1991, 
said  the records.  Attorneys representing the state did not debate the 
accuracy of the statistics cited by the ACLU.  The ACLU said the  potential 
for TB turning deadly is increased in prisons and  jails, where there are high 
concentrations of people who are  infected with HIV, and thus are more 
susceptible to infection  with TB.  The National Prison Project of the ACLU 
asked DuBois to implement a preliminary injunction that would compel immediate

corrective action by the state prison system.  Linda Barrett, a  deputy state 
attorney general who represents the Pennsylvania  Corrections Department, said 
the state has provided sufficient  treatment for inmates infected with TB.  
The only witness who  testified at yesterday's hearing was Armond H. Start, a 
physician from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School.  He said 
the risk of contracting TB increases by prison overcrowding  because TB is an 
airborne infection.  About 48 percent of  Pennsylvania's 16 state prisons, 
designed for 16,500 inmates, are  over capacity. 

"Mother Teresa Brings Charity to Britain" United Press International 
(09/09/92)
     London--Renowned religious figure Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who  arrived 
Wednesday in Birmingham in search of a site for a new  branch for her mission, 
told a church conference more charity was needed for AIDS patients.  Mother 
Teresa, who spoke at the  National Conference of Priests at Newman College in 
Birmingham,  described her work and what hardship AIDS patients experience   
She said, "We have homes all over the place for the dying, the  crippled, the 
mentally ill, the lepers, the unwanted and now  especially with the new 
disease AIDS we have them all over the  place also."  Mother Teresa added, 
"There is something very  beautiful to see these young men dying with dignity 
and love and  care."  The mission has a number of houses open for AIDS in the  
United States, said Mother Teresa. 

"The Best Anti-AIDS Tool Ever" Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition 
(09/10/92), P. A10
     Although clean needle exchanges are an effective means to thwart  the 
spread of HIV infection, there is also a need for more  straightforward talk 
and understanding between all people who  want to eliminate AIDS from the 
world, write the editors of the  Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition.  It is 
evident that dirty  needles spread HIV and that state, local and county health

officials must do everything in their power to get used needles  out of 
circulation to stop the deadly virus.  However, for the  effort to be 
successful, it must be inclusive.  In June, members  of ACT-UP/LA began 
distributing free needles to heroin addicts in South-Central Los Angeles, but 
they were assailed by a group of  angry community leaders.  The program did 
not fare well at all  with those concerned that a needle exchange merely 
promotes drug  abuse, and may have weakened support for taking action against  
the drug-related transmission of HIV.  Therefore, communication,  respect, and 
cooperation is essential now as many AIDS and health activists seek needle 
exchange programs in Los Angeles.  Gov.  Pete Wilson's signature on state 
legislation, SB 1418, would  establish a pilot needle exchange program, to 
begin in San  Francisco.  It would allow needles to be distributed legally  
without a prescription.  And if it was found to encourage drug  use, the 
project would be terminated.  More than just a needle  exchange is necessary 
to fight AIDS effectively, the editors conclude.

"News in Brief: New York" Advocate (09/08/92) No. 611, P. 24
     The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) requested on July 23  that New 
York City Mayor David Dinkins select an independent  prosecutor to decide 
whether excessive force was used by the  police to put an end to an AIDS 
demonstration that involved  10,000 protesters at Times Square July 14.  NYCLU 
Executive  Director Norman Siegel said, "It is very important to find out if 
there were violations of citizen's civil liberties and civil  rights on that 
day."  The mayor and several Broadway stars spoke  at the demonstration.  
Activists Brad Sears said that "while the  mayor called for AIDS action from 
the podium, his officers  launched an attack against our civil rights, our 
voices, and our  bodies."  City police spokesman Scott Bloch said that his 
office  had not received any reports of excessive force at the protest. 

"News in Brief: Illinois" Advocate (09/08/92) No. 611, P. 25
     A state law enacted in 1988 that permits health authorities to  force 
convicted prostitutes to be tested for HIV infection does  not breach privacy 
rights guaranteed in the Illinois  constitution, the state supreme court ruled 
July 30.  Allegations that the law authorizes illegal search and seizure and 
infringes  equal-protection guarantees by singling out convicted prostitutes 
were also thrown out by the court.  "The state has a compelling  interest in 
protecting and promoting public health and...in  adopting measures reasonably 
designed to prevent the spread of  AIDS," wrote chief justice Benjamin Miller 
in the ruling.   However, Mark Ishaug, a spokesman for the AIDS Foundation of  
Chicago, said that the decision "begins to set up categories of  people who 
can be forced to undergo HIV testing.  It's  prostitutes today; it may be gay 
men tomorrow." 

"Alternative and Traditional Medicines--Report From VIII  International 
Conference" AIDS Treatment News (08/21/92) No. 157, P. 4  (Heyman, Jason)
     The Eighth International Conference on AIDS held in Amsterdam in  July 
for the first time had a section on alternative and  traditional indigenous 
medicines.  Four oral sessions, various  poster presentations, published 
abstracts, and a three-evening  minicourse were used to address issue.  The 
minicourse involved a hint of what an international dialogue on alternative 
and  traditional medicines could look like.  Representatives from  nations 
with high rates of HIV infection discussed their work  with traditional 
indigenous treatments, and western-trained  scientists discussed the 
preliminary data that exists on some  "alternative" treatments.  One 
interesting paper was a poster  presentation by Raxit Jariwalla, of the Linus 
Pauling Institute,  on a laboratory study of vitamin C (ascorbate) combined 
with NAC  (N-acetylcysteine).  NAC is a naturally occurring amino acid that 
has become a popular treatment offered in buyers clubs.   Jariwalla's 
laboratory study discovered that adding NAC to  vitamin C spurred a 
synergistic effect that caused an eightfold  increase in anti-HIV activity.  
Another promising study conducted at Chulalongkorn University Hospital in 
Bangkok reviewed an  extract of the "lacquered mushroom," Ganoderma lucidum.  
The  study exhibited that this product altered the response of  lymphocytes 
taken from HIV-infected patients and provides proof  supporting additional 
studies. 

Newsgroups: sci.med.aids