From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CDC Summary 9/23/92
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6225
Organization: unspecified
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 92 08:10:08 PDT

                            AIDS Daily Summary
                           September 23, 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 
******************************************************************************
 "National Briefs: Bid for Marijuana for AIDS Sufferers" Boston Globe 
(09/22/92), P. 10
   A group of about three dozen people pushing for legalized marijuana use for 
AIDS and cancer patients protested peacefully outside the Department of Health 
and Human Services yesterday.  The demonstration was designed to draw 
attention to the need for allowing marijuana to relieve symptoms experienced 
by AIDS and cancer patients, according to Dennis Perone, president of the 
Medical Marijuana Restoration Association. Dr. James Mason, head of the Public 
Health Service, released a statement claiming inhaling marijuana smoke can 
result in deadly infections for people with weakened immune systems. 

"A Stylish AIDS Benefit" USA Today (09/23/92), P. 2D (Williams, Jeannie)
   At the seventh on Sale AIDS Benefit in San Francisco, actor Richard Gere 
gave his first major press conference on AIDS. When asked by a reporter 
whether he has a "special interest" in AIDS causes--in other words, if he is 
gay--Gere replied, "Every American, man or woman, straight or gay, has a 
special interest in this disease." Gere also chastised the city of San 
Francisco's cuts in its AIDS budget, upsetting the city's mayor Frank Jordan. 
The event was sponsored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Other 
celebrities at the event included Gere's wife, model Cindy Crawford, Sharon 
Stone, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. 

"HIV Infection at Outcome of Pregnancy in the Paris Area, France" Lancet 
(09/19/92) Vol. 340, No. 8821, P. 707 (Couturier, E. et al.)
   The rate of HIV infection among women with an ectopic pregnancy was high, 
despite the wide confidence interval (CI), write E. Couturier et al. of the 
Hopital National de Saint-Maurice in Saint-Maurice, France. The prevalence of 
HIV in women at the end of pregnancy, regardless of outcome, was determined by 
an extensive survey of both women and medical centers during successive 4-week 
periods in four areas of the Paris, France region. Blood samples were tested 
anonymously for HIV-1 and HIV-2. Among the 11,593 blood samples 0.40 percent 
were positive for HIV-1 and 0.02 percent were positive for HIV-2. The rate of 
infection was higher among women with ectopic pregnancy; the rate in women 
having an elective or therapeutic abortion was more than twice that in those 
delivering babies. Known risk factors for ectopic pregnancy are older age and 
history of sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, this prevalence might be 
linked to such past disease constituting a risk marker both for ectopic 
pregnancy and HIV infection. The high HIV rate in women who had an abortion 
compared with that in women who delivered might be explained by a higher risk 
of HIV infection or the greater chance of a decision to terminate a pregnancy. 
Neonatal prevalence studies would, therefore, strongly underestimate the rate 
of HIV infection in pregnant women in France and elsewhere, the researchers 
conclude. 

"Underestimating Impact" American Medical News (09/14/92) Vol. 35, No. 34, P. 
23
   Chicago physicians may be reluctant to report AIDS among minors, possibly 
causing significant underreporting of children with the disease, according to 
a city health official. Although Illinois law mandates that doctors report new 
AIDS cases, officials say some doctors are unwilling to disclose the names of 
HIV-positive children for fear that the children's confidentiality will be 
violated once the information reaches the schools. 

"Engineered Poison" American Medical News (09/14/92) Vol. 35, No. 34, P. 23
   Federal researchers have used single, low doses of a genetically engineered 
drug to selectively eradicate HIV-infected cells, reported Dr. Richard T. 
Davey, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, at the 
international AIDS conference. The first study of this type in humans involved 
the drug, soluble CD4-pseudomonas exotoxin, which was given to 24 HIV-positive 
patients. Those receiving higher doses had a temporary increase of liver 
enzymes and other minor side effects. Lower doses resulted in much fewer side 
effects. Currently, researchers are testing multiple doses of the drug in the 
same group of patients.

"AIDS Van" American Medical News (09/14/92) Vol. 35, No.34, P. 23
   A mobile clinic is providing medical care to Baltimore, Md., drug users and 
prostitutes in an effort to curb the spread of HIV infection. Emergency 
medical technicians extract blood to test for syphilis and HIV. Condoms are 
distributed to encourage safe sex, and bleach is dispensed for cleaning 
intravenous needles.  Since April 1991, the AIDS van, which costs about 
$48,000 a year to run, has toured city neighborhoods and homeless shelters.  
During its implementation, it has served more than 2,000 clients and 
administered 600 HIV tests, about 5 percent of which are positive results. 

"Toward a Comprehensive HIV Prevention Program for the CDC and the Nation" 
Journal of the American Medical Association (09/16/92) Vol. 268, No. 11, P. 
1444 (Francis, Donald P.)
   To effectively curb the spread of HIV, major shifts in policy, program 
design, and organizational structure are required for the Centers for Disease 
Control, said Dr. Donald P. Francis in his retirement speech from the CDC. The 
CDC must take the lead to ensure that change happens within the health-care 
system. The agency cannot sit back proposing great programs knowing all along 
that they will never be implemented, warned Francis. The centers must be much 
more aggressive in its approach and design the best HIV prevention program to 
ensure it gets to the American people. Dr. Francis also advised that HIV 
experts should build trusting relationships with legislative and executive 
policymakers so that the complex issues of HIV can be completely understood. 
Francis tells of five major issues that Washington policymakers should address 
so that the U.S. can begin to establish a comprehensive and successful HIV 
prevention program. First, the CDC must recognize at the highest levels of 
government the extreme danger of HIV and make the decision that prevention 
programs will be implemented that are equal to meet this danger. Second, 
establish a categorical financing program to pay for the health-care needs of 
HIV-positive persons. Third, the CDC should institute a consistent and logical 
policy regarding drugs and drug addiction. Fourth, the agency should increase 
incentives for the private sector to produce vaccines. And finally, the CDC 
should initiate "clear chains of responsibility." Coordination between all of 
the administrative channels providing HIV services should be mandated. 

"Shifting Impact" American Medical News (09/14/92) Vol. 35, No. 34, P. 23
   HIV infection is quickly spreading among women and minorities, according to 
statistics by the Tennessee Dept. of Health.  Statistics show that there were 
420 cases of HIV infection and 248 new cases of AIDS reported in the first six 
months of the year. The Tennessee AIDS Program says that 93 percent of the 
total 2,069 AIDS cases reported since 1982 were among men. About 79 percent of 
the new HIV cases occurred in males, and 71 percent of Tennessee's AIDS 
patients have been white. But in the new HIV cases, 47 percent of them were 
among whites. 

"News in Brief: Indiana" Advocate (09/22/92) No. 612, P. 25
   The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Indianapolis demanded on Aug. 8 that two 
groups that distribute condoms move from the Damien Center, a church-operated 
service facility for people who test positive for HIV. Rev. David Coates, an 
archdiocese administrator who is a Damien Center board member, said, 
"Certainly, the Catholic Church cannot condone the distribution of condoms for 
any purpose." While the church prohibits condom use, officials of the two AIDS 
organizations, Project Outreach and the Indiana HIV Advocacy Programs, said 
they had evaded the policy by conducting their condom distribution programs at 
locations other than the Damien Center. Damien Center executive director 
Gordon Chastain said the center's objectives would not be affected if the two 
groups left. Project Outreach director Karen L. Brown said she understood the 
archdiocese's stance and she was attempting to "make whatever transitions are 
necessary." 

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