Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 11:16:50 -0400 (EDT) From: "ANNE WILSON, CDC NAC" Subject: CDC's AIDS Daily Summary 01/19 AIDS Daily Summary January 19, 1994 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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, and the CDC Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "Blood Liability Admitted, Court Told" Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (01/18/94) P. A5 (Downey, Donn) Rochelle Pittman, whose husband, Kenneth Pittman, died of an AIDS-related illness after receiving tainted blood in November of 1984 during heart surgery, made the argument before the Ontario Court of Appeal Monday that the Canadian Red Cross Society admitted liability in her husband's death when it acknowledged that potential donors were not reading a screening brochure. Kenneth Arenson, who represents Rochelle Pittman, said that the man who gave the "fatal donation" of blood was a francophone who was unable to read the brochure, printed only in English. Rochelle Pittman and her four children are suing Dr. Stanley Bain, the Canadian Red Cross Society, and the Toronto Hospital for negligence in the death of Kenneth Pittman. Arenson asked the judge in the case to consider rendering a decision before March 15, the deadline for victims seeking government compensation over AIDS-tainted blood. "France-AIDS Scandal" Associated Press (01/18/94) (Crary, David) Paris--On Tuesday, 98 physicians and scientists from nine countries asked France's President Francois Mitterrand in a written appeal to pardon four health officials who were convicted in a scandal which has resulted in the deaths of more than 300 of the 1,200 hemophiliacs who received blood transfusions tainted with the AIDS virus. The letter read, "While affirming our solidarity and compassion for the hemophiliacs and their families stricken by AIDS, it is our duty to guard against any unjustified sentiment of mistrust against doctors and medical science." Michel Garretta, the former blood bank director and main defendant, was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the scandal, while Dr. Jean-Pierre Allain, the blood bank's former chief researcher, is serving a two-year term. The other two defendants received suspended sentences. The appeals court that upheld the convictions in July said that Garretta refused to dispose of the contaminated blood, worth $40 million, because disclosure of the problem would have resulted in adverse financial consequences. "Survey Says Britons Faithful, Disapprove of Extramarital Sex" United Press International (01/17/94) London--A new study of British sexual habits reveals that Britons are becoming sexually active at younger ages, but that they tend to be faithful and disapprove of people who have affairs outside of their committed relationship. The survey of more than 18,000 people was initiated to help the medical establishment in its battle against AIDS. Public education targeting the disease appears to have had some success, notes the survey, since more than 75 percent of women and 70 percent of men in the post-AIDS generation said they used a condom in their first sexual encounter. "Houston Firm Develops Device to Detect Leaks in Surgical Gloves" Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (01/17/94) Novatec, a Houston-based firm, has secured a patent and approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a glove monitor designed to detect even the most microscopic of holes. Based on physician fears of contracting AIDS or hepatitis from patients, or of passing on bacteria to patients, Novatec feels it has a market for its device. Although there are no documented cases of surgeons who contracted AIDS through breaks in the skin, the incidence of hepatitis among surgeons is four times that of the general population, according to William Marshall, president and principal in Novatec. The glove monitor would cut the risk for the surgeon, as well as improve sanitary conditions for the patient, he said. Novatec's glove monitor is a box the size of a pager, which is attached to the doctor's waistband. Connected to the monitor is a set of leads that attach to the patient's body and the physician's abdomen. The device sends a minute electrical current through the doctor and patient. If the surgeon's glove tears during the operation, the hole allows a current to flow between doctor and patient, completing the electrical circuit and setting off an alarm in the monitor. Novatec conducted clinical trials during more than 100 operations at several different hospitals. The results won the firm FDA approval, and Novatec is now trying to raise about $500,000 from a private investor to cover the costs of readying the monitor for the market. "Health Watch: Eating Well With HIV" Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (01/18/94) P. A11 (Picard, Andre) Sheila Murphy, a Montreal-based dietician, has aided in the production of a new book and video titled "Healthy Eating Makes a Difference," aimed at the estimated 30,000 Canadians believed to be infected with the AIDS virus. The book provides varying diets based on a person's status: asymptomatic, symptomatic, or with full-blown AIDS and in need of weight gain. Healthy eating can delay the development of AIDS in people affected with HIV for up to six years. "French TV Stations to Devote April 7 to AIDS" Reuters (01/14/94) Paris--France's six television stations announced that on April 7 they will devote an entire evening of joint broadcasting to the AIDS fight. The three private and three public networks will yield more than three hours of prime time to a common broadcast featuring celebrities as well as scientists. The program will raise money for the battle against AIDS and heighten public awareness about the extent of the deadly disease, said TF1 television. "Dr. Stephen Kritsick, 42, TV Show's Animal Editor" Chicago Tribune (01/17/94) P. 4-10 Dr. Stephen M. Kritsick, the animal science editor on ABC's "Good Morning America," died Sunday at the age of 42 from AIDS-related lymphoma. The veterinarian had announced during a broadcast in October that he was infected with the deadly disease. Kritsick had been working on a book about AIDS. "Mandela Invites Taylor to Launch AIDS Campaign" Reuters (01/14/94) Soweto, South Africa--African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela said he had invited actress Elizabeth Taylor to mount an AIDS awareness campaign in South Africa. "She has done wonderful work in this field all over the world," said Mandela. "I think she can do wonderful work for us too." He also warned delegates at the ANC Youth League's congress that AIDS could destroy the work force. "AIDS Vitamin" Associated Press (01/14/94) (Auslander, Jason) Omaha, Neb.--A form of B-6 vitamin found in the bloodstream prevented the AIDS virus from infecting white blood cells in test-tube experiments, although it did not help cells that had already been infected, said James Salhany, a researcher and biochemist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Salhany, along with AIDS virologist Mario Stevenson, found that pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) bonded to white blood cells, forming a barrier that blocked the AIDS virus from infecting the cells. Large doses of the vitamin, however, can cause problems with the nervous system, such as trouble walking or tingling in the feet. Although there were no toxic side effects in his experiments, Salhany said researchers have to determine if enough vitamin B-6 can be built up in the body without causing toxic side effects. The medical center is pursuing funding to extend the experiments to humans. In the meantime, Salhany warns against taking "mega-doses" of vitamin B-6 found in drug and health food stores because it is not the same as PLP, because of the side effects, and because the body will only metabolize it into a certain amount of PLP. While the preliminary results are promising, Salhany cautions that they are not a cure. "HIV Disease in Print: Rethinking AIDS" Focus (12/93) Vol. 9, No. 1, P. 6 (McGrath, Michael) The central thesis for "Rethinking AIDS" by Robert Root-Bernstein is that the scientific establishment has prematurely focused on HIV as the sole cause of AIDS. While acknowledging that the virus does have some critical role in development of AIDS, Root-Bernstein's book reviews other causes of immune deficiency that affect both infected and uninfected persons, and suggests that these causes are as important or more important than HIV infection in causing AIDS. The author also spends a substantial amount of time explaining why he believes that AIDS is not transmitted through heterosexual contact. While many experts probably will not agree with Root-Bernstein's conclusions, his book is a well-written, well-organized, and well-documented reference for those interested in factors that influence the immune system. It has 512 pages and is bound in cloth. The price is $27.95.