Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 09:34:56 -0400 From: "Flynn Mclean" Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary 08/28/96 AIDS Daily Summary August 28, 1996 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 National AIDS Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1996, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ****************************************************** "Across the USA: Indiana" "FBI Nabs Prominent AIDS Researcher" "Roche Profits Rose 16 Percent in Year's First Half" "Safe Bottled Water" "Tax Report: Waiting Until 1997 to Rain an IRA for Big Medical Bills Could Pay Off" "CDC Reports Increased Incidence of Tuberculosis in Children" "Disease Severity Markers Identified in HIV-Infected Pediatric Slow Progressors" "HIV Test Cos. Shun Lists" "The Fear of Heroin Is Shooting Up" ****************************************************** "Across the USA: Indiana" USA Today (08/28/96) P. 14A An Indiana AIDS Fund survey reveals that adolescents in some state schools are not being educated about protection from HIV. Shortages of housing, transportation, and other services for HIV-infected residents were also reported. "FBI Nabs Prominent AIDS Researcher" Miami Herald (08/27/96) P. 1B; Lyons, David Lionel Resnick, a well-known AIDS researcher accused of money laundering and fraud, surrendered to the FBI Monday in Miami. Resnick allegedly charged Mount Sinai Hospital for over $500,000 dollars in fraudulent invoices by diverting payments from the hospital's clients to himself through a company he controlled. These clients were the University of Miami and All Children's Hospital of St. Petersburg. Resnick and his lawyers claim there has been a "misunderstanding" between the doctor and the hospital. Resnick, a dermatologist, continues to treat AIDS patients with lesions. "Roche Profits Rose 16 Percent in Year's First Half" New York Times (08/28/96) P. D3 Roche Holding announced Tuesday that its profits increased 16 percent in the first six months of the year, earning 2.2 billion Swiss francs ($1.8 billion) in the period. The company's pharmaceuticals division demonstrated strong growth, aided in part by the U.S. approval of the AIDS drug Invirase in December. In addition, Roche said strong over-the-counter sales and a weaker Swiss franc helped boost profits. Sales were up 8 percent, to 7.8 billion francs, or $6.6 billion. "Safe Bottled Water" New York Times (08/28/96) P. C4; Gormley, Fred In response to a New York Times article about the popularity of bottled water in the United States, Fred Gormley points out that HIV-infected individuals often drink bottled water because it is screened for contaminants. He states in a letter to the editor of the Times that he drinks Poland spring water because it is certified to be filtered to the micron level and screened for the cryptosporidium microorganism. Moreover, Gormley notes that the brands listed in the article for having superior quality do not carry the same guarantee. "Tax Report: Waiting Until 1997 to Rain an IRA for Big Medical Bills Could Pay Off" Wall Street Journal (08/28/96) P. A1 The health insurance law signed last week permits special health-related exceptions to the penalty that now exists for early withdrawal from an individual retirement account (IRA). Currently, people who withdraw their IRAs before the age of 59.5 are charged a 10 percent penalty. The new provision allows savers to cash in their tax-deferred accounts penalty-free to pay for medical expenses above 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Among the allowable expenses are hiring a nurse, hospitalization insurance, and prescription drugs. "CDC Reports Increased Incidence of Tuberculosis in Children" Reuters (08/27/96) Between 1985 and 1994, tuberculosis (TB) cases in children increased 33 percent, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. A review of disease surveillance data published in the August issue of Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal also shows that, from 1988 to 1992, TB cases among children rose 51 percent. While cases among adults decreased 10 percent from 1992 to 1994, cases among children only declined 2 percent. Xilla T. Ussery and colleagues note that the disease is especially affecting children less than 2 years of age, who may have negative tuberculin skin tests and few symptoms but who could still be infected. "Disease Severity Markers Identified in HIV-Infected Pediatric Slow Progressors" Reuters (08/27/96) Certain immunologic characteristics are associated with disease progression in HIV-infected children, researchers at the University of Miami report. Roberto Patarca and colleagues found that, in a group of 35 children who acquired HIV perinatally, those who were more severely symptomatic had significantly lower proportions of CD4 T cells and higher proportions of CD8 T cells. They also reported that decreases in CD4 T cells are associated with decreases in the production of interleukin-2, -5, and -10. The researchers suggest that administering IL-2 may benefit HIV-infected children. "HIV Test Cos. Shun Lists" DM News (08/19/96) Vol. 18, No. 31, P. 1; Drimmer, Barbara Individuals who use Home Access Health's mail-in HIV testing kit are given a customer code number to keep results anonymous. Likewise, names of customers are not compiled into lists and shipping information is destroyed. The tests, which can be ordered by calling 1-800-HIV-TEST or by visiting the company's World Wide Web site, were approved for sale in late July. Home Access is advertising the kits on radio and television, but has decided not to use direct marketing in order to maintain confidentially. To assist counselors who inform customers that their test is positive, however, the company asks for some personal information--including age, sex, ZIP code, race, sexual preferences, and whether or not intravenous drugs have been used. "The Fear of Heroin Is Shooting Up" Newsweek (08/26/96) Vol. 128, No. 9, P. 55; Leland, John; Katel, Peter; Hager, Mary Heroin use is on the rise in the United States since changes in the drug industry have resulted in a more powerful, cheaper, and safer product. In the 1980s, the average $10 bag of heroin was only 2 percent to 8 percent pure. In 1994, however, average purity was 63 percent, pure enough to snort or smoke--and avoid the risk of HIV infection linked to injecting. The price also fell, due to a doubling in production over the last decade. Many new users begin using heroin by snorting, but eventually progress to injecting. About 50 percent of users who sought treatment last year were using needles, and up to 75 percent are now injecting. Injecting is a concern for two reasons: injection drug users have the highest rates of new HIV infection, and fluctuations in purity increase the risk of overdose. Many people working to prevent and treat drug use say support for such programs is inadequate to deal with the growing heroin problem.