Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 15:14:20 +0500 From: gharaghs{CONTRACTOR/ASPEN/gharaghs}%NAC-GATEWAY.ASPEN@ace.aspensys.com Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary 2/14/96 AIDS Daily Summary February 14, 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 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 1995, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ************************************************************ "Morrison Ref HIV-Negative, Outcry for Testing Continues" "Drug-Resistant TB Spreads" "The FDA vs. Health Exams" "Morrison's Partners Jolted by News" "Biting Case Will Be Test for HIV Law" "Japan Tobacco to Start Japan HIV Drug Test" "Japan Minister Pledges to Resolve HIV Issue" "Illinois Considering a Registry of Persons with HIV" "Ribozymes Move Closer to Applications for AIDS Therapy" "HIV and Dying: The Challenges of Caring" ************************************************************ "Morrison Ref HIV-Negative, Outcry for Testing Continues" Washington Times (02/14/96) P. B1; Dahlberg, Tim Mills Lane, the referee in Tommy Morrison's October fight with Lenox Lewis, has been tested for HIV because Morrison has admitted he has the virus. Lane's test came back negative. Meanwhile, boxing officials across the country are increasing their calls for more states to institute HIV testing for boxers. Lane said he knew there was only a very small chance that the virus could have been transmitted by Morrison, but that he wanted to be tested to reassure himself and his family. During the fight against Lewis, Morrison bled from hits around the eyes. "I had blood all over me," said Lane. It is not known whether Morrison was infected at that time. Lewis will be tested for the virus in Britain next month, as part of the country's requirements for his annual boxing license. "Drug-Resistant TB Spreads" Washington Post (02/14/96) P. A2 According to an article published in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, a family of potentially-fatal drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB) that were first identified in New York in 1992 have spread to other cities in the United States and Europe. Researchers from the New York-based Public Health Research Institute who tracked the "W" strains of TB said that new drugs may be necessary to eliminate the bacteria, as the W strains do not respond to treatment with four of the most frequently used anti-TB medicines. In some cases, the strains are resistant to as many as seven drugs, they report. According to Barry N. Kreiswirth, director of the Institute's Tuberculosis Center, "The spread of this difficult-to-treat bacteria beyond New York City, where aggressive containment has been implemented, will have major implications for public health well into the 21st century." "The FDA vs. Health Exams" Investor's Business Daily (02/14/96) P. A2; Matias, Donna G. In a guest editorial in the Investor's Business Daily, Donna Matias, attorney for the Institute of Justice, objects to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) refusal to approve home-testing products for AIDS and other diseases. Matias notes that the FDA has refused for eight years to approve an HIV home-test kit that enables individuals to take their own blood and send it to a laboratory for testing. The user then calls a toll-free number within a week to get their results. If the results are negative, a recording informs the caller of his status. If positive, however, a counselor tells the caller and refers him to counseling or support groups. Currently, the FDA approves home test kits, but only if the maker guarantees that people with positive results will be forced to accept face-to-face counseling. Only about 27 percent of people in high-risk groups for HIV now get tested. If anonymous home-testing were available, studies suggest that at least 42 percent of those people would be tested. According to Matias, the FDA's unwillingness to approve certain home-testing kits intrudes "on the right of individuals to choose how they will obtain medical information about themselves" and also keeps many from being tested. "Morrison's Partners Jolted by News" Washington Times (02/14/96) P. B5; Whitlock, Jason Some women in Kansas City, Mo., are concerned about their HIV-status, following boxer Tommy Morrison's announcement that he has HIV. The fighter spent a lot of time in the city, partying with a number of women. A local AIDS hotline there has reported that it received an increased number of calls Monday, including calls from women who mentioned the Morrison case. Boxing matchmaker Peyton Sher said that three women called him personally, worried because they had been with Morrison. "Biting Case Will Be Test for HIV Law" Chicago Tribune (02/13/96) P. 1-7; Jimeniz, Teresa John Merritt of Chicago has been accused of biting someone and, under a new Illinois law for criminal transmission, of having HIV and biting someone. Merritt's HIV test results will be released in court on March 11. Merritt was arrested on Jan. 6 for biting an employee at a Sam's Club store while trying to flee the store. Merritt then told authorities that he had HIV, but refused to give a blood sample. The criminal transmission law has been controversial since it went into effect in 1989. A person could receive 3 to 7 years for the felony, if found to have engaged in an activity that could transmit the virus while knowing one has it. Prosecutors, however, must prove both that the defendant knew he had HIV and that he meant to transmit the virus. "Japan Tobacco to Start Japan HIV Drug Test" Reuters (02/14/96) Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) said Wednesday that it would launch in March Phase I clinical trials for the anti-HIV drug AG-1343, which it has developed with Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. A JT spokesman said that Phase II and Phase III trials of the drug started late last month in Europe and the United States, and noted that Phase I and pilot Phase II tests there have shown no serious after-effects. The drug has been found to resist development of HIV in the blood. Japan Tobacco expects to apply for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by September 1997 and to begin selling the drug by March 1998. "Japan Minister Pledges to Resolve HIV Issue" Reuters (02/14/96) Japan's Health Minister told HIV-infected hemophiliacs Wednesday that he would try to facilitate an out-of-court settlement of their case against the government and five drug companies. About 50 of the 270 plaintiffs had begun a protest outside Naoto Kan's office earlier that day. Last week, the minister acknowledged for the first time that the ministry was aware in 1983 that there was a threat of HIV spreading through contaminated imported blood. The hemophiliacs, who contracted HIV through tainted blood in the late 1980s, have sued the state and five drug companies for failing to screen the blood for HIV. "Illinois Considering a Registry of Persons with HIV" Reuters (02/13/96) The state of Illinois is considering keeping a confidential registry of persons infected with HIV, according to a report in AIDS Weekly Plus. The list would be protected from subpoena by a new state law. The Illinois State Medical Society has said that it supports the proposal, on the grounds that it would allow tracing of contacts and early detection of infection. However, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and various AIDS groups oppose the idea, arguing that it would infringe on an individual's privacy and may discourage people from being tested. The proposed measure must be passed by both the Illinois House and Senate; a decision is expected around June. "Ribozymes Move Closer to Applications for AIDS Therapy" Chemical & Engineering News (01/29/96) Vol.74, No.5, P. 26; Rawls, Rebecca The first Phase I clinical trials using ribozymes to treat human disease will take place later this year, when researchers will insert genes for RNA into the blood of AIDS patients. These ribozymes are designed to destroy the RNA in HIV, a process which involves an enzyme-like cleavage reaction. Ribozymes work well in the test tube, but they have had limited success in tissue and culture experiments and in animal studies. Problems arise in getting the ribozyme to its target cell and to the target RNA before it is destroyed by ribonucleases in the cell. Gene therapy is one way to deal with these problems. In preclinical trials, researchers genetically modified stem cells, precursors to immune system cells, to give them anti-HIV ribozymes. The ribozymes cleave the HIV genome at different places. The studies showed that the treated cells could grow in culture into mature cells that are HIV-resistant. Next, researchers will try to add the genes for the anti-HIV ribozymes to cells from AIDS patients, to determine if the patients' cells can also be grown in culture and become resistant to the virus. If that works, the cells could then be reinfused into the AIDS patients. "HIV and Dying: The Challenges of Caring" Focus (01/96) Vol.11, No.2, P. 1; Rose, Avi As an AIDS patient comes closer to dying, the number of caregivers involved may increase. The closest personal caregivers should be recognized as "family," whether or not they are legally bound to the patient, and should seek legal standing via a will and power of attorney. The closest caregivers may deny when a loved one is dying, and professionals should clearly, but gently, acknowledge the situation. Caregivers, however, should also remember to take care of themselves, including getting enough rest, nourishment, and exercise. Furthermore, a caregiver should seek support from other friends and family, or rely on professional caregivers when personal support is not available. Friends and family can be mobilized to take care of practical tasks like preparing meals, updating concerned people, taking care of children, handling family members, and taking care of pets. Primary caregivers need to do things that they feel are helpful, to maintain a sense of competence. Caregivers should continue to fully respect the autonomy and decision-making power of the patient as long as possible. Moreover, making legal arrangements during the later stages of illness are empowering activities that are particularly useful when different parts of family are at odds with each other.