Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 10:05:15 +0500 From: ghmcleaf{CONTRACTOR/ASPEN/ghmcleaf}%NAC-GATEWAY.ASPEN@ace.aspensys.com Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary 03/27/96 AIDS Daily Summary March 27, 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 ************************************************************ "Lifeline: AIDS Survey" "New Magic Act Means Handling Diverse Tasks" "HHS Awards Supplemental Grants for HIV/AIDS Services" "U.S. Court Throws Out AIDS Privacy Award" "Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Safe, Immunogenic in HIV-Infected Children" "Cell Genesys Gene Therapy Promising in Early Trial" "Paromomycin Effective Against Cryptosporidiosis in AIDS Patients" "Lytic Growth of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) in Culture" "Curcumin: Clinical Trial Finds No Antiviral Effect" "South Africa's AIDS Play Provokes Controversy" ************************************************************ "Lifeline: AIDS Survey" USA Today (03/27/96) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene A new survey of more than 1,500 adults found that Americans think schools should teach preteens about AIDS and that television stations should advertise condoms. The survey, released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, revealed that Americans are more knowledgeable about AIDS and HIV than other issues, although they still have misconceptions. For example, more than half of the respondents believe that donating blood is risky. Twelve percent believe that AIDS is God's punishment for homosexual behavior, and 18 percent believe there is "some truth" to reports that HIV was produced in a germ-warfare laboratory. "New Magic Act Means Handling Diverse Tasks" USA Today (03/27/96) P. 1C; Johnson, Earvin Magic Johnson, who has HIV and recently returned to professional basketball, reports in USA Today that he is no longer afraid of the virus, that his immune system is strong, and that being a husband and father has improved his life. He says his life is more varied now, with his roles as family man, businessman, and AIDS activist. Furthermore, he claims that setting an example for younger basketball players is especially important now. Johnson notes that basketball and the players have changed since he retired in 1991, and adds that he recognizes that he too has to adjust. "HHS Awards Supplemental Grants for HIV/AIDS Services" Reuters (03/26/96) The Department of Health and Human Services awarded 41 cities nearly $44 million in supplemental grants for care for low-income AIDS patients last week. The money was granted under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990, but reflects only partial-year funding because Congress is still working on the department's 1996 budget. Since 1991, more than $1 billion has been given to cities through the Ryan White CARE Act. "U.S. Court Throws Out AIDS Privacy Award" Reuters (03/26/96) A California appeals court has rejected a $275,000 award won by a former Delta Air Lines sales agent who alleged he was wrongly fired in 1991 because he revealed that he had HIV. The court panel found that Joseph Sullivan's family could not collect the award because California law prohibits compensation for pain and suffering if the victim dies before the ruling is final, and Sullivan died in 1995. Delta held that Sullivan was fired for being unreliable and frequently absent from work. A jury made the award based on the decision that the company had invaded Sullivan's privacy by posting his name on a report on HIV-positive employees. "Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Safe, Immunogenic in HIV-Infected Children" Reuters (03/26/96) A 5-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is as safe as, and maybe more effective than, a licensed 28-valent polysaccharide vaccine for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal infection in children with HIV. Dr. James C. King, Jr. and colleagues at the University of Maryland compared the two vaccines in 30 HIV-infected children and 30 noninfected children. Children in both groups showed greater increases in titers with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. King says further studies are needed to test repeated doses of the vaccine in immunocompromised children. "Cell Genesys Gene Therapy Promising in Early Trial" Reuters (03/26/96) An experimental HIV therapy, in which T-cells are taken from an HIV-negative donor, genetically altered to target HIV, and infused into an HIV patient, has shown promise in an early trial, announced Robert Walker of the National Institutes of Health at a recent meeting. Volunteers are currently being recruited for a Phase II trial, to be sponsored by Cell Genesys Inc. and Hoechst Marion Roussel and conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The therapy, which could be used in combination with antiviral drugs, may help restore immune function in AIDS patients. "Paromomycin Effective Against Cryptosporidiosis in AIDS Patients" Reuters (03/26/96) Paromomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, seems to give AIDS patients with cryptosporidiosis relief from diarrhea and stabilize weight loss. A study of 32 patients who completed four weeks of therapy with the drug found that nearly half experienced a decrease in diarrhea and weight gain or at least weight stabilization. Only 9 percent were cured, however. Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan of the Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I., and colleagues concluded that paromomycin should be considered initial therapy for cryptosporidiosis in AIDS patients until a more effective therapy is available. "Lytic Growth of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) in Culture" Nature Medicine (03/96) Vol. 2, No. 3, P. 342; Renne, Rolf; Zhong, Weidong; Herndier, Brian; et al. HIV is known to be a major risk factor for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), but the cancer can occur in the absence of the virus. Homosexual men with AIDS are 20 times more likely to develop KS than women and children with the disease, a fact which suggests that a sexually transmitted agent may be involved in the development of KS. A newly identified herpesvirus, KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), is this suspected agent. The lack of a cell culture system for the virus' growth has hindered research into its role in KS, but Don Ganem of the University of California at San Francisco and colleagues report that they have developed a system for growing the virus. This system will enable detailed study of viral replication, the testing of antiviral drugs, and the development of tests to screen for viral infection. "Curcumin: Clinical Trial Finds No Antiviral Effect" AIDS Treatment News (03/01/96) No. 242, P. 1; James, John S. Curcumin, an ingredient in the curry spice turmeric, was tested in a clinical trial with 40 volunteers and found to have no effect in reducing viral load or increasing CD4 cell counts. The study was conducted by the Community Research Initiative (CRI) of New England, a community-based research organization. Although curcumin has shown anti-HIV activity in cell cultures in laboratory tests, an earlier clinical trial was inconclusive. Jim Hellinger of CRI said that "despite the lack of apparent antiviral or CD4 effects, most participants liked taking curcumin, and felt better about taking it." A blood test for curcumin levels may provide more information about why no antiviral activity was documented. "South Africa's AIDS Play Provokes Controversy" Lancet (03/02/96) Vol. 347, No. 9001, P. 610; Lee, Nick A debate has arisen in South Africa over the Department of Health's funding of a musical about AIDS awareness, called "Sarafina 2." The department has provided $3.45 million for the show, which was written by Mbongeni Ngema. The money was donated by the European Union (EU), which said it had allocated $12 million to AIDS awareness efforts in South Africa, but had not designated money for the play itself, as the Department had claimed. Department officials are now prohibited from talking about the situation with the media, although Manto Tshabalala's parliamentary portfolio committee on health will be investigating the controversy.