Date: Fri, 7 Jul 1995 09:38:39 +0500 From: ghmcleaf{CONTRACTOR/ASPEN/ghmcleaf}%NAC-GATEWAY.ASPEN@ace.aspensys.com Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary 07/07/95 AIDS Daily Summary July 7, 1995 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 ************************************************************ "CDC Supports AIDS Tests for All Pregnant Women" "Clinton, Criticizing Helms, Defends Research on AIDS" "Vesco Linked to Plan for Clinical Drug Trials in Cuba" "Retailer Benetton's Ads Banned in Germany" "Inside the Beltway: Must Be Election Time" "In Trenton, a Pair of Prayerful Protests" "Must AIDS Infants Be Punished Too?" "'Normal Heart': On the Pulse" "Problems of Persons with HIV/AIDS Hospitalized for Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia" "Fleming Goes to Gotham" "Notice of Public Meeting" ************************************************************ "CDC Supports AIDS Tests for All Pregnant Women" Philadelphia Inquirer (07/07/95) P. A3; Hostetler, A.J. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday that it supports voluntary HIV testing for all pregnant women--representing the first time the agency has ever recommended voluntary testing for an entire group of people. Until now, the CDC has only recommended testing for pregnant women at high risk for HIV, such as injection drug users and prostitutes. "To reduce chances of transmission, we must provide ongoing treatment and care, including AZT therapy," said the CDC's Helene Gayle. A federal study published late last year found that women who take AZT during pregnancy can reduce by two-thirds the risk of transmitting HIV to their babies. The CDC hopes to make HIV testing standard prenatal care for the 4 million women who become pregnant each year--even those who are considered to be at very low risk of infection. Test results would remain confidential unless state law requires otherwise. Related Stories: Washington Times (07/07) P. A5; Washington Post (07/07) P. A1; Wall Street Journal (07/07) P. B3 "Clinton, Criticizing Helms, Defends Research on AIDS" USA Today (07/07/95) P. 6A In his speech at Georgetown University on Thursday, President Clinton took issue with Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), who complained earlier this week that the government spends more money on AIDS research than on other diseases. According to Helms, AIDS research should be limited because HIV is transmitted by people "deliberately engaging in unnatural acts." Clinton, however, said, "Gay people who have AIDS are still our sons, our brothers...our citizens." Department of Health and Human Services figures show that federal AIDS funding in 1995 totals $5.9 billion, compared to $17.5 billion for cancer and $38 billion for heart disease. But GOP National Committee chairman Haley Barbour commented, "AIDS research needs to be based on science and medicine and on health considerations, not on political considerations. I think too often it has been." Related Stories: New York Times (07/07) P. A1; Wall Street Journal (07/07) P. A1; Washington Post (07/07) P. A4 "Vesco Linked to Plan for Clinical Drug Trials in Cuba" Washington Post (07/07/95) P. A29 Donald Nixon, nephew of former president Richard M. Nixon, has indicated that the May 31 arrest of fugitive financier Robert L. Vesco in Cuba could be linked to their collaboration for a new AIDS drug. Nixon said he and Vesco were within weeks of completing the necessary procedures to begin testing the drug TX, an extract of the citronella plant that is aimed at boosting the immune system. "It's interesting--just after things are ready to go, bang, away he goes," Nixon said. TX was invented by former California doctor Stephen Herman, who gave up his license five years ago after illegally testing another AIDS drug, Viroxin, on patients. Viroxin, which was highly criticized by state medical officials, evolved into TX, Nixon said. Related Story: Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (07/06) P. B1 "Retailer Benetton's Ads Banned in Germany" Investor's Business Daily (07/07/95) P. B16 On Thursday, a federal appeals court in Germany ruled against an advertising campaign used by the Italian retailer Benetton that used AIDS, child labor, and ecological disaster as themes. The court held that the ads violated the principles of fair competition by using compassion for commercial reasons. One poster, for example, features a bare male bottom stamped with the words "HIV Positive." The court ruled that this poster also went against human dignity, and that all three themes broke the moral code. Related Story: USA Today (07/07) P. 1A "Inside the Beltway: Must Be Election Time" Washington Times (07/07/95) P. A11; McCaslin, John The Washington Times has obtained a letter sent by the National Minority AIDS Council to its board and advisory board members. The letter states that President Clinton has asked the council to submit three to five suggestions today of actions he could against AIDS. The council also notes, according to the parameters given, that the suggestions should be "specifically presidential in scope; something that Clinton is willing and able to do; and not too expensive." "In Trenton, a Pair of Prayerful Protests" Philadelphia Inquirer (07/07/95) P. B1; Campbell, Douglas A. Two hopeful protests took place on Thursday near the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. On the Statehouse steps, for example, a group was praying for Gov. Whitman to approve a bill that is favorable to hemophiliacs. The group is seeking the governor's support of legislation that would override a two-year statute of limitation and allow them to sue companies that sold them blood products contaminated with HIV. The attorney general has deemed the bill unconstitutional, but Whitman's spokeswoman said the issue is still under review. "Must AIDS Infants Be Punished Too?" New York Times (07/07/95) P. A24; Stoller, Jill In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, Jill Stoller--Medical Director of the Pediatric Consultation Service at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx--writes that it is "disheartening" to read about Sen. Jesse Helms' (R-N.C.) efforts to reduce funds for the 1990 Ryan White CARE Act. Stoller says that as the director of a clinic for HIV-infected children that is funded by the measure, she sees first-hand the positive impact these funds have. She questions whether Helms believes that these children are responsible for their infection by the act of being born. Without primary care programs, HIV-infected children can develop fatal infections, which could easily be treated with medications. Stoller invites Helms to visit her center and see himself how the Ryan White funds are being spent. "'Normal Heart': On the Pulse" Washington Post (07/07/95) P. F1; Rose, Lloyd Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart," a 10-year chronicle of the early AIDS epidemic, is just as urgent and compelling as when it was first produced one decade ago. The play presents a variety of opinions on what it means politically to be gay in America. Kramer makes a powerful drama out of the political problems people encounter even when they are, or should be, united by the fear of dying. "Problems of Persons with HIV/AIDS Hospitalized for Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia" Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (05/95-06/95) Vol. 6, No. 3, P. 23; Holzemer, William L.; Henry, Suzanne Bakken; Reilly, Cheryl A. et al. In a prospective study, Holzemer et al. examined the problems of HIV/AIDS patients who are hospitalized for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Data was obtained from patient interviews, nurse interviews, intershift reports, and patient charts. The problems were then classified into problems related to PCP, AIDS, psychosocial concerns, knowledge deficit, hospitalization issues, or other problems. The majority of the patients had problems in the PCP, AIDS, and psychosocial categories at all three reporting periods. About 20 percent had knowledge deficit or hospitalization problems, and 33 percent had problems categorized as other. The greatest number of difficulties were in the PCP division. Particular psychosocial problems were more likely to be reported during the patient and nurse interviews than in the chart and intershift report. The findings support the physical symptoms identified in the published care plans and guidelines for caring for people with PCP. In addition, the study recognized the limitation of using the patient's chart as the only information source in determining nursing care needs, and highlighted the importance of the patient's outlook. "Fleming Goes to Gotham" Advocate (07/11/95) No. 685, P. 12 According to federal AIDS policy director Patsy Fleming, it is difficult to educate teenagers about AIDS prevention because they "seem to feel that they're invincible, so they won't get it. On the other hand, they feel it's inevitable that they'll get it, so why bother to protect themselves?" Fleming made these comments during a May 25 trip to New York City--where she toured the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a social services and advocacy group for gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people. "Notice of Public Meeting" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (07/06/95) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host a public meeting to discuss the implementation and evaluation of U.S. Public Health Service recommendations for counseling and testing pregnant women. The purpose of this meeting is to obtain individual comments on the following: strategies to prevent HIV infection among women and children; strategies to ensure that women and newborns who are infected are entered into a continuum of services; and the considerations involved in monitoring the epidemic in women and children in general. The meeting will be held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, 210 Peachtree Street, NW, Atlanta Georgia, on July 11 and 12, from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. To make hotel reservations, please contact the Westin Peachtree Plaza at (404) 659-1400. For additional information, call Francess Page at (202) 690-6373.