Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 18:54:15 +0500 From: "Anne Wilson" Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary 11/01/95 AIDS Daily Summary November 1, 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 ************************************************************ "HIV-Positive Man Sues in Job Loss" "A Banner Night for AIDS" "Doctors Often Miss HIV Diagnosis" "Research Study of Combination AIDS Therapies Underway" "Demographics Help Explain Hispanic Sexual Behavior and Gender Roles and Must Be Considered for STD Prevention Programs, Says UCSF Researcher" "Drug Resistance Proving Problem For Fungal Infections" "Ritonavir, Saquinavir Combination--& Warning" "Maintaining Low HIV Seroprevalence in Populations of Injecting Drug Users" "Three-Ring Circus" ************************************************************ "HIV-Positive Man Sues in Job Loss" Philadelphia Inquirer (11/01/95) P. B4; Bauers, Sandy Robert K. Shover, a former catering sales manager for the Sheraton Inn Great Valley in Pennsylvania, has sued his former employer, alleging that he was fired because he was HIV-positive. Shover's suit claims that he was dismissed "because of his disability and in order to deprive him of his medical insurance and other employee benefits." According to the suit, the hotel--which is now the Sheraton Great Valley Hotel--was trying to switch insurance companies to reduce expenses, but could not be covered by the new company because of Shover's illness. Shover has also filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which concluded last year that there was "probable cause" that Shover's medical status was a factor in his dismissal. "A Banner Night for AIDS" Houston Chronicle (10/31/95) P. 3D; Hodge, Shelby Houston held its annual gala for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) last Friday. In from New York, AmFAR board chair Dr. Mathilde Krim observed, "Evenings like this are very important because they serve two purposes"--to raise money and "to sensitize people to the issue." Krim added that meeting people and learning about AIDS "sensitizes people to pay attention and to realize also that none of us is entirely safe." The event featured singer Diana Ross and was followed by a $500-per-person champagne and dessert party. "Doctors Often Miss HIV Diagnosis" Reuters (10/31/95) Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine report that a study of more than 100 U.S. doctors has revealed that the majority incorrectly diagnosed three principal symptoms of HIV infection. Of the 134 randomly selected general internists, only 23 of 89 correctly diagnosed a patient with Kaposi's Syndrome and just 22 of 97 physicians detected and diagnosed a patient with oral hairy leukoplakia. In addition, only 23 of 133 doctors correctly diagnosed a patient as having diffuse lymphadenopathy. Study author Doughlas Paauw wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association that some of the missed diagnoses could be because of a lack of experience with HIV-infected persons, but also "indicate deficiencies in HIV-related physical diagnosis skills among primary care physicians and also suggest more general deficiencies at physical diagnosis." "Research Study of Combination AIDS Therapies Underway" Business Wire (10/31/95) The second research study for the Inter-Company Collaboration for AIDS Drug Development has started enrolling participants at a number of research centers across the country, the Collaboration and PARAXEL International Corp. announced on Tuesday. The one-year trial will assess the ability of two separate three-drug combinations to reduce the viral load and produce a sustained increase in CD4 cells in HIV-infected patients who have between 200 and 500 cells and who have not previously received antiretroviral therapy. "Demographics Help Explain Hispanic Sexual Behavior and Gender Roles and Must Be Considered for STD Prevention Programs, Says UCSF Researcher" Business Wire (10/31/95) Such demographic elements as acculturation, age, education, and marital status significantly help explain sexual behavior and gender roles among Hispanics, according to Fabio Sabogal, a researcher at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). These factors, he asserts, must be considered when developing programs to control sexually transmitted diseases in this group. The UCSF study concluded that differences in sexual behavior between men and women appear to be more greatly emphasized among Hispanics, as compared to non-Hispanic whites, which indicates a greater disparity in sex role attitudes and behaviors among Hispanic males and females. The study also found that, in comparison to non-Hispanic white men, Hispanic men are more likely to start having sex earlier and report lower rates of condom use. "Condoms help prevent HIV," Sabogal said, "yet Hispanics in general have been slow to adopt condom use as a disease prevention or as a contraceptive method." "Drug Resistance Proving Problem For Fungal Infections" American Medical News (10/09/95) Vol. 38, No. 38, P. 23 Certain fungal infections are becoming resistant to drugs and more difficult to treat, said scientists at the American Medical Association's 14th annual Science Reporters Conference. Most of the drug resistance has been in Candida strains in HIV-infected patients who have been treated with antifungals numerous times. According to Dr. Dennis M. Dixon of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, "Drug resistance is a real problem. There are gaps in coverage, so there are fungi that are innately nonresponsive to the available drugs. That's why drug development is an area of importance." Researchers are not yet certain what is causing the resistance, but they are investigating the problem at the molecular level. "Ritonavir, Saquinavir Combination--& Warning" AIDS Treatment News (09/29/95) No. 231, P. 6 Research indicates that Abbott's ritonavir and Roche's saquinavir may be especially effective when used in combination, according to researchers' discussions at the 35th annual Inter-Science Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in September. The mix, however, could be extremely dangerous unless the level of saquinavir is reduced. This move must be done carefully as no one yet knows how much should be reduced. The laboratory tests suggest that combining the protease inhibitors may delay the development of resistance to the drugs. Tests in rats also show that combining the two drugs helps overcome a problem with saquinavir, in which it is difficult to get sufficient blood levels. "Maintaining Low HIV Seroprevalence in Populations of Injecting Drug Users" Journal of the American Medical Association (10/18/95) Vol. 274, No. 15, P. 1226; Des Jarlais, Don C.; Hagan, Holly; Friedman, Samuel R.; et al. To characterize the prevention activities and risk behavior in cities where HIV was introduced to the area's intravenous drug users (IDUs), but where seroprevalence has stayed low for a minimum of five years, Des Jarlais et al. studied IDUs from five cities across the world. The researchers prepared case histories that included data on prevention activities and current levels of risk behavior among IDUs in Glasgow, Scotland; Lund, Sweden; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Tacoma, Wash.; and Toronto, Ontario. All five cities were found to have implemented prevention activities when HIV seroprevalence was still low, provided sterile injection paraphernalia, and offered community outreach to IDUs. At least one-third of the IDUs reporting recent unsafe injections participated in moderate levels of risk behavior. It therefore seems possible to significantly limit HIV transmission among IDU populations in low-seroprevalence regions, the authors write, even though many in the population continue to take risks. The researchers propose that the three common prevention factors should be implemented in all IDU populations at risk for the rapid spread of HIV until further studies are made. "Three-Ring Circus" Advocate (10/31/95) No. 693, P. 58; Elders, Joycelyn In her book "The Gravest Show on Earth," Elinor Burkett--a reporter who worked the "AIDS beat" for the Miami Herald from 1988 to 1992--shows how various parts of the United States are confronting the AIDS epidemic. One major factor has been denial, and Burkett offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the media have participated in this sentiment, thereby allowing HIV to continue to spread. She also provides examples of denial in the black community, particularly in black churches. Burkett contrasts the denial of conservative religious groups who insist that HIV is a moral punishment with the denial of gay activists who have attacked the very people who were attempting to help them. The last chapter of this expose discusses how various organizations have helped us face our denial, and how, for example, they have forced AIDS to be discussed on television and helped people with AIDS to become participants in conferences and panels.