                     AIDS Daily Summary 
                      October 26, 1994

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
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Copyright 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD


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"For Hemophiliacs and Their Families, Loss and Anger"
"Test Measures HIV Blood Levels"
"String Quartet Playing for AIDS Charities"
"China: 1,435 Cases of AIDS"
"Cell Genesys Issued Broad Patent for Universal Receptor Cell 
Technology"
"The Immune Response Corp. Announces Third Quarter 1994 Financial
Results"
"Nosocomial HIV-1 Transmission and Primary Prevention in Romania"
"Evaluating Interventions for Fear of Contagion"
"When All Else Fails"
"Medical Briefs: Sulfadiazine Available"
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"For Hemophiliacs and Their Families, Loss and Anger"
Philadelphia Inquirer (10/26/94) P. A1;  Shaw, Donna
     There is a growing movement among hemophiliacs and their families
demanding to know why the clotting medicine needed to prolong 
their lives was contaminated with HIV.  The issue is expected to 
be raised at the annual convention of the National Hemophilia 
Foundation, which starts today in Dallas.  During the 1980s, an 
easier-to-use clotting medicine replaced a previous one that was 
made from the blood of only a few donors.  The new treatment 
involved the blood of tens of thousands of donors, many of whom 
were given money for their blood and who may or may not have been
at risk for HIV.  Many hemophiliacs are filing lawsuits, 
including a recent class-action suit in Chicago against the 
National Hemophilia Foundation and four drug manufacturers, who 
are charged with continuing to sell and promote products donated 
from people who were at high risk for HIV.  All defendants have 
said their conduct was proper.  The manufacturers of the clotting
medicines say that they responded to the AIDS crisis as quickly 
as possible, considering how little was known about HIV at the 
time.  The anger and loss that hemophiliacs are experiencing is 
not confined to the United States.  Costa Rica, France, and 
Japan, for example, are all involved in similar investigations.
      
"Test Measures HIV Blood Levels"
Washington Times (10/26/94) P. A7
     A new test, the branched DNA assay for HIV-1 infection, can help 
determine the levels of HIV in a patient's bloodstream.  
Researchers at the federal National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Georgetown University, and the 
Chiron Corp. say the test will help doctors to evaluate the 
effectiveness of an AIDS treatment, and will be useful in 
evaluating experimental treatments.  The test is currently 
available only for research use.
      
"String Quartet Playing for AIDS Charities"
New York Times (10/26/94) P. C14;  Kozinn, Allan
     Proceeds from one series of concerts during the Tokyo Quartet's 
25th anniversary season will benefit six AIDS charities.  The 
string quartet is not accepting a fee for the six-concert cycle 
in New York City, and has underwriters such as Clairol and the 
Japanese Chamber of Commerce that are covering about $150,000 in 
hall costs, program printing, and advertising.  The series is 
expected to raise about $250,000 which will be donated to 
charities including the Actor's Fund of America AIDS Initiative; 
God's Love We Deliver, which delivers food to AIDS patients; and 
the United Jewish Appeal, which has AIDS outreach services in all
five boroughs of New York City.
      
"China: 1,435 Cases of AIDS"
United Press International (10/25/94);  Holland, Lorien
     China warned Tuesday that AIDS is spreading quickly through its 
heterosexual community as the government's control over its 
citizens lessens.  While 1,435 people out of a 1.2 billion 
population were reported to have AIDS in July, scientists believe
the actual number is higher--some estimating that as many as 
40,000 Chinese will be infected by the end of the year.  "Young 
adults who are sexually active will be the first victims," said 
the state-run China Youth Daily.  The Beijing Union Medical 
College said that approximately 51 percent of China's AIDS 
patients were in their twenties and that increasing sexual 
contacts were leading to the spread of HIV.  Analysts said that 
HIV poses particular difficulties for China because of the 
enormous changes it has undergone in 15 years.  Prostitution and 
drug use are increasingly common in China.  The rate of sexually 
transmitted diseases has risen from 48 cases in 1980 to 360,000 
in 1992.  China has no nationwide screening programs, and public 
awareness of HIV is very low.  A recent government survey found 
that only 16 percent of health workers in eastern China knew how 
to prevent AIDS, and that only 6 percent of injection drug users 
were aware that needle-sharing could spread HIV.
      
"Cell Genesys Issued Broad Patent for Universal Receptor Cell 
Technology"
PR Newswire (10/25/94)
     Cell Genesys, Inc. has been issued a patent covering the core 
technology of its universal receptor cell therapy program.  It 
was also announced that a Phase I/II clinical trial began this 
month at the National Institutes of Health for anti-HIV T cell 
therapy for AIDS, the main product in Cell Genesys' universal 
receptor cell therapy program.  The patent covers genetically 
engineered universal receptors for immune system and other cells 
which may be used in treating diseases such as cancer.  The first
universal receptor cell therapy being tested in humans is an 
anti-HIV T cell for AIDS.  Laboratory experiments show that 
anti-HIV T cells kill HIV-infected cells with a high degree of 
specificity.  Cell Genesys expects that the next step of clinical
development of anti-HIV T cells would be a clinical trial of 
autologous gene therapy of HIV infection in AIDS patients.
      
"The Immune Response Corp. Announces Third Quarter 1994 Financial
Results"
PRNewswire (10/24/94)
     The Immune Response Corp., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in
the development of proprietary products for the treatment of HIV 
infection and autoimmune diseases, on Monday reported financial 
results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30.  The company 
experienced a net loss of $.20 per share compared to $.19 per 
share last year.  Contract research revenue was down to 
$1,586,000 from $1,175,000, and investment income fell to 
$549,000 from $1,376,000.  Net loss increased for the nine months
ended Sept. 30, primarily due to research and development of 
potential autoimmune disease treatments and litigation with 
Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc.
      
"Nosocomial HIV-1 Transmission and Primary Prevention in Romania"
Lancet (10/08/94) Vol. 344, No. 8928, P. 1028;  Apetrei, C.;  
Buzdugan, I.;  Mitroi, I. et al
     To establish the incidence and prevalence of patient-to-patient 
HIV transmission among Romanian children, a study was conducted 
in life-care institutions for orphans and abandoned children.  A 
total of 2,673 patients were tested for HIV in  23 different 
homes.  A high prevalence of HIV infection was found--in contrast
with the very low prevalence of HIV in adults in that region.  
All mothers of children who tested HIV-positive that could be 
could be tested were found HIV-seronegative.  Children who were 
HIV-positive or had AIDS were not separated from other patients, 
but strict primary prevention measures were adopted in five of 
the six orphanages where HIV was found.  After testing every six 
months, no new cases were found in the first five homes.  The 
sixth home, which houses 60 children, had 19 new children who 
were diagnosed with HIV.  Seroconversion after the first test for
HIV took place in six of the children, while the other 13 arrived
at the orphanage during the survey and were seropositive when 
first tested.  The study shows that primary prevention measures 
are effective early even when a significant portion of the 
population is HIV-seropositive and lives among those who are 
uninfected.
      
"Evaluating Interventions for Fear of Contagion"
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (9/94-10/94) 
Vol. 5, No. 5, P. 48;  Meisenhelder, Janice Bell;  Rice, Louise
     Contact with AIDS patients is one educational strategy employed 
to lessen fear of HIV contagion.  To evaluate this type of 
intervention among nurses, two continuing educational offerings 
presented a panel of people living with HIV.  The one-day program
was marked by a significant decrease in levels of fear.  In the 
six-week course, however, nurses' willingness to care for 
patients with HIV remained unchanged between preprogram and 
postprogram tests.  The results provide evidence supporting the 
idea that exposure to persons living with HIV decreases the fear 
of contagion among nurses.
      
"When All Else Fails"
American Medical News (10/10/94) Vol. 37, No. 38, P. 13;  
Pinkney, Deborah Shelton
     The American Medical Association is seeking $75,000 from the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop an HIV 
prevention training program for doctors.  The prototype 
information kit contains an array of items--including pamphlets, 
condoms, a demonstration model penis, a contract card for 
recording negotiated behavior-change agreements, and a 
wallet-size card to help patients monitor their progress.  The 
kit would also include pointers on how to talk to patients about 
risky behavior, which is useful for doctors who are unsure how 
they can help patients change behaviors that increase the risk of
becoming HIV-infected.  "Physicians have trouble talking to 
patients about sensitive subjects such as sexual practices and 
drug use because they are not trained to," said Dr. James R. 
Allen, AMA vice president for science, technology, and public 
health.  If the grant proposal is approved, the kit will be 
tested in two states among 200 to 400 patients, and will expand 
if proven effective.  HIV prevention training is currently 
available through 17 national AIDS Education and Training Centers
operated by the federal Health Resources and Services 
Administration.
      
"Medical Briefs: Sulfadiazine Available"
Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 34
     Sulfadiazine, manufactured and marketed by Eon Labs Manufacturing
Inc., is now available in the United States.  Previously obtained
only through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
drug can be used for treatment of many infections, including 
adjunctive therapy with pryimethamine for toxoplasmosis--an 
infection of the brain that often causes brain inflammation and 
dementia in AIDS patients.  Sulfadiazine has been approved by the
Food and Drug Administration to be marketed through an 
accelerated drug-review process.
      
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