                     AIDS Daily Summary
                      November 15, 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
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 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD


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"Trauma Patients Bring Infections to Hospital"
"Across the USA: Idaho/New York/South Dakota"
"AIDS Researcher Suspended by School"
"Across the USA: Tennessee"
"Menino Visits Site of AIDS House"
"AIDS Threatens African Food Supplies--U.N. Agency"
"Cryopharm Reports Viral Inactivation of Cytomegalovirus in 
Transfused Blood; Study Results Presented at 47th Annual Meeting 
of the American Association of Blood Banks"
"Ruling Allows Red Cross to Name Infected Donors"
"HIV Infection among Women in Prison: An Assessment of Risk 
Factors Using a Nonnominal Methodology"
Streetbeat: ACT UP Dead Again?"
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     "Trauma Patients Bring Infections to Hospital"
Washington Post (Health) (11/15/94) P. 5;  Colburn, Don
     A study of almost 1,000 patients admitted to a Baltimore, Md., 
trauma center found that one in four patients had a serious 
infection that could be transmitted through blood.  The findings 
are "more alarming than reassuring" for health care professionals
who may come in contact with a trauma patient's blood, said Ellis
Caplan, chief of infectious diseases at the University of 
Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.  Over a 15-week period
last year, the patients were anonymously tested for exposure to 
HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis.  Twenty-six percent 
showed evidence of infection of at least one of the four 
blood-borne infections.  A total of 36 tested HIV-positive, 193 
tested positive for hepatitis B, 146 for hepatitis C, and 16 were
positive for syphilis.  Caplan also said that "there's a much 
higher risk of the doctors catching it from the patients than 
patients catching it from the doctors."  The Maryland Shock 
Trauma Center staff uses masks, fluid-proof Gore-Tex gowns and 
booties, and an intravenous system that minimizes the amount of 
needles used.
      
"Across the USA: Idaho/New York/South Dakota"
USA Today (11/15/94) P. 10A
     For the first time in Idaho, the Names Project AIDS Memorial 
quilt will be displayed.  Two sections of the quilt will be 
exhibited at the College of Southern Idaho in December.  In other
AIDS news, groups that care for people with AIDS are circulating 
a petition to ask for a meeting with New York Gov.-elect George 
Pataki.  The organizations are concerned because Pataki remained 
silent about AIDS issues during the campaign.  Also, a University
of South Dakota student is trying to create a state chapter of 
the Cannabis Action Network.  The organization, which is trying 
to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, says that the drug 
can help people with cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS.
      
"AIDS Researcher Suspended by School"
Chicago Tribune (11/14/94) P. 1-3
     Oakland University professor E. Rasul Chaudhry was suspended 
without pay for one year after he was found guilty of scientific 
and professional misconduct for violating safety requirements 
during HIV experiments in 1992.  Many students had been working 
in Chaudhry's lab and were unaware of the potential dangers.  A 
university investigation committee found evidence of three 
violations.  Chaudhry's work, including his studies of the effect
of HIV on wastewater, will be suspended at least until May 1996.
      
"Across the USA: Tennessee"
USA Today (11/14/94) P. 8A
     A Tennessee nurse who was stuck with an AIDS-exposed needle in 
1993 will receive $88,992 as well as all medical expenses.  The 
judge ruled that even though the former Johnson City Medical 
Center nurse is not HIV-positive, she has been permanently 
disabled by post-trauma stress.
      
"Menino Visits Site of AIDS House"
Boston Globe (11/14/94) P. 24
     Boston Mayor Menino broke ground Sunday on a building in Beacon 
Hill that will house people with HIV.  The $2.5 million building 
will consist of 20 units.
      
"AIDS Threatens African Food Supplies--U.N. Agency"
Reuters (11/14/94);  Haller, Vera
     The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has 
warned that the AIDS epidemic poses a threat to Africa's food 
supply.  The FAO's annual State of Food and Agriculture report 
states that AIDS "has significant, long-term socio-economic 
implications on food security, agricultural productivity and 
national economies."  The report says that AIDS has the potential
to eliminate much of sub-Saharan Africa's work force.  At the end
of 1993, two-thirds of HIV carriers were believed to be in 
sub-Saharan Africa--a region which accounts for 10 percent of the
world's population.  Studies in Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia 
showed that farmers who were faced with fewer workers were 
delaying mulching and weeding and were producing poorer crops as 
a result.  It is estimated that 50 percent of the population in 
Uganda over the age of 15 is infected with HIV and that "as the 
death toll mounts, each productive person becomes responsible for
a higher number of dependents."  The FAO report recommends that 
the loss in workforce productivity be balanced by international 
aid and government investment to modernize production methods.
      
"Cryopharm Reports Viral Inactivation of Cytomegalovirus in 
Transfused Blood; Study Results Presented at 47th Annual Meeting 
of the American Association of Blood Banks"
Business Wire (11/14/94)
     Cryopharm Corp. presented preclinical data Monday that showed 
that its photosensitizer, in conjunction with ultraviolet-A light
(UVA), can inactivate cytomegalovirus (CMV), while maintaining 
the in vitro properties of platelets.  Transfusion-related CMV 
infection can lead to complications including blindness and 
pneumonia in AIDS patients.  The data showed that the UVA 
phototreatments were successfully applied to increase the safety 
of donated blood.  The study used a compound derived from a 
family of plant compounds called psoralens, currently used to 
treat some skin disorders and cancers.  The compound was 
engineered to minimize any negative reactions between blood cells
and plasma proteins.  CryopharmUS compound is unique in that it 
can selectively destroy high levels of contaminating viruses 
without injuring delicate blood cells and proteins.  The study 
also confirmed previous results demonstrating Cryopharm's ability
to inactivate HIV-1.
      
"Ruling Allows Red Cross to Name Infected Donors"
Toronto Globe and Mail (11/11/94) P. A6;  Claridge, Thomas
     A judge ruled Thursday to allow the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) to 
give the names of HIV-infected blood donors to public health 
officials.  Mr. Justice Douglas Carruthers, who said the case was
about "the health and well-being of our society," rejected the 
claim that the release of the donors' identities would violate 
their privacy rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  
He also rejected arguments that releasing the donors' names 
amounted to mandatory HIV testing.  When the donors gave their 
blood 10 years ago, Judge Carruthers said, they implicitly agreed
to have their blood tested for whatever the CRC deemed necessary.
The Canadian AIDS Society will appeal the decision.  A lawyer for
the Society said he hopes that the appeal will prevent the CRC 
from releasing the names until after the appeal is heard.
      
"HIV Infection among Women in Prison: An Assessment of Risk 
Factors Using a Nonnominal Methodology"
American Journal of Public Health (10/94) Vo. 84, No. 10, P. 
1637;  Hankins, Catherine A.;  Gendron, Sylvie;  Handley, 
Margaret A. et al
     A nonnominal study--one that details previous risk behaviors--was
conducted in Quebec to determine the relative contributions of 
needle use practices and sexual behaviors to HIV- antibody 
seropositivity among female prison inmates.  Of the 394 
incarcerated women studied, 6.9 percent tested positive for HIV. 
Totals of 13 percent and 12.9 percent HIV-seropositivity were 
found in women who used intravenous drugs or whose primary source
of income was prostitution, respectively.  The analysis was later
limited to injection drug users because of their high numbers 
among seropositive women.  HIV seropositivity among female 
intravenous drug users was predicted by "subject awareness of 
previous sexual or needle contact with a person with HIV 
infection," "self-reported genital herpes," and "having had a 
regular sexual partner since 1979 who ever injected drugs."  The 
prediction variables for intravenous drug users were determined 
to be significantly associated with the probability of HIV-1 
infection.  The researchers concluded that nonnominal testing is 
an ethical option to mandatory and anonymous testing among the 
incarcerated.
      
"Streetbeat: ACT UP Dead Again?"
Village Voice (11/01/94) Vol. 39, No. 44, P. 19;  Schoofs, Mark
     ACT UP, the AIDS activism group, is facing serious problems.  
There has been a shift from fighting for friends or oneself to an
abstract end to the disease.  Since the late 1980s, membership 
has diminished, fundraising has decreased, and leaders of the 
group have either died or gone to other organizations.  ACT UP's 
signature street protests occur less frequently now and draw 
smaller crowds.  Members say that the group has fragmented into 
small, increasingly independent committees.  Recently, a 
four-hour "emergency meeting" was held to reevaluate the 
organization's goal and structure.  Many of the 75 participants, 
including convener Andrew Velez, say they attended the meeting 
just to see whether they should stay active in the group.  The 
issues are now more complex than they were when ACT UP was 
founded during the Reagan era.  Accelerated approval for 
experimental drugs, for example, was recently criticized by 
activists--including ACT UP--for undermining medical research.  
Topics discussed at the meeting included ways to attract new 
members, to integrate the work of the committees, to return the 
organization to its roots, and to intensify its efforts to "get 
drugs into bodies."
      
