                     AIDS Daily Summary 
                        May 10, 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
     
     
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"Scientists Find Elusive Protein, H.I.V.'s Guide"
"New Issue Update: Cell Genesys"
"Minority-Led AIDS Groups Vow Again to Disrupt Ride" 
"Across the USA: Pennsylvania"
"AIDS as Drama: The Grief is Sincere"
"Thai-U.S. Study on Mother-Child HIV Transmission" 
"State Policy Agendas Neglect Women's Needs; Center..." 
"Danger in Water for AIDS Patients"
"Perceived Health, HIV Illness, and Mental Distress in 
African-American Clients of AIDS Counseling Centers" 
"Government: Budget-Consciousness"
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"Scientists Find Elusive Protein, H.I.V.'s Guide" 
New York Times (05/10/96) P. A1;  Leary, Warren E.
     Federal scientists have found a protein essential to HIV's 
invasion of the body's white blood cells, ending a long search 
that may allow new avenues of research and treatment.  HIV targets 
a receptor molecule, CD4, on the cell's surface, but scientists 
have been searching for another protein that the virus also needs. 
 Now Edward A. Berger and colleagues at the National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases report in today's issue of Science 
that they have found the protein, which has been named "fusin" 
because it facilitates the virus' fusion with the cell's outer 
membrane.  Anthony S. Fauci, director of the institute, called the 
finding "a tremendous advance."  The discovery may have 
implications for vaccine research and may help explain why some 
HIV-infected individuals remain healthy for years.  Related 
Stories: Washington Post (05/10) P. A37; USA Today (05/10) P.13D
     
"New Issue Update: Cell Genesys"
Investor's Business Daily (05/10/96) P. A4
     The Food and Drug Administration has approved a second Phase
II clinical trial of Cell Genesys' AIDS gene therapy based on an 
investigational drug application.  Under the treatment, a 
patient's own T-cells are collected, genetically altered to 
recognize and destroy HIV-infected cells, and then returned to 
the patient's body.
     
"Minority-Led AIDS Groups Vow Again to Disrupt Ride" 
Philadelphia Inquirer (05/10/96) P. B2
     The Minority AIDS Coalition, a group of minority-led AIDS
groups in Philadelphia, repeated their promise on Thursday to 
boycott the planned Philadelphia-to-Washington, D.C. AIDS bike 
ride.  The group, which represents about 30 AIDS organizations, 
says it feels slighted by the event organizers and notes that 
unless it is named as one of the groups to benefit from the 
fundraiser, it will not participate.
     
"Across the USA: Pennsylvania"
USA Today (05/10/96) P. 7A
     A 6-year-old HIV-infected child was included in a group of 
Pittsburgh children who used the same pencil eraser to give each 
other bloody "tattoos" by rubbing their skin raw.  All the 
children will be tested for HIV.
     
"AIDS as Drama: The Grief is Sincere"
Wall Street Journal (05/10/96) P. A11;  Irwin, David W.
     In response to an earlier letter to the editor of the Wall
Street Journal by Mark Lasswell, David W. Irvin objects to 
Lasswell's criticism of the portrayal of AIDS patients in the 
Broadway musical "Rent."  Irvin notes that Jonathan Larson, the 
creator of "Rent," is sincere in his use of music to communicate 
his feelings about the disease and should not be criticized 
because his work is popular.  Irwin suggests that Lasswell find a 
way to share his grief over his friend, a hemophiliac who died of 
AIDS, and not direct his anger at others who are dealing with 
grief.
     
"Thai-U.S. Study on Mother-Child HIV Transmission" 
Xinhua News Agency (05/09/96)
     At least 400 women participating in a joint study by the
United States and Thailand will receive AZT during their ninth 
month of pregnancy and during labor to determine the drug's 
efficacy in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.  Women 
in the study would be advised not to breast-feed their babies, 
because HIV can be transmitted through breast-feeding.  If AZT is 
effective, it is expected to help reduce perinatal transmission 
of HIV among the 20,000 HIV-infected women who give birth each 
year in Thailand.  An earlier study, conducted by the United 
States and France, found that HIV could reduce mother-to-child 
transmission by two-thirds.  The dosage being tested in the 
Thailand study, however, is cheaper and therefore more feasible 
for developing countries.
     
"State Policy Agendas Neglect Women's Needs; Center..." 
U.S. Newswire (05/09/96)
     Policies advanced by state legislatures threaten to harm
women, the Center for Women Policy Studies said Thursday.  The 
group--an independent and nonprofit feminist policy research and 
advocacy organization--offered an alternative pro-woman policy 
agenda, the Contract with Women of the USA, and female 
legislators in eight states have already followed with their own 
contracts.  Among other issues, the center objects to the new 
federal law that will require states to test infants for HIV by 
the year 2000 if they do not show that testing pregnant women has 
resulted in a decline in the number children born with HIV.  This 
policy, the group says, threatens women's privacy as well as 
subjects them to potential discrimination.
     
"Danger in Water for AIDS Patients"
United Press International (05/09/96)
     The California Public Interest Research Group reported
Thursday that violations of drinking water standards in the state 
have resulted in contamination that is especially dangerous to 
people with compromised immunity, including people with AIDS. 
According to the group's report, the water contained fecal 
matter, toxic chemicals, and other contaminants.  Cryptosporidium 
was not detected in California during the study period, however. 
Congress is considering weakening water standards, increasing the 
threat to people with weak immunity.  The proposal would call for 
reduced monitoring of drinking water contaminants and limited 
public disclosure about such conditions.
     
"Perceived Health, HIV Illness, and Mental Distress in 
African-American Clients of AIDS Counseling Centers"
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (03/96-04/96) 
Vol. 7, No. 2, P. 43;  Linn, J. Gary;  Anema, Marion G.;  Hodess, 
Sandra; et al.
     Research has shown that in order for people with AIDS to 
successfully cope with the disease, they should have an accurate, 
positive perception of their health status.  HIV-infected 
individuals with limited access to health care and HIV education, 
including many minority adults, often lack this type of 
self-appraisal.  J. Gary Linn of Tennessee State University and 
colleagues conducted a study of 255 HIV-infected black adults to 
determine the impact of health self-appraisal on their mental 
health.  The researchers found that AIDS-related depression is 
affected substantially more by a patient's perceived health status 
than by their symptoms.  Personal and social resources, including 
gender, income, and church attendance, were found to have a 
relatively small, though significant, influence on mental 
distress.  The authors suggest that clinical attention be paid to 
the type and number of a patient's HIV symptoms as well as to his 
or her personal and social resources.  The study also suggests 
that special medical, psychological, and educational outreach 
services for African-American women with HIV or AIDS are needed 
because this group has low morale and health appraisal.
     
"Government: Budget-Consciousness"
Advocate (04/30/96) No. 706, P. 14
     President Clinton wants to increase federal spending on AIDS
programs in 1997 by 2.4 percent over expected 1996 levels.  If 
Congress were to agree to  the increase, government spending for 
such issues as research and treatment programs would total $3.9 
million.  AIDS activists are concerned, however, that Clinton 
hopes to cut $59 billion from Medicaid, and because he has not 
proposed an increase to the federal AIDS housing program.
     
     
