                     AIDS Daily Summary
                      August 28, 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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"Across the USA: Indiana"
"FBI Nabs Prominent AIDS Researcher"
"Roche Profits Rose 16 Percent in Year's First Half" 
"Safe Bottled Water"
"Tax Report: Waiting Until 1997 to Rain an IRA for Big Medical 
Bills Could Pay Off"
"CDC Reports Increased Incidence of Tuberculosis in Children"
"Disease Severity Markers Identified in HIV-Infected Pediatric 
Slow Progressors"
"HIV Test Cos. Shun Lists"
"The Fear of Heroin Is Shooting Up"
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"Across the USA: Indiana"
USA Today (08/28/96) P. 14A
     An Indiana AIDS Fund survey reveals that adolescents in some
state schools are not being educated about protection from HIV.  
Shortages of housing, transportation, and other services for 
HIV-infected residents were also reported.
     
"FBI Nabs Prominent AIDS Researcher"
Miami Herald (08/27/96) P. 1B; Lyons, David
     Lionel Resnick, a well-known AIDS researcher accused of
money laundering and fraud, surrendered to the FBI Monday in 
Miami.  Resnick allegedly charged Mount Sinai Hospital for over 
$500,000 dollars in fraudulent invoices by diverting payments 
from the hospital's clients to himself through a company he
controlled.  These clients were the University of Miami and All 
Children's Hospital of St. Petersburg.  Resnick and his lawyers 
claim there has been a "misunderstanding" between the doctor and 
the hospital.  Resnick, a dermatologist, continues to treat AIDS 
patients with lesions.
     
"Roche Profits Rose 16 Percent in Year's First Half" 
New York Times (08/28/96) P. D3
     Roche Holding announced Tuesday that its profits increased
16 percent in the first six months of the year, earning 2.2 
billion Swiss francs ($1.8 billion) in the period.  The company's 
pharmaceuticals division demonstrated strong growth, aided in 
part by the U.S. approval of the AIDS drug Invirase in December. 
In addition, Roche said strong over-the-counter sales and a 
weaker Swiss franc helped boost profits.  Sales were up 8 
percent, to 7.8 billion francs, or $6.6 billion.
     
"Safe Bottled Water"
New York Times (08/28/96) P. C4; Gormley, Fred
     In response to a New York Times article about the popularity
of bottled water in the United States, Fred Gormley points out that 
HIV-infected individuals often drink bottled water because it is 
screened for contaminants.  He states in a letter to the editor of 
the Times that he drinks Poland spring water because it is 
certified to be filtered to the micron level and screened for the 
cryptosporidium microorganism.  Moreover, Gormley notes that the 
brands listed in the article for having superior quality do not 
carry the same guarantee.
     
"Tax Report: Waiting Until 1997 to Rain an IRA for Big Medical 
Bills Could Pay Off"
Wall Street Journal (08/28/96) P. A1
     The health insurance law signed last week permits special 
health-related exceptions to the penalty that now exists for 
early withdrawal from an individual retirement account (IRA).  
Currently, people who withdraw their IRAs before the age of 59.5 
are charged a 10 percent penalty.  The new provision allows 
savers to cash in their tax-deferred accounts penalty-free to pay 
for medical expenses above 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. 
Among the allowable expenses are hiring a nurse, hospitalization
insurance, and prescription drugs.
     
"CDC Reports Increased Incidence of Tuberculosis in Children" 
Reuters (08/27/96) 
     Between 1985 and 1994, tuberculosis (TB) cases in children 
increased 33 percent, researchers from the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention report.  A review of disease surveillance 
data published in the August issue of Pediatric Infectious 
Disease Journal also shows that, from 1988 to 1992, TB cases 
among children rose 51 percent.  While cases among adults 
decreased 10 percent from 1992 to 1994, cases among children only 
declined 2 percent.  Xilla T. Ussery and colleagues note that the 
disease is especially affecting children less than 2 years of 
age, who may have negative tuberculin skin tests and few symptoms 
but who could still be infected.
     
"Disease Severity Markers Identified in HIV-Infected Pediatric 
Slow Progressors"
Reuters (08/27/96) 
     Certain immunologic characteristics are associated with
disease progression in HIV-infected children, researchers at the 
University of Miami report.  Roberto Patarca and colleagues found 
that, in a group of 35 children who acquired HIV perinatally, 
those who were more severely symptomatic had significantly lower 
proportions of CD4 T cells and higher proportions of CD8 T cells. 
They also reported that decreases in CD4 T cells are associated 
with decreases in the production of interleukin-2, -5, and -10.  
The researchers suggest that administering IL-2 may benefit 
HIV-infected children.
     
"HIV Test Cos. Shun Lists"
DM News (08/19/96) Vol. 18, No. 31, P. 1; Drimmer, Barbara
     Individuals who use Home Access Health's mail-in HIV testing
kit are given a customer code number to keep results anonymous.  
Likewise, names of customers are not compiled into lists and 
shipping information is destroyed.  The tests, which can be 
ordered by calling 1-800-HIV-TEST or by visiting the company's 
World Wide Web site, were approved for sale in late July.  Home 
Access is advertising the kits on radio and television, but has 
decided not to use direct marketing in order to maintain
confidentially.  To assist counselors who inform customers that 
their test is positive, however, the company asks for some 
personal information--including age, sex, ZIP code, race, sexual 
preferences, and whether or not intravenous drugs have been used.
     
"The Fear of Heroin Is Shooting Up"
Newsweek (08/26/96) Vol. 128, No. 9, P. 55; Leland, John; Katel, 
Peter; Hager, Mary
     Heroin use is on the rise in the United States since changes
in the drug industry have resulted in a more powerful, cheaper, 
and safer product.  In the 1980s, the average $10 bag of heroin 
was only 2 percent to 8 percent pure.  In 1994, however, average 
purity was 63 percent, pure enough to snort or smoke--and avoid 
the risk of HIV infection linked to injecting.  The price also 
fell, due to a doubling in production over the last decade.  Many 
new users begin using heroin by snorting, but eventually progress 
to injecting.  About 50 percent of users who sought treatment last 
year were using needles, and up to 75 percent are now injecting.  
Injecting is a concern for two reasons: injection drug users have 
the highest rates of new HIV infection, and fluctuations in purity
increase the risk of overdose.  Many people working to prevent and
treat drug use say support for such programs is inadequate to deal
with the growing heroin problem.
