                     AIDS Daily Summary
                      November 28, 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


***********************************************************
"Epidemiology: Targeting an Ally of HIV"
"World Bank to Emphasize AIDS as Economic Threat"
"Across the USA: D.C."
"Capitol Hill Turbulence Challenges AIDS Chief"
"Single National Body Urged to Run Blood System"
"Study Says Crack Addicts Selling Sex for Drugs Are Spreading 
AIDS Virus"
"Invitation to Fight AIDS"
"When Parents Are Dying"
"December 1 is World AIDS Day"
"Is My Cat a Danger to My Health?"
************************************************************

"Epidemiology: Targeting an Ally of HIV"
Washington Post (11/28/94) P. A2
     Cyclosporin A, a drug used to help prevent rejection of 
transplanted organs, may slow progression of AIDS by binding with
the protein cyclophilin A.  Two studies by research teams from 
Columbia University and Harvard University have found that HIV 
apparently needs cyclophilin A in order to duplicate itself.  
Other AIDS experts were cautious about the use of cyclosporin as 
a treatment because they thought HIV might be able to develop a 
resistance to the drug.  They added, however, that the discovery 
will probably shed new light on the life cycle of HIV.
      
"World Bank to Emphasize AIDS as Economic Threat"
Washington Post (11/28/94) P. A7;  Brown, David
     The importance of AIDS as a threat to economic development will 
be the World Bank's emphasis in a new campaign of lending to 
AIDS-ravaged countries.  A World Bank official said that the 
effect of the disease on income and work force skills is not 
widely appreciated, both in the governments of the countries most
affected and among the agencies trying to help them.  The World 
Bank will loan approximately $150 million this year to support 
AIDS prevention and treatment programs.  Jean-Louis Lamboray 
cited Brazil as an example of where the fight against AIDS has 
been successfully framed as a suitable investment.  Brazilian 
officials, however, had to first be persuaded to take a loan from
the World Bank to support prevention of sexually transmitted 
diseases through education, counseling, and testing; to improve 
medical treatment for people with HIV; and to improve the 
laboratory skills of health workers.
      
"Across the USA: D.C."
USA Today (11/28/94) P. 12A
     On Thursday, World AIDS Day, AIDS activist Steve Michael will 
initiate an effort to recall District of Columbia Ward 2 
Councilman Jack Evans.  Michael claims that Evans has not done 
enough to fight the spread of HIV since gaining the position and 
defeating gay candidate James Zais.
      
"Capitol Hill Turbulence Challenges AIDS Chief"
Baltimore Sun (11/26/94) P. 3A;  Selby, Holly
     At a time when activists are calling the new Congress a 
"disaster" for anyone attempting to get federal funding or 
develop new programs to fight AIDS, Patricia S. Fleming--who has 
taken charge of the office of AIDS policy--seems undaunted by the
prospects.  Fleming believes that the key to making progress can 
be found on Capitol Hill.  "The focus of this office is going to 
be different, more centered within Washington: I'll be trying to 
have impact on programs and policies here," she says.  Fleming's 
top priority--at the request of President Clinton--is to complete
a report that will study the populations of youths most at risk 
for HIV and to identify successful HIV prevention programs.  
Another priority is developing programs that "empower" women, 
especially women of color, so they can protect themselves against
HIV.  While many activists consider her insider knowledge to be 
her greatest asset, other AIDS advocates are concerned.  "[Ms. 
Fleming] is well-placed....But that job is a kind of a set-up," 
says Lynda Dee, a member of the AIDS Clinical Trial Group 
executive committee.  "The way the country is right now, I'm not 
sure how effective anyone can be in that job."
      
"Single National Body Urged to Run Blood System"
Toronto Globe and Mail (11/25/94) P. A2;  Coutts, Jane
     The Canadian Public Health Association has called for a single 
national body to run the country's blood system.  Dr. Rick 
Mathias, a member of the group that prepared the report, said 
that if one body was responsible for the blood system a decade 
ago, at least some of the 1,000 people infected with HIV might 
not have caught the disease.  The report, however, focuses on the
future, not on laying blame for the past, said Dr. Perry Kendall,
Toronto's medical officer of health and a member of the report 
task force.  A single governing body, he said, would be able to 
react faster to a crisis and could make decisions about new 
blood-borne diseases more publicly with a clear appraisal of the 
risk and benefits made on record.  The model the reporting team 
proposes would give equal voice to all those involved in the 
blood system, including the public.
      
"Study Says Crack Addicts Selling Sex for Drugs Are Spreading 
AIDS Virus"
Washington Post (11/24/94) P. A24
     Researchers examining drug use in New York, Miami, and San 
Francisco have found that crack cocaine is helping to spread HIV 
to heterosexuals in poor, inner-city communities.  Desperate for 
a new "hit," crack addicts are selling sex in exchange for drugs 
or money.  The result is that HIV is spreading through the 
communities, particularly among women.  "Among the participants 
in New York and Miami, HIV infection was 2.3 times more prevalent
among crack smokers than among non-smokers," found the 
researchers--led by Brian R. Edlin of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.  The study concluded that unless 
effective interventions are made, "crack use is likely to result 
in continued heterosexual transmission of HIV, catalyzing the 
spread of the epidemic from men who have sex with men and 
injection-drug users to the heterosexual population."
      
"Invitation to Fight AIDS"
Washington Post (Home) (11/24/94) P. 5;  Ross, Nancy L.
     For the first time, the public will be invited to the Design 
Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS' (DIFFA) winter benefit to be
held Dec. 1-3.  The effort is an attempt to broaden DIFFA's base 
of contributors.  During the past decade, DIFFA has raised over 
$19 million nationwide for AIDS research and treatment.  Two 
benefits in 1988 and 1991 together raised nearly $2 million.  
DIFFA Executive Director Rosemary Kuropat said that times, 
however, have changed and that AIDS is "less fashionable than it 
once was" as a charitable cause.
      
"When Parents Are Dying"
Governing (11/94) Vol. 8, No. 2, P. 16;  Perlman, Ellen
     Many states and the federal government have begun exploring 
"standby" guardianship.  By the time parents make plans for their
children, it's often too late and "the state has to step in and 
make a decision," says Terry Zealand, head of the AIDS Resource 
Foundation for Children.  A 1992 New York state law allows a 
parent to designate a standby guardian who serves if the parent 
is mentally or physically incapacitated.  The guardian becomes 
permanent if the parent dies, but if the parent's health 
improves, he withdraws until needed again.  California, Illinois,
and Florida have similar laws.  Advocates say that the laws are 
not perfect and note that some require a physician to decide that
a parent has less than two years left to live before a standby 
can be chosen.  Another problem is defining when a parent should 
be considered incapacitated.  It is estimated that by the end of 
the century, between 72,000 and 125,000 children and adolescents 
in the United States will have lost their mothers to 
AIDS--frequently after long illnesses.
      
"December 1 is World AIDS Day"
Wholesale Drugs Magazine (11/94-12/94) Vol. 46, No. 11, P. 26
     At 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 1, the White House will dim its lights for 
15 minutes in observance of World AIDS Day and in tribute to 
those who are affected by HIV and AIDS.  The theme of World AIDS 
Day this year is "AIDS and Families: Protect and Care For the 
Ones We Love."  The World Health Organization estimates that 
approximately 4 million cases of AIDS have occurred worldwide.
      
"Is My Cat a Danger to My Health?"
Advocate (11/15/94) No. 668, P. 43;  Cohan, Gary R.
     While pets are a good choice for emotional and spiritual support,
they do pose a serious health risk to HIV-infected people.  The 
risks, however, can be decreased through a few precautions in the
routine care of the cat.  Toxoplasmosis, the most serious hazard,
is an infection of the brain with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii,
which is often carried as an egg in cat feces or raw meat.  
Symptoms of infection include confusion, visual and neurological 
disturbances, and often seizures.  People with compromised immune
systems should simply avoid contact with anything that is 
potentially in contact with cat feces--such as a litter box--or 
wear disposable gloves when handling these materials.  Another 
significant concern is a bacterial infection called cat scratch 
disease that comes from cat scratches or bites.  The infection 
may cause enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, and multiple painful
bright red nodular skin lesions.  Any scratch or bite should be 
reported immediately so antibiotics such as erythromycin and 
doxycycline can be prescribed.  Pets Are Wonderful Support is a 
national organization that offers physical assistance and 
financial support to AIDS patients who have problems caring for 
their pets, but still benefit from their companionship.
      
