                       AIDS Daily Summary 
                         June 12, 1995

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
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Copyright 1995, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD


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"UNICEF Asks Broader Aid for Children"
"Indonesia Bans Thai Fishermen over AIDS Fears"
"Love, Philippines-Style, Conquors AIDS"
"Council Gives Corporate Conscience Awards"
"Genetics Institute Suspends Phase 2 Study of rhIL-12"
"FDA Advises Advanced Viral Research Corp. that Reticulose IND 
for HIV (AIDS) Is Placed on Inactive Status"
"Protection by Attenuated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in 
Macaques Against Challenge with Virus-Infected Cells"
"Top Aide to Face Charges in French HIV Blood Scandal"
"Itraconazole for Mild Histoplasmosis"
"California: New Drugs Added to AIDS Drug Assistance Program"
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"UNICEF Asks Broader Aid for Children"
New York Times (06/12/95) P. A5;  Crossette, Barbara
   According to a recent study by the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), the United States is now the lowest among 21 industrial
countries in the amount of foreign aid it gives in relation to 
its gross national product.  In general, there has been a 
reduction in foreign aid, which comes at a time when UNICEF is 
urging all countries to look at the situation of children in the 
broadest sense.  "The child has to be seen in the broader context
of the community," explains UNICEF executive director Carol 
Bellamy.  Among its recommendations, the report calls for 
campaigns to fight vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition, and to 
end the social abuses of children that weaken them and threaten 
their lives.  In addition to pneumonia, diarrheal disease, and 
measles, AIDS is also a threat to children.  Approximately 1 
million children are infected with HIV, many of them in Africa 
and Asia.  Bellamy says the reduction of aid was most unfortunate
for the poorest countries where children are most likely to live 
in the worst conditions.
    
"Indonesia Bans Thai Fishermen over AIDS Fears"
Reuters (06/12/95)
   As an AIDS prevention measure, Indonesia has prohibited 21 Thai 
fishermen from coming ashore after they were detained for illegal
fishing, the official Antara newsagency said.  The move came 
after another Thai fishermen, who was caught fishing illegally in
the same waters, died of AIDS while in detention.  The 21 men, 
who had caught about two tons of fish, were intercepted by a 
police patrol boat last week, and have been taken to Pangkal 
Pinang pending further investigation.
    
"Love, Philippines-Style, Conquors AIDS"
Reuters (06/11/95)
   An HIV-positive Filipina woman is engaged to a man who has vowed 
to die with her, a news service reported on Sunday.  Liza 
Enriquez, who is one of more than 600 HIV-infected people in the 
Philippines, said that the man told her he would "gladly suffer 
the consequences out his love for [her]."  The Philippine health 
department has engaged the woman's services in a campaign to 
educate Filipinos about the dangers of unsafe sex.  Enriquez is 
believed to have contracted HIV from her late husband, who died 
two years ago.
    
"Council Gives Corporate Conscience Awards"
Reuters (06/09/95)
   Colgate-Palmolive Co., Polaroid Corp., and Coca-Cola Co. are 
among the recipients of the Council on Economic Priorities' 
Corporate Conscience awards, the public service research 
organization announced on Friday.  The council, which publishes 
"Shopping for a Better World," evaluated the social and 
environmental records of corporations.  Polaroid, for example, 
was awarded for its responsiveness to employees.  The company has
implemented one of the most comprehensive AIDS education and 
prevention plans in the nation and has a non-discrimination 
policy that requires HIV-infected people to receive the same 
health benefits as other employees.  Other winners include New 
England Electric System--the holding company for eight electric 
utilities--which was recognized because it invited the 
Conservation Law Foundation in Boston to work with the company on
new environmental efforts and Merck--the world's largest 
pharmaceutical company--which was honored for its global ethics.
    
"Genetics Institute Suspends Phase 2 Study of rhIL-12"
PR Newswire (06/09/95)
   On Friday, Genetics Institute, Inc. announced that it has 
suspended a Phase II clinical trial of recombinant human 
interleukin-12 (rhIL-12) due to reports that several patients had
to be hospitalized after taking the experimental drug.  The Phase
II study for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer was 
undertaken in part on the basis of Phase I dosing studies of the 
drug in oncology and HIV.  In those studies, rhIL-12 was 
well-tolerated over a wide range of biologically active doses.  
The Phase II study, however, used a different dosing schedule and
dosage form than the Phase I studies.  A total of 10 patients 
have been hospitalized and one has died.  The company has 
notified the Food and Drug Administration of the suspension, and 
is conducting an investigation which will help determine the 
extent to which these events may have been caused by rhIL-12.
    
"FDA Advises Advanced Viral Research Corp. that Reticulose IND 
for HIV (AIDS) Is Placed on Inactive Status"
Business Wire (06/09/95)
   Advanced Viral Research Corp. reported on Friday that the Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed the company's 
Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Reticulose for the
treatment of HIV on inactive status until the company provides an
adequate response to the FDA's previous request for certain 
preclinical data.  The company is now examining the requirements 
to have the active status on its IND reinstated.
    
"Protection by Attenuated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in 
Macaques Against Challenge with Virus-Infected Cells"
Lancet (05/27/95) Vol. 345, No. 8961, P. 1342;  Almond, N.;  
Kent, K.;  Cranage, M. et al.
   Almond et al. of England's National Institute for Biological 
Standards and Control tried to determine if different attenuated,
or weakened, strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) could
protect against pathogenic isolates, and if such protection would
be effective against cell-associated and cell-free virus 
challenge.  In the study, eight cynomolgus macaques were 
vaccinated with attenuated cell-free and cell-associated SIV.  
These eight were protected, while the eight controls became 
infected after the challenge.  According to the researchers, the 
results demonstrate that a live-attenuated vaccine can offer 
protection from SIV in macaques.  For use in humans, however, 
this method will require an extensive study of the safety of 
human retroviruses.  Alternatively, the mechanism of this 
protection must be understood and reproduced in a less hazardous 
fashion.
    
"Top Aide to Face Charges in French HIV Blood Scandal"
Nature (06/01/95) Vol. 375, No. 6530, P. 349;  Tastemain, 
Catherine
   The recent decision to charge Renault head Louis Schweitzer with 
"complicity in poisoning" has renewed France's HIV-tainted blood 
scandal.  Schweitzer was in charge of the private office of 
Laurent Fabius, who was prime minister when the affair took place
in 1985.  Similar charges have also been brought against Patrick 
Baudry, former adviser to Georgina Dufoix--who was minister of 
social affairs in 1985.  The actions follow French legal 
authorities' decision to pursue former ministers and their staff 
for involvement in the alleged decision to delay the screening of
donated blood for HIV in 1985.  Many people, however, are shocked
at the decision to take legal action based on allegations of 
"poisoning"--including some who lodged the initial complaints.  
Many believe that under French law, poisoning should include both
direct "administration" of lethal substances and proof of a 
deliberate attempt on the life of a victim.
    
"Itraconazole for Mild Histoplasmosis"
AIDS Clinical Care (06/95) Vol. 7, No. 6, P. 51
   In an uncontrolled study of 59 AIDS patients, researchers found 
that oral itraconazole can be an effective alternative to the 
toxic and expensive amphotericin B for the treatment of mild 
histoplasmosis.  Compared to the historical controls given for 
amphotericin B, the rate of clinical response with clearance of 
positive cultures was 85 percent for itraconazole.  Although 
fungemia cleared quickly with itraconazole, resolution of fever 
and clearance of antigen were slower compared to amphotericin B. 
The researchers concluded that itraconazole is safe and effective
induction therapy for mild histoplasmosis, but that it may be 
better to continue using amphotericin initially, especially in 
patients with any of the risk factors associated with 
itraconazole failure.
    
"California: New Drugs Added to AIDS Drug Assistance Program"
AIDS Treatment News (05/19/95) P. 8
   In March 1995, 18 new drugs were added to the California AIDS 
Drug Assistance Program.  The new drugs include acyclovir, 
clarithromycin, ddI, fluconazole, rifabutin, and stavudine.  
Persons infected with HIV and living on moderate incomes can be 
partially or fully reimbursed for these drugs.  Funding is 
provided under the federal Ryan White Title II program.
    
   
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