AIDS Daily Summary July 19, 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 "No Support for Medical Marijuana" USA Today (07/19/94) P. 3A The Clinton administration yesterday refused to remove a ban on the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Scientific evidence does not demonstrate marijuana's effectiveness in treating glaucoma, or nausea caused by AIDS or chemotherapy, said Public Health Service chief Philip Lee. But Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard Medical School, countered that the reason why only anecdotal evidence on the benefits of medicinal marijuana use is available is that "the government has prevented the scientific studies for years." From 1978 to 1992, the government approved medicinal use of the narcotic for about 40 patients under a "compassionate use" program. That program was halted by the Bush administration, and advocates requested the Clinton administration to lift the ban on medical marijuana after losing a two-decade court battle in March. Related Story: Philadelphia Inquirer (07/19) P. A8 "Baboon Cells Might Repair AIDS-Ravaged Immune Systems" New York Times (07/19/94) P. C3; Altman, Lawrence K. Because baboons enjoy a natural resistance to HIV infection, scientists are taking seriously the notion that someday doctors may treat AIDS with bone marrow transplanted from the animals. The idea is that the uninfected baboon cells will join the HIV-infected human cells, transfer disease resistance to the patient, and help restore the body's immune function. Two years ago, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh conducted one such experiment on a sole AIDS patient. The experiment failed and the patient died two months later, but Dr. Camillo Ricordi said his research team was not discouraged, because the man experienced no adverse reactions from the transplant. Now, a team from the University of California at San Francisco is also seriously considering similar experiments. Bone marrow transplants are the riskiest type; therefore, scientists face unknown risks in trying to cross species. Many scientists have expressed concern that transplantation of baboon bone marrow cells may transmit viruses that, while harmless to the baboon, may be serious or fatal to humans. "Washington & World" Investor's Business Daily (07/19/94) P. A1 A French prosecutor yesterday opened a probe into allegations that an ex-prime minister and two other former top officials are to blame for giving HIV-contaminated blood to transfusion recipients. The development was the most encouraging yet in the campaign by infected individuals and their families to hold top government officials accountable for the tragedy. Related Story: Washington Times (07/19) P. A13 "Ousted D.C. AIDS Chief Settles Appeal With City" Washington Post (07/19/94) P. D3; Brown, DeNeen L. Caitlin Ryan, the former director of the D.C. Agency for HIV/AIDS who was dismissed last September for allegedly steering an AIDS education contract away from a clinic with ties to the Nation of Islam, last week settled an appeal with the city. Under the terms of the agreement, Ryan withdrew her appeal of the dismissal, as well as a complaint she had filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charging that her termination was based on race and gender. In return, the District government will pay Ryan $30,000 to cover her legal expenses. She was reinstated to her former position, and immediately resigned, saying she did not want the job again, but only to clear her name. Ryan's dismissal focused attention on the political battle over AIDS funding. Some minority-run groups argued that they should receive more funding because the epidemic was spreading most quickly among minorities in the District. "Gone Too Far" Washington Times (07/19/94) P. A6 Ex-president Ronald Reagan has hired Los Angeles law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to file a lawsuit on his behalf against Italian fashion firm Benetton over a recent ad campaign in which the company portrays Reagan as an AIDS patient. The controversial picture of the former chief, retouched to give the impression of AIDS-related lesions, was accompanied by an editorial "obituary." Oliviero Toscani, Benetton's editorial director, said the picture aligns with Reagan's failure to promote condom use. "He did nothing to sensitize the people to the risk of contracting" AIDS, he said. "Many Japan Hospitals Do Not Reveal AIDS--Survey" Reuters (07/19/94) More than 20 percent of hospitals in Japan fail to notify patients infected with HIV/AIDS, according to a survey by the Japanese Nursing Association of 835 medical facilities throughout the country. Respondents would not explain their reasons for not informing infected patients and their families, said the survey. The nursing association, however, suspects that Japanese hospitals hesitate to notify relatives of infected patients, since the patients themselves usually do not want the families to know. Another reason for low notification levels, speculates the daily newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, is the fact that so many AIDS tests are conducted without the patients' knowledge or consent. Doctors in Japan are not legally obliged to inform patients if they have AIDS. "Report Says Some Firms May Cut Back AIDS Research" Reuters (07/18/94) An informal study conducted by David Ho of New York's Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center indicated that some medical firms are prepared to halt AIDS research if their studies in protease proves fruitless. Protease, an enzyme that inhibits HIV replication, is regarded as one of the most promising areas of potential AIDS treatment. According to Ho, some firms said that if their protease efforts failed, they would cease AIDS research due to a lack of company funds for research. The National Task Force on AIDS Drug Development expressed concern about the report, and is planning to send a survey to pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms in the next several weeks in order to grasp a more complete overview of the industry's AIDS plans. "AIDS Action Foundation's Donations Drop $342,000" Washington Blade (07/08/94) Vol. 25, No. 28, P. 27; van Hertum, Aras The Washington, D.C.-based AIDS Action Foundation found itself in dire financial straits last year, as incoming donations plunged by $342,000, according to the agency's annual report. The foundation received only $199,686 from the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), compared to $365,534 in CFC pledges in 1991 and $541,686 worth of CFC contributions in 1992. National CFC donations fell overall as well, according to Daniel Bross, AIDS Action's executive director. He says the decline is due, not to donor dissatisfaction, but to donor "burnout." "People are getting tired and getting burned out on AIDS issues," said Bross. "We're 13 years into the AIDS epidemic. What we're seeing from a lot of AIDS organizations is that it's increasingly difficult to raise money." He said the agency responded to a money shortage by trimming administrative costs instead of cutting programs. "Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission in Household Settings--United States" Journal of the American Medical Association (06/22/94-06/29/94) Vol. 271, No. 24, P. 1897 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported two cases of HIV transmission that were the direct result of exposure to the blood or other bodily substances of an HIV-infected family member living in the same household. Although this type of transmission can occur within households, the CDC notes that it is rare. Apart from the two recent reports, only six other cases of household transmission of HIV have been described that were not associated with intravenous drug use, sexual contact, or breast feeding. The agency warns that persons providing care to HIV-infected patients in the home setting should be thoroughly educated and trained regarding appropriate infection-control strategies. Many such techniques are described in a recently updated brochure published by the CDC. "Caring for Someone with AIDS; Information for Friends, Relatives, Household Members, and Others Who Care for a Person With AIDS at Home," is available, in English and Spanish, at no charge by calling (800) 458-5231.