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Science (11/05/99) Vol. 286, No. 5442, P. 1062
EuroVac, a new $9.2 million European Union-backed initiative
scheduled to start on Jan. 1, will bring together leading
European AIDS researchers for a unified vaccine drive. However,
some members of the EuroVac team have learned that part of the
planned research--to test potential vaccines in China--may
duplicate work by Dr. David Ho, head of the Aaron Diamond AIDS
Research Center in New York. The EuroVac team aims to begin
phase I trials to compare different vaccine preparations. Trials
will also use various protein mixes to determine if a vaccine for
clade B would work against clade C and if a vaccine against clade
C would work against clade B. There is some controversy, because
Ho has already prepared a clade C vaccine and has been talking
with Chinese officials about testing the vaccine in China. Ho
has also been in talks with the International AIDS Vaccine
Initiative (IAVI) about funding the effort. For its part,
EuroVac obtained the clade C HIV on which its vaccine is based
from virologist Hans Wolf at the University of Regensburg in
Germany. Wolf feels that having two similar studies is a waste,
and he criticized IAVI for funding a competing project. IAVI
will co-sponsor a meeting later this month at which members of
the Chinese ministry of health, the U.S. National Institutes of
Health, and some representatives of the EuroVac team will discuss
the issue.
"Complications After Caesarean Section in HIV-1-Infected Women
Not Taking Antiretroviral Treatment (Research Letter)"
Lancet (11/06/99) Vol. 354, No. 9190, P. 1612; Grubert, Thomas A;
Reindell, Daniela; Kastner, Ralph; et al.
In a research letter, scientists from
Ludwig-Maximillians-University of Munich in Germany report
complications following cesarean section in HIV-1-infected women
who were not on antiretroviral therapy. The retrospective
analysis compared the clinical outcome of 62 women who had
cesarean section deliveries between 1987 and 1999 to a matched
group of HIV-negative women. According to the researchers, two
of the 63 children (including one set of twins) born to the
HIV-positive mothers were infected, corresponding to an overall
transmission rate of 3 percent. Neither of the mothers of the
two infected babies had received antiretroviral therapy during
pregnancy. Complications after cesarean sections in HIV-positive
mothers were much more common than in the uninfected women.
Furthermore, the researchers note that "within the group of
HIV-1-infected women, the overall complication rate was
independent of the antiretroviral therapy." The use of caesarean
section during delivery was shown to be of undisputed benefit for
preventing vertical transmission of HIV, but the authors note
that HIV-positive mothers also had a higher risk of postoperative
morbidity than HIV-1-negative women.
Reuters (11/15/99); Ferraro, Thomas
Presidential hopeful Bill Bradley has denied Gore's claim that
Bradley's plan to use vouchers and tax credits to help everyone
pay for private insurance would be detrimental to the poor
because it eliminates Medicaid. Gore claims the vouchers would
not be enough to help the uninsured, and would affect many
minority groups who depend on Medicaid. Health care and gay
rights advocates also claim that Bradley's plan would be hard for
people with HIV, who rely on Medicaid, including about 90 percent
of children with AIDS who currently need Medicaid to help pay for
treatment.
USA Today (11/15/99) P. 1D; Vergano, Dan
HIV patients taking protease inhibitor therapy may be at risk for
heart attacks, as four men between the ages of 35 and 44 have had
heart attacks after two years of therapy. Although no link has
been proven, researchers fear that the life-extending anti-HIV
drugs may cause cardiovascular disease. HIV patients often
experience side effects such as lipodystrophy, diabetes, and high
cholesterol, because of antiviral drugs. High cholesterol is
also a major risk factor for heart disease, according to the
American Heart Association.
Reuters (11/14/99); Morrison, John
British Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed in an interview that
African leaders are changing their attitudes towards talking
about AIDS, which is necessary to stop the epidemic and its
frightening statistics. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has
criticized Blair's Labor government as ineffective compared to
his predecessors. However, Blair had positive discussions with
Indian leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee and South African President
Thabo Mbeki at the Commonwealth summit.
Reuters Health Information Services (11/12/99)
Japan has approved use and distribution of the female condom,
following four years of development and trials. Oral
contraceptives were only recently approved, making the female
condom one more way approved to prevent pregnancy. Findings show
it is about 97 percent effective in guarding against pregnancy.
The female condom also protects against HIV and other sexually
transmitted diseases.
Reuters (11/15/99); Sithole, Emelia
According to a senior South African researcher, the lives of
40,000 South African children could be saved annually if the
government changed its stance and allowed the use of AZT to
reduce the transfer of HIV from mother to child. Salim
Abdool-Karim, head of the nation's Medical Research Council, said
about 80,000 children acquire HIV each year. South Africa, which
has prohibited public facilities from using the Glaxo Wellcome
drug because of cost, is now reviewing the drug's efficacy.
Abdool-Karim pointed out that the drug's efficacy outweighs the
risks.
Reuters (11/13/99); Sithole, Emelia
The 47 leaders of the Commonwealth met in South Africa for the
biennial summit, but did not show that actively preventing AIDS
is a priority, according to health experts. Victor Zonana of the
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative wants to see action and not
just declarations about halting AIDS. Zonana has encouraged
Commonwealth leaders to donate money to help develop a vaccine,
which he sees as the best plan for slowing the epidemic.
Agence France Presse (11/12/99)
According to a United Nations expert, AIDS will cost Thailand
close to $9 billion by 2000. The economic loss will also affect
productivity, savings, and employment, and next year will most
likely see a dramatic jump in death rates. Young adults are
dying from AIDS before they reach their peak of productivity,
showing the indirect costs of AIDS are just as high as the direct
cost.
Reuters Health Information Services (11/12/99)
Health Canada is now a Collaborating Center according to UNAIDS
standards. Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock has stated that
the partnership between UNAIDS and Health Canada will help other
countries deal with the AIDS epidemic, including many in Africa.
Developing African countries have been most affected by AIDS and
have few resources to combat the spread of HIV. Health Canada
aims to help provide technology, research, and surveillance for
these countries.