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Epidemiology (www.epidem.com) (03/00) Vol. 11, No. 2, P. 209;
Jara, Michele M.; Gallagher, Kathleen M.; Schieman, Scott
Researchers from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
and the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy
attempted to estimate the completeness of AIDS case reporting in
Massachusetts. In January 1993, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention expanded its AIDS case definition to include
HIV-infected individuals who have less than 200 T cells and three
clinical conditions. The change in definition resulted in a 100
percent increase in reported AIDS cases nationwide in 1993 and a
201 percent increase in cases reported in Massachusetts compared
to the previous year. The Massachusetts researchers sought to
analyze the impact of the definition change in relation to AIDS
case reporting to the state, comparing cases with regard to sex,
race, and mode of HIV transmission. Using data from the 1994
Massachusetts Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set, the
researchers concluded that the state AIDS registry was 92.6
percent complete; the Medicaid claims dataset indicated that the
AIDS registry was 94.5 percent complete. Unreported AIDS was
more common among women, and AIDS cases with a history of
injection drug use were also at greater risk for being unreported
when compared to cases involving infection via male with male
sex. Overall, the researchers note that the completeness of AIDS
reporting in Massachusetts is high, although differences by
gender and mode of HIV transmission remain.
Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (03/09/00) P. A7; Weiss,
Rick; Nelson, Deborah
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis
have suspended two more gene therapy experiments in light of
fears that cells being injected into children with cancer may be
infected with HIV or hepatitis. The genetically engineered cells
were formed from the master batch of cancer cells that were
tested for viruses a few weeks ago, after another experiment was
thought to be contaminated. Paula Bowman, who is coordinating
the three studies, noted that while the master batch was tested,
she has not been able to verify that later generations of cells
were also screened. Bowman immediately notified the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) after reviewing the program and finding
possible contamination of the neuroblastoma cells. Of the 42
children treated with the engineered cells, 21 are still living,
but none show direct evidence of infection. Bowman said,
however, that none of the patients have been tested specifically
for infection. The FDA continues to investigate the errors
leading to the initial contamination scare, even though the cells
were not infected.
"Taking Care of Those Who Take Carnival Too Far"
New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (03/09/00) P. A4; Gonzalez,
David
Carnival is a time of hard-earned restraint for many in Trinidad
who do not want to return to old addictions. Steve Richards, who
runs Rebirth House, a drug rehabilitation program, tries to help
people maintain the 12 steps of recovery, particularly during the
festive Carnival season, which celebrates with dancing, singing,
and drinking. Also, at the Port of Spain General Hospital, Dr.
Joseph Olowe notes, "During Carnival there is a high incidence of
being free sexually." Concerns about possible HIV infection and
unwanted pregnancies spurred public health group to prepare for
the celebration with an education campaign titled, "Sex? Latex!"
Rebirth House urges its members to stay away from drinking or
drug buddies as they resist the urge to crowd into the streets
and take part in the festivities.
Reuters Health Information Services (03/08/00)
A new survey from by the Washington-based National Campaign to
Prevent Teen Pregnancy shows that almost half of U.S. teens say
that pressure by a partner has led them to engage in unprotected
sex. Using data from three national youth surveys involving
thousands of young people, the researchers found that while most
of the teens said that birth control is necessary for every
sexual encounter, three out of 10 girls questioned said they used
no contraception the last time they had sex. Many teens cited
drug and alcohol use as reasons for neglecting contraception
during sex. The researchers note that education is important for
teens who have sex, as is parental guidance, particularly for
younger teenagers.
Houston Chronicle Online (www.chron.com) (03/08/00); Hopper,
Leigh
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Harvard,
Stanford, and several other leading research groups are joining
together for a new national network to study treatments for
serious childhood illnesses. Dr. David Poplack, head of the
Texas Children's Cancer Center, believes the combined resources
will stimulate faster research. Paul Glaser, chairman of the
foundation board, said that because the study of HIV has helped
in the study of other diseases, the group will expand its focus
to include more areas of research. The Elizabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which was established in 1988 to raise
funds for pediatric HIV/AIDS research, is supporting the effort
with $8 million.
"No Compensation for Infected Blood"
BBC News Online (www.news.bbc.co.uk) (03/07/00)
The British government has decided not to compensate hemophiliacs
who were infected with hepatitis C through tainted blood
products. Over 4,000 people were infected during the 1970s and
1980s. While another 1,200 people who contracted HIV from
contaminated blood products received compensation, health
minister John Denham said that hemophiliacs with hepatitis C will
not receive special payments, and no public inquiry is necessary.
"The needs of people whose conditions result from inadvertent
harm is met from benefits available to the population in
general," Denham said. Conservative MP Michael Mates opposed the
decision, noting that some hepatitis patients have had to stop
working because of their illness.
"U.N. Peacekeepers Spreading AIDS, U.S. Says"
United Press International (03/08/00); Baker, Ashley
Some United Nations peacekeepers are "unintentionally" spreading
HIV in the countries they are trying to help, according to
Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Holbrooke asserted, "As long as I am ambassador, the United
States will never again vote for a peacekeeping resolution that
does not require specific action by the (U.N.) to prevent AIDS
from spreading by or to peacekeepers." Lawmakers are trying to
gain support for a $100 million trust fund that, over the course
of five years, would be used to fight AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa,
India, and the former Soviet Union.
PANA Wire Service (03/08/00); Mulenga, Mildred
New statistics show that 10 percent of South Africa's 500,000
mine workers could die from AIDS unless aggressive measures are
taken. According to Marlea Clarke, a researcher from the
University of Cape Town, AIDS-related deaths are increasing for
miners, who often visit commercial sex workers. Clarke reported
that more than three-quarters of the sex workers living in
informal settlements near some of the mines were infected with
HIV. Clarke, who reported her findings at the Regional Labor
Migration Seminar for Southern Africa, said that many of the
HIV-infected workers were also infected with tuberculosis.
"Injection Fears [in Pakistan]"
New Scientist (www.newscientist.com) (02/19/00) Vol. 165, No.
2226, P. 5
A recent report suggests that some healthcare workers in Pakistan
may be transmitting hepatitis C virus (HCV) via contaminated
injections. Researchers from Aga Khan University in Karachi
studied 74 HCV-infected individuals in Hafizabad. According to
the report, published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection,
the patients were 12 times as likely to have had at least four
injections a year compared to uninfected individuals in their
households.