Announcements:

** Lymph-Node Viral Burden Study
Begins: Batimore, Chicago, Durham, Pittsburg, San Francisco,
Stonybrook

Leading AIDS researchers suspect that an important obstacle to
measuring how well antivirals work is that HIV infection may be
primarily in the lymph tissue, but measurements of viral levels are
usually done on blood. Lymph-tissue testing may be more accurate; but
this measurement is more difficult, since it requires a lymph-node
biopsy.
A new trial will will see how viral burden in lymph tissue changes
in response to treatment by AZT, ddI, and the combination of those
drugs; viral measurements (by quantitative viral culture and
quantitative PCR) will also be correlated with changes in T- helper
counts. The hope is to learn more about the pathogenesis of AIDS, and
to learn how well T-helper counts correlate with effects of
antiretroviral drugs on viral levels. This information will help in the
design of future trials. [Note: Volunteers not currently on AZT when
they enter this trial will be randomized to receive either AZT, ddI, or
placebo for the eight weeks of treatment. Those on AZT will continue on
AZT, and in addition will receive either ddI or placebo.]
This study is sponsored by DATRI (Division of AIDS Treatment
Research Initiative), a new program by the U. S. National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases to run very rapid trials which are
important for improving our scientific understanding of AIDS. The study
will open will open at several sites; some of them are recruiting now.
Approximately eight volunteers will be enrolled at each locationQa total
of 32 in the entire study.
Persons who have never used AZT or other antiretrovirals must have
T-helper counts over 350; those on a stable AZT regimen must have over
250. A total of seven visits will be required, during a nine-week
period; two of these visits will include a lymph-node biopsy, surgery
which is usually performed under light general anesthesia (it may also
be done with local anesthesia). Volunteers who complete the study will
be reimbursed $500.
For information about the study, or to volunteer at one of the San
Francisco sites, call Jay Lalezari, M. D., Mt. Zion Hospital, 415/476-
6356.
The trial will be conducted at one or more sites in or near
Balitmore, Chicago, Durham, Pittsburg, San Francisco, and Stonybrook,
New York. For contact persons and phone numbers at each location, call
the AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service, 800/TRIALS-A.
** Free Traditional Chinese Medical Treatment Offered
in San Francisco
Two clinics in San Francisco are offering free acupuncture and
Chinese herbal medicine with federal funding under the Ryan White CARE
Act. The Immune Enhancement Program and The American College of
Traditional Chinese Medicine are each offering treatment to fifty low-
income, HIV-positive, symptomatic individuals. The treatment program
begins on July 1, 1992, and includes weekly acupuncture and Chinese
herbal medications provided at no cost to the participants. The College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine has received more than fifty
applications but is still accepting names for its waiting list. The
Immune Enhancement Program still has many openings available. For more
information contact the Immune Enhancement Program, 3450 Sixteenth St.,
San Francisco, CA 94114, 415/252-8711 or 415/252- 8710 (fax)Qor the
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 455 Arkansas St., San
Francisco, CA 94107, 415/282-7600 or 415/282-0856 (fax).
** New Organization Advocates for Alternative
Treatment Research
"Treatment Alternatives" is a group of people with AIDS or HIV,
scientists, and AIDS activists, who are promoting controlled clinical
trials of commonly used "alternative" and non- pharmaceutically based
AIDS treatments. They agree that only well designed and conducted
research can lead to the reliable information which people with AIDS
need to make informed treatment choices. Treatment Alternatives
develops concept sheets (the outlines of clinical trials) for a number
of treatments it believes should be studiedQfor example, vitamin C, and
glycyrrhizin (licorice root extract). These concept sheets are then
presented to research organizationsQa potentially effective strategy,
since such organizations have often complained about the lack of
coherent, well-developed ideas of what to study.
Treatment Alternatives needs donations and volunteers, especially
those with expertise in treatments and trials. For more information
call Jon Greenberg, at 212/673-0491.
** United for AIDS Action: New Coalition on Presidential
Election; Rally June 14
A new coalition of over 200 organizations is effectively bringing
AIDS issues to the U. S. presidential election campaign. Governor
Clinton met with UAA, at his request, endorsed the organization's
program, and agreed to make a major speech on AIDS. UAA has called for
a Unity Rally in New York's Times Square on July 14, to coincide with
the Democratic National Convention; it is also organizing a Mother's
March at the Republican National Convention in Houston this August, and
a national drive to register voters concerned about AIDS.
Members of UAA include the International Ladies Garment Workers
Union, the Latino Commission on AIDS, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Gay
Mens' Health Crisis, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Whitman-Walker
Clinic, AIDS Action Council, several ACT UP groups, Project Inform, and
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS.
UAA's five-point program calls for Presidential leadership, a
single-payer universal health care plan, intensive research to develop a
cure and a vaccine, AIDS prevention education that works, and protection
against HIV discrimination.
For more information, call United for AIDS Action, 212/337- 1227,
or write to: UAA, 175 5th Ave., Suite 2179, New York, NY 10010.