Word: viruses
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Laennec scientists speculated that cyclosporine produced this effect by depriving the AIDS virus of its favorite target, "activated" T-4 cells that are primed to defend the body. The virus reproduces inside these cells, destroying them in the process. Cyclosporine is known to prevent activation of T-4 cells, apparently making them less susceptible to the virus' assault. The T cells survive, and their number increases as the body continues to produce them...
Currently not enough data are available to begin evaluating this theory. But as the French researchers admit, even if cyclosporine treatment should prove effective, it would not represent a cure for AIDS; the virus would still be present, ready to strike again when treatment stopped. Moreover, giving an immunosuppressant to patients whose immune systems are already weakened is clearly risky. Says Dr. Donald Abrams of San Francisco General Hospital: "Cyclosporine might be quite lethal in AIDS patients for all we know...
...Bethesda, Md., calls come in virtually every day from drug manufacturers claiming to have a new treatment for the disease. About half a dozen drugs are currently under serious study. Several, including ribavirin, suramin and one called compound S, have shown promise in blocking the replication of the AIDS virus. But few, if any, have demonstrated the potential to rebuild the devastated immune systems of AIDS patients...
When the world learned that Rock Hudson had AIDS, a question arose in the minds of Dynasty fans: "What about Linda Evans?" She had played a passionate kissing scene with Hudson on the popular TV series. Though no case of AIDS has ever been traced to kissing, the virus is sometimes present in saliva. This has prompted some actors to express concern about playing love scenes. Last week the Screen Actors Guild addressed the touchy matter by asking that movie producers notify performers in advance if their roles call for open-mouth kisses. Any actor not so advised before signing...
Where the AIDS threat is acknowledged, governments have begun to take action. Thailand has proposed barring from the country foreigners who have the disease or are revealed by blood tests to be carrying the virus' antibodies. And Bangladesh, where no cases have yet been reported, is contemplating requiring foreigners entering the country to show evidence of a recent blood test for AIDS. Now that many Western countries have instituted mandatory testing of all donated blood, or have made plans to do so, whole categories of potential AIDS victims could be eliminated: hemophiliacs and others who receive blood transfusions...