[sci.med] Nondrug AIDS treatment?

dplatt@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA (Dave Platt) (05/12/87)

I ran across the following in the May 11 issue of Insight magazine.
Given all of the recent discussion of AZT prices, availability, etc. I
thought it might be of interest...

"Eight patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and
AIDS-related complex who were treated with a new nondrug technique
called biostimulation showed improvements in key areas of immune
function, according to reports by the techynique's developers,
Biosystems Research Inc.

"The technique involves exposure to low-level magnetic and electric
stimulation in combination with phototherapy from the visible light
spectrum. In the past 17 months, the company has tested the technique
on eight patients for five to 60 weeks.  Results included clearing of
infections and improvements in blood test results in almost all
subjects.  In almost 4,500 total hours of exposure, no adverse effects
have occurred.

"The Cupertino, Calif., firm plans to conduct two more studies of the
technique's effectiveness, the first to begin this month at a San
Francisco hospital.  That controlled study will involve 24 patients
with AIDS-related complex.  In the second, an animal study at the
University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine,
researchers will investigate effects of biostimulation on cats
infected with an AIDS-like virus."

Disclaimers:  I can't vouch either for the accuracy of the article
or for the validity of the technique suggested.  I have no connection
with the cited firm or with UC Davis.

Are there any bioresearchers out there who can give us some additional
information about the techniques mentioned in this article?