dmcanzi@watserv1.waterloo.edu (David Canzi) (08/01/90)
Medical News for Week Ending July 22, 1990 Copyright 1990: USA TODAY/Gannett National Information Network Reproduced with Permission --- July 16, 1990 --- FDA LICENSES HIV-2 TEST: The Food and Drug Administration has licensed the first test kit that detects antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2). Genetic Systems Corp. of Seattle created Genetic Systems HIV-2 EIA to aid in the diagnosis of potential HIV-2 infection. Some specimens that yield negative results when tested for HIV-1 may test positive for HIV-2. RIGHTS FOR DISABLED APPROVED: The House approved 377-28 landmark legislation guaranteeing a full range of civil rights for disabled Americans. The vote came after House and Senate negotiators agreed to remove an amendment from the bill that would have let employers keep AIDS-infected workers away from food-handling duties. AIDS CASES NOT REPORTED: Some AIDS cases are not being reported to local health agencies -as required by law - according to a review of Duval County, Fla., death certificates. Seventy-two cases went unreported since 1983 -bringing the total to 550 AIDS deaths in the county, officials say. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Dental News ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: STUDY CORRELATES PRESENCE OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IN GINGIVAL FLUID TO SEVERITY OF PERIODONTAL LESIONS For Further Information: Princeton Dental Resource Center 707 State Road, Suite 203 Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 921-8622 Princeton, NJ -- A recent study has determined that the detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) frequently corresponds to its detection in blood and its identification is correlated to the degree of periodontal inflammation. The results from this study also suggested that the presence of HIV in saliva may be due to contamination by GCF from severely diseased sites. As a foundation for this study, the researchers considered their previous investigations that demonstrated that GCF from individuals infected with HIV frequently contains HIV. In the study, paper point sample8 were taken from three sites in 45 HIV- positive men and 57 HIV-negative men. The samples were processed with an HIV DNA probe. The sensitivity of the DNA probe assay for the presence of HIV in GCF was 99.8 percent in severely inflamed sites with a gingival index (GI) greater than two, 91.4 percent for sites with a GI greater than one and only 85.2 percent when the GI was less than one. Specificity for HIV in these sites was 91.6 percent. It was demonstrated that the chance of detecting HIV in both gingival exudate and blood is approximately equal and is also correlated to the degree of periodontal inflammation. Considering these results, the researchers believe that HIV found in saliva may be due to contamination by GCF from severely diseased sites. Dr. James R. Winkler of the University of California at San Francisco hypothesizes that if inflamed sites are always more infected with HIV than healthy sites in HIV-positive patients, transmission of the virus may be less likely with a healthy mouth. According to Dr. Winkler, since the findings of this study have revealed that HIV may be present in saliva as a result of contamination by GCF from severely diseased sites, the maintenance of clean teeth and healthy gums to minimize GCF levels may prove to be of critical importance for HIV infected patients. # # # This press release was prepared by the Princeton Dental Resource Center (PDRC) in cooperation with the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and is based on material presented at the 67th Annual Session of the IADR in Dublin, Ireland from June 28th through July lSt, 1989. This is a summary of a presentation entitled "Correlation of HIV in Crevicular Fluid with Severity of Periodontal Lesions" by J.R. Winkler, C.K. French, J.A. Lippke and P.A. Murray, University of California, San Francisco, CA, and BioTechnica Diagnostic Inc., Cambridge, MA. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Volume 3, Number 27 July 25, 1990 +------------------------------------------------+ ! ! ! Health Info-Com Network ! ! Newsletter ! +------------------------------------------------+ Editor: David Dodell, D.M.D. St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center 10250 North 92nd Street, Suite 210, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-4599 USA Telephone +1 (602) 860-1121 FAX +1 (602) 451-1165 Copyright 1990 - Distribution on Commercial/Pay Systems Prohibited without Prior Authorization The Health Info-Com Network Newsletter is distributed weekly. Articles on a medical nature are welcomed. If you have an article, please contact the editor for information on how to submit it. If you are interested in joining the automated distribution system, please contact the editor. E-Mail Address: Editor: FidoNet = 1:114/15 Bitnet = ATW1H @ ASUACAD Internet = ddodell@stjhmc.fidonet.org LISTSERV = MEDNEWS @ ASUACAD.BITNET (or internet: asuvm.inre.asu.edu) anonymous ftp = vm1.nodak.edu (Notification List/ftp = hicn-notify-request@stjhmc.fidonet.org) Associate Editors: o Dr. Bruce MacDougall, University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Bitnet: BRUCEMA@UMASS) o Dr. J. Martin Wehlou (Bitnet: WEHLOU@BGERUG51) -- David Canzi