Searchlight Vol. 3, no. 1

SEARCH Trials
In Development
In addition to the formal research projects described in "SEARCH
Trials at a Glance," SEARCHAlliance physicians and the Medical
Department have been busy examining the vast amounts of information on new therapeutics. The following treatments are being
reviewed by SEARCHAlliance physicians and medical staff If they
pass the review process, they will become SEARCH trials. Check the
next issue of this newsletter for an update.
CMV Retinitis
Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common
opportunistic infection of the eye in patients with AIDS. Untreated, CMV
retinitis typically will present itself unilaterally and spread to bilateral
infection in approximately 81% of patients. Additionally, retinal damage
occurs, eventually resulting in blindness once there is considerable optic
nerve damage. Previous studies have demonstrated preliminary findings
on the prevalence of CMV retinitis in small samples and have also proposed markers for screening AIDS patients with CMV.
Status: SEARCH Alliance is considering a large community-based screening study to determine the prevalence of CMV retinitis and to develop an
appropriate ophthalmologic profile for individuals with HIV/AIDS. This
study would give physicians and researchers better information as to the
frequency and severity of CMV retinitis, and is intended to formulate specific recommendations on screening for CMV retinitis in people with
HIV/AIDS. SEARCH has the commitment of a prominent ophthalmologist
at UCLA who is interested in collaborating on this study.
(9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl) adenine) (PMEA)
Background: PMEA belongs to a new class of acyclic nucleoside analogs.
It has been proven to be effective, both in-vivo and in-vitro, against different retroviruses as well as the herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus.
Anecdotal data on PMEA anti-retroviral therapy in two AIDS patients indicates that the drug is safe and well-tolerated.
Status: We are currently working on a protocol for PMEA and have been in
contact with Gilead Sciences, the sole American company producing
PMEA. They expect to have an investigational new drug application by the
end of the year prior to commencing Phase I studies. We shall provide
more information on PMEA as it becomes available to us.
Bitter Melon Extract MAP 30
Background: Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) of the family
Cucurbitaceae is a medicinal plant widely cultivated in many tropical
and subtropical regions. The fruit and seed extracts of bitter melon have
been reported to have anti-viral, anti-tumor, and immuno-potentiating
properties.

Recently, researchers at New York University School of Medicine have isolated and purified a protein (bitter melon extract MAP 30) from the seeds
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Notes and Events

Searchlight is proud to be featured on the HIV/AIDS Info BBS, a free
access, 24-hour electronic network for communication and exchange of
HIV/AIDS information. This computer bulletin board enables anyone with
a computer and a modem to conference or post questions or information
on AIDS-related topics. It also features 19 other online HIV/AIDS
publications, includingAIDS Treatment News, BeingAlive and Proect
Inform. Established in 1990 by the Sisters of St. Elizabeth of Hungary as
"an interactive global education response to the AIDS challenge," it
reaches Australia, Europe, the U.S. and Canada. The BBS number is
[phone].
The SEARCH Alliance Medical Department, in cooperation with the
Women's Advisory Board, has designed a comprehensive Women and
HIV survey in order to build a profile of the fastest growing segment of
the HIV-infected population. This survey is also available in Spanish. If
you are a woman living with HIV, or are involved with a group that would
be interested in helping us collect this information, please contact Dr.
Laurie Shaker Irwin at SEARCH Alliance to obtain copies of the survey.
The SEARCH Alliance Journal Club meets every Friday from 8:30 to 9:30
A.M. Each meeting features a guest speaker who presents material on
current HIV/AIDS-related topics of interest. For further information,
please contact Dr. Laurie Shaker Irwin at SEARCH Alliance.
The Women's Advisory Board meets the second Wednesday of each
month at the SEARCH Alliance offices. If you are interested in attending a
meeting or becoming more involved in SEARCH Alliance activities, please
call the SEARCH office.
"Current concepts in Prophylaxis Against HIV-Associated
Disease" was the focus of a seminar on October 14th, 1992 at the
Anaheim Marriott. Sponsored by Physicians Association for AIDS Care
(PAAC) and SEARCH Alliance, the symposium featured nine speakers who
presented data on a range of opportunistic infections. A Proceedings
Supplement is included in the January, 1993 issue of PAACNOTES. To
obtain a copy, send a check for $15.00 made out to Physicians Association
for AIDS Care, 101 West Grand Avenue, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60610.
The second annual Women and HIV conference was held in Los
Angeles on Saturday, November 14th, 1992, and was attended by over 500
women and men from the Southern California area. There was a plenary
session in the morning consisting of presentations by Dr. Alexandra Levine
of USC, Dr. Pamela Boyer of UCLA, and Eunice Diaz of the National
Commission on AIDS. In addition, several women offered their personal
stories of living with HIV. Afternoon workshops included Negotiating Safer
Sex, Public Benefits, and Community Resources.
An interactive telephone line that tells doctors and patients the latest
information about drug treatments and clinical trials for people with
AIDS or HIV has been started by the New York State Health Department.
The toll-free number is 1-800-MEDS4HIV and operates 24 hours a day.

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SEARCHLIGHT January/February,19938

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