Vancouver Persons With AIDS Society Newsletter Issue #52 December 1991/January 1992

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE; LETTER FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT Thank yous and call for volunteers; LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE PROVINCE Correction of article "Gay Group backs M.D. disciplined over sex."; AN EPIDEMIC OF A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S. Call for clear and careful speech and avoiding acronyms; FROM THE EDITOR Apology for distribution delay and change in appearance of the newsletter; PASSIVE EUTHANASIA Private members bill to protect a physician from criminal liability where the physician does not initiate or continue treatment or where they physician does not prolong life; TAXI SAVER PROGRAM For holders of a Handy Pass, half price taxis; AIDS TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS. NEW TESTING PROCEDURES AT ST. PAUL'S! CLINICAL TRIALS: CANADIAN HIV CLINICAL TRIALS NETWORK COMMUNITY GROUPS PRESENTATION. BUYER'S CLUBS. CHINESE HERBS STUDY; IMMUNE MODULATOR FLOPS! STATEMENT ON IMUTHIOL BY THE MANUFACTURER. MEXILETINE: NEW DRUG FOR SYMPTOMS OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY. NAC: N-ACETYL-L-CYSTEINE. LYMPHOMA: NEW AGENT UNDER STUDY. FOSCARNET VS. GANCYCLOVIR IN CMV RETINITIS TREATMENT. DHEA: PROGRESSION TO AIDS ASSOCIATED WITH ADRENAL HORMONE. HYPERICIN UPDATE. NOTICE TO MEMBERS Members who have had problems accessing drugs or problems with Pharmacare paying for drugs are asked to write down the details for the Treatment Information Project. A DROP IN HELPER CELL COUNT! New testing methods result in 17% drop but not clinically significant. HELP! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HELPERS? More on new T4 cells testing. VIDEX (ddI) AVAILABILITY. ddI/DAPSONE ABSORBTION NOTICE. COMBINATION THERAPY New treatment handout available at the office. LIVING WITH HIV: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS An alternative arts magazine, FUSE, is planning special issue. ANGIOGENESIS INHIBITORS NEW APPROACH TO CANCER, K.S. TREATMENT. NOTICE TO WOMEN MEMBERS Up-to-date treatment and drug trial information and answers to specific questions on clinical manifestations available. 3TC QUESTIONS Information on new antiretroviral available. HEPATITIS-A UPDATE DOUBLED HEPATITIS-A INFECTIONS REPORTED IN TORONTO; WE'RE OPEN: CALENDAR, ONGOING EVENTS; KUDOS; BOARD ACTIVE! News from the "working" board of directors: budget task force preparing the 1992 budget, staffing an information table at the 5th Annual UBC AIDS 1991 Conference "Sharing the Challenge", attending board development meetings on weekends and developing a Policies and Procedures Manual, a Mission Statement, portfolios for each director and engaging in Strategic Planning. Also a report on Walk For AIDS '91, further fundraising efforsts and well earned staff commendations; STEP 4 AA and HIV; BELATED THANKS to Gary Gilbertson and his great crew of volunteers for hte excellent work they did during the Walk for AIDS '91; CHRISTMAS THANKS; OBITUARY: DOUGLAS STARRATT, 1946 - 1991; OBITUARY: GREIG LAYNE; AIDS, WOMEN AND SOUTH AFRICA. South African AIDS eductor describes her involvement in AIDS education and the issues faced by the people in one of the poorest areas of Soweto; LITTLE SISTER'S BOMBED At approximately 10:20 pm on Tuesday January 7, 1992 an explosive device was thrown into the stairwell of Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium, no one was hurt and only minor structural damage occurred; HEALTHY LIFESTYLES Eight week session presents a positive approach in dealing with AIDS; ART THERAPY GROUP A members describes the Art Theraphy group; MEN IN TOUCH WITH SEQUOIA Workshop; AIDS VANCOUVER LIBRARY INVITES YOU Members of the Vancouver PWA Society are welcome to borrow material from the AIDS Vancouver Library; SUNDAYS AT FOUR A program of spiritual discovery for those touched in any way by HIV and AIDS; NOTICEBOARD; HELPLINE Volunteers needed;