Faculty Bibliography

SAN FRANCISCO - Estrogen strongly protected against infection by the simian AIDS virus in experiments with female monkeys, offering hope that it might be used to protect against the human AIDS virus in women, researchers reported here at a meeting on the disease. In the study, estrogen injected into a small group of female monkeys produced a thicker layer of cells in their vaginas. That acted as a protective barrier against infection when SIV, the simian AIDS virus, was squirted into the vagina to test the effectiveness of the therapy. 'The results were striking,' said research team head Dr. Preston Marx of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City

Estrogen strongly protected against infection by the simian AIDS virus in experiments with female monkeys, offering hope that it might be used to protect against the human AIDS virus in women, researchers have reported here at a meeting on the disease. In the study, estrogen injected into a small group of female monkeys produced a thicker layer of cells in their vaginas. That acted as a protective barrier against infection when S.I.V., the simian AIDS virus, was squirted into the vagina to test the effectiveness of the therapy. ''The results were striking,'' said the head of the research team, Dr. Preston Marx of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City. Dr. Marx and public health officials cautioned that much more research was needed to prove that a topical estrogen cream applied to the vagina could protect women against H.I.V. ''We can't assume estrogen would have the same effect in women'' or that topical application would be as effective as injected estrogen, Dr. Marx said in an interview today

''I have not thought of that,'' Mr. [Bill Bradley] said. He added that ''the 25th Amendment sounds a reasonable way to go,'' but that this was ''a decision that I can make down the road a little bit.'' Mr. Bradley's irregular heartbeat is technically known as lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. ''Lone'' means the irregular heartbeat is not caused by an underlying heart condition. ''Paroxysm'' refers to the bursts of irregular beats that come on unpredictably for unknown reasons and disappear just as mysteriously. Over time, the paroxysms sometimes become permanent. Mr. Bradley has never had a heart attack. ''I just got my heartbeat way too high and passed out,'' Mr. Bradley said. ''The last thing I remember is I looked at my watch and it said 2:12. The next thing I remember was waking up on the floor'' and wondering, ''Why did this happen?''

In their first comprehensive interviews on the topic, Bill Bradley and his three cardiologists said the former senator was in excellent physical condition and his bouts of irregular heartbeat were not a serious hazard to his health, or to his ability to serve as president, despite their recent increased frequency. Bradley and the doctors, who have treated him since 1998, confirmed that he suffers from a condition known as atrial fibrillation. It is the most common heart-rhythm disorder that doctors treat, affecting an estimated 2.2 million Americans in one form or another. Many of these people work full schedules, and some even run marathons. Dr. John F. Eisold, the attending physician to Congress and the person who first diagnosed Bradley's irregular heartbeat in 1996, did not consent to an interview. But he gave Bradley his own Senate medical records, and Bradley turned them over to [Robert H.] Heissenbuttel, who then discussed them

In their first comprehensive interviews on the topic, Bill Bradley and his three cardiologists said the former senator was in excellent physical condition and his bouts of irregular heartbeat were not a serious hazard to his health, or to his ability to serve as president, despite their recent increased frequency. Bradley and the doctors, who have treated him since 1998, confirmed that he suffers from a condition known as atrial fibrillation. It is the most common heart-rhythm disorder that doctors treat, affecting an estimated 2.2 million Americans in one form or another. Many of these people work full schedules, and some even run marathons. Dr. John Eisold, the attending physician to the Congress and the person who first diagnosed Bradley's irregular heartbeat in 1996, did not consent to an interview. But he gave Bradley his Senate medical records, and Bradley turned them over to [Robert H.] Heissenbuttel, who then discussed them

In their first comprehensive interviews on the topic, Bill Bradley and his three cardiologists said the former senator was in excellent physical condition and his bouts of irregular heartbeat were not a serious hazard to his health, or to his ability to serve as president, despite their recent increased frequency. Bradley and the doctors, who have treated him since 1998, confirmed that he suffers from a condition known as atrial fibrillation. It is the most common heart-rhythm disorder that doctors treat, affecting an estimated 2.2 million Americans in one form or another. Many of these people work full schedules, and some even run marathons

Initially, outbreaks of mass hysteria can be difficult to distinguish from bioterrorism, rapidly spreading infection and acute exposure to a toxin or other environmental hazard. And rising public concern about biological terrorism and rapid spread of news of outbreaks over the Internet are likely to increase the challenge, if not frequency of mass hysteria for health officials

Three of Mr. Bradley's recent incidents occurred just before or after debates with his lone rival for the Democratic nomination, Vice President Al Gore. But Dr. Bigger discounted the role of stress and exhaustion as triggers in Mr. Bradley's irregular heartbeat. ''One man's stress is another's pleasure,'' he said. Asked if he should have mentioned the heartbeat episodes earlier, Mr. [Bill Bradley] said no. ''If I'm sick in my stomach, do I have to tell you I'm sick in my stomach?'' Mr. Bradley said. ''If I don't sleep well at night, do I have to tell you I don't sleep well at night? I think that there is a reasonable way to proceed here, and that is the way we have tried to do it.'' ''As long as he reassures me he's in good health, I believe him,'' said Bonnie Weeks, 66, of Wapello, who asked Mr. Bradley about his condition at the event here.But Ms. Weeks, a strong supporter of Mr. Bradley, expressed worry that Mr. Bradley's health would remain a campaign issue for some people. ''I think it will be a concern because when you elect a president, you want him to be in good health,'' she said

A total of 18,153 AIDS cases were diagnosed among gay men in 1998, the most recent year for which figures were available, 9,182 of them, or 51 percent of the cases, among black and Hispanic men, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday in a weekly report. This compares with 8,678 cases, or 48 percent, for white gay men. Black gay men made up one-third of the AIDS cases among gay men in 1998, Hispanic men 18 percent and Asian and Pacific Islanders 1 percent, the centers said. Since the AIDS epidemic began, most of the cases have occurred among gay men, and white gay men have made up the largest subgroup. But through the years the percentages have steadily risen for black and Hispanic gay men as those for white gay men decreased

For the first time since AIDS was discovered nearly 20 years ago, the majority of gay men now being diagnosed with AIDS are either black or Hispanic, not Anglo, federal health officials reported Thursday. A total of 18,153 AIDS cases were diagnosed among gay men in 1998, the most recent year available, and blacks and Hispanics represented 9,182, or 51.9 percent, of the cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly report. Since the AIDS epidemic began, most AIDS cases have been among gay men, with white gay men making up the largest subgroup. But through the years, the percentages have steadily risen for black and Hispanic gay men as those for white gay men decreased