Get Off Your Butts, Volume 1, Number 6, October 1994 Page: 2 of 12
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POSITIVE THREADS 2 OCTOBER 1994
(COIVER story continuedfrom page 1)
permission for me to leave copies of Positive
Threads with the other publications near the
front door but one of the bartenders told me
three months later that the owner had been
throwing them in the trash the next day (don't
call and ask me who, I'm not dropping
names).
I have been told from two agencies that
bar owners "just want people to have a good
time and not be reminded of that." So what
we have here is another stumbling block to
educate people on prevention and education.
Sure there are people who are having a good
time and don't want someone "shoving con-
doms" at them but usually all you have to do
is just ignore the person with the safe sexpackets and they will walk away. For every
three there's one who appreciates the info and
the reminder to play it safe. Bar owners
should be more responsible for the safety and
health concerns of their customers. People
will continue to spend the dollars regardless. I
would like to note however that some bars
still allow the free HIV testing in their estab-.
lishments.
The Info Fair
On the 17th of September Austin had its
first public Town Meeting about HIV/AIDS
on the UT campus. Positive Threads had a
booth along with the Wellness Center, Pedi-
atric AIDS League, Informe SIDA, and ASA's
Wellness Program. Two workshops were pre-
sented by David Powell Clinic and HarryCommon Alternative Therapies: Do They
NAC (N-acetyl cysteine)
NAC, an amino acid, is a cysteine derivative which is necessary for
the production of intracellular glutathione (GSH). In some countries,
NAC, a mucolytic agent, is used to reduce the viscosity of secretions of
the lungs and nasal passages in people with chronic bronchitis. In the
US it is used to treat Tylenol overdose. NAC is known to have antioxi-
dant properties as well as anti-HIV activity, and is widely used by many
people with HIV.
Mechanism of Action
GSH is an antioxidant essential for the proper functioning of the T-
cells, natural killer cell activity, and cellular detoxification. People with
IIV have been shown to have low levels of GSH in their blood and lung
tissue. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a protein that helps regulate the
immune system which is produced in excess in people with HIV/AIDS,
may be associated with the depletion of intracellular GSH and increased
cellular toxicity. It has been suggested that people with HIV have de-
pleted levels of GSH due to continuous activation of TNF and produc-
tion of oxidants, which literally consumes GSH. In turn, low levels of
GSH may enhance TNF's ability to stimulate HIV replication as well as
TNF's other detrimental effects.
In vitro (test tube) studies have suggested that increased levels of TNF
stimulate the replication of HIV and are associated with an increased
risk of Kaposi's Sarcoma and wasting syndrome. Replenishing GSH
levels with NAC, and other drugs, is being considered as a treatment for
HIIV+ individuals.
NAC replenishes and enhances intracellular levels of GSH and has
been shown to inhibit HIV replication in newly and already infected
cells. The mechanism through which NAC inhibits HIV replication is
different than most approaches. TNF and other oxidants are known to
initiate the replication of HIV by stimulating the activity of a transcrip-
tion factor named NF-kappa B. It has been demonstrated that NAC in-
hibits HIV replication through interfering with the ability of TNF and
other inflammatory cytokines such as Il-1 and IL-6, and intracellularGeorge. There were two guest speakers and a
really wonderful variety of food which was
replenished at noon.
I applaud the people who worked hard to
pull this together. I'm not quite sure why
there wasn't a large turnout of people but
Austin area agencies should have been a part
of this information fair. It would have been an
excellent opportunity for area agencies to
share their information. I hope the organizers
do this again and if they do attempt it in an-
other six months or so, there needs to be more
involvement and support of these agencies for
this sort of event. I understand the disap-
pointment and anger the organizers felt and
wish them the best for the next one!Really Work?
oxidants, to stimulate the activity of NF-kappa B, and therefore HIV
replication. What is unclear is whether NAC directly inhibits this path-
way, or indirectly through increasing intracellular GSH levels, which
then inhibits HIV replication. In vitro studies have shown that NAC,
GSH, and GSH esters, are all capable of blocking cytokine (TNF, IL-1,
IL-6) and other oxidant-stimulated HIV replication.
Studies
One test tube study demonstrated a synergistic effect of vitamin C
(ascorbate) and NAC. The authors state that there was an eight-fold
increase in anti-HIV activity when NAC was used in combination with
vitamin C as being opposed to being used alone. Raxit Jariwalla, one of
the investigators in the study, said that the NAC levels used in this study
may be impossible to reach in the body. He is presently pursuing high-
dose vitamin C (10g/day) as a substitute for the loss of antioxidant ac-
tivity of GSH.
A study from the UCLA Medical Center demonstrated that NAC im-
proved the function of neutrophils from HIV+ individuals. One test tube
study from the Netherlands suggests that HIV may actually enhance the
replication of HIV in macrophages and suggests that other antioxidants
be pursued as therapeutic agents against HIV. However, this contradicts
other studies that have demonstrated that NAC inhibits HIV replication
in macrophages.
Very few human studies have been completed. A study sponsored by
the NIH concluded that NAC had no effect on HIV or CD4 cells. It was
also stated that NAC was "barely detectable" in the blood, meaning
there may have been a problem with absorption. Since NAC is immedi-
ately converted to cysteine which is then converted to GSH, it makes
sense that there would be little or no NAC in the blood. This study may
be problematic in that it measured NAC levels and not GSH levels. If
NAC is not absorbed well, then why is it widely used as an antidote to
Tylenol overdose? Why has this drug been used for years in Europe as a
treatment for bronchitis? However, are HIV+ individuals absorbing
(See COMMON on page 3)The printing of Positive Threads is generously being sponsored by
VL4 TICAL ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
We assist those living with HIV/AIDS and Cancer by helping them sell their life insurance policies; turning the policy into an investment vehicle.
Dignity is a right, not a privilege. Call for a free brochure and information packet. Ask about our community involvement.
We truly care about you!
In Austin, call Kenny
512-447-5730
Outside of Austin, call Toll Free
800-892-1280
Member, National Association of People With Aids Board,
Gay & Lesbian Alliance of Central Texas
Founding Member, National Viatical Association2
POSITIVE T HRE ADS
OCT OBE R 1994
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Get Off Your Butts, Volume 1, Number 6, October 1994, periodical, October 1994; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1457550/m1/2/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.