Get Off Your Butts, Volume 1, Number 6, October 1994 Page: 3 of 12
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POSITIVE THREADS 3 OCTOBER 1994
(COMMON continued from page 2i
NAC differently than HIV negative individuals? Another report from
the NIH indicated that high doses of NAC (9600mg) were absorbed. An
interesting note is that they also claim that 23/24 patients had normal
GSH levels. Considering there are several reports demonstrating that
HIV+ individuals have depleted GSH levels, there may be a problem
with their method of measuring GSH levels.
The Pasteur Institute demonstrated that NAC prevented apoptosis
(programmed cell death, a possible cause of CD4 cell loss), and loss of
function in lymphocytes from HIV+ individuals. In a previous study, it
has been demonstrated that PBLs (Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes) from
HIV+ individuals show a greater loss of function and apoptosis relative
to non-HIV infected individuals. In this study, HIV+ individuals were
treated orally with 600-1200mg/day of NAC for 6 months and compared
to non treated HIV+ patients, and healthy HIV negative individuals. The
HIV+ NAC treated group received the greatest protection against loss of
cell function and apoptosis. This study concluded that this was reason
enough to begin early therapy with NAC.
Availability
In the United States, NAC is available as the prescription drug Mu-
comyst, used to treat Tylenol overdose. In other countries, NAC is avail-
able as Fluimucil, used as a chronic bronchitis treatment to decrease the
viscosity of pulmonary secretions. NAC has very little toxicity; however,
there are some side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and rarelybrochospasms in asthma patients.
NAC is also available either through a buyers- club or most health
food stores as a nutritional supplement. There are pros and cons to the
different types available. The PWA Health Group in New York City
(212-255-0520) sells the phannaceutical grade of NAC produced by
Zambron, a pharmaceutical company in Europe. They sell two forms:
effervescent tablets and capsules. The tablets need to be dissolved in
water and taken with food. They contain sugar which may pose prob-
lems for those at risk for thrush. The capsules are more convenient but
also more expensive.
NAC can also be purchased in most health food stores or mail order
vitamin suppliers as a nutritional supplement grade. It comes in a cap-
sule form and is much less expensive than the pharmaceutical. However.
because it is not pharmaceutical grade, the quality control mechanisms
and doses may not be as accurate. In addition, some researchers claim
that NAC has a defite shelf-life and oxidizes quickly after the body
has been opened. The imported NAC is packaged in individual foil
packets which prevents them from oxidation. Whether the nutritional
supplement or pharmaceutical grade of NAC is equally or more effective
than the other form is unknown.
Whether or not NAC works at all is still a mystery. We know that NAC
has anti-HIV activity and is enhanced by the addition of ascorbate in the
test tube. (AIDS Protect Los Angeles, 213-993-529 Spring 1994)Where is
Ezmarelda?
By Jeff Davis
Naming my T-cells was some-
thing I had never done until my
last one went into hiding. Hid-
ing, you ask? Well sure.
Think about it. The human
body has, what, four or five
quarts of blood and they only
take out a teaspoon or so for a T-
cell test, so it seems to me that if
a T-cell were smart, he or she
would just hide from the damnneedle. And that's exactly what
Ezmarelda has done!
She's a smart cookie, this T-
cell of mine. She watched si-
lently while most of her compan-
ions quickly disappeared. When
there was only 30 or so left,
about two years ago, she began
her campaign.
Ezmarelda rallied the group
together and convinced the few
remaining T-cells that it was
time to pull out the pompoms,
say a little cheer and quite
frankly, kick some butt. So for
the last few years, that's what
they've done.(You should have seen their
little pleated cheerleader skirts.
It was quite a contrast to those
little purple KS cells and that
fruit juicy red chemotherapy.)
But I guess most of the T-cells
just got too tired and finally went
by the wayside, the path of least
resistance.
However, I know that Ez-
marelda is still around. Why,
how else would I be able to sit
and write this crazy little ditty
about the T-cell that went into
hiding? She's just resting some-
where in my blood stream, tak-
ing a little breather from theactive summer, floating on her
inflatable toy (you guess what
type of toy?!?) waiting to get
ready for Halloween and hiding
from all those doctors, nurses
and technicians who want to
count her.
But she's not gone. No matter
how many tests say, you ain't got
any T-cells, I know that Ez-
marelda will be with me to the
end. Let me know if you see her.
(JeffDavis is Secretary and writerfor
Resolute!, a Denver based newsletter.
(303)-837-82n4. Reprinted from
Resolute' September, 1994)Positive Threads
UsefulInfonnatlon for Surviving HIV/AIDS
A Newsletter for People Living With HIVIAIDS
Circulation: 1000
Newsletter Editor -- Jim Thurman
Circulation Manager - Ed Gramling
Please direct all letters to
Jim Thurman
44 East Ave. Suite 300-55
Austin, Tx. 78701
(512) 478-9218
Positive Threads is produced and published by Jim Thurman who is solely responsible for its content. If you have
articles you would like to submit to Positive Threads or just want to help, please contact Jim Thurman at the
above address or telephone number. Information and resources included in this newsletter are for informational
purposes only and do not constitute any endorsement or recommendation of, or for, any medical treatment or
product by Positive Threads and/or the editor and writers.
With regard to medical information, Positive Threads recommends that any and all medical treatment you receive
or engage in be discussed thoroughly and frankly with a competent, licensed, and fully AIDS informed medical
practitioner, preferably your personal physician.
Opinions expressed in various articles in Positive Threads are not necessarily those of the editor. Any individual's
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POSITIVE T HRE ADS
3
OC TOB ER 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/m1/3/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.