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Arizona ADAP Cuts Number Of Medications Covered Under Program
The Arizona AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) has reduced the number of medications it will cover - antiretrovirals and drugs that treat opportunistic infections will not be affected, the Arizona Daily Star reports. The program relies heavily on federal funding. Judy Norton, chief of the state"s Office of HIV, STD and Hepatitis C Services, said the state received $2.3 million less than what it requested from the federal government, requiring the program to make cuts. According to the Daily Star, federal ADAP funds are "drying up as drug costs rise and as more" people living with HIV/AIDS are enrolling in the program. The Arizona ADAP has been serving about 1,100 patients statewide, although the number has gone up in recent months, Laura Oxley, Arizona Department of Health Services spokesperson, said. A letter explaining the changes to the program was sent to clients and providers earlier this week (Innes, Arizona Daily Star, 6/11).

U.S. Bill Would Establish Survey To Collect Health Data From Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders
Madeleine Bordallo, the U.S. delegate from Guam, has introduced legislation that would fund a survey to collect health data from Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, the Pacific Daily News reports. The legislation would amend the Public Health Service Act to fund the survey through HHS.Bordallo said, "Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities are eager to move forward with their efforts to improve public health. This scientific survey would establish baseline health information to inform health policy and interventions so that individual and community health can be properly tracked and evaluated." According to the Daily News, while federal agencies should be collecting data on native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders separately from Asian-Americans, most have not done so (Limtiaco, Pacific Daily News, 5/26).
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Sexual Health

Discovery Of Faulty Genes Could Reveal Risk Of Bone Disease

The discovery of faulty genes by Edinburgh researchers could help people with Paget"s disease, a painful bone condition. Dr Omar Albagha has found three genes associated with the disease which, if detected early enough in people, could hasten diagnosis and treatment. Paget"s disease affects around three percent of the population over 55 years old in the UK. The carefully regulated system of renewing bone is disrupted. New bone cells (osteoblasts) increase dramatically, are overactive and enlarged causing weak, mis-shapen bones leading to pain deformity, osteoarthritis, fractures and even deafness. Genetic factors are important but until now, only one gene is known to be linked to one third of the people with Paget"s disease. The research team in the rheumatology section at Edinburgh University wanted to find other gene abnormalities that might predispose people to the disease. Speaking at the European Symposium on Calcified Tissue in Vienna today (26 May), Dr Albagha said, "This discovery is important so that we can better understand the development of Paget"s disease and identify those at risk." There were 750 patients with Paget"s disease in the study. They did not have the known faulty gene, but 104 of them had a family history of the disease. One thousand healthy people were in the control group. In the analysis of more than 300,000 gene variations covering all known human genes, three genes were found to be associated with Paget"s disease. Further research is now underway to determine how these faults cause the disease. The damage caused by Paget"s disease is irreversible, but it can be treated. Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) relieve the pain, and bisphosphonates help slow down the excessive bone turnover. "Now we have identified the faulty genes, we will be able to develop ways to screen people ideally in their 30s with a family history of the disease. If necessary, we give them treatment early before the damage is done," said Dr Albagha. The European Calcified Tissue Society


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