Knowledge stifles stigma
For more than 20 years, from the time he was 13, Russell Rich worked behind a McDonald's counter. First, it was weekends on the grill, then summers behind the cash register, and by his senior year at Central-Hower High School, a half-day at school and a half-day at McDonald's. After graduation, Rich made hamburgers his career, and -- with three regional outstanding manager awards and seven outstanding store awards -- it seemed to be paying off.
( By Tracy Wheeler, Beacon Journal medical writer, 12/02/2002 09:44 AM PST)

Report: Women make up half of HIV cases
For the first time in the 20-year history of the AIDS epidemic, about as many women as men are infected with HIV, a United Nations report says.
( EMMA ROSS, Associated Press, 11/27/2002 07:11 AM PST)

Uncovering AIDS in China
In a nation where AIDS has been shrouded in silence, China's Dr. Wan Yanhai speaks loud and clear -- sometimes at his own peril. Wan has been an outspoken critic of the way the Chinese government has handled the AIDS epidemic in the world's most populous country, and a tireless advocate for public health and AIDS patients in China. For his work, he has been harassed, accused of leaking state secrets and arrested. An international outcry helped get him out of jail.
( By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 11/19/2002 10:02 AM PST)

Californians favor AIDS prevention
The majority of Californians support access to clean needles for injection-drug users and condoms for prisoners to curtail the spread of HIV, according to a statewide survey released Tuesday.
( By Taunya English, CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 11/13/2002 06:43 AM PST)

Need for AIDS vaccine more urgent than ever
When AIDS first came to light about 20 years ago, it was at the bottom of the "Richter scale" of global diseases--and now it has risen to the top, Dr. Robin Weiss of University College London told participants at the opening session of the 13th Cent Gardes Symposium on HIV and AIDS Vaccines here Sunday evening.
( BY DEBORAH MITCHELL, Reuters, 10/29/2002 07:46 AM PST)

Study targets an HIV mystery
Researchers at the University of Minnesota may have unlocked another key mystery surrounding HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The discovery, which has to be confirmed by a larger study, appears to explain why a quarter of the patients infected with the AIDS virus respond poorly to the powerful drug cocktails while the others show dramatic improvements.
( BY TOM MAJESKI, Pioneer Press, 10/10/2002 06:29 AM PST)

DNA analysis cracks HIV attempted murder case
Researchers reported on Monday the details of a genetic analysis used to identify a woman's particular strain of HIV, thereby helping to convict her former boyfriend on charges of attempted murder.
( BY ALISON MCCOOK, Reuters, 10/08/2002 06:40 AM PST)

Bicyclist organizes his own AIDS ride
Stephen Parish had his bags packed and bike tuned to participate in a 500-mile trek across Europe in support of AIDS research last year.
( BY MELINDA ROGERS, Pioneer Press, 10/04/2002 06:56 AM PST)

Spermicide use increases risk of AIDS
America's most popular spermicide, widely used in condoms, was considered a hero in the prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Scientists now believe condoms treated with nonoxynol-9, or N-9, may actually be contributing to the spread of disease.
( By Julie Sevrens Lyons and Barbara Feder Ostrov, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/03/2002 06:02 AM PST)