The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 2, 1986 -- Page 5
HEALTH &
FITNESS
Study finds AIDS incidence increases with age
WASHINGTON (AP) - In screening military recruits
for an antibody associated with the disease AIDS, the
Pentagon has found that older recruits are more likely to
be affected and that a tiny percentage of women are testing
positively.
Moreover, statistics compiled from the new screening
program show the highest incidence rates for positive
tests are occurring among recruits from states along the
West Coast and the East Coast from New York south-
ward.
The lowest rates are being reported from recruits
from New England and the Mountain and upper Mid-
western states.
THE STATISTICS are part of the first formal quar-
terly review of the AIDS recruit testing program since
its start last October. The results were provided to The
Associated Press on condition the source not be iden-
tified.
The new report covers a period that ended three mon-
ths ago - on Dec. 31. Thus although it does not contain
the most recent results of AIDS testing, Pentagon of-
ficials say it is the first to statistically calculate such
things as incidence by sex, age and geography.
For example, sources who agreed to discuss the mat-
ter only if not identified said Defense Department
health specialists now have first-hand evidence that the
presence of the AIDS antibody is not a male-only
phenomenon.
AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is a
fatal disease that destroys the body's ability to resist in-
fection. It has been confined primarily to homosexuals,
intravenous drug users and individuals who received
tainted blood transfusions.
THE BLOOD screen employed by the Pentagon can do
no more than indicate a person has been exposed to a virus
associated with the disease - not whether he will con-
tract it. Nonetheless, it has been embraced by the
Defense Department as the only tool now available to
chart the course of the disease.
The report said that of 138,000 individuals screen bet-
ween Oct. 15 and Dec. 31, 12 women and 198 men were
confirmed as having the AIDS antibody in their blood.
That overall total of 210 "positives" translates to
roughly 1.5 cases per 1,000 individuals screened.
That is higher than the rate being reported by civilian
blood agencies, but Pentagon officials stressed it is im-
possible to meaningfully compare the two groups
because of such differences as average age.
WITHIN THE group of military recruits, however, the
Pentagon is now starting to break down its data. For in-
stance, the quarterly incidence rate of men was 1.7 per
1,000, nearly triple the rate of 0.6 per 1,000 for women.
Moreover, the rate changes dramatically the older the
recruit. For those age 17 to 20, the Pentagon found a rate
of 0.6 per 1,000. For those age 21 to 25, the rate climbs to
2.5 per 1,000. And for those age 26 and older, the rate
moves to 4.6 per 1,000.
"The researchers speculate those differences can be
attributed to the fact that the older the recruit, the more
sexual exposure he or she has had," one source said.
"But that's just a hypothesis and no one knows for sure."
Similarly, the sources said they cannot fully explain
the regional differences the statistics portray.
"WHILE THE Pacific region might be near the top
because of the large gay communities in California, it's
not easy to offer explanations for all the rankings," one
source said.
Recruits from the Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic and
Pacific states showed the highest incidence rate, while
those from the New England, Mountain and northern
Central states displayed the lowest.
The mid-Atlantic region - which includes New York,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania - headed the list with an
overall incidence rate of 2.3 cases per 1,000 people. It
was followed by the south Atlantic states at 2.1 per 1,000
and by the Pacific states at 1.8 per 1,000.
The south Atlantic region includes Delaware, West
Virginiam, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the District of Columbia.
The Pacific region includes Washington, California,
Hawaii, Oregon and Alaska.
The lowest incidence rates are the 0.7 per 1,000 repor-
ted for recruits from the Mountain states - defined as
including Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah,
Idaho, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada - and for the
"East North Central" states of Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Indiana and Michigan.
Also substantially below the average with aninciden-
ce of 0.9 per 1,000 are recruts from New England.
Yuppie tax unconstituional
CHICAGO (UPI) - A so-called
"yuppie tax" that place a 2 percent
tax on health club membership fees
has been declared unconstitutional.
Cook County Circuit Judge George
Higgins said yesterday the tax, which
was approved by the City Council
Dec. 23 and was expected to raise
$900,000 a year, placed the entire bur-
den of collecting the tax on the clubs.
The tax was "vague and uncer-
tain" and amounted to an illegal oc-
cupation tax, Higgins ruled.
EIGHTEEN corporations filed suit
against the city in January, charging
the tax was unconstitutional and that
the tax actually fell on the owners and
not the patrons.
The health club tax, which the city
considered part of its amusement tax,
has been collected from clubs since
the end of January. Collections for
March have been placed in an escrow
account at the request of the clubs to
facilitate any refunds.
Stanley Kaminski, an assistant cor-
.poration counsel, said he will recom-
mend the city appeal Higgins' ruling
to the Illinois Supreme Court.
"Health clubs are amusements
because they have swimming pools,
running tracks, saunas and exercise
rooms," Kaminski said. "These other
activities such as dietary counseling
are ancillary activities.
"PEOPLE ARE obviously paying
the membership fees to use the exer-
cise facilities," he said. Frances
Krasnow, one of the attorn-eys for the
health clubs, disagreed.
A defense
ag'ainst cancer can be
cooked up in your kitchen.
Call us.
M ICN CANCER SOaETY'
O0 0 060 0 06555466 00000
ANN ARBOR
ASSOCIATES
IN PSYCHOTHERAPY
OFFERS SERVICES TO
The University community
REGARDING
" Relationship Issues
S* Depression
" Study Problems
* Anxiety and Stress
" Eating Difficulties
For Referral to a
Qualified Professional,
CALL between
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Weekdays: 665-0005
FM y
PALA/ TREE
RESTAURANT
Authentic Middle Eastern
Cuisine
Featuring: 0 hommos, tabouli
* lamb shishkebob
*falafel
" homemade frozen yogurt
plus a large variety of,
other health foods
EVERYTHING FRESH MADE
(no preservatives)
216 S. Fourth Ave. Open:
Ann Arb.r Mon.-hur. 11 a.m.-9p.m.
662-2642 Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-1o p.m.
5 minute walk from central campus
Associated ress
Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, center, is escorted by Yossi Gal, Israeli press spokesman, and Selwa ,
Roosevelt, U.S. Chief of Protocol, as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base.
Peres commends American aid
WASHINGTON (UPI) - Israeli
Prime Minister Shimon Peres,
holding a full day of talks with ad-
ministration officials, said yesterday
economic reforms insisted upon by
the United States are working and
now it is time to revive peace efforts
with Israel's Arab neighbors.
Peres, in remarks' to a business
group at the State Department, said
the strong economic measures the
United States insisted on as a con-
dition for further aid, have had a
"sensational" effect, even though
Peres admitted he had strong doubts
about the process at the beginning.
He said that Israel's "crazy in-
flation," which had been running
about 400 percent a year, has dropped
below 18 percent. In the last year, he
said, the Israeli government has not
printed any money, while in the
previous year it had been printing $1.2
billion in new money every year to
bridge the gap between goverment in-
come and obligations. Exports have
increased 6.7 percent in the last year.
PERES SAID he looked forward
now to the day when U.S. financial
assistance will be no longer
necessary.
130 toke it up at 'Hash Bash' on Diag
W1 In Pleasing Brides'
Gorgeous Gowns
for Brides & Maids
& Formals, too.
&d&4 S4il0
3360 Washtenaw Avenue
Mon.-Thurs. 10-8:30
Fri. & Sat. 10-6
971-6455
THE BUS STOPS HERE
s
What's
Happening
(Continued from Page 1)
showed up to let the afternoon go up in
smoke.
Barry, an LSA senior, commended
the resurgence of the bash's
popularity. "It's a return to excellen-
Road re air
emerges as
major issue
(Continued from Page 1)
Second Ward candidates reacted to
criticisms of the Ann Arbor Police
Department for its involvement in
recent protests at the University.
Both Blow and Democrat Seth Hir-
shorn said they had no complaints
about the police conduct during
demonstrations such as last month's
protest of Livermore Labs.
Livermore is a major defense con-
tractor which recruited on campus.
Larry Hunter (D-First Ward) drew
applause from the audience with an
adamant call for divestment of city
pension funds from South Africa.
"City funds hae no. business in a
place of moral sin," he said. "Dollars
invested in South Africa are dollars
invested in blood."
His opponent, Shannon, agreed that
"apartheid is loathsome." She said,
however, that it is not city council's
Srole to direct the city pension board.
"City Council should stop being so
.heavy-handed," she said.
I I
ce," he said. "I don't think anybody is
getting back on to drugs - this is
more communal- and open. It's
positive."
The Hash Bash is a time to break
out of society's restrictions, according
to Tim, an LSA junior. "The laws of
the rest of the United States are pretty
much April Fools," he said. "This is
our day to be free."
R, rr 7"", '" ' 'i" ' .' .
r t® !,
{ .n .
1,
i '
r. '
H
e ," '
z
i
Recreational Sports
OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM
CANOEING CLINIC
Sunday, April 13,'10:00 a.m.-2 p.m.
Huron River - $10.00 fee
For information, call ODR Center 764-3967
WHITE
MARKET
SANDWICHES
Egg Salad
Chicken Salad
Tuna Salad'
99ch
Turkey & Muenster
Ham & Swiss
Corned Beef & Swiss
Hours: M-F 8-7
Sat. 8-6
609 E. William
663-4253
"GET A LITTLE CLOSER,
NOW DON'T BE SHY,
You can get a little closer
with Daily Classifieds"
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT
Presents
In reply..
Is passive smoking more
than a minor nuisance
or real annoyance?
That's a broad and vague statement being made in a nation-wide, multi-
million dollar campaign by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
For those who are fortunate not to have a chronic lung or heart disease,
who don't suffer from allergies, or who may not have an acute respiratory
illness that may be true. However, medical evidence is conclusive: passive
smoking is injurious to a large number of individuals - young and old, rich
and poor, and from any ethnic group.
The majority of Americans are nonsmokers. There's something wrong
with the system when those in the minority can have such a drastic effect
on the majority. . . and that's what so often happens when smokers' sides-
tream smoke invades the public air space of nonsmokers.