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.