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DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter
December 15, 2011
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 Happy Desert Holidays!
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Editorial Staff
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David Brinkman
Chief Executive Officer
Barry Dayton
Director of Marketing and Communications
Alexis Ortega
Interactive Marketing
Specialist
Rick Vila
Volunteer Co-editor
John Lewis
Volunteer Co-editor
Steve Bolerjack
Volunteer Co-editor
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Tuesday, January 3, 6:00 PM
Positive Life Series - YOUR MEDS: PRESCRIBED & UNPRESCRIBED: DO THEY PLAY WELL TOGETHER?
The next presentation in the monthly Positive Life HIV education series, sponsored by Jewish Family Service of the Desert, will focus on the interactions between our HIV meds and the supplements and recreational drugs that many of us use. Walgreens is also sponsoring the event. A light supper will be served at 6:00 PM, and the program will begin at 6:30 PM. The location is the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center (at the corner of Tachevah and Via Miraleste in Palm Springs), and is always free. ASL translation will be provided. Please email or call Jeff Taylor at jefftaylorps@gmail.com, or 760.835.1926, with any questions. However, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RSVP!
Thursday, December 22, 3:00 PM
A presentation of "Our Story"
See more information below. (jl)
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| Community Center Events | |
The Client Community Center hosts regular activities and events every week (listed below). Community Center special events and other activities can now be found on the main D.A.P. website. Click here for the complete list of upcoming special events.
Friday December 16, Noon - 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents - HIV NUTRITION: A DIFFERENT APPROACH by ViiV Healthcare
Tomorrow! Jeff Bach will present Gordon Sanford, PA and HIV Specialist at Desert Primary Care, who will share his knowledge of better health and nutrition with you. Lunch starts at 11:45 AM. RSVP to Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118, ext: 295 or rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org.
Join the education!
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, Noon - 12:45 PM,
Community Center Presents - GUIDED MEDITATION & AFFIRMATIONS
 New sessions starting using guided imagery and affirmations as narrated by Belleruth Naparstek. You'll gain deeper relaxation, healing and wellness. Just show up to the Meditation Room on designated days and time.
Lower anxiety, stress and depression.
First and Third Tuesday Every Month, 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Community Center Presents - POZITIVELY POSITIVE
D.A.P. Community Center is pleased to support this peer-led group for HIV+ men striving to live a more empowered and healthier life. Discussion topics are chosen by group members. For more information please contact the group's facilitator, Tim Neuman, @ (323) 854-3248.
Stay strong!
Every Thursday, 1:00 PM - Movie & Pizza
Community Center Presents - LETS GO TO THE MOVIES
Thursday, December 22 - MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)
 After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend secret time with his children held in custody by his ex. Directed by Chris Columbus, starring Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan.
Get out of the house for a flick!
Ongoing Client Community Center activities include:
- Support groups
- Spiritual Living 101
- Hepatitis C Therapy Education
- Diabetes Education
- Stitch in Time (needlecraft), Wednesdays, 10:00 AM
- Community Center Computer Lab
- Lending Library
- Free films, Thursdays, 1:00 PM
Follow this link to see the recurring activities on the Community Center Calendar.
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"Our Story" - The lives of HIV-positive longterm survivors
 Join us on Thursday, December 22 at 3:00 PM in the D.A.P. Community Center for a presentation of "Our Story," directed by Skip Warren and written by the members of the Creative Writing Group at Desert AIDS Project. "Our Story" is a presentation by people living with HIV that helps others to understand what it's like to live with this chronic condition. It deals with specific issues around health care, the early days after diagnosis, the stigma of being HIV-positive, and dealing with depression, health, and emotional issues. This event includes a 40-minute preview/presentation by the cast of "Our Story" followed by a short discussion. You can contact Skip Warren at cletus.warren@yahoo.com or at 760.835.2492 for more information. (jl)
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D.A.P. Resources: website and toll-free number
 Remember that the Desert AIDS Project toll-free phone number is always available at 866.331.3344 as well as the website at www.desertaidsproject.org. (jl)
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New studies of anti-reservoir drugs show promise toward "functional cure" of HIV
 Researchers have long recognized that "cellular reservoir HIV" (virus remaining in various organs of the body despite antiretroviral therapy (ARV)) remains a big stumbling block in the search for a cure. A new study by Italian AIDS researcher Dr. Andrea Savarino suggests that drugs targeting HIV reservoirs in the body may result in spontaneous control of viral replication even in the absence of ARV therapy. Though the '"sterilizing cure" achieved in Timothy Brown (the "Berlin Patient"), showed promise, it required high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants to snuff out the virus completely--a complex, expensive and somewhat impractical procedure. The functional cure described in this study, where HIV remains detectable but does not replicate even without ARV therapy, may be a more attainable goal but so far been tested only in animals. The science here can be a little difficult to follow but since we all hope for a cure of any sort, it's important to keep up with every possible lead. (sb)
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Enjoying (instead of dreading) the holidays
As if living with HIV isn't sufficiently challenging, sometimes the holiday season can make things worse. Family issues, money, health worries and the meds themselves can certainly contribute to depression so common this time of year. Don't let it get you down! There are plenty of people and activities here at D.A.P. to help you through it and many things you can do on your own. Our friend Nelson Vergel gives some personal advice here, and this article from the Body from a few years ago still holds true. And if you need a laugh (especially if you're feeling bad about any family matters) check in here. It might make you glad to spend a quiet holiday with a few well-chosen friends and skip the trip home. (sb)
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Women may require different dosages of Truvada than men
Truvada is now one of the most commonly prescribed antiviral medications and many of us have been on it successfully for some time. However, new research suggests that one size or dosage does not necessarily fit all. The two drugs in Truvada--tenofovir and emtricitabine--reach different concentrations in human cervical, vaginal, and rectal mucosa tissues and fluids, according to a study report in the current issue of Science Translational Medicine. Lower drug levels in the female genital tract suggest that women may need higher doses to achieve a prophylactic effect, which may help explain conflicting results from some recent biomedical HIV prevention trials and use of PrEP therapy. This is significant information if you're on Truvada. Click here for explanation of the study. (sb) Back to top
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Staying well during flu season
 Our recent chilly, rainy weather is a reminder that winter's cold and flu season is upon us. People with longterm health conditions--including HIV/AIDS as well as asthma, diabetes and heart disease are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu. Studies show increased heart and lung-related hospitalizations in HIV-positive folks during influenza season. Well, we hope you have already gotten your flu shot. And since the last things people living with HIV need are coughing and sneezing from a cold, it's wise to take some extra precautions to stay well. Click here for a good checklist on avoiding the rest of the nasty stuff. And if you do catch something, check this list for what remedies work and what doesn't--from Mayo Brothers Clinic, no less. They know! (sb) |
Activists launch new survey of people with HIV to help speed cure research
 A coalition of HIV advocacy groups are calling on people with HIV to take a ten-minute survey designed to help speed the pace of HIV cure research. At issue are the kinds of risks the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
will allow in early phase clinical studies of promising  treatments to either eradicate HIV from the body or help the immune system better control the virus without the need for antiretroviral drugs. "We believe that soliciting the opinions of people with HIV regarding the potential risks involved will help inform discussions regarding the design of these [FDA] trials, and shed light on the extent to which individuals are willing to assume some risk even if the study would only help people further down the road," said David Evans, (pictured top) director of research advocacy for Project Inform in San Francisco. Evans, in partnership with Nelson Vergel (pictured bottom), director of the Program for Wellness in Houston, and Richard Jefferys from the Treatment Action Group in New York City, devised the survey to help measure the willingness of people with HIV to participate in research for more altruistic reasons and to gauge the factors that are most strongly associated with a person's willingness. For more background and information on the survey and participation, click here. For the survey itself, click here. (sb) |
Latest research on aging and HIV
 This is no one's favorite topic, but more data continues to come in that further proves how longterm HIV accelerates aging, even among those with controlled viral load and adequate T-cells. We will be covering aging issues under this heading from now on since the topic has become its own major category in HIV/AIDS research. Click here and here to read the latest on dealing with what inevitably affects us all. (sb)
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Important announcement on Affordable Care Act expected on Friday, December 16, while Congress prepares new battles over Medicare
 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced late today that Richard Kronick, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Insurance Oversight for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will make an important announcement regarding the Medicare provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Republican congressman Paul Ryan, who has been castigated by Democrats and hailed by Republicans for his plan to privatize Medicare, was joined by Democratic congressman Ron Wyden this week in presenting a revised plan that would supposedly preserve the 46-year-old federal health program. The White House has strongly criticized the plan, claiming it would essentially "undermine, rather than strengthen Medicare." Read The Washington Post's take here and here. (sb)
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AmFAR to benefit from Taylor jewelry auction
 The American Federation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) will receive an undisclosed portion of the proceeds from the auction sale of jewelry owned by the late actress/activist Elizabeth Taylor. Last week, the collection fetched a record-setting $115 million at auction at Christie's. The sale included $11.8 million for a pearl necklace and $8.8 million for a diamond ring given to her by Richard Burton. Ms. Taylor helped to found AmFAR and stipulated the groundbreaking HIV/AIDS advocacy organization as a beneficiary in her will. AmFAR has not yet announced the specific amount of the bequest. (sb) |
Desert heaven for classic cars
Did you know that Palm Springs is home to one of the largest concentrations of vintage automobiles in the country? There are numerous dealers in the Coachella Valley specializing in classic cars. And for every one of Palm Springs' many annual  parades, proud collectors roll out prized Cadillacs, Lincolns, Chevys, T-birds and other finned and white-walled vehicles from the 1950s and '60s. It's said that older cars come here to retire (like the rest of us) because of the dry climate and absence of ice, snow, slush and salt. Even if you can't buy one, they're great fun to watch and remember (your editor still dreams about his long-lost '65 Mustang). Click here and here for pictures and websites of just about anything to do with twentieth-century classic automobiles. (sb)
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"It's run by a big eastern syndicate, you know."
--Lucy Van Pelt on Christmas
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ADAP may pay Medicare Part D premium
ADAP-eligible clients who have to purchase Part D prescription drug coverage may qualify to have their Part D premium paid by the State of California. Follow this link to the Part D Premium Payment Program Application. You can also call the State of California at 916.449.5900 for more information. (jl)
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Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)
Toll Free 1.877.501-5085
MISP 1.951.486-5375 English
MISP 1.951.486-5400 Spanish
You can make MISP/ADAP appointments together for Moreno Valley office ONLY
MISP-MORENO VALLEY
14375 Nason Street, Suite 102
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
Hours: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
MISP MAIL P O Box 9610, Moreno Valley, CA 92552.
MISP FAX 1.951.486-4635
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
Toll Free 1.877.501.5085
ADAP 1.951.486-5375 English
ADAP 1.951.486-5400 Spanish
*MAKE SURE YOU ASK FOR ADAP PROGRAM
ADAP-MORENO VALLEY
14375 Nason Street, Suite 102
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
Hours: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
ADAP-PALM SPRINGS
1695 North Sunrise Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
By Appointment Only (ask for ADAP Palm Springs Office)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Faxed MISP applications tend to get lost in the process. Most persons who have faxed their application have had to re-apply later. It's best to apply in person in Moreno Valley, and get a "receipt of application", and use that as proof that you applied to avoid any uninterrupted services with your DAP medical doctor visits. (rv)
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Call 211 for essential human services in Riverside County
2-1-1 is a toll-free service for residents looking for information about essential human services such as affordable housing, food pantries, help for an aging parent, free or low cost health services, addiction prevention programs, employment, support groups, volunteer opportunities, and 1,700 additional services! (jl)
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To contact state and federal officials click on name:
President Barack Obama
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Governor Jerry Brown
State Senator Bill Emmerson
State Senator Juan Vargas
Assembly member Brian Nestande
Assembly member Manual Perez
Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter (DAPCAN) presents published material, reprinted with permission, and neither endorses or opposes any material. All information contained in this newsletter, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. Always discuss treatment options with a physician who specializes in treating HIV. Publication of the name or likeness of any individual in articles in this newsletter is not to be construed as any indication of the HIV status of such individual. If you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter, please notify us by using the email address below.
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