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Breathable indoor air has become so commonplace in the United States (and, increasingly, worldwide) that many forget that it has been less than a quarter century since the major push to limit indoor smoking really began to have an impact.

Trimeris and its partner Roche said they are withdrawing an application to sell their injectable AIDS drug Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) in a needle-free device. "While the device has shown potential benefit for some patients, we don't believe it's the real alternative delivery option for all patients," said Michelle Zupancic, vice president, HIV, at Roche (Vollmer S. News & Observer [Raleigh]. October 4, 2007).

Women and HIV

In 1985, only 7% of AIDS cases occurred among female adults and adolescents older than 13 years, but by 2005, they represented 27% of US AIDS cases.

For easier application of eye ointment, have the patient lie down or sit with his head tilted back.

The differential diagnosis of generalized weakness is enormous; it includes disorders at all levels of the neur-axis. A variety of electrophysiological, pathological, radiographic, and other laboratory studies may be indicated depending on the specific diagnostic possibilities; costs can be controlled if such investigations are selected judiciously.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

A 50-year-old woman had a 6-month history of severe generalized itchiness and fatigability. There was no associated fever, abdominal pain, or joint pain. A cholecystectomy had been performed 20 years earlier. She had no family history of hypercholesterolemia or liver disease.

An independent advisory panel recommended accelerated FDA approval of Merck & Co's drug Isentress (raltegravir) for patients who have drug-resistant strains of HIV (Chong J-R. Los Angeles Times. September 6, 2007). If approved, Isentress would be the first in a new class of AIDS drugs, integrase inhibitors, that aim to prevent HIV from integrating into human DNA during the replication process.