Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1995)
r. » «£» ÄwW<fi<U3^Sto^ T he P ortland O bserver » A ugust 23 1995______________________________ ______ ____________________________________________________ Scientis Scientists at the National Insti tute o f allergy and Infectious Diseas es (N IA ID ) and their colleagues in California and the United Kingdom have uncovered the key to how the most common and deadly species of human malaria parasite escapes im mune detection and causes a lethal syndrome o f coma and death. Each year, between 300 million and 500 m illion people develop ma laria and up to 1 million-mostlyyoung children in tropical Africa--die, ac cording to the World Health Organi zation (W HO ). In three back-to-back reports in the July 14 Cell and one paper in the July 18 Proceedings o f the National Academy o f Sciences, the scientists describe a newly identified family o f thousands, perhaps millions, ofgenes P age A7 Discover Marlaria's Immune Escape Genes that encode proteins critical to the development and persistence o f Plas modium falciparum malaria. "The lack o f specific information about these genes has been a major road block to research on malaria,” says Louis H. M iller, M.D., ch ie f o f N IA ID ’ s Laboratory o f Parasitic Diseases (L P D ) and senior author on one o f the papers. The proteins made by these genes allow the parasite to survive in red blood cells and enable the infected cells to attach to blood vessel walls in the brain, causing the most serious complications o f malaria: coma and death. Variability or var genes, as they have been named by the N IA ID sci entists, may lead to the identification o f molecular targets for drugs or vac- cines to prevent these potentially deadly complications. "N ew treat ments are needed because in many areas where malaria once was con trolled or elim inated it has re- emerged, largely because the para sites have become resistant to chloroquine and other standard drug treatments,” comments Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., N IA ID director. Senior author on two papers, Thomas E. Wellems, M.D., chief o f the MalariaGenetics Section in LPD, comments, “ Scientifically, it’ s excit ing because we’ ve explained obser vations made decades ago by the previous generation o f scientists and with new tools uncovered what’s going on at the molecular level.” In 1965, scientists reported ob serving that malaria infection in mon keys waxes and wanes regularly, gradually fading away months to years later. With every w ave o f par asites, they saw a different, specific immune response. Dr. Wellems uses the analogy of the human immune system to de scribe what they have learned about how such a chronic P falciparum infection becomes established in hu mans. The human immune system can produce millions o f different an tibodies, he explains. When the body combats infection, specific rearrange ments in immune system genes give rise to specific B cells that produce specific antibodies. “ The malaria parasite mirrors the immune system’s ability to make novel protein forms,” he says. “ Every time the human im mune system generates an antibody that can kill parasites expressing one form o f the protein, some parasites have already switched to expressing a new form. It’s a battle o f the pro teins, a thrust and parry between the host and the parasite.” This elaborate ploy allows the parasite to avoid a more certain de struction in the host’s spleen. When the parasite infects a circulating red cell and matures, the parasite modi fies the red cell, which the spleen can then detect and destroy. To escape that destruction, the parasite produces large proteins that collect in knobs that are on the sur face o f the infected red cell. The infected cell then attaches via con tact at these knobs to receptors on the endothelial cells lining tiny blood vessels. Here the parasite matures and the red cell ruptures and releases more parasites to infect other cells, thus circumventing the spleen. Scientists suspected that the c e ll’s adhesiveness depends on spe cific surface proteins known collec tively as PfEM P-l (P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1). What was unknown is precisely what these proteins are and why they vary over time. The new papers are the first to offer a molecular explanation for how red cells infected with P. falciparum adhere to endothelial cells and elude immune attack: the var genes pro duce PfEM P -l and enable the para site to change both the antigenic and adhesive character o f the infected cells, thereby staying one step ahead o f the immune system. Decreasing Work And Leisure Time Quality Are Health Hazards The combination o f rising over work, under- and unemployment, and decreasing opportunities for public recreation is threatening the health and well-being o f North Americans, according to a group o f international recreation and parks experts. Leaders from the National Rec- reation and Park A sso c ia tio n (N R PA ), representing park and rec reation professionals and officials in the United States, and its counter part, the Canadian Parks/Recreation Associat ion (C R PA ), are meeting this week in Ottawa to discuss critical issues facing North American com munities. Noting recent U.S. and Canadi an labor data, the group o f 95 recre ation leaders urged government, la bor, business and communities to partner in strategic alliances to help create a balance between work and leisure. They cited several trends that threaten individuals, families, com munities and their economies: • The dichotomy o f increasingly longer work weeks for some people and low-wage, part-time jobs or un employment for others both contrib ute to poor-quality work, less time for leisure and, consequently, a less er quality o f life. • The experts cited a U.S. Bu reau o f Labor Standards report that overtime for manufacturing workers is the highest since 1957, when the bureau began keeping overtime sta tistics. A 1994 Department o f Labor study o f working women said that employees’ major concern is the dif ficulty o f balancing work and family obligations. • The number o f Canadians in longer-hour jobs has been rising steadily since the 1970s, according to the Advisory Group on Working Time and the Distribution o f Work, authorized by the Canadian federal minister o f human resources devel opment. Ten percent of all adult male workers and six percent o f al I female workers are now working more than 50 hours a week. Two-earner fami lies, which constitute 50 percent o f the Canadian labor force, are doubly impacted. • Everyone should have the right to contribute to society by participai ing in meaningful work. At the same time, increasing leisure is one o f the p rin cip al benefits o f econom ic progress, a public good and a mea- New Survey Shows Pharmacists Wary Of Measure 16 Compliance A new survey o f more than 1,000 Oregon pharmacists concludes that the persons responsible under Mea sure 16 for dispensing lethal doses o f prescription drugs are divided even ly on the question o f assisted suicide, but a majority are against the lan guage ofO regon’scontroversial leg islation. The survey also suggests that pharmacists are concerned that phy sicians might not comply with all of the requirements o f the controversial measure before writing a “ Prescrip tion for drugs to end life.” The survey was conducted by researchers from the Oregon State University College o f Pharmacy and endorsed by several major groups, including the Statewide Pharmacy Task Force on Measure 16. According to the survey, 45 per cent o f Oregon pharmacists support physician-assisted suicide, while 43 percent oppose it. The rest were un sure, had no opinion, or did not an swer the question. However, when asked if they supported Measure 16 as written, only 26 percent o f the pharmacists came out in favor o f the legislation, while 63 percent opposed it. Nearly half - 47.8 percent - suggested they would not knowingly participate in physician-assisted suicide. The survey was mailed to all 2,403 Oregon pharmacists; a total of 1,015 individuals, or 42 percent, re sponded. Jim Slater, a pharmacy doctoral student at OSU and one o f the princi ple researchers in the study, said many o f the pharmacists who oppose Measure 16 are concerned with its vague language and unclear “ end results.” “ There also is concern that the medication prescribed must be oral ly ingested,” he added. "Fo r the drugs currently available, it would take sev eral handfuls o f pills to ensure a lethal dose and that could result in discomfort and vomiting...and not necessarily death.” Slater said many pharmacists are concerned about potential liability. While the measure grants civil and criminal immunity to “ health care pro viders,” it does not specifically in clude pharmacists in the that category. Protein Important Early In Pregnancy Women who restrict dietary pro tein early in pregnancy may limit the development o f the placenta and, eventually, the fetus. Results from a pig study at the U S D A ’ s children’s Nutrition Re search Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston indicate that such restrictions affect the size and weight o f the mother-fetus connec tive tissue that transports nutrients and oxygen and removes wastes. “ Ifthe placenta's size is reduced early, its ability to transport nutrients is compromised,” said Dr. Wilson Pond, a U SD A scientist. A c c o rd in g to D r. P a tricia S ch o k n ech t, a form er C N R C postdoctoral fellow who directed the study, the placenta’s size is often related to the size and birthweight of the infant. Recommendations for pregnant women include a balanced diet with additional protein, which is avail able form meat, fish, legumes and dairy products. Asthma Requires Teamwork Keeping asthmatic children out o f the hospital can be accomplished with family teamwork. parents should take the lead as “ coaches,” making the child the “ star player” whose role is to keep the asthma treatment current, said Dr. Kristin Moore, and allergist at Baylor Elevated Eye Pressure Sufferers May Benefit From National Study Devers Eye Institute at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital contin ues to recruit for patients who suf fer from elevated eye pressure to participate in a study to determine whether using eyedrops to lower eye pressure w ill prevent or delay glaucoma. Ocular Hypertension Treat ment Study participants must be aged 40 to 80, and have at least m ildly elevated eye pressure but no worse than 20/40 corrected vision in both eyes. The study seeks African Amer icans in particular, since they are a high risk group for both elevated eye pressure and glaucoma. Others at risk include nearsighted people, diabetics, and those with high blood pressure or a family history o f glau coma. Volunteers receive specialized eye care for at least five years, com plete eye exams every six months and standard drugs for elevated eye pressure. Devers Eye Institute, the north west center for the $22 million Na tional Institutes o f Health funded study, currently leads the nation in recruitment. College o f Medicine in Houston “ Start by taking as much time as needed with the doctor so that both child and parents understand why and how drugs are to be taken,” Moore said. Then recruit other team members so the child will not feel he or she is facing asthma alone. Possible team mates: siblings, parentsof friends with whom the child may spend the night, teachers, school nurses. “ Having friends and supporters in many places can help ease the child’s embarrassment about the con dition or about having to interrupt school or play to take medication,” Moore said. sure o f national wealth,” said Herb Pirk, C P R A president and commis sioner o f parks and recreation for the city o f Toronto. “Quality recreation experiences, available through in creased leisure, is a right o f all peo ple." • The lack o f quality work and leisure exacerbates other social ills. "Social problems include alarming increases in number o f youths resid ing in family and environmental con ditions that put them at high risk o f health, safety and academic failure,” said R Dean Tice, N RPA executive director. owing pressures on parks and open spaces coupled with a grow ing recognition o f the importance o f trees, open space and urban forests are challenging parks and recreation leaders to maintain and enhance lo cal environments. Meanwhile, deep cuts in many public budgets reduce the capacity o f agencies to provide high-quality public recreation ser vices and park resources. The delegates called for a na tional debate on the issues to influ ence public policies and decisions. Speakers at the week-long meeting include experts on social and eco nomic trends, and leaders in public park and recreation management, fi nance and planning. Among the ex perts were: Arthur Donner, a Toronto- based economic consultant who chaired the Canadian report on work time trends; Ben Hunnicutt, a profes sor at the University o f Iowa, Iowa City, and co-director o f the Interna tional Society for the Reduction of Oregon Health Forum Focuses On National Reform Human Labor; and Barbara Brandt, staffperson o f Shorter Work-Time Group, Boston. Other attendees were: David Welch, chiefexecutive, Royal Parks Agency, London; Don Hunter, director, Saanich, British Columbia, Parks and Recreation, and chair o f Active Living Canada; James Col ley, director o f Parks, Recreation and Libraries, Phoenix; David Fisher, superintendent, Minneapolis Park and Recreation; Wanda Wetterberg, general manager o f personnel, Edm onton, A lb erta; M a rilo u McPherdran, corporate director for community women’s health issues, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto; Ed Koenemann, director, Vermont State Parks and Recreation; and Diane Huffman, Friends o f the Earth, Otta wa. Lonnie’s Beauty Salon A leading expert on national health care reform, Carson Beadle, w ill share his insightson what’s com ing down the turnpike from Wash ington D.C. the breakfast forum will be held 7:30a.m ., Sept. H a t the Red Lion in downtown Portland and is sponsored by Oregon Health Forum, an independent health policy news letter and information resource. This forum w ill help business leaders and insurance executives understand the impact o f the latest health care reforms -- revisions to employee pension plans, the future o f medical savings accounts as well as changes to Medicare and Medic aid. Beadle, managing director o f W illiam Mercer, Inc., in New York, also chairs the Assn, o f Private Pen sion and Welfare Plans. Following his presentation, a panel w ill discuss the implications of those reforms on Oregon. Panelists include Colleen Cain, president o f Benova; Leigh Dolin, M D, past pres ident o f the Oregon Medical Assn.; Denise Honzel, vice-president and health plan manager o f K aiser Permanente and Rand Sherwood, director o f human resources, Port land General Corp. Registration is $25 for Oregon Health Forum subscribers; $40 for non-subscribers. T o register, contact Oregon Health Forum at (503) 226- 7870 or POB 2942, Portland, 97208. * * * Specializing in Hair Weeving And All Areas o f Hair Car. (503) 281-5957 Hours 8:00am - 5:00pm Tue-Sat 5711 NE 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97211 co> s NEW, RETURNS OVERSTOCK 4069 N.E. M.L.K. Blvc & 162nd & Division (Division Crossine LIQ U ID A TIO N OUTLET C O M E A N D SEE W H A T YO U R . M O N E Y W ILL BUY A T 50% T O 75% OFF RETAIL T h e fool is m uch worxe than the k n a v e , fo r the knave does take a rent ao m etim e, the fool never. — A natole France Advertise For Diversity P re s e n t 10% co u p o n w ith p u rch ase for ad d itio n a l savings. Expires 6-09-95. Advertise 111 CL lie jJnrtlaub (Observer Call: 503-288-0033 Furniture • Bedding • Clothing Rugs • Housewares • Tools • Toys Electronics • Lamps • Flateware Auto Accessories And Much More! "Legal & Financial Planning" “ Legal & Financial Planning for families o f the frail elderly or chronically ill” is a class taught by Tim Nay, a Portland attomey/social worker who has extensive experience working with families needing to make decisions for an impaired family member involving estate plan ning, assets, w ills and financing necessary care. Future class dates include: September 12, 1995, 2:00-4:30pm, October 10, 1995, 7:00-9:30pm, and November 14, l995,2:00-4:30pm . Pre-registrations required. Call Legacy Referral Service at 335-3500 for pre-registration information and for the locations o f these classes. QUALITY DEPARTMENT STORE ITEMS NEW STORE HOURS OPEN WED-FRI 10-6, SAT 10-5 t Jjj