P age A 6
M
ay 22, 1 9 9 6 •
T he P o r tlan d O bserver
Science
Infants Protection From Streptococcus
Initial studies show that a new vac­
cine given to mothers may offer their
infants protection against group B
streptococcus while still in the womb.
GBS is the chief cause o f life-
threatening infection in newborns. It
is a bacteria found in the vagina or
lower intestine o f 15 to 35 percent of
all women. GBS differs from group
A streptococcus, which causes strep
throat.
In Phase I and II studies at Baylor
College o f Medicine in Houston, a
vaccine developed at Harvard Med­
ical School has shown it can provide
immunity against GBS, although
more studies are needed to confirm
safety and optimal dose.
Dr. Carol J Baker, head o f pediat­
ric infectious disease at Baylor, over­
saw the study o f the vaccine. The
vaccine is being tested solely at
Baylor College o f Meicine.
“The vaccine is similar to the one
used successfully for hemophilus type
b influenza, a conjugate vaccine.
combining sugars or polysaccharide
from the bacterial surface with a pro­
tein, in this case, tetanus toxoid.”
Conjugate vaccines work when
polysaccharides are attached to pro­
teins, making a substance more like­
ly to be recognized by the immune
system so that immunity or protec­
tion is stimulated.
“This makes for a much more pow­
erful vaccine,” Baker said.
“ In this particular case, the devel­
oper, Dr. Dennis Kasper at Harvard,
derived the protein from tetanus tox­
oids identical to that in tetanus tox­
oid vaccine.”
The NIH-funded study included
70 non-pregnant women, ages 18 to
40. No adverse affects were reported
and nearly 90 percent o f those vacci­
nated showed a four-fold increase in
antibiotic in antibodies to GBS.
Findings from the study were re­
ported at the annual meeting o f the
Pediatric A cadem y S o cieties in
Washington, D C.
Multicultural Health Director Appointed
Elinor Hall, administrator at Ore­
gon Health Division, has appointed
Dr. Suganya Sockalingham as direc­
tor of the division’s Office o f Multi­
cultural Health.
Scokalingham comes from the
Washington State Department o f
Health were she served as Multicul­
tural Health Specialist with the Wom-
en, Infants and Children program
since 1992. Her job included manag­
ing 12 local agency contracts and
providing technical assistance to in­
stitutionalize cultural competence
into all program activities.
“Dr. Scokalingham has broad ex­
perience and education in both pub­
lic health and multicultural health,"
Hall said. “ Her skills and leadership
will help us improve the effective­
ness o f our programs in minority
communities.”
W hile
in
W a sh in g to n ,
Sockalingham was active in organi­
zations that deal with multi-cultural
issues, including the Division o f
Community H ealth's Multicultural
Workgroup for 1994-95, the Minor­
ity Health Coalition, and the Com­
munity Research Partnership.
Sockalingham is trilingual and
holds a doctorate in Nutrition and in
Cultural Anthropology. She also has
a wide range o f international experi­
ence and has worked in India, Nepal,
Malaysia, Indonesia and Nicaragua.
Black Chiropractors Pick
Portland For 1997 Convention
The National Association o f Black
Chiropractors has selected Portland,
Oregon as the site for their organiza­
tions 1997 annual convention.
As a result o f a joint marketing
effort by Oregon Convention and
Visitor Services Network (OCVSN)
and Portland Oregon Visitors Asso­
ciation (POVA), the group was con­
vinced to bring their convention to
the “City o f Roses.”
The Black Chiropractors are just
one o f many minority conventions
that are selecting Portland over other
West Coast cities, said Roy Jay, R
President o f OCVSN.
As a result o f O CV SN ’s strong
national marketing and public rela­
tions campaigns, Portland has also
been selected by Amalgamated Tran­
sit Union - Black Caucus (May ’96),
Blacks In Government (May ’96),
National Association o f Minority
Contractors (June ’96) and National
Drug Companies
Seek a Cure for MS
uv L ahkv L i ( as
When Barbara Jordan died earlier
this year at the age o f 59, our country
lost a great statesperson, African-
American lost an inspiring role mod­
el, and I lost a wonderful friend.
The daughter o f a Baptist minister
and a domestic worker, Barbara Jor­
dan graduated with honors from Tex-
as Southern University and earned a
law degree from Boston University.
She became the fist African-Ameri­
can to be elected to the Texas Senate
since Reconstruction and, in 1972,
won a seat in the U.S. House o f
Representatives. She was clearly
headed for the to p-higher than any
African-American or any woman had
gone before. But she was stopped—
not by racism or sexism—but by dis­
ease In the prime o f her life, in the
prime ofher political career, Barbara
Jordan developed multiple sclerosis-
-MS.
MS is a progressive disease o f the
central nervous system in which scat­
tered patches o f the covering o f nerve
fibers in the brain and spinal cord are
destroyed.
The cause o f the disease is un­
known. It usually strikes people be­
tween 20 and 40, and symptoms in­
clude problems with vision, speech,
balance, and coordination, as well as
numbness and tremors.
When I reunited with Rep Jordan
in 1984 after she had lei) W ashing­
ton, her mind and her eloquent voice
were as strong was ever. But her
body was deteriorating tragically.
Jordan was confined to a wheel­
chair, and a student traveled with her
to help her dress and bathe.
While it’s too late to save Barbara
Jordan, I’m happy to report that phar­
maceutical company currently have
11 medicines in development for MS,
including two on which testing has
been completed and applications for
approval are waiting at the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). And
Betaseron, which was approved by
the FDA in 1993, has helped thou­
sands o f MS patients. None o f these
medicines is cure for this terrible
disease, but pharmaceutical research
provides the hope that a cure will
eventually be found. This year, U.S.
pharmaceutical companies will spend
nearly $16 billion to discover and
develop new medicines—including
an estimated $3 billion on diseases o f
the central nervous system, includ­
ing MS. This area o f research is
second only to cancer is the amount
o f pharmaceutical research funds
devoted to it.
Pharm aceutical research c a n ’t
bring back the leader that President
Clinton called “a great woman and a
gifted public servant.” But, overtime,
it wi 11 bring a cure for the disease that
stopped a bril liant career in its tracks.
For a free copy o f “New Medi­
cines in Development for Neurolog­
ic Disorders,” write to PhRM A, 1100
Fifteenth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20005.
A ssociation o f Minority M edical
Educators (September ’96).
Two years ago, Metro Regional
Government invested in a separate
contract with OCVSN to market Port­
land to minority groups. “The divi­
dends are starting to pay off, but this
is just the beginning.” says Jay; who
is currently the president o f a nation­
al minority convention and tourism
association.
TheNational Association o f Black
Chiropractors will be selecting a ho­
tel for their convention within the
next few months.
St. Michael’s
Lutheran
Pre-School
NE Christian
Pre-School
Has Openings
For Youngsters 3 & 4
years old
8:45 to 11 AM
NE 29th and Dekum
Enroll Now For Fall
Advertise In
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©1995
M eyer, Inc., Bay N ew s, US
Bancorp, First Interstate Bank, and
the Autzen Foundation
The A lbertina K err C enters
board o f directors has combined to
collect over $312,000 in pledges
bringing the total raised-to-date to
$1,240,956
In addition to the recognition o f
top campaign donors, the agency
recognized the many contributions
made by Wilbur K. Hood.
Mr. Hood, who died April 22 at
age 97, served on the board o f
Albertina Kerr Centers for 57 years
and was president from 1946 to 1965.
Albertina Kerr Centers, founded
in 1907, provides day and residen­
tial psychiatric treatment, therapeu­
tic foster care, adoption services,
early intervention services foryouth
at risk and job training and residen­
tial services for individuals with
developmental disabilities.
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for millions
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6717 NE Sandy Blvd.
Top donors to Albertina Kerr
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ognized at the agency’s annual board
meeting held. May 15 at the Kerr
Youth and Family Center. The cam ­
paign is aimed at raising $2.5 mil­
lion for the construction o f a new
24-bed residential psychiatric treat­
ment fac i I ity for boys age 8-14 and
renovations to the Wynne Watts
School located at the Kerr Youth
and Family Center campus.
It was announced that the lead
gift to date is a $ 150,000 grant form
the Collins Foundation. The agen­
cy has also received $ 120,000 from
a Greshem Community Develop­
ment Block Grant and $100,000
from a Multnomah County Com ­
munity Development Block Grant.
Other top donors include: Clark
Foundation, Portland Foundation,
Rose T ucker C haritable Trust,
Stimson Lumber Company, Fred
Call 503-288-0033
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PUMA/*
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B R IN G S
same
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MANY
T H IN G S
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CAN
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TAKE
that
TO
L IF E
7*
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AW AY.
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