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29, 1996
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N ew Drug Test for Respiratory Disease
Morehouse School of Medicine
(MSM) is participating in nation­
wide Phase III clinical trial for a new
drug treatment for Acute Respirato­
ry Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a
condition with a 40 percent death
rate and no proven effective drug
treatments.
“ARDS develops in patients who
have suffered serious injury, such as
burns, severe trauma from a car acci­
dent, or serious infection,” said Mark
Walker, M.D., ARDS principal in­
vestigator and program director,
MSM Department of Surgery. “It
affects approximately 150,00 Amer­
icans per year.”
MSM aims to recruit 30 to 40
ARDS patients from the Atlanta area
over the next 18 months to test TLC
C-53, a drug that has shown
considerable promise is Phase II
clinical trials in patients with ARDS.
The drug is manufactured by The
Liposome Company, an independent
biotechnology company in Princeton,
N.J., that develops liposome and lip­
id-based pharm aceutical’s for the
treatment, prevention and diagnosis
of life-treating diseases. Liposomes
are microscopic fat bubbles that can
be used to encapsulate drugs. When
combined Liposomes are microscop­
ic fat bubbles that can be used to
encapsulate drugs. When combined
with TLC C-53, they can control the
activity of neutrophils and macroph­
age’s - cells that contribute to lung
injury in patients with ARDS.
According to Dr. Walker, patients
who sustain serious injuries, such as
trauma patients, have an overabun­
dance of overactive white blood cells
fighting to help the body recover. In
patients with ARDS, the overactive
white blood cells and chemical me­
diators cause blood vessels in the
lungs to leak, filling the lungs with
fluid and causing the patient to have
difficulty breathing. If severe enough,
the condition can lead to ARDS.
“TLC C-53 binds with infection­
fighting cells in the body to reduce
the severity of ARDS by limiting
these cells’ activity,” said Ignatius
Akpele, M.D., co-investigator for the
Protein responsible
For Heart Failure
The protein, CUG-BP, was found
in the gene responsible for myotonic-
dystrophy, a heart muscle disorder
that runs in families. The disease
occurs when the heart muscles fail to
relax normally, usually leading to
heart failure and death. Previous stud­
ies have reported discovering the
genetic abnormality on chromosome
19.
“A father or mother with this
defective gene can pass it on to
their children,” said Dr. Robert
Roberts. “W hen these children
reach their 20s, 30s, or 40s, the
Brochure
rings
Tears To
Your Eyes
Most people moisturize their skin,
and even their hair, but never think
about moisturizing their eyes. Eyes,
like the rest of the body, require
moisture to stay healthy. Tears are
moisturizers for the eyes. They pro­
tect, nourish, lubricate and cleanse
the ocular surface. A lack of mois­
ture may result in dry, scratchy and
irritated eyes.
"Almost everyone suffers from
dry, irritated eyes at one time or
another," says Dr. Alan L. Shabo,
Clinical Professor of Ophthalmolo­
gy, Jules Stein Eye Institute Univer­
sity of California at Los Angeles
(UCLA). "Unfortunately, the major­
ity of people who have irritated eyes
don', realize that the irritation may be
caused by a lack of moisture. They
blame their scratchy, red eyes on
fatigue and, in many cases, just live
with the discomfort. Or they use prod­
ucts to reduce redness, which can
actually dry eyes out even more."
Many eye specialists recommend
using lubricating eye drops to keep
eyes moisturized. A preservative-
free formulation in a sterile, single­
use dropper is also recommended,
because studies show that frequent
use of preserved drops, such as those
found in bottles, can lead to preser­
vative-induced irritation.
A new brochure. Refreshing Tips
For Dry & Irritated Eyes, offers a
comprehensive guide to the symp­
toms and treatment of dry, irritated
eyes. For a free copy, call 8(X)/999-
■
disease has already developed."
Roberts, who collaborated with a
team of researchers in Baylor’s pa­
thology department and Merck Re­
search Laboratories in West Point,
PA., discovered that the protein binds
to the gene which the team believes
causes myotonic dystrophy.
“Although the protein has been
identified, we want to understand
the actual mechanism that causes
heart disease,” Roberts said. “Dis­
covering this protein is a major
step toward learning more about
this potentially fatal disease.”
ARDS study and assistant professor,
MSM Department of Surgery.
“We suspect that TLC C-53 binds
with key receptors on the surface of
neutrophils to control their activity
and, hence, stops the disease process
from getting worse," said Marilyn
Foreman, M.D., co-principle inves­
tigator for the ARDS study and chief
of pulmonology, MSM Department
of Medicine. "If the results of Phase
III trails follow those of Phase II, this
treatment could represent a break­
through in ARDS and help us save
more lives.”
In the Phase II, randomized dou­
ble-blind, placebo-controlled study
of 25 patients, investigators found
that eight days after treatment had
started, all eight patients who had
received no medication still required
assisted ventilation. In contrast, 76
percent (13 of 17) of patients receiv­
ing TLC C-53 had at least a 25 per­
cent improvement in lung compli­
ance or had been removed from the
ventilator by day eight. Nine of the
TLC C-53 patients still required as-
sisted ventilation.
“Morehouse School of Medicine's
goal is quality care," said Iva Katon,
SA PA-C. ARDS study coordinator,
who has been with MSM since the
Department of Surgery was estab­
lished at Grady Hospital in 1990.
"The tremendous growth in our De­
partments of Surgery and Medicine
over the past decade has enabled us
to extend the medical school’s reach
beyond education and health promo­
tion. to the ability to treat more pa­
tients and participate in significance
research studies that will benefit the
community in the long run.”
MSM's Department of Surgery and
Medicine are at Piedmont Hall, 22
Piedmont Ave., S.W., Atlanta, across
the street from Grady Hospital.
Morehouse School of Medicine’s
mission is to recruit and train physi­
cians and biomedical scientists who
are committed to the health care needs
of the medically undeserved. More
than 80 percent of MSM alumni in
practice serve in undeserved commu­
nities.
Study Seeks Participants
Calcium channel blockers or beta
blockers are used to treat nearly half of
the over 6.3 million Americans that
suffer from coronary artery disease.
The use of these drugs in combination
with nitroglycerin, for angina or chest
pain, allows many people to lead rela­
tively normal lives. A significant num­
ber of individuals taking calcium chan­
nel blockers and beta blockers, how­
ever, experience side effects from the
medication. Common side effects in­
clude headaches, ankle swelling and
constipation.
Physician investigators at 25 med­
ical centers in the United States are
testing a new type of calcium channel
blocker that may have fewer side ef-
fects. In addition to possibly reducing
side effects, this new drug may also
reduce the number of angina attacks
individuals experience, allow for great­
er physical exertion without pain and
reduce blood pressure. The name of
the drug is mibefradil .
People that decide to participate
will receive comprehensive cardio­
vascular testing for their angina. 'They
will also receive the investigational
drug and nitroglycerin for use during
the study at no charge.
Before considering participation
in the study, angina sufferers are
encouraged to discuss the study with
their treating physician. Call 8(H)-
393-9866.
A 5
Non-smoking Vs Weight Gain
Oregonians attempting to quit
smoking must determined which is
more important, gaining a few pounds
or nsking lung health problems.
To most people, the decision to
quit is quite easy, but actually doing
it is not. In fact, quitting smoking can
be more difficult with the additional
concern of putting on unwanted
weight. Health experts at the Ameri­
can Lung Association of Oregon ad­
vise potential quitters that a modest
weight gain is common, but should
not be used as a rationale to continue
to smoke.
“The first three months after quit­
ting smoking are the most difficult,”
says Bill Smith, Health Manager for
the Lung Association. “A person not
only has to contend with constant
urges to smoke, but also with putting
on 5 to 7 pounds. But, the truth is
you’re never better off smoking. And
there are ways of coping.”
According to the American Lung
Association of Oregon, an estimated
22% Oregonians overeighteen smoke
cigarettes and more than 75% would
like to stop Each year, .34% of smok­
ers actually attempt to quit. While the
short-term consequences of quitting
smoking is gaining approximately 5
to 7 pounds, the long-term conse­
quences of continuing to smoke are
the increased risk of lung cancer and
chronic lung disease.
“A lthough the prevalence of
sm oking among adults has d e­
creased overall since 1965, the rate
of decline has begun to wane in
recent years," says Smith. "With
increased access to proven cessa­
tion programs, such as counseling
support programs, self-help materi­
als and the availability of over the
counter nicotine replacement thera­
pies, such as Nicorette gum, smok­
ers have yet another aid to easily
turn to at the moment they’re ready
to quit.”
LOSE 20 POUNDS
IN TWO WEEKS!
Fam ous U S. W om en's A lp in e Ski Team D iet
During the non-snow off season the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team
members used the "Ski Team" diet to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. That's
right - 20 pounds in 14 days! The basis of the diet is chemical food
action and was devised by a famous Colorado physician especially for
the U.S. Ski Team. Normal energy is maintained (very important!) while
reducing. You keep "full" - no starvation - because the diet is designed
that way. It's a diet that is easy to follow whether you work, travel or stay
at home. (For men, too!)
This is, honestly, a fantastically successful diet. If it weren't, the U.S.
Women's Alpine Ski Team wouldn't be permitted to use it! Right? So,
give yourself the same break the U.S. Ski Team gets. Lose weight the
scientific, proven way Even if you've tried all the other diets, you owe it to
yourself to try the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team Diet. That is, if you
really do want to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. Order today! Tear this out
as a reminder.
Send only $8.95 ($9.60 in Calif.)-add .50 cents RUSH service to:
American Institute, 7343 El Camino Real, Suite 206, Atascadero, CA
93422. Don’t order unless you expect to lose 20 pounds In two weeksl
Because that’s what the Ski Team Diet will do.
nnc
If it exists, they will run into it,
fall off of it, or swallow it.
The bad news is,
kids will be kids.
The good news is,
it's covered.
And when they do, the last
thing yon wan, to worry about
is whether or not your medical
claim is going to be denied.
Well, with kaiser Permanente,
you have one less thing to worry
about. That’s because at kaiser,
you never even have to file a
claim. Just bring them in to
your neighborhood kaiser
facility, and they’re covered.
Just like that.
Because at kaiser Permanente.
we care about making your
kids healthy. Not making
a profit. So quit worrying.
You still have a few good years
left before they star, driving.
1870.
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(©baeruer
K A ISER P E R M A N E N T E
Different from the ground up.
Call 503-288-0033
%