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l x - ’x t
Japanese experience
"Mad Cow" disease
Dozens of Japanese brain surgery
patients died from a rare contagion
linked to “mad cow” disease after
Japanese health officials failed to act
on a U.S. warning, a newspaper re
ported Tuesday.
Theofficialswereawareofa 1987
warning by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration that the deadly dis
ease could be contracted from trans
plants of the tissue that covers the
brain and upper spinal column, the
newspaper Mainichi said.
Although the warning was trans
lated into Japanese by the end of
1987, officials at the Health and
Welfare Ministry failed to ensure the
safety of transplants or imports of
the tissue, called dura matter.
The newspaper quoted Takeshi
Kitamura, former director of Japan' s
National Institute of Health, as say
ing he told ministry officials of the
w arning in 1987. The health
ministry’s own research now indi
cates infected dura matter is the most
likely cause of 43 cases of mad cow
disease since 1985. Most victims of
the disease were infected after the
FDA issued its warning, Kitamura
said.
Japanese officials did not recall
the products listed in the FDA warn
ing until last month, the Mainichi
said. The delay, it said, was partly
due to assurances by a German ex
porter named in the FDA warning
that its products were safe.
No one answered the telephones
at the ministry after business hours
Tuesday.
Mad cow disease causes the brain
to shrink, leading to progressive
dementia, paralysis and usually
death.
kidney disease,” he says. “We know
that early detection and intervention
may help prevent the onset of kidney
failure and save lives.”
Because African-Americans have
high rates of diabetes, high blood
pressure, and as a result, have an
increased risk of developing kidney
disease, a special effort has been
made to recruit African-Americans
for the screening program. African-
Americans represent about 30 per
cent of the US population.
Participants in the screening will
have their weight and blood pressure
measured and will be given a com
plete health risk appraisal, which
includes questions about current
health status, health history and fam
ily health history.
They will also receive educational
materials about preventing and treat
ing kidney disease, high blood pres
sure and diabetes. Medical profes
sionals will collect blood and urine
samples from individuals who re
quire further testing for kidney dis
ease.
In many cases, kidney failure can
be prevented or delayed through
Folks who are nearsighted
may soon have an alternative
to glasses, contacts and laser
surgery to correct their vi
sion.
Tiny, transparent rings im
planted into the cornea are
currently being tested.
T he p la stic rin g s are
slightly thicker than a contact
lens and are designed to be
education, early intervention, and
propertreatment. The National Kid
ney Foundation o f Oregon and
Southwest Washington urges indi
viduals identified in these risk
groups to attend the free screen
ings to learn how improving or
maintaining their level of health, as
well as getting proper medical at
tention when necessary, may help
prevent or delay the onset of kid
ney disease. To make an appoint
ment for the screening, call the
National Kidney Foundation of Or
egon and Southwest Washington
at 282-0990.
The National Kidney founda
tion is the major voluntary health
agency seeking the total answer to
diseases of the kidney and urinary
tract. The National Kidney Foun
dation of Oregon and Southwest
Washington is one of 51 Affiliates
across the country bringing help
and hope to the millions of Ameri
cans who suffer from kidney dis
ease, through research, patient ser
vices, organ transplant programs,
professional education and public
information.
A Star (Research
Park) is born
A science and research park at the
heart of Washington County’s high-
tech region known as Sunset Corri
dor became reality this week with
the incorporation of members.
Science, Technology and Re
search Park (STAR Park) includes
the Oregon Health Sciences Univer
sity (OHSU), Oregon Regional Pri
mate Research Center (ORPRC),
Oregon Graduate Institute, Center
for Advanced Partnerships in Tech
nology and Learning (CAPITAL
Center), Washington County ESD,
Oregon State System of H igher Edu
cation, Portland Community College,
and Wells Fargo Bank.
"STAR Park will be a unifying
force in this community of shared
interests,” said P. Michael Conn,
Ph D., who has been guiding its for
mation. “The Park will allow partner
institutions to pool resources in the
pursuit of research, educational and
technological interests and will serve
as a catalyst for the emergence of
new biotechnology companies.”
Conn, who is Associate Director
of the Primate Research Center and
Special Assistant to the President of
OHSU, foresees that some o f
OHSU’s anticipated growth will oc
cur at STAR Park. “Dr. (Peter) Kohler
(President of OHSU) has indicated
that while most of OHSU’s expan
sion will take place in Portland, it
may be appropriate to locate certain
facilities close to the Primate Center,
which is an OHSU affiliate.”
U
•S ome
• -Y 7- *• /
•
The cloning of an adult sheep by
Scottish scientists is a fundamental
advance in biology that the public
must understand and scientists must
explain, the director of the National
Science Foundation said Tuesday.
“The American public does not
have a good grounding for the immi
nent debate about cloning,” said Dr
Neal Lane, who heads the principal
federal agency for dispensing gen
eral science research grants. "And
the science and engineering com
munity does not have a good ground
ing in dialogue with the public about
the science..
“As a civilization, we cannot af
ford for this situation to continue,”
he added.
By creating a new adult animal, a
sheep named Dolly, from the cells of
another adult animal, said Lane, it
is likely that a whole new chapter in
biology will be opened, with poten
permanent. But they can be
removed if better, cheaper
procedures are developed or
if wearers don’t like them.
Tests are under way at ten
health centers pending Food
and Drug Administration ap
proval.
The rings could help about
20 million adults who have
mild nearsightedness.
• «♦
( . *
•
1
tial health, medical and economic
benefits.’
Speaking at the National Press
Club, he warned that the cloning
discovery is a double-edged sword
that “may well outstrip or violate
society’s definition of what consti
tutes our concept of human indi
viduality.”
This new science, said Lane, de
mands extensive public discussion
and requires scientists to give care
ful, clear explanations of what clon
ing and other discoveries mean and
how they might affect society.
“As a society, let us not be
naysayers about new knowledge, nor
timid about technology, ’ said Lane.
“But let us not shirk the societal
responsibility for their use and mis
use.”
Science is neither good nor evil,
he said. The good or evil is in how it
is used.
FDA approves Redux for obesity
The Food and Drug Administra
tion said Monday it continues to
monitor the cases of patients experi
encing side effects while taking the
anti-obesity drug Redux, but says
thus far there have been no unex
pected findings.
“The data to date regarding Redux
do not raise any red flags,” said
agency spokesman Don McLeSm.
The agency’s comment came af
ter The Associated Press reported
Friday that many scientists question
why the government has let Redux
sell so long without having the manu
facturer, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories,
study a possible brain-damaging side
effect. The FDA approved Redux
for sale a year ago, and that study is
expected to begin soon, the agency
says.
The AP also reported Friday that
some critics fear the potent drug is
being inappropriately prescribed to
many Americans, including those
not severely overweight.
The FDA said Monday that it had
provided incorrect information to the
AP about one specific case cited in
the story, the death of a woman who
had been prescribed Redux.
The woman weighed 220 pounds,
not 120 pounds as it had said earlier,
the FDA said. The agency also dis
closed Monday, based on further
information provided by Wyeth-
Ayerst Laboratories, that the woman
also had been taking an anti-anxiety
drug.
A local coroners’ inquest deter
mined she had very high levels of
that anti-anxiety drug in her body
when she died, and ruled the death
was a homicide, not an accidental
death or suicide. Local and state of
ficials continue to investigate the
death and no criminal charges have
been filed.
The company that developed
Redux, Intemeuron Pharmaceuticals
Inc., and Wyeth-Ayerst Laborato
ries reiterated on Monday their posi
tion that scientific evidence has
shown Redux to be safe when used
as recommended.
Initial data collected about pa
tients reveal “no evidence indicating
a higher-than-expected occurrence
of adverse events related to the cen
tral nervous system,” the companies
said in a joint statement.
The FDA examines all reports of
adverse reactions among patients
taking prescription drugs, such as
Redux.
To date, it has received notifica
tion of 18 deaths of patients who had
been taking Redux, including three
suicides, and is examining all those
cases, said McLeam, the agency
spokesman.
The FDA said tint, based on in
formation collected thus far, it had
not noted any side-effect patterns
inconsistent with what its scientific
advisers expected when the agency
approved Redux.
The FDA insists that only the se
verely obese try Redux, because its
users have 23 times the average risk
of a rare but often fatal lung ailment
called primary pulmonary hyperten
sion.
Yet, recent side-effect reports sent
to the agency listed weights for just
27 of 51 patients - and 14 were below
the government weight guidelines
for use of the drug, the FDA says.
In addition, the FDA approved
Redux on the condition that Wyeth-
Ayerst study whether the drug dam
ages the human brain cells that pro
duce serotonin. Previous studies in
mice, rats, monkeys and baboons
show that high doses destroy those
cells - raising fears of side effects
such as depression if the same thing
happens to people.
The study of effects on human
brain cells is expected to start soon,
the FDA says.
b o o - b o o s , a kiss can ' t fix .
Polio. Measles. Diphtheria. Whooping
Cough. The fact is, once a child contracts a
scary disease like this, there's not much a par
ent can do. It's up to the doctors. And fate.
Which makes it inconceivable that 33% of
Oregon children still aren't fully immunized
by the age of two.
Yes, School Law requires they be immu
nized by kindergarten. But unfortunately, that
law also creates the perception that it's okay to
wait until then. People don't realize that wait
ing puts their infants at risk, llnimmunized
infants are not protected. Therefore, they are
more likely to get diseases and to have severe
side effects from them.
Truth is, 80% of all vaccines can be given
by age two. Safely. All it takes is four quick vis
its to the doctor. Meaning you must follow
through with all the shots. They don't have to
cost a lot either.
Most important, don't be afraid to ask your
doctor, nurse practitioner or health depart
ment questions. And keep track of your child's
immunization schedule. After all, the one who
can best tike care of your baby is you.
“STAR
Park will
be a
unifying
force in
this
community
of shared
interests”
STAR Park comprises some 350
acres. It boasts a current employee
head count of 1,750 and a current
weekly student population of 3,200.
Among the park's immediate
goals are to develop a common mas
ter plan and work for the improve
ment of local transit and transporta
tion.
STAR Park is the second such
research park in Oregon. The first,
which received its impetus from
former governor, Neil Goldschmidt,
is the Riverfront Research Park in
Eugene. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden
has promised “very aggressive sup
port" for the Hillsboro newcomer.
• J - r n
Understanding clones
New surgery
may help the
nearsighted
R e e Health Screeningsto KEEP
You and Your Family Healthy
The National Kidney Founda
tion o f Oregon and Southwest
Washington will conduct a free
health screening for people at an
increased risk for kidney disease,
particularly those with diabetes or
high blood pressure or with a par
ent, grandparent or sibling who has
high blood pressure, diabetes or
chronic kidney failure. The screen
ing, to be held on May 24, 1997,
from 8 am to 6 pm, at Dishman
Community Center, 77 NE Knot,
is part of the foundation’s new Kid
ney Early Evaluation Program
(KEEP).
“Diabetes and uncontrolled high
blood pressure are the leading
caused of kidney failure for the
more than 250,000 Americans who
require regular treatment on a di
alysis machine,” according to Ri
chard Drake, MD, chairman of the
National Kidney Foundation of Or
egon and Southwest Washington’s
Medical Advisory Board. “By tar
geting people who have these con
ditions themselves or in their fam
ily we hope to identify more indi
viduals who are at increased risk of
M l *
FREE IMMUNIZATIONS AVAILABLE APRIL 2 0 -2 6 .
For more information about free clinics in your area call your local health department or 1-800-SAFENEr
(1-800-723-3638) or in the Portland Metro area call 306-5858. Bring your child's immunization record
to the free clinic. Call your local health department to see if chickenpox vaccine will be available.
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