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M AY 5,1998
Page A5
(The Jîortlanh (Observer
Science
New M ethod Of B reast
Reconstruction Studied
Stim ulating fat cells to grow
in a dom e-shaped implant might
someday offer a potential new
approach to breast reconstruc­
tion.
Plastic surgeons at BaylorCol-
lege o f M edicine in Houston are
experim enting with this tech ­
nique for use in breast-cancer
patients in hopes that it will have
fewer risks than current methods
o f breast reconstruction follow ­
ing a mastectom y.
The implant is made o f biode­
gradable polym ers and serves as
a tem porary “scaffolding” to pro­
vide shape for the b ody’s tat
cells.
It dissolves within two to three
months as body tissue, including
fat cells, fills in the area.
C hem icals known as growth
factors are added to the cells to
help generate more tat tissue.
Grow th factors stim ulate cells to
m ultiply and mature.
Dr. Eser Yuksel, a Baylor plas­
tic surgeon who is studying this
technique in anim als, said this
approach could have several ad­
vantages.
“C urrently, breast reconstruc­
tion in cancer patients usually
requires transferring tissue trom
the abdom en or the back to the
ch est,” Yuksel said. “ But th e ir’s
a risk o f tissue scarring, and it is
difficult to restore the volum e,
shape, size, texture and blood
supply o f a norm al breast."
Because the new approach re ­
lies on the body to generate its
own tissue, scarring should not
be a problem , and the breast
should look and feel norm al,
Yuksel said.
So far the researchers have
been able to grow the fat cells,
but further studies are needed to
observe w hether the cells till out
the scaffolding as expected.
O th e r B a y lo r r e s e a r c h e r s
working with Yuksel on this study
are Brad Ray, Adam W einfeld,
and Drs. Jacob W augh, John
Jensen, M elvin Spira and Saleh
Shenaq, who heads the division
o f Plastic Surgery.
They are collaborating with
scientists at Rice U niversity.
1995 Health Stats Released
The Oregon Vital Statistics An­
nual Report 1995, containing death,
infant death and adolescent suicide
attempt information for 1995 has been
released by the Oregon Health Divi­
sion. Analysis of trend data, current
county data and a comparison of
Oregon to the nation is included in
the report. Some highlights:
•A total of 28,190 Oregonians died
during 1995, an average of one death
every 19 minutes.
•During 1995, the state's crude death
rate were heart disease! 7,529 deaths),
cancer (6,824), cerebrovascular dis­
ease (2,483), chronic obstructive pul­
monary disease (1,460), and unin­
tentional injuries (1,293).
•Large increases occurred in death
rates for Parkinson’s disease (up
17%) and Alzheimer’s disease (up
13%). Both rates reached record
highs, 22.0 per 100,000 population
for Parkinson’s and 7.4 per 100,000
population for Alzheimer’s.
•During 1995, 439 Oregonians died
from intentional and unintentional
gunshot wounds. Injuries from hand­
guns (243 ) accounted for for most of
the fatalitites.
•During 1995,262 infants died. This
is the first time since 1992 that the
infant death rate has declined, falling
to a record low (6.1 per 1,000 live
births).
•Over halfof youth suicide attempts
(55%) were possibly or definitely
life threatening. The most common
reasons given were: family discord
(63%), argument with a boy/girl-
friend (26%), and school problems
(22%).
•Most youth suicide deaths (65%)
resulted from gunshot wounds.
MJCC Center Fit Presents
Health Festival 1998
Want to get fit and healthy?
Come on down to the Mittleman
Jewish Community Center Health
Festival 1998! The Festival, for
adults age 50 and over, will be
held on Thursday, May 28 from
10:00 AM u n til 6:00 PM.
This free event will feature over
twenty services including Vision
Testing, Body Composition Test­
ing, Glasses Adjustment, Blood
Pressure Checking, Massage, Glu­
cose Testing, Cholesterol Screen­
ing and much more. Other exciting
events at the Health Festival are a
Mini Golf Tournament, Exercise
Classes, Basketball Shooting,
Dancing, Ping Pong, Darts, Cardio
Equipment Demos, Tai Chi Work-
shops plus a lot more. Door prizes
and prizes for the tournaments
will be given.
Health Festival 1998 is spon­
sored by the Center Fit program
o f the MJCC. Center Fit is a
health and wellness program for
adults age 50 and over. Center
Fit offers classes in fitness, aero­
bics, dance, and weight training
plus a variety o f special interest
workshops.
The Mittleman Jewish Com­
munity Center is located at 6651
SW Capitol Hwy. in Portland.
You can also get to the MJCC on
Tri-Met buses #1, #5 and #45.
For more information on Health
Festival 1998 or the Center Fit
program call Maria Bennett at
244-0111.
Share The Road
Safely With Trucks
In observance of National Drive Safely at Work Week April 20-24,
we’d like drivers to consider the following issure. the size and weight of
trucks and other large vehicles limit their maneuverability and create large
blind spots. So, along with cars, bicycles, pedestrians and motorcycles,
learn to shre the road safely with trucks and buses.
Did you know?
★
Trucks carry 78% o f the freight in this nation. I f you got it, a truck
probably brought it.
★
According to the U.S. Department o f Transportation, out o f the
500,000 crashes in 1995 involoving trucks and passenger vehicles, in
at least 70% o f the crashes o f passenger vehicle driver contributed to the
crash.
*,4 recent survey determined that 80% of the public has a positive
view o f truck drivers.
Truck Facts
* Trucks take longer to stop. A car traveling 55 mph canstop in about
I JO to 140feet. A truck traveling at the same speed takes 400feet to stop.
★ Trucks have deep blind spots in front, behind and on both sides.
★ Trucks need room to make right turns. With any turning vehicle,
the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels. The longer
the vehicle, the greater the difference.
★ Trucks msut swing wide to the left to safely negotiate a right turn.
They cannot see cars behindor beside them.
Safety Tips
★
Following a truck too closely greatly increases the chances o f a
rear-end collision, when your car is behind a truck, the driver can't see
it and it severely limits what you can see on the road ahead.
* You increase the chances fo r a crash the longer you drive in the side
blind sposts o f trucks. A good rule o f thumb is, if you can't see the truck
driver in his/her mirror, he or she can't see you.
FDA Clears New Drug to Reduce
Need for Prostate Surgery
Merck & Co. Inc., announced
today that, after a six-month re­
view, the U.S. Food and Drug Ad­
ministration has cleared Proscar
(finasteride 5 mg) as the first and
only medication to reduce the need
for prostate surgery and the risk of
developing acute urinary retention,
a serious and painful complication
o f benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH). BPH is a common condi­
tion that affects more than half of
men age 60 and older, and prostate
surgery to correct it is the second
most commonly performed surgery
on older men.
The ex p anded in d icatio n is
based on the results o f the land­
mark PLESS study (Proscar Long­
term Efficacy and Safety Study),
the largest and longest controlled
clinical trial o f men ever com ­
pleted in urology. PLESS was
recently published N ew England
Jo u rnal o f M edicine.
Two other studies o f Proscar
are ongoing. The N ational C an­
cer Institute is conducting the
Prostate C ancer Prevention Trial
to determ ine if Proscar reduces
the risk o f prostate cancer. The
study includes 18,000 patients
from 222 trial sites across the
country.
In addition, the National Insti­
tute o f D iabetes and D igestive
and Kidney D iseases is conduct­
ing a five year study o f Proscar,
doxazosin and a com bination o f
the two therapies. This study o f
2,800 patients will m onitor the
progression o f BPH as m easured
by the need for su rg e ry and
changes in prostate tissue.
M erck & Co. Inc., is a leading
research driven pharm aceutical
products and services com pany.
M erck d is c o v e r s , d e v e lo p s ,
m a n u fa c tu re s and m a rk e ts a
broad range o f innovative prod­
ucts to im prove hum an and an i­
mal health.
Secure
Horizons
«
Secure
Horizons
Secure
Horizons
1996
1997
1998
$0
$0
$0 >
Premium Premium Premium
Secure Horizons holds the line on premiums.
For the third straight year, the monthly premium
for the Secure Horizons Medicare health plan
will stay at $0 throughout 1998, for members
living in Multnomah,Washington, Clackamas,
Yamhill, and Columbia counties. Which is
enough to make anyone who's concerned
about rising health plan premiums very happy.
Great providers and benefits.
Also for 1998, Secure Horizons offers a wide
choice of physicians, a package of benefits
and services, including:
• Personalized care from a choice of
well-established community' physicians
(chances are, your current doctor may
already be in our network)
• Our network includes virtually all local
hospitals
• No deductibles, no claim forms, no paperwork
when using contracting providers
• Unlimited office visits with contracting
physicians ($10 copayment)
• Discounts on dental, alternative and
chiropractic care, hearing aids, and
prescription drugs
• Preventive and wellness services covered
Learn more at a free presentation.
Find out more about our plan by calling
1-800 -728-8158. Or plan now to attend
one of our presentations.You'll discover
that Secure Horizons is part of the largest
Medicare health plan in America, and a
respected health care leader.
May Secure Horizons Presentations
Heal!bLirst M edical G roup - B roadw ay
Conference Room
265 N. Broadway, Portland
Wednesday, May 13
10.00 a.m.
Woodland Park Hospital
Auditorium
10300 N.E. Hancock, Portland
Wednesday, May 13
2:30 p.m.
Refreshments will be serted.
A sales representative will be present
with information a n d applications.
These locations a w wheelchair accessible.
Please let us k n o w at least 72 hours
in advance i f y o u h a te special needs.
SecureHorizons *
Offered by PacifiCare o f Oregon
Questions? Call 1-800-728-8158 (TTY 1-8OO-257- 5799)
Secure Horizons is offered by PacifiCare which is a federally qualified HMO with a Medicare contract.
A nyone w ith Medicare m a y apply. M embers m ust use contracting plan providers. Plan p rem iu m s a n d
'benefits vary by county. Beneficiaries m ust continue to p a y Part B prem ium or Medicare premium.