Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health,americast.usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Thu, Aug 20 1992 Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 04:20:23 EDT Message-ID: 08-20 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Aug. 20, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network SKIN CANCER DRUGS PROMISING: Women suffering from metastatic malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, can live longer through the use of two drugs, dacarbazine and tamoxifen, suggests a study in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. Italian researchers say the results suggest the drug combination "should now be considered standard therapy" in patients who have the increasingly common disease. DRUG MAY EASE SICKLE CELL ANEMIA: An experimental drug called sodium 4-phenylbutyrate used to treat a rare metabolic disease also has the potential for easing the symptoms of sickle cell anemia, new research suggests. Sickle cell anemia, which affects about 65,000 people, is a disorder in which the body does not make enough oxygen-rich hemoglobin for the blood. DRUG HAS NO TOXIC SIDE EFFECTS: Current therapies attempt to boost hemoglobin levels for people with sickle anemia, but they have toxic side effects. In a letter out in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, scientists report they have discovered that the experimental drug sodium 4-phenylbutyrate can boost hemoglobin levels in the body with no toxic side effects. The drug is used for an unrelated condition. N.Y. MULLING TATOO GUIDELINES: New York's Health Department is considering issuing safety guidelines governing tattooing to prevent the spread of Hepatitis-B through unsterile practices. Issuing voluntary guidelines would avoid the need for costly regulating of the practice or a complete ban on tattooing, which was also considered, said Stan Kondracki, a Health Department epidemiologist. (For more, see special Tatoo package below.) SMOKERS NEED VEGETABLES: For smokers, even a diet with adequate vitamin A may leave tissue starved for the nutrient and vulnerable to cancer-causing substances. Rat studies at the University of Missouri show benzoapyrene - a cancer-causing ingredient in tobacco smoke - speeds up enzymes that break down the chemical, but they also break down vitamin A. Suggested: Big doses of beta carotene from veggies. ROLE OF CANCER GENE DISCOVERED: Researchers have linked mutations of a gene called p53 to most forms of cancer, including breast, colon, lung, ovarian and brain cancer. With p53 mutated, damaged cells continue to divide, multiplying their damaged DNA and starting the process that leads to cancer. The discovery was made by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. CHICKEN CONTAMINATION REDUCED: A trisodium phosphate spray shows promise for eliminating salmonella bacteria that can infect chickens as they're slaughtered on high-speed machinery. Applied to carcasses after they're chilled in big tanks of water, it has passed Agriculture Department tests and should soon win the Food and Drug Administration's approval. LUNG CANCER HITS MICHIGAN HARD: Lung cancer is, by far, the leading cause of cancer deaths in Michigan, according to a new report released Wednesday. Of the 18,413 deaths due to cancer in 1990, 27.3% were attributed to cancer of the lung and bronchus, 9.5% due to cancer of the colon and 8.8% and 6.2% due to cancers of the breast and prostate gland, respectively. GO TO HOSPITAL IN STYLE: There's new jewelry out that can be used for identification in the event a person ends up unconscious at the hospital. The jewelry is embossed with the winged caduceus, the universally recognized medical symbol. An insert folds out and bears the wearer's name, personal physician's name, blood type and HIV status, and other information. Call 800-678-3031 to order. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON TATOO: HEPATITIS LINKED TO TATTOOS: About 3 to 5% of the 2,000 new Hepatitis-B patients per year have had tattoos, epidemiologist Stan Kondracki said. He stressed, however, that there was no evidence that the cases were due to dirty needles used by tattoo artists, rather than to the more common causes of drug use or unsafe sex practices. DISEASE COULD BE FATAL: Hepatitis-B, which can be transferred through blood or other body fluids, weakens the liver, making it susceptible to liver disease or cancer. It is more serious than the more common Hepatitis-A, but is fatal in only 1% of the cases. Kondracki said the state does not have any proof of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, being transferred through tattoos. PLASTIC GLOVES RECOMMENDED: New York's proposed guidelines would recommend the use of sterile, disposable needles and razors. Other recommendations include: Using plastic, disposable gloves; cleaning the skin area; having a sink close and available; and requiring customers to fill out consent forms. (End of package.) Health Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM