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 Fri, Aug 21 1992 Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 04:08:23 EDT Message-ID: 08-21 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Aug. 21-23, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CYSTIC FIBROSIS BREAKTHROUGH: Researchers have developed a gene-altered mouse with cystic fibrosis - an accomplishment that will allow more rapid testing of new treatments for humans. The breakthrough, reported in Friday's journal Science, will allow researchers to rapidly screen new drugs and develop new therapy strategies. One in 20 Americans is an unwitting carrier of the disease. (For more, see special Model package below.) TAXOL RESEARCH PROGRESSING: Synthetic versions of the promising cancer drug taxol aren't far off, researchers say. For now, however, the only source of taxol is the bark of the rare, slow-growing Pacific yew tree. Among other alternative sources: Cousins of the yew and other taxus species and cells cultures of other parts of the tree, such as the roots and leaves. Taxol prevents cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. MEASLES FIGURES DOWN: Government figures show a let up in the U.S. measles epidemic, but without a sustained immunization campaign a resurgence is likely, experts warn. The Centers for Disease Control said Thursday that reported cases dropped from 27,786 in 1990 to 9,662 in 1991. Measles-related deaths dropped from 89 to 31. But immunizations are not at the needed levels, says Dr. William L. Atkinson of the CDC. VACCINATIONS PAY OFF: Vaccinating high-risk groups, such as infants, kids entering grade school and college-age young adults who never received a second shot, has led to a drop in reported measles cases, the Centers of Disease Control reported Thursday. But despite improvements, 80% of last year's cases involved patients who'd never been vaccinated, says the CDC's Dr. William L. Atkinson. KIDS FACE FUTURE HEALTH WOES: Because of poor diets and sedentary lifestyles, many high school students may be at risk for heart disease, cancer and other chronic ailments in later life, say new reports. The findings, released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control, show that 52% of high schoolers surveyed had no P.E. classes, and just 13% ate the recommended five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables. BOYS EAT MORE FRUIT, FAT: Boys tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise more than girls, according to surveys of 12,272 grade 9-12 students from all 50 states. The report, released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, also shows that girls were more likely to eat fewer fatty foods. Overall, 69% ate two or fewer servings of fatty foods daily. VITAL PROTEIN CLONED: Scientists have successfully cloned a protein needed for healthly brain cell operation, overcoming a step toward conquering Parkinson's diseases, reports Friday's issue of the journal Cell. The protein allows nerve cells rid themselves of toxic substances that, when accumulated, may lead to Parkinson's disease. DUNGENESS WARNING ISSUED: Hawaii officials are warning residents to avoid eating the internal organs of Alaska Dungeness crabs after reports showed excessive poison levels. The meat of the crab is safe, but the internal organs, the viscera, can cause numbness, tingling and respiratory failure. ARKANSAS LAUNCHES HEALTH PLAN: Twenty-three Arkansas school districts will screen kindergarten students for health problems, the state Education Department announced Wednesday. The screenings are the first part of a six-fold program to improve the abilities of incomings students. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON MODEL: CYSTIC FIBROSIS CURE CLOSER: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, researchers have created the first animal model on which to test cystic fibrosis treatments, reports Friday's journal Science. The model "brings us much closer to the day when we can close the book on this disease," says Robert Beall of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bethesda, Md. TESTING SHOULD SPEED UP: Researchers say they can now test combinations of new therapies not permitted in human clinical trials. "Getting new concepts from the lab to the clinic has been frustrating, often taking up to 18 months," says Dr. Richard Boucher. Cystic fibrosis occurs in 1 of 2,000 births and affects about 30,000 children and young adults, causing bowel problems and fatal lung congestions. GENETIC TECHNOLOGY HANDY: To make the model, the team created a disruption on the normal mouse CF gene similar to the mutation on the human CF gene. The disrupted gene was inserted in embryo cells that were implanted in fertilized eggs then in female mice. An number of offspring became carriers of the disruption. Carriers then mated and produced the mouse models. (End of package.) Health Editor: Christopher Goldthwaite. (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