Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Fri, Feb 28 1992 Date: Fri, 28 Feb 92 05:50:42 EST Message-ID: 02-28 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Feb. 28-March 1, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network MORE TOBACCO REGULATION URGED: The American Heart Association, American Lung Association and American Cancer Society petitioned government agencies Thursday to provide for increased regulation of tobacco. In a letter, the groups asked President Bush to change "special treatment" given to tobacco and to support legislation, introduced Thursday, that would give the Food and Drug Administration broadened authority. HIV TRANSMISSION STUDIED: HIV-infected babies have many fewer variants of the virus than their mothers, according to a study reported in Friday's Science. The research, which suggests that natural immune mechanisms may prevent some of the variants from being passed on, may help researchers look for ways to prevent transmission, say researchers from Northwestern University Medical School. CHICKEN POX DRUG EXPECTED: Drug maker Burroughs Wellcome Co. is expected to announce Friday Food and Drug Administration approval of the anti-viral drug acyclovir for treating chicken pox. In recent studies, the drug, approved for herpes treatment, reduced the severity and duration of chicken pox. Costing $32 per child, the drug may not work if given 24 hours after the first sore appears and won't stop transmission. PARENTING HOTLINE OFFERED: Advice for new parents from registered nurses and experienced parents is being offered on a toll free parenting hotline sponsored by Johnson & Johnson:Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Company. Call 800-352-6542. AVOCADO SHIPMENTS HALTED: After discovering fruit fly larvae in a Sharwil avocado packaged in Hawaii, the U.S. Animal and Plant Inspection Service banned shipments to the U.S. mainland for a month while the problem is studied. Because of drought conditions, ripe fruit is not falling off Sharwil trees, allowing it to be stung by flies, says Glenn Hinsdale of the inspection service's Honolulu office. HHS CITED FOR VIOLATIONS: The Department of Health and Human Services in Boston has been cited for 13 safety and health violations, according to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration report. The violations "were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees" in the JFK Federal Building, the National Treasury Employees Union said Thursday. CONGRESS TOLD OF TOXIC DRUMS: Toxic drums on the ocean floor nearly 30 miles off the New Jersey shore may hold poisonous sodium cyanide, two House subcommittees were told Thursday. Labels on at least one drum reveal it contains poisonous sodium cyanide. Washed off during a storm last month, the drums are from the Panamanian ship Santa Clara, which did not list the chemical in its traveling documents. MOTHERS KNOW THEIR OWN: After spending at least an hour with their newborns since birth, nearly 70% of mothers in a recent study could identify their babies by only feeling the backs of the infants' hands, according to a report in the journal Developmental Psychology. Random guessing would only produce results of 33%, say researchers from Hebrew University and Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. CALIF. TO ADDRESS DAY CARE: At a news conference next week, the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network will unveil 13 new projects aimed at improving child day care in California. Nine projects will train and provide Spanish speaking providers. The conference will be held Wednesday, March 4, at the American Express Travel Related Services' Western Regional Headquarters in San Francisco. MAMMOGRAM IMPORTANCE STRESSED: Addressing fears over the quality of mammograms, the Michigan Division of the American Cancer Society Thursday assured women of the safety and importance of mammograms. The division has receive over 5,000 calls for information from women statewide. Mammography is the most important tool for the early detection of breast cancer, said the National American Cancer Society's Dan Nixon, M.D. ALCOHOL TOPS AMONG NEV. YOUTH: Nevada youngsters continue to make alcohol their "drug of choice," says state's schools chief Gene Paslov. A recent survey shows that 43% of sixth-graders and up to 83% of seniors have tried beer, wine or liquor at least once. Most younger students claim to get alcohol at home. KAN. CONSIDERS ALCOHOL CHANGES: A bill that would lower the level of alcohol Kansas motorists can legally have in their bloodstreams to .08% from .10% has been approved by the state Senate. Under the bill, a 160-pound person would reach the legal limit after four beers, according to the Department of Transportation. The House still must approve the bill. 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