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 Mon, Apr 20 1992 Date: Mon, 20 Apr 92 05:42:18 EDT Message-ID: 04-20 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update April 20, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network STRESS RAISES CHOLESTEROL TESTS: Mental stress and physical activity can raise cholesterol test results, reports April's Archives of Internal Medicine. Readings raised through physical activity returned to pretest levels during a recovery period, but for mental tasks, the level remained high during the recovery period. The long-term effects are unknown, say researchers, who recommend sitting for 20 minutes before a test. ABORTION-RIGHTS FOES PLAN RALLY: Operation Rescue, calling abortion-rights opponents from around the nation, plans to hold a rally in Buffalo, N.Y., Monday night. On Tuesday the group plans to begin blocking clinics and harassing doctors who perform abortions. Abortion-rights supporters, including Buffalo United for Choice, vow to form non-violent shields around clinics and patients. ORGAN DEMAND IS UP: The number of people needing organ transplants increased last year, while the number of organ donors stayed nearly the same, according to data from the United Network of Organ Sharing. At the same time, technology has made more transplants possible, adding to the demand for organs, say experts. The network and other groups will announce a public education campaign Monday. CRIME STATISTICS RISE: The number of violent crimes committed in the USA jumped in 1991, according to a report issued Sunday by the Justice Department. Rape rose 59%, the biggest jump, while assaults rose 7.5%. Experts say improved data collection may be responsible for much of the rise, although increased violent crime is a factor. The 13th annual National Victim Rights Week begins Friday. TRIAL HINGES ON HALCION USE: The sleep aid Halcion will be considered in the retrial beginning Monday of a Missouri women who stabbed her two sons after losing a custody battle. Upjohn, the drug's manufacturer, may soon face more than 100 U.S. lawsuits, says Grand Rapids, Mich., lawyer Joseph Moch. The FDA, which has received over 2,000 reports of adverse reactions, will convene an advisory panel May 18. DRUG FIRM DEFENDS SLEEP AID: Responding to claims of adverse reactions to Halcion, Upjohn, the drug's maker, points to 600 clinical studies with over 10,000 patients as proof of the drug's safety. Dr. Robert Temple, a Food and Drug Administration drug evaluator, says violent acts, such as the case of a women who stabbed her sons while using the drug, often are linked with an underlying disease than with drugs. PRESIDENT'S TEST PLAN OPPOSED: Although President Bush's education reform plan includes a plan for voluntary national tests to improve classroom learning, a recent survey of 800 principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals found that 64% said more tests would not help. In the survey, 78% of principals said the tests were not an accurate measure because social factors can affect scores. EGGS SHOULD STAY COOL: Hard boiled eggs should be kept refrigerated, California Health Director Molly Joel Coye, M.D., M.P.H., reminded retailers and consumers Friday. Harmful bacteria can grow even in cooked eggs, said Coye. Improperly refrigerated eggs can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. Coye advised that consumers not eat eggs left unrefrigerated for more than two hours. IMPLANT SUIT MADE CLASS ACTION: A judge in New Orleans last week certified a class action for women claiming injury from silicone gel breast implants. Over 200 individual actions are pending in the USA, and more than 20 seeking class action status, says Karen Storey, editor of Mealey's Litigation Report. Among the health affects cited by the suit are autoimmune diseases, implant ruptures, joint pain and headaches. MD. FIGHTS CONTAMINATED WATER: Maryland officials will be asking state farmers to reduce voluntarily their use of atrazine, a common toxic week killer. The chemical is contaminating drinking water in Chesapeake Bay, officials say. Maryland is currently preparing guidelines for atrazine use and expects to have them in place within 30 days. MO. TO CONTINUE FLU SHOTS: Missouri Gov. John D. Ashcroft ordered the state this weekend to continue funding free flu shots, reversing a Health Department decision to cancel the program in order to save $190,000. In the long run, preventive shots would save money, Ashcroft said. HEALTH PROGRAM AIMED AT ASIANS: Toledo, Ohio, will begin operating a health care program for Southeast Asian women and children in May. A $180,000, 3-year federal grant will help send multilingual workers into ethnic enclaves to register immigrants for the program. Nearly 4,000 Asians live in the Toledo area. 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