Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Tue, May 26 1992 Date: Tue, 26 May 92 05:20:39 EDT Message-ID: 05-26 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update May 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network NEW FOOD RULES EXPECTED: New federal guidelines on genetically engineered food are expected to be announced Tuesday. The first genetically engineered food to reach the marketplace is likely to be a tomato with genes from bacteria to prevent it from ripening too fast. Other products include potatoes containing chicken genes; corn with firefly genes; catfish with trout genes; and tomatoes containing flounder genes. NEW FDA RULES MEET OPPOSITION: New Food and Drug Administration guidelines don't consider genetically engineered foods as containing additives, and thus don't protect the public, says consumer advocate Jeremy Rifkin of Foundation on Economic Trends. Rifkin's group plans to file a petition against the FDA demanding such foods carry labels and be tested for safety. CARPAL TUNNEL TREATMENT DOUBTED: Typical methods of treating carpal tunnel syndrome may not be successful, new research suggests. Companies must remove situations that aggravate problems, not simply adjust stations, say University of Michigan at Flint researchers. Classic ergonomics isn't enough, says health care expert Patricia House. The syndrome, caused by pressure on a nerve, can result in pain or numbness in the hand. (For more see special Tunnel package below.) SKIN CANCER CONCERN IS LOW: Although exposure to sunlight in childhood causes most adult skin cancer, nearly half the parents in a recent study did not use sunscreen on their children. The study, in the May 20 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, questioned 82 parents with kids 12 years old or younger. Using factor 15 sunscreen regularly in childhood can stop 78% of skin cancers, say experts. NEW MD TEST DEVELOPED: A new DNA-based test for two forms of muscular dystrophy is quicker and less expensive than current tests, researchers report in the May 20 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. The test, called Multiplex polymerase chain reaction, works in five to eight hours and can detect Duchenne's and Becker's Muscular Dystrophy. KOOP TO HEAD DENTAL CAMPAIGN: Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, has been named honorary chairman of Oral Health 2000, a dental health awareness campaign. In a series of TV public service announcements, Koop will stress the association between oral health and overall health. Oral Health 2000, run by the Chicago-based American Fund for Dental Health, has been endorsed by the American Dental Association. MICH. TO DEBATE SMOKING LAW: Michigan's House of Representatives Tuesday will consider a bill that would ban cigarette vending machines in public places that are accessible to children under age 18. Officials estimate that between 8,000 and 10,000 state children become addicted to nicotine annually. Of teens who smoke, only 7% obtain cigarettes from vending machines, the Tobacco Institute says. VA. SEAT-BELT USE STUDIED: The number of front-seat automobile travelers in Virginia suffering head injuries has fallen since the state enacted a seat belt law in 1987, a study financed by the nation's insurance industry says. Only 5% of drivers wearing seat belts incurred head injuries in crashes, compared to 13% of unrestrained drivers. Seat beat use has increased to nearly 60%, up from 32.5% in 1987. GROUP PLAN ABORTION PROTEST: Despite a court injunction, members of the anti-abortion-rights group Northeast Indiana Rescue will demonstrate Thursday outside of the Fort Wayne Women's Health Organization, says the group's director Wendell Brane. The injunction bars protesters from standing within 25 feet of the building. Protesters may chain themselves to the doors, say Brane. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON TUNNEL: CARPAL TREATMENTS COMPARED: Researchers compared three approaches to treating carpal tunnel syndrome: Work station adjustments, overall changes in the workplace and routine ("macroergonomics") combined with work station changes, or no changes at all. Simple work station changes could include adjustments to reduce stress on workers' back or limbs. `MACROERGONOMICS' CONSIDERED: The broader "macroergonomic" changes included fostering better communications between supervisors and employees, encouraging the proper use of tools and equipment and shifting more breaks to the afternoon. Assembly-line pace could also be slowed when pain from the syndrome is at its worse. EXPENSES VARY WITH APPROACHES: Sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome have annual medical bills almost three times higher than average employees, the study found. Suffers incurred bills of $3,150 annually, compared to $1,100 for average employees. Without intervention, annual medical costs for sufferers were $4,160. With work station changes only, bills amounted to $2,910. With comprehensive changes, costs were $1,580. (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