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 Wed, Jun 17 1992 Date: Wed, 17 Jun 92 05:19:38 EDT Message-ID: 06-17 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update June 17, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network AIDS RULES LEFT TO STATES: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday it's up to state and local health departments to decide which medical procedures cannot be performed by AIDS-infected health workers. But CDC urged states to abide by guidelines it issued in July 1991. Those guidelines included abdominal, gynecological or heart surgeries, tooth extractions and root canals. HEALTHY DIET LOWERS CANCER RISK: Diets high in fruits and vegetables may help women avoid breast cancer, researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo said Tuesday. The National Cancer Institute-sponsored study of 616 women, roughly half of whom had breast cancer, adds to evidence from recently reported studies that said there is evidence that broccoli, celery and cruciferous vegetables reduce cancer risk. ABUSE AWARENESS NEARLY NIL: A survey of 38 physicians at a large, urban HMO, finds that more than half said they had no training in recognizing domestic violence, reports Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. The issue, devoted to domestic violence, said a fear of offending patients, a feeling of powerlessness and time constraints kept doctors from intervening in abuse cases. (For more, see special violence package below.) BLOOD DONATIONS DROP: Blood donations drop dramatically in the summer, says the American Red Cross, which is calling on all eligible donors to give blood. Of the 57% of women and 70% of men eligible, only 8% donated blood annualy. If people donated twice yearly, summer shortages could be overcome, says the Red Cross. Causes of the summer drop: Fewer college and high school donors and busier schedules AIDS TREATMENT ENDORSED: A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee Tuesday recommended that the FDA allow Viagene, Inc., a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company, to begin human clinical testing of a HIV treatment using gene therapy. With Viagene's therapy, a patient's cells are removed, genetically engineered to fight HIV, then reinjected into the patient. WATERBORNE ILLNESSES POSSIBLE: Most public health officials agree that waterborne disease outbreaks are possible in the USA, reports a survey conducted by the Wirthlin Group. The survey, released at a symposium on drinking water safety sponsored by the Chlorine Institute Safe Water Advisory Committee, found that 91% of public health officials believe that the USA is not immune from waterborne outbreaks. WISC. JUDGE BARS PROTESTERS: A federal judge in Wisconsin issued a court order Monday barring a group of abortion opponents called Missionaries to the Preborn from standing within 25 feet of clinics during six weeks of protests set to start Tuesday. Only a week ago, the Supreme Court postponed a decision on whether federal judges have the authority to stop abortion protesters from blockading clinics. N.Y. MAY BAN SURROGATES: A New York Assembly panel Tuesday approved a bill, sponsored by Helene Weinstein, D-Brooklyn, that would ban surrogate parenting for profit. The bill, aldready advanced out of committee in the Senate, would set fines for commercial businesses that profit by arranging surrogate births but would not outlaw unpaid surrogate parenting. AGING HOTLINE OFFERS TIPS: "Feeling Good Over 50" is the subject of the American Physical Therapy Association's hotline. Physical therapists answer questions about how to stay healthy and deal with health conditions related to aging. Call 800-955-7848. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON VIOLENCE: DOCTORS FAVOR SPANKING: A survey of 619 Ohio physicians found 67% would advise spanking in the home, even though studies show it can be harmful and often escalates to abuse, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. As many as 4 million women and 2 million children a year suffer physical and sexual violence and neglect. Although many get medical care, as few as 5% are identified as abused. MANY VICTIMS ARE UNIDENTIFIED: A simple questionnaire that identifies victims of domestic violence should be "standard care for all pregnant women," say the study's authors. One in six women seeking prenatal care at public clinics in Baltimore and Houston suffered "recurrent" physical or sexual abuse. NATIONAL ABUSE NETWORK SET UP: Apathy towards and denial of domestic violence must be overcome," said Surgeon General Antonia C. Novello. On Tuesday, Novello announced anational network to diagnose, treat and prevent domestic violence. (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