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, May 27 1992 Date: Wed, 27 May 92 05:20:54 EDT Message-ID: 05-27 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update May 27, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network NEW GENETIC FOOD RULES UNVEILED: Vice President Dan Quayle Tuesday announced new administration guidelines for biotechnology firms that produce genetically engineered foods. The genetic altering could result in increased disease-resistance, longer shelf-life and quicker growing periods. Most cases won't require testing and labeling. The rules will bring healthier and less expensive foods to consumers, Quayle said. NEW FOOD RULES CAUSE WORRY: Some groups are raising concerns over new federal rules governing genetically engineered foods. Some Muslims, for example, might avoid food if a gene from a pig were used in it, says Issa Smith of the American Muslim Council. The new technology may also pose a dilemma for vegetarians if animals were exploited in the chain of production, says animal rights advocate Jim Mason. NEW TB TEST DEVELOPED: A new tuberculosis test can produce results in two days, compared to four weeks needed with traditional methods, according to research to be presented Wednesday to the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans. With drug resistant strains of the disease appearing, reported cases numbered 26,283 in 1991, up from 22,000 in 1985. Most cases have been in inner cities. QUICKER TEST MAY SLOW TB SPREAD: Current tuberculosis tests work by culturing a bacteria, which can take up to four weeks, during which time the disease can spread. A new test can cut the time to two days, according to research to be presented Wednesday to the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans. The new test detects TB's genetic material in cough secretions, say researchers. AZT, HIV TRANSMISSION STUDIED: Of 31 HIV-infected men undergoing AZT treatment, only one had HIV in his semen, compared to eight out of 62 men not taking AZT, says a study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. The findings do not dismiss the risk of infection, says the study's author Deborah Anderson of Harvard Medical School. KIDS NOT GETTING MEDICAL CARE: One in five U.S. children do not receive routine medical checkups, says a study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. Poor children were twice as likely as other children not to have a regular doctor, according to the study conducted by Robert St. Peter of the University of California at San Francisco. ASHE URGES AIDS EDUCATION: A strong sentiment exists among black Americans that the spread of AIDS is by design, Arthur Ashe told a Washington, D.C., media audience Tuesday. "It's the ninth leading cause of death (among blacks) and climbing," said Ashe, who became infected with HIV from a a blood transfusion. Government must be "more creative and more proactive" in AIDS education and prevention, Ashe said. ANTIHISTAMINE CRITICIZED: A popular antihistamine, doxylamine succinate, should be removed from the market, says the Association of Birth Defect Children, which filed a recent petition with the Food and Drug Administration citing studies that link the chemical to cancer and liver damage in test animals. The chemical is used in numerous over-the-counter cold, allergy and sleeping medications. KIDS TODAY ARE LESS FIT: Kids today are approximately 10% slower in distance-run tests than kids of 10 years ago, studies show. Also, 55% of girls and 25% of boys ages 6-12 can't do a push-up. To promote fitness, Dr. Leslie Tadzynski, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey says parents should participate in physical activities with their children and help them set reasonable fitness goals. KNEE INJURIES COMMON FOR WOMEN: Nearly 50% of women suffer some form of knee injury or problem, says Dr. Dan Silver, a Los Angeles arthroscopic specialist. Women who exercise regularly should strengthen their quadriceps, which supports much of the knee, says Silver, who suggests riding a stationary bike, roller-blading, swimming with fins, wall-sits, using trampoline or jumping rope. DENTAL CARE PROVES COSTLY: Tooth decay is the world's most common infectious disease - more common than the common cold, says University of Vermont researcher Paula Fives-Taylor. And the costs of cavities and gum disease are great. In 1987, Americans spent $25 billion on dental care, 7% of the national health budget, estimates the Department of Health and Human Services. TEENS FEEL RECESSION'S EFFECTS: The economic recession has caused tension at home, say 40% of teens surveyed by National Scholastic Surveys, which questioned 2,100 high school seniors in 56 public high schools in 37 states. Twenty-nine percent say the recession has affected their social lives. 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