12B
Thursday, December 8,1994
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWYORK—A drop of vaccine in the nose made mice build an extra line of defense against germs, suggesting that nasal vaccines may someday protect people against a host of diseases.
Nasal vaccine successful in animals
The Associated Press
The possibilities include bacterial pneumonia, food poisoning, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS, said researcher Solomon Langermann.
In his study, mice got a single drop of an experimental Lyme disease vaccine inside the nose and for the past year and a half, have been protected against that disease.
The nasal vaccine was designed to alert anti-disease defenses in the lining of the nose in what amounts to an extra layer of protection compared to an injected vaccine.
only in the bloodstream but also in the cells that line the mouth, nose, gut and other body passageways. In people, this extra defense might wipe out germs before they can penetrate into the body's tissues, Langermann said.
The mice developed defenses not
An easily administered nasal vaccine also might help vaccination campaigns in developing countries.
Langermann, of Medimmune Inc. of Gaithersburg, Md., and other scientists presented the results of the mouse work in today's issue of the journal Nature.
Researchers gave the vaccine to seven mice, all of which later resisted infection from an injection of Lyme disease germs.
The experimental vaccine used a bacterium called BCG, for bacillus Calmette-Guerin, that is structurally similar to the tuberculosis germ. It is already widely used overseas in a
tuberculosis vaccine.
The BCG was genetically altered so that it displayed a surface protein found on the Lyme disease germ. Immunized mice created defenses against that protein, which later proved effective against the Lyme disease germ itself.
"I think it's fascinating," said Mary Lou Clements, director of the Center for Immunization Research at the John Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore.
The results suggest that the approach is worth studying in more humanlike animals such as monkeys to see if the same results appear and to explore the potential for side effects, she said.
One concern is that using the BCG in people might lead to falsely positive readings on the skin test now used to detect exposure to tuberculosis, she said.
Asthma gains attention as deaths increase
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Although asthma-related deaths have been increasing since the late 1970s, a new study finds the condition still rarely fatal for most of the nation's 12 million asthma suffers.
for reasons that are unclear, though, asthma deaths are more common in poor, largely Black, urban areas. Another study found that the poorer the neighborhood, the higher the risk of dying from asthma.
In the first study, doctors followed 2,499 asthmatics for an average of 14 years and reported that just six died of asthma.
Mayo Clinic, where nearly all patients were white and lived in the small city of Rochester, Minn., or surrounding farmland.
The second study, conducted by Philadelphia researchers based at Hahnemann University, found that asthma fatalities were especially common in poor Black neighborhoods.
The study was conducted at the
However, in more affluent areas, Blacks are no more likely than whites to die of asthma. Other studies have found no unusual risk even in the poorest parts of the rural South.
stein, lead author of the Mayo Clinic study. "This does not dismiss in any way the reports of higher death rates in urban areas with large numbers of minorities and poor."
According to an editorial by A. Sonia Buist of Oregon Health Sciences University, published with the two studies in today's New England Journal of Medicine, asthma kills about 4,600 Americans annually.
"The vast number of patients with asthma in the United States don't have an increased risk of death, and death is rare," said Marc D. Silver-
The disease has gotten considerable attention because the death rate, though low, is on the increase. The Philadelphia study, directed by David M. Lang, found the death rate fell between 1969 and 1977, then began to rise and was now higher than in the 1960s.
American Medical Association denounces California bill
The Associated Press
care to illegal immigrants and requires government workers to report suspected illegal aliens.
HONOLULU — The American Medical Association's policy-making body has condemned California's Proposition 187 and voted to oppose any federal requirements in which doctors determine the immigration status of their patients before treating them.
California's Proposition 187, which was overwhelmingly approved by state voters Nov. 8, denies all state benefits except emergency medical
Lonnie Bristow, the association's president-elect, said the California measure, on hold under a judge's order, posed problems in physician ethics and patient confidentiality.
Prop 187 poses a substantial health risk to California residents by denying treatment for communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS, the association's House of Delegates said in the policy statement approved
Tuesday. No money was committed by the association to fight Prop 187.
The 298,000-member association also reaffirmed its position, asking Congress to provide adequate funds for existing health care programs for illegal aliens.
The House of Delegates, sponsoring its semiannual meeting in Honolulu, also strengthened the association's call for a total ban on televised and broadcast advertisement of alcoholic beverages, seeking legislation to accomplish it.
Editorial board
Columnists
Editorial board members are responsible for attending editorial board meetings twice a week, researching and determining the Kansan's positions on issues, and writingditorials.
Columnists are responsible for writing weekly columns that represent thoughtful insight on a variety of topics. Columns must be well-researched, wellwritten, and stimulate discourse with the university community.
Editorial cartoonists
Editorial cartoonists are responsible for providing one-panel cartoons twice a week that present campus, community, state or national issues in an interesting and coherent manner. Cartoonists must demonstrate high-quality drawing techniques, as well as an understanding of current issues.
Strip cartoonists are responsible for providing panel cartoons (frequency of publication to be determined by editorial editor) that convey a coherent theme and discuss issues of interest to Kansan reaaders.
Strip cartoonists
For more information on opinion page position, contact Matt Gowen Spring 1995 editorial editor, at 864-4810.
Here is a chance to become part of one of the best college newspapers in the country!
The University Daily Kansan
is now accepting applications for Spring 1995 editorial board members, columnists, cartoonists, staff photographers and Kansan Correspondents.
The Kansan Newsroom
The Kansan Newsroom is located on the first floor of Stauffer-Flint hall, which sits between Wescoe Hall and Watson Library.
Staff Photographers
Staff photographers should have a thorough understanding of the elements of photography. Photographers are responsible for shooting pictures for stories and photo illustrations daily on deadline. Possibilities are also available to shoot pictures for major projects and profiles and for photographers to shoot their photo stories. Photographers must be available during set hours and demonstrate consistent reliability.
For more information, contact Jarrett Lane, Spring 1995 Photo Editor, at 864-4810.
Floor plan, 1st floor, Stauffer-Flint Hall
Kansan Correspondents
Kansan Correspondents are the safety net of the Kansan. The program is geared or freshmen, sophomores juniors or transfer students who have an interest in journalism - whether as a major or just for a different experience. Correspondents are encouraged to write stories, shoot photographs or work with the Kansan's design department. In addition, weekly meetings are conducted in which guest speakers are brought in to discuss current issues and journalism careers. Correspondents can work at their own pace and under the direction of a Kansan editor. For those interested in journalism, this program is an excellent way to get an early start.
For more information, contact Susan White, spring 1995 Freelance editor, at 864-4810.
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