health
Choose carefully
Does your condom provide the best protection against HIV?
By Cathleen Siechta Kansan staff writer
When Sean Stagg bought condoms in high school, he worried about their reliability, but he never looked into which condoms were most effective.
had been on the market for so long and had a good reputation," the Lenexa senior said. "I used to work with the Douglas County AIDS Project, and that was the brand that they recommended, too." But do Trojan brand condoms offer the best protection against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS? Condoms are in the news these days thanks to a new federally-funded ad cam-
I usually bought Trojans just because they look good on the workbench and wear.
motes condom use to prevent the spread of HIV.
But effectiveness may vary depending on what kind of condom the consumer chooses. Since the increase in cases of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, the Federal Drug Administration has launched a program of more extensive testing for the effectiveness of condoms. A 1989 study published in Consumer Reports magazine tested different brands of condoms for effectiveness.
Two types of tests are used. In a standard water test, condoms are filled with water and checked for leakage. In an air burst test, condoms are inflated until they break. The maximum volume and pressure withstood by each condom is monitored.
In the leakage test, LifeStyles Extra Strength with Nonoxynol-9 and LifeStyles NudaPlus brand condoms both showed thin spots near the tips when filled with water, suggesting potential for breakage. Since the Society, Aksel, inc., the manufacturer of LifesStyles condoms, has issued a voluntary recall for defective lots of Life-Styles Extra Strength with Nonoxynol9.
"We used to hand out only LifeStyles brand condoms, but since that report, we have started handing out Sheik brand condoms," said Janine Demo, coordinator of Health Education for Watkins Memorial Hospital. "Sheik seemed to be higher on the list."
Among the condoms that scored highest in
the air burst test were Gold Circle Coin condoms and several Trojan brand condoms.
Trojans also proved to have a low risk of breakage in laboratory tests.
The study estimated that about one in every 140 condoms breaks. However, condom breakage is not the
only way that the
only way that the AIDS virus and other sexually transmitted diseases can be spread. "Skin" condoms made from the large intestine of a lamb have crisscrossing fibers that can cause pores in the condoms up
in the condoms up to 1.5 microns mid
"Lambskin condoms are porous to many viruses, but not sperm." Demo said "They are for contraception more than disease prevention. Latex condoms, when intact, are consistent barriers against disease."
Although some brands of lamskin condoms proved in laboratory tests to be as strong as latex condoms, the permeable membrane is enough reason to keep the FDA disease prevention label off of such condoms.
smaller than the size of sperm, but 10 times the size of the AIDS virus.
Condoms that come with Nonoxynol-9 spermicide in the lubricant were also proven to be highly effective.
Nonoxynol-9 is an ingredient in most over-the-counter spermicides that has been
10% patients that cause short sexually transmitted diseases, includ- 11 HIV
But consumers should be wary of putting all their faith in Nonoxynol-9
"New research from the Centers for Disease Control says that spermiicide may be less effective than we had hoped," Demo said. "They still encourage the use of spermiicide, but it is messy."
important to have an intact latex condom. The spermicide is seen as kind of a boost in protection."
How effective is your condom?
Some condom brands held up better than others in air burst testing. Projected maximum failure rate of
KANSAN
Gold Circle Coin
Trojan Plus 2
Koromex with Nonoxynol-9
Sheik Elite
Projected maximum fail-
ure rate of 4%
Saxon Ribbed Lubricated
Ramses NuFORM
Mentor
Projected failure rate of
more than 10%
LifeStyles Extra Strength
with Nonoxynol-9
LifeStyles Nuda Plus
Source: Consumer Reports magazine
"The last condoms I bought had a spermicide on the inside and outside." Miller said.
David Miller, Shawnee senior, said that he would use "anything that helps."
cide on the inside and outside," Miller said. Even though condoms with spermicide are sometimes more expensive than regular condoms, Miller said that cost is not an issue when buying condoms.
music
Could Lawrence be the next Seattle?
By Kevin Hoffmann Kansan staff writer
Certain cities somehow become associated with certain things. People connect Boston with clam chowder, Milwaukee with beer and Los Angeles with movie stars. Seattle recently has been connected with the newest and best in rock music.
Lawrence quickly is gaining a reputation for being the "next Seattle."
Lawrence gained that title when the New York Times magazine and the Kansas City Star recently described the city as a stepping stone for new rock bands. As more and more local bands get national recognition, the buzz around Lawrence continues to grow.
But some local people connected to the music scene resent the label.
"I think its stupid that anyone would want to be the next Seattle," said Chris Batte, who owns the Hideaway, 106 North Park. "We should want to be the first Lawrence."
Batte agrees that an abundance of local bands are becoming more and more recognizable.
"There are a lot of good bands in town," he said. "There are a lot of diverse bands in town. Lawrence is definitely recognized."
Seattle gained notice after Nirvana made it big with its 1991 "Never Mind" compact disc. Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains soon followed. Phrases such as "the Seattle sound" became common
sound" became common.
Lawrence attained national recognition when local group Paw signed a record deal with A&M Records last spring. Later, bands such as Tenderloin and Stick signed with smaller labels.
Many factors attract quality bands to lawrence. Batte suggested that the com-
ated with the rock scene for 20 years. Wilson said a combination of factors led to Lawrence's boost in recognition
"We should want to be the next Lawrence."
"One reason is the big increase in the number of venues," Wilson said. "Ten or so
Steve Wilson, manager of Kief's Discount Records & Stereo Supply, 2429 Iowa St., is a singer and songwriter for the local band Mahoots. Wilson said he has lived in Lawrence "forever," and has been associ-
Chris Batte Co-owner of The Bottleneck
"Outside of the music aspect, Lawrence is a good place to shop," he said. "It has a nice downtown area, the university and all. That helps to make bands want to play here."
munity itself draws bands to Lawrence.
years ago, you didn't have as many places to play," he said.
One band's recognition tends to snowball in recognition for other area bands, Wilson said.
Wilson credited KIHK and KLZR radio stations and the magazinesPitch andNote as helping to solidify Lawrence's rock 'n' roll scene.
Other aspects of the local music industry are benefiting from Lawrence's recognition. Independent record companies are popping up around the city. Matt Hydre, 23, recently started Lotuspool Records out of his Lawrence apartment. Brian Byers began Mercy Records out of his home a few
"A lot of it had to do with two bands signing major record labels. That being Paw and Stick." he said.
years ago and now has his own recording studio. Byers' company now records local bands.
Byers sees his company as a stepping stone to the national labels.
"We can be a local goal for bands," Byers said. "We don't have a lot of money or big prizes to offer, but we can bring a band into the studio and put an album out. It's not the American dream, but it's a step closer."
Byers said success in the rock business required more than a popular hometown.
"It itkes writing music that sells. It doesn't have to be grunge or a certain kind of music, as long as there's a market for it," Byers said. "They must have the stamina to keep playing every night, and be rejected now and then, and just keep playing. That's what the Midwest is known for."
Byers released the "Loaded in Lawrence" compact disc, a compilation of 16 local artists in the fall of 1993. The disc gave rock fans a taste of different Lawrence bands.
Barry Osbourn is a member of the Salty Iguanas, a Lawrence group that will be releasing its first compact disc Feb. 11 at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
Osburn said he did not think Lawrence's
See LAWRENCE,Page 10.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
People and places at the University of Kansas.
LEAD STORY
In December, Dominique Gosbout, of Abitibi, Quebec, petitioned the legislature to restore a provision of the province's old Civil Code that was changed in the new 1992 Code. Article 441 now lists the only obligations of married persons as "respect, fidelity, care and help." For the first time in 200 years, "love" is no longer required, and Gosbout wants it back.
THE LITIGIOUS SOCIETY
- In July, retired Air Force Maj. Bill Smith filed a lawsuit in Fort Worth, Texas, against the estate of Elvis Presley, charging that the estate has been "perpetrating a fraud" that Presley died in 1977. Smith says the estate's claim interferes with his attempts to sell his books on Elvis' current whereabouts.
-Vicki Jo Daily, 36, filed a lawsuit in July in Jackson, Wyo., against the widow of the man she collided with and killed in a February accident. The 56-year-old victim's snowmobile had suddenly cut in front of Dally's pickup truck, and he died at the scene. Police said Daily was free of blame, and she now wants money from the widow for the "grave and crippling psychological injuries" she suffered by watching the man die.
-In December, a New York appeals court rejected Edna Hobbs' lawsuit against the company that makes the device called the Clapper. Hobbs claimed she hurt her hands because she had to clap too hard in order to turn her appliances on.
"I couldn't peel my potatoes when my hands hurt. I never ate all so many baked potatoes in my life. I was in pain," she said. However, the judge said Hobbs had merely failed to adjust the sensitivity controls. November 1992 homeless couple Darrell
-In September 1992, homeless couple Darryl
See WEIRD. Page 10.
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