University Daily Kansan, September 22, 1983 Page 7 Pollen worsens hay fever pain By MATTHEW HARRISON Staff Reporter Lawrence's unusually dry summer postponed the fall hay fever season, but increased pollen levels in the past two years have caused farmers running for their medicine coffees. Ronald E. Weiner, a Lawrence physician specializing in asthma and allergies, said yesterday that Lawson's hospital was around 500 since the first of September. A pollen count higher than 300 will cause mild symptoms in most hay fever sufferers, he said. But when the count reaches 1,000 or higher, Weiner said, nearly all hay fever sufferers are affected. After the first hard freeze, the pollen count drops below 100. HAY FEVER AFFECTS an estimated 10 percent of the population, and although some new medications are available to leave the symptoms, no cure is available. People with hay fever are born wit- the problem, Weiner said. Common symptoms include a sore, runny nose; or exasperated breathing problems. Weiner said that some people inherit a tendency to overproduce specific proteins in the body called IgE antibodies, he said. The IgE antibodies overreact, or are hypersensitive, to specific elements in the environment, called allergens, and cause a variety of symptoms associated with hay fever. "What you are going to become allergic to is totally based upon the environment you are exposed to," Weiner said. "If you are in an environment that you are not used to, and your IgE doesn't have anything to react with, evolve gradually into reacting with something in your new environment." James P. Walker, a physician at Watkins Hospital, said that he had noticed an increase in the past two weeks of students walking into Watkins suffering from allergies — especially students new to the Lawrence area. "IF SOMEONE COMES in with a runny nose and it is not anything that they can fight him with antihistamines," Walker said. Antihistamines prevent the release of the chemical protein histamine into the body. Histamine is released by cells in contact with foreign matter, and come in contact with a foreign allergen. The histamine protein causes the characteristic swelling of the skin around the eyes and sinuses that is common to allergy sufferers. Histaria also be released when the hypersensitive IgB protein joins with the allergen. Walker said that six varieties of antihistamine nose sprays were available, however only one could be purchased over-the-counter. All antihistamines sold without a prescription contain essentially the same formula. Walker said haye fever sufferers should see a physician to try the other five antihistamines, because "different antihistamines are different antihistamines in different ways." NOSE SPRAYS SHOULD not be used more than twice a day or more than five days straight, Walker said. Otherwise, a person will have what is known as a "rebound effect," or a worsening of his allergic condition. Weiner said that many allergists think that allergy sufferers might be better able to fend off disease-causing organisms because their immune system is being at such a high level. However, he said, the theory has never been proved. "A person might be able to fight off a malignancy or an infection, because of their cranked-up immune system," he said. At present, the only treatment that resembles a cure for hay fever is allergy injections that are given at alta or biview intervals, Weiner said. The injections are composed of small amounts of the specific reactive allergen. The dosage is gradually increased as over time. By flooding the body with excess allergen, allergy shots decrease the amount of hypersensitive IgE produced in the body and increase the body's Blocking IgG slows the body's immune response by not allowing hypersensitive IgE proteins to join with their respective allergens. production of another protein in the body called blocking IgG. ALLERGY SHOTS ALLEVIATE symptoms for people allergic to such airborne substances as dust or pollen. But the shots do not help people who are allergic to animal dandruff, Weiner said. Sandra Hadl, a registered nurse who works in the allergy clinic at Watkins Hospital, regularly gives allergy shots to children and adults. An assistant must bring in his allergy extract. The allergy extract is derived by an allergy specialist who conducts a series of tests on a patient to determine what the patient's particular allergen is, Hadl said. ALTHOUGH WATKINS HOSPITAL does not administer the allergy test, the shots can be administered to students on an application, if the student brings in their extracts. Two new products offered to hay fever sufferers are sodium chromium nose sprays and steroid inhalers, Weiner said. Essentially, sodium chromium nose sprays coat the mast cells in the nose and prevent them from releasing histamine. But once an initial response is initiated, sodium nose spray is ineffective. It must be used before the first exposure, he said. Weiner said that steroids have been taken orally for years for asthma relief. The new steroid nose sprays stabilize the mast cells in the nose and prevent them from bursting and releasing histamine. Walker said that he did prescribe the steroid inhalers to students, but cautions them that they are to be used for only a short period of time. WEINER RECOMMENDS THAT a person change the air filter in his home air conditioner at least once a month. Walker recommended that students stay indoors between 5 and 8 a.m. which is the optimum time for airborne ragweed pollen. By PETE WICKLUND Staff Reporter Chairman cites unreceptiveness Ashner's administration criticized The chairman of the Student Senate Services Committee last night criticized the administration of Student Services for its unreceptive to the needs of students. Staff Reporter Charles Lawnh, Kansas City, Kan., senior, made the charges after last night's Senate meeting, at which members of the Student Rights Association (affiliate) ratification protested proposed changes to the Senate Rules and Regulations. But Jim Cramer, student body vice president under Ashner, said he did not agree with Lawhorn's remarks. Lawhorn last night that he was considering running for student body president. "There have been members of the Senate in the past that have used and abused the press to promote their own interests," he said. " THE DECLARATION, DRAWN up by Lawhorn, who is also a member of the rights committee, states that a Senate ad hoc committee that worked on the changes this summer did not go through proper channels when introducing the changes to the Senate. The declaration states that the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by Ashner last spring should have submitted the changes to a standing committee of the Senate as stipulated by the present Senate Rules. However, members of the committee have pointed to another rule that says that ad hoc committees are not to introduce legislation to the Senate. The rights-committee members have asked that review of the rules changes, which are one-third complete, should be halted. The committees should make proposals before the Senate continues to vote on approving the legislation. Lawhorn said the legislation was being slipped through the Senate without any consideration for student opinions. "I THINK IT'S very important this legislation goes through the Rights Committee because the more student input you have in these changes the more healthier the legislation would be," Lawhorn said. "Right now there are students out there that don't even know what's on going." Jim Cramer, student body vice president, said that sending the changes to the rights committee was an unnecessary step because it would add to bureaucracy. He said students should be given the power to their opinions about the proposed changes at Senate meetings, which are open to the public. Changes in Articles I-III were tentatively approved by the Senate on Sept. 6. Voting on changes in the articles is scheduled to begin on Oct. 5. Article VI, dealing with committee structure, is of concern to several senators. The proposed changes outfit a number of present committees in half. U.S. and China near nuclear accord By United Press International PEKING — The United States and China are close to an accord on nuclear cooperation but the final agreement is not expected to be reached at negotiations now under way in Pekin, sources said yesterday. The two sides ended a second day of talks and one source said they were "down to the drafting" stage, discussing the language of an agreement U.S. companies to sell nuclear technology to China for the first time. But the sources cautioned that it was unlikely that the agreement would be completed at this round of talks, which end tomorrow. agreement ready for signing when Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian visits Washington next month, but the sources said that also appeared unlit. WU LEFT YESTERDAY for New York, where he will address the U.N. General Assembly before flying to Canada for a six-day official visit. He will visit Washington Oct. 10-15 and meet with Secretary of State George Shultz and, most probably, with President Reagan, diplomatic sources said. In an interview with the English-language Peking newspaper China Daily, Wu described his visit as an indication that strained U.S.-China relations had improved because of recent measures adopted by Washington. The two sides had hoped to have an One such measure, cited by Wu in an Half price for KU Students Once is not enough! The University of Kansas Chamber Music Series opens the 1983-84 Season with the Guarneri String Quartet —in its 9th straight season. 3:30 p.m. m. Sunday, September 25 Crafton-Preyer Theatre Murphy Hall Arnold Steinhardt, Violin David Soyer, Cello John Dalley, Violin Michael Tree, Viola Program Haydn Haydn Quartet in C major, Op. 74, No. 1 Hindemith Quartet no. 3, Op. 22 (1921) Schubert Quartet in D minor, Opus Pothamous D. 810, "Death and the Maiden" Tickets on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office. All seats reserved for /Reservations, call 913-864-3982. Public: $10 and $8; KU students with ID*5 and $4; senior学生 and other students: $9 and $7 *KU students must show a valid ID at the time of purchase and at the door on the day of performance. Partially funded by the KU Student Activity Fund. KU Endowment Association and the Sawarthun Society You're Needed All Over the World. Ask Peace Corps volunteers with degrees in Civil Engineering why they travel half way around the globe to Africa and Asia. . . why they work with water, sanitation, road construction, and structural projects overseas. They'll probably say they want to help people, use their skills, learn a new language, and gain valuable career experience. Ask why Peace Corps is the toughest job you'll ever love. Sign up for interview and pick up an application now: PLACEMENT OFFICE, CARRUTH-O'LEARY Wed. & Thurs., Oct. 5 & 6 CIVIL ENGINEERS . . . PEACE CORPS Relations also have been smoothed by progress in the nuclear talks the Chinese are conducting with a 10-member delegation led by Richard Kennedy, President Reagan's special ambassador for nuclear affairs. A Chinese spokesman told reporters that the Peking kings 'an early agreement can be reached.' It doesn't take a lot of paperwork to get into college. interview with American reporters last week, was the Reagan administration's decision to relax restrictions on the sale of high technology to China, a subject that Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger will explore with Chinese leaders when he visits Peking next week. Call 1-800-CHFCK-NOW (1-800-243-5669) If you want to examine the Tomorrow Student Loan $ ^{ \mathrm{M}}$ more closely, either give us a call, or contact your financial aid office. Our loan representatives are on the line Monday through Friday. Call now.And find out how to apply for the loan that's easy to get today.And easy to live with tomorrow. So you can spend your time preparing for school. Not filling out endless forms. When your loan is approved we will offer you a free Tomorrow Checking $ ^{\text{SM}}$ Account. There's no minimum balance and you earn $ 5 \frac {1}{4} \% $ interest. Plus you get the benefit of our network of ATM Tomorrow Tellers. $ ^{\text{SM}} $ FSLAC Now getting into college doesn't have to be a grind, American Savings has done everything to cut the paperwork and the questions down to size. American's Tomorrow Student Loan is the best plan for today. Boys Dolls-Antiques Class Rings Buy-Sell-Trade Gold-Silver-Coins 731 Antiques-Watches New Hampshire Laurence, Kansas 66044 913-842-8773 Boyds Coins-Antique comprehensive health associates - free pregnancy testing * * concludes abortion service * * alternates counseling * referral * pregnancy * contraception PHIL'S EASTSIDE TAVERN" COLD COOPS ON TAP 10 A.M. 12 P.M. Come Try Our Homemade Burtis Mexican Music On Jukebox 900 Pennsylvania 843-9681 FUN & GAMES D&D 1002 Mass. HOLLY NEAR & RONNIE GILBERT IN CONCERT TOGETHER Eelebrating the release of their new album WITH Jeff Langley Susan Freundlich PIANO SIGN LANGUAGE ARTIST 1 September 24 * 8 p.m. The Music Hall 301 W. 30th Street, Kansas City, MO Ticket $12, $10. $9 $Discount-18 (12 & under) SRS (6 & over) Available at all DALC ATLACIES (816) 753-6617, New Earth Bookstore, 2 W 39 St, WK 6, MCO 46114 order w/MSK4, Spinsters Bookstore, 110);/ orders w/MSK4, Childrens Bookstore, 816) 931-5794 Presented by Redwood Records & Great American Music Hall in an association with Willow Ponds.