Fat mice aid research at Med Center
By DAN WINTER Staff Representer
Members of a special breed of native mice in New Zealand are laying down their lives in the name of research at the University of Auckland.
Staff Reporter
The mice, known in research circles as ob/ob mice, are being used in experiments at the Med Center to investigate possible mechanisms.
However, the researchers, Joe Kimmel and Tim Wahli, are not advertising the eventual results of their experiments as a
Staff Illustration by MILTON GRAY
The New Zealand mice are being used because they lack a bromine capable pancreatic polypeptide (PP), which in humans causes diabetes.
WITHOUT THIS hormone, endocrinologists Kimmel and Wahl think, the mice eat themselves into obesity, often leads to
If they do not die from overeating, the hungry mice sometimes are sacrificed for research purposes.
In their experiments, physicians Kimmel and Wahi replaced the pancreas of an ob/ob mouse with that of a breed of mouse whose pancreas secretes the hormone. As expected, the ob/ob mouse lost weight.
The digestive tracts of those mice with new pancreas glands were studied and it was found that the new PP caused their
The absence of PP in the mice and their reaction after they acquire the hormone "suggests that there may be hereditary forms of obesity in humans caused by a lack of PP," according to the doctors' research outline.
THESE OBSERVATIONS set Kirmel and Wahl to work. They petitioned to start research with humans.
Wahl deals mostly with the human subjects and compiles much of the data. Kimmel has worked with the hormone since he discovered it in 1968. The research with humans began in February.
The work with humans is well underway and Kimmel and Wahli expect to conduct final experiments during the first two months of 1979. Before their work is complete, they will have examined the 12 obese and six such individuals, not to mention the fat mice.
WHEN THE VOLUNTEER subjects arrive at the Med Center's Clinical Research Center, Wha draws the first of four blood samples.
The basic procedure followed with the human research subjects is simple:
The blood is drawn with a haemoperitoneal. The lock is a needle that works like a sippee to the arm of the subject need not be punctured.
Subjects are fed during the experiment because PP output is stimulated by the pressure of food in the stomach, especially after feeding.
The subject then sits down to a high-protein meal of mashed potatoes, broccoli, a dry damburger patty and a chocolate concoction made from dried egg whites and instant breakfast mix.
The amount of PF secreted is measured by blood samples taken during fasting and at 30, 60, 80, and 190-minute intervals after
Three types of obese subjects are being used in the research: those with a long family history of obesity, those who became obese during their adult years and those who are obese as a result of diabetes, a disease involving the pancreas.
The samples are taken at intervals because the doctors want to note the effects of the high protein food on the PP while the food is cooked.
plasma is separated from the red cells. The PP samples of the obese subjects are then measured in an effort to detect inflammation.
This could provide an answer to why detrically obese individuals are obese and how they became that way. Wahli said,
Another hypothesis Kimmel and Wahl are studying is that PP reacts with its neighboring hormones only. The stomach is near the pancreas and they think the absence of PP in some individuals may spur them to eat more than others and become obese.
"WE ARE NOT EXPECTING to find a cure for fat people." Wah said. "If we do, that will be great. This research will, if nothing else, shed much light on the function of this little-known hormone."
Kimmel said there had been much research with PP since he isolated it. He said most of that research deals with finding PPs in plants.
Wahi said he was investigating the effect of human Pp on other organs and in connection with other human disorders. He suggested that Pp might have something to do with causing cystic fibrosis in children and said he is planning further research into
Kimmel said he would probably work with PP the rest of his scientific life.
We'll study what parts of PP are useful or detrimental to all biological reactions." Kimmel said.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kirmel and Wahi are not expecting to find a wonder drug that will make all fat people thin. But they are aware that if there is a positive reaction with PP in fat mice, there could be the same reaction in fat humans.
KANSAN
The University of Kansas
Vol. 89, No. 9
Lawrence, Kansas
Thursday September 7,1978
By TOM RAMSTACK Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Construction of a fence around the south end of Memorial Stadium, which received strong student opposition during the past school year, should be completed by this time next year, Don Baker, KU sports information director, said yesterday.
"There is no doubt that we have plans to replace that fence." Baker said.
A new fence, which was estimated by buyer to cost $10,000 to $20,000, would be made at the rate of $500 per foot.
Original plans by the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation were for the
fence to be replaced during the nearly completed stadium renovation. The fence can also be part by a surcharge of $3 on season football tickets and 50 cents to $1 on single game tickets.
HOWEVER, IN November the Student Senate passed a resolution opposing some of the proposed uses for the surcharge, including the fence replacement.
Several student senators said the only reason KUAC board members wanted the game was to prevent spectators on Campanile Hill from watching football games for free. They
also said construction of the wall would be a significant and unwarranted expense to the company.
However, Baker said, "The Daily Kansan has been the worst offender of all in misinterpreting the purpose of that fence. It is a fence and not a wall, approximately the same size as the present one. It is not intended to block anyone's view."
He also said, "People didn't let facts get in the way of their logic."
CLYDE WALKER former KU athletic director who resigned May 24, was criticized in Kansan editors for supporting construction of a fence.
Replacement of the fence and other renovations criticized by the Senate, which were to be paid for by the ticket surcharge, were dropped in November. KUAC lowered its loan request to the KU Endowment Association from $2 million to $1.8 million.
"The Chancellor's office thought that we should just back off." Baker said. "We thought that in the interest of avoiding conflict with the student body and the Endowment Association we should just drop it."
Baker said that even if students had paid for replacement of the fence through a
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FCC ruling jeopardizes KJHK
Staff Reporter
By DAN BORN
University of Kansas administrators may have to scramble to keep the University's two FM radio stations
KU has until Nov. 15 to file comments with the Federal Communications Commission about a recent FCC "notice of proposed rule-making," which, if passed, would require KU to retaliate ownership of one of its FM stations.
KU owns KANU-FM and JJHK-FM. It would have to drop one of the stations if the proposed rule becomes law, Bruce Linton, KU director of radio, TV and film, said yesterday.
"And we know which one would go, (KJHK)," he said.
KANU is a full-power public sation; KJHK is a 10-attendant
public sation.
ANOTHER FCC STATEMENT, released in June, said,
"It has been argued that such low power operations represent a highly inefficient use of the limited spectrum space available for educational FM."
FCC rules against one-company ownership of more than one FM station are now new.
"FCC said a good number of years ago that it's not in the public interest for a company to own more than one AM, FM and TV station in one given market," Linton said. "But the rules of the rule, however, rule, they educated educational broadcasting stations."
The FCC proposal to extend the restriction to educational broadcasters came about because of the proliferation of
"Everybody wants to have a radio station," Linton said.
BAD DICK, ASSISTANT director of engineering at ANU and KIPKP-AM, said the University administration had been able to keep an end-to-end system running.
Mike Davis, University general counsel, was unavailable for comment on the possible content of the official drafted
Dale Gadle, faculty adviser for JKHJ—the station that stands to lose if the ruling goes through—and said the
University response to the FCC probably would emphasize KJH's benefits to the students on campus. Linton said the study suggested that the FCC should focus
Another new FCC ruling, one that is already law, also affects JIKH's operation. This ruling states that all 10-watt stations have to increase their power or move to another frequency by 1800, when the law goes into effect.
GADD SAID FUNDS were appropriated last year from student activity fees for a 1,000-word transmitter for KJHK
"If we end up losing the station it would be foolish to have this nice piece of equipment." Gadd said.
The picture is not all gloomy, though. A transfer of ownership of KJHE to the KU student body might be a challenge.
"We're not pushing the panic button," Phil Poulas, music director at JKH, said. "The FCC 'notice of proposed rulemaking has been discussed at staff meetings, he said, and 'It's not affecting our performance.'"
Wichita approves bill to grant KU ASK membership
The University of Kansas' drive to become a member of Associated Students of Kansas, a state lobbying group, cleared its first hurdle last night.
The KU membership drive has been spearheaded by Mike Harper, KU student body president. Harper first proposed the membership in July.
"ASK will gain a double benefit if KU joins," he said. "It will have the philosophical benefit of representing schools across Kansas and the actual benefit of input from KU's student body."
Eric Melgren, student body president at Wichita State, said the bill passed with only one dissenting vote.
The Wichita State University student senate last night voted to offer KU a 10-month provisional membership in ASK
Wichita State was the first school to vote on KU's proposed membership. The student senates of the five other member schools will vote this month. One dissenting vote will block KU's membership.
KU'S PROVISIONAL membership is subject to the approval of the student senates of all member schools and the legislative assembly of ASK.
The board of directors of ASK this summer passed a resolution recommending that KU be allowed a 10-month provisional membership with full voting rights for a reduced membership fee of $2,500.
All Regents universities, other than
ASK book page
Roy calls inflation dominant issue
RvTIMSHEEHY
Roy, with his wife and son, spent the majority of his time on the KU campus in meetings with students and faculty. However, he made a brief appearance to dedicate the new Democratic headquarters in Louisville's streets Street in downtown Lawrence.
Staff Reporter
Democratic senatorial candidate Bill Roy made a campaign stop yesterday in Lawrence to seek the support of local educators and students at the University of Kansas.
During his various stops, Roy reiterated his belief that inflation is the dominant concern of voters and will be the major issue in the campaign.
"Inflation is the foremost problem facing this state and the country," Roy said. "The situation here is enormous; the experience to knowledge to be effective against it. I think my years in the House demonstrate that I have the background, respect and experience to do."
ROY SAID the first thing he would propose to deal with inflation would be to freeze hiring of federal employees. He said the employment rate would be reduced to 2 *5 percent* by such action.
He said that in the course of sending five of his children through college he had felt the pinch of inflation. He said he doubted that a millionaire, like his opponent, Nancy
Roy also advocated freezing the salaries of federal employees who earn more than $100,000.
"Let the people in Washington feel the pinch of inflation and then something will happen."
Bill Roy
In the area of education, Roy said he favored removing education from the department of Health, Education and Development to separate department and cabinet position.
Landon Kassebaum, knew what effect inflation could have.
HE SAID that various educational programs were scattered throughout the federal government and that a separate organization should run them more effectively and efficiently.
Roy was asked by faculty and students whether he would support a tuition tax credit to aid middle income parents with children in college.
"I am susceptible to the idea of a tution tax credit, but I don't see as it will remove
the need for grant and loan programs as its advocates say." Roy said.
He said a tax credit would be preferable to a tax deduction but that government assistance programs still would be necessary.
Voters in the college student age from 18-25 had the lowest turnout rate of any population group in the nation in 1974, according to Roy.
ROY SAID that he expected those figures to match the same year or to go down sharply.
"Voters in this age bracket haven't put their economic and political perspectives in line yet," Roy said. "Those citizens who are older, more experienced, better or worse, are the most likely to vote."
Roy attacked Kasebaum's contention that parity for farm prices is an unrealistic goal. He said that farmers, like other businessmen, are entitled to equity.
"It makes no sense to sell wheat abroad at $2.50 a bushel when it is generally agreed it costs $3.00 a bushel to produce," Roy said. "An additional $2 million revenue from foreign sales could be realized if we sold at narrative prices."
Kasselaub, daughter of Alf Landon, a former governor of Kansas, has used her maiden name extensively in her primary campaign, but Roy discounted suggestions that her name would be an integral advantage.
"By the first two weeks of the campaign, 90 percent of Kansans will recognize both of our names." Roy said. "At that point names cease to be an advantage."
Roy and Kassambe are seeking the Senate seat being vacated by refiring Sen.
Wagon Train
Staff photo by ALAN ZLOTKY
Tucker Knowlton, 1641 Kentucky St., had his hands full while taking a friendly stroll down the street. Knowlton was baby sitting Locas and Orion Creamer twins, $5, as they
Cleaning improvements noted in spot inspection
By JIM BLOOM Staff Reporter
It was not a white glove test, but a spot housekeeping inspection was made last week in several University of Kansas buildings.
The inspection was conducted by Russell C. Mills, director of support services, and Robert J. Hirschman.
Operations. They toured Learned and Murphy halls, as well as parts of Wescow.
According to Mills, the main reason for the inspection was to see if improvements were being made in keeping the buildings clean each day. The other reason was to identify structural improvements that might be needed in the future.
"There was some improvement," Oroke
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