MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2002 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 7A KU Med treats elusive disease By Lindsay Hanson Kansan staff writer An estimated 250,000 Americans will die this year from severe sepsis, but most doctors can't identify or treat it. However, University of Kansas Medical Center doctors have been testing a new drug, Xigris, to combat the disease. Sepsis, by its simplest definition, is organ failure, said the Med Center's Steven Simpson. In severe cases it can be fatal. Simpson, a doctor and associate professor in the division of pulmonary and critical care, said sepsis is a condition caused by infections in a patient's bloodstream that can lead to organ shutdown throughout the body. It often develops in people who have procedures such as bone marrow, liver and heart transplant. Xigris is an activated form of the protein C. The body produces the protein under normal conditions, but stops when severe sepsis sets in. "It's one of the first drugs we've ever seen that has improved the mortality rate drastically," Simpson said of the 50 percent to 40 percent death rate that occurs in sensis cases. Simpson said the new drug would save one in five people who otherwise would die from sepsis. When Roy Cole, a Med Center technical support specialist, was admitted to the hospital for bacterial meningitis several months ago, his infection quickly triggered a severe sepsis reaction. Simpson diagnosed the disease quickly and administered Xigris within an hour of its development, saving Cole's life. "Mr. Cole is a lucky man." Simpson said. Cole said he didn't remember much of the recovery because he was in a coma for five days, but he did praise Simpson's quick work. "When you have good doctors, good medicine and a God who cares about you, you don't need luck," Cole said. Simpson said that because the Med Center saw so many critical-care patients, doctors there had more experience diagnosing sepsis than those in other hospitals. He also credited the Med Center's "It's one of the first drugs we've ever seen that has improved the mortality rate drastically." Steven Simpson Steven Simpson associate professor of pulmonary and critical care testing of Xigris with the drug's effective use. "We use it more here because we seem to be more comfortable usingit," he said. Pharmaceutical companies have funded testing for more than 20 different drugs to cure sepsis, but none have performed as well as Xigris has so far, Simpson said. "People have spent billions and billions of dollars trying to find something that will work, and this is the first thing they've found to work," he said. Contact Hanson at Ihanson @kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Samuelson and Amanda Sears. HUTCHINSON — It started out like any other morning at the Kansas State Fair, with vendors hawking their wares and competitors preparing prize livestock for judging. The Associated Press That quickly changed as word spread of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The happy faces of fairgoers were replaced by looks of gloom and despair. Many walked around almost in a trancelike state. Grandma's prize-winning apple butter was suddenly the last thing on anyone's mind. "Everybody was walking around staring, like, 'What can we do?'" Sonia Farthing, who supervises the food judging, recalled of the scene at the fairgrounds on Sept. 11, 2001. "Then it got dead. People had to get home to get to their TVs. The fair came second," she added. Denny Stoecklein, assistant fair manager, said some thought was given to closing the fair. But the idea was rejected. "We thought it was important State fair features patriotism to continue, celebrating living in this country, because the fair is a compilation of everything American." Stoecklein said. He said the 2001 edition ended with gross revenues down about $750,000 from the previous year, largely because of a 20 percent drop in attendance attributed to the attacks. This year, the fair is back to business as usual, but with patriotic overtones at almost every turn as the first anniversary of the attacks is observed Wednesday. In many ways, the fair is providing a diversion from talk of terrorism and rumors of war. Wednesday will be "Patriots Day." marked by a morning memorial service, a Red Cross blood drive and a display of emergency vehicles. "We want to let people see this equipment up close and see what they work with on a daily basis," Stoeckle said. Wednesday night The Charlie Daniels Band will perform. Even Wednesday's food contests will have a patriotic flair. At the Domestic Arts Building, "The fair came second." Sonia Farthing Kansas State Fair food judging supervisor Farthing talked about how she came up with the idea for a contest of patriotically themed cakes, cookies and similar items. Expected will be dozens of items in shapes of flags and cages and lots of red, white and blue icing and frosting. "I wanted to do something to acknowledge Sept. 11th," she said, noting that it was partly personal: "I have a friend in New York who worked at the World Trade towers. He was OK, but it took him three days to get home." Besides, she added, her husband is a police officer in their hometown of Valley Center. Farthing said in her culinary corner of the fair, things seem to be better this year. She said there are some 2,700 entries, double the previous year. "I think people are coming together," she said. "Things are going to be OK. We are sticking together." GET INVOLVED kansan.com News Now kansan.com The student newspaper of the University of Kansas get in touch with KU - Break the Fast at Kokoro (601 Kasold) **reservations required End your Yom Kippur Right with THREE Options for Break the Fast September 16 at 8:00 pm - Break the Fast at Naismith Hall Pizza and Pool Party!!! University of Kansas - Break the Fast at the Lawrence Jewish Community Center (917 Highland) Opportunity Check www.kuhillel.org for a full High Holiday service schedule. knocks 940 Mississippi • www.kuhillel.org • 749-JEWS (5397) every day. KANSAN classifieds Fired of spending your winter break with your family? Want to make a difference in your community? ALTERNATIVE BREAKS Applications are now being accepted for: Alternative Weekend Breaks-applications due ASAP Alternative Winter Breaks-applications due THIS WEEK! Come pick up an application at 428 Kansas Union or Visit our website at: www.ku.edu/~albreaks Men's KU Rugby Club The Kansas Men's Rugby Team is working off a winning season with a record of 15-2. A vigorous contact sport that demands all-round athleticism and conditioning. FITNESS & PHYSICALITY Last Years Accomplishments: -Big 12 Tournament, 3rd Place. -6 Heart of America All-Stars -Ozark Invitational Tournament, Champions. Men's practice: Tues & Thurs @ 6:30 pm Contact: The Rugby House, 843-2022 www.jayhawkrugby.com UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS RUGBY IS RECRUITING ALL LEVELS OF ATHLETICISM, COMMITMENT AND EXPERIENCE. Games and practices are held at Westwick Rugby Complex -Take Iowa south (Hwy 59) from campus, past Wal-Mart/Target, under K-10 overpass bridge and continue... -First road, south of the bridge, is Hwy458. Take a right onto Hwy 458 heading west. -Turn right into the Westwick Rugby Fields after approximately 2 miles. The fields are visible from Hwy 458. Lawrence Free Methodist Church 31st and Lawrence Ave. 842.2343 email: info@lfmchurch.org college/20's class at 9:15 am contemporary worship at 10:45 am Interpreter for hearing impaired available. Sundays check us out at www.lfmchurch.org SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART Student volunteers: Staff the Information Desk Give tours as docents Serve on committees Be up-to-date on museum activities and contribute to our public service. (Not to mention saving with the museum shop discount.) Volunteers average 6 hours per mont Call today to get involved with the Spencer Museum of Art! www.ukans.edu/~sma 684-4710 Be a part of the Spencer Museum's 25th year! Do something for yourself by helping someone else. Call the Roger Hill Volunteer Center at 865-5030 or check out the website at www.rhvc.org and start helping in the community today! United Way The Volunteer Center is a service of the United Way of Douglas County.