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Friday, March 1. 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Study may clear air for asthmatics
Researchers hope drug proves safe
By Teresa Veazey Kansan staff writer
Breathing a sigh of relief is easy for most KU students.
But for one in 12 students who has mild to moderate asthma, just breathing can be difficult, said Charles Yockey, Watkins Memorial Health Center physician.
Castleman said that through the end of March she would be looking for people who had mild to moderate asthma to participate.
A study at the University of Kansas Medical Center is examining asthma sufferers, said Tracey Castleman, registered nurse and the study's coordinator.
The year-long study involves a drug taken orally twice a day that decreases inflammation in the lungs. For people with asthma,
inflammation is what causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, Castleman said.
"We found out that inflammation was caused by chemical mediators in the body," she said. "This drug blocks the release of some of those mediators."
This study, under the division of allergy and immunology at the Med Center, differs from other asthma studies because the medicine is used to decrease inflammation before an asthma attack, said Alex Martinez, a physician who helps coordinate the study. Most of the time, treating asthma means opening up the airwaves with medication, but only after the attack has happened.
"Because it's a chronic condition, you need to take medication on a regular basis," he said. "We try to get them on preventive medicine rather than treating them after an attack."
Requirements for the study
KU students who want to participate in the study must be nonsmok-
participants must be nonsmokers
participants can not be taking oral or inhaled steroids
control if sexually active
females must be using birth
females must be using birth control if sexually active
ers and must not take oral or inhaled steroids. Females must be using birth control if they are sexually active.
Participants will be paid $440 for completing the study, Castleman said.
Researchers wanted to eliminate as many variables that would affect the outcome of the study, which is why they requested nonsmokers, Yockey said.
"If you smoke, you can't have true asthma," he said. "What smokers have is asthmatic bronchitis, and if
Participants will make 11 visits to the Med Center during the yearlong study and will be paid $440 for completing the study. For more information call Tracey Castie-man, study coordinator, at (913) 588-3965.
they stop, it will go away."
The drug involved in the study has existed for 15 years, and Castleman said the only side effects had been headaches and some nausea. By completing this study, Med Center researchers will be able to provide more information to the drug's manufacturer about its effects so that it can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
"This will give them better data," she said. "It's better the more patients who you can show that it works and is safe."
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ON CAMPUS
Your University Daily Kansan
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Recovery Medicine Wheel Support Group will meet at 3:30 p.m. today at the Multicultural Resource Center. For more information, call Samantha at 842-4797.
Le Cercle Francais will attend the showing of an Interview with Jean Paul Sartre at 2 p.m. tomorrow at 3139 Wescoe. For more information, call Sarah Pethan at 865-0696.
The Art and Design Gallery will sponsor a show of paintings, sculptures and assemblages by Nick Vaccaro, professor of art, from Sunday to
March 15. For more information, call Chris Fasano at 864-5501.
KU Dance Club will have a lesson at 2 p.m.Sunday at the Kansas Union Ballroom. For more information, call Sonia Ratzlaff at 864-1580.
Lawrence Jewish Community Center and Hiliel Foundation will sponsor The Holocaust: American Jewish Consciousness, a speech by author Blu Greenberg, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call David Gottleib at 841-7876.
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $90. Student subscriptions are paid through the student activity fee.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan.66045.
TODAYS TEMPS
Weather
Atlanta Chicago Des Moines, Iowa Kansas City, Mo. Lawrence Los Angeles New York Omaha, Neb. St. Louis Seattle Topeka Tulsa, Okla. Wichita
N I G N    L O W
41 ° • 34 °
33 ° • 13 °
37 ° • 16 °
48 ° • 19 °
47 ° • 16 °
60 ° • 42 °
36 ° • 22 °
43 ° • 14 °
46 ° • 33 °
55 ° • 20 °
45 ° • 20 °
44 ° • 25 °
50 ° • 20 °
Source: Augustus A. Piazza, KU Weather Service
Tickets for KU choir now on sale
KU choirs' musical extravaganza,
The Joy of Singing, is a concert featuring KU Chamber Choir and Oread Consort, Gospel Voices, Southwest Junior High School Choir, the Lawrence High School Male Choir and Women's Chorale and the Lawrence Motet Singers. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on March 10 at the Lied Center. Tickets are available at Murphy Hall, Lied Center and Student Union Activities Office. All seats are $4. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for phone orders.
Foreign scholarships available
The Office of International Student Services, 2 Strong Hall, will award 10 scholarships, ranging from $300 to $1,000 per semester, to international students at KU for Fall 1996 and spring semester 1997. The
application deadline is at 5 p.m. Friday, April 5. Any international students who meet the office's criteria may apply for the scholarship. For more information, call International Student Services at 864-3617.
Crimson Crew plans interviews
The Kansas football office is preparing to interview for the 1996- 97 Crimson Crew. Members will help give tours of the athletic facilities during home football games, and will be assigned other recruiting duties. Students who are interested should call 864-3393.