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Thursday, May 3, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Prof warns about overpopulation
By Curtis Knapp
Kansan staff writer
KU professor Helen Alexander discusses population growth and projections for the 21st centurv.
increased awareness of world overpopulation is necessary to help solve the problem, an assistant professor of botany, systematics and ecology said yesterday at University Forum.
Helen Alexander, who has researched the subject, spoke about the population problem to about 40 people at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
"I don't think I have the solution," she said. "I think these issues are all very tricky."
Alexander said population growth was almost non-existent, 8,000 years ago because living conditions were much more difficult.
"There is some thought that even at that point human numbers were already starting to influence their environment," Alexander said. "And I think the bottom line of it is we're not as much emotion about individuals as the influence of individuals on the environment."
She said at that time, the development of agricultural society gradually increased the population. Death rates and birth rates were increasing.
After World War II, improved education, living conditions and better medical technology affected population growth.
"If you look at population growth of the world as a whole, . . . it's primarily growth in the Third World countries," she said.
She said population control policies were difficult to implement because
Alexander said forcing Third World countries to use birth control often conflicted with cultural, social and religious values.
it took a long time to see the effects. She referred to the policy of trying to limit the number of children a family could have.
Incentives for people to have fewer children are not successful, she said, but "because we do not adversely affecting families that already have many children.
She said that although U.S. population growth had stabilized, citizens needed to maintain a concern for the countries where growth had not stabilized.
She cited statistics showing that a baby born in the United States consumed the equivalent of two babies born in Sweden, 15 in Brazi, 140 in
Bangladesh and 280 in Chad.
Pau Gump, professor of psychology, said after the speech that he thought the population problem was scary.
"I think it'a worldwide problem," he said. "As Americans we really ought to support the worldwide solutions."
Drug shows potential in treating brain tumors
Flusol improves effectiveness of chemotherapy, survival rate
By Steve Bailey
By Steve Bailey Kansan staff writer
A drug under study at the University of Kansas Medical Center has shown signs of increasing the life of some patients suffering from cancerous brain tumors.
"Less than 10 percent of patients with high grade cancerous tumors of the brain survive more than two years," he said. "With this treatment, we have had five patients survive more than two years and four that are still alive and well."
Richard Evans, chairman of Radiation Oncology, developed the study that showed that treatment increased the amount of time a person lived.
The study, which began in 1887, uses a blood substitute called Flusso, to help blood carry oxygen throughout the body, said Rosemary Hope, spokesman for the Med Center.
Tumor cells contain less oxygen than healthy cells, making the poorly oxygenated cells less receptive to radiation. Evans said cells that were poorly oxygenated were about three times more resistant to radiation treatment than healthy cells.
"By increasing the level of oxygen in the cancerous cells, we can increase their vulnerability to radiation therapy," he said. "Flosol, a coating agent, activates an oxygen carrier to the tumor cells in the brain."
In February 1987, the Food and Drug Administration gave approval for Med Center researchers to test the use of Fluosol.
Evans said that the Med Center was the first institution to test Flusol for this purpose.
"Since the program began we have treated 32 patients," Evans said.
Evans said he was extremely pleased with the results of the Med Center testing.
"Other institutions have since conducted studies, and I am expecting to receive the results of their tests so I can write a paper for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology."
Radiation therapy for the treatment consists of an injection of Fluosol, followed by about 45 minutes of 100 percent oxygen administered by face mask. The patient receives radiation treatment while continuing to breathe through the mask.
Evans said that the treatment had not produced negative side effects in the Med Center patients.
Malpractice fears eased by decrease in insurance rates
By Chris Siron
Kansan staff writer
Lower medical malpractice rates will help Kansas attract and retain doctors, state insurance officials said yesterday.
Ron Todd, assistant director of the Kansas Insurance Department, said the department had approved rate decreases averaging 20.9 percent for the St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.
St. Paul, which is the nation's largest medical malpractice insurer, insures about 40 percent of doctors against malpractice.
Todd said he expected the department to announce a 12 percent rate reduction for the Medical Protective Co., which insures another 40 percent of Kansas doctors. A separate 8 percent reduction is expected for hospitals owned by the PHICO Insurance Co.
Fletcher Bell, commissioner of the department, said yesterday that the lower rates would help improve the quality of Kansas medical care.
"Doctors do their best to avoid states with high premiums," he said. "If we can keep our rates down, we can keep our quality up."
The rate decreases will go into
effect July 1, Todd said.
Beth Hamel, St. Paul spokesman, said an analysis of insurance claims for the state and the country decrease in malpractice claims.
The lighter case load has counteracted the expensive trend of larger awards in malpractice suits, she said.
St. Paul's rate decreases could reduce some Kanaas doctors' premiums by as much as one-third, she said. Doctors malpractice premiums vary widely depending on their field of practice.
Todd said he expected other malpractice insurance companies to make similar rate reductions to remain competitive.
Doctors and hospitals also will see reductions in rates for the Health Care Stabilization Fund, a state-supported malpractice insurance program issued by the State Department decrease will not be known until next week.
The fund's rates are assessed according to the premiums each doctor pays for insurance from a private company, he said. Doctors are required to carry at least $200,000 in insurance from a private company. When private companies reduce their insurance rates, it decreases doctors' financial obligations to the fund.
Sex priestess calls it religious experience
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — A self-proclaimed priestess who bedded down with her followers says she first asked for proof — in cash or other tokens of sacrifice — that they viewed sex as a religious experience.
Mary Ellen Tracy, known to her flock as Sabina Arnae, testified in federal court yesterday in her lawsuits accusing city officials of violating her religious freedom in pursuing prostitution charges against her.
Tracy and her husband, Wilbur, have been convicted of prostitution and running a brothel.
Boeckman said the couple used their Church of the Most High Goddess as a front for prostitution.
Assistant City Attorney Bryon R.
Tracy said initiates needed to confess and perform oral sex on her before they could be considered for purification. Before intercourse, sacraments were required for their valuables were required to show dedication to the church, she said.
She told Judge William Byrne on Tuesday that she collected about $50,000 in donations in three years but that she did not keep records on followers beyond their first names and telephone numbers.