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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1978)
: '' ! ■ s? ■ i . THE BATTALION THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1978 Page 3 § Drug studies conducted Russian flu aid sought AM k Ha, By TRICIA BR UNHART i influenza drug study is being conducted at Texas A&M University to determine whether one or both of two drugs will prevent an outbreak of the Russian flu, said Dr. John M. [Quarles Jr., assistant professor in the College of Medicine at Texas A<NM. he dmgs amantadine and riman- ine are being studied. Amantadine is a commercial drug recommended for prevention of the Russian flu in persons at a high risk l|yel for severe diseases. ■Rimantadine is a related but still experimental drug reported to be more effective than amantadine. ■ One reason for conducting the re search, Quarles said, is that the Russian flu tends to hit the 18-24 iage group that is prevalent on col lege campuses. I Another reason is that the Russian flu tends to go around a little later in the flu season, which usually ends in early March, Quarles said. | The study was expected to be Jme next year, but the Russian flu has become more important this ear nationwide, he said. A “double blind technique is ;ing used in the distribution of the ugs to the volunteers, Quarles A record is kept, but the per- who give out the drugs do not Know whether the volunteers are getting one of the drugs or a Bacebo, which contains no drug. I This is done to insure objectivity, id Quarles. If a person knows he is king a drug, he is more likley to jxaggerate any illness symptoms d if he knows he is not taking a Jrug he is more likely to overlook ^ny symptoms. I The drugs work differently from ®\ influenza vaccine, Quarles said. | After taking a vaccine, the body Judds antibodies against the disease I and they will continue to be effec tive for a certain length of time. A drug, however, only helps you hen you are taking it. This is bene- icial when you are expecting an Epidemic, he said, for after 24 hours pi taking the drug, you are believed otected and with continued use main protected from flu infection. The volunteers are asked to take a capsule in the morning and one at night, said Qaurles. If they get sick, they go to Beutel Health Center and usually Dr. Claude Goswick, head of the center, talks with them. Goswick estimates that approxi mately 50 people in the program have gotten sick. People have come in to be checked for illness, but it takes two weeks to be sure if they have the Russian flu, said Quarles. If the symptoms are due to the medicine, the capsules will be stopped. The participants are also required to give three blood samples: one at the beginning, after six weeks in the study, and two weeks after that. They will also be questioned about any symptoms they experience, he said. They are required to report weekly for six weeks to keep a rec ord of their symptoms and how reg- ularly they take the capsules. The volunteers are paid for their participation, Quarles said. They receive $5 for each blood sample, $2 for each of the six weekly reports filed, and $2 for an illness report if they get sick. Most participants should get about $30, Quarles said. There are sometimes side effects with these drugs, Quarles said, and these include confusion, anxiety, depression, drowsiness, inability to sleep, shaking, jerky movements, dizziness or an upset stomach. A person can quit the program any time he wants to, he added. Quarles is restricted from giving out the names of the volunteers be cause of a clause in the consent form, yet one Corps members said he participated because others were doing it and volunteers were needed. There are between 450 and 470 people participating in the study which began March 2 and is ex pected to run until the end of April. The Department of Philosophy of Texas A&M University Presents Professor Richard Zaner Southern Methodist University The final results will be out some time in May, Quarles said. He speculated that the drugs are not causing any problems, though a small number of people have drop ped out. The research is funded through the National Institute of Health. It is a three-part effort involving Dr. Robert Couch, director of the In fluenza Research Center at the Baylor College of Medine, Goswick, and Quarles. CAREER SALES Excellent future for responsible sales-orlented Individual who enjoys active contact with public. For per manent resident only, no travel. Ex penses paid at home office training school plus training locally. Position offers stable career with substantial income and managerial opportunity. Call Frank Novak At 846-2426 or 693-8754 STEREO CLEARANCE HOUSE HAS LOWEST STEREO PRICES CHINA RESTAURANT 803 S. Main/Bryan wfll be closed for a few days due to an illness in the family. 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