THE BATTALION
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 5. 1978
Page 4
Drug stimulates body
to control chronic pain
United Press International.
CHICAGO — Chicago Medical
School researchers say a treat
ment that stimulates the body’s
natural pain-killing powers may
relieve chronic pain, a major
problem for modern medicine.
Key to the treatment is a drug
called d-phenylalanine (DPA),
which is an effective stimulant to
enkephalins, the body’s natural
pain-killing chemical.
“This is a completely new
mechanism for dealing with pain,
but further studies are needed to
test its effectiveness,” said Dr.
Reuben Balagot, head of anes
thesiology at the medical school.
Balagot is conducting extensive
tests with Dr. Seymour Ehren-
preis, chief of pharmacology.
Treatment provided relief to
six of nine chronic pain sufferers
who experienced low back pain,
the effects of whiplash, muscle
inflamation, nerve damage and
osteoarthritis and were unable to
be freed from pain by any other
treatment, the researchers said.
Several of the patients con
tinued to be free from pain after
treatment was discontinued.
Pain returned but was milder for
the others, Balagot said.
In the experiment, DPA, a
synthetic amino acid, was given
to the patients in 200-milligram
capsules three or four times a day
for one to two weeks.
The drug blocks the activity of
two enzymes that break down
the body’s enkephalins. With the
two enzymes inactivated, pain
killing enkephalins manufac
tured by the body increase in
greater quantities and act to de
aden the pain, Balagot said.
“DPA completely knocked out
the painful headaches from whip
lash injuries and eliminated the
pain from osteoarthritis but did
not have much effect on rheuma
toid arthritis pain,” Balagot said.
But he added low back pain suf
ferers also experienced a marked
decline in discomfort.
DPA produced significant pain
reduction in 70 percent of 200
mice tested, he said. And when
the mice were given a combina
tion of DPA and aspirin, all ex
perienced a greater pain toler
ance.
Birth control vaccine?
United Press International
DENVER — A birth control vac
cine so effective that one shot a year
would prevent pregnancy could be
available within the decade, pre
dicts a researcher who has already
developed a vaccine that works on
baboons.
Dr. John M. Stewart, a
biochemist at the University of Col
orado Medical Center, said a vac
cine for men or women could be de
veloped in five to 10 years and the
vaccines would probably not involve
risks associated with birth control
pills.
The scientist said his colleague on
the project. Dr. Vernon C. Stevens
of Ohio State University, has used
vaccines based on Stewart’s formula
to prevent pregnancy in baboons.
One of the vaccines being re
searched woidd curb male potency
by interfering with sperm produc
tion, said Stewart, but it would not
reduce the sex drive.
He said another vaccine, for wo
men, would inhibit a hormone es
sential for development of the em
bryo.
One of the vaccines being
researched would curb
male potency by interfer
ing with sperm production,
said Stewart, but it would
not reduce the sex drive.
Built from amino acids, the basic
units of protein, the vaccine would
make women immune to their own
HCG, said Stewart. Embryos would
die within a few days of conception.
“The woman might have a de
layed menstruation, if she could de
tect anything at all.” said Stewart.
The vaccine for men would fol-
lowly roughly the same principles as
the vaccine for women, said
Stewart.
Sperm must mature before they
can fertilize eggs and a hormone
known as FSH helps them reach
maturity. Stewart and his colleagues
Built f r °”> mm
the basic units of p ,
the vaccine wouU
women immune t 0
HCG, said Stewin
believe a vaccine can snnrrt ■
notion of antibodies to^"
»
the antibodies g 0 to „
sperm will be im mature
weak to penetrate the eg*
FSH’i:
CAREER PLANNING &
PLACEMENT CENTER
10th floor, J. Earl Rudder Tower
ANNOUNCES
EFFECTIVE
September 11:
New Operating hours will be
from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday -
Friday.
“First Day Signs Ups” will be
changed from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30
p.m.
The hormone, human chorionic
gonadotropin, known as HCG, does
several things vital to maintaining
pregnancy. It causes production of a
chemical to keep the uterus healthy
and also coats the embryo. The coat
ing may chemically prevent the
/ j mother from rejecting the tiny or-
/ ganism as a foreign substance, said
'A Stewart.
Pageant contestants
now individualists
the
VA.RSITV
SHOP
United Press International
ATLANTIC CITY, N.I. — Miss
Pennsylvania's interested in parap
sychology, Miss Vermont’s on a
crusade for homosexual rights and
Miss Kansas is gearing up to run for
the presidency. But they all want to
be Miss America.
Fifty hopefuls Monday began a
hectic week of rehearsals, news con
ferences and briefings to prepare for
the annual pageant that will end
Saturday night with the selection of
America’s reigning beauty queen.
Miss America contenders are
usually accused of having the indi
viduality of a Barbie Doll, but this
year’s crop is different.
Miss Pennsylvania, Charmaine
Kowalski, 22, of State College,
wants to be a doctor who treats both
psychological and physiological
symptoms.
She also said Sunday she has
premonitions — in at least one
dream, she was crowned Miss
America, and in another she en-
Th
int
inc
P
visioned a room at the Hersb
ical Center. A few months!*
was in the same room.
"I couldn’t believe it, ba
are volumes of cases ofteln
dreams. We are coming doe
closer to breakthroughs inarai
were thought of as nonscirt
she said.
Miss Vermont, Lisa V.
20-year-old aspiring actmijl
Middlebury, wants morejj
for homosexuals.
"Some of my best friendiM
and I wouldn't think ofputtiisB
down. They are super people ■
Volkert said. “I think before■
put them down, they shouUt W e!
know some of them." perl' 1
Miss Kansas, Lori AnnEei* 11 ?
20, of Salina, said she wan!! ^
for president in 15 yean. B
Miss California, Christine®! 1
23, of Chula Vista, saidifii^B '
for the pageant she would le® 1 ^
employed. Proposition 13^®^
h
Bute
her job as a music-camp cod®?
HAIR CARE FOR GUYS & GALS X) r-fc 1 „ * __ * 1 _
^T?FrWFM' 1 ' ural training may be U
SfrJ™!* ^ solution to nurse shortage!^
846-7401
m
4*
United Frets International
STEPHENV ILLE— Rural hospi
tals in the state have traditionally
found it difficult to attract and keep
registered nurses — especially
urban nurses accustomed to the
night life and cultural attractions of
big cities.
But the solution to the dilemma,
says a Tarleton State University offi
cial, is simple: if nurses are trained
in a rural environment, they are
much less likely to leave for work at
a city hospital.
Dr. Lamar Johanson, head of
Tarleton s Biological Science de
partment, said Our premise was
simple. We felt if you took nursing
students out of a rural area and
trained them in one, the chances
would be good they’d stay in a rural
area. From what we’ve seen so far,
the idea is working.”
The University offers an associate
nursing degree as part of a two-year
program. Of its first graduating class
this spring, 83 percent of the nurses
went to work in rural Texas hospi
tals.
The only reason we got into the
nursing business in the first place
was because so many small country
hospitals needed RNs,’ said Johan
son.
He also reports doctors have been
enthusiastic about the program,
aimed at filling the nursing needs of
rural Texas hospitals.
We ve gotten 100 percent sup-
shortage
spo
cm.
the
port from the medical teamsmM
area, said Johanson, noteWSd
really need the nurses.” mini
He said another key fact! ttock
program is limiting class: |lise;
nurse trainees get more ind; awrill]
attention. fdiar
Christine Bonds, assistantHnsi
ing professor at TSU, saidHR!
small classes are what studeit' som
to like best about the prograiffl(stre
really like the individual it* |p>
they’re able to get here.
She was formerly dean (fa
at the University of Tens!
Paso.
"Individualized attention!
portant to any nursing prop
she said. “We try to haveatj
ratio of at least one professoij
students.”
In addition to classroom i
tion, the nursing students i
part of their training at seven#
tals — located at Waco, Step
ville, Clifton, Ranger, Weatlej
Mineral Wells and Brownvft’C|
“Studets drive to one oftk^
hospitals,” said Johanson. M
dent nurse may live in WeatWj
and halve to commute to tne *
an’s Hospital in Waco twot
week.
“We know our students art
cated. Who else would
four hours to a hospital, ' vor * l J
hours, and then drive nomq
begin studying for the nest ®|
classes?”
Dormitory room telephones are
telephone service.
restricted to local
If you want to add long distance calling privileges to
your room telephone you should sign up at our desk in
the lobby of the Memorial Student Center, Wednes
day, August 30, through Friday, September 15
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
When requesting this service, please remember:
1. Bring your roommate when signing up—one
student must be designated account manager to
be responsible for paying your account.
If you should change rooms, notify our office so
we can change your account. If unchanged, you
will be responsible for long distance calls made
from your telephone.
No deposit is required unless past paying habits
warrant a deposit.
If you have other questions, stop at our desk.
G£Q
2.
3.
SC ,
craft
shop
Registration for our Fall Craft Workshops
begin Sept. 11 at 10:00 a.m. at the MSC
Craft Shop, and will continue until iho 1 '
vidua! classes fill. We’re located In tm
MSC basement, so why not come down stw
see us.
CROCHET NEEDLEPOINT
DRAWING WATERCOLOR
BATIK SILKSCREENING
RAKU SPINNING
POTTERY CHINA PAINTING
MACRAME LACE DRAPING
QUILTING decoupage
LATHE STAINED GLASS
BASKETS QUILLING
UKRANIAN EGG PAINTING
NOMAD FURNITURE
SILVER JEWELRY CONSTRUCTION
CAKE DECORATING
FRAMING AND MATTING
ANTIQUE REFINISHING
For more info call us at ftdS-163h