age 2 local Battalion/Page 3 February 18, 1982 , Sick students wanted as test guinea pigs irle Health Center studying new flu drug by Cyndy Davis Battalion Staff ■ If you have the flu, the A.P. Beutel Health Center wants you. And will pay you for it. I Students with the flu are Ring paid to participate in a Rudy involving ribavirin, a drug ; that doctors hope will be effec- I live against all strains of influen za virus. ■ Influenza viruses are found iQ two types, “A” and “B.” With in each type, numerous new grains are discovered each year. Rhen two different strains of flu virus are found in an organ- [ism, they can mix and produce new strains. Last year’s flu study indicated at ribavirin was effective in curing and helping patients with most Type A flu viruses. Be cause most cases coming in this year are Type B, the study is focusing on that type, said Dr. John M. Quarles, professor of iflicrobiology and immunology at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. ■ Ribavirin is in its last stages of required human testing before being licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. “We are looking for some thing in a drug that works over a broad spectrum of influenza viruses,” Quarles said. “We want something that ignores the differences in the strains and attacks all flu viruses.” The Texas A&M study, part of a series of studies conducted on influenza in the past six years, is headed by Dr. Wayne Knight, chairman of the micro biology department at the Baylor College of Medicine. The only requirements for the study are sickness and time. When a student comes into the health center with a cold, he is referred to the Cold Clinic, where a nurse examines him for flu-like symptoms. If symptoms are found, the patient sees a doc tor, who explains the study to him and asks if he would like to participate. The student then signs a consent form and checks into the health center for at least 72 hours. Ribavirin is inhaled by a pa tient at two-to-four hour inter vals for 12 hours a day. Inhaled drugs reach the respiratory sys tem quicker than drugs taken by mouth, Dr. Roberts Atmar, a re search fellow in the program, said. Inhaled drugs also are more effective because the liver absorbs 90 percent of medica tion taken by mouth. Some students in the study- are given ribavarin, and others are treated with the traditional flu care methods of fluids and rest. Subjects of the study are not told whether or not they are being given ribavirin. After being released from the hospital, students return to the health center for a check-up, and again in three weeks after the test. Students who participate in the study are paid $72 for three days in the hospital and $20 for each follow-up visit. The study started Jan. 19 when the first flu patient was admitted and probably will last until spring break, Quarles said. As of Wednesday, 12 students had taken part in the study, he said. The study is funded by Council approves funding —for Magna Carta exhibit ig? Coni ■tainlyiul 11 by Jean Kiser Battalion Reporter ■ The College Station City Round! voted in a special work- Rop session Wednesday to give A/the Magna Carta Committee "lOW,DO 0 to ^ ie *P P a y ^ ie $15,692 “^^'leeded to bring the document to campus. R Committee Chairman Wayne $tark said he was pleased with ithe council’s decision, although (her-i ‘.only $2,000 of the $4,000 re- et radio Rested was approved. 'ewithvj council’s contribution Rme from the Hotel-Motel Jund, which is derived from lixes on hotel and motel rooms in the city. The revenue is di- -■ vided between the city and the atollhesbjtateand is used by both entities id to lb® promote tourism and artistic hen rebrand cultural activities at the state rs r and local levels, oleersbl "I didn’t feel that it was a mil worthwhile project for the ^ Sa * s EHSS3S3 1JSherwood Ultrolinear DISCWASHER JET SOUNDS MniONeerr Or!) PIONEER SX-4 Receiver Includes 6 Preset Stations 20 watts/channel, 20- 20,000 Hz, no more than .04% T.H.D. C^piONEen pl-2 DC Servo Motor Coaxial Suspension Auto Arm Return Semi-Automatic Belt-Drive Turntable $0095 it ay-T»v-3Q Metal Tape Cassette Deck Peak-reading LED bar graph metering system. Three- position Bias/EQ selector with metal tape capability. Optional timer unit for auto matic recording or playback. Independent input level con trols. $ $210.00 I39 ,s Acculab 440-A 12-Inch 4-Way Speakers Frequency response 30-30,000 ± 4dB Excellent frequency re sponse with a 5-year warranty! s 149 95 each <&TDK, AD-C90 Cassette Tapes 90 Minute Blank Tapes 3806-A Old College Rd. (Next to Triangle Bowl) 846-5803 CUSTOM SOUNDS "The Great Stereo Store Hunt is on I" Layaways Available Open 10-6 Mon.-Sat.