The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, April 08, 2004, Image 7

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    %
■ATION
7A
THE BATTALION
Thursday, April 8, 2004
tudy: New drug
ousts levels of
:ood cholesterol
oy”
Jten soli
Vorldy
of meij
tier s pj^l
ihisajJ
n. Lefil
the duiJ
ig mesij
i ncampr|
'togU
vhichliti
ehtrediJ
irance d
/growls
Whalitj
is paniri
laniic ii,
td toil
een
side dun
BysH
r.heiss)i
's wing,
g prolop
elp 1®!
wonM’
By Linda A. Johnson
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
I An experimental drug can
dramatically boost levels of
|DL, the good cholesterol,
potentially offering an entirely
ijiew way to prevent heart
tacks.
In a preliminary study,
searchers at University of
nnsylvania and Tufts
Diversity found that the
ug doubled HDL in peo-
pe with worrisomely low
vels of the heart-healthy
lubstance. The drug, called
rcetrapib, also reduced
DL, the bad cholesterol.
Good cholesterol reduces
ie risk of heart disease; bad
liolesterol raises it.
I Until now, doctors have
loncentrated largely on lower-
|g bad cholesterol by giving
latients statin drugs, which are
Ised by millions of Americans
Ind reduce heart attacks by
■bout one-third. Many experts
lope to drive down heart dis
use still further by boosting
lood cholesterol, too, and sev-
Iral strategies are in testing.
I The latest study was small,
■volving just 19 patients,
Kut its striking results suggest
lorcetrapib can have a powerful
Iffect.
The drug is still a few years
way from reaching the market,
he next step will be to test its
afety and effectiveness in
uch larger numbers of volun-
;eers and show whether the
igher HDL truly results in
ewer heart attacks and strokes.
“One of the big questions
it we do have with this
irugis: Will using it to raise
'DL levels from normal to
itgh actually reduce risk in
ople who are at high risk?”
the study’s senior author,
r. Daniel Rader, Penn’s
lirector of preventive cardio-
ascular medicine.
Ultimately, the drug could
e used in combination with
tatins to simultaneously lower
HEART HEALTH
Raising HDL levels
An experimental drug can drama
tically raise blood levels of heart-
protecting HDL - or good
cholesterol - a preliminary study
of 19 patients shows. Patients who
took the drug called torcetrapib
twice a day for a month more than
doubled their HDL level.
Levels of HDL cholesterol,
measured in milligrams per
deciliter
I 1 Placebo *
HHI Experimental drug
70
Below
60 for
50 |
40 1
30
20
10
ow 40 is a risk factor H
heart disease
111
Lipitor and Torcetrapib Torcetrapib
torcetrapib i twice a day
Once a day
SOURCE: New England Journal of
Medicine
AP
boy's s
He lias
acoi
d pi
alypse*
f elders'
Victims
Continued from page 1A
Lippincott said that these assaults can happen with a friend,
| acquaintance, boyfriend or girlfriend.
“The weapon most often used is trust,” Lippincott said.
Baron said 90 percent of campus rapes are alcohol-
I related and encouraged students to look out for each other when
alcohol is involved. Baron said friends should not allow those
who have been drinking to leave by themselves. Lippincott said
use of date rape drugs has increased, and friends should watch
I each other’s drinks.
“It’s important when college kids go out to parties to keep an
I eye out for each other,” Lippincott said. “You don’t have to be
drinking alcohol; it could be juice, water or soda, and someone
| can slip something into your drink.”
Lippincott said that even if someone is sexually assaulted
I because of a bad judgment on his or her part, it is important to
I remember it is not the victim’s fault.
“The responsibility lies in the hands of the perpetrator,”
I Lippincott said. “Even if the victim exercised poor judgment, it’s
| no excuse for someone else’s felony.”
Cabrina Scott, a crime analyst for the College Station Police
[ Department, said 31 sexual assaults were reported to the CSPD
| in 2003 and urged victims of sexual assault to report it to the
police.
“It does happen and it can happen,” Scott said. “If they have
| done it once, they will do it again.”
Lippincott urged Aggies to take advantage of the month to
! learn about sexual assaults.
“Texas A&M has a reputation of Aggies looking out for each
[other, and sexual assault affects Texans of all backgrounds,”
Lippincott said. “Sexual Assault Awareness Month allows
Aggies to come together and help each other out.”
Hit
nisgW
f tile'
ully*1
acteft
sto#
ixai
Irgan
Continued from page 1A
candidates on national waiting
lists, and that every 14 minutes,
pomeone dies waiting for a life
saving organ transplant.
“The simple act of signing an
)rgan donor card and sharing
ane's decision to donate with
family members can make a
rorld of difference for patients
kince becoming an organ donor,
)ne person can save or help up
\o 50 other people,” Habib said.
A quilt from the National
udney Foundation featuring
tanels dedicated to organ
ionors was displayed in
academic Plaza Wednesday,
and it featured a panel dedicated
to Stephenson’s brother-in-law.
“My wife made the quilt
square four years ago and the
panel (in memory of his brother
in law) is just now completed,
and we are one of the first
organizations to get to display
it,” Stephenson said.
Ashley Parker said she thinks
organ donation is a positive
thing, and more people should
consider becoming a donor.
“Why not give life to
someone when you have the
opportunity to help?” said
Ashley, a sophomore education
major.
For more information on
organ donation you can go to
http://www.donorworld.com/.
a patient’s bad cholesterol and
boost good cholesterol.
The study, paid for in part
by Pfizer Inc., torcetrapib’s
maker, was published in
Thursday’s New England
Journal of Medicine.
Currently, the only HDL
raiser in the market is the vita
min niacin, but its effects are
modest and side effects, such
as itching and hot flashes,
bother many patients.
Whether torcetrapib will
prove to be the first potent
prescription drug in this cate
gory will require much more
study, but some researchers
said they were impressed by
the initial results.
“I’m convinced that it
works,” said Dr. Norman
Lasser, director of preventive
cardiology at the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey in Newark.
Where will it take you? Through
USAC, a consortium of U.S. universities, you
can choose from 31 programs in 21 countries.
With 20 years of experience, you can be sure
that you have someone to turn to throughout
your educational adventures.
Month, summer, semester & year-long programs
Wide range of academic courses ■ Internships
■ Field trips & tours
• Language classes
at all levels
■ Small classes
■ University credit
■ Scholarships
■ Housing
UNIVERSITY
•STUDIES
ABROAD
CONSORTIUM
http://usac.unr.£00*775-784-65 69
Let's Co
Out To Eat
Thursdays in The Battalion
fTfust ©e
SHeaOen
Sandwich Shoppe
Old Fashioned Sandwiches
Fresh Baked Bread
Soups - Quiche - Salads
Baked Potatoes
Homemade Desserts
BRYAN COLLEGE STATION
At the Intersection of Rock Prairie Ftd next to
Villa Maria Briarcrest College Station Med Center
731-8891 764-9222
,,,1,. w»*9 : , m vmmm n
! 2 Can Dine! i
5 Pc Mixed,
2 Reg. Sides
6 2 Biscuits
3 Pc Mixed,
1 Reg. Side
& 1 Biscuit
$C 99! $0 99
Expires 05/23/04
Expires 05/23/04
Texas A&M
Students
with a valid
ID get
10% off
on regular
menu items.
111!
Present coupon when ordering. One coupon per customer per visit. Void
where prohibited. Not valid with any other offer. Good at participating
1 Popeyes only. ©2003 AFC Enterprises, Inc. A
i
iPiAKEft
Now Serving BotHed Beers!
F#201
Qeorfle 3ush Dr.
As owned & operated
222 n. main in historic downtown brvan
979.822.2675
aTm
9 TT SPECIALTY PIZZA
with pvreftttse a/ttf speciafty pizza
Pizza Served Daily After 5pm.
Offer Expires: 4/30/04. Valid for dine-in or delivery.
Delivery minimums and fees apply. One coupon per fransecfion.
201 Dominik Drive (979) 696-5055
View our menu at: www.BlueBaker.com