*** News You Can Use! -- 12 June 1996 ***
Persistently anxious girls grow up to be shorter than those aren't, a new study suggests. The most stressed girls are about two inches shorter as adults than women who have average anxiety during childhood, says study author Dr. Daniel Pine. Anxious girls are twice as likely as the others to be under 5 feet 2 inches in adulthood. The research, reported in Pediatrics,_ followed 716 children, equally divided between the sexes, 9-18 years old, for nine years. The authors theorize that anxiety inhibits the body's production of growth hormone, but the study did *not* measure hormone levels in the children they studied. Two specific disorders among girls predicted shorter height: Separation anxiety -- seen in a youngster who won't attend sleepover parties, and overanxiousness -- seen in young girls who are stressed out constantly. Pine, of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, says no similar link was found in boys, so "girls may respond to stress biologically differently than boys." (Associated Press, 11 June 1996, USA Today, 12 June)
Drug companies are preparing for a round of new drug trials. Government advisers are recommending that patients suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease be allowed to take part in a free trial. If the Food and Drug Administration agrees, thousands of patients could register to get myotrophin through a lottery. One study indicated the drug could slow the progression of the disease as much as 20 percent, although a second study raised doubts about the drug's effectiveness.
Two tests in Canada target breast cancer treatments. Octreotide, which is said to prevent cancer cells from growing, will be tested on 800 women, according to McGill University's Dr. Michael Pollak. Taken in combination with the widely-used anti-tumor drug tamoxifen, it's hoped the two will be more effective together. Meanwhile, Dr. Lorne Brandes of the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation is testing a drug to improve chemotherapy. Brandes says DPPE increases the anti-cancer effects of chemotherapy drugs, while blocking side-effects such as hair loss or lower blood counts. The test is being held on breast cancer patients in Winnipeg, Hamilton, London, and Thunder Bay.
And 4,000 volunteers are needed for a five-year, 150 million dollar project to prevent diabetes. The study is co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Diabetes Association. The plan is to recruit volunteers who have high blood sugar, but have not contracted diabetes yet. The study will test three approaches to preventing Type II Diabetes, the most common form. (Associated Press, 7 June 1996, 10 June, Broadcast News, 7 June, 10 June)
In a previous issue of News You Can Use! we told you about the possibility that some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome were actually lead poisoning. A recent consumer report by Hattie Kauffman for CBS News brought up new concerns about lead in the home. For years, health officials cautioned parents to keep kids away from peeling paint. Now experts say that what look like ordinary household dust may actually be toxic lead dust. Dr. Steven Marcus of New Jersey says even a small amount of lead can cause neurological damage in children: "If you've got lead on the walls, you've got lead in the dust. And you're inhaling that, you're breathing that." If you're worried about lead in your home, call the Environmental Protection Agency hotline at 1-800-532-3394, or read their on-line tips. (CBS Radio, 7 June 1996)
Good Housekeeping reports that non-sedating antihistamines, like Seldane and Hismanal, can make you crave sweets. Some medicine for high blood pressure can also cause weight gain through fluid retention. So can some anti-depressants and oral steroids.
A new study sponsored by the National Institute for Mental Health suggests that the push for traditional family values is taking a toll on households where both parents work. The research finds that in two-career households, the parents are under greater stress, because they are made to feel they are doing a bad job raising their kids. David Blankenhorn of Traditional Family Values responds by saying the study only looked at the parents' mental health, and didn't take into account the impact on children. (Associated Press, 11 June 1996)
In what's believed to be the first case linking an environmental chemical to a birth defect, a Miami jury awarded an eyeless boy four million dollars. The six-year-old's family claims his birth defect was caused by a DuPont fungicide called Benlate. The boy's mother had told the court that when she was just six weeks pregnant and taking a walk, she was drenched by a tractor spraying Benlate on tomato fields. Dupont Vice President Stacey Mobley calls the verdict a "blow to science," saying there's no credible evidence linking Benlate to human health problems. The case could have a big impact on a class-action suit in the British Isles. Farming families there claim Benlate harmed their children. (Associated Press, 8 June 1996)
A more complete article on the controversy, before the verdict, appears in the Tampa Tribune.
In last week's News You Can Use! we told you that pesticide use is at record levels. Now, a new study finds that combining pesticides greatly increases their ability to interfere with natural human hormones. Tulane University researcher John McLachlan examined the effects of three pesticides on special yeast cells that contain human estrogen receptors. The idea was to see whether the receptors would be fooled into taking up the pesticides, preventing natural estrogen and other vital hormones from doing their job. Alone, the pesticides didn't have much effect. But combined, they became 100 to 1,000 times more potent and likely to be taken up by the receptors. "These results show us that the interaction of chemicals and hormones are a lot more complex than we had thought," McLachlan says. The Environmental Protection Agency's Dr. Lynn Goldman said if the finding is confirmed, it could force a revolution in the way the environmental effects of chemicals are measured. (Associated Press, 6 June 1996, USA Today, 7 June)
TPA, widely used to treat heart attacks, also should be approved for treating strokes. That's the recommendation of a Food and Drug Administration panel. Sold by Genentech Inc. as Activase, TPA was designed to dissolve clots that block arteries in the heart. A study last year showed that it also dissolves clots in the brain that cause strokes. (USA Today, 7 June 1996)
STB's News You Can Use! edited and written by --
Tom Connolly, for Infant Moose Web Page Creations.
Past newsletters: 6 June 1996 | 31 May 1996 | 25 May 1996 | 16 May 1996 | 9 May 1996
[Home Page]
[About STB] -- Learn why we got started!
[Catalog] -- A full listing of our nationally-respected videos.
[Testimonials] -- Our customers speak for themselves!
[Your Special Needs] -- A guide to help you select which tapes are right for you.
[Order Form] -- Check out our web site discounts!
[Resources & Links] -- Useful information links to a variety of related organizations.