Women At Work
by Tamara Jones
Senior Service Line
by Matilda Charles
MORE NEWS ABoUT
ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH:
There's a fascinating project going
on at New York University that
could prove to be the turning point in
the fight to prevent as well reverse
the symptoms of Alzheimer' Dis­
ease. Dr. Efnin Azmitia, a neural
biologist in the faculty of Arts and
Science at NYU, is the principal in­
vestigator of the project which
focuses on finding a way to reac­
tivate a brain system that becomes
suppressed in maturity, and may
contribute to the problems of
Alzheimer's and aging. It involves
studying a protein in the brain called
S-I00 beta which, among other
things. acts as a growth factor for
neurons in the brain's cortex, as well
as in the motor system of the spine.
Dr. �tia points out that growth
factors are present in high concentra­
tions in the fetal brain, and are easily
releasable. As the brain matures, the
factors are there, but less accessible.
"In Alzheimer's," Dr. Azmitia
added, .. it appears that they (the­
growth factors) become dysfunc-
tional." •
A POSITIVE NOTE is being
sounded this month by Dr. Mary M.
Watson, Academic Administrator,
Program in Geriatrics at the Univer­
sity of California at Irvine. Com­
menting on a column I did the first
week of October in which I cited the
alarming news that we could be
facing a desper te shortage of
ttained geriatricians, Dr. Watson as­
sures us UC-Jrvine has a "very ctive
geriatrics program ... (which) invol­
ves the training of medical students,
residents, and most importantly, fel­
low who receive a certificate of
added qualification 'in geriatric
medicine. We feel that it is our
obligation to train physicians for the
future, and to make certain there are
el and information available at
the medical school level as well as
the more advanced levels in the care
of aging persons."
Acknowledging that low reimbur­
sement by government agencies
may keep many young doctors away
from geriatrics, Dr. Watson added,
however, ..... we would like to be cer­
tain that those who become Family
Practitioners and Intern I Medicine
Piimary Care specialists understand
the i ues involved in the care and
manaaement of the health of older
people." .
However, the revi ed federal
lU1�lellnes for air quality
bout ho Michl
ceo 0 i
and true .
em contrlbu alm t half to the
pollution measured, ceording to the
Department of atural Resources.
\VI·�STERN I\il( '111(;.\\
I
EED
to decide w ther to dopt stricter t­
ing programs or continue with current
ones.
"Balancing the interests of all con­
cerned groups and till meeting En­
vironmental Protection Agency (EPA)
standards is difficult, "said Peter J. Por­
ciello, transportation planner for the
"ba ic"
ling
ms re more comprehensive
t and fuel
CCORD G TO EP de d­
lines, b ic programs have to be run­
ning by January 1994. If the tate
converts to enhanced programs, the
deadline is pushed b c to January
1995.
Porciello aid that meeting EPA
deadlines will depend on how quickly
decisions are mad and passed by the
Legislature,
"And with a split House right now,
things don't look so good," he said.
non-com­
pliance i lude elimination of the
ta ' federal highway fundin a ban
on penni for the remodeling or con­
truction of industrie labeled pol-
lu , and the withholding of gran for
ithin chi
about $400 million in federal highway
moDi alone Poreiello d. "That i
G
YOU
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who exxha
or public rIIU UJL \NO)
Di . on r ayne Roahrlg.
The agency will confirm the
eligibility of I&M customers who ve
no oth r ources for i lance in
yin their electric bills. Th program
provid for p yment of up to $250 for
individ . dential customers during
the 1992-1 beating n.
The" eighbor Helping eighbor"
Program will be in effect from January
1 to May 1,1
Indiana Michigan Po er offici
recently announced that the company
participating with several community
organizations in a program to assist
fixed and low-income customers in
paying their electric bills during the
current heating n.
The program, entitled" eighbor
Helping eighbor", will be funded
through voluntary contributions from
I&M customers. In December and
February, residential customers will
receive a special envelope in their
electric bills which they can then e to
mall check to participating com­
munity organization. Donatio are
tax-deductible.
Checks hould be made out to the
agency and ent in the pecial return
envelope. Contributions may be ear­
mar ed for use in the area of the
customer' choosin �
"Because of today' uncertain
economic conditiom, and the hardship
ome people are experiencing, we
wanted to do something to help those
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