LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 3A
RESEARCH
esearch shows
ocolate can
elp save lives
tating chocolate can help fight car-
ascular disease and cancer,
iccording to a recent study by scien-
st the University of Scranton.
'fihe reason being that chocolate is a
igh-quality and high-quantity source
f 'ntioxidants, generally found in
1uits and vegetables.
Chocolate also contains flavonoids
aich can help eliminated low-densi-
y lipoproteins, also referred to as
'S d cholesterol." Lipoproteins trans-
mi cholesterol and saturated fats to
*ies which cnn lead to clingged
nto-s. Antioxid ts help the choles-
eril froin being oxidized.
The study, led by Chemistry Prof.
tkyinson, examined the antioxidant
cihis iof milk chocolate, dark choco-
at 'and cocoa powder.
Vinson found that cocoa powder
Ontains two times the amount of
nOidxidants as dark chocolate, which
"Mains more than milk chocolate.
carchers also found that one bar of
hocolate is equivalent in antioxidant
ale to a glass of red wine or cup of
lack tea.
But the study recommends limited
hocolate intake because of calories
nd Sugar.
Norms may unlock
-emedy for cancer
" 'he gengtic structure of wiorms
Id unlock secrets in cancer,
cenrding to a study appearing in this
inonth'sjournal"Science."
-,san Mango, a University of Utah
soeiate professor of oncological sci-
nces, and Brenda Bass, a University
fUtah biochemistry professor, have
'0nt thb last two years analyzing the
enlbics of worms.
The researchers used microscopic
sparent worms, caenorhabditis
legans, to examine RNA interfer-
nce. Worms are considered model
rganisms because they have many of
se imilar genes, tissues and organs
f other animals such as mice and
umans
e team intjeced thevorms with a
ont le-strand RNA matrix to cause
INA interference. The interferencee
euts when the sinle-stranded RNA
. ducad as a eouble-strane.
ango and Bass hope that the RNA
t11erence-based treatment will turn
ff if iutated cells caused from the can-
- and improve the ability of physi-
ians to treat cancer.
ocktail therapy may
ive HIV patients
W~dical freedom
cording to a new study published
Sthe scientific journal "Nature,"
oine people infected with HIV can
dp taking their medication and con-
rneto fight the disease.
The study, led by Bruce Walker, the
itrktor of Partners AIDS Research
enter at Massachusetts General Hos-
itbhand Eric Rosenberg, looked at
ignt patients with HIV
Researchers stress that patients
IotId not quit taking their drugs until
er testing is done, but they are
opeful that if the drugs are taken at ann
nrly stage, the immune system has the
- to fight the virus on its own.
T'tfse patients all began taking the
VIFS drug cocktail therapy" within
t-onths of infection and had taken
e Medicine ior a perinod of one to
ree years.
The medicine keeps the viral levels
e body low, but has toxic side
l*cts and must be taken on a strict
gimen.
Seven of the eight patients who had
ic loff the medication had low viral
%Is and one was put back on the
ektails due to an increase in viral
:vels. Two of the seven chose to
'sume taking the cocktails despite
i>w viral levels.
- Compilelfiomin ire reports hie
"0'ei/iy Sntai6Reporter Liiiidser A /pert.
Silver catheter red uces risk of infections
By Lindsey Alpert
Daily Staff Reporter
Silver may earn its weight in gold for hospital
patients in need of a urinary catheter.
In a new study published in this week's issue of
the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at
the University have found silver-alloy-coated
catheters prevent urinary tract infections in patients
and are cost effective.
A catheter is tubing that is inserted into the ure-
thra to collect urine from patients. Nearly four mil-
lion hospital patients in the United States use a
catheter for some time during their hospital stay.
Catheters also increase the risk of urinary tract
infections, causing about 600,000 each year,
according to the Center for Disease Control.
"Most of the bacteria come from the intestinal
track," University Health System Medical Director
of Infection Control Carol Chenoweth, who co-
authored the study. "The bacteria can live on the
skin around the urethra and get in by way of the
catheter."
Tests using silver alloy catheters have shown
they decrease the risk of urinary tract infections,
which may reduce the total cost of treatment by
eliminating urinary tract infection treatment.
"Silver has an anti-bacterial activity" said Inter-
nal Medicine Prof. Sanjay Saiint, who led the study.
"The exact mechanism is unclear, but there are sev-
eral theories."
Saint examined the economic consequences of
using a silver-coated catheter opposed to regular
catheter by looking at past data regarding the rates
of urinary tract infections and the cost of treatment.
A silver-coated catheter costs five dollars more
than the S 12.45 regular catheter.
"We found that in certain patient populations
a silver-alloy catheter should be strongly con-
sidered to prevent the common, costly and
morbid complication of urinary tract infec-
tions," Saint said.
Researchers looked at data from patients that
used a catheter for two to 10 days, in hospital units
for intensive care, post-surgical care, general med-
ical care and urology care.
Rates of symptomatic urinary tract infection
were reduced by 47 percent and the chance of bac-
teremia, bacteria getting into blood, by 44 percent.
The health system may also benefit by lower
health care costs," said co-author Mark Fendick, an
internal medicine associate professor and the Uni-
versity's Consortium for Health Outcomes, Innova-
tion and Cost Effectiveness Studies co-director.
The scientists estimated that the cost of detecting
and treating a symptomatic urinary tract infection
was about S400 and the cost of the bacteremia
infection at roughly S2,000.
"We thought that was a conservative estimate,"
Saint said. "We actually used a range and we said
it can range between S835 and S4,082"
Hospitals, including the University Hospi-
tals, are looking in to the benefits of using
silver-coated catheters on patients fitting the
criteria.
"We are using the catheters in our hospital but
we chose to use it in patients that will use
catheters the longest," Chenoweth said.
Students use computers as
long-distance alternatives
Diag Olympics
By Susan Luth
For the Daily
Students tired of paying expensive lI
phone bills are exploring alternatives to
the-minute plans offered by phone cot
Ameritech. .
New technology such as instant messagini
phone services is providing the medium studi
looking for to diminish their phone bill woes.
Perhaps the most popular choice of
America Online's Instant Messenger.
The program is completely free and
can be downloaded from AOL's web site
at ii-ni-iiuol.cotm. Although previous ver-
sions only accommodated conversation
through typing, thenewest versionn
AIM 4.1, offers technology for voice
conversation.
By hooking a microphone to the com-
puter and using the speakers provided,
customers can talk to and hear each
other from anywhere in the United States.
"It's easier to talk to my sister in Kala
freshman Amanda Erickson said. "Pretty
body stays online all the time."
But LSA senior Lucie Preston said she
messaging a little taxing.
"I definitely use the telephone more.
came out I thought it would be a good ides
Rental comp
for discnm1n
sick of typing everything Out," Preston said.
LSA senior Chris Georgandellis said he has sent
instant messages to friends and family but prefers to
Ong distance use iiimtedialjad.com.
the pay-by- "It's good and it's free," Georgandellis said. "My
mpanies like brother uses it all the tiine. lIe used to pay S150 in
phone bills."
g and Internet Unlike AIM, on dialpad com Internet buffs can use
ents have been their computer to dial other people's phone lines.
Georgandellis said the connection isn't as clear as he
students is would like it to be because a faint static can be heard
and the voices of those involved will occasionally drift
in and eut Of contact.
"The only problem is that its i little
spotty. You can hear other people just
fine, but When they hear you it's spotty.
TU DEN NTi But the fact that it's free just makes it
\ that much more attractive," Georgan-
L FE dellis said.
Even Dial pad acknowledges the
' problem, but says they are working oi
something that will guarantee its cus-
tomers clearer communication.
mazoo," LSA Along with Dialpad, there are other companies on
much every- the internet who offer their clients alternatives to tradi-
tional long distance calling. Websites such as
found instant wwi.photle'e'e.com, winei eoim, mmiii. me'ssem-
ge.lmst~n.COi-im and mmwwi-.1m7e'dirtiing.co nprovide cus-
When it first tomers with not only free phone calls, but vOice mail,
a, but you get video confrencing and video mail.
any sued
ationDALY.
eatment based on age," she said.
hough Herring said hne wished to
e the case without litigation, he said
Ludwigs felt their actions were not
Jal and that they were acting within&
The Michigan Gymnastics team entertains passers-by on the diag yesterday.
By Laura Deneau
Daily Staff Reporter
LSA senior Sean Herring didn't think
his status as an undergraduate would
hurt his chances when he began house
hunting this spring.
But when Herring and his room-
mate expressed interest in seeing an
apartment at 817 Arch St. that was
published in the University's May
Off-Campus Housing List, landlords
Kenneth and Margaret Ludwig told
him it was available only to graduate
students.
Now Herring is in a legal battle withi
the Ludwigs over what he interpreted as
age discrimination.
"Housing is a very important thing on
this campus and it can become limited
very quickly" Herring said.
Herring contacted the Fair Housing
Center of Washtenaw County, an orga-
nization that attempts to help those who
believe they have been victims of hous-
ing discrimination.
H11C workers beg an investigation
in June to test the validity of larring's
claim. said Pamela KisCh, executive
director of the Fair Housing Center.
The organization sent a number of
volunteers who posed as undergradu-
ates, some in their 30s and others in
their early 20s, to inquire about the
property to determine if the Ludwigs
were concerned with the status of their
residents as graduate students or if age
was the actual concern.
"The volunteers explicitly said they
were undergraduate, but they also told
their age," Kisch said.
The investigation supported Herring's
claim, Kisch said. "We found differences
in tt
T
settl
the
lleg
Michigan laws. The landlords refused to
agree on a settlement.
The case was presented to the Washt-
enaw County Circuit Court where it was
assigned to Judge Melinda Morris earli-
er this month.
FHC Cooperating Attorney Janet
Hales of Cooper, Walinski & Cramer
filed the suit on behalf of Herring.
[he Ludwigs, who are represented
by attorney Bruce Wallace of Hoop-
er, Hathaway, Price, Beuche & Wal-
lace, declined to comment on the
matter.
Kisch said the Elliot-Larsen Civil
Rights Act makes it illegal to discrimi-
nate against individuals because oftheir
age.
The University has a policy against
running ads in its housing list for prop-
erties with discriminatory criteria for
prospective residents. "We notify those
who place ads aboutoutr policies,' saied
Amy Starr, the University s off-campus
housing adviser, "so that nothing is a
violation of students' rights"
By taking the case to court, Herring
said he would like to discourage other
landlords from implementing discriimi-
natory policies. Herring also hopes to
serve as m example for other students.
"Hopefully it'd show other students, if
you're discriminated against, or any
injustices take place against you, that
you don't just have to sit around, that
there are agencies and places out there
that will help you such as the =HC,
Herring said.
SE mE N U A I 'NFIiA'N I
TAA- CREF provides
ofTeCtions:
A quote from MSA Rep. Jessica Curtin that appeared in yesterdays Daily should have read "I'm proud MSA has taken the
head of fighting for affirmative action and providing students with the education they need to take a stand on the issue."
he cartoon that appeared in yesterday's Daily was drawn by Chip Cullen. This was incorrectly attributed.
HE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS ® "The Pedagogy of Action: The Cri- Borders, 612 E. Liberty, 668-
sis of HIV and AIDS in South 7652
U "Arthur Miller at the U of M," Enoch Africa," Sponsored by Center "Mean Genesm," Reading and
LBrater to lecture. Sponsored by for A fro-americ an and A fric an Signring, 8:00 p.m. , Sh am an
Mortar Board, 12:00 p.m., Michi Studies. Talk by Nesha Haniff., Drum Bookshop, 315 S. State.
an Union Pendleton Room 2:00 p.m., 209 West Hall, 550 662-7407
Dancing in the Diag," 21:00 E. University, 764-5513
a.m. -4:00 p. Sponsored by "Gender, Power, and Love In Cou- SERVICES
Danc Maathn ad Pi Bta ees" Sonsredby Institute
faterty} nand Phr BRtesearc ons r Wbomn and N Campus Information Centers, 764-
us c in the Park, Sponsored by Gender Narratives & Numbers; INFO, info@umich.edu, and
Herb David Guitar Studio and Integrating Qualitative and wwwumichedu/info on the
World Wide Web
Liberty Plaza, 11 a.m. - f p.m., Study of Gender and the Life 0 Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley
665-8001 ' Course" Series, 4:00 p.m., Lobby, 8 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
* "Swing, Rock-a-Billy,, & Bop," by Rackham West Study Hall 0 Safewalk, 936-1000, Shapiro
the Starlight Drifters, 12:10 Alcove, 764-9537 Library Lobby, B p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
p.m., University Hospital Lobby U Christopher Rice Reading, Reading U Student Mediation Services, 647-
Floor 1, 936-ARTS and signing, 7:00 p.m., Liberty 7397 mediation@umich.edu,
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