The Daily Utsii Cfcivafclt, T7cdacday, Jaavary 2, 1SS Paje Five Fish oils might prevent heart attacks and strokes Cod love? oil nniight ba better tfoir you than you thought Old wives talcs extolling the virtues of cod liver oil may hold more than a spoonful of truth, says a researcher at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Stephen M. Prescott, assistant professor of cardiology, is studying the effects certain fats in fish oil have on white blood cells. such as heart attacks. The ECG measures electrical activity of the heart. Closely related to this project is one being conducted by Ray Millar, associate professor of cardiology. She is studying the effect of the nervous system on the electrophysiology of the heart and its The fats block production of potent hormone -- like substances that may be a cause of heart attacks and strokes. Prescott's study is one of many in relationship to abnormal rhythms. Specifically, Millar is mapping the electrical events (electrophysiology) of the heart to see how neural activity changes them moment by moment. progress at the university's Nora Eccles Scientists know that neural activity alters electrophysiology the nervous Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, where more than 30 researchers are investigating the heart and system will influence how early the heart recovers from one beat so it's ready for another, explains Millar. But scientists are uncertain how or when the nervous system regulates this action. Once understood, "it will be possible to have more specific therapy," Millar said. To map the heart's electrophysiology, Millar is using electrocardiographic mapping, a technique also used in a long-ranstudy by Larry S. Green, assistant professor of cardiology. blood vessels. J.A. Abildskov, institute director and professor of cardiology, said, "The frequency of heart disease makes this research extremely important. Over 600,000 people die from heart attacks each year in the United States." What makes the research unique is its integrated, approach scientists from the disciplines physiology, multi-disciplina- ry To identify angles. Coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks, is the focus of several major projects at the institute. The integrated approach lets scientists work on ways to identify and treat the disease, as well as understand its causes. Coronary heart disease results when the arteries that feed blood to the heart are narrowed. The blood flow is decreased, which may cause abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, says Charles Haws, assistant professor of internal medicine. "The major cause of sudden death is a the timing and sequence of heartbeats," Haws patients with v V' s & - V , , ' I ' Larry Green, assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, explains to a patient how the new electrocardiogram (ECG) he developed allows doctors to better identify defective areas of the heart. various heart diseases, to develop said. "Very likely, it results from an measurement standards for the improved ECG. "Our hope is that we can diagnose cases of heart disease more exactly and reduce,, the need for expensive and risky examina tions," says Abildskov. . Often, cholesterol and fatty deposits on inadequate blood supply." To explore this possible relationship, Haws is measuring the blood flow in small areas of the heart, using pieces of animal tissue about one-ha- lf gram in size. He tries to relate the amount of the flow to the electrical activity of the nervous system in isolated regions of the heart. If he does find a direct link, doctors may be able to use an electrocardiogram (ECG) the inside of the blood vessels are responsible for causing heart disease. Theset deposits are enlarged by certain blood cells when the cells stick to the lining to identify patients at a high risk for conditions developing life-threaten- high-ris- k abnormal rhythms, Green has developed an improved ECG. Instead of the usual 12 leads, he uses 32 discs that attach to the body and measure electrical activity. This provides a more detailed map of the heart's electrical activity, allowing doctors to pinpoint defective areas of the heart vulnerable to abnormal rhythms. In addition, U. researchers have developed a portable ECG instrument using the 32 leads that can be easily used in clinics. It's being tested at University and LDS Hospitals in Salt Lake City, and at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. Doctors are collecting data from a large number of patients, including those with investigate one problem from numerous a change in Si ge biochemistry, internal medicine, pediatrics, computer science and engineering rhythm disturbance 4 j of the arteries. ing THE PIE PIZZAMA WW1 EXCELLENT QUALITY New York Style Hand Thrown Pizza PAINTING & DRAWING SUPPLIES DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS WIDE SELECTION OF PAPERS Served MUSEUM BOARDS CALLIGRAPHY & SUMI-- E 11:00-5:0- 0 7 days a week. SOUP and SLICE SUPPLIES 16" Pizza Slice and Soup 2 SALAD and SLICE There's always a 16" Pizza Slice and Salad 2 SOUP and SALAD STUDENT DISCOUNT Dinner Salad and Soup PHILLIPS GALLERY $2 Take Out Service Available 444 East 200 South 10-5:- 30 Open Tuesday-Frida- y Saturdays 10-- 2 dosed Sunday and Monday Questions? Special Requests? Call 364-828- 4 1320 East 2nd South (Under theUniversity Pharmacy) 582-019- 3 t