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Show o &l Commentary Page 12 Times Newspaper Wednesday, February 18, 1998 pinion Editorial Controversy continues over' In the first of two public hearings, the Orem City Council Coun-cil listened February 10 as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Partner-ship Grant Citizen's Advisory Commission made its recommendations recom-mendations for disbursement of Orem's 1998-99 CDBG HOME entitlement funds. A second public hearing will be held March 10 before expenditures expen-ditures of the $1,307,618 in CDBG funds and $304,123 in HOME funds are given final council approval. As in previous years, use of the federal money has sparked controversy in the community. A number of representatives of the social services organizations organiza-tions that benefit from a mandated man-dated level of 15 of the funds spoke to the council and explained ex-plained how important the money is and how it will be We must not home health by Congressman Chris Cannon Last summer, President Clinton and Congress agreed to balance the budget and cut taxes. As part of those negotiations, Congress demanded that steps be taken to limit fraud, waste, and abuse in federal government programs. President Clinton responded re-sponded by proposing a series of reforms to Medicare, purported to stop inappropriate payments to health providers. Those recommendations recom-mendations were adopted in Section Sec-tion 4615 of the Balanced Budget Bud-get Act. But good intentions often go .. astray, particularly when govern- '" ment bureaucrats are involved. In implementing the new Department De-partment of Health and Human Services regulations earlier this month, the Clinton administration administra-tion decided to crack down hard on home health care programs, and the results have been harsh. The most vivid impact of the new regulations has been on seniors se-niors who require blood samples to be drawn for lab work. The loss Preliminary tests show caffeine may aid spread of cancer cells While caffeine's role as a carcinogen car-cinogen is widely debated, a new study suggests that caffeine may act as an advocate to cancer cells, extending their lives and allowing allow-ing them to spread throughout the body. A Brigham Young University researcher found that while it doesn't fit the classic model of a carcinogen--one that damages healthy cellsin some circumstances, cir-cumstances, caffeine may protect cancer cells from death. "Cancer is a disease where cell division has gone out of control. con-trol. In some cases, the cell does not know how to die. We have found that caffeine may inhibit the apoptotic mechanism-the cell's own defensive mechanism--and keep damaged cells alive when they should die," says microbiologist Kim O'Neill of BYlTs Cancer Research Center. O'Neill published the report in the December 1997 issue of Cancer Letters, an international scientific journal. He says the study is interesting interest-ing basic science but that it does not provide enough information to determine whether consuming caffeine poses any health risk. "This is just a small piece of work indicating that, under certain cer-tain conditions, caffeine may suppress apoptosis or the induction induc-tion of apoptosis in vitro. However, How-ever, the relevance of that may not be known for several years," he says. One of the body's main defense mechanisms, the process of apoptosis or "cell suicide" helps eliminate damaged cells before they threaten the body. Virtually every cell in the body is pre used. Representing an opposing viewpoint was Orem resident Mary James, who said the committee's projections of what to do with the funds were very well taken, but that it is "asinine" to line the pockets of bureaucrats from here to Washington to accept ac-cept a "few crumbs" that the federal fed-eral government gives back, in order to solve problems that might not be caused in the first place if the tax money were kept here. James said that she served as an election judge this year, and voters asked her who the incumbents incum-bents were, stating that they wanted them out of office because of high taxes. Both points of view on the issue is-sue are represented on the Orem City Council as well. In line with Mrs. James' philosophy are the views of Councilman Joseph Andersen, who earlier said he was so opposed to the city's use abandon Medicare's care recipients of blood drawing services -- venipuncture veni-puncture for patients on certain cer-tain medications can be life-threatening. life-threatening. The new regulations regula-tions severely restrict a doctor's ability to send someone to the home of a senior to draw blood for needed lab tests. Thus, the real effect of theew Medicare regulations has been-to, punish frail and elderly recipients who depend upon this treatment. Though not the original intent of the provisions, this is a serious blow to such patients. ' ! , That's why I have joined with several of my .colleagues from, both parties to protect in-home' blood drawing services for seniors. se-niors. We are co-sponsoring H.R. 3137, the Medicare Venipuncture Seniors Protection Act of 1998, which will put on hold for 18 months any Clinton Administration Administra-tion action to eliminate Medicare payments for venipuncture home health services. Also, this bill will require the administration to submit a report to Congress on programmed to undergo apoptosis apop-tosis when DNA is damaged, or when the cell is no longer needed. Some cells, such as skin cells, die and are replaced frequently while others, such as nerve cells, are with the body from birth to death. Generally, when DNA from a cell is damaged, by chemicals chemi-cals or other means, the cell's own internal apoptotic mechanism switches on. "Apoptosis is the efficient way for a cell to die because it will pass on some of its good contents to neighboring cells and eliminate damaged cells that could pass on defective DNA. The apoptotic mechanism allows the cells to protect their DNA, keep it intact and pure, so damaged DNA won't be passe don to the next generation," says O'Neill. Many new cancer therapies aim to activate the cell's own preprogrammed "suicide" mechanism to eliminate cancer cells. By intentionally creating breaks in the DNA, the therapies send a message to the damaged cells to initiate apoptosis. O'Neill says that if the cell is not allowed to undergo apoptosis, then cancerous can-cerous cells may be allowed to spread, and pre-cancerous cells may be allowed to progress. 1 , "If you had, for example, a damaged pre-cancerous cell and the cell is saying 'I've gotta die, I've gotta die,' and you stop the method by which it can die, then there's a chance that the cell will become cancerous," says O'Neill. For the caffeine tests, O'Neill dosed leukemia cells with caffeine caf-feine and then followed a common com-mon heat shock procedure designed to induce cell death. Under normal conditions, the of CDBG funds that he voted against even setting and holding the hearings on the issue. Andersen did not comment on his position in the February 10 meeting, meet-ing, however. Councilman David Palfrey-man Palfrey-man said that he, for one, is grateful that his tax dollars are coming back to the city. He cited the annual Blitz clean-up and fix-up fix-up campaign as just one example of federal funding that benefits the entire community. "The money is used for the benefit of all the citizens," he said. Councilman Mike Thompson said he had "mixed feelings" on the issue. "I don't believe in the concept of federal funding," he said, but added that there- is a principle the country is founded on, which he cited often in his election campaign that government govern-ment derives its just powers from the consent of the governed- He ; said there had been many com the impact of implementing Medicare reform proposals, with a special focus on the impact on rural areas. I'm pleased to report that these actions have already borne fruit. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services ordered or-dered home health care agencies to resume care for the elderly. That was the right thing to do. The alternatives to home venipuncture veni-puncture treatments forcing elderly patients to live out their years in nursing homes or in and out of emergency rooms sim- - ply because, of a bureaucratic? ' "oversight, are intolerable. I'm glad that the Clinton administration administra-tion seems now to agree. It is unfortunate that such a life-threatening mistake was made in the first place, and I am grateful for the many calls and letters from Utahns which brought the issue to my attention. atten-tion. Working together, I am confident con-fident we can protect our homebound seniors. test would show breaks in the DNA, followed by a sequence of events that lead to cell death. But when the cancer cells were boosted with caffeine before receiving the deadly heat shock, they refused to die. "Normally by exposing cells to heat shock for about an hour, 12 hours later those cells will undergo un-dergo apoptotic death. By adding caffeine to the medium, you prevent the death of the cancer cells and therefore give them protection against this programmed cell death. Since they appear unaffected by the heat shock, the cancerous cells can continue to replicate," he says. The caffeine studies were conducted using the "comet assay," a new test that allows researchers to see the effects of chemicals on human cells, and to quantify damage to DNA. O'Neill, O'-Neill, one of the pioneers in the development of the comet assay, previously used the test to determine deter-mine that caffeine may also inhibit in-hibit the cell's ability to repair its damaged DNA. A member of the BYU faculty since 1992, O'Neill has published dozens of studies on cancer cells and on breast cancer markers. The comet assay he helped develop is being used in hundreds of labs around the world to assess DNA damage and repair. Before joining the BYU faculty, facul-ty, O'Neill was a research officer at the University of Ulster in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. His research is funded by BYUs Cancer Can-cer Research Center and E. Excel International. isse of federal GE)B fiantils ments at the meeting in favor of using the money, and just one person speaking in opposition. "I do believe the people of Orem have spoken," he said. ' ' Thompson did say he plans to contact Representative Chris Cannon to find out if there is a way the city can turn its share of money back in to the federal fed-eral government to reduce the deficit. ' Palfreyman commented that ."the -benefits of the money "far 'outweigh the negatives." He noted that we all pay taxes, and while none of us really like it, we feel better about it when we see the money coming back to help "children and senior citizens in the community. Public service programs recommended rec-ommended to receive funding include: in-clude: Community ActionAgency, , $14,000; Low Income Recreation Program, $2,150; Public Safety firesmoke detectors, $3,000; Teach your children safe walking habits In light of the recent increase in auto-pedestrian crashes in Utah, the Utah Safety Council would like to again remind parents par-ents and drivers of the extreme importance of practicing safe driving and walking habits. At least 39 pedestrian fatalities occurred oc-curred in 1997, up from 35 in 1996, and reports are stiUJbeyig filed. Children are prime yifitims of pedestrian injuries in Utah, injuries which can be prevented. Parents and guardians remember: remem-ber: Take a walk with your children. The best way to teach your children safe walking habits hab-its is to talk with them and show then how to travel around the neighborhood. Be clear on walking walk-ing rules and enforce them consistently. con-sistently. Set boundaries for your children. Show them where they can and cannot play. Children under 10 years should never cross any street alone. Teach your children to walk defensively. They need to understand that they are no match for a moving car, motorcycle motor-cycle or bicycle. Teach your children the meaning of signals at intersections intersec-tions and to always make eye contact with drivers before crossing cross-ing in front of vehicles. Children must understand that, although (they see the driver, he might not see them. Teach your children to always walk facing traffic and on I the sidewalk if possible. I Teach your children to j watch and listen for cars back-! back-! ing out of driveways and park-; park-; ing spots. Teach your children school bus safety. Children must understand that after getting off the bus, they must make eye contact con-tact with the bus driver, walk at least 6 feet out in front of the bus to the edge and look left-right-left before crossing the street. S Drivers remember: ( Drive Friendly! When traveling, consider special situations, situ-ations, such as construction, and . adjust your speed and driving habits. Remember to share the road with other vehicles and re- pect other drivers. , Follow the signs for afety. Always obey school zone speed limits and stop for school busses with flashing lights. Be Wert for children playing or walking walk-ing nearby. I When coming to a yellow light, slow down and stop rather than rushing to beat the light, j, Always come to a complete com-plete stop at red lights and stop signs, and watch for pedestrians before turning right. Family Literacy, $5,000; Utah County Juvenile Program, $4,400; Retired Senior Volunteer Program, $2,000; Kids On the Move, $14,000; Recreation and Habilitation, $9,000; Lakeridge Special Education Program, $4,800; Parent Education Resource Re-source Center, $3,000; Mountainlands Head Start, $5,000; Center for Women and Children in Crisis, $8,000; Utah County Crisis Line program, $5,000; Children's Justice Center, $9,000; Family Support and Treatment Center, $14,000; Gathering Place Substance Abuse Program, $10,000. Other programs designated for CDBG funding included: i Orem Junior High School park project, $40,000; Neighborhood Revitalization Program, $65,000; . ADA playground equipment, $88,000; curb, gutter, sidewalk program, $219,650; ADA transition transi-tion plan, $5,000; Mountainlands 8' - 1 mm Timpanogos Green THE IPENSIVE PENGUIN Do penguins dream of times when they could fly? A million years in pale Jurassic skies, They spread their ample wings and flew as high As pterodactyls. It was no surprise, For in that frigid hemisphere the cry Of flying birds would often crystallize And shatter on the ice. And yet, today, Abbreviated wings the penguins ply, ' Across the ice-blue landscape of their home. Are vestiges of wings, now, castaway? Or do they long, like phantom limbs, to fly Aloft, above the frozen catacomb. Mn formal wear the pensive penguins search, Forever, for their tophats made of silk. In every pew of their antarctic church They look for hats among their kith and ilk. Alack! Alas! No precious penguin perch Holds any hat, nor even mellow milk. For sustenance the plucky penguins plunge Into the azure waters, cold and deep. Crustaceans, crawling there, both large and small, Some, vainly hiding underneath a sponge, Provide a seafood platter: then they sleep. Antarctica supplies their wherewithal! What other bird, like Fred Astaire, is dressed, Who cannot dance or fly? What other clime Would harbor such a prize? In secret jest, Hid Mother Nature save the maritime For pensive penguins? Did she think it best For them to live and play in pantomime? (regarious, the penguins slip and slide A thousand thirsty thoroughfares of ice. Like human children on their plastic sleds, They chortle and they chuckle as they glide. And then, with penguin matriarch's advice, They scurry to her wings to warm their heads. Do penguins dream? Do ancient ones remember? Can penguins be a special breed, apart? And do they know their world of deep December Is harsh enough to harden any heart? In nightmares is their sun a glowing ember To melt the ice where avalanches start? And are they jarred awake by episodes Of bruising battles lost to leopard seals? Do penguins contemplate how they evolved From generations past? Do they seek roads Up north, where no one's blood congeals? Someplace where even dreams may be dissolved? Ml only pensive penguins, now, could lly On sturdy wings, sufficient for their needs! Their travels north would soon electrify The universe with precious penguin deeds. Alighting from the luminescent air, A formal dancea black and white aai Would show, in generosity and grace, Their warmest welcome to the human race. Who knows how wonderiul the world may seem To penguins, when they tall asleep and dream! Assoc. of Governments, $50,000 UVSC Job and Business Program, Pro-gram, $10,000; Business RevolvJ ing Loan Fund Program (income only) $267,750; Housing Reha bilitation Loan (income only), $59,868; conference and conven tion center, $210,000; adminis tration, $180,000. The Home Investment Partnership Part-nership Grant final statement was categorized as Housing Rehabilitation Re-habilitation Program, $100,000; Housing Services of Utah Valley - Home Ownership Program $124,123; Habitat for Humanity, $20,000; and Housing Partnership Partner-ship Program - new construction $60,000. " It appears the majority of the council will not choose at this time to wield a philosophical aword against windmills, but will opt for the pragmatic approach oi using the federal money available to improve the community. ' r i A POOR COPY |