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Show THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Monday, January n, 2003 5 New Medication May UCLA's Semester at Sea Goes Help Schizophrenics To Cuba. Meets Fidel Castro ANDREW KIRK Chronicle Staff Writer the Utah study in a written state- ANDREW EDWARDS ment Daily Bruin He says people feel People suffering from schizophrenia may find hope from a new medication study. The U's Mood Disorder Clinic is beginning a study to determine the safety and effectiveness of three atypical antipsychotic drugs used in the treatment of psychosis. Part of the medical school's department of psychiatry, the clinic is one of 24 institutions running the trial. The typical medications used to treat schizophrenia and similar diseases were developed in the late 1950s and 60s. They were successful but produced muscular side effects that were occasionally permanent and disabling. But atypical medications, developed in the 1990s, are made of different properties, which cut back on the first-episo- de side effects. "Studies of patients early in the course of their illness have demonstrated their superior treatment response. In general, patients show enhanced sensitivity to treatment," said Frederick Reimherr, associate professor of psychiatry and principal investigator for first-episo- de first-episo- de AVALANCHE continued from page 3 around, and two out of three victims die from suffocation under the snow. "One thing that saved me was that I landed with my hand right in front of my mouth so I could clear a little airspace with it to breathe," Despain said. Skiers and snowboarders must take three basic precautions while on the slopes: First, only one person should be on a potentially dangerous slope at a time; Second, never allow anyone to enter the slope below anyone else; Third, always have an escape route to the trees in sight. Eibs says that these days, the majority of avalanches are triggered by snowmobilers. But, plenty of skiers and snowboarders set avalanches off, too. He says 90 percent of the people that die trigger the avalanches themselves. "Especially young people think they're invincible. I hear really asinine remarks from young boarders who say. Til just ride the avalanches out.' But really, nobody can go that fast, and it's hard to ride a incredibly heavy slab of sliding snow. It would crush you." The most dangerous kind of avalanche is a slab avalanche, where a huge chunk of solidified snow breaks off and slides down the mountain. Greg Lyon, president of the U Snow Rider's Society, said, "If you get caught in an avalanche, you're dead." straight-u- p The Snow Rider's Society hosted free avalanche safety workshops in The group regularly outings and organizes avalanche with too concerned isn't danger. "I think skiers and boarders are sometimes intimidated about going mid-Decemb- er. back-count- ry better on the new medications, because typical medications often made patients feel depressed and groggy, he said. He explained that in many clinical trials, atypical medications are better tolerated but little is known about the comparable efficacy and safety of the atypical antipsychotic. The study sponsored by a pharmaceutical company will carefully monitor patients taking one of three medications, providing information on their effectiveness as well as causes for discontinuation. In past studies, neither the doctors nor the patients knew what medications were being taken to FDA-approv- ed avoid bias. The clinic is looking for people just beginning to experience symptoms or who have not been heavily treated in the past to allow patients a clean start with the atypical medication. Many participants experiencing their first psychotic episode, ranging between ages 16 and 40, will receive regular visits with clinic psychiatrists, assessments and laboratory studies. For more information call Erika Williams at akirk chronicle.utah.edu University of Ca!ifornia-Lo- s United States Cuba. The Semester at Sea program, run by the Institute for Shipboard Education and the University of Pittsburgh, introduces students, largely from the United States, to countries far different from their native lands. Last fall, the program toured nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. While in Cuba, Fidel Castro addressed the program's students in Angeles most UniAngeles students spent last December cramming for finals and getting ready for Christmas break, a few seafaring students were wrapping up a global journey in a nearby country known for its longtime hostility with the LOS ANGELES-Wh- ile versity of California-La- s a speech lasting about three hours. art history student Helen Fifth-ye- ar Lee characterized the dictator's speech as but was quick to add it was an impressive experience to see the Cuban leader. "It didn't matter if you agree with his philosophy...he's an icon...and the only head of state that met with us," she said. Elicits North Korea Stand-Of- f Princeton's Student Reactions EVELYN RUSLI The Daily Princetonian Princeton University PRINCETON, N.J. The recent turmoil in North Korea n has evoked a range of opinions from Korean and conPrinceton students. Some expressed stern demnation of the country while others said they understood its actions but ultimately disapproved. During the past two months. North Korea has reinstated its nuclear weapons program despite a 1994 agreement to suspend production. The nation has defied international Korean-America- pressure and claimed that sanctions imposed by foreign countries will be construed as an act of war. While North Korea continues to seek talks with the United States, the Bush Administration refuses to negotiate until the nuclear n students program is halted. Korean and were generally disturbed by the actions of North Korea, though to varying degrees. "It is very upsetting to see something like this happen since it docs absolutely nothing to n promote peace," said John Park, president of the Student Association. But other students expressed distrust of the country. Korean-America- Korean-America- 7. into the backcountry," Lyon said. "The thing is, it's really OK if you're prepared, geared up and you watch for dangerous spots." However, Eibs wants people to remember that the backcountry avalanche zones are never controlled or patrolled by the ski resorts. "Our responsibility lies within the resort. If people go and ski right under the avalanche hazard signs, they're takds ing a risk." The resort ski patrol help in rescue operations when they can, but the responsibility usually lays with the local sheriff's rescue team and it takes them longer to get up the canyons to the avalanche sites. The bottom line, according to an avalanche safety pamphlet distributed by R.E.I., is to look for the danger signs, know the forecasts before you go, carry gear, travel across the slopes one person at a time, and test the snow as you go. People can anticipate avalanche danger where there have been recent avalanches, cracking or collapsing snow, recent deposits of d snow and sinking into wet snow. Weather also plays a part in determining avalanche danger. Recent strong winds, heavy snows and melting snow packs can all contribute to the likelihood of a slide. "Avalanches usually happen when wind and melting have made a very hard snow pack made of large faceted ice crystals, and then new light snow falls on top. The new snow can slip right off the pack below if triggered," Eibs said. Surviving that avalanche 30 years ago changed Despain's life. He became a ski patrolman and worked his way up to the avalanche safety patrol team at a local ski resort. Now he offers free avalanche-safet- y classes to anyone who wants to learn. cigar-smokin- g "long-winded- ," n". -- I'; -I- ' i ....... I ll. il "V. I; ) 1 y)i Vj ' . V 1 i blopezchronicle.utah.edu TIAA CREF ft tii I 1 X V:;. wind-drifte- .. ! . v ' |
