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Show Opening The Ocean s Medicine Chest By TED MORELLO wwawsswn World Book Science Service . XV V' x' V - , 4 V I 'tV v H 3 'I At Osborn Labs, g, red-we- Scientists grumble that most pharmaceutical houses refuse to invest in the costly and lengthy basic research needed to make clinically meaningful discoveries ig marine medicine. To encourage, accelerate and coordinate such research, Sen. Warren G. Magnuison (D., Wash.) has introduced a bill to establish a National Institute of Marine Medicine and Pharmacology in the National Institutes' cf the source for the most potent agent against high blood pressure. Only a tiny fraction of the known marine extracts are on the market. An number of others stand on the threshold of medical acceptance or are in earlier stages of investigation. As an example, a few years ago researchers discovered that a rare Caribbean sponge contains surprising quantities of a compound similar to a synthe-tic used agair't leukemias. This year, two scientists reported that in tests on humans, the sponge extract lengthened the lives of leukemia patients. National Cancer Institute tests produced complete or partial control in 50 per cent of cases, according to Dr. Seymour S. Cohen of the University of Pennsylvanias School of Medicine. And at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the sea drug controlled leukemias in 48 per cent of test patients, Dr. Joseph Burchenal, the centers vice president reported. Sponges, which range in size from a pinhead to ft kitchen stove, have been particularly rewarding in that line of research. Out of more than 120 species investigated at the New York AcqUtr-ium- s Osborn Laboratories of Marine Sciences, nearly half contained antibiotic substances. action Is Only one The medical property of the Carribean sponge drug. In theory, it could also be used in organ transplants to suppress the multiplication of white cells responsible for organ rejection. It has also proved ef ever-growi- Hawaii), Magnusons bill has strong backing within the scientific community. Even at this early stage, the new pharmaceutical frontier had yielded anti-virand substances, compounds, blood coag- ulants and anticoagulants and nerveblocking and agents. The mast potent agent against high blood pressure ever found was extracted from the octopus by researchers in Italy. Marketed as Eledcisin, it is 10,000 times more powerful than qulnidine, a standard drug used in correcting heartbeat irregularities. c In Japan, drug stores sell an antineuralgia powder derived from the liver, and ovaries of the Japanese pufferfish. The active ingredient is 100,000 times iqore effective than cocaine as a nerve- - . deadener. From marine plants, researchers have produced a substance already in surgical use to prevent hemorrhage, Knitted into a gauze dressing, it not only stops bleeding but speeds healing by film over a forming a gelatine-lik- e nerve-stimulati- y as carregeenin, protects against and heals gastric and duodenal ulcers. From is Octopus Health. Cosponsored by Sens. Claiborne Pell (D., R.I.) and Hiram L. Tong (R., commer-pall- may also have a role in coronary treatment. It is related to heart digitalis and other stimulants. The lowly barnacle, a bane of shipowners since antiquity, promises to become a boon to dentists . and their patients. Concentrating on the acorn barnacle, Osborns Dr. Vincent R. Liguori has pointed the way to a powerful tooth cement derived from the adhesive which holds the animal to ship bottoms. The National Dental Institute already is supporting research aimed at adapting barnacle adhesive to cementing tooth fillings. Ruggieri says that the same substance might replace binding pins now used in fractures and bone surgery. Ocean researchers have long known that some species of octopus which feed mainly on crabs capture their prey with their tentacles and paralyze them by injecting a secretion from the salivary glands. Although the victim remains totally insensible, its heart continues to beat normally. Nigrelli says that the octopus poison "could have a great use in the surgical field as a tranquilizer and anesthetic. New medical roles are being assigned to derivatives of seaweed, long used by primitive peoples as skin ointments, laxatives, and iodine sources for goiter treatment. g As a preventive after surgery, for instance, lamarln from a seaweed has been rated iu laboratory tests with some of the most potent anticoagulants known. Lab animals show no . ill effects from lamarin sulfate given either in large single doses or continued for five days at a level that would be useful in anticoagulant therapy. Kelp has been used for generations as a commercial iodine source. Now marine researchers have discovered that , Jlant contains a substance which retards influenza viruses, A seaweed sxtract similar to carra-- . geenln appears to combat cholesterol, a villain In heart disorders. As Dr, Nigrelli explains it, the agent "may play a role in preventing the buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels by controlling the "lipid (fat) content of the blood. plant-derive- d is slow. - sea urchin, scientists have extracted holo-thuri- n, used in treating cancer. fective against some viruses and may be able to stop infections at the same time it prevents rejection. The drug also shows promise in stopping the progress of rabies infections. let fever. A related agent, Paolin II, inhibits herpes virus, protects mice experimentally infected with polio, influenza and blood poisoning, and reduces the incidence of some tumors. Other compounds from sponges' furnish clues to the manufacture of new cortisone-like drugs which would be a boon to arthritis victims. Sponges also have yielded antibiotics that act against such human afflictions as tuberculosis, funa gus infection and staphylococcus highly contagious germ responsible for infections ranging from boils, carbuncles and acne to bladder inflammation, blood poisoning and pneumonia. .(Because it spreads readily among hospital patients, "staph control is considered to be one of todays most stubborn menaces to , public health.) A species called the "heavenly blue sponge attacks the bacteria which causes gastroenteritis, an acute inflammation e! the stomach and Intestinal linings that la particularly deadly among infants. mlcroor-ganisWith many disease-causin- g becoming resistant to established antibiotics, the production from clams, oysters and abalone of an extract that inhibits penicillin-resistastaphylococcus is considered ! major medical triumph. The substance, labeled Paolln I after the Chinese word for abalone, also arrests other harmful bacteria. One Is a group which causes streptococcus 'Wound infection, throat, "strep painful bronchial pneumonia, tonsillitis and scar substances active against cancer cells have been isolated from a number of marine species. Many are undergoing clinical testing at the National Cancer Institute. As one example, edible clam extracts have been found to delay or prevent the development of cancer in mice. Anti-tum- action of The curious a marine worm has put science on the trail of another drug. Eggs from the worm hatch into larvae which can become either male or female. If a larva touches the proboscis of a mature female, the offspring stops growing and turns into a tiny mala which lives as a parasite inside the females body. But if it does not touch the female, the lam settles to the ocean bottom and grows Into a fully developed female 12 inches or more In length. The hormone that turns the worm Into a male called bonelllnln has recently been shown to Inhibit the cells. ; growth of mouth-cance- r anti-canc- One of the most thoroughly researched agents, called holothurin,- comes from a group of echlnoderma, marine animals including sea urchins and starfish. Even unpurified holothurin g mice ever injected into anti-tumo- r, anti-canc- er - spine-spiked tumor-bearin- Gratitude Is A Rat ' By HARRY JONES short-spin- Holothurin most as casually as aspirin. But progress from test tube to commercial production wound. , And a seaweed extract, sold To Sammy , sub- stars. bones. Some of these agents already are easing human suffering, either as prescription or patented drugs. A few are sold al- g holothurin-lik- e skin-canc- ocean-dwelle- cancer-inhibitin- OUR MAN JONES stances from West Indian and Pacific echinoderms were able "to suppress or completely inhibit human cells grown in tissue culture, Dr. Ross Nigrelli reports. Holothurin is, in fact, one of the most versatile substances yet discovered in the treasure hunt for drugs from the sea. la related forms, it has been found in the Bahamian sea cucumber and in such North Pacific species as the sunburst, e and purple sea ready have made breakthroughs that the promise to revolutionize treatment and prevention of a broad assortment of human ills. Such as octopus, clams, sponges, sea stars ("starfish) and even seaweed are yielding extracts actually or potentially useful in combatting human ailments ranging from cancer, heart disease and polio to influenza, pneumonia, ulcers and diabetes. One product from algae keeps blood from clotting; another hastens coagulation. And from barnacles comes a compound which promises to cement tooth fillings and mend broken under-standin- Wedneidgy, August 13, 196? other day for 20 days Increased survival time from 10 days to 18 months or more. At Battelle Memorial Institute, tests on mice showed that holothurin reduced several types of cancer. x . ? '. i senators A bloc of marine-oriente- d lias thrown Congressional support behind a pioneering breed of scientists in their systematic, worldwide search for drugs from the sea. Marine biomedical researchers al- - All DESERET NEWS Sammy just walked in unannounced Ralph Gardner home out in West Jordan one cold night last winter. He found a warm spot near a heat duct, and couldnt be budged. He stayed on. is a Sammy blue point Siamese cat. And don't let the name Sammy at the confuse you. a Sammy had batch of kittens . . . littered the Gardner kitchen. Siamese cats are in Apparently demand. Florence Mrs. Gardner who was in charge of the adoption bit. didn't have any problem getting rid of the cats. And Sammy was grateful! Mrs. Gardner spent an eight-da- y sentence in a local hospital getting some sort of interior decoration. And then came home for a few weeks of convalescing. Ever since, that cat has fussed over Florence like a devoted daughter. Each day, Sammy goes outside, catches a mouse or gopher, and brings it into the bedroom. She jumps on the bed and drops her catch in Mrs. Gardners lap, thats And, good medicine ... Caot. Art Allen of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's office was making a routine turn from 5th South down the ramp that goes to the basement of the Metropolitan Hall of Justice the other day. Then all of a sudden, it wasnt routine any more. Some guy following in back, didnt see Deputy Allens turn signals, As a result, there was what is known in the police trade as a "rear ender. Damage to the sheriffs car was estimated at $80, and damage to the other auto was about $300. i It wouldnt have been quite so bad, but the driver of the second auto was en route to pick up his students. He was a driver education instructor! , ' r Americans Can Live With CBW Curbs - WASHINGTON Moves by Congress to control the pentagon are the fashion this year. A couple of years ago there were OUR MAN IN WASHINGTON similar attempts, not to r e duce military spending, but to force Secretary fense this year, even though it did not contemplate actually putting any missiles at the sites this year. The amendment that V opponents of the Safeguard proposed would have permitted testing and procurement of some long lead-tim- e components but would have denied authority to begin deploying the system this year. De-- R o bert M c N a mara to spend money on the B70 bomber ki J other projects favored by those Mr. White in power at the Capitol. The present efforts seem to be directed at expressing the opinion of Congress that waste should be out, the military should review its priorities, and if possible save some money and refrain from buying terror weapons of doubtful utility. It seems fair to say that the ask and it shall be given attitude of Congress toward the Pentagon is, at least temporarily, a thing of the past; even All of this is partly symbolic missile debate revolved the around an amendment that, in effect but rot in implications, differed but little from the administration request. The ad--1 ministration wanted the authority to "begin deploying the Safeguard system fend ic ' Even that gesture tailed last week, although a test vote revealed senatorial sentiment equally split. warfare amendThe ment accepted this week by the Senate and Defense Secretary Melvin Laird would not halt CBW work.' It' would require the president to give his direct authorization for any open air testing, and that only on grounds of necessity to the national security; it would require approval of the surgeon general for the safety procedures of any authorized test; and the military would be required to notify the appropriate committees of Congress in advance of any contemplated tests. Furthermore, no new delivery sys-- . tems for CBW weapons could be developed, and the secretary of stae would be brought into any decision to store such weapons outside of the U.S. The amend al ment also would limit the transportation of "live CBW weapons and the notification of Congress before any were transported or disposed gf in the U.S. These are not so awfully stringent most Americans would requirements probably agree that these are basically sensible restrictions on a potentially terrible form of weapons. The surgeon general broadly approved of the last biological warfare test at Dugway 15 years ago, and some safety clearance has been a - routine requirement all along for CBW tests. Presumably testa have not been carried out for capricious reasons and most could have been cleared by the White' House as necessary for national security if that had been demanded by Congress. Stretching the language of the current amendment to the limit, the White House conceivably could give blanket authority to certain CBW testing and direct secret advance notice to the congressional committees, thus going on as though little had happened. That might prove to be a politically explosive course, however, and there is no indication the administration contemplates it. The Armys record . By HAROLD LUNDSTROM Deseret News Music Editor Certainly national security need suffer little If at all by the Senate language added .to the authorization biiL At best, s degree of restraint can be expected of the CBW people, who in the past have fired nerve gas around in so many "orientation and training tests that it had become old hat at Dugway. There are indications that research on variations of nerve gas such as the VG which killed the Skull Valley sheep had stage In gone on into the which they were testing compounds little different from ' chemicals tested five years ago and more. If these are cut, and only ihe truly necessary tests are authorized, the minor hazards now present will be further reduced and a fair piece of tax money saved in the process. d This may cost some jobs, but probably will not wipe out Dugway in the near future, if at all. Hardly anyone objects to defensive CBW research, which seems to be e continuing necessit- , Inquest Should Explore 4 Main Questions By JACK ANDERSON accident. Then Gargan and Markham turned to the island. MERRY-GO-ROUN- D - , ... WASHINGTON Perhaps the .court Inquest on Sept. 3 will be able to determine whether Senator Ted Kennedy or this column is telling the truth about that night of nightmares when Mary Jo Kopechne and his presidential dream died in the waters of Poucha Pond. i more unhappy details Meanwhile, have leaked out These details have been drawn painfully from intimates who are devoted to Kennedy. They point out that he has been a courageous and conscientious sen- ator, better even than were his two slain brothers r' He has also striven manfully to follow ' In their footsteps, fully awe re that some demented soul may try to finish off the ' Jast of the Kennedy brothers. He expects k another Lee Oswald or Sirhan Sirhan to fake a shot at him someday, yet he remains exposed in the full, glare of the ' public spotlight. Indeed, he has heightened the danger by speaking out boldly on emotional and controversial Lsues. On the night of the awful auto accident, however, Ted Kennedy, who had al-- . ways served his friends and followers well, let them down. For a few hours, he was ready to let his cousin, Joe Gargan, , take the rap for driving the death; car. Apparently, Kennedy felt it was too late to cave Mary Jo, but It might b possible to save his presidential dream. Despite these denials from both Kennedy and Gargan, I am convinced of the correctness of this account. It came from Kennedy loyalists, who not only are in a position to know what happened but would have no reason ta falsify the facts. For verification, however, the Inquest court should explore these questions: 1. How did the senator happen to turn onto Dyke Road, which led to the fateful bridge? He explained in his original statement: "I was unfamiliar, with the road and turned right onto Dyke Road instead of bearing hard left on Main Street.' My sources say that he was quite familiar with the secluded beach at the end of Dyke Road and was taking Mary Jo there for a midnight swim. They left the cottage around 11:30 p.m. But in view of Dr. Donald Mills' report on the time of her death and Deputy Sheriff Christopher Looks statement that he happened upon -a black car like Kennedys which sudden- ly headed down Dyke Road at 12:40 it is possible Kennedy and Kopechne had ; already taken their dip and headed back toward the beach to escape detection. 1 Why did Kennedy fail to report the accident? on TV was that he was overcome "by a jumble of emotions grief, fear, doubt, exhaustion, panic, confusion and shock. His explanation My sources say he came back to the cottage, passing lighted homes and a fire station, to seek cousin Joe Gargan and friend Paul Markham. He told them what had happened and suggested that, if Gargan would say he had been driving, it could avert a political catastrophe. The three returned to the bridge, without alerting anyone in the cottage, so Gargan could familiarize himself with the accident scene. 3. Why did the senator return to his room in the Shiretown Inn across the channel in Edgartown? Kennedy explained that he "suddenly jumped into the water and impulsively swam across the channel, nearly drowning on the way. By this account, Gargan and Markham calmly watched from the shore while the senator, in a back brace, swam the dangerous channel. Yet tney Could have summoned a phone call. ferry with a simple My sources claim Gargan and Markham rustled up a boat and rowed Kennedy across the channel. Their purpose was to remove him from the location of the 150-yar- d re- 4. Why did Kennedy slip unnoticed into the inn, then make a point of leaving his room to speak to the room clerk at 2:25 a.m.? Kennedy complained about some noise next door, then asked for the time, explaining he had misplaced his watch. In other words, he supposedly had put the whole nightmare out of his mind and was concerned only about having his sleep disturbed. Actually, Kennedy was trying to establish the impression, my sources acknowledge, that he had been asleep in his room across the channel from the accident. At that time, the plan was still for Gargan to take the tap. The r.ext morning, Gargan and Markham returned to Edgartown by boat to pick up the senator. They thought the accident had gone undetected, according to my sources, and they wanted another look at the scene in the daylight. As they were crossing the channel, however, someone mentioned the accident. Kennedy decided he alone must face the consequences. It should be emphasized that Kennedys hope to avoid the blame and establish an alibi evolved during a night of emotional trauma. But in the end, he abandoned this scheme and manfully cwnod up to what he had done. . , Someone prowled Officer B. C. patrol car the other night while it was parked on Main Streti The thief stole the officers citation book and holder. Wilk-erso- North Carolina, Which claims that it had the nations first Arts Council, can also be proud of its School Of Performing , Arts that was' brought into being four years ago by the State Legislature. The school combines instruction in music, dance, and theater with an aca-- demlc program geared to satisfy state high school requirements for a four-yediploma and to enable its college students to attain a bachelor of arts degree. Pre-higschool classes are offered foe the talented student who might benefit from early training and who then can proceed with. an unbroken line of arts and academic programs through college. After only four years of operation. John J. O'Connor reports in the Wall Street Journal: "The results have been impressive. This past spring, the schools theater group was one of the winners in a new nationwide college competition and presented "She Stoops to Conquer at Fords Theater in Washington. A large group of music students currently is studying and performing in Siena, Italy, under a program suppjrted by the Italian Government and the North Carolina Legislature. And 21 dance students recently left for Asolo, Italy, and will perform a repertory of nine works in the piazzas of several small towns. The School of Performing Art? is in what once was a large (and unused) high school in Winston-SaleDuring the 1968-6- 9 school year, the school had about 370 students and an operating budget of $1.5 million. This coming year it will have 500 students and a rise in budget of $1.9 million. The theft prompted one of the staff in Chief Dewey Fillis office to ask; Dont these guys know we give those tickets away . , . they dont have to steal them? The people who work for the Western Sendee Center of the Internal Revenue Service at least those who belong to have their national conthe IRS union vention slated for September. h . , In Las Vegas yet! Wit's HiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiitiuiimniMiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiii BIG TALK ' . i ... s A" s S' cv ;; .'V K v.s .,v $ A ii- 4NS: HH-- ships. One contemporary problem the school does not have to deal with is motivation. As in all arts schools, there is little concern among the students with most of the issue disrupting campuses across the country. These young men and women want a career in the performing arts, they know what that requires, and they have little time for anything but their in- End Teachers in the elementary schools shouldnt fear being replaced by a computer . . . who would collect the milk money and put on the galoshes? About half of the students are North Carolina residents who get free high school tuition and pay $400 yearly in college tuition. pay $509 for high school and $800 for college. The comprehensive college fee, Including items such as room and board, is $1,050 for About 40 per cent of the students are on seme sort of scholar- tensive training. , ff Ed Hunt up in Davis County is an astronomy buff . . . makes his own telescopes. He claims that the pictures sent back from Mars dont mean there is no life up, there. The consensus among experts is that Mars is lifeless. But Ed points out that if the Martians sent a rocket to earth to snap pictures', and it happened to get pictures of a PTA meeting . . . Martians could get the idea that theres no life down here either! , ar Utah-base- y- . These Students Have No Time For Protests on cf secretiveness and the subject of CBW has generated a good deal of suspicion, not to say hostility, in Congress, among the press, and on the part of the general public, which seems to indicate that it might be best for the military to tread carefully if confidence is not to be completely lost. not the mouse, the affection the cat shows. blood-clottin- MUSICAL WHIRL . I ' p' T '"Hear V.; rt ' -- 1 , j about ths politician whose baihroom towels said, 'Hems' and 'Haws'?" Frtm piwtM Win Hr tht ally SlrtMay taaiur. untrtt Nw Mpulir |