European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 24, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday october 24. 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13 Sun s rays May increase risk of Eye cancer Boston up exposure to the Sun being born in the South and having Blue eyes increase a person s chances of devel Oping Eye cancer but wearing visors or Sun glasses while outdoors May re i a the risk doctors report. A team led by or. Margaret Tucker of inc National cancer Institute said a recent study suggests exposure to ultraviolet Radia Tion from the Sun increases the risk of intraocular malignant Melanoma a tumor that tends to spread to other organs. Their findings reported in the new eng land journal of Medicine add to other re search that shows he incidence of Melanoma of the skin rises with exposure to the Sun. Both types of Melanoma develop from the same Type of cell that which produces Melanin the pigment of inc skin hair and eyes. Intraocular malignant Melanoma is the most common primary intraocular Malig Nant tumor in adults in the United slates and Europe. It typically affects older peo ple almost exclusively Whites and is a serious cause of death and vision loss. The disease strikes individuals at a rat of 4.9 to 7.5 per million. Tucker and her colleagues compared 444 patients with intraocular Melanoma who were evaluated at wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia with patients who had detached Retinas but did not have cancer. The patients or their relatives were interviewed to determine How much exposure to the Sun they had. Blue eyed subjects had the highest risk of skin cancer warning signs common moles and skin cancers do not look alike. Bui a change in a mole or skin spot May be the first sign of skin cancer. P  hich Riik Hnyp d family history of skin cancer or have had one themselves d unusual moles on the skin or changing moles d fair skin Light hair and Blue Green or Gray Eye color d childhood history of painful or blistering sunburns and or they sunburn easily As adults d indoor occupations and outdoor recreational habits changes to look for d color multiple shades of dark Brown or Biack spread of color into surrounding skin d size sudden or continuous enlargement d shape development of irregular margins d Elevation especially in previously Flat mole Anatomy of a skin cancer skin layers epidermis papillary Terr Rig reticular dermis skin cancer subcutaneous tissue sweat gland hair follicle o surface scariness erosion oozing crusting ulceration bleeding d surrounding skin redness swelling satellite pigmentation id sensation etching tenderness pain d consistency softening or brittleness Chicago Tribune graphic sources skin canc foundation. Cancer journal Lor clinicians by american Canon so cwt and Rush Presb Tenan St. Lukes medical Conlow the Eye Melanoma followed closely by those with Green Gray or Hall Eves the study showed. People with More than 100 Freck Les which indicated both exposure and sensitivity to the Sun. Were significantly More Likely to have Iris Melanoma Tucker said. Being born in the Southern United states was associated Wilh an approximately threefold increase in the risk of developing intraocular malignant Melanoma she said. In addition victims of malignant Melanoma were More Likely to sunbathe work in their gardens use sunlamps or increase their Sun exposure during vacations and less Likely to Shade their eyes during expo sure the study concluded. The data indicate the important Lime of exposure May be Early in life similar to studies on skin cancer. The use of sunglasses and visors appeared to lower the risk of Eye cancer bul More study of the role of Protection of the eyes from the Sun is needed Tucker said. Past studies have failed to link Eye cancer with Curjos Urc to Sunshine. Tucker said that May be because studies have attempted to use latitude As a measure of Sun exposure and have failed to account for geographic ethnic variations in the United states. In the United states Northern areas have a High proportion of scandinavians an germans who tend to have Blue eyes she said while some Southern areas have More hispanics who arc More Likely to have Brown eyes and thus should be at lower risk for malignant Melanoma. Baboon blood Type did t match baby Fae s Monterey Calif. A baby fac the Only infant to receive a transplanted animal heart died because her blood Type did not match that of the donor Baboon the doctor who performed the surgery says. Baby Fae had Type o blood while the Baboon had Type a or. Leonard Bailey of Lorna Linda University medical Cente Laid. If baby fac had inc Type a blood group she would still be alive  the failure to match blood types was a tactical error that came Buck to haul us Bailey told the annual meeting of the Cali fornia perinatal association. The decision not to match the blood types of baby Fae and the Baboon was based on a mistaken belief that the differences Between blood types would be less of a problem than the differences bal when species he said. In addition he reasoned thai the baby s immature immune system could be blocked by Large doses of anti rejection drugs. We came to regret All these decision making processes he said. Baby Fae developed antibodies to her own blood cells causing clots in her circulatory system he said. The infant s kidneys hopped working when abnormal blood cells filled them. Blood types arc determined by proteins on the surfaces of blood cells. Blood usually can be transfused Only Between individuals of the same blood Type. Baboons with Type o blood Are rare. Bailey said. He said there weren t any available when baby fac was dying. The child identified Only As baby Fae was born oct. 14. 1984, in Barstow Calif., with an invariably fatal heart disease  left heart syndrome. Doctors at Loma Linda transplanted the Baboon heart oct. 26, 1984. And baby fac died 20 Days later on nov. 15. In a review of the operation and autopsy. Bailey also revealed that there was no Evi Dence of drug damage to the kidneys and Only minimal rejection of the heart. Originally it was thought that death was caused either by rejection of the heart or kidney damage from the anti rejection drug cyclosporine a. Bailey said an account of his work would be published by the journal of inc american medical association. Following the operation physicians and medical ethicist criticized Bailey for fail ing to search for a human heart before implanting the Baboon Organ. A search was conducted three Days after the transplant but a human heart could not be found be fore the infant died. It was an oversight on our part not to search for a human donor right from the Start Bailey said. Looking ahead he said he would match blood types of the donor and the recipient and that he would use either human or Baboon hearts depending on what donors Are Avail  baby Fae listening to her Mother s voice after the heart transplant. Government cites 11 wellness councils Washington a the Reagan administration hoping to encourage voluntary programs to improve the Nalion s health has recognized 11 employer sponsored will Ness councils that arc do signed to promote healthy lifestyles among  health and human services department in a ceremony held jointly Wilh the health insurance association of America presented certificates to Well Ness councils established or being formed in 11  is an extraordinary step Forward for promoting the health of americans said or. J. Michael Mcginnis has Dep Uty assistant Secretary for health. It is the kind of Strong and visible action that president Reagan has referred to on numerous occasions when he has called on private initiative to help solve Public prob  will Ness councils Are organized by groups of employers who run programs such As classes to quit smoking High blood pressure detection and treatment exercise and fitness activities nutritional awareness alcohol and drug abuse control stress management and heart attack and cancer risk reduction. Has also awarded a s30.000, three year Grant to the insurance association to promote such councils in other cities. Wellness councils recognized last week arc located in Atlanta Baton Rouge la. Chattanooga Tenn. Columbus Ohio Greensboro. . Jacksonville Fla. Mil Waukee wis. Minneapolis Minn. Norristown a. Omaha neb. And Tucson Ariz