European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes Friday december 27, 1991 scientists believe a rays trigger breast cancer Gene Boston apr a rays a even in a appallingly Low Quot doses a appear to trigger breast cancer in people who carry a particular Gene that is present in More than 1 million american women scientists said thursday. A people who carry this Gene Are at increased risk of breast cancer from Ordinary diagnostic procedures Quot said the study a director or. Michael Swift of the University of North Carolina. Since most carriers of the Gene done to know they have it the researchers suggested that doctors cover All women a breasts with Lead Shields during a rays and use non a Ray tests whenever possible. Until now Only relatively High doses of radiation have been clearly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. But Swift said the amount that appeared to trigger cancer in the Gene carriers was a appallingly  Swift and his colleagues found the cancer link in people who Cany the ataxia  or at Gene. Someone who inherits two copies of this Gene a one from each Parent a gets ataxia Terangi Octasia a very rare disease that affects coordination. However 1.4 percent of americans carry one copy of the Gene and suffer no obvious ill effects. Four years ago swifts team showed that nearly 8 percent of All breast cancer in the United states could result from this Gene. The latest work published in the new England journal of Medicine suggests that radiation appears to trigger the Gene to cause cancer. His team found an increased risk among Gene carriers who received a rays that were believed to have exposed their breasts to Between 0.1 and 0.9 rads of a Chicago apr modern surgical techniques have greatly improved survival for newborns with heart defects saving More than half a million of them in the past 25 years a study says. A surgical management has led to dramatic if not profound improvements in survival for children with some congenital cardiac defects a researchers said in wednesday s journal of the american medical association. Surgery to Correct three particular defects has achieved such High survival rates that it can be considered a curative a said the researchers who reported on 2,701 babies with any of eight common defects. Two of those defects involve holes in the heart Wall or vessel Walls allowing oxygen Rich and oxygen poor blood to mix. The third defect involves the narrowing of a certain heart valve reducing blood flow to the lungs. A fourth defect a transposition of the great arteries in which oxygenated blood is pumped Back to the lungs instead of to the body a was notable because surgeons Are now using a radically different procedure for it. The old technique had a 28 percent death rate in the operating room. An additional 15 percent of survivors died of heart problems in the next 15 years. The new technique has Only 10 percent operating room Mortali Washington a about 10, toy cars and 6,939 dolls Are being withdrawn from the Market because Small parts on them could be detached and cause youngsters to choke the consumer product safety commission said tuesday. The commission said the companies Selling the products agreed to the voluntary recalls after the potential dangers were discovered. It said no children were known to have choked on parts from any of the products. The announcement said Mccrory corp. Of York pa., was recalling the approximately 10,000 Model 25 a play cars because the tires could detach and be a choking Hazard. The cars made in Argentina were sold Between sept. 1, 1989, and dec. 12, 1991, in stores operated under various names by Mccrory. Each set of eight yellow red Green and Blue cars sold for about $2.29. The commission said the potential Hazard was discovered by the . Public interest re diction. Until now scientists had believed there was no increased risk below 10 rads. Or. John Boice of the National cancer Institute said he was sceptical of the findings in part because the researchers could not precisely say How much radiation the women s chests had received. A one should be very cautious in interpreting these data a Boice said. A they appear to be preliminary based on Small numbers with very limited radiation exposure  the study was based on 1,599 relatives of people with ataxia Terangi Octasia. The doctors compared the subjects cancer risk with that of 821 of their spouses. Nineteen women studied were diagnosed with breast cancer after the Start of the six year study. Their radiation exposure was compared with the exposure of 57 others who were cancer free. Half the cancer patients had been exposed to a rays compared with about 20 percent of the cancer free patients. The researchers said a Ray exposure was associated with a sixfold increase in cancer risk in these women. The researchers counted Only a Ray procedures that exposed women to moderate doses of radiation. These included upper gastrointestinal series and barium enemas. They did not count less intensive exposure such As mammograms or dental a rays. Mammograms Are a Ray tests that Are routinely used to spot breast cancer. In his report Swift said that the risk of this test might actually outweigh its advantages in women who carry the at Gene. To rate and an additional 2 percent death rate in the ensuing 10 years the researchers said. Study subjects included All Oregon residents 18 years old or younger undergoing surgery for any of eight heart defects Between 1958 and 1989, said the researchers. Cynthia d. Morris of the department of Medicine at Oregon health sciences University in Portland led the research. A in the last 25 years More than half a million children with functionally important heart defects have reached adulthood with medical and surgical intervention a the researchers said. But the March of dimes said the strides Arentt enough. A congenital heart defects Are still the most lethal group of birth defects in America a the White Plains  foundation said in a statement. A the children whose survival is noted in this study Are the fortunate ones a said the foundation s president Jennifer l. Howse a but in order to save the thousands of other babies born with heart defects who cannot be helped by surgery we must learn to prevent heart defects from  heart defects afflict one in every 125 to 150 babies born in the United states. Search group a consumer organization. Jak  inc. Of Milwaukee is recalling its rain or Shine dolls Model up 0137, because their movable arms separated when tested by the commission the announcement said. The dolls with removable plastic raincoats were sold nationwide from january 1990 through december 1991 for about $2 to $3 each. Consumers were urged to return the toys and receive a refund at the stores where the products were purchased. The commission also said that Graco children s products is offering free retrofit kits to purchasers of play trays sold As accessories for Graco Walker Model 45537. It said Graco determined that some children might be Able to remove the soft plastic a music Button Quot on the tray and choke on it. Graco received 14 reports of children removing the buttons and two of the children nearly choked the commission said. It said there had been no reports of permanent or serious injury.  settles claims in a Hospital deaths from wire reports Chicago a the department of veterans affairs has settled three claims in a series of deaths that led to a congressional investigation into medical care at a a Hospital a newspaper has reported. After a damning report in april by the vans inspector general the department acknowledged that eight deaths at the a medical Center North Chicago were the result of Hospital error. The deaths occurred Between june 1989 and March 1990. Secretary of veterans affairs Edward j. Derwinski invited families of the eight dead men to submit claims for compensation. One of the deaths was settled for $310,000, a attorneys told the Chicago Tribune. Two others were settled but the a refused to disclose How much the settlements were or even which families were involved the Tribune said.1,125-Pound Man Dies new York a Walter Hudson who was once listed in the guinness Book of world records As the heaviest Man on Earth died on tuesday at his Home in Hempstead . He was 46. He apparently died of a heart attack. The Nassau county ., medical examiner will perform an autopsy police said. The associated press reported that Hudson weighed 1,125 pounds and that emergency rescuers had to Cut a 4-by-6 foot Hole in the Wall of his bedroom to remove the body. Hudson gained notoriety in 1987 when at his top weight of 1,200 pounds he became stuck in a doorway of his Home. A year later Hudson having lost 600 pounds went outdoors for the first time in 18 years. But he regained much of the weight before he  file lawsuit Chicago a a group of White Chicago firefighters passed Over for promotion in favor of minority candidates sued the City seeking a court order requiring their promotion. The 33 men passed a 1979 examination for promotion to lieutenant. But under a 1980 settlement in a Federal Job discrimination Case minority firefighters who scored lower than their White counterparts were promoted first. The lawsuit filed tuesday in Cook county circuit court asks that each Man be promoted to lieutenant and receive $125,000 in  warns fee dodgers Wrentham mass. A an 8-year-old Bov who owes $2 in overdue Library fines could face larceny charges if he does no to show up in court to give an explanation. James Defrancisco was among More than two dozen people the Wrentham Library notified must appear in District court monday in a crackdown on failure to return books. The $2 Fine is the maximum the Library imposes. Patricia Defrancisco insists she returned the Book her son borrowed Stacy says goodbye about six weeks  set free Des Moines Iowa a a former Iowa radio and television Anchorman abducted outside his Home by two men was released unharmed in Texas on wednesday police said. Robert Sterenborg 68, known on the air As Bob Henry was last seen at his Home tuesday morning police said. His abductors forced him at gunpoint to drive then left him and his car in Mcallen Texas on wednesday night Des Moines police sgt. Chan Wallace said. Wallace said police had no idea of a motive for the abduction. He did no to know if Sterenborg had been robbed. A the s in Good condition. He was not harmed at All a Wallace said. Study shows vast improvement in survival of ailing newborns toy cars dolls recalled As hazardous Hudson