'Virtual Secretaries' Most Medical Experts, However, Most Medical Authorities Have Ing More Nicotine Receptors, and Disagree

2c The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Mori., Nov. 14,1994 MONEY/TECHNOLOGY HEALTH & SCIENCE Are cigarettes addictive? Smokers can answer that By John Schwartz port of 1988 said it does. But the The Washington Post tobacco industry argues that it Before he finally quit smoking does not, at least in the com 18 years ago, Charles R. Schus mon-sense meaning of the ter recalled that after a day of words. leading smoking-cessation work James W. Johnston, chief ex shops, he would declare to his ecutive officer of R.J. Reynolds wife that he was finished with Tobacco Co., said, "All you need cigarettes — and dramatically to do is ask and honestly answer fling his pack over the back two simple questions. First, patio into his garden. would you rather board a plane "Two hours later," said the with a pilot who just smoked a former head of the National cigarette, or one with a pilot Institute on Drug Addiction, "I who just had a couple of beers would be out there with a flash or snorted cocaine or shot hero light, looking through the bush in or popped some pills?" es." good feeling within a part of the "Second, if cigarettes were ad Most people would say he was brain known as the nucleus dictive, could almost 43 million hooked. Yet there is no univer accumbens. Americans have quit smoking, sal consensus on how addictive Cocaine, like nicotine, enhanc almost all of them on their own nicotine is, or at what level it es the effects of dopamine. It without any outside help?" becomes so. blocks the parts of the cells that The fact that millions have Nicotine, one of nature's own soak dopamine back up, leaving quit smoking doesn't negate nic insecticides, might seem an un more dopamine in the brain and otine's addictiveness, said Jack AP photo likely drug of choice. Nicotine is over-stimulating the nucleus ac E. Henningfield, chief of Nation lethal to bugs, because it mimics cumbens. al Institute on Drug Addiction's High-tech fair in Vietnam the action of messenger chemi Nicotine could work on the Clinical Pharmacology Branch. cals that help animals' nerve same system, but it doesn't keep Many addicts walk away from A Vietnamese visitor points to a computer screen as he talks to Jonathan Mayshar (right) of cells communicate. the body from soaking up its alcohol, cocaine and even hero Scitex Israel about the system's computer graphics and applications. The two are taking part But as toxicologists are wont excess dopamine the way co in. in the Hanoi International Fair for European Engineering and Production Machinery. About to say, the dose makes the poi caine does; instead, it seems to "There is the notion that hero 421 companies from 15 countries are represented at the fair. son. At the level offered by tell the nerve cells to pump out in is an all-or-nothing addiction, cigarettes, nicotine gives its fans more dopamine. but nothing is further from the a rush of pleasure, focusing the At the same time, steady truth," he said. As many as 15 mind and relaxing the nerves. smoking appears to deactivate percent of heroin users never The tobacco industry insists the nicotine receptors, lessening seem to become addicted at all that smokers light up for plea the pleasant buzz. The body — about the same percentage of sure, not to satisfy an addiction. compensates over time by grow non-addicted smokers, he said. 'Virtual secretaries' Most medical experts, however, Most medical authorities have ing more nicotine receptors, and disagree. "once that pathology is set up, little doubt that nicotine fits the So as the FDA explores the you end up in a little cycle that classic definition of chemical Now you don't have to be organized possibility of regulating tobacco keeps you smoking cigarettes," addiction. They have identified products as drugs, Commission By Mark Potts Two recently released computer organizer said John Dani, a researcher at all the generally recognized hall er David A. Kessler has suggest Special to The Washington Post software packages illustrate the strengths, and Baylor College of Medicine in marks of addiction in smokers: 'm not the most organized person in the world. shortcomings, of the new breed of PIMs: Claris ed that it might require ciga Houston. • New smokers develop a tol For years, I did without a desk calendar, Organizer is a bare-bones model that eschews rette-makers to ratchet back the After the body has gone with erance for nicotine, building to keeping appointments in my head or on little many bells and whistles (sometimes at its peril); levels of nicotine in cigarettes out nicotine for several hours, ward an eventual plateau. I gradually over a decade or more scraps of paper. My scruffy Rolodex was full of Expresso, from Berkeley Systems — the company the receptors reactivate, hungri • They find it difficult to quit, outdated names and phone numbers. famed for its whimsical After Dark screen-saver to reach levels that- are not ly clamoring for a fix. "You feel even when aware of the health addictive. Once I finally got a personal computer for my program — piles on the features and gimmicks nervous, your hands are shak effects. Researchers have found into an attractive but bulky package that may be Finding that level may prove ing — you feel awful. That's the that half of smokers who have desk at work, I was sure I'd change my difficult, although nicotine is disorganized ways. But I neyer was able to find an too ornate for some users' needs. reason the first cigarette of the had surgery for lung cancer one of the more studied of day is reported to be the most resume their habits, and 38 per electronic organizer that suited me, so I kept The best thing about Claris Organizer is a drugs. Indeed, much of what we feature it shares with its corporate cousin at pleasurable," Dani said. The cent of smokers who suffer a addresses on a clunky old HyperCard stack and now know about the class of Apple Computer Inc., the Newton: If you type smoker continues to puff heart attack go back to smoking. tried various date-book programs to keep track of messenger substances called "Lunch with Bob" into its calendar, it consults its throughout the day to keep the • Smokers who try to quit my schedule. neurotransmitters derives from .Moa^^^^^^^H address book and offers receptors quiet. experience withdrawal symp Things got even more •MMMUMMMBMMM early experiments with nicotine. complicated as my you a choice of Bobs you Does that cycle equal addic toms such as irritability, anxi can link to the In 1909 British researcher J.N. ety, headaches and more. computing went portable. *'What used to be called Langley found that nicotine, tion? The surgeon general's re I found myself keeping appointment. Newton goes a bit farther — it when applied to the part of a different schedules on my calendars and date books knows that lunch is muscle that joins a nerve, could desktop machine, my generally at noon, and make muscle tissue contract. He U of I finds milk fortifier laptop and my Newton — are now 'personal realized that there must be a 9 schedules accordingly, a device that, if nothing information managers, and over time learns your "receptive substance" at the else, has a fairly good habits and guesses that neuromuscular junction that is helps premature infants scheduler and address loaded with enough the Bob you want is the responsive to chemicals like nic the possibility of fractures. book built in. IOWA CITY — For most ba one you usually eat lunch otine, and that the body must bies, the concentrations of nutri produce its own nicotine-like Previous studies have shown I suspect my plight was features to make them with. ents and minerals in breast milk hardly unique. Among chemicals. that adding a fortifier improves And Claris Organizer makes it the perfect food for the the most booming virtual substitutes for Later researchers found the efficiently handles most beginning of life. the growth of premature infants. products in PC software 99 body's nicotine-like neurotrans of the other basics of "Because premature infants are programs that help secretaries. mitter: acetylcholine, which is Unfortunately, for premature grow at such a phenomenal rate, people organize their organizers — allowing also released at the synapses, or you to sort and group infants breast milk is not ade the nutritional needs of the pre lives. points of connection, between quate to support their needs. In addresses and two nerve cells. mature baby are greater than • What used to be called appointments, offering a a new study, University of Iowa what breast milk alone is capa calendars and date books When people use tobacco, nic great deal of flexibility in College of Medicine researchers ble of providing," says Ziegler, are now dubbed "personal otine enters the bloodstream are examining the effectiveness how you enter information and sending also a staff physician at the information managers" — PIMs, for short — and and binds to receptors in place of a new fortified powder that is reminders of upcoming appointments. of acetylcholine. In the brain University of Iowa Hospitals. are loaded up with enough features to make them • But Organizer disappoints in many other areas. added to breast milk. virtual substitutes for secretaries. Most PIMs (which nicotine can reach by It has a fairly ugly interface that's almost integrate the scheduling and address-book passing through its protective "We will be testing a newly Better nutrition in early life unchangeable by the user. It is not set up to run functions to allow users to link appointments with filter barrier) nicotine alters the developed fortifier that contains may also have life-long effects. on a network, making it impossible to detailed information about the person they're messages sent between nerve different amounts of protein, "Later in life, children born automatically coordinate schedules with others. meeting, help coordinate meetings among several cells — especially along the sec calcium, phosphorus and other prematurely can have develop people on a network, and update and synchronize Berkeley Systems' Expresso, on the other hand, tion of the inner brain known as nutrients," says Dr. Ekhard mental problems or trouble in the mesolimbic dopaminergic Information between laptop and desktop does all of the above, plus lots more. Maybe too Ziegler, principal investigator of school. We think some of these computers. And the best ones can be highly much more. (It also is available for both Windows pathway, from which cravings seem to emerge. the study and professor of pedi problems may be related to in customized by their users to suit their needs. and Macintosh; Organizer is only for Macintosh.) atrics. Without the additional The mesolimbic system re adequate nutrition during infan sponds to some pleasurable acts nutrients, bones can become un cy," Ziegler says. by producing the chemical dopa der-mineralized, which leaves mine, believed to reinforce the them weakened and increases The U of I was one of the first health care institutions to add fortifiers to breast milk to meet Heart: Obesity is a predictor the specific needs of premature NET PERCENT infants. CLOSING CLOSING CHANGE CHANGE ANNUAL • From page 1C TICKER PRICE PRICE IN IN P/E DIVIDEND 52-WEEK Co-investigators for the study EXCH COMPANY SYMBOL 11/4/94 11/11/94 PERIOD PERIOD RATIO RATE YIELD HIGH LOW that obesity in children is a ease, but obesity is also perhaps include Dr. Edward Bell, profes NYS Aegon AEG 61 VB 62Vs +V2 +0.8 11 2.21 3.6 64 49 predictor of both high cholester sor of pediatrics, and Karen OTC AldGp ALGR 27% 26V2 -V/A -4.5 6 .60 2.3 31 22% the most modifiable risk factor," 5 ol and, later in life, high blood NYS ArchDn ADM 27% 28 + /e +2.3 17 J5 0.5 29Va 20"/32 Johnson, June Miller, and Ter- 7 he said. "There are public OTC BoatBn BOAT 30Vs 29 /i« -'Vi6 -2.3 9 1.36 4.6 35 26% pressure and elevated levels of rie James, staff nurses Universi OTC BrentB BRBK 19V2 18'A -VM -6.4 11 .44 2.4 20V2 17V2 calcified plaque. health implications here." ty Hospitals.

7 -3.1 13% 7% NYS Cvcare CYS 12V4 ll /8 + '/4 +0.4 11 2.20 3.2 90% 64>/2 NYS Deere DE 69 691/4 "In examining the mothers, NYS EKodak EK -2.7 18 1.60 3.5 54Vs 40"/i6 47 45% -IV4 fathers, sisters, brothers and re EIC 11 .48 1.4 39V4 29 NYS Eqtlowa 33V2 33V 2 1.20 lated aunts, uncles and cousins NYS Fstar FSR -4.3 9 4.3 353/e 28V2 29V4 d28 -l'/4 + '/4 +2.3 12 .48 4.4 I8V2 9V2 of such children with excess OTC Flexstl FLXS 103/4 11 +3/4 + 1.6 15 1.44 3.0 54Va 45 weight, it appears body weight NYS GenEI GE 48 483/4 -1V4 -2.2 20 1.88 3.4 63Va 493/8 NYS GnMills GIS 57V4 56 obeys genetic laws," Lauer said. -1.2 32 1.00 1.4 74% 573/4 G s NYS Gillete 72'/2 71 /a -3/4 -1.9 14 1.40 3.6 463/4 37Vs "About 36 percent of the popula NYS Grace GRA 40Ve 393/e 175/8 tion in the Muscatine study ap NYS Hansn HAN 18Ve 18VB 13 1.10 6.0 22V2 20 183/4 -l'A -6.3 11 .52 2.8 213/8 17V2 pears to be carrying a major GUIDE OTC HawkB HWKB 23V2 OTC Hrtlnd HTLD 293/B 30Vl6 + IV16 +3.6 38 363/4 gene for obesity." 24 General Information OTC Honlnd HONI 26 26 -2.1 15 .44 1.7 34 313/4 24% NYS IES IES 25V4 25 .1/4 -1.0 10 2.10 8.4 Lauer said the Muscatine Pro What is Fox Eye Institute? 5501 8OV2 605/8 NYS IntPap IP 715/8 723/4 + l'/e + 1.6 25 1.68 2.3 ject is now looking at genetic Who is Dr. Mario Mota? 5502 25'A 19V4 Eye ConditisBS NYS lowallg IWG 20VB 195/8 -V2 -2.5 10 1.73 8.8 Who is Dr. Lee Birchansky? ...5503 235/8 I6V4 factors that contribute to the NYS LongvF LFB 163/e I6V2 + '/8 +0.8 28 .52 3.2 Droopy eyelids 581S 3 20Va 14% NYS Maytag MYG 15 A 15'/2 .1/4 -1.6 11 .50 3.2 range of long-established coro Strabismus & amblyopia ...... 8918 17 .10 0.5 29 213/e Eye Surgeries OTC MCI MCIC 223/8 213/4 -5/8 -2.8 nary risk factors. Mahoney GlaucomB 5S17 I6V4 Radial Keratotamy(RK) 5504 NYS Moore MCL 175/e 175/e .94 5.3 20% hopes to secure additional fund Diabetic retinopathy 5518 -3.1 10 .72 4.6 19'/2 15V2 OTC NashF NAFC 16 15'/2 Cataracts - What are they?....5505 10'A ing from the National Institutes OTC NtCptr NLCS 14'A 15 +3/4 +5.3 .36 2.4 15 Stye/chalazion 5518 233/4 Blood thinners and cataracts..5506 OTC Norand NRND 385/8 38 -5/8 -1.6 28 40 of Health to study the levels of Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis 5528 22'A Temporal approach S. NYS Norwst NOB 23V2 23'A .1/4 -1.1 10 .84 3.6 28V4 calcified plaque in the coronary cataracts 5507 OTC Penwst PENW 213/4 22V2 +3/4 +3.5 26 .20 0.9 26V2 17V2 arteries of the parents and other Miscellaneous 51'A NYS ProctG PG 613/4 62 + 'A +0.4 19 1.40 2.3 645/e relations of those young adults Eye drop anesthesia & 85 61% Flashes and floaters 5521 NYS QuakrO OAT 68V2 675/8 -% -1.3 23 2.28 3.4 already identified as having cal cataracts 5500 21Vs +% +4.3 13 21% 13'/2 Sport injuries 5522 NYS RalcpHId RAH 20'A Microscope light toxicity 5509 63V 643/e +% + 1.4 15 1.50 2.3 68% 59VB cified plaque in their arteries. NYS Ravthn RTN 2 Chemical burns 5523 33 Sutureless cataract 5510 NYS Rockwl ROK 35 Vz 355/8 + VB +0.4 12 1.08 3.0 44Ve What does 20/20 mean? 5524 20% "Obesity is the strongest, most NYS Tanger SKT 21 Ve 21% 15 1.84 8.7 343/4 Corneal transplants 5511 36 Placing an eyedrop 5525 OTC UFIreC UFCS 42 4OV2 -IV2 -3.6 9 1.08 2.7 44 consistent factor associated with • 223/e AMX USCell USM 32'A 32V2 + 'A +0.8 35'A elevated blood pressure, abnor 5 Laser Surgeries UTX 61 Ve 59V2 -l /a -2.7 14 2.00 3.4 72 58 NYS UnTech mally low high-density lipopro Laser for nearsightedness 5512 ' z 223/8 NYS WalMI WMT 233A 235/e -Ve -0.5 22 .17 0.7 30V2 -3/8 16 1.20 3.1 51'A 373/4 tein levels — the so-called Laser for diabetes 5513 NYS Weverh WY 38V2 38% -1.0 26V4 12'A OTC Yonk YONK 19 18% -Vs -0.7 •13 "good" cholesterol — and less Laser for glaucoma 5514 striking levels of low-density li Y poprotein — "bad cholesterol"," (D) New low in period The Gazette FOX EYE INSTITUTE, P.C. (U) New high in period Mahoney said. Lee Birchansky, M.D. • This table is based on sources believed to be reliable, and while extensive efforts are made to assure its accuracy and "These lipid levels, high blood .i i y ui iv= Mario Mota, M.D. timeliness, no guarantees can be made. Tribune Media Services and The Gazette Co. assume no liability for any inaccuracies pressure and obesity are all or untimeliness of data. major risk factors for heart dis WHEN YOU NEEQ V