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Research Notes

Relief for cat allergies could come soon

For the 40 million people who get sniffly and teary-eyed when a cat is anywhere nearby, relief could be on the way.

The Allervax cat vaccine relieves allergies because the body's cells usually responsible for producing symptoms are made to tolerate call dander and saliva, the two primary cat substances that cause allergies.

In an early trial, 87 percent of patients treated with a high dose felt relief.

Patients received a series of four shots over a two to four week period. They may get a booster every six to 12 months.

Yeast infection risk factors identified

Two of three women experience the itching, burning, soreness and discharge of a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives, but little is known about prevention of the condition.

A University study found receiving oral sex tripled the risk of developing an infection, while oral contraceptive and spermicide use doubled the risk.

Patients were more likely to be young and non-white.

Vaginal intercourse, type of underwear worn and number of sexual partners were not linked to risk of yeast infection.

The study was conducted by Betsy Foxman, an associate professor of epidemiology and Ann Geiger, who is now at Kaiser Permanente in California.

The results are in next month's issue of Epidemiology.

Leaders gather for symposium

The research relationship between the government and universities will be the topic of the first Jerome B. Wiesner Symposium next Tuesday.

Representatives from major universities, government officials and industry leaders will hear a keynote address by Charles Vest, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and former University provost.

"Our goal is to generate a discussion that brings all the parties and sectors together, in the hope of developing a broad, mutual understanding of the principles that ought to guide both universities and government as they plan for the future," said Homer Neal, the University's vice president for research and the organizer of the symposium.

The conference is open to the public. Some of the leaders participating in the panel discussion include U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor), University President James Duderstadt and Anne Peterson, deputy director for the National Science Foundation.

For more information, contact Gary Krenz in the Office of the Vice President for Research at 763-6048.

-- Compiled by Daily News Editor Megan Schimpf.