Scientists seek smallpox cure in medicine cabinet
Scientists in search of a smallpox cure hope they'll find one already on the shelf.Their strategy: Sift through the hundreds of potential virus medicines developed by drug companies to see if any work against smallpox. Chances are good, they say, because 21 drugs have already been identified this way that can kill the virus in a test tube.
The treatment of viral illnesses has undergone a revolution since smallpox was eliminated two decades ago. At that time, no medicine could touch a virus. Now there are drugs for flu, herpes, AIDS and other viral illnesses.
Most of this smallpox research is overseen by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Dr. Peter Jahrling, who heads the Army's smallpox research, said the most potent pills found so far are cidofovir and five similar compounds. So far, all seem reasonably safe.
Long menstrual cycles pose diabetes risk
CHICAGO >> Women who have long or irregular menstrual cycles are at twice the risk of developing adult-onset diabetes compared to women with normal cycles, researchers said.Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, writing yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, said irregular menstrual cycles may indicate metabolic abnormalities that raise the risk of insulin resistance, which hampers the body's ability to process sugar and leads to diabetes.
The study, part of the Nurses' Health study involving more than 100,000 women, those who reported their menstrual periods were 40 days apart -- compared to the normal 26 to 31 days -- or whose cycles were too irregular to predict were at higher risk of the disease regardless of body size.
Corrections and clarifications
>> Each team that fulfilled the requirements of a city environmental watershed competition received $250. A story Sunday on A18 on one of the three winning teams, from Niu Valley Middle School, incorrectly reported that each team member received $250.>> An A2 story Saturday on land at Puuwaawaa, North Kona, gave an incorrect tally for a Land Board vote on accepting a proposal made by Ka Ahahui O Puu Waawaa. The vote was 3-3, not enough to approve the proposal.
>> Hawaii will receive $382.8 million for military construction in fiscal 2002. A headline yesterday on A3 gave an incorrect amount.
>> The fruit depicted with cranberries on the cover of yesterday's Today section is a persimmon. It was misidentified as a pomegranate.
>> Food was served in Aala Park on Friday by the Ohana Family of the Living God. A photo caption on A3 Saturday said incorrectly that it was served by Aloha Harvest, which collected and delivered the food but did not serve it.
>> A caption on the Insight cover Sunday incorrectly referred to Gen. Augusto Pinochet as a leader of Argentina. Pinochet ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
LEEWARD OAHU
Family of 5 burned out of its Aiea home
A fire gutted the first floor of a three-story Aiea home displacing a family of five last night .Fire officials said the fire at 99-745 Holoai St. started in one of the two first-floor bedrooms shortly before 10:40 p.m. The cause is under investigation. The fire caused an estimated $125,000 damage to the structure and $40,000 damage to its contents. There were no injuries. However a 40-year-old woman was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene then released. The family refused assistance from the American Red Cross. Fire officials said the husband, wife and their three daughters went to stay with relatives.
Man wanted for questioning arrested
Police arrested a man last night wanted for questioning in connection with a fatal shooting of his friend in Waipahu last weekend.Ryan Naleimaile, 25, of Waipio, was arrested in Waikiki for being a felon in possession of a firearm and on a criminal contempt warrant.
Police said Naleimaile and 24-year-old Shane Takeuchi were practicing wrestling moves Sunday shortly before witnesses heard a gunshot at the Lumihoahu Street home.
Police said Naleimaile fled following the shooting. Witnesses told police they saw him at the home with a firearm. Takeuchi was taken to the Queen's Medical Center where he later died.
HONOLULU
Another suspect arrested in chicken fight death
Police arrested another suspect in connection with the beating death of a man at a chicken fight in Kalihi Friday.The 29-year-old Whitmore Village man was arrested at Honolulu Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon.
Two men from Kaimuki and one from Kalihi are in police custody after turning themselves in Monday.
All suspects face second-degree murder and attempted murder charges.
Police said a group of men beat 39-year-old Leon Fernandez at a home on Bannister Street Friday over an alleged fixed chicken fight.
Fernandez was taken to Kaiser Medical Center where he died Saturday. A 41-year-old Waipahu man was also taken to Kaiser for injuries he suffered in the brawl. He is in guarded condition.
Health Department fire causes minor damage
Fire officials suspect an electrical short to a soda vending machine is the cause of a fire on the fifth floor of the state Department of Health offices at 1250 Punchbowl St. last night.By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the 8:18 p.m. fire had already burned itself out.
The fire created a lot of smoke that firefighters ventilated from the building. Fire investigators say the fire caused $2,000 damage to the building and $10,000 damage to the vending machine.
