| Starfish may hold key to the repair of broken bones VICTORIA (UPC) - After two years of initial study, a Victona University biologist is ready to begin ex. pemmenting with animals to prove his theory that sea urchins and starfish can play a major role in the repair and treatment of broken bones. “Tam convinced that bad fractures can be repaired more effectively with the use of materials from the skeletons of sea urchins and starfish.” said Dr. Arthur Fontaine “Initial ex- pemmentation has been very successful ~ Fontaine said the bones of humans and other animals are a mixture of 9 stony material and flexible imorgamc tssue But tests carned out by himself and research assistant Bev Hall found that the skeletons of starfish and sea urchins are composed entirely wf limestone rae Limestone, apparently ts the key. Fontaine said. because it provides two major advantages from a medical viewpoint mas native to the human body climinating = problems tn volving reyection. and it can be cleaned and stembized to climinate all foreign matter “Because it is soluble it van be ehmuinated after ats no longer required to act asa scaffolding for the new bone 9 bontaine sand But before Fontaine's theory can be apphed in general medicine, he must prove it works and he hopes to begin laboratory ex- penments with rats within a few weeks. Generally, however, the medical profession remains skeptical of Fontaine's claims Bone speciahst Dr. A.E. Wall of Victoma said he was “very doubtful” about the technique and said several factors were being overlooked “There is always an element of infection when introducing foreign matter into the human body. quite apart from the rejection factor.” he said “But more important, 1 would delay the healing process and could even prevent regrowth of the bone in some cases ” Wall said a vital part of the healing process was the invasion of the injured bone by blood vesels to provide the basis for growth of new tissue) which hardens into bone eventually “Bone is a living tissue and bleeds when it ts damaged ~ he said “Packing the bone cells with hbmestone of calkotum substance would impede the spread oof the new blood vessels and therefore delay healing | Scientists oan California after Conducting thei own cme we ann ene ney a eT AEE EER TE expemments, rejected the process because they felt the skeletal structure was too weak. Fontaine, however, remains convinced he 1s on the right track. He said human bone 1s perforated by milhons of tiny holes in a spiral network pattern. Human firbroblasts (cells that secrete a matenal which bonds bones together} lodge im the holes and provide the first stage of rebuuding new bone “Other cells build on the foundahon provided by fibroblast cells, add other components necessary to healing and remove foreign matter such as shivers of bone and infecuion.” he sand. Fontaine said the softness of hmestone is a key factor “We think the softness is a virtue We think the sub stance should be regarded as biodegradable ceramic ” Fontaine said a surgeon attempting reconstruction of a damaged or broken bone would pack the = skeletal matenal into a temporary steel framework around the injury and want for the bone tissue to grow within it It would hold the bone tn place until the tissue had reyoned and would then theoretically be removed by normal cellular function he said Prostitutes raise price for Democratic convention Up to 40% more NI WwW VORA ee Kepresentatives of prteoostitute x yrerupes say Chiat Veapite a prole orackdhown sem wall tee for sabe durtap thre Pde tm ratas Natironal {convention Chis summer ane prem esx wall bee upoote a0 percent higher I the tcprescotatives wines van oo prerstilites web bee t berwrsage Republi ans ts heat ccomvemtyeon dusty 14 EM re Le tees Trvs Lobe Lia Corus tread oof hie 2, OOO member Prostitutes of New Yooh cat peostitutes intend te tobe thea proces hurting the Nur 11 ta Dre ervere rants om ne oy Daaevang the Case athens > cen WALL mot stop tasthrag oe onatter bow many pole are arresting them [oe la ora toh a OCwcens © ble ge SOMA of prosti bation last wcch Dhye res an cape ante cen fhe vtreet put a bethe shade uw Yorn gee undercover Yor tees cme oa Wi the ommone wary View ash mone (rec tbe vers Bhat yom hoover t Se 0 sand Ma bbe bia torus “Stee val poromntitarte s woudl Large pratage 40) per cont route Verevag Conve Aton Ms tbe La Crue sand the ro npe pr omstitute probably woah hharge mo cco cmtbern Ve de parte : So naling There wil bre women Commun oto from Boston Athanta aod exvetyplace clye : A21-Wednesday, May 28, 1980 - North Shore News A See us far good Nearing aid service - sales repairs batteries and advice northwestern hearing centre 1910 Lonsdale north vancouver Open Tues Fri 9 30-5. Sat 9 30-1 Closed Mon 985-5552