Faculty Bibliography

During his Presidency, [John F. Kennedy]'s cheeks periodically became puffy, suggesting he was being treated with cortisone and other hormones that compensate for the role the adrenal glands play in regulating circulation, inflammatory responses and minerals in the body. But Kennedy and his aides, including the White House physician, Dr. Janet Travell, either flatly denied the rumors or used cleverly worded cover stories to mislead the public

'I believe the American people must be assured that candidates for the Presidency are physically sound,' Mr. [Bill Clinton] said, in a statement by his campaign staff in Kansas City, Mo., where he was preparing yesterday for the first Presidential debate. 'Several months ago, I released statements from my doctors confirming that I am in excellent health, but as Election Day draws near, I believe it necessary to provide more details.' Ms. [Dee Dee Myers] made it clear that Mr. Clinton did not intend to go further in disclosure than that. She said he would not allow reporters to interview his physicians. 'It is a privacy issue,' she said. 'The Governor believes the voters have a right to know if the candidates are in good health, but he feels this is sufficient.'

Public knowledge about Mr. [Bill Clinton]'s health rests chiefly in a 95-word letter written last June by Dr. Andrew G. Kumpuris, who is believed to be Mr. Clinton's principal doctor. Dr. Kumpuris, a heart and internal medicine specialist, wrote that Mr. Clinton's 'general health is excellent and his evaluation was totally unremarkable.' The letter summarized the Governor's last checkup on Aug. 27, 1991. Dr. Kumpuris said in a brief interview that he addressed the letter 'to whom it may concern,' according to directions from the Clinton campaign staff. Dr. Kumpuris also wrote that he 'would be delighted to furnish' any additional information. Dr. [Kelsy J. Caplinger] wrote that he diagnosed allergic rhinitis in Mr. Clinton on Aug. 27, 1991, after he found Mr. Clinton to be sensitive to house dust, mold, weed pollens, cat and grass pollen. Dairy products and certain foods 'bother' Mr. Clinton and 'restricting these foods seems to be helpful for him,' Dr. Caplinger wrote.

[Andrew G. Kumpuris]' letter omits crucial information about [Bill Clinton]'s medical history of a type that candidates allowed their doctors to provide in earlier presidential campaigns. For example, there were no data about such basics as Clinton's height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and other standard test results. Nor was there mention of whether Clinton was taking any medications. Kumpuris said in a brief interview that he addressed the letter 'to whom it may concern,' according to directions from the Clinton campaign staff. Kumpuris also wrote that he 'would be delighted to furnish' any additional information. Kumpuris said Clinton had no evidence of a heart condition and had an excellent treadmill electrocardiogram. The test is done to detect the coronary artery disease that become damaged from build up of fatty deposits that then lead to heart attacks

Five people who were infected with HIV by blood transfusion from one donor have not developed any symptoms of AIDS seven to 10 years later, suggesting that it was a nonvirulent strain. The donor has also remained symptomless, scientists from Sydney Australia will report in the Oct 10, 1992 Lancet

Scientists have found five people who were infected with the AIDS virus by blood transfusions from one donor and then did not develop any evidence of illness seven to 10 years later, suggesting it was a nonvirulent strain. The donor has also remained a symptomless carrier of the virus, HIV, the scientists from Sydney, Australia, are reporting tomorrow in The Lancet, an international medical journal. It is the first report to suggest nonvirulent strains of HIV continue to be nonvirulent after being transmitted to other people, the authors said. But it is not clear whether the donor or any recipients will develop AIDS because the progression time from infection to disease is so variable

This establishes that contrary to repeated denials from Kennedy and his family and cleverly worded cover stories issued by his aides, Kennedy suffered for many years from adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease. (The adrenals are on top of the kidneys behind the abdomen). Kennedy kept fit by taking regular supplements of the adrenal hormone cortisone and its close relatives. The therapy is similar to the insulin injections taken by diabetics or the thyroid pills that President Bush now swallows to treat his thyroid condition. The [Lyndon B. Johnson] camp alleged Kennedy had long covered up his adrenal condition. But the president and his brother [Robert Kennedy] denied he had the ailment. Kennedy, who at 43 became the youngest ever president, described his health as excellent

The case that passive smoking increases the risk of lung cancer among non-smoking spouses has been strengthened by a study based on autopsies. Scientists have pointed out that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke often begins at birth, or even in the womb. Although the intensity of such exposure is usually lower than from active smoking, the longer exposure may partly offset the lower intensity. Non-smoking men married to smoking women were so rare in the study that the low numbers precluded a similar statistical analysis

A study that will be released on Oct 7, 1992 adds more evidence to the argument that passive smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. The study, led by Dimitrios Trichopoulos, used autopsies in an attempt to determine the risk of lung cancer among nonsmoking spouses

Scientists have pointed out that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke ofte n begins at birth, or even in the womb. Although the intensity of such exposure is usually lower than that from active smoking, the longer exposure might partly offset the lower intensity. The specimens were sent from the coroner's office in Athens for detailed microscopic examination b y pathologists in Turin, Italy. Although the Italian pathologists knew the general aim of the study, they were not told if the patients whose tissues they were examining had been exposed to tobacco smoke. Men accounted for 70 percent of those whose next of kin were interviewed, and women 30 percent. The larger proportion of men reflected the greater likelihood that men die in accidents or from unexpected heart disease, [Dimitrios Trichopoulos] said. Greek law requires an autopsy by a medical examiner for individuals who die in accidents or without having an attendant physician