Science briefs

Cholesterol drugs may be prescribed for
profit

TRENTON, N.J. “”mdash; Most of the heart disease experts who
urged more people to take cholesterol-lowering drugs have made
money from the companies selling those medicines.

Drug makers earned $26 billion worldwide on cholesterol-lowering
medicines, the top-selling class of drugs.

New guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and the
federal government were aimed at preventing heart attacks. They
were written by nine of the country’s top cholesterol
experts. All but one have received consulting or speaking fees,
research money or other support from makers of the most widely used
anticholesterol drugs.

The new guidelines would add about 7 million more Americans to
the 36 million already encouraged to take the pills to lower their
cholesterol.

Professor rides bike to a healthier self

CARBONDALE, Ill. “”mdash; A creative writing professor at
Southern Illinois University, though he is no Lance Armstrong,
accomplished his own long-shot atop his bike.

He morphed from a 255-pound, beer-guzzling chain smoker two
years ago into a smoke-free teetotaler who cuts a sleek figure in
skintight Italian racing suits.

He rides up to 70 miles a day and competes with an amateur
racing team.

Mike Magnuson, now 41 and 80 pounds lighter, wrote a book about
his ride to health, though he does not recommend his approach to
others.

“˜”˜It was stupid, stupid, stupid,”
Magnuson said, “˜”˜I could have dropped
dead,” he said.

Reports from Bruin wire services.