MEANWHILE, U.S. and Canadian researchers believe that fish oil may povide protection against two common diseases of the digestive tract: gallstones and colitis. In one study, Dr. Richard Fedorak of the University of Alberta found that a diet rich in fish oil reversed the symptoms of colitis in laboratory rats. In a second study, a team of scientists led by Dr. Thomas Magnuson of Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital, concluded that fish oil in the diet of adult male prairie dogs protected them against a common form of gallstones. Tests on humans are planned.

Gallstones can cause great pain and other symptoms if they obstruct the flow of bile. Though some gallstones are composed of calcium salts, the vast majority are composed of cholesterol. Magnuson said cholesterol gallstones are triggered when the cholesterol that is usually dissolved in bile crystalizes. Fish oil in the diet appears to inhibit the formation of the cholesterol crystals. Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that can cause alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea.

Of the 91 applicants who recently took the third biannual exams, 60% passed the licensing exams to be allowed to practice here, but only 30% passed the exams for those who graduated from foreign medical schools and want to continue in a specialty here. Unlike the two previous rounds of examinations since the tests were instituted, 74% of the immigrants from the Soviet Union passed their licensing exams, compared with only half of applicants from the rest of Eastern Europe. All of the Western European doctors passed and will receive their licences.