April 25, 2000

Gina Kolata news analysis of confusion created in public mind when scientists go back on their health advice, such as in recent reports that estrogen replacement therapy is not protecting postmenopausal women from heart disease and that high-fiber diets fail to show they protect against colon cancer; photo of Woody Allen in scene from film Sleeper (L)

Market Place column on more than 15 percent drop in Microsoft Corp stock; says shares fell $12.3125, to $66.625, after investors digested company's earnings report for quarter ended in March and realized that operating profit was short of analysts' estimates, although net income was slightly ahead of expectations; holds disappointing news on earnings was compounded by reports Justice Department may try to resolve its antitrust case against company by splitting Microsoft into two or more companies; says decline shaved close to $70 billion off company's market valuation; company reports sales in three months ended March 31 were $5.66 billion, up 23 percent from 1999 level; profits rose 23 percent compared with 1999 quarter, to $2.4 billion; graph; chart (M)

Lucent Technologies names Deborah C Hopkins, Boeing Co's chief financial officer, to be its chief financial officer; Hopkins replaces Donald K Peterson; photo (M)

Biographical sketch of Leon Sigmund Fuerth notes that he began tutoring Vice Pres Al Gore on national security matters in 1980, and is now his closest adviser; Fuerth is 61 years old; he joined foreign service when his wife, Lynn, had their first of two sets of twin girls; photo (M)

New York Knickerbockers forward Larry Johnson discusses his performance in victory over Toronto Raptors in first game of playoff series; discusses his back and knee injuries and making big 3-point, clutch shot in final seconds of game; photo (M)