In the News

January 2006

Bill Would Block Access to Some Court Records
The Daily Record - Jan. 31

While the Maryland Court of Appeals has yet to decide whether to block electronic access to witness and victim information in criminal case records, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has put forth emergency legislation that would effectively do just that. "While there are legitimate privacy concerns at stake, an accusedýs right to conduct a full investigation of an accuser is constitutionally required," said Douglas Colbert, JD, professor at the School of Law.

Expert: There's no Over-the-Counter Cough Cure
The Day - Jan. 31

A new set of treatment guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians suggests that taking over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine may do no good for a cough tied to the common cold. Parents who reach for a cough and cold medicine for their child, said Richard Colgan, MD, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, "may be doing nothing else other than making themselves feel better."
www.theday.com

Medical Center Breathing New Life Into Building
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 30

The Paca-Pratt Building, at 110 S. Paca St., will be renovated to house administrative employees and support staff from the University of Maryland Medical Center, two blocks away. The University of Maryland Medical System, which oversees the medical center, has negotiated a long-term lease for the nine-story building and hired Notari Associates of Baltimore to serve as architect for a $9 million renovation. "We're moving some non-patient care offices into the building," said Joan Shnipper, vice president for corporate communications and public affairs for the medical system.
www.baltimoresun.com

Next Governor Could Reshape Appeals Court
The Washington Times - Jan. 17

Three of the seven judges who make up Maryland's highest court will reach mandatory retirement age during the next governor's term, giving whomever is elected in November a rare opportunity to mold the court. "What's at stake really is that the next governor will very much get to set the political tone of the Court of Appeals' makeup," said Christopher Brown, JD, an associate professor at the School of Law. Despite the potentially high stakes, the makeup of the Court of Appeals is not likely to become a campaign issue, said Mark Graber, PhD, JD, professor at the School of Law.
washingtontimes.com

Rexahn to Hire Postdoctoral Fellow
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 31

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. is creating a postdoctoral fellowship. The fellow will be mentored by the faculty at the School of Pharmacy's Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery and will use the center's research to improve drugs that Rexahn is developing.

The Liberia Election
The Campaign Line - February issue

Devising overall electoral strategy and get-out-the-vote operations sounds like a job for a political consultant. Selecting printing paper and color schemes for posters sounds more like a job for a junior campaign aide. Larry Gibson, JD, professor at the School of Law, who helped run the campaign for Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman to be elected president of an African country, is featured in this story.
www.campaignline.com

University Names There to Impress
The Daily Record - Jan. 31

St. Mary's College is the "public honors college" of Maryland, while the University of Maryland, Baltimore County calls itself "an honors university in Maryland." Welcome to the world of higher education marketing, a dimension where punctuation and implied meaning can prompt bitter battles for recognition in an increasingly competitive market. "Subtleties that seem to be really important to us, to the rest of the world it doesn't seem to matter," said T. Sue Gladhill, MSW, vice president for external affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.mddailyrecord.com

A Day of Hope in Monrovia
The Baltimore Afro-American - Jan. 27

Larry Gibson, LLB, professor at the School of Law, who helped run the campaign of the new president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, wrote about his experience attending her inauguration in the capital of Monrovia on Jan. 16.
www.afro.com

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
The Young Turks, Sirius Satellite Radio - Jan. 26

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed whatýs next in the confirmation process for Judge Samuel A. Alito to be named to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Civilettiýs Judgment Earns Him Top Billing
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 28

This story profiles Benjamin R. Civiletti, chairman of the law firm Venable LLP (headquartered in Washington, D.C.), former U.S. attorney general, and graduate of the School of Law. Michael A. Millemann, JD, professor at the School of Law, described Civiletti as "one of the most important legal statesmen of the last half-century in Maryland."
www.baltimoresun.com

Community Responds to Police Surveillance Cameras in Baltimore
The Morning Edition, WYPR Radio, 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. - Jan. 23

Baltimore has more than 175 police surveillance cameras, second in the United States only to Chicago, but far behind international cities such as London and Jerusalem. "The debate in the U.S. Supreme Court has gone something like this: What you hold out for the public to observe isn't subject to privacy protections. But what you seek to protect as private even in the public sphere may trip some Constitutional protections," said Renee Hutchins, JD, assistant professor at the School of Law.
www.publicbroadcasting.net

In The Spotlight
The Common Wealth News - Jan. 23

In a question-and-answer story with Bruce Stuart, PhD, professor and executive director of the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the School of Pharmacy, he discusses his early observations regarding Medicare Part D, the kinds of challenges beneficiaries may face, and his effort to profile beneficiaries' medication use.
www.cmwf.org

NIH to Fund Research of Young Scientists
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 28

A new program unveiled by the National Institutes of Health will provide nearly $400 million in grants during the next five years to help promising young scientists pursue independent medical research. Margaret McCarthy, PhD, assistant dean of graduate studies and professor at the School of Medicine, said the new program might have the added benefit of encouraging young female scientists who have been dropping out of biomedical research career paths at a higher rate than men.
www.baltimoresun.com

New Leader for Low-Bono Group
The Daily Record - Jan. 27

Nevett Steele takes over this week as the new director of litigation and general counsel of Civil Justice Inc., which operates in conjunction with the School of Law, and is designed to help solo and small-firm attorneys provide low-cost legal help to traditionally underserved members of the public. "Nevett is a first-rate lawyer, and in his career, he's taken on causes of people who canýt otherwise find representation," said Michael A. Millemann, JD, professor at the School of Law.

Profile of NextBreath LLC
The Washington Post - Jan. 30

The School of Pharmacy is one of the partners of NextBreath LLC, which is developing a new inhaler device that would improve drug delivery into the lungs.
www.washingtonpost.com

Public Unfamiliar with Judges on Court of Appeals
The Daily Record - Jan. 27

The editor of this newspaper wrote a commentary about the public's relative unfamiliarity with the judges on the Maryland Court of Appeals, spurred by a recent quote by Mark Graber, PhD, JD, professor at the School of Law. "Unless the state judiciary sanctions gay marriage or tosses out the death penalty of a mass murderer, most people who do not have law degrees cannot tell you the name of anyone on the appellate courts," said Graber.

University Names There to Impress
The Sunday Capital - Jan. 29
The Capital News Service - Jan. 29
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 29

St. Mary's College is the "public honors college" of Maryland, while the University of Maryland, Baltimore County calls itself "an honors university in Maryland." Welcome to the world of higher education marketing, a dimension where punctuation and implied meaning can prompt bitter battles for recognition in an increasingly competitive market. "Subtleties that seem to be really important to us, to the rest of the world it doesn't seem to matter," said T. Sue Gladhill, MSW, vice president for external affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.baltimoresun.com

Baltimore Development Corp. Must go Public, Appeals Court says
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 27

In a case that could expand how far citizens may tread into the back room world of city development deals, a Maryland appeals court has ruled that Baltimore's economic development agency must open its books-and its doors-to the public. But since the court chose not to report the case, the effect of an unpublished opinion binds the parties involved but cannot be used by other attorneys when making separate claims, said William Reynolds, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Bloating: One Symptom of a Serious Disease
Komotv.com - Jan. 26

Bloating can be a symptom of celiac disease, in which the body can't digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For sufferers, one bite of pizza or a teaspoon of flour can ignite a response from the immune system, causing damage to the small intestine and ultimately other organs. ýYou develop diarrhea [and] weight loss,ý said Alessio Fasano, MD, professor of pediatrics, medicine, and physiology, and director of the Mucosal Biology Research Center at the School of Medicine. "You feel bloated; you are gassy. You can have also abdominal pain and vomiting."
www.komotv.com

Mills Case Shows Peril of Painkiller Abuse
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 27
WMAR-TV 5 p.m. - Jan. 26

A prescription pain medication that Baltimore sportscaster Keith Mills has been accused of stealing from a neighbor is one that experts say is among the most commonly abused. Physicians also say it can sometimes be hard for them to tell if someone needs medication to ease pain or is dealing with addiction. "Pain is subjective. If someone says they're in pain, it's hard to show that they're not," said Christopher Welsh, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Prescription Drug Abuse Prevalent in Maryland
WBFF-TV 7:30 a.m. - Jan. 27
WBAL-TV 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - Jan. 26
WMAR-TV 5 p.m. - Jan. 26

In the wake of the Anne Arundel County police charges brought against Baltimore sportscaster Keith Mills for stealing prescription drugs from a neighbor, health experts said Marylanders addicted to prescription drugs are not alone in their abuse. "As long as we've been using opiates to treat pain, we've been having to deal with people who develop a physical need for medication after a period of treatment," said Anthony Tommasello, PhD, associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and director of the Office of Substance Abuse Studies.
www.thewbalchannel.com

Haunted Places in Maryland
juiceenewsdaily - Jan. 26

The University of Maryland, Baltimore's Davidge Hall, where many people have hosted events throughout the years, is listed in this article about people feeling uneasy inside the building and hearing strange and inexplicable noises inside it.
onlyidol.com

Democrats in Maryland Try to Limit Fallout Of Gay Union Case
The Washington Post - Jan. 25

Maryland Democrats concerned about the political fallout from last week's court ruling on same-sex marriage are considering a plan to block any final court ruling from taking effect until after the November elections. But David Bogen, LLB, LLM, professor at the School of Law, does not think the legislature can bind the court that way. "They don't have that authority," he said.
www.washingtonpost.com

Donaldson Brown Mansion in Cecil County May Be Sold
The Daily Record - Jan. 24

Some Cecil County residents are concerned that the University of Maryland, Baltimore is in too much of a rush to sell the Donaldson Brown mansion. The property, located atop a 200-foot-high bluff overlooking the Susquehanna River, was built in 1938 and is used as a conference center. The University, which has said the donated property is too expensive to maintain, says it would like to choose a developer or buyer by March 20.

For Adoption, Leave Race Out of the Discussion
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 25

Howard Altstein, PhD, professor in the School of Social Work, wrote an op-ed encouraging adoptions across racial lines. "If there's a goodness of fit between an available child in foster care of a race different from an eligible adoptive family, don't talk about race," he says.
www.baltimoresun.com

Internet: Health Help or Hazard?
Prevention magazine - February issue

M.J. Tooey, MLS, deputy director of the Health Sciences and Human Services Library, is quoted in this story, which examines the accuracy of online health information.

On Jobs, Marylandýs a Seeker's Market
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 25

Maryland just concluded its best year of job growth since the heady days of the technology boom, according to U.S. Department of Labor numbers released yesterday. Some businesses, including the University of Maryland Medical Center, are not only paying to train employees, but also are also paying the employeesý regular wages during the training. "We know because of growth in beds and capacity that we need to hire at least 300 nurses in the next 18 months," said Katherine McCullough, RN, MS, senior vice president for patient services at the medical center.
www.baltimoresun.com

Stricter Gift Ethics Urged
The Washington Times - Jan. 25
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 25

In a report-published in the current issue of the Journal of American Medical Association-a group of medical professors are pressuring medical schools and college hospitals to establish stricter rules that would ban doctors from accepting any gifts, drug samples, or direct grants from drug companies or medical device makers. Medical students at the School of Medicine must complete an ethics class that addresses corporate gifts, said John Talbott, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine.
washingtontimes.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
Lizz Brown's Morning Wake up Call, WGNU 920 AM St. Louis, 9 a.m. - Jan. 23

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito and how it relates to homeland security and executive authority.
www.lizzbrown.com

In Chertoff's Wake
Legal Times - Jan. 23

After a rocky year stemming from the governmentýs handling of Hurricane Katrina, things are looking brighter for some proteges of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Julie Myers is the new head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Alice Fisher leads the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division. "When people get into positions of power, they tend to bring in people they know," says Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Adjunct Professor's Death
The St. Louis Daily Record - Jan. 22

Linda Springrose, JD, an associate with Franklin & Prokopic, a law firm in Baltimore and an adjunct professor at the School of Law, died last Wednesday of an apparent embolism while recovering from a December surgery for a broken leg. Steve Schwinn, JD, an assistant professor at the School of Law, who recruited Springrose to the law school, characterized her loss as a ýtragedy to the community. She would be engaging and thoughtful, dynamic, [and] approachable," he said.

Deception by Researchers Relatively Rare
St. Paul Pioneer Press - Jan. 22

The Office of Research Integrity is the federal agency with prime responsibility for investigating scientific misconduct. When scientists do engage in misconduct, however, they tend to follow familiar patterns. "You do not need to do something highly sophisticated," said Adil Shamoo, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine. "Don't write something in a lab notebook. Take a cell culture and call it something else. Take the eggs you say you didn't take."
www.twincities.com

Doctors work to prevent avian flu
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 22

A recent School of Law seminar on avian flu addressed experts' growing concerns about how the disease is spreading sporadically from flocks to people in a growing number of countries and how scientists are looking for flu-fighting solutions in hopes of preventing a pandemic. Robert Edelman, MD, associate director for clinical research at the School of Medicine, and James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics and principal investigator for the avian flu trials at the School of Medicine, both of whom spoke at the symposium, and who were interviewed for this story.
www.baltimoresun.com

Experts Seeing New Dimension to Prostitution
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 21

Many prostitutes are poor, relatively uneducated women forced into the business. But scholars who have studied the sex trade say high-profile figures such as Heidi Fleiss and the "Mayflower Madam" illustrate another dimension to prostitution. "The literature is scarce on what actually causes women to go into prostitution, [though] there are a lot of theories," said Lyn Murphy, MS, MBA, RN, a clinical instructor at the School of Nursing.
www.baltimoresun.com

IOMAI Looks to Solvay to Boost Flu Vaccine Deal
MSNBC.com - Jan. 22

A Gaithersburg biotechnology firm has turned to a European pharmaceutical giant to help get its needle-free flu vaccine on to the market. While IOMAI Corp.'s data from early studies is encouraging, James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine, said the vaccine could still fail in humans.
msnbc.msn.com

Lawrence Franklin Sentencing
The Washington Post - Jan. 21

A former U.S. Department of Defense analyst was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for passing government secrets to two employees of a pro-Israel lobbying group and to an Israeli government official in Washington, D.C. The sentence fell at the low end of the federal sentencing guidelines, which called for a term as long as 188 months. "It could have been tougher," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.washingtonpost.com

New Drug Labels Easier to Read
U.S. News & World Report - Jan. 20

A major makeover for the inserts that accompany prescription drugs will play up information that is useful to pharmacists and patients while paring down the small-print legal disclaimers. But doctors, pharmacists, and patients still should read the inserts to the end, said Frank Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the School's Center on Drugs and Public Policy.
www.usnews.com

Vaccine Could Prevent Strep Throat
News14carolina.com - Jan. 23

A School of Medicine study on a vaccine to prevent strep infections found a vaccine that works. It produced an immune response to the bacteria in all 28 adults. "I really hope that we can continue to progress and end up with a vaccine that we can give to children," said lead researcher Karen Kotloff, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine.
www.news14charlotte.com

Bin Laden Tape
WJZ-TV Ch. 13, 11 p.m. - Jan. 19
WJZ.com - Jan. 19

The CIA has determined that the voice on an audiotape warning of new al-Qaeda attacks on the United States is indeed that of Osama bin Laden. "It's a very interesting tape because embedded in it is this idea of a truce," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor in the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security. "I don't think we should be relaxed about [the tape]. I think the country should have its guard up and be watchful."
wjz.com

Campus Creates a Collaborative Information Technology Culture
Network World - Jan. 19

When Peter Murray, PhD, arrived as the new chief information officer for the University of Maryland, Baltimore four years ago, he faced a daunting set of information technology projects that were just getting under way. Network World Senior Editor John Cox talked with Murray to find out how he made collaboration possible among the universityýs schools and departments, the highly regarded medical center, and an affiliated organization of doctors.
www.networkworld.com

Lawrence Franklin Sentencing
CBS Radio News - Jan. 20

A sentencing hearing took place yesterday for Lawrence Franklin, a U.S. Department of Defense employee who pleaded guilty to passing on classified information to two American Israel Public Affairs Committee employees about Iranian nuclear capabilities. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor in the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, was interviewed for this story.

New Drug Labels Easier to Read
The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jan. 20

A major makeover for the inserts that accompany prescription drugs will play up information that is useful to pharmacists and patients while paring down the small-print legal disclaimers. But doctors, pharmacists, and patients still should read the inserts to the end, said Frank Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the School's Center on Drugs and Public Policy.
www.philly.com

Noma-the Ulcer of Extreme Poverty
New England Journal of Medicine - Jan. 19

Cyril O. Enwonwu, MDS, PhD, ScD, a professor at the Dental School and an adjunct professor in the School of Medicine, has outlined the causes of noma, an ulcer that attacks the face of children in impoverished countries, and steps that need to be taken for treatment. Enwonwu is the former director of the Nigerian National Institute for Medical Research.
content.nejm.org

Poe's Birthday Toaster
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 19

For the 57th straight year, a mystery man paid tribute to legendary author Edgar Allan Poe by placing roses and a bottle of cognac on the writer1s grave at Westminster Hall, a part of the School of Law, to mark Poe's birthday.

State Leaders Briefed on Avian Flu Preparedness
The Associated Press - Jan. 18

As part of a briefing to lawmakers about how the state will deal with widespread absenteeism by state workers in the case of an avian flu outbreak, a state official said a vaccine is being tested at centers nationwide, including at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.baltimoresun.com

Adjunct Professor's Death
The Daily Record - Jan. 19

Linda Springrose, JD, an associate with Franklin & Prokopic, a law firm in Baltimore and an adjunct professor at the School of Law, died yesterday of an apparent embolism while recovering from a December surgery for a broken leg. Steve Schwinn, JD, an assistant professor at the School of Law, who recruited Springrose to the law school, characterized her loss as a "tragedy to the community. She would be engaging and thoughtful, dynamic, [and] approachable," he said. "And what she did, I think, especially well is bring a kind of practical approach to an otherwise somewhat sterile environment."

FDA Unveils New Prescription Drug Inserts
USA Today - Jan. 19

A major makeover for the inserts that accompany prescription drugs will play up information that is useful to pharmacists and patients while paring down the small-print legal disclaimers. But doctors, pharmacists, and patients still should read the inserts to the end, said Frank Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the School's Center on Drugs and Public Policy.
www.usatoday.com

Laughter Might be the Best Medicine
RxPG News - Jan. 18

Laughter keeps blood vessels dilated and protects against heart attacks, said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "Regular, hearty laughter should be added to exercise and a low-fat diet as a means of lowering the risk of heart disease," Miller says.
www.rxpgnews.com

Requests for Assisted Suicide Uncommon, Local Doctors Say
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 18

Maryland doctors who deal with end-of-life issues say that controlling patientsý pain or depression often provides relief to those who ask about the possibility of physician-assisted suicide, but they say very few patients raise the issue. "I don't get a lot of requests. It isn't common," said Tim Keay, MD, attending physician at the University of Maryland Medicine Inpatient Palliative Care Service and an associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

State Leaders Briefed on Avian Flu Preparedness
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 18
Daily Times - Jan. 18
TheWBALchannel.com - Jan. 18

As part of a briefing to lawmakers about how the state will deal with widespread absenteeism by state workers in the case of an avian flu outbreak, a state official said a vaccine is being tested at centers nationwide, including at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.delmarvanow.com
www.thewbalchannel.com

Assisted Suicide, NSA Spying
WUSA-TV Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - Jan. 18

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law and the further fallout from the National Security Agencyýs eavesdropping in the U.S.

Commentary: Support Governor's Veto of Juvenile Justice Monitor Bill
The Daily Record - Jan. 17

In this op-ed, Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law, supports the position that the General Assembly should uphold Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s veto of a House bill to transfer the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor to the Office of the Attorney General. A transfer of this authority to the attorney general creates an argument that a "potential appearance of a conflict of interest" exists, accompanied by a loss to the autonomy and independence of the independent monitor, writes Dash.

Ehrlich Proposes $2.5 Million Boost for Nanotech Research
The Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 13

The decision by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to fund research in nanotechnology with $2.5 million in taxpayer money coincides with a growing belief that the science will yield medical breakthroughs and state employment gains. The University of Maryland, Baltimore's biotechnology park is part of a biotechnology cluster that differentiates the state's potential growth from others.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Election-year Politics to Dominate Legislative Session
The Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 16

Despite the start of the 2006 legislative session on Jan. 11, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. spent a large amount of his week in Baltimore-instead of taking center stage in Annapolis. Last Wednesday, the governor managed to find time to announce a technology and stem cell initiative at the UMB BioPark.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Maryland Tests Experimental Bird Flu Vaccine
The Associated Press - Jan. 17

Four national vaccine centers-including the School of Medicine-will test a bird flu vaccine for children, a population especially vulnerable to acquiring the flu. The child vaccine studies follow similar investigations of a bird flu vaccine for adults, and will evaluate the vaccine's safety and ability to stimulate infection-fighting antibodies in children.
wjz.com

Requests for Assisted Suicide Uncommon, Local Doctors Say
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 18

Maryland doctors who deal with end-of-life issues say that very few patients raise such concerns, and that they see their jobs as helping people live their last days with minimal discomfort rather than hastening patientsý deaths. ýI donýt get a lot of requests. It isnýt common,ý said Tim Keay, MD, visiting assistant professor at the School of Medicine. "That's not our job," said Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy. "We will go the last mile to keep them comfortable," she said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
United for Progresss, WHYL 960 AM Harrisburg, Pa., 2:30 p.m. - Jan. 14

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito.

Avian Flu Conference
WMAR-TV Ch 2, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. - Jan. 13
WBAL-TV Ch 11, 5 p.m. - Jan. 13
WBFF-TV Ch 45, 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. - Jan. 13

A conference of national experts on the avian flu and the efforts to protect U.S. citizens was organized by the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS). Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the CHHS and a professor in the School of Law, explained the seriousness of the avian flu threat and the need for the conference.

Blogging May Be Hazardous to Your Job
The Chicago Tribune - Jan. 14

Blogs, short for "Web logs," personal postings on the Internet that are usually personal and opinionated, are a new source of employer-employee trouble. There are many existing laws regarding what employees can and can't say about their employers. "What is different about blogging is that it makes those public statements worldwide in a matter of nanoseconds," said Teresa LaMaster, JD, assistant dean for technology affairs and chief information officer at the School of Law.
www.chicagotribune.com

Changing Role of Pharmacists
"Direct Connection" Maryland Public TV stations, 7:30 p.m. - Jan. 16

To preview a PBS documentary on the changes in the role of pharmacists, Jeff Salkin interviwed Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, an assistant dean in the School of Pharmacy, concerning the need for more pharmacists, the growing interest in the profession, and the growing number of opportunities for pharmacy students. She was featured in a documentary about pharmacists.

Cough Medicine Recommendations
WBAL-TV Ch 11, 10 a.m. - Jan. 15

Brigitte Gerl, PharmD, a drug information specialist in the School of Pharmacy, was interviewed live about new federal recommendations concerning cough medicine, including certain recommendations against giving adult cough medicines to children.

Deception by Researchers Relatively Rare
The Washington Post - Jan. 16

The Office of Research Integrity is the federal agency with prime responsibility for investigating scientific misconduct. When scientists do engage in misconduct, however, they tend to follow familiar patterns. "You do not need to do something highly sophisticated," said Adil Shamoo, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine. "Don't write something in a lab notebook. Take a cell culture and call it something else. Take the eggs you say you didn't take."
www.washingtonpost.com

Expired drugs? Throw them out
Salem Statesman Journal (Oregon) - Jan. 16

Some pharmaceutical experts point to a study done in 2002 for the U.S. Army that found that many drugs still were usable nearly five years after the expiration date. But other experts say it isn't worth the risk, and you should toss old drugs. "To be on the safe side, I would never recommend anyone take medication past the expiration date," said Rachel Bongiorno, PharmD, assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the University of Maryland Drug Information Service.
159.54.226.83

Laughter Might be the Best Medicine
News24.com (South Africa) - Jan. 17

Laughter keeps blood vessels dilated and protects against heart attacks, said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "Regular, hearty laughter should be added to exercise and a low-fat diet as a means of lowering the risk of heart disease," Miller says.
www.news24.com

New Guidelines: Don't Bother With OTC Cough Meds
The Washington Post - Jan. 17

A new set of treatment guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians suggests that taking over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine may do no good for a cough tied to the common cold. Parents who reach for a cough and cold medicine for their child, said Richard Colgan, MD, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, "may be doing nothing else other than making themselves feel better."
www.washingtonpost.com

New Studies Target Old Problem of TMJ Syndrome
The Advocate - Jan. 15

For about 10 million Americans stress causes severe jaw pain, a condition called Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome. In a study funded by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, experts at the Dental School are evaluating whether a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments for TMJ is better than either one alone. TMJ is a cyclical condition, said Edward Grace, DDS, MA, director of the Brotman Facial Pain Center and an associate professor in the Dental School.

PBS Documentary: "Pharmacists: Unsung Heroes"
Maryland Public TV stations, 11 p.m. - Jan. 16

The Maryland Public Television network aired an hour-long documentary on the changing role of pharmacists. Part of the special produced by WLIW-TV in New York, was shot in Baltimore and featured students and faculty from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. The documentary showed examples of how pharmacists are more directly involved in patient care and consultation, but also involved in the research that leads to new pharmaceutical products. The documentary is scheduled to air again in the weeks ahead.

Recruiting Pharmacists
Quincy Herald Whig (Illinois) - Jan. 16

A nationwide shortage of pharmacists is creating fierce competition among retail and institutional pharmacies competing for pharmacy school graduates-and this is putting prospective graduates in the driver's seat. "Every hour of every day, dozens if not hundreds of prescriptions are coming across the counter," said David Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy. "They are trying to do that while at the same time counseling patients, calling physicians, helping diabetic patients manage eight or 10 medicines, teaching parents how to help their child use his new asthma inhaler."
www.whig.com

Stem-cell Research Program Sought
The Washington Times - Jan. 13

Marylandýs biotechnology industry hopes to lure scientists and other companies to the state if the General Assembly passes a stem-cell research program proposed last Wednesday by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The University of Maryland, Baltimore plans to "aggressively compete" for the funds, said Jim Hughes, MBA, vice president of research and development for the University.
www.washtimes.com

Three Judges to Retire
The Daily Record - Jan. 13

Three of the seven judges who make up Maryland's highest court will reach mandatory retirement age during the next governor's term. William Reynolds, JD, professor at the School of Law, said that in areas such as the death penalty and products liability so many changes to the Court of Appeals could leave lawyers struggling to advise their clients on the right course of action. Mark Graber, PhD, JD, professor at the School of Law, said that interest groups will certainly be lobbying behind the scenes to influence the governor's choice.

What Causes Canker Sores?
The Boston Globe - Jan. 16

Canker sores are extremely common, often painful, and rarely associated with serious disease, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. But if you have a mouth sore that doesnýt heal, you should see a dentist because it may not be a canker sore but a look-alike problem associated with Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or even oral cancer, said Tim Meiller, DDS, PhD, professor at the Dental School.
www.boston.com

Wider Scope Urged for FDA
Newsday - Jan. 17

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been attacked recently for factoring nonscientific evidence into its decisions, but a number of critics argue it should do exactly that. Former officials say the agency would resist efforts to make consideration of nonscientific criteria a formal part of the approval process and would discourage lawmakers from ordering them to do so. "That's not what the FDA was created to do," said Michael Taylor, MD, a former deputy FDA commissioner for policy who is now a professor at the School of Medicine.
www.nynewsday.com

Writing Persuasively
The Daily Record - Jan. 15

Andrew Baida, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, wrote an opinion column explaining how to write persuasively when writing a legal argument.

Drug Aids Survival After Transplant
The Baltimore Sun (Health & Science section) - Jan. 13

An inhaled anti-rejection drug can improve survival after a lung transplant. The study, the first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted among lung transplant patients, tested an inhaled form of cyclosporine, a drug commonly used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant. "In our study, the patients who took the inhaled cyclosporine had a two-thirds reduction in chronic rejection compared to those who had the placebo," said Aldo T. Iacono, MD, medical director of lung transplantation at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a professor in the School of Medicine.

Lifebeats
Copley News Service - Jan. 13
Warwick Beacon - Jan. 13

As gym memberships increase because of New Year resolutions, Jill RachBeisel, MD, associate professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine, said new health club members will be most successful if they focus on realistic goals with measurable results.
www.warwickonline.com

Names In The News: Debra Weigand
The Baltimore Sun (Health & Science section) - Jan. 13

Debra Weigand, PhD, RN, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, co-authored The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Procedure Manual for Critical Care, which has been selected as a 2005 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing.

State Legislators Debate Stem Cell Research Initiatives
Frederick News-Post - Jan. 13

Maryland's biotechnology industry hopes to lure scientists and other companies to the state if the General Assembly passes a stem cell research program proposed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The University of Maryland plans to "aggressively compete" for the funds, which may help the University keep its researchers, says Jim Hughes, MBA, vice president of research and development for the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
washingtontimes.com

State Tech Czar Reverses Remarks on Stem Cell Funding Limits
Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 13

Maryland's top science and technology officer backed away from previous statements he made concerning Gov. Robert Ehrlich's stem cell research proposal, which includes funds for research center at the UMB BioPark. He said the state would give preference to proposals that did not involve destroying human embryos.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
The Jay Marvin Show, 760 AM Boulder, Colo. 10 a.m. - Jan. 12

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito, and President Bushýs authorization of eavesdropping in the U.S. to fight terrorism.

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
The Jurist - Jan. 11

In this op-ed, Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, writes that on the third day of the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito, his student membership in a conservative Princeton organization took center stage as emotions ran high and tempers flared.
jurist.law.pitt.edu

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
WUSA-TV Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - Jan. 11

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito.

Can Genetics Cure Obesity?
ABC News - Jan. 11

Researchers investigating the genetics behind appetite, metabolism, and weight gain have learned that putting on pounds is much more complicated than a simple equation of calories. "I truly believe that the discovery of obesity susceptibility genes will identify new molecules and pathways that will lead to effective new medications and other interventions," said Alan Shuldiner, MD, head of endocrinology, diabetes, and nutrition research at the School of Medicine.
abcnews.go.com

Ehrlich Proposes New Funds for Technology Research
The Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 11

Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. unveiled Wednesday several proposals in science and technology projects, designed to position Maryland as a national leader in bioscience and medical research. Topping the list of high-tech initiatives in Ehrlichýs fiscal 2007 budget is a stem cell research center at the UMB BioPark.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Inhaled Drug Helps to Survive Lung Transplant
Reuters - Jan. 11

Medical researchers found that lung-transplant patients were far more likely to survive if they received an inhalable form of the anti-rejection drug cyclosporine in addition to conventional drugs. The inhaled drug did not reduce acute episodes of rejection, but did reduce the amount of chronic rejection, the leading cause of death after a lung transplant, said Aldo Iacono, MD, lead author and interim visiting assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
today.reuters.com

Lawmakers Face Prospect of Looming Stem Cell Fight
The Washington Post - Jan. 11
The Daily Record - Jan. 11

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and legislators who introduced a failed measure last year calling for funding for embryonic stem cell research are again announcing competing proposals for stem cell research. The governor's budget proposal includes funds to construct a proposed Center for Regenerative Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.washingtonpost.com

Mandate "Fire-Safe" Cigarettes in Maryland
The Ron Smith Show, 1090 WBAL-AM ý Jan. 11

Kathleen Hoke Dachille, JD, assistant professor and managing director of the Legal Resource Center for Tobacco Regulation, Litigation and Advocacy at the School of Law discussed a legislative proposal to mandate "fire-safe" cigarettes.

Stem Cell Division
The Baltimore Sun (Opinion Column) - Jan. 12

In this opinion column, the Baltimore Sun analyzes Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s proposal to spend $20 million for stem cell research and money to build a center for Regenerative Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.baltimoresun.com

Stem Cell Research Funding in Maryland Stirs Debate
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 12
The Daily Record - Jan. 12
The Washington Times - Jan. 12
The Gazette - Jan. 12

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday proposed a new Center for Regenerative Research at the UMB BioPark. University President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, and Paul Fishman, PhD, MD, professor at the School of Medicine were quoted in the Baltimore Sun.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.washtimes.com
www.gazette.net

Blogging May Be Hazardous to Your Job
The Los Angeles Times - Jan. 10

Blogs, short for "Web logs," personal postings on the Internet that are usually personal and opinionated, are a new source of employer-employee trouble. There are many existing laws regarding what employees can and can't say about their employers. "What is different about blogging is that it makes those public statements worldwide in a matter of nanoseconds," said Teresa LaMaster, JD, assistant dean for technology affairs and chief information officer at the School of Law.
www.latimes.com

Can Geneticists Cure Obesity?
ABC News - Jan. 11

What makes us fat? A generation ago, the answer was simple-eating more than we need. That may still be true, but researchers investigating the genetics behind appetite, metabolism, and weight gain have learned that putting on pounds is much more complicated than a simple equation of calories. "I truly believe that the discovery of obesity susceptibility genes will identify new molecules and pathways that will lead to effective new medications and other interventions," said Alan Shuldiner, MD, head of endocrinology, diabetes, and nutrition research at the School of Medicine.
abcnews.go.com

Governor Plans Stem Cell Effort
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 11
The Baltimore Business Gazette - Jan. 11

Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. is scheduled to announce today a commitment of $20 million for stem cell research and $12 million to build a new center for regenerative research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.wqad.com
www.gazette.net

Mandate "Fire-Safe" Cigarettes in Maryland
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 11

Kathleen Hoke Dachille, JD, assistant professor and managing director of the Legal Resource Center for Tobacco Regulation, Litigation and Advocacy at the School of Law wrote an op-ed regarding "fire-safe" cigarettes that proposed legislation to mandate them.
www.baltimoresun.com

Report on FBI May Strengthen Oregon Man's Lawsuit Against Agency
The Albany Democrat-Herald - Jan. 10
The East Oregonian - Jan. 10

A U.S. Department of Justice report that faulted the FBI for sloppy work may strengthen a lawsuit filed against the agency by a Portland man who was arrested after his fingerprints were mistakenly identified during the investigation into the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the delay in correcting the mistake may be ammunition for Brandon Mayfield to argue there was pressure to make an arrest.
www.dhonline.com
www.eastoregonian.info

Alito's Confirmation Hearings
The Young Turks, Sirius Satellite Radio - Jan. 9
The Bill Press Show, Sirius Satellite Radio - Jan. 10

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the opening day of the confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel A. Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Medical Breakthrough - Strep Vaccine
WQAD News (Moline, Ill.) - Jan. 10

A study on a vaccine to prevent strep infections found the vaccine works. It produced an immune response to the bacteria in all 28 adults. "I really hope that we can continue to progress and end up with a vaccine that we can give to children," said lead researcher, Karen Kotloff, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine.
www.wqad.com

Reconstruction: a Breast Cancer Option
Rocky Mountain News - Jan. 10

Total mastectomy with reconstruction is becoming an increasingly popular choice among women with breast cancer and among those with an unusually high risk of developing it. Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, an associate professor at the School of Nursing, decided on a double mastectomy and a reconstruction. "Looking good and feeling comfortable in a T-shirt or swimsuit mattered to me," she said in an article in the American Journal of Nursing that she wrote with Anne E. Belcher, now at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
www.rockymountainnews.com

Report on FBI May Strengthen Oregon Manýs Lawsuit Against Agency
The Associated Press - Jan. 9

A U.S. Department of Justice report that faulted the FBI for sloppy work may strengthen a lawsuit filed against the agency by a Portland man who was arrested after his fingerprints were mistakenly identified during the investigation into the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the delay in correcting the mistake may be ammunition for Brandon Mayfield to argue there was pressure to make an arrest.
www.registerguard.com

Alito Hearings Open Today With Stakes High
The Buffalo News - Jan. 9

The future of the U.S. Supreme Courtýand of presidential power, abortion, and civil rightsýappears to be at stake today in a Capitol Hill committee room, as the Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings on the nomination of Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the nationýs top court. In addition to opposing racial and ethic quotas, Alito has tended to rule against claims of racial discrimination, said Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, associate professor at the School of Law.
www.buffalonews.com

Copyright Infringement
The Daily Record - Jan. 6

James Astrachan, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, wrote an opinion column explaining how copyrights can be violated by direct infringement and contributory infringement.

Critics Weigh in on FDA Decisions
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 9

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been attacked recently for factoring nonscientific evidence into its decisions, but a growing number of critics argue it should do exactly that. Former officials say the agency would resist efforts to make consideration of nonscientific criteria a formal part of the approval process and would discourage lawmakers from ordering them to do so. "That's not what the FDA was created to do," said Michael Taylor, MD, an epidemiology professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Regents Approve Tuition Increase
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 7

The University of Maryland board of regents voted yesterday to raise tuition at most campuses next fall, the smallest increase in recent years. Tuition at nine of the university systemýs 11 campuses will go up by 4.5 percent next year. Graduate students, however, did not fare as well. Those increases are larger, with University of Maryland law students paying an additional 8 percent next year.
www.baltimoresun.com

Report on FBI May Strengthen Oregon Manýs Lawsuit Against it
The Associated Press - Jan. 9

A U.S. Department of Justice report that faulted the FBI for sloppy work may strengthen a lawsuit filed against the agency by a Portland man who was arrested after his fingerprints were mistakenly identified during the investigation into the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the delay in correcting the mistake may be ammunition for Brandon Mayfield to argue there was pressure to make an arrest.
seattlepi.nwsource.com

Sharon's Prognosis Poor
The Washington Post - Jan. 7

Doctors following Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition from afar say the bleeding in his brain and its subsequent complications make his prognosis poor, with little chance he will be left undamaged if he survives. "The chance that he is going to be normal is very low. There is a good chance that he would be left with a significant deficit," said E. Francois Aldrich, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.washingtonpost.com

Stem Cell Politics on Tap
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 9

Demonstrating that stem cell research will be a major issue during the legislative session, lawmakers and the governor are expected to announce two differing proposals during the General Assembly's first week. Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. is to announce this week a plan for a new institute for regenerative medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.baltimoresun.com

Ten Easy Ways For Tired Moms to Get Fired Up Fast
Parents.com - Jan. 9

Every time you giggle, chortle, or chuckle, your brain releases endorphins. "These feel-good chemicals flood your brain-helping you feel awake and refreshed," said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.parents.com

Familiar Themes Launch President Bushýs 2006 Agenda
CNN.com - Jan. 1
Associated Press - Jan. 1

President Bush is starting his sixth year in office with a flurry of activity designed to trumpet upturns in the economy, defend U.S. action in Iraq, and challenge critics who claim his methods of fighting terrorists infringe on civil liberties. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said a meeting with a group of former secretaries of state and defense allows the White House to show it is standing firmly behind getting the USA Patriot Act extended.
edition.cnn.com

Hospitals Prepare for Avian Flu Outbreak
MSNBC.com - Jan. 2

Marylandýs hospitals are ramping up their emergency response plans and buying supplies in preparation for the possibility that avian influenza could strike the United States. ýWeýve tried to gear up so that whatýs good for one event can be used for other events as well,ý said Harold Standiford, MD, FACP, professor and director for infection control and antimicrobial effectiveness at the School of Medicine. The story also mentions that the School of Law, on Jan. 13, will hold a symposium to discuss potential responses to an avian flu outbreak.
msnbc.msn.com

Odds of Recovery Small
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 6

Doctors following Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition from afar say his chances for recovery are probably slim, given his age and the fact that he required two brain operations after suffering a major hemorrhage Wednesday. "In general terms, you're so much better off if you have this problem when you're young," said E. Francois Aldrich, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine. "With older people, the brain doesnýt have the capacity to recover as well."
www.baltimoresun.com

After Mastectomy, Finding the Right 'New Normal'
The New York Times - Jan. 3

Total mastectomy with reconstruction is becoming an increasingly popular choice, among women with breast cancer and among those with an unusually high risk of developing it. Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, an associate professor at the School of Nursing decided on a double mastectomy and reconstruction. "Looking good and feeling comfortable in a T-shirt or swimsuit mattered to me," she said in an article in the American Journal of Nursing.
www.nytimes.com

Demand for Cosmetic Procedures Leads to Mix of Medical Treatments
Union-Tribune - Jan. 5

Medical spas, or medi-spas for short, are the crossbreed provider, offering a mix of medical treatments and spa comforts in one location. The hybrid business has become the fastest growing segment of the $11.2 billion spa industry. "We now have what I like to call the buffet table of choices; we are customizing to our specific needs," said Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.signonsandiego.com

Drug Expiration Dates: Take Them Seriously
The Ithaca Journal - Jan. 5

Some pharmaceutical experts are fond of pointing to a study done for the U.S. Army that found that many drugs were still usable nearly five years after the expiration date. But other experts say it isn't worth the risk, and you should toss old drugs. "To be on the safe side, I would never recommend anyone take medication past the expiration date," given that many consumers don't store medicines in optimal conditions," said Rachael Bongiorno, PharmD, an assistant professor and director of the University of Maryland Drug Information Center at the School of Pharmacy.
www.theithacajournal.com

Inside the Spore Wars
Time Magazine - Jan. 9

Critics of Project Bioshield say most of the big pharmaceutical and biotech firms want nothing to do with developing biodefense drugs under the direction of the program, which the government said would quickly make available effective vaccines and treatments against agents such as anthrax, Ebola, and plague. Biodefense is "not attractive to big pharma, which is making money off things we use a few times a day," says Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Life's Loud Noises Leave a Generation Struggling to Hear
The Chicago Tribune - Jan. 4

About 75 million Americans born during the postwar baby boom now suffer from some sort of hearing loss, mostly due to environmental factors such as loud concerts. "It's perceived as, 'I can hear you, but I can't understand the words,'" says David Eisenman, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.chicagotribune.com

Mobile U.S. Clinics Try to Fill Health Need
People's Daily Online - Jan. 5

This story, about the nation's uninsured, profiles one of the Governor's Wellmobiles operated by the School of Nursing. The 33-foot van travels to a different location in the suburbs of Washington each day. "We see a lot of diabetes, hypertension, depression; we also see thyroid problems, muscle and skeletal issues, obesity, chest pains, and asthma," said Mary Dunleavy, MS, RN, CRNP, clinical instructor at the School of Nursing and the Wellmobile's lead nurse practitioner.
english.people.com.cn

Tougher Rules for Cities Receiving Security Funds
The Christian Science Monitor - Jan. 5
ABCnews.com - Jan. 5

The Department of Homeland Security has announced that even cities at the highest risk of a terrorist attack will have to prove exactly why they need homeland-security grants and demonstrate how the money will improve the nationýs overall preparedness. "As we move further from 9/11 and see that the money has often been used unwisely...it is very necessary to put people to the test," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.csmonitor.com
abcnews.go.com

UM Mansion Is For Sale
The Baltimore Sun - Jan. 3

The University System of Maryland is proposing to sell a little-used Georgian-style mansion and 20 acres atop a bluff overlooking the Susquehanna River as part of an effort to save taxpayers money, officials said yesterday. The Donaldson Brown estate-with its 21 bedrooms, carriage house, and sweeping staircase-has been a conference center for the University of Maryland, Baltimore since 1965, when it was donated by the family of the General Motors executive.
www.baltimoresun.com

AztraZeneca Keeps Medicine Chest Stocked
The News Journal - Jan. 4

Pharmaceutical company AztraZeneca PLC is turning to deals with smaller companies to bolster its drug development pipeline, as the company fends off challenges from generic makers to its bestselling drugs. The big pharmaceutical companies are all on the lookout for drug development deals, said Frank Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the School's Center on Drugs and Public Policy, who likens it to major league baseball teams scouting the minors for prospects.
www.delawareonline.com

Blogging May Be Hazardous to Your Job
The Clarion Ledger - Jan. 3

Blogs, short for "Web logs," personal postings on the Internet that are usually personal and opinionated, are a new source of employer-employee trouble. There are many existing laws regarding what employees can and can't say about their employers. "What is different about blogging is that it makes those public statements worldwide in a matter of nanoseconds," said Teresa LaMaster, JD, assistant dean for technology affairs and chief information officer at the School of Law.
www.clarionledger.com

Bush Pushes for Patriot Act Renewal
USA Today - Jan. 3
The National Post - Jan. 1
FoxNews.com - Jan. 2

President Bush fired the first shot in the renewed battle regarding the USA Patriot Act, hosting on Tuesday a group of federal prosecutors who said the soon-to-expire law helped solve major crimes. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said Bush may be aiming to pressure the four dissenting Republicans, but said controversy surrounding the warrantless surveillance program could make renewing the law an uphill task.
www.usatoday.com
www.canada.com
www.foxnews.com

Hidden Danger Coming Into Focus
The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jan. 4

This story, about the prevalence of celiac disease in the United States, refers to a 2003 study by the University of Maryland Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Division at the School of Medicine. The study found one in 133 Americans suffers from the disease. "It was astonishing to learn that we're surrounded by people with celiac, and we didn't see it," said Alessio Fasano, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and director of the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology.
www.philly.com

Medicine Expiration Dates Should Be Taken Seriously
Lansing State Journal - Jan. 4

Some pharmaceutical experts are fond of pointing to a study done for the U.S. Army that found that many drugs were still usable nearly five years after the expiration date. But other experts say it isnýt worth the risk, and you should toss old drugs. ýTo be on the safe side, I would never recommend anyone take medication past the expiration date,ý given that many consumers donýt store medicines in optimal conditions, said Rachael Bongiorno, PharmD, an assistant professor and director of the University of Maryland Drug Information Center at the School of Pharmacy.
www.lsj.com

2005: Moving Forward
The Gazette - Dec. 30

Last year was marked by the usual share of mergers, acquisitions, expansions, contractions, moves in and moves out of the region. The University of Maryland, Baltimore opened the first of 10 planned biomedical research buildings for the $300 million BioPark.
www.gazette.net

2005: Moving Forward
Yahoo News - Jan. 1

President Bush is starting his sixth year in office with a flurry of activity designed to trumpet upturns in the economy, defend U.S. action in Iraq, and challenge critics who claim his methods of fighting terrorists infringe on civil liberties. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said a meeting with a group of former secretaries of state and defense allows the White House to show it is standing firmly behind getting the Patriot Act extended.
news.yahoo.com

Bird Flu Vaccine Concerns
WJZ-TV Ch. 13, 11 p.m. - Jan. 1

Flu vaccine trials at the School of Medicine were referred to in this story regarding mounting concerns about a bill Congress passed that grants immunity to drug companies willing to work on a bird flu vaccine.

Breast-feeding May Lower Mom's Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The Detroit News - Dec. 27

Andrea Kwong MD, an instructor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the School of Medicine, discusses the importance of mentioning these findings to medical students. "One of the big things we talk to moms about is the increased postpartum weight loss," Kwong says. The weight loss itself "might also decrease or delay the incidence of obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and chronic hypertension.ý"
www.detnews.com

Breast-feeding May Protect Against Diabetes
WTOP, 6:30 a.m. - Dec. 29

A Harvard University-run Nurses' Health Study, which tracked thousands of nurses during the past 29 years, hints at a link between breast-feeding and a lowered risk of diabetes. "One of the big things we talk to moms about is the increased postpartum weight loss," said Andrea Kwong, MD, instructor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the School of Medicine. "The weight loss itself might also decrease or delay the incidence of obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and chronic hypertension."

Bush May Find Allies in Court Nominees
The Associated Press - Dec. 23
The Los Angeles Times - Dec. 23

If President Bush, buffeted by criticism regarding domestic spying, needs allies on wielding executive authority, he may look no further than his choices for the U.S. Supreme Court. Although Chief Justice John Roberts and nominee Samuel Alito are considered conservatives, the extent of granting executive authority on wiretaps and eavesdropping often doesnýt fit the traditional political lines. "This isn't a clear-cut liberal-conservative issue," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.latimes.com

Bush's Domestic Wiretaps May Complicate Criminal Prosecutions
Buffalo News - Dec. 30
The Boston Globe - Dec. 30
Bloomberg News - Dec. 29

President Bush's authorization of eavesdropping in the U.S. to fight terrorism may make it more difficult to prosecute a range of cases, including illegal fundraising and drug offenses, legal scholars say. "If they'd been smart, they would have only used it to stop terrorist attacks from happening and not in prosecutions," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.buffalonews.com
www.boston.com
www.bloomberg.com

Ethics in Research Debated
The Sydney Morning Herald - Dec. 27
The Washington Post - Dec. 25

The stunning revelation that a South Korean researcher faked landmark stem cell experiments has sparked an intense new debate about the safeguards designed to prevent and catch scientific fraud. "There is tremendous pressure today to be first. If you do something first, all the money and fame will come to you," said Adil Shamoo, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine. "All that is an obvious seduction for doing something like this."
www.washingtonpost.com
smh.com.au

Guard Against Terror
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Dec. 28

Four years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, federal officials still havenýt fully addressed a vulnerability identified long before most Americans had ever heard of al-Qaida: inadequate security at the nation's 15,000 chemical plants. "This has been left to self-regulation, which is self-evidently constricted by the fact that the plants don't want to spend any more money than they have to," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Hospitals Prepare for Avian Flu Outbreak
Baltimore Business Journal - Dec. 30

Maryland's hospitals are ramping up their emergency response plans and buying supplies in preparation for the possibility that avian influenza could strike the United States. "We've tried to gear up so that what's good for one event can be used for other events as well," said Harold Standiford, MD, FACP, professor and director for infection control and antimicrobial effectiveness at the School of Medicine.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Mobile Clinic Tries to Fill Health Needs
Yahoo News - Dec. 30

This story, about the nation's uninsured, profiles one of the Governor's Wellmobiles operated by the School of Nursing. The 33-foot van travels to a different location in the suburbs of Washington each day. "We see a lot of diabetes, hypertension, depression; we also see thyroid problems, muscle and skeletal issues, obesity, chest pains, and asthma," said Mary Dunleavy, MS, RN, CRNP, clinical instructor at the School of Nursing and the Wellmobile's lead nurse practitioner.

Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 23

Richard Alexander Jr., MD, a veteran cancer surgeon and leader in clinical research at the National Cancer Institute, was named associate chairman for clinical research in the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

The Health Benefits of Laughing
The Detroit News - Dec. 27

Researchers at the School of Medicine have found that laughter is linked to the healthy function of blood vessels. "The magnitude of change we saw in the endothelium, [the layer of thin, flat cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels], is similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic activity, but without the aches, pains, and muscle tension associated with exercise," said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.detnews.com