In the News

March 2007

Breaking the Silence
Legal Times - March 26

While working on Maryland's Eastern Shore several years ago, Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, didn't expect to confront a segment of that areaýs shameful past. The last two lynchings on the Eastern Shore occurred nearly 80 years ago. But during her investigations into discrimination against low-income families in Maryland, Ifill kept hearing from residents who had seen the lynchings or heard stories about them as they were growing up.
www.law.com

Cargo Scanners in Use at Ports Donýt See All
Gannett News Service, The Asbury Park Press - March 25

Giant X-ray machines and hand-held radiation detectors are used in U.S. and overseas ports to scan cargo containers, but the technology isn't very reliable, experts say. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said technology being developed includes sensors that can track the movement of containers and scanning equipment that uses penetrating gamma rays. "There is technology on the horizon," he said. "If we really put our minds to it, we could deploy itýwithin a three-year period."
www.app.com

Court of Special Appeals Judge Retires
The Daily Record - March 23

Maryland Court of Special Appeals Judge James Kenney III turns 70 on Monday, which means he is required by Marylandýs Constitution to leave the bench. He will, however, continue to sit as a specially assigned judge. Court of Special Appeals Chief Judge Joseph Murphy Jr., JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, said it's hard to believe Kenney will be 70. "He has the energy and the intellect and the wonderful demeanor of an experienced lawyer who's just hitting his stride," Murphy said.

Dying to Know the Score
The Chicago Tribune - March 30

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine warns that weekend heart attacks are more likely to be fatal than weekday heart attacks. The Canadian cardiologists who conducted the study blame this on understaffed emergency rooms, not ESPN. But itýs possible they havenýt connected all the dots. David Jerrard, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, reported last fall that the number of male patients who turn up at emergency rooms drops markedly just before a televised sports event and surges immediately after.
www.chicagotribune.com

Former Justice Department Chief of Staff Contradicts Attorney General on U.S. Attorney Firings
NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - PBS - March 29
The Online NewsHour.Com - March 29

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor in the School of Law and a former high-ranking official in the United States Justice Department, was interviewed by Judy Woodruff concerning the testimony of Kyle Sampson, the former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, concerning the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. During a congressional hearing, Sampson contradicted Gonzales' statements two weeks ago that he wasn't personally involved in the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
www.pbs.org

Maryland Legislature Should Have Passed Bottle Deposit Bill
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 23

Steven Soifer, PhD, associate professor at the School of Social Work, wrote an Op-Ed about the failed bottle deposit bill, saying, "The state of Maryland missed the opportunity to enter the 21st century by passing a container deposit law, better known as a 'bottle bill' this year. Currently, 11 states across the U.S. have such bills. While every bill differs, the common thread running through them is that a person pays an extra amount when purchasing a bottle and receives it back when returning the bottle for recycling."
www.examiner.com

Officials Defend Ground Rent Bill
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 30

Legislators are confident that a new law meant to ban the creation of new ground rents accomplishes that goal, despite a Baltimore real estate lawyer's contention that the language contains a loophole. The lawyer, Gregory Reed, says that the bill enacted into law last week permits the creation of new ground leases as long as they aren't "renewable forever." Garrett Power, LLM, LLB, a professor at the School of Law, said he agreed with Reed's legal interpretation but said that it is not practically significant.
www.baltimoresun.com

Biofilms Create Formidable Resistance to Antibiotics
The Monterey (Calif.) Herald - March 29

When studying for his doctorate in microbiology, Mark Shirtliff, PhD, assistant professor at the Dental School, discovered that bacteria can band together into sheets called biofilms. ýInfections that should respond to antibiotics donýt,ý Shirtliff said. "They become 50 to 500 times more resistant." With drugs often useless against biofilms in the human body, Shirtliff is trying to turn the tables on the slippery infections. He received $1.25 million this month from the National Institutes of Health for research into vaccines that might prevent the deadly films from forming in the first place.
www.montereyherald.com

Electoral College Change?
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 6:45 a.m. - March 29

The Maryland Senate has approved a bill that would award the state's electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote, boosting a national, grass-roots effort toward the direct election of the president. "It may actually make our vote count more, in a funny way," said Mark Graber, JD, PhD, MA, professor at the School of Law.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Hershey Sues Vendor Over Mint Logo Parody
The Daily Record - March 29

Candy maker The Hershey Company has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Frederick-based vending company over a sticker parodying the logo for YORK Peppermint Patties, where the word ýYorký is changed to ýDork.ý The parody issue will be key at a trial, said James Astrachan, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law. "The main question is, will an appreciable number of people be confused by the use of the trademark?" Astrachan said. "Anyone who is buying a sticker is probably not looking to buy candy. They will have a tough road to hoe."

Detecting Breast Cancer
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 28

A study published this week in The New England Journal of Medicine said there is new evidence that women at high risk for breast cancer should undergo magnetic resonance imaging to search for early malignancies typically missed by traditional breast exams and mammography. "I think this is very important information, and it's very exciting for clinicians and patients to have this option," said Helen Mrose, MD, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, who was not connected to the study.
www.baltimoresun.com

Eastern Shore Being Recognized For Speeders
WMDT.com - March 27

The Eastern Shore is at the top of a statewide list, but itýs no reason to celebrate. Researchers at the School of Medicine have found that the Eastern Shore leads Maryland with the highest rate of speeding tickets issued. Some law enforcement officials say the high numbers could be due to out-of-state vacation travelers.

Exercising Your Brain Power
The News-Journal (Wilmington, DE) - March 27

A growing number of researchers and health professionals who study brain health say by exercising our mind daily, we can slow the development of age-related memory problems and even more serious conditions such as dementia. "The important thing is keeping yourself as mentally stimulated as you can," said Lynn Grattan, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Neuropsychological Diagnostic and Research Laboratory.
www.delawareonline.com

Former Chief Clerk of Maryland's Court of Special Appeals Dies
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 27

Howard Friedman, an attorney who was later the chief clerk of Marylandýs Court of Special Appeals, died March 20 at the age of 83. ýHe was a great asset to the Court of Special Appeals,ý said John Fader II, JD, a retired Baltimore County Circuit Court judge who is now a senior judicial fellow and lecturer at the School of Law. "He was a highly competent individual and as helpful as any human being could be. He was a great civil servant."
www.baltimoresun.com

International Brain Bee Contest
Garamchai.com - March 26
LokVani.com - March 26

Norbert Myslinski, PhD, associate professor in the Dental School's Department of Biomedical Sciences, developed the Brain Bee program as part of his quest to boost interest among young people who might choose neuroscience as a career, as well as to advance an appreciation for the subject among the general public.
www.lokvani.com
www.garamchai.com

Is the Patriot Act Giving Too Much Power to the FBI?
WTOP-FM, 5:45 p.m. - March 27

Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller told a Senate committee Tuesday that he was moving swiftly to fix the problems exposed in the latest report on the bureauýs failures, most prominently the mishandling of demands for records under the USA Patriot Act. "There is a uniform view that the FBI has lost credibility, and its reputation as the nation's top and most effective law enforcement agency has been undercut," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.wtop.com

Late Filing Fails to Halt Suit Against Hospital
The Daily Record - March 28

A woman whose hand became infected after she was stuck with a syringe lying on a hospital countertop can proceed with her lawsuit against the hospital, the Court of Appeals has held, even though it was filed in Harford County Circuit Court after the three-year statute of limitations. The woman had first filed a timely claim with the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office. Her attorney, Andrew Baida, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, said the decision makes sense.

School of Medicine Findings May Help Efforts to Produce an Effective Malaria Vaccine
Exduco.net - March 28

A major challenge in developing an effective malaria vaccine has been the ability to produce a version that offers protection against the multiple forms of malaria parasites. Researchers from the Center for Vaccine Development at the School of Medicine and the University of Bamako in Mali, West Africa, have generated information that may now lead to the creation of an effective vaccine. "Malaria remains a major cause of disease and death worldwide, killing millions of people each year," said Shannon Takala, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the School.
www.exduco.net

Sewage Backup Has Residents Crying Foul
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5:30 and 6 p.m. - March 22

Parkville residents say sewage has been backing up into their homes for years, and they say it is time for the county to clean things up. "This is a threat to our health. This is a devaluation of our property value. This is not living in a civilized country," said Katherine Fornili, MPH, BSN, clinical instructor at the School of Nursing, and a resident who is leading the protests.
www.wbaltv.com

UMB Eyes Social Security's Greene Street Space
The Daily Record - March 27

The University of Maryland, Baltimore, is eyeing office space now occupied by the Social Security Administration for an expansion on the cityýs West Side. The SSA has been looking for new space at city locations but does not expect to move until 2011. When it does, UMB is "very interested" in acquiring the Metro West property, according to a university spokesman. The school has had "informal contact, including a walking tour" with officials in charge of SSAýs move.

Anna Nicole Smithýs Death Ruled Accidental Overdose
The Washington Post - March 27

Former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith died of an accidental overdose of a rarely prescribed sleeping drug that interacted fatally with several other prescription medications, a medical examiner in Florida announced yesterday. A pharmacopeia of at least nine drugs was in her body but it was the sleeping medication chloral hydrate that killed her. Wendy Klein-Schwartz, PharmD, MPH, coordinator of research and education at the School of Pharmacy's Maryland Poison Center, said, "She did have an awful lot of chloral hydrate on board."
www.washingtonpost.com

Community Courts and Baltimore
"The Marc Steiner Show," WYPR-FM, 88.1, 12 p.m. - March 26

Brenda Bratton Blom, JD, PhD, MPS, associate professor at the School of Law and director of the Clinical Law Program, took part in an hour-long discussion about bringing community courts to Baltimore.
www.wypr.org

Dental-Care Challenge: Open Wider
The Washington Post - March 27

Dentist Debony Hughes saw a child about eight years ago who had a "humongous tumor" that encompassed half of his lower jaw. The clinic spotted the benign tumor on an X-ray and referred the boy to the University of Maryland Dental School for treatment. For extensive care, patients are sent to Children's Hospital or the dental schools at the University of Maryland or Howard University.
www.washingtonpost.com

Doubt Cast on Stents' Value
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 27
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel - March 27

For patients with clogged arteries who have not had heart attacks, the widely used surgical treatment of balloon angioplasty with the insertion of a stent is no better than conventional drug treatment, researchers said. "It'd a huge deal," Mandeep Mehra, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said of the study. "It's going to plummet the elective use of stents in the U.S. dramatically."
www.baltimoresun.com
www.sun-sentinel.com

Elderly Prefer Exercising With Others in Their Own Age Group
The Mail Tribune (South Oregon) - March 27
The Ledger - March 27

Older people would rather exercise alone than be surrounded by a bunch of youthful hard bodies in Spandex, suggests a study that examined how group fitness appeals to people of different ages. Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing, said the study makes clear the importance of environment in getting older adults to exercise. "There are many individuals who enjoy exercising with others, and surveys have confirmed that they enjoy exercising in formats which are Spandex-free and among others their own age and ability level," Resnick said.
www.mailtribune.com
www.theledger.com

Emergent Tries Add-On For Its Anthrax Vaccine
Tech News - March 26

Emergent BioSolutions, a Maryland company that makes the only federally licensed anthrax vaccine, has had to overcome lingering questions about the safety of its vaccine. Soldiers have complained about significant side effects. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the FDA's ruling has not persuaded everyone in the skeptical vaccine community.

Flu Vaccine Row Polarizing Poor
CayCompass.com ý March 26
Mainichi (Japan) Daily News ý March 27

The World Health Organization (WHO) might guarantee that poor nations get access to stockpiles of bird flu vaccines in the event of a pandemic, the top WHO flu official said Monday, hoping to end a row triggered by Indonesia's decision to stop sharing virus samples. "Wealthy countries are always in a better position to be able to produce vaccines, to buy them and to distribute them," said James Campbell, MD, assistant professor and leading bird flu vaccine researcher at the School of Medicine.
www.caycompass.com
mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp

Hospitals Need Nurses-STAT!
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 18

With the aging baby boomer generation reaching the stage where they need more and more clinical care, the need for qualified nurses to serve this population increases. Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, interim associate dean for academic affairs and director of the School of Nursingýs Doctor of Nursing Practice program, said, "There is a nationwide shortage of nurses in every area. It's been estimated that we will need 1.2 million new nurses by 2020; however, the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics estimates that we need 1.2 million new and replacement nurses by 2014."

Osiris Stock Gets a Lift from Drug Test Results
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 27
South Florida Sun-Sentinel - March 27

"What we know about prognosis after heart attacks is that the bigger the scar, the worse the heart function and the worse the long-term prognosis," said Bartley Griffith, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, who does not work with Osiris. "If you could prevent scarring of significance from occurring, then you could have a hundred heart attacks and be fine."
www.baltimoresun.com
www.sun-sentinel.com

Pharmacy School Welcomed
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 27

Maryland's existing school, the School of Pharmacy, cannot graduate enough students to keep pace with job demand, state officials said. Dean David A. Knapp, PhD, said in a statement, "Pharmaceutical education must expand to meet society's needs, and a constellation of diverse schools and colleges of pharmacy can only help."
www.examiner.com

A Healthy Approach
Telegram and Gazette (Wooster, Ma.) - March 24

Public health offers opportunities for nurses to work in communities, play a part in the life of families, and make a difference to people who get little health care, nursing experts said yesterday. Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing and director of the Governor's Wellmobile Program, said, "Some patients are desperate, injured or depressed." Wiseman addressed the third annual Becker College symposium on nursing this weekend.
www.telegram.com

Cargo Scanners in Use at Ports Donýt See All
Gannett News Service - March 25

Giant X-ray machines and hand-held radiation detectors are used in U.S. and overseas ports to scan cargo containers, but the technology isn't very reliable, experts say. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said technology being developed includes sensors that can track the movement of containers and scanning equipment that uses penetrating gamma rays. "There is technology on the horizon," he said. "If we really put our minds to it, we could deploy itýwithin a three-year period."
www.courierpostonline.com

Common Poison Myths
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 7:45 a.m. - March 25
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 8:15 a.m. - March 20

Angel Bivens, RPh, MBA, public education coordinator of the School of Pharmacy's Maryland Poison Center, discussed common poison myths, including the fluoride content of children's toothpaste and child-resistant-not childproof-safety caps, in two live studio interviews.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Elderly Prefer Exercising With Others in Their Own Age Group
News Nine - March 25

Older people would rather exercise alone than be surrounded by a bunch of youthful hard bodies in Spandex, suggests a study that examined how group fitness appeals to people of different ages. Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing, said the study makes clear the importance of environment in getting older adults to exercise. ýThere are many individuals who enjoy exercising with others, and surveys have confirmed that they enjoy exercising in formats which are Spandex-free and among others their own age and ability level," Resnick said.
news.ninemsn.com.au

Emergent Tries Add-On For Its Anthrax Vaccine
The Washington Post - March 26

Emergent BioSolutions has had to overcome lingering questions about the safety of its vaccine. Soldiers have complained about significant side effects, and some have refused to be injected. A court battle temporarily stopped mandatory vaccinations, but the military resumed vaccinations after the Food and Drug Administration said the product was safe and effective. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the FDA's ruling has not persuaded everyone in the skeptical vaccine community.
www.washingtonpost.com

Fitness Expert Talks Mind and Body Health for Bicentennial
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 26

Hit the treadmill, but don't forget to bring your brains. That's the message Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, a clinical professor at the School of Medicine, hopes people take from her address at the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Bicentennial speaker series at the Medical School Teaching Facility Auditorium. The nutrition, metabolism, stress, and fitness expert has spent her career honing a message of wit and wisdom about how to live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.
www.examiner.com

Foundation Awards $5,000 to Pediatric Dental Fellowship Program
Earthtimes - March 1

The AMERIGROUP Foundation has awarded a grant to the Dental Schoolýs Pediatric Dental Fellowship, a program that aims to improve access to dental care services for underserved Maryland children, especially those enrolled in the Maryland Medical Assistance or HealthChoice program. "One of the most productive aspects of the partnership between AMERIGROUP and the Dental School is our fellowship program that places pediatric dental specialists at various community health centers," said Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, chair and professor of the Department of Health Promotion and Policy.
www.earthtimes.org

University of Maryland Holds a Nanomedicine Day
Nanotechology Now - March 8

The inaugural Nanomedicine Research Day, hosted by the Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery at the School of Pharmacy, is an important gathering of scientists from around the state. Scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 23, at University of Maryland, Baltimore, Nanomedicine Research Day will explore the work that has been taking place, and that which lies ahead, in Maryland's nanomedicine community.
www.nanotech-now.com

Advocates Challenge Reporting Rollback
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 23

Three of Baltimore's 10 biggest polluters will no longer have to report how much pollutant they pour into water or discharge onto land under new rules announced Thursday. "A reduction in the public's right-to-know is never a good thing," said Brenda Afzal, RN, MS, a project manager at of the School of Nursing's Environmental Health Education Center. "It means that Maryland communities and the health care providers serving those communities will be left in the dark about toxic pollution."
www.examiner.com

Bacteria Thrive on "Film"
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 23

When studying for his doctorate in microbiology, Mark Shirtliff, PhD, assistant professor at the Dental School, discovered that bacteria can band together into sheets called biofilms. "Infections that should respond to antibiotics don't," Shirtliff said. ýThey become 50 to 500 times more resistant." With drugs often useless against biofilms in the human body, Shirtliff is trying to turn the tables on the slippery infections. He received $1.25 million this month from the National Institutes of Health for research into vaccines that might prevent the deadly films from forming in the first place.
www.baltimoresun.com

Cancer in Edwards' Wife Can Be Treated
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 23

A diagnosis of stage IV metastatic breast cancer sounds like a death sentence, and for some, it can be. It is both inoperable and incurable. But cancer experts say the disease is treatable, and its victimsý prognoses vary as widely as their individual cancers. "Most women with metastatic breast cancer are able to remain fully functional. ... It's quite possible Mrs. Edwards should be able to achieve her goals in life," said Katherine Tkaczuk, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Creatine Could Help in Parkinson's Fight
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 23

Creatine-a food supplement rumored to give athletes a boost of power-may help Parkinsonýs disease patients control the tremors and deterioration that characterize the incurable disease. "There's evidence Creatine enhances brain cells," said William Weiner, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Neurology at the School of Medicine. "This shows some promise in patients with Parkinson's disease."
www.examiner.com

Elderly Prefer Exercising With Others in Their Own Age Group
The Associated Press - March 22

Older people would rather exercise alone than be surrounded by a bunch of youthful hard bodies in Spandex, suggests a study that examined how group fitness appeals to people of different ages. Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing, said the study makes clear the importance of environment in getting older adults to exercise.
seattlepi.nwsource.com

New Appointments
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 23

Jane Shaab, assistant vice president, economic development, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, has been selected for the Leadership Maryland class of 2007. Leadership Maryland is a nonprofit organization that informs top-level executives about the issues and opportunities facing Maryland.

Prognosis Worrisome With Cancerýs Return
The Washington Post - March 23

Elizabeth Edwards' chance of surviving five years is well below 50 percent if her experience is similar to that of other women whose breast cancer has returned within five years of its original discovery and treatment. "Everyone is an individual. We try not to focus too much on the statistics," said Barry Meisenberg, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and head of the Division of Hematology/Oncology.
www.washingtonpost.com

Baltimore Unprepared For Potential Nuclear Attack
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - March 21

A new study from the University of Georgia says some of the largest U.S. cities, including Baltimore, are woefully unprepared for a nuclear attack and the widespread medical emergencies that would result. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor in the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said Baltimore and the rest of Maryland need more help from the federal government. "I really do believe the city and state are ahead of the curve on that, but the curve is on an uphill slant," said Greenberger.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Bromwell Tapes Reveal Sharp Remarks
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 5:30 and 10 p.m. - March 21

Indicted former state Sen. Thomas Bromwell Sr. freely boasted of wielding his political power to influence some of Maryland's most prominent institutions in order to benefit himself and his friends, according to hundreds of pages of transcribed secret recordings made public this week. Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law, questioned if the newly released information is a slam-dunk for prosecutors.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Freezing Barrett's
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (online) - March 21

If you've ever had a wart frozen off, you've had what's called cryotherapy. Now doctors are testing the technique to prevent cancer of the esophagus. Bruce Greenwald, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and lead researcher on the project, says, "The problem with Barrett's Esophagus is that it can convert to cancer of the esophagus."
www.wistv.com

U.S. Attorneys and Issuance of Subpoenas
WUSA-TV, 9 a.m. - March 21

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed the firings of U.S. attorneys and the possible issuance of subpoenas by the House and Senate judiciary committees.

CROI: High Burden of Side-Effects from d4T Leads to WHO Dose Reduction Recommendation
Aidsmap.com - March 21

Researchers from the School of Medicine presented one of the largest analyses of toxicity related treatment changes to the conference, reporting on 6,520 patients treated in programs funded by The U.S. Presidentýs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Uganda, Zambia and Kenya. Anthony Amoroso, MD, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine, presenting, said: "We think we're underestimating the rate of toxicity because of the long-term nature of the toxicities."
www.aidsmap.com

Cryotherapy to Prevent Esophageal Cancer
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, Wis. - March 21

If you've ever had a wart frozen off, youýve had what's called cryotherapy. Now doctors are testing the technique to prevent cancer of the esophagus. Bruce Greenwald, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and lead researcher on the project, says, "The problem with Barrett's Esophagus is that it can convert to cancer of the esophagus."
wfrv.com

International Brain Bee
Fox 45, 10 p.m. - March 17

Organizer Norbert Myslinski, PhD, associate professor in the Dental School, and student participants in the International Brain Bee were interviewed for a story about the annual event. T

Meager Yield from BioShield
U.S. News & World Report - March 18

A project approved by Congress in 2004 to allocate $5.6 billion for inoculation against bioterrorism is getting off to a slow start. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has "put a virtual stranglehold" on Project Bioshield with delays, and few anti-bioterrorism pharmaceuticals have been purchased.
www.usnews.com

UM Cardiac Surgeons Develop Less Invasive Treatment for Aorta Repair in Trauma Cases
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 21
WJLA-TV, Ch 7, 5 p.m. - March 20
WJLA-TV.Com - March 20
WJZ-TV, Ch 13, 5 p.m. - March 20

Cardiac surgeons at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center are revolutionizing the way certain traumatic injuries to the aorta are being treated. David Neschis, MD, assistant professor of vascular surgery at the School of Medicine, said, "If this was the only procedure (the patient) had and he didn't have any other injuries, patients could go home essentially the next day, so recovering is dramatically quicker."
www.examiner.com
www.wjla.com

Longevity Gap Lessens for Blacks
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 20
Newsday - March 20

Myung Park, MD, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine and director of the pulmonary hypertension program, said, "I'd say since the 1990s, there is a definite improvement in terms of public awareness, patient awareness, and physician awareness, in terms of heart disease." Some experts were skeptical. "In my view, [black] women are getting more diabetes, the obesity problem is more, and the metabolic syndrome that is a major cause of heart disease is rampant among black women," said Elijah Saunders, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.newsday.com

Questioner Suffers from Brain Drain
The (Scranton, Pa.) Times-Tribune - March 17

In his weekly feature, copy editor Ron Davis poses five questions to Norbert Myslinski, PhD, associate professor in the Dental School. Myslinski is director of the International Brain Bee, a neuroscience Q&A competition for high school students, held annually in Baltimore.
www.thetimes-tribune.com

The Problem with Building an Embassy Fit for an Empire
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 20

"Empires are destined to decline. Despite our intentions to stay in Iraq for a long time, Iraqis will not allow their country to be an extension of the American empire," writes Adil Shamoo, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine and a contributor to the on-line think tank Foreign Policy in Focus who was born and raised in Baghdad.
www.baltimoresun.com

A New Look Into Cancer's Roots
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 19
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel - March 19

Scientists at the School of Medicine are testing older drugs and trying to develop new ones for suppressing cancer stem cells. But itýs not easy. Cancer stem cells are difficult to find and attack, said Angelika Burger, PhD, associate professor at the School. Anne Hamburger, PhD, professor at the School, has revived her lab work from the 1970s.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.sun-sentinel.com

Boy's Death Highlights Lack of Medical Care
The [Fort Wayne, Ind.) Journal Gazette - March 18

Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache. Serious and costly medical consequences of tooth problems are ýnot uncommon,ý said Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, professor and program director of pediatric dentistry at the Dental School. For instance, Deamonteýs bill for two weeks at Childrenýs Hospital alone was expected to be between $200,000 and $250,000. Providing preventive access to dental care, Tinanoff and others said, eventually pays for itself, sparing children the pain and expense of a medical crisis.
www.fortwayne.com

Bromwell Trial Delayed
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 17

About a week before jury selection was set to begin, a federal judge substantially delayed the start of the public corruption trial against former state Sen. Thomas Bromwell Sr. and his wife, pointing to "irreconcilable conflicts of interest" among the coupleýs attorneys. Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law, said judges do everything in their power to keep a defense attorney in the case. "It's got to be extraordinary circumstances," Dash said. "He's not going to let these lawyers leave for just any reason."
www.baltimoresun.com

Chlorine Leak Forces Residents Indoors
The Frederick News-Post- March 16
WFMD Radio, 9:30 a.m., - March 16

A chlorine leak forced about 175 residents within a half mile of Frederickýs wastewater treatment plant off of Gas House Pike to stay inside their homes and keep their windows and doors closed for nearly three hours Thursday morning. Suzanne Doyon, MD, medical director of the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy, said, "people who take care of pools might know what itýs like to be exposed to the gas. How someone reacts to chlorine depends on how concentrated it is, she said. Inhaling a small amount could irritate a person's mucus membranes."
www.fredericknewspost.com

Newsmakers
Cumberland Times-News - March 18

Bea Lamm, EdD(c), MS, RN, a clinical instructor at the School of Nursing, has served as the nurse coordinator for the Governor's Wellmobile, which is administered through the School, since September 2002. "Since the first of the year, we've expanded our hours because we've had such a need."
www.times-news.com

Preserving Life on the Farm
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 18

Roger Richardson, Marylandýs new agriculture secretary, is a sixth-generation farmer and self-described conservative who has sometimes clashed with environmentalists. Gerald Winegrad, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law and a former state senator, said state agriculture officials haven't done enough to regulate the industry. "After 20 years, agriculture hasnýt come close to meeting its portion of the reduction in phosphorus, nitrogen, or sediment," Winegrad said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Research Opportunities Draw Nurses and Allied Health
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 18

Traditional medicine has long been recognized for its research sophistication, but nursing and allied health now have much to boast about in their own right. Nursing offers a great example of how one profession is responding to demands for trained researchers. "It's a broad field where research roles often overlap in an interdisciplinary focus," says Barbara Smith, PhD, RN, FAAN, an associate dean for research at the School of Nursing.

Some Speeders Seem to be Slow Learners
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 19

Saranath Lawpoolsri, MD, and Jingyi Li, MB, have been observing us, and what they've found out about our driving isnýt very flattering. Both are physicians doing graduate work at the School of Medicine. The paper they recently completed was the result of an epidemiological study conducted under the supervision of Elisa Braver, PhD, associate professor at School as part of a doctoral program. Their research found that receiving a speeding ticket does not change a driver's likelihood of being stopped again for speeding during the next year.
www.baltimoresun.com

Too Much Marathon Running Can Cause Heart Damage
Bloomberg News - March 14
The Indianapolis Star - March 14

A 51-year-old colleague of doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore flunked a calcium screening of his heart, a measure used to determine hardening of the arteries, according to a report in the March issue of The American Journal of Cardiology. "Moderate activity is fine. Extreme activity requires more caution and evaluation," said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor in the School of Medicine.
www.bloomberg.com
www.indystar.com

A Nurse For All Seasons
The Jewish Times - March 16

The faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the School of Nursing, as well as the nursing and health care community, are mourning the loss of their colleague, teacher, and friend, Debra Spunt, DNP, MS, RN, FAAN, an assistant professor, who died of cancer March 9 at age 50. In her work as an educator, Spunt touched the lives of thousands of nursing students through her work as an assistant professor and director of the clinical simulation laboratories at the School.
www.jewishtimes.com

In MD, Dogs and Dining Don't Mix
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 16

Maryland law, like in most states, says only guide dogs are allowed in service areas, and no animals can be in food preparation spots. Even outdoor patios are off-limits, as are food-free bars, because ice, according to the Health Department, counts as food. Laura Hungerford, DVM, PhD, MPH, professor at the School of Medicine, said the risk of getting sick from an animal is minimal, much smaller than catching something from another human, and that the main reason for banning dogs and the like has to do with behavioral issues and physical safety concerns.
www.baltimoresun.com

Influential Marylanders
The Daily Record - March 16

Fifty leaders in their fields from throughout the state have been chosen by The Daily Record as Influential Marylanders for 2007. The categories were chosen to reflect significant segments of Marylandýs civic, commercial, and professional activity. E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, dean of the School of Medicine, and Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law, are among the honorees that will be recognized at a reception April 25.

New Doctors Get Residency Assignments
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 16
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 16

Match Day at Davidge Hall, the site of the School of Medicineýs ceremony when students discovered where they would begin their residencies, was filled with excitement. Students, teachers, friends, and family packed the small auditorium, cramming themselves onto the steep steps when seats filled up. One by one, the names of the Class of 2007ýthe School's bicentennial graduatesýwere called, and they descended the steep steps to the front of the auditorium.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

Brain Bee Winner Heads to Baltimore
The Guelph (Ontario) Mercury - March 14

Last month, Mays Ali, a 17-year-old from Guelph, Ontario in Canada, took the top spot in the McMaster University brain bee competition, winning an LCD monitor and an all-expenses paid trip to the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she'll compete this weekend against 35 international contenders. The International Brain Bee determines the "best brain" on such topics as brain disorders, memory, and intelligence.
www.guelphmercury.com

Hospital for Children Fights Against Asthma
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 14

The University of Maryland Hospital for Children this week became the first East Coast institution to receive a certificate of distinction from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for its treatment of children with asthma. "Everybody reads off the same script, and it makes it that much more effective," said Keyvan Rafei, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Hospital for Childrenýs Asthma Steering Committee.

Libby Verdict
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - March 14

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the news that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said "mistakes were made" in the dismissals of several federal prosecutors, but rejected Democrats' calls for his resignation on the same day that his chief of staff stepped down.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Community Justice Symposium
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - March 10

More than 300 people came to the School of Law March 8 to 10 for the first national conference dedicated to the issue of community justice. Participants shared approaches to addressing criminal activity and talked about "processing people through a system that is not changing their lives but in fact turning them back on our streets, more violent and more committed to a life outside the structure that we all understand as the norm," said Brenda Bratton Blom, JD, PhD, MPS, associate professor at the School and director of the Clinical Law Program.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Cops Honor Life-Saving Surgeon
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 13

Thomas Scalea, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and chief surgeon at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, treated three wounded police officers in one tumultuous nine-day span last December. He was honored at a county-organized ceremony Monday to recognize Scalea's life-saving efforts.
www.examiner.com

Non-Citizen Juror Might Lead Court to Void Conviction
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 13

The Maryland Court of Appeals will hear the case today of whether the presence of a noncitizen on a jury is enough to overturn a guilty conviction. "It is genuinely confusing because the person may have had influence," said Mark Graber, JD, PhD, MA, professor at the School of Law. "But it was unbiased influence." On the other hand, he said, defense lawyers-and prosecutors and judges-rely on people's answers on the jury questionnaire sent to their homes before being called for jury duty.
www.baltimoresun.com

Officers Don't Receive Personal Penalties if They Probe Without Probable Cause, Experts Claim
Carroll County Times - March 10

According to the Fourth Amendment, police need probable cause before searching someone's vehicle, but legal experts say police don't personally face any kind of penalty if they disregard that law. "The penalty is that evidence will be suppressed in court," said Michael Pinard, JD, assistant professor at the School of Law. "The penalty is really against the state, they canýt use evidenceýthat is really supposed to deter law enforcement."

University of Maryland Nurse Educator Pioneered High-Technology For Training Purposes
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 12

Debra L. Spunt, DNP, MS, RN, FAAN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing and director of the Clinical Simulation Laboratories, which she established, died of cancer March 9 at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. Spunt, a national figure in the use of the technology known as computerized human patient simulators, pioneered the use of high-technology simulations to educate nursing students. She taught at the School of 23 years.
www.baltimoresun.com

150th Anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision
"America and the Courts," C-SPAN, 7 p.m. - March 10

Mark Graber, JD, PhD, MA, professor at the School of Law, discussed the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Dred Scott v. Sanford, which decided that all people of African ancestryýslaves as well as those who were freeýcould never become citizens of the United States. "Individual states could give free persons of color whatever rights they thought, but those rights would not be recognized in federal court," said Graber, author of the recent book Dred Scott and the Problem of Constitutional Evil.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

An Official Known for Rocking Big Boats
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 11

The city's selection committee was immediately interested, said one member, William Blattner, MD, professor at the School of Medicine. "The thing that was apparent from the first meeting with Baltimore Health Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, MD, was his intensity, and the fact that he didn't fit the mold of the traditional commissioner," Blattner said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Egg Donation Legislation
WBAL-TV, Ch.11, 5 p.m. - March 9

State lawmakers are considering legislation that could put tighter restrictions on egg donations. "When a young woman reaches her reproductive age, she has about 400,000 eggs," said Howard McClamrock, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. "During her life span only about 400 of those eggs are ovulated, so there's quite a few more than she needs."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Ehrlich's Picks Scheduled for Confirmation Hearings
The Daily Record - March 12

Confirmation hearings have been scheduled for the 10 district court judges nominated by former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. after the close of the 2006 legislative session. Even if Gov. Martin O'Malley did meet with the nominees and decide he didnýt like one, it's questionable if he would be constitutionally permitted to withdraw a previous governor's nomination or to override the old nomination by making one of his own. "A superseding appointment would be a close question and could result in litigation," said Saul Ewing attorney Dan Friedman, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law.
www.mddailyrecord.com

FBI Misused Patriot Act Powers
WTOP, 103.5 FM, 820 AM, 7:50 a.m. - March 11

Angry lawmakers are threatening to amend the Patriot Act and limit the FBI's powers in the wake of a disclosure that agents had improperly obtained confidential records of Americans. "What's most disturbing is that telephone companies, three of them, were participating in this and sometimes providing more information than was even sought," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, who talked about the Inspector General's report.
www.wtop.com

Social Work Students Support Bottle Bill
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 10

A University of Maryland, Baltimore graduate student from the School of Social Work, Jennifer Will, her classmates, and Steven Soifer, PhD, a professor at the School, are lobbying for a House bill that would add a 5-cent deposit for beverage containers. The students, pictured in a photo story, hoped to meet Mayor Sheila Dixon at Port Street, where she was promoting "Cleaner Baltimore" initiatives, but they arrived too late.

The Reason Behind Earlier Daylight Saving Time
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 6 p.m. - March 9 and 5, 6, and 9 a.m. - March 10

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 altered the change in the date for daylight saving time this year. David Super, JD, professor at the School of Law, said the change had to do with political criticism that lawmakers didnýt focus enough on conservation of energy. "They weren't willing to bite the bullet on some of the harder issues like fuel economy for cars or power generation," said Super. "This seemed like a way of putting a little bit of conservation in the bill."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

UMB Pharmacy School Needs More Room to Expand
The Daily Record - March 12

The School of Pharmacy's ambitious plans to double its enrollment in the next decade are stymied by one critical issueýspace. "We are bursting at the seams in this building," said David Roffman, PharmD, associate dean for academic affairs. School officials have been advised that adding space is necessary to maintain the programýs accreditation, according to William Cooper, MBA, associate dean for administration and finance. Dean David A. Knapp, PhD, said he has not given up on the funding this session.

MIPs Program Awards $5.2 Million in Grants
The Gazette - March 9

Projects researching bomb detection, personalized chemotherapy, and stronger wrists are among the recipients of grants totaling $5.2 million in the latest round of awards by the University of Maryland's Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program. Four institutions are participating, including the University of Maryland, Baltimore with seven projects.
www.gazette.net

Notre Dame Approved for a Pharmacy School
The Daily Record - March 9

The proposed four-year doctor of pharmacy program at The College of Notre Dame of Maryland will differ in several key ways from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Pharmacy. The University of Maryland pharmacy school welcomes the competition, according to a written statement issued by Dean David A. Knapp, PhD. "Pharmaceutical education must expand to meet society's needs," Knapp said in the statement.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Panel OKs Pharmacy Degree at Notre Dame
Associated Press - March 9
The Washington Times - March 9
WMDT.com - March 8

The nationýs first pharmacy program at a womenýs college won approval yesterday by Maryland regulators, setting up the stateýs second pharmacy degree. The College of Notre Dame of Maryland won approval for a pharmacy program by a vote of 12-0 by the state Higher Education Commission. University of Maryland, Baltimoreýs School of Pharmacy, currently the only pharmacy school in the state, was established in 1841.
washingtontimes.com
www.wmdt.com

A Cat-FleaýBorne Pathogen Sheds Light on Rickettsial Evolution
Innovations Report - March 7

Researchers including those from the School of Medicine have created a new classification system for rickettsia bacteria that may assist researchers in the way they approach the development of diagnostics and vaccines for the virulent rickettsial pathogens. Magda Beier-Sexton, MS, research specialist, Mohammed Rahman, PhD, research associate, Nicole Ammerman, MS, graduate research assistant, and Abdu Azad, PhD, professor, contributed to the paper, "Plasmids and Rickettsial Evolution: Insight from Rickettsia felis."
www.innovations-report.de

Libby Verdict
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - March 7
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 6 p.m. - March 6
WRC-TV, Ch. 4, 5 p.m. - March 6

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the guilty verdict in the trial of former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
media.umaryland.edu:8080
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Tech Research Grants
The Daily Record - March 6

Twenty-eight new research projects worth $5.2 million bring together Maryland companies with University researchers to develop high-tech commercial products. Three projects pair Baltimore-based companiesýComprehensive Cancer Cells Diagnostics LLC, WellDoc Communications Inc. and Theradigm, Inc.-and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Youth Media Showcase
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 8 a.m. - March 7

Terry Hickey, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law and executive director of Community Law in Action, talked about this week's Youth Media Showcase and Community Justice Symposium at the School.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Coughing Up Lung Cancer
KTIV.com - March 7

Genetic material such as DNA coughed up along with phlegm could point to lung cancer, say researchers at the School of Medicine who are developing an inexpensive and noninvasive gene probe to help diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers. "There is an urgent need to develop reliable early diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer that can be detected noninvasively, and these two genes look to be great candidate markers for such a test," said Feng Jiang, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the School.
www.ktiv.com

On the Waterfront: CSA Holding Causes Concern
The Daily Record - March 8

A recent holding from the Court of Special Appeals has a waterfront property association worried about unwanted development on what it considers community-owned property. David Super, JD, who teaches property law at the School of Law, said the decision may be part of a judicial shift away from community rights and toward individual property owners' rights. "What it does signal is that theyýre leaning towards individual control for property owners rather than enforcing conformity," Super said.

Practice Makes Perfect
Baltimore Business Journal - March 2

The goal of the University of Maryland Medical Center simulation centerýs surgical ergonomics program, the only one in the country, is to establish standardized movements for use in laparoscopic surgeryýoperations performed using tiny incisions often no wider than a centimeterýthen compile them into a vast data base for training purposes. "You can go and have your pitching motion or your golf swing analyzed, but no one call tell you what optimal [minimally invasive] surgical movement looks like," said Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.bizjournals.com

Breaking Point: Age, Frail Bones
The Washington Times - March 6

Osteoporosisýthe most common cause of hip fracturesýdecreases bone strength, leading to bone fragility, said Elizabeth Streeten, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine. "A fracture from mild trauma is the most specific way to tell if somebody has fragile bones," said Streeten.
washingtontimes.com

CRS Reports Should be Available to the Public
NewsByUs.com - March 6
CNSNews.com - March 6
Accuracy In Media - March 6

The great majority of the several thousand reports requested by Congress per year from Congressional Research Service do not deal with anything even remotely classified. The proof of this is demonstrated by the number and type of Web sites that are currently posting CRS reports legally. These include the State Department, which posts CRS reports on foreign issues, the School of Law, the Federation of American Scientists, and the National Council for Science and the Environment.
newsbyus.com
www.cnsnews.com
www.aim.org

Conference Probes Disaster Preparedness
The Gazette - Feb. 28

Federal, state, and local public health and safety officials met last week at a daylong conference organized by Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and professor at the School of Law, to discuss what they will do in the event of catastrophic public health crises like pandemic flu or bioterrorism.
www.gazette.net

For Want of a Dentist, Boy Dies After Bacteria Spreads to Brain
The Charleston Daily Mail - March 6
WHAG-TV, Ch. 25, 6 p.m. - March 5

Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver recently died of a toothache. Serious and costly medical consequences of tooth problems are ýnot uncommon,ý said Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, professor and program director of pediatric dentistry at the Dental School. Ilaya Rajagopal, DDS, MS, pediatric dental fellow at the School, said parents should still know how crucial it is to get their kids into a clinic. "Bring the kid as early as six months, so we can give guidance and teach oral hygiene practices," said Rajagopal.
www.dailymail.com
www.nbc25.com

What New Painkiller Guidelines Mean for You
The Washington Post - March 6

New guidelines released last week by the American Heart Association, advising doctors to withhold medications to treat chronic pain until other treatment options have been exhausted, have left some patients frustrated and confused, wondering whatýs safe to take for pain, experts say. Contact your medical provider to discuss your concerns, said Marc Hochberg, MD, MPH, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.washingtonpost.com

"Perspectives on Diabetes" Lecture Series Presented by School of Medicine
The Baltimore Times - March 2

The School of Medicine presented the first in a series of Bicentennial Lectures, "Perspectives on Diabetes: The Historian, The Physician, The Patient," at the Hippodrome Theater on Feb. 26, 2007.
www.btimes.com

200 Years of Medicine Celebrated in Book
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 3

Hundreds of details-one for each year-help make "1807-2007: University of Maryland School of Medicine; The First Two Centuries" lively and informative. "It gives a new understanding of what the institution is and where it always fit in the larger culture of the nation," said Jo Martin, MA, director of bicentennial planning of the School's Bicentennial Committee.
www.examiner.com

Boy Dies After Bacteria From Tooth Spread to Brain
WJZ -TV 13, 6 p.m. - March 6
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 3

Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache Feb. 25. Serious and costly medical consequences of tooth problems are ýnot uncommon,ý said Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, professor and program director of pediatric dentistry at the Dental School. For instance, Deamonteýs bill for two weeks at Childrenýs Hospital alone was expected to be between $200,000 and $250,000. Providing preventive access to dental care, Tinanoff and others said, eventually pays for itself, sparing children the pain and expense of a medical crisis.
www.examiner.com

Cold Remedies Put Children at Risk, Group Says
HealthSentinel.com - March 2

Steven Czinn, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine is among the petitioners urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop drug makers from marketing products to young children. "As long as the child is generally healthy, the best thing to do is let the virus run its course, and generally they'll get better as quick or quicker than when they take these medicines," Czinn said.
www.healthsentinel.com

Ground Rent Bills Assailed
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 5

Ground rent owners and some legal scholars contend that a number of proposed bills to change the stateýs ground rent system are unconstitutional. Garrett Power, LLM, LLB, a professor at the School of Law who is an expert on ground rent, said in an interview that he "would argue loud and hard that [a registry] is clearly constitutional." But he said the other bill, to end ejectments and allow rent owners only to place a lien on the property, has serious constitutional issues. "What the founding fathers were worried about were bills like SB 396," he said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Md. Med School Readying Bid for Cancer Center
The Daily Record - March 5

The University of Maryland Medical Center and School of Medicine are close to culminating eight years of planning with the final submission of their bid for a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, professor and vice president for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland and dean of the School of Medicine, has made winning the status one of his main goals. The cancer center tentatively is planning to submit an application to the National Cancer Institute in October.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Simple Test May Catch Lung Cancer Early
WOAI.com (San Antonio) - March 4
WHDH.com (Boston) - March 2

Genetic material such as DNA coughed up along with phlegm could point to lung cancer, say researchers at the School of Medicine who are developing an inexpensive and noninvasive gene probe to help diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers. "There is an urgent need to develop reliable early diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer that can be detected noninvasively, and these two genes look to be great candidate markers for such a test," said Feng Jiang, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the School.
www.woai.com
www1.whdh.com

Students Sue City for Discrimination
University Wire - March 3
The Diamondback - March 3

A College Park landlord and several student tenants are suing the city council over claims that student tenants seeking to rent single-family homes are discriminated against, demanding the city pay $100 million in damages, court documents show. Although the suit alleges ýthe ordinance also has a disparate impact on those individuals in single-family dwellings, the majority of whom are young, unmarried students,ý Brenda Bratton Blom, PhD, JD, MPS, associate professor at the School of Law, said the suit's claims would be difficult to prove.
media.www.diamondbackonline.com

UM Symposium Sold Out
The Daily Record - March 5

The School of Law will host a three-day community justice symposium Thursday through Saturday that will bring together legal professionals, academics, and community activists. Speakers at the sold-out conference will discuss effective crime-reduction strategies, such as so-called problem-solving courts and community-government collaborations.
www.mddailyrecord.com

"Get Fit Program" Kicks Off at Area Schools
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 2, 2007
WJZ-TV 13 - March 1

The official kickoff of the Get Fit Kids program took place Thursday morning at Westside Elementary School. The 12-week walking and education program was developed by the University of Maryland Medical Center, the School of Medicine, and Merritt Athletic Clubs. Kari Bichell, MD, MPH, an assistant professor at the School says she has never seen a 200-plus-pound 8-year-old in her family medicine practice. ýBut certainly, Iýve seen 150 pounds at 8,ý said Bichell, also the medical director of Get Fit Maryland. The wellness program this year decided to focus on children rather than adults.
www.baltimoresun.com
wjz.com

Access to Dental Care Remains Challenging for Low-Income People
KaiserNetwork.org - March 1
WBFF-TV Fox 45, 10 p.m. - March 1

Access to dental care is "an often overlooked concern in the debate over universal health coverage," as some low-income children have no dental coverage, and other people have limited access to care, The Washington Post reports. According to Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, professor and program director of pediatric dentistry at the Dental School, access is worst in rural areas, where some families have to travel hours to receive dental care.
www.kaisernetwork.org

Cold Remedies Put Children at Risk, Group Says
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 1

Steven Czinn, MD, chair of pediatrics at the School of Medicine is among the petitioners urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop drug makers from marketing products to young children. "As long as the child is generally healthy, the best thing to do is let the virus run its course, and generally they'll get better as quick or quicker than when they take these medicines," Czinn said.
www.baltimoresun.com

For Want of a Toothbrush
Spot-On.com - March 1

In an online opinion column, Mike Spinney writes: Nowhere in Ms. Otto's story is the issue of parental responsibility raised. Nowhere in the story is there any hint as to the numerous options available to the Driver family that would have averted tragedy and that would not have cost much, if anything. Dental hygiene schools, such as those at the Dental School and in Washington, D.C., at Howard University's College of Dentistry, have excellent programs and operate clinics where unusual or advanced treatment cases are desired.
www.spot-on.com

Foundations Gather to Learn How to Strengthen Vulnerable Families
The Daily Record - March 2

A recent conference for family foundations focused on ensuring healthy homes for children, with an emphasis on lead poisoning prevention. Though places like Baltimore have seen dramatic reductions in lead exposure and poisoning over the last decade, more work needs to be done. Frederick Strieder, PhD, MSSA, clinical associate professor at the School of Social Work and White House Fellow Westley Moore shared their vision to develop a grandfamily (households headed by grandparents) housing and services center in Baltimore.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Grin Doctors
The (Baltimore) Sun - March 2

In September, the Dental School moved into a $145 million building, and in the process entered a new stage in dental education. Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, dean of the School says, "This is the beginning of a long development that has to happen here." Karen Faraone, DDS, MA, associate professor who teaches students to make dentures, said acclimating to the new facilities may take several years. "It's incredibly exciting," she said, "and it's scary at the same time."
www.baltimoresun.com

How Nabiscoýs Competition Got to Call Their Cereal Shredded Wheat
The Daily Record - March 2

James Astrachan, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law writes a true story about the intersection of trademark law, the invention of cold breakfast cereal, and a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that cost Nabisco the exclusive rights to manufacture a pillow-shaped breakfast cereal and call it Shredded Wheat. The Supreme Court agreed that the name had become generic and unprotectable because it did not identify a single source for consumers. The brand had become the object.
www.mddailyrecord.com

UMB Seeks Funding for Medical Schoolýs Expansion
Baltimore Business Journal - Feb. 23

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is hoping to expand into a new office building at its campus if it can get the approval and funding from state agencies to create the annex for one of its medical schoolýs research facilities. Bob Tennenbaum, MS, director of real estate development and a campus planner with the University, said the institution is hoping to establish the annex across the street from the medical school's biomedical research facility at 108 N. Greene St.
www.bizjournals.com

Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Reason Online - March 2

Is trying to gain access to potentially life-saving medicines unapproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a fundamental right or merely an economic right subject to regulations established by political authorities? For Frank Palumbo, PhD, JD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and executive director of the Center on Drugs and Public Policy, the central question is: "If patients are allowed access to these investigational drugs for the purpose of treating terminal illness, how can they afford them?" Newer cancer therapies are very expensive, some costing $10,000 per month.
reason.com

Boy Dies of a Toothache
Beaver County Times Online - March 1

Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache Sunday. Serious and costly medical consequences of tooth problems are ýnot uncommon,ý said Norman Tinanoff, DDS, MS, professor and program director of pediatric dentistry at the Dental School. For instance, Deamonteýs bill for two weeks at Childrenýs Hospital alone was expected to be between $200,000 and $250,000. Providing preventive access to dental care, Tinanoff and others said, eventually pays for itself, sparing children the pain and expense of a medical crisis.
www.timesonline.com

Medical Management of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Medscape Today - March 1

The Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, cosponsored by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, was held in Rancho Mirage, Calif., from January 18-20, 2007. Mohan Suntharalingam, MD, vice chair of radiation oncology at the School of Medicine, and colleagues presented the preliminary findings of a phase 2 trial of weekly cetuximab in combination with paclitaxel and daily radiation in patients with locally advanced HNC.
www.medscape.com

Restoring Justice
"The Brian Lehrer Show," WNYC, AM 820 and 93.9 FM (New York) - Feb. 20

Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, discussed her new book, On The Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-first Century, and askeds if the U.S. should look to South Africaýs Truth and Reconciliation process to address the history of lynching.
www.wnyc.org

SSA is Looking to Move
The Daily Record - March 1

The Social Security Administration is looking to relocate its downtown Baltimore operations from its 27-year-old home in the Metro West Building, opening development opportunities on the cityýs West Side. One potential user could be the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. The University opened a new dental school on West Baltimore Street last year and announced plans to construct a $300 million health research facility next door.

Schizophrenia May Be More Physical Than Mental
The (Baltimore) Examiner - March 1

Schizophrenia may be more of a physiological disorder than previously thought, researchers with the Dental School found. Gary Hack, DDS, associate professor, led the study of patients at two Baltimore low- or no-cost dental clinics. They took castings of each patients upper palate, and measured tooth spacing and other details.

Simulating Surgery
Richmond Times-Dispatch - March 1

The Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center is a high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Calling it the future of surgical training centers in the United States, Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital."
www.timesdispatch.com